Part 18 (2/2)
”I'm sure you'll manage just fine.”
”You don't feel guilty about causing problems in my marriage? You're heartless, brother.”
Gabriel arched a thick brow. ”New tactics, Drag? Are you trying to drive me down with guilt?”
”Is it working?”
”No.”
Dragos voice became sullen. ”Then I suppose I'll have to think of something else.”
Gabriel sighed. It was no use. He was sure this would go on until he was long gone from his brother's camp- and hopefully that would be very soon.
Looking out into the distance, Gabriel noticed an unfamiliar wagon had been driven onto their camping grounds and left sitting at the riverside.
”Who does the wagon belong to?” Gabriel asked his brother curiously.
Dragos's eyes focused in on the wagon. ”Oh, them. It's just a group of peddlers.”
”What are they selling?”
”Mostly fabrics and spices. They also have a few performing monkeys that they're looking to take off their hands, but n.o.body around here wants to pay their asking price. I'm glad of it. I don't think Ringo would like having monkeys around, anyhow.”
Ringo was the dancing grizzly bear Dragos had trained since it was a cub. It had always been hard for others to believe his brother had managed to tame the wild bear, which continued to draw audiences in so they could see it for their own eyes. Dragos had become quite fond of Ringo throughout the years and liked to show him off. Strangely enough, the huge grizzly bear had become a pet of sorts.
”Also, the peddlers are selling a few slaves that they brought in from Istanbul,” Dragos mentioned casually. ”But no one has seen them yet. They're going up for auction at noon.”
”Did you tell them this tribe isn't a slave-bearing tribe?”
”Tried to.”
Gabriel raised a thick brow now. ”Are you thinking of actually purchasing slaves, brother?”
Dragos shrugged. ”Depends on the price. They say that one of their slaves is a beauty beyond compare. If this is true, I could easily make a tidy profit by reselling at the market in Rabat. Since we'll most likely lose track of you, I suppose I'll head that way next.”
Gabriel shook his head in distaste. This annoyed Dragos and caused him to scowl. ”Did you forget I have mouths to feed?” he asked harshly.
”You seem to be doing just fine with Ringo's profits and the wood carvings,” Gabriel pointed out.
Dragos began to curse again, causing several pairs of eyes to look their way. ”You try taking care of these people since you're so high and mighty-- or did you forget that you left me with that responsibility?”
They'd had this fight too many times before and Gabriel was in no mood to rehash it. Especially not in front of an audience. Instead, he merely reminded his brother, ”I abandoned that life completely, Drag. I had no idea you planned to set up your own tribe.”
”I didn't plan on it,” Dragos grumbled. ”I didn't realize I had followers when we decided to abandon the Royals.”
Gabriel frowned. He understood the bitterness he heard in Dragos's voice. It had been the most difficult for Dragos to leave. More so than it had been for Gabriel or their younger brothers. But he wished that Dragos could simply understand that he just wasn't made for this life. Not anymore.
”You're too likable,” Gabriel sighed. ”People want to follow you. People don't trust me enough to follow me blindly.”
Dragos mulled over that comment for a while before agreeing. ”Likable, eh?” He scratched his head in thought. ”I suppose that is true.”
Gabriel watched as his brother's att.i.tude completely transformed. He now beamed from ear to ear with this new realization. Gabriel rolled his eyes. ”Wipe that smug look off your face, Drag. I didn't mean that all people like you.”
”Jealous?” Dragos asked.
Gabriel snorted in response.
Their attention was distracted, however, as an older man and his daughter approached their table.
”Good morning, Peter,” Dragos greeted the man.
”Good morning, your high--” Peter cut himself short, slightly paling. ”Forgive me, I still forget.”
Dragos waved the man's blunder aside. ”No worries. Though it is simply Dragos now.”
Peter nodded. ”Of course.” He gestured to the lovely blonde girl standing behind him. Her name was Ana. She was fifteen now, with pale green eyes and rosy cheeks. Peter had been offered many different bride prices for Ana since she reached a marriageable age, but he'd refused them all.
When Dragos had asked him why, he had simply said that Ana wasn't ready. He wanted to wait until she was older, much like the gaje tended to do. Though the girl's beauty would most certainly bring the tribe a small fortune, Dragos had never pressured Peter to find Ana a husband. He supposed it was because he was beginning to understand a father's love in many ways. Samina had borne him twin baby girls just last summer. He couldn't imagine what it would be like to watch his own daughters leave the tribe one day.
Slowly, Peter guided his daughter to stand before them.
”If it's all right, my daughter would like to speak to your brother.”
After Gabriel nodded in approval, Dragos said to Peter, ”It's fine. Bring her here.”
Ana wasn't nervous, as most were upon meeting one of the Constantin brothers. She was tall for her age, and she stood proudly with her shoulders squared and her head held high.
She moved to sit across from Gabriel at their table, smiling. ”I wonder if I may take your hand, sir?” she asked politely.
It was obvious then that she was going to read for Gabriel. He cast a suspicious look towards his brother.
Dragos held up his hands. ”I swear I had nothing to do with this, Gabe.”
Still doubtful, Gabriel held his hand out to the girl, anyway. He supposed it was out of curiosity.
”I had this feeling that I needed to tell you something today. Usually my feelings are always correct. My mama says I possess great insight.”
Gabriel merely nodded. ”Tell me what you see, girl,” he implored her, granting his permission.
She took a deep breath and then closed her eyes as she held Gabriel's hand.
They all stayed very quiet as they waited for Ana to speak. Suddenly, her lips formed a pensive moue and her forehead creased as she became lost in thought.
”You are looking for something,” Ana acknowledged.
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