—————

If you didn't catch the announcement (because I don't like to 'notify my followers', I feel like it's the equivalent of spam mail) I will be updating WEEKLY - or less!

Keep me to this!

Spam my DMs!

Burn incriminating messages on my front lawn while wearing a bunny mask! - just don't get the lilac bush 

Fear is the greatest motivator~

—————

          The blasting gale of a storm was a blessing in disguise. A hood to protect your head held less suspicion with the thick chunks of hail toppling from the sky, and guards were quicker to pass through travellers to retreat back to their shelters. Water, mixed with the black of night, washed away familiarity. 

          "Puff, I don't want anyone seeing you," Vera whispered, the entire group stopped at the mouth of the forest looking out upon a sleeping town. It was black, spare the fleeting lights dotting its crown of crossbow ridden walls. 

          Vera helped Káel off of Puff, adjusting the cloak she'd pulled over him to cover the bloodied scratches peppering his arms. She waited for Puff to shrink down, rifling through her bag to pull out a a stretch of black cloth.

          "Puff, you're going in this." She twisted it around, making a sling bag within a matter of seconds to hand off to Káel. "Don't move until we're past the gates." 

          They jogged through the clearing, the biting bullets of hail relentlessly hammering them until they could squeeze into the narrow ridge of protection overlooking a sealed gate. Vera chatted with the guard that greeted her, flashing her ID card and slipping the man a few shiny coins for the nightly trouble. 

          As soon as the gate cracked wide enough for a single person, she ushered everyone through. With a finger to her lips she kept a strident pace, leading the group through the scarce lit streets with one destination in mind.  

          There was something about a complete lack of people that made walking through towns and cities peaceful. The silence of nightfall was beautiful, the articulate details of the pre-Runas architecture easy to appreciate down to the sliv sized patterns carved into the doorways. Without the hot sun and blurring noise of chattering students, Vera could see why people put up with living here. 

          She picked up her pace as they hit the decrepit alleyway, hoping over the snaking webs of vines to stop a footslength from Soren's plain door. Without the sign you'd miss it as a shop. A detail that always spelled trouble.

          And seeing as that's what they were currently in thanks to Káel, it was temporarily perfect.

          "You think he's awake at this hour?" Truvius whispered, wincing as Vera's knuckles struck the door.

          "He will be," Vera retorted, knocking on the door harder until something slammed its burly mass into one of the curtain drawn windows. Her heart nearly ripped from her chest until she stared at the creature, two glowing white eyes dotting the massive snout of a Garaean Warhound as it gave a few half-done barks.

          When her heart stilled, she recognised the creature. Soren's guardian, Dulan.

          The hound continued its alarm, a light eventually flickering on as Soren peeked through the curtains, immediately pulling back to crack open the door. With a silent stare he looked up at the nightcloaked sky, slowly dipping his gaze to the group of teenagers with a raised eyebrow.

          Vera opened her mouth before Káel said something stupid. "We need your help."

          "And my store has hours." Soren gave the air a sniff, his nose scrunching as he flicked his gaze to Káel. He left the door to pull into the alley with the teens, the creamy tee and trousers he had on barely defending his bare skin from the icy droplets that had turned to a drizzle. He snatched Káel's arm, his frown growing as the teen winced at the scrape he'd squeezed. "Did someone attack you guys?"

          Káel gritted his teeth as Soren squeezed at the fresh bandage that was already red from his torn cut. "Yeah, but... that was the shingles..."

          Soren's face squished. "Shingles?"

          "You know... those things that go on roofs-"

          "He fell off the school trying to run away in the middle of the night." Vera cut in, pulling Káel's arm from Soren's grip and snatching some coins from Káel's pocket to shove at Soren. "We just need to know if you have any information on trans-world transportation, or who, what, or where Unicorn Boy's uncle is. Then we'll be on our way."

          "On your way?" Soren replied, his voice deadpanned with a trailing chuckle. "Back to school I'm assuming. I don't know many people that can outrun molves."

          Vera breathed out a hissing sigh. "That's why we need a head start."

          Soren chuckled. "A head start against Molves? Those beasts are designed for war, they can go for days without stopping, what can you guys do? Twenty minutes?"

          "Five," Truvius said, still crouching to regain his breath.

