Fire Weaver (Fall of the Fey #1)

Chapter 18

Carmel and Faux walked through the forest until they came to a town that was a lot larger than Trighton that was near Carmel's home but a lot less closed in than Damnati. The shops were spaced far apart but the streets were filled with carts and horses with people leading them while others carried their own loads, for whatever they intended to do, to wherever they needed to go.

'We are going to stick out like a sore thumb.' Carmel stated as they watched the town's people. Their skin was so dark that, even from afar, their teeth and the whites of their eyes shone starkly in comparison. Carmel felt an absurd impulse to touch them to see if their skin was as soft and velvety as it looked. Faux looked at their own pale skin and red hair.

'At least we can pass for siblings.' He told her.

'That's not entirely helpful.'

'It is for the cover story.'

'We need a cover story?'

Faux laughed at her, 'you are so adorable.'

'Why do you keep doing that?'

'What?'

'Laugh at me like that.'

His face deadpanned, 'the girl, Ferra? Well, she said that the guards would have picked us up, didn't she? The Tyrant King, as she lovingly referred to him, probably wouldn't like it if he found out that two Supernaturals from the north are looking into him.'

'Okay, I get it.' Carmel said. 'So we're siblings.'

'We are from that island off the coast, you know...'

'Ghaulfo.'

'That's the one. We're from Ghaulfo.' Faux glanced at Carmel, 'how do you know geography better than I do when you were sequestered in a forest all your life?'

Carmel watched the people moving. 'Just because I lived in a forest doesn't mean that I don't know what the world looks like.'

'So what town do you think this is?' Faux asked her.

'Well, we came to port in Thretson and from there it gets a little fuzzy. We headed inland from the docks in a south-easterly direction and we got grabbed and started going full east. Then doubled back underground back in a north-westerly direction, back to the harbour.' Carmel squinted. 'Really we just jumped a few miles down south then came back east. In short, I don't know where the hell we are.'

Faux laughed, a real laugh this time, not the sarcastic sound he usually makes that made her feel dumb. She smiled, 'you?'

'I'd have to say I'm about the same. It's a nice dusty town though. Houses look sturdy.' Faux leaned on the tree beside him. His white shirt stained from all the running. His rust coloured hair dishevelled. Carmel had never seen him look so terrible. She turned away so he didn't see her mirth. 'What's so funny?' He asked with a scowl.

'You look terrible.' She told him. His face cleared and he smiled again.

'Look who's talking.' He gestured to her equally miserable appearance. 'What was the name of that woman?'

Carmel's face blanked out. 'I have no idea.'

'Can you get to Ferra?' He asked her.

'...If she's near a fire.' Carmel said. 'You think I should go ask her?'

'It's either that or go out there and ask someone.' Faux responded.

'I think we should leave Ferra be, she didn't seem to relish the idea of going home.' Carmel said remembering the mixture of sadness and defiance that marred Ferra's face when she spoke of home.