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@joelle-stone

Ooh, I already really really like Ferran. Like a lot. He’s definitely my type of character.

That’s awesome! Let’s see what he does, I’ve never written from his POV.

And OH DEAR, OH DEAR, DOG FIGHTS HERE WE COME!! XD Sadiq will NOT be pleased.

LOL, let’s see what happens XD

Also, love the name Azar!

Thank you! It’s Persian for ‘fire’. It’s kind of a joke that I give all Ferran’s pets fire-related names. (Because he’s a smith and all) He has a ginger cat named Ember. No, I did not name him after this site XD That was an accident, but now I like the name XD

Here we go!

Ferran

Azar trotted behind me as I strode down the alley. She hadn’t left the forge all day. I hadn’t wanted to let her roam free. It was the middle of summer, but the city was too busy and she’d get lost. The alley was narrow and dimly lit. Perhaps I’d gotten lost. I was almost sure this was a shortcut home. I might have been wrong.

I would find my way home, I was just afraid I’d be late. I was never too old to get a lengthy signed scolding when I was late.

The alley got even narrower. Azar glanced up at me in what looked like concern.

“We’re fine,” I said, to reassure her. She sat. She didn’t seem to agree.

I switched my degnek to my left hand so I could sign to her to follow with my right. I’d trained her with signs rather than verbal commands, so I didn’t have to teach her twice. Besides, it felt natural.

She followed, but not without another rueful glance.

I blinked. How could it be dark already? Sunset was always sudden, but this was unnatural. Seconds ago, it had been late afternoon, now it was pitch dark.

I sensed Azar’s presence behind me. She growled, softly. She wasn’t any more certain about this situation than I was.

I took a step forward, into the darkness. I touched the wall. The large stones of the walls transitioned to a rough, slippery clay surface. I recoiled a step and glanced over my shoulder. It was equally dark everywhere else. Nowhere to go but ahead.

There was a low ceiling, barely high enough for me to stand. Azar padded behind me, her claws ticking across the stone floor. Not much further, the passage got slightly wider, then narrowed again. The walls changed to a smooth, cold surface. Metal. Large plates spanned the walls. Azar’s claws made an even sharper sound as she stepped onto it.

She whimpered, but it wasn’t in fear. She was quivering in anticipation. Her feathery tail slapped my calves as she barely controlled her excitement. The passage was lighter now. I kept going ahead, tentatively. Azar bounced beside me, barely following.

A panel slid open in front of me and I brought my staff into a diagonal guarded position. Azar whined, literally dribbling in place.

I squinted as I adjusted to the unnaturally bright, white light. I raised my eyebrows in astonishment. A group of people were scattered across a large, bare room. Many of them were in various stages of picking themselves up. I swept over them. Odd clothing, many had pale hair and paler skin. There was one dog, next to a girl about my sister’s age, (I don’t know if this is right XD How old is Riure?) and a man in an iron suit.

And, most surprisingly of all, I recognized Liorah and Gav. They should have been somewhere in the eastern deserts now. Gav was kneeling next to Liorah, who had just gotten up. She swayed on her feet, but her chin was up and her jaw was set. She looked beyond furious, which probably meant she was mildly inconvenienced. Gav looked mildly inconvenienced, which meant he was probably in a situation when he should have been beyond furious.

“I should have shot that earlier. Could’ve saved you a little trouble,” the Iron-clad man said.

“You mean all we had to do was break the accursed thing and we would have been out of here earlier? I could have done that!” Liorah said, indignantly. Yes, beyond furious was an understatement. That meant she was alright. Relief washed over me.

Gav got up, running his hand through his hair.

“Yes, we know. She’s exceptionally talented at breaking things,” Gavril said, icily.

Oh, third person. They were fighting. Again.

Liorah shot him a look that roughly translated to a desire to rip his head off.

Azar gave another whine, and they noticed me for the first time.

Gav grinned and Liorah’s eyes widened.

I raised one eyebrow, sufficiently clarifying my opinion of the entire situation.

“What are you doing here? What happened?” Gavril asked,

Liorah had more important things on her mind.

“Azar!”

Azar yipped and I gave her the signal that she could go. She streaked across to Liorah and literally jumped into her lap. Liorah barely had time to sit down. She was giggling. The high-pitched sound filled the entire room, only interrupted by Azar’s delighted whines. I smiled.

“You alright?” I asked Gavril, shortly.

He nodded.

“A few near-death experiences, otherwise fine.”

“Just the usual,” I said, ironically.

Gavril grinned. He gave me a brief summary of the events and what he knew about the castle. Apparently, Liorah had arrived earlier and had gotten hurt.

I glanced over at her, but she was still occupied by a wriggling Azar. Azar had somehow knocked Liorah over and stood on her chest, licking her face. Liorah was giggling and trying to push her off. I noticed the dark brown stain of blood on a bandage around her leg, but it didn’t seem to be bothering her.

“I wonder if she’s noticed that Azar isn’t the only person who has arrived,” Gavril said, passive-aggressively.

He was probably trying to get her to be polite and follow the unwritten social rules, but he often got so caught up in acting like her parent that he forgot to be her brother, and it annoyed Liorah to no end, as evidenced by her furious glare.

I had no idea what the fight had been about, but I was already tired of it.

“Stop acting like a ten-year-old,” I told Gavril, coldly.

He was taken aback by that. He was older and of far higher rank than I was, but I wasn’t scared of him. Besides, we were friends and who else would tell him when he was being stupid? Liorah did, frequently, but he either ignored or laughed at her.

Goodness knew little sisters could be the most annoying thing on this earth, I had experience with that, but sometimes Gavril got too caught up in always being right.

“Apologize if you need to,” I told Liorah. “Stop arguing, both of you.”

Whatever their argument had been about, it was neither the time nor the place for it.

Liorah sighed deeply and sat up, pushing a slightly calmer Azar off her.

“Sorry,” she said, begrudgingly.

“I’m sorry too,” Gavril said, less angry now.

“I am glad you’re here, Ferran,” Liorah said, “Well, not here, but you know what I mean.”

She smiled. Her smile started on the left side, barely noticeable, then crept across her face until it was bright and slightly mischievous. It suited her.

“Now what?” I said, leaning on my staff.