COBALT: The Red Phantom (Book One)

Chapter 28: Fairez Stella (Part 2/3)

          Káel awoke to the gentle beams of dawnbreak, nestled into the wine red cushions of a polished oak carriage. He felt strange in the rocking wagon, the birds that sang upon Cobalt's roof at this hour nowhere to be heard with their lulling notes. It was a sound he'd found comfort in all these months, now replaced by a creaking grind as the strange parrot-ostriches pulling the cart kept to their pace. 

          Truvius stirred as Káel moved his arm, lifting his cheek off his shoulder with a bleary eyed squint and yawn. "Still early."

          Káel shifted his gaze to Vera and Talli, still passed out with an array of candied fruits and chocolates littering their cushions. She hadn't spoken to him since hopping in the carriage. Not even a grunt when he offered to pay her back for the carriage ride. 

          With another twist of slithering guilt rocking his road-sickness, Káel shifted his gaze to Locke. He'd taken the only seat facing the wagon's front, sat upright on the maroon cushion with his eyes gently closed. Until Káel stared too long and one of them cracked open.

          He averted his gaze, chills tickling his spine as he nudged Truvius to whisper. "How long until we're at Fairez Stella?

          Truvius blankly stared at the floor, whatever answering device he had in his brain still asleep.

          "Should be there by the early aft," a cheery voice cut in, the small wooden slot blocking their view of the carriage front slipping up for the driver to peek through with a blinding pool of light. "We'll be coming in on a beautiful view of her. His Majesty Elisious has blessed the city with Avrinidas' beauty and Cognito's wit. The greatest crowned jewel for the greatest nation upon Lumi."

          Káel slowly nodded, dipping his whisper even lower in the hopes that only Truvius would hear him. "Who are those people?"

          Truvius let out another yawn, looking out the slot at the smiling woman. "That's the carriage driver..." he bounced his finger at her in thought. "Jil?"

          "Your memory serves you well."

          "No," Káel whispered, frowning as Vera stirred. "the people she was talking about."

          The exhaustion in Truvius' eyes deadpanned to disappointment, a signature look when he thought Káel's question was beyond dumb. "Which one? The goddess of beauty, the god of knowledge, or the emperor of Alta Staar, who's in our history textbook?"

          Káel nodded, voice void of amusement as he relaxed back into his seat. "Thanks. Didn't mean to wake you." 

          "Fairez Stella, have you two been?" Jil said, eyes now drawn from the slot to navigate the ride off the trail and onto a flatter mound of grass. "There's plenty of room up front here, if your worried about waking the others."

          After a moments glance, the two boys seized the offer for fresh air and starlight, climbing out the carriage as quietly as their clunking boots could let them. Káel was greeted by a snort from Nel, the dragon happily curled atop the ride, where a cushion of woven moss eased her limbs, and a small cloth top shaded her black scales. 

          Unsure as to how she wanted to be greeted, Káel opted for a nervous wave, scooching up next to Jil with Truvius sliding in just after. Jil continued the small talk, allowing Káel to throw the blue and green spearbeaks fruits every so often as they traveled the rolling hills of emerald grass.

          Káel never noticed how time traveled. Sped by fresh air, full starlight, a full stomach, and most importantly, someone to have a dumb conversation with. Truvius had gotten over his morning bite, and Jil was the perfect match to keep the conversation going. Káel just nudged in where he could, entirely comfortable sitting back to soak in the first string of friendly conversation since fleeing Cobalt.