Caitrin~
My
feet hurt. My arms hurt. My head hurts. I know I’m out of shape but I
never thought it would be this bad. We walked the whole day, arriving
at Firel just when the sun set. The city is so big, and so different,
after entering we all just started blankly up at the towering buildings
and merchants running through the streets. It seemed like everything
was made of metal, something rare in Coral. Near the entrance was where
we met Riddel, and she brought us to her house quickly, taking us
through hidden back ways, explaining that she would buy us new clothes
so we didn’t draw so much attention to ourselves.
She
was kind, though she seemed like something else was on her mind at the
time. As soon as we got to her house, she showed me and Nellwyn to her
room, telling us to get some sleep before we started travelling
tomorrow. For a brief moment I saw her twin brother, but she closed the
door before I got a chance to really see him.
***
“Caitrin? You still awake?” Nellwyn asked, sitting up. Riddel had set
up a couple blankets on the floor for them, and Nellwyn had made more
then a few comments about how hard the floor was.
Pushing herself upright, Caitrin nodded sleepily. “Though I was I wasn’t.”
“This place is… just so…” Nellwyn’s voice trailed off, as she looked
out the small window, through which pale moonlight was streaming
through. “Where do you think Kytair and Nate are sleeping?”
“I think I saw them in a room down a bit, but I don’t think we’re
welcome to wander around.” Caitrin laid back down, huddling tighter
into her blanket. “It’s so cold here!” She sighed, her teeth chattering
slightly.
There was a knock at the
door, and the two girls sat straight. “Who’s there?” Caitrin demanded,
and a small boy opened the door.
He
glanced at them quickly, then whispered, “Sorry about your reception
earlier. I’m Kolt. Riddel made some dinner for you guys, if you’re
hungry. The other two are already eating.”
He gestured them to come out, and they followed him down the noisy
stairs into the main room, where Kytair and Nate sat eating happily.
Caitrin was relieved to be back in the company of the boys, and her
nervous spirit was immediately soothed.
“Glad to see you had the patience to wait for us,” Nellwyn said with a smile. “What… are you eating?”
She pointed to a plate in the middle of the table, which was piled with
what looked like dough balls, but they could see form Kyair’s half
eaten one that there was something like meat in side. “I ‘unno,” Kytair
said with his mouth full. “’ut it’s delicious.”
Kolt sat down and helped himself to one Caitrin and Nellwyn following
his example. “So,” He began, “You guys are from Coral right? Bet this
place is really different for you guys.”
Nellwyn nodded quickly, “Yes, it’s much different. And so cold!”
Kolt laughed, explaining, “Yeah, you guys would be used to warmer
weather, wouldn’t you? Firel and Drakith have a much colder climate
then where you guys are from. Riddel thought of that, and went to buy
you guys some heavier clothing. Though her and Koan got into this big
fight beforehand…”
“By the way,”
Nathaniel began, “Not to be rude or anything, but who exactly are you?”
Kytair stared at him blankly, and looked about ready to yell, but Kolt
cut in.
“Sorry about that, I’m
Kolt, personal, ah, assistant to Riddel and Koan. Who are the rulers of
Drakith. But don’t call them that here, because they are in hiding.”
When met by four pairs of confused eyes, he laughed slightly. “I’m
sorry. I forgot that you guys are pretty sheltered. Here, let me
explain…
“Riddel and Koan used to
be the rulers of the land of Drakith, which was mostly a place for
magic users to live. It was a quiet place to live. I worked as a
servant in the Drakith castle, and I mean, we were treated well. Then
Tahir, the ruler of Firel, attacked. This was, oh, two-three years ago
now. He completely destroyed Drakith, now it’s being called the Fallen
Kingdom.
“So anyways, me and Riddel
and Koan all ran from Drakith, once they saw that Tahir wasn’t going to
stop. We stayed hidden in the forest for the longest time, away from
everything. Then Koan decided he didn’t really want that life for his
sister, and he went to Coral to see if they would be welcome there.”
“You guys came to Coral?” Caitrin repeated, looking surprised.
“Yeah, but that didn’t go over too well.”
***
I listen, shocked, as Kolt tells us how Elder had refused Riddel, Koan, and him shelter in Coral.
“Elder told him that we were all evil, especially me, since I’m a
shapeshifter. He told us that he didn’t want ‘our’ kind invading his
life, his village. He told us to go, and that whatever fate befell us
was our own doing.”
The words he’s
saying… don’t make sense. How could Elder, the same man who watched
over me for my whole life, have been so cruel? Then I remind myself, I
haven’t really met Riddel or her brother, Maybe Elder was right for
keeping them out…
***
“So… why are you staying in Firel now?” Nathaniel asked.
Kolt, leaning back in his chair, said, “Well, Koan figures that since
Tahir is still looking for him and his sister, the safest place is
somewhere where he wouldn’t expect them. So what better place to hide
then right under Tahir’s nose? Though, personally, I don’t care much
for this plan. I’ll like it much better when we get to Grayen.”
“That’s...where we’re headed next, right? Then on to Kismet?”
“Yeah,” Kolt said with a nod. “Grayen is a nice place, I think you guys
will like it. It’s a lot greener there, and overall a happier place
then Firel. Though not nearly as advanced as Firel is…”
“How do you mean?” Kytair asked, still eating.
“Well, I suppose you didn’t really have time to notice on your way in,
but Firel is the mechanical power in Aevalyn. They’ve devolved machines
that can basically think and act as humans, and all other sorts of
gadgets that the other kingdoms are lacking. Mind you, Drakith got by
on magic, so they didn’t need them.”
“What about Kismet? What’s there like?” Caitrin asked quietly.
Sighing and biting his lip, Kolt frowned. “I don’t know much about
there, to be honest. Kismet is pretty much exclusive to Elves, I think
you bunch will be the first humans to set foot there in a long long
time. The ruler there is Thaddeus, but yeah, don’t know much about him.
Riddel and Koan don’t talk about him much. I have my guesses why but…
That’s really none of my business to share. Sorry,” he added quickly,
but Nellwyn laughed.
“It’s fine!
Anyways, it’s getting late, er, early, and we’re going to leave pretty
early, right? Thanks for informing us, Kolt,” Nellwyn laughed as she
stood.
Kolt, standing also, said,
“No problem. I know Riddel and Koan can come across as rude sometimes,
when they really don’t mean it. But yeah, sleep would be good for you
guys. Riddel’s still out though, I think I’m going to go check on her
before I get to bed. Night you guys.”
He went over to the door, and Caitrin watched with wide eyes as his
features became distorted, then where he stood only moments before now
was crouched a dark black dog, who pushed open the door with his nose
and trotted out into the night.
***
“Well, he seemed nice enough,” Nell said when we got back into Riddel’s room and once again tried to get some sleep.
“Yes, he did. That was crazy how he turned into that dog though,” I replied.
“It wasn’t a dog, it was a wolf,” Nellwyn muttered as she closed her eyes.
“It was a dog.” But only silence answered me, and Nellwyn’s breathing
was steady and calm. I closed my eyes, and soon sleep took me as well.