Dragons Rising ✔️

Ch 54: Breakfast

When I woke up, the fire was still high, as if someone had put more logs inside it while we slept, and I couldn't tell what time it was because there wasn't a window. By the sound of it, Tawny and Clarisa were still fast asleep.

I got my alarm and glow orbs out of my pack and shook the former. It said, "nine twenty-three AM" in a tinny voice. I put it up and used the light of a glow orb to change into relatively clean outfit. At least, it wasn't charred, and I'd gotten the worst of the dirt out of it a few days ago at a stream.

After cleaning my teeth, brushing my hair, and putting up everything I'd taken out of my pack, I shook the others awake.

"It's nine thirty." I knocked on Kuertis's door There wasn't any answer, so I knocked harder.

"Just go in and stop banging on the door." Clarisa groaned. "He didn't lock it last night."

I opened the door slowly, not wanting a repeat of the tent incident. "Kuertis? Are you in there?"

No answer, so I went in. His fire was out completely, but he had a small window next to it that somewhat illuminated the room. He had less space than we did, just enough for two beds, but only one looked slept-in. I checked the bathroom, but he wasn't there either, so I went back to our room.

"He's not there."

"He most likely went to eat breakfast or check on his dragon." Tawny was brushing her hair on her bed.

"I'll go try and find him." I headed for the door.

"I don't think he got lost going to the tavern or the stable," Clarisa called from the bathroom.

"No, but he could be in trouble anyway. I forgot to tell him that Farot is staying here." I went out into the hallway.

It was empty, and I didn't see anyone else until I reached the tavern itself. Kuertis and Farot were talking animatedly at a table by the front doors. When I walked up to them, Farot gestured for me to sit down as well.

"You did not say one of your friends is Kuertis." Laughing, he clapped a hand on Kuertis's shoulder. "You should have said."

"I thought it might be a sore subject." I sat down. "Apparently, I was wrong. Kuertis, didn't you say you offended the heir prince badly enough that everyone thought he should kill you?"

Farot snorted, and Kuertis grinned sheepishly.

"When the raiding party captured me, they forced me to watch after the cattledraks they stole from Lykela. Farot came seven months after they captured me to inspect a new herd of draks the raiders brought in. I wagered my freedom that I could beat him in a drak race. When I won, he let me go back to Lykela, but people here thought he should have killed me for 'dishonoring' him."

"So you're what, friends or something now?"

"We are friends, I think," Farot said.

I hoped Kuertis was only acting, because if not, it might be a problem if we got into a fight with Farot. We would have enough trouble winning against Farot and his katalni without Kuertis and Flametongue either out of the fight or fighting against us.

"El, are Clarisa and Tawny awake?" Kuertis asked. "Farot wants to leave after breakfast."

"They're awake. They should be ready to go soon. If we're leaving so soon, I'll go get my pack." I stood.

Kuertis got to his feet as well. "I left mine in my room, too."

We left Farot and went down the hallway to our rooms. Right outside the door, Kuertis grabbed my arm and pulled me to a stop.