The Hidden Orphan (The Chronicles of Mistar - Book 2)

Twenty · · · Jadon

Gayoa, Gazar

IT LOOKED LIKE the fluffy potu cotton after it was imported from Malonda. The snow looked precious as if the touch of one of Jadon's fingers would send it flying away. The parts that glistened in the shining Solstice sun reminded Jadon of silver and Donna's wonderful, mysterious left eye.

He couldn't help it. Donna's face seemed to come to mind a lot these past few hours.

Of course, there were spots untouched by snow and even melted away. It left the green Jadon knew, a bright emerald that matched the vast forests of Lotna, but his eyes wandered away from the things he knew and to Gazar's sprawling landscape.

The group seemed to be moving along the outside of a lone peak, a tall mountain, riding smoothly in zumo flyer driven by the Gazaran man that picked them up at the airfield. He didn't say a word, only smiling when heard Jadon's reactions along with the others. In full honesty, people thought Gazar was a wasteland because it was full of snow. At least, that's what Jadon thought. Only did he know that he was so wrong.

Its land was filled by massive forests, bright white and gray cities flashing with lights, and long twisting roads though mountainous landscape. It was a beauty Jadon never thought he would see.

The ride was silent, but from what Jadon could tell, they were moving away from the city. He checked his watch and found they were moving west. Jadon looked over to Faeden who should have been shaking with nerves, especially since he didn't even talk to the driver, but the legend was as cool as the snow outside.

Every once in a while, the team leader would press the comms against his ear and he would squint, listening intently. It was either the king on the other side or Donna. Jadon couldn't tell exactly who, but whoever it was Jadon knew that it had to be someone of high authority due to the aggressive nods of Faeden's head.

A sharp yes escaped Faeden's mouth, making Ben jump. He glanced at Jadon and mouthed, "Where are we going?"

Jadon only shrugged his shoulders, all of a sudden feeling a tickle in the back of his throat. He grunted, clearing it and in the process, catching Faeden's attention. Jadon then nodded his head towards Ben, letting Faeden's eye flitter between the two. Ben mouthed the same thing to Faeden as he did to Jadon, but the team leader only looked confused.

Breaking the silence, Faeden said outright, "What, Ben? Is there something wrong?"

Ben shifted, uncomfortable as everyone stared at him, squished shoulder-to-shoulder with Ella and the door of the zumo flyer. He glanced at Jadon, looking for comfort and reassurance. Jadon only gave him a smile, wanting to give him a thumbs up too but his fingers wouldn't move, frozen from the cold. He instantly felt guilty he didn't give him any more, especially since Faeden sounded annoyed, the type of annoyed where the person would do anything and make up any reason to rip someone else's head off.

"Where are we going?" he answered, his voice on the verge of cracking. 

His shaking hands stopped when Ella slid her fingers in between his. Jadon watched West grimace when he saw Ben and Ella's hands together. His arms were still sitting over his waist protectively, scared of what Ella would or could do to him.

The Gazaran man in front finally spoke. "Not to the princess," he said. Jadon's eyes widened with shock along with everybody else. The first thoughts that came to him were about kidnapping and torturing. Never seeing Tapalla again was one of them.

The man laughed. "Hint: she's not here," he said. "I promise, I'm taking you where you want to go. I know your king. King Cole? We're friends, sort of."