Brecken woke with a start, sweat beading on his forehead. Bad dreams weren't something he was used to, and this one was particularly bad. It was full of death and pain. The specifics faded as fast as his breath, slipping away, just out of grasp. The stress of living on the run was starting to get to him. He wiped the sweat from his brow and took off his shirt to try and cool off.
Glancing at Lucas, he saw the methodical rising and falling of his breath in the early sunlight. Getting out of bed, he put on his cloak, making sure to fasten the sigil Lucas had given him to the left breast. If he forgot that small detail, it could cost them their lives. The thought sent a shiver through his body.
Pulling back the cloth of the carriage revealed the clearing they stopped to make camp in. Some of the cabins had already left, three by Brecken's count. The day before he watched Mirim and Griff get into their carriage, making a note of which one it was to keep an eerie eye on. They had already left to Brecken's delight. Hopefully Mirim didn't run his mouth when going into the city. If he were caught, it would put the entire group at risk.
Ezra and Anai's wagon was gone as well. They had most likely been the first to go through. Orhin put a lot of faith in them it seemed. From what he heard from those he cut firewood with; they were always the first to go into danger. The two could handle themselves fine if things went bad, and they would come straight back to deliver the information. Anai was well known for traveling quickly on the wind, and Ezra had a reputation for getting himself out of any situation, though he sometimes left a few holes in some buildings behind him.
There wasn't much to do for the day other than watch the wagons leave one by one. Not soon after he stepped outside, another carriage left, and then another just before Lucas woke and joined his watch. Grum sat in the driver's seat above them, chewing on a piece of hay, and humming a tune, not even a glance at the departing wagons.
"I think that one was Heath, Umbra, and Fullin. Two Aquin and a Flairus. I met them a few days ago after practice. Heath and Umbra are siblings, Aquin and Flairus respectively. Apparently, they were none too popular where they come from in the southern province, each of their people not caring much for the other. The two of them are caught in the middle. What a stressful way to grow up," Lucas rambled as he stretched his back. "Fullin is kind of the third wheel. I think he has a thing for Umbra, but that's just a hunch. Childhood friend it seems."
"I don't think I've met them. You've met most everyone. The way they act, you'd think you'd have already freed the Flairus from the Scorched Factories and torn Kingsland to the ground. I don't know how you deal with all the attention; I would be sick of it within half a day," Brecken jeered. The human gave a smile. Always so confident.
"We can't all be as devilishly handsome as me Breck. If you're jealous I would understand, I am a pretty amazing person." A deep laugh blew out of him, and he bent over slapping a hand on his knee. His jokes were always much funnier to himself to everyone else. Brecken couldn't even tell if they were jokes most of the time until the man started guffawing himself into a shortness of breath. He couldn't help but smile along with such unbridled joy though. Grum gave a short grunt from atop the carriage, but it was unclear if it was directed at Lucas, or just to himself.
"I'm going to go get some breakfast from Gretta. If I die today, I will do it with a full stomach. Would you like to join me?" Lucas asked.
Brecken felt a hole in his stomach but couldn't figure if it was hunger or worry. Even if it turned out to be hunger, the worry he felt took what appetite he might have had. "I think I'm okay for now, thanks though," Brecken responded.
"How about you Grum? You could probably use something to eat, and we all know how much you enjoy company," Lucas asked the driver, who was now leaning back, a straw hat covering his eyes from the rising sun. He didn't respond other than a loud grunt, not dissimilar from the one a few moments prior. "Fine, I'll go alone. I'm sure I'll find some company with someone. I mean how could they resist this?" Another howl of laughter came as he walked off towards Gretta's carriage.