          "You're not gonna last much longer without treating that cut either," Soren continued, grimacing at the specks of blood that had stuck to his fingertips. "Get inside."

          "No way, you'll throw us to Samanthra in the morning!" Vera snapped.

          Soren rolled his eyes, using his height to his advantage as he stared down at Vera. "I'm not getting paid to report runaways princess, but I'm sure as oblivion not gonna let you go in the middle of the night to be picked off by bandits. Or worse, attract some Nomad dragons with all that blood. I'll also bet the if they get griffins involved, they'll catch you by the stench of blood alone. Lucky for you, there's too many enchantments around my shop for them to follow you to my door."

          Vera narrowed her eyes, something wrong was in the tone. Or maybe it was in the cheeky smile. Anybody wearing a look like that could only be one thing. 

          A Liar. 

          Truvius looked between his silent friends, shuffling into the shop with Talli in close pursuit.

          Vera bit her tongue before she called them back. 

          Skatbrains, the lot of them.

          Vera waited with clenched fists for Káel to go in, passing the locksmith without a glance as he held the door for her.

          "Feel free to thank me at any time, princess."

—————

          The basement of Soren's shop was almost bigger than the shop itself, dusty and packed with papers and forgotten furniture. Káel doubted there was anything of value in the bundles of worn parchment and crates of emptied vials and blunted weapons, but they definitely looked like the worthy mansion of an eight legged army.

          A stinging pain was poking at Káel's arm, but he found that squeezing his eyes shut numbed the pain of Soren's stitchwork. Káel was hoping he'd get over the pain after a couple pricks, but it delivered the same bite without relent every time.

          "I'd hate to repeat myself," Soren muttered, eyes trained on stitching up the last of the clotted slit. "But couldn't this have waited until morning?"

          "No, I'm under investigation." Káel grimaced when he caught Vera's scowl as she prepped some bedding. "Or, I was..."

          Soren sighed. "Great, last thing I need is the Council breathing down my neck, what'd you do? Get caught doing your ancient lumience crap?" He raised a finger before Káel opened his mouth. "Don't even argue with me, I'm not stupid."

          "I guess... sort of," Káel muttered, his face squeezing as another prick bit his skin. "Do you know someone named Staz?"

          Soren paused. "No, is that their real name?"

          Something in Káel's heart sunk at the question. Less than a year ago he would have said yes, not thinking his uncle had any reason to lie to him. But now he was on an alien planet, and so was his uncle. His uncle who had told him year after year he was travelling for research that his job didn't allow any disclosure on.

          His uncle that really just visited him once in a blue moon like some virtual pumpkin farm. Responsibility had replaced love a long time ago, and it took the kidnapping of the century for Káel to see it.

          "I... don't know."

          For some reason the final prick Soren gave felt more like a malicious jab, the man unphased by Káel's sharp grunt as he wound the edges of thread into a fine knot. "Well, there's still a chance I can help you. But I want a trade."

          Káel fished more coins out of his pocket, giving Soren a frowning shrug. "How much?"

          Soren eyed the coins, a smirk playing his lips as he stared into Káel. "No. I want to know where you're really from."

          Káel bit his tongue.

          What value was there in that question? What price had Soren put on his honesty?

          "Earth? Canada?"

          Soren's face didn't flinch, his head tilting in an appraising fashion before he pulled out one of the coins Vera had handed him from Káel's pocket. He ran its silver ridges across his finger tips, flashing the sharp emblem of an intricate crown that adorned every coin. "These slivs were minted by the empire of Alta Staar."

          "Great, so he might be somewhere in the largest empire on Lumi," Vera cut in, her sardonic ring pitching with a laughing scoff as she beat the dust out of the pillow in her arms. 

          "Try it's capitol, Fairez Stella. All the money piles up there, there's only a handful of people that wouldn't bat an eye at throwing away money like this," Soren replied, slipping the coin back in his pocket. "Ask around and see if anyone catches the name."

          "Do you know the best way to get to Alta Staar from here?" Truvius questioned, already tucked into one of the beds Vera had set up, and rigid in fear from the giant hound that had taken his legs as a bed.

          "I've got a map from the border to the capitol, there's a few forest trails that will take you straight to the border, no map needed on that part."

          Vera hummed at the conversation, arms folded across her chest as she stood over the prepped beds. "And how long will it take to get to the border?"

