“They were always talkin’ about a little gypsy girl named Yana,” Kari said. “They talked and talked, kept saying Yana, Yana... something about a harp you always played, or something. Do you play a harp?”
Yana nodded, putting her hand over her mouth. Her head was spinning, and her emotions were too. Her parents, alive? Her parents, slaves?
“How long ago did you say that you saw them?” Bastion asked.
“Less than two years ago,” Kari said.
Bastion looked at Yana, as she stood next to him.
“Can you ride?” Bastion asked her.
“I can,” she replied, her eyes full of fire.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Bastion climbed into a wagon with Yana.
“You think Otta can manage to run the kingdom all by himself for a while?” Yana asked.
“He is going to be fine,” Bastion said. “He knows more about it than anyone. Besides, I gave him the most important advice I could, a wisdom that my father passed along to me.”
“What’s that?” Yana said.
“Mind the periwinkle!” Bastion said, laughing with her.
Bastion and Yana had delayed their wedding. They set their crowns in wait, in the throne room, next to the periwinkle.
They rode the lead wagon of a large gypsy caravan. Lyubov and Luba were along. Emilee, Dimmie, Jaelle, Kizzy, Nadya.... everyone. Their wagons were well stocked, including the three extra wagons they had ridden into the Lower Reach.
Mille, the court jester, was along as well. She rode in Yana’s old wagon, and guided Kuta, the faithful horse Yana had given her. Another wagon held Vigo, and Pali, and Kari, who wanted to help Yana find her parents.
They were accompanied by Nico and Nathaniel, the accomplished black riders, and Bastion’s close friends. Several other caravans decided to leave the meadows and come along, eager for new adventure after a long spell in the west meadows of Jedikai.
They all wanted the honor to be called Yana’s friend
and to hear the stories of Yana’s journey to freedom.
_________________________________
THE GYPSY QUEEN
a novel by
Samuel Solomon
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© 2012 Samuel Solomon
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