Page 81 of The Divide that Binds Us

Chapter 17

Bravery

Fae

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Fae’s feet are cakedwith dirt and dust, but what else can she expect from a wasteland like Sapphire Island?

The friendliest island of them all, Fae was greeted by civilians who always thank people for visiting or welcoming people back home.Even with how late it was when she arrived.She found a spot under the station platform and fell asleep until the morning.

The only perk to its desolate state is it gives more freedom for dragons to fly about.If only Fae can scream to all of them to be careful, even if the murders are happening elsewhere but Sapphire.

“That’d be too easy,” Fae whispers, walking down a barely visible street through a foggy stretch of buildings.Mildred is clever enough to not draw attention to the quietest island on Zeala.

Nothing ever happens here.

She’s so tired but she’s out of coins to spare for food or rest.She’s light on her feet, still to make sure no one spots her.Even if nothing happens here, Mildred has something brewing.Guards may prowl or not if they aren’t expecting Fae to be this close to the action.

She slips between weathered cars and through deep alleys by dumpsters.Two kids are playing sidewalk games they drew with a worn rock as they talk about not having chalk.They ask her to join because well...she looks like she belongs here.Her heart strings tug forward to join and be part of something fun, to belong, but her reality is much different from theirs.Her heart drops when she can’t find a single Trace Mark on either of their arms.

“I’m starving,” she whispers.“Is there anything open right now?”

“There’s a pub at the end of the street, friend.They’re known to help with free food,” the boy says.Dirt smears his face and mats his greasy hair.

“Thank you.”Fae bows to both kids and ducks back out onto the main road.She stays on the sidewalk, walking by people who don’t pay her a second thought.

Fae believes she’s found the pub with its rickety, faintly flashing “Open” sign hanging by one makeshift wire thread.She crosses the street at the same time a wingless dragon lands on the roof of the building.

Weariness becomes Fae; she’s gone too long without tea and if she overdoes it with her powers, she’ll go Berserk.

The golden scaled, white bearded dragon looks down at her.Golden horns protruding from its head.

“I’m sorry.I can’t talk right now,” she whispers.

The dragon doesn’t move or even acknowledge her.They look onward at the sky and growls.Fae rushes inside the pub, stinging relief spreading through her blistering feet as she settles into the wooden floor.

A man with bruises and musky overalls immediately approaches her with his heavy boots, olive skin obscured by his thick arm hair and scrapes.

Fae inhales and cringes backwards, until the man smiles.

“Come, come.You look like you needa food,” his guttural voice says.Fae stays planted by the door, but her curiosity betrays her when she smells the heavy richness of some kind of pasta cuisine by the empty bar.

Jazz music is faint in the background, but the man returns with a plate of sushi rolls, and fettuccine noodles coated in a creamy white sauce.Fae inhales the whole plate with her bare hands, not waiting for a fork to be given to her.She had better manners before running away, but the luxurious life under King Remington’s roof feels like decades ago.The man comes back with a steaming mug and