          Soren smiled at Vera, pity purposely lining his lips. "I'm hoping you guys don't plan on going by foot. It'll be best to leave at noon, it's when this place is the busiest and you'll be able to sneak out with weaker illusions. If you rent mounts you should get to the border by the middle of the night, if not, it'll be by the next morning, no sleep."

          "And how do you suppose we buy mounts? We'd stick out like a thorn in a fenirock paw," Vera retorted.

          "Yeah, with that hair I can't argue with you," Soren replied. "But there's such a thing as disguises, and enchantments that you'll be paying for. Rest up for now, I'll grab the map."

           The group quietly watched Soren take his leave, and Káel turned to a surprisingly irritated Phantom, arms folded as he loomed over Káel in pent up frustration akin to Vera's.

          "This was a terrible idea, I know slugmites that can plan better than you."

          Káel narrowed his eyes. "We're safe, I think we did pretty good."

          "Oh yeah, you escaped alright, and you're gonna get to Alta Staar too if you put your mind to it." Phantom pulled his arms down to pinch his fingers together. "But you forgot a tinsy detail, and that's the fact that the only way to get your damn ingredients and a flat floor that won't combust the ritual is to go back to Cobalt. The place you just set on high alert."

          Káel's smile withered. "Let's just focus on getting the branch."

          "Then what? You're gonna put this giant fault to the side until it slaps you in the face? Why don't you adopt a smart cat and dye your hair blonde while you're at it!?"

          "Ha ha, very funny," Káel growled, running his finger along the black stitches in his arm to test its tenderness before finding a bed. "I can't do anything about it right now, so what's the point in worrying about something I can't change?"

          "I'm just telling you to use your brain before you do stupid things once in awhile. You'll be surprised at how useful it can be."

          Káel scoffed. "Whatever."

          Vera let out a chuckle, the mood Soren had left her with washing out at the spectacle. "You have no idea how crazy you look when you do that."

—————

          It was just past the crack of dawn, the gold spitlarks singing up Carcinos as the larger star fought to catch it's quicker twin Polearis. Soren had expected Dulan to be at the counter for his food by now, but the dog had a strange love for guests. A trait that had him cut from the Garaean army as a pup. 

          Soren meandered through the shop, his yawn dying in his throat as he pulled back one set of curtains to catch sight of a person waiting just outside the locked door. By the crossed arms and pinched glare, he assumed Cobalt's headmaster had been waiting on him for quite some time.

          He parted the other window, flicking out a key to unlock the door and welcome Lady Samanthra into his threshold.  "My, what a rare guest."

          Samanthra didn't budge at his smile,  eyes darting around the shop as if she half expected to see the runaway students crouching in a corner. "I think we both know why I'm here Soren."

          "Then I must apologies preemptively for disappointing you. Could you elaborate?"

          "I found Raymond Peterson bound just outside of Cobalt with so many novice sealing enchantments we had to soak him in dragon spit to rub through the mess," Samanthra bit back, her chiseled scowl only cracking deeper as Soren swallowed a laugh. "Now, four of my students are missing. Including Káel."

          "I'm glad the other three are just as important mi'lady," Soren replied, waving Samanthra to his counter so he could take a seat to continue the conversation. "What information would you like to buy?"

          "I want my students out of your basement." 

          Soren popped his eyebrows, knowing full well the frown he was wearing double-faced to a taunt. "My basement?"

          "Káel had a cut on his arm, did he not?" Samanthra started, not even waiting for Soren to continue the act. "He did that with my letter opener. Until a proper psychological assessment is conducted, he has been dubbed a danger to himself and others."

          Soren let out a short whistle as he relaxed back into the chair. "A letter opener? Remind you of anyone?"

          The joke didn't land well with Samanthra, her lips twitching into a snarl as she allowed her imposing shadow to pull over Soren. "I am liable for every single student he has dragged with him, and if you are found to have any involvement in concealing them I'll have no choice but to report it to the Council."

          Soren chuckled, shifting in his seat to hide his discomfort at the threat. He had dealt with the council enough times to be under a full investigation at the mere rumour of illegal behaviour. It was just an inconvenience, but a relentless one. "You never ease into these conversations, do you? You know how I work. Tell me what you need, and I'll name a price." 

          "I want all four of my students back." 

