Iridescence

Chapter 1: Hospitality is overrated

<Ezra>

Disheveled amber locks splayed in every direction as I ran a carefree hand along my scalp, scanning the vibrant array of pastries displayed before me.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

I felt beads of sweat accumulate over my brow and I inwardly cursed the sweltering heat of this god forbidden kingdom for causing me such discomfort. 

Tap. Tap. Tap.

I irked a sculpted eyebrow at the salesman, his boot clacking against the stone pavement in what I assumed was a pathetic means of communicating his inner annoyance.

"C'mon boy" his gritty accent was strong and distinct "I don't got all day. Choose a goddamn pastry".

I scowled at the man, an expression I was told, didn't suit my 'pretty face'. I snatched up one of the multiple deserts, my scowl returned equally as I spat back "Choose a goddamn wife, Harry" I flipped him a coin and then the bird as I continued my power walk to, low and behold, the palace.

I had spent a grand total three days in the sun kingdom and yet I already found myself loathing the onslaught of sun. Sun. Sun. The heat was almost as unbearable as the stuck up royals that governed the country but beggars can't be choosers and I was in no position to turn down work.

As I cruised through the streets I couldn't bury the twinging pain in my chest, this place was so different from Clarence and I couldn't deny that I missed the familiar bite of the icy cold atmosphere my kingdom was so famous for.

I glanced down at the sugar coated pastry limp in my tight grip, at least the country made some mean deserts, despite the strong attachment I had for my country, it wasn't exactly a secret that sweet treats weren't our strong point.

My desert oriented day dreams quickly dissipated as I became heavily aware of the golden gates that had risen before me. The gates were made up of intricate gold bars woven together into a spiderweb like pattern and fitted together to create two large gates held together by a large sun crest resting snugly at the top. The gateway had been left unguarded- what kinda bullshit security was this? Curiosity bubbling up inside me, I pushed the palms of my hands up against the warm metal surprised when it swung inwards revealing a bridge materialized of mustard colored stone slabs.

Hesitantly, I paced forward, the suns merciless rays coating me in sweat. I never thought I'd relate to a barbecue on a spiritual level.

I peaked my nose over the side, gaping as I glazed my eyes over the river rapids an eighty foot drop below, I was familiar with magic, yes, but rivers appearing at the blink of an eye was new, even to me. My suspicions were confirmed when the gateway melted away into what I could only assume was some form of multidimensional void.

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Cream colored turrets forked from the building, decorated in a dazzling display of royal blues and golds that reflected fragments of the sun of its metallic base, multiple of the spiraling towers were concealed behind juts of aqua waterfalls that rained from towering juts of earth that shadowed the palace from the blistering sun. From the distance I could spy the flurry of servants rushing in the courtyard carrying various items such as flower pots and baking trays.

As I strolled through the entrance my skin relished in the cool breeze yet I couldn't shake the side glances and murmurs that festered among the passing servants. A young women parted from the sea of passers by and stumbled up to me, her nervous jittery behavior almost contagious as she gulped back her nerves.