Page 19 of It Varies
Chapter Four
Jennika held the handsthat walked her to the best seat available at the amphitheatre.The artists were talking to their families and waving at those who had arrived to watch the artist-versus-artist event.
Emhara had a sketchbook under one arm, and she looked around at the folks seated.She looked at their little party and grinned wide, running down the steps and over to them.Emhara smiled.“Oh, can I sketch you?I didn’t know there were so many of us.I mean, aside from Eudora.”
Emhara didn’t wait.She got a blank page out, and her pencil started moving fast.They made introductions while she sketched, and Emhara paused when she got to Vine.“Oh.You.Oh.”
“Sorry if I am wrecking the image.I can move if you like.”
“No.I just haven’t ever seen someone in that condition who wasn’t me.”Emhara smiled sadly.“You have recovered really well, considering.”
Jennika looked at the slight smile on Vine’s lips.
The hoarse voice said, “Thank you.”
Emhara grinned and looked at the image on her pad.She giggled.“This is going to be fun.Can I get my mates to take images of you?”
Ivy smiled.“You mean pictures?”
“Yes.Those.”Emhara grinned.
A dark elf showed up and took a few pictures of them.He glanced at Emhara and sighed.“She would also like your contact information.She’s building her collection of friends now that she is finally free.”
There was a chime, and the artists had to take their positions.
Vine pulled out a small stone and said, “Put this near the canvas.It will keep her energized and focused.It will also help with hydration.”
The man nodded, took the stone, and then stared at it.“What is in this?”
“A little of this, a little of that.Only one of the mages can actually use what comes out of it, so...”Vine chuckled, and it sounded like a smoker’s cough.
The man looked alarmed.“Are you ill?”
“Old injury.”
Jennika took her hand and squeezed it.Vine squeezed back.
Sable was toying with her necklace, and Jenn was carrying a spare.Vine could fix the first while the second was being worn.
The crowd was filling half the spaces, and the website was up and ready to accept donations for the different charities that were selected by the artists.Amble had chosen a young artists program, and Emhara had selected a domestic violence shelter that focused on education and outfitting their clients for life on their own.
Jennika knew where her money was going.
The announcer was explaining which mediums were being used and the theme, and the two artists shook hands, went to their canvases, and waited for the signal.
A bottle of water appeared over her shoulder, and Jennika took it.“Thank you.”
She looked left and right, and her friends were grinning at her.It took some doing, but she turned around and saw Xiroth and four more dark elves, who shopped at the same clothing store for thugs.
“How can you guys be so big and still fly?”Jennika asked.
Xiroth grinned.“Sheer talent.”
The three that were obviously pixies chuckled.The fourth was looking intent but wasn’t a pixie.