          Soren smiled, holding up four fingers. 

          Lady Samanthra grudgingly fished four golden coins out of a small pouch, laying them across the counter one by one so the thuds of her discontent could be heard without a need for words. 

          "Pleasure doing business with you," Soren chimed, brushing them into his palm and slipping from the chair. "I told them it would be best to sneak out in the afternoon, so with any luck you'll be able to restrict them before they even wake up."

          He waved Samanthra to follow him into the back of the shop, shoving over some dusty crates so her emerald robes weren't ruined by the mess. She didn't have as much respect for the expensive cloth however, allowing it to sweep up the dirt on the floor as she kept less than a foot behind Soren.

          Soren knew she caught his dropping smile as he grabbed the door handle, the locking enchantment he'd stuck on it shattered to oblivion and back. But still, hope forced him to turn it, his feet flying quicker than he liked as he sped down the tight stairs to stare at the basement storage room. 

          Empty. 

          No students. Every bed even packed back up as if to taunt him. The only proof of their presence was Káel's strange suitcase, tucked in the corner with a note on top of it. The white parchment was weighed down by a small handful of gold coins that easily tripled any fee he would have charged, but the sight hurt all the same.

          He moved across the room, snatching the note with a bitter smile at the simple words.

Thanks for the nap, can you watch Káel's stuff?

~Princess

—————

          If Káel wasn't stuck on the rear end of a massive scaled horse everyone called an Equaam, he would have caught Truvius' yawn without fail.

          Everything sucked about this. The leafy, cold, wet trail. The singing birds that sounded more like they were laughing at his raccoon eyes. His leg muscles, which were screaming from trying to stay on the rear end of the beast without a saddle. Everything. 

          And it was all because Vera was relentless.

          He'd barely caught a wink, maybe two hours before Vera ripped the blanket off of him and shook everyone else awake. For some fogged up reason she refused to trust Soren's word for it, even placing a sleeping enchantment on Dulan to soothe her bountiful paranoia. 

          Káel would have pulled his covers back up and fallen asleep if Cinder hadn't landed on his pillow to provide an eerie stare down. But stealing two reptilian horses and sneaking out of the village before Polearis was even up was insane. Vera was an unhinged tour guide. A pack of fireworks that went off with the smallest spark of doubt.

          If Vera existed back on Earth, she would definitely be the one jacking cars and spray painting obscenities on the only playground set in town. She would be the flame of self destruction that lured other kids like moths, happily setting them ablaze when they got close enough.

          And Káel was positive he was close enough.  

          "I don't like this trail," Vera finally spoke, her sharp voice managing to pry Truvius' drooping eyes open. She gave it another skim, lingering on the thick purple shrubs that dwarfed them in size and filled the trail with white petals that sweetened the air around them. "It's wide."

          Káel chuckled, fully aware of how sleep deprived his head was. "Let's not fat shame the trail."

          No one got the joke, and he wasn't really surprised at this point.

          "It's wide and flat. It's well kept for transport," Vera pressed, her eyes narrowed into a glare as she kept Káel in the corner of her eye. "That means it was made for merchants."

          "The ceptrum said it was the fastest way to the border," Káel replied "Don't think we'll get in trouble for not being merchants". The exhaustion of trying to understand Vera had finally hit him, forcing out a long yawn that he used to stretch his shoulders, still fearing the ground beneath them if he let go of Truvius' waist.

          "Yeah, but it's a merchant trail," Vera pressed, motioning to the emptied path as if to emphasize some point, and accidentally waking Talli who was resting on her shoulder. She scoffed at the blank stares she was getting. "Tesirus have mercy, it's even one in the Mauran regions! Were you all born with soil in your heads?"

          "Nope, but it sure feels like it," Káel sighed, blinking away the blur sticking to his vision. 

          Truvius snickered at the jab, looking at the Vera with a surprising ring of sarcasm in his voice. "Get enough sleep, Firehead?"

          Vera cracked a hollowed smile, matching Truvius' voice with an extra singsong flare. "Ready to be butchered by bandits, Bookboy?"

Don't forget to:

COMMENT/CRITIQUE/(VOTE IF YOU WANT)

Quality Quip #47:

'Every single person is a fool, insane, a failure, or a bad person to at least ten people.'

~ Mokokoma Mokhonoana