The Outerlands - Sedition by Aleigh Schuster & Monica Lake

Author:Aleigh Schuster & Monica Lake [Schuster, Aleigh & Lake, Monica]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2018-10-28T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter Seventeen

We took our time walking through the field and then headed toward a barn at the edge of the clearing where more and more people came into view.

“Is that music?” I asked, hearing what I thought were faint tunes drifting through the air.

“Yeah, guess Cali wasn’t joking around. And look, there’s even some dancing going on over there by the bonfire.” Dera pointed to the side of the barn. “What do ya say? You up for it?” she asked, hopeful.

I shook my head. “You go ahead. I’ll just go over here and sit down, rest my legs.” I motioned to the rows of wooden chairs along the dance area.

“You sure?”

“Absolutely. Go have fun. I’m fine,” I encouraged her, knowing she wanted to find Rafe.

She embraced me in a quick hug and then darted off, disappearing into the crowd a few seconds later. I found an empty seat off to the side.

Scanning the faces of people coming and going, I realized I didn’t know any of them. There were so many—at least a few hundred just in this clearing. They all looked to be having fun, dancing and cheering for the band that I was now able to see.

Scanning the musicians’ faces, I was surprised to find Rafe perched on a wooden stool at the center of a makeshift stage, expertly strumming the guitar. To the right of the stage was Jonas’ assistant Ben, playing the violin. There was someone I’d never met farther in the back, striking a kettledrum. Just to his left, Cali leaned over, shaking a tambourine to the beat. But the most unexpected member of the band was standing with her hand on Rafe’s shoulder, belting out a hauntingly beautiful melody as the rhythm started to slow its pace. Barbette had one of the most amazing voices I had ever heard, and I must not have been the only one to think so, because as I looked around, I found the dancing had almost completely stopped with everyone now focused on the girl with the beautiful voice. I briefly saw Dera up in front, a stricken look on her face as she stared between Barbette and Rafe, but then the beat picked back up, the dancing resumed, and she slipped effortlessly back into the crowd, moving toward the bonfire.

Getting up from my chair, I decided to go after her, thinking maybe it was time for us to head home. I didn’t get more than a few feet before I heard a familiar voice.

“Hey you,” Graff said, coming to stand beside me.

“Hey yourself.” My voice broke, revealing a tinge of nervousness at his close proximity.

“I was surprised when I saw you sitting over here by yourself. Thought you’d be dancing out there with Dera,” he said, raising an eyebrow as he tilted his head to the side.

Nodding slowly, I said, “Not really into the whole overwhelming crowd thing right now. You know?” Plus, it didn’t seem right with Keegan and my father missing but I didn’t say that out loud.

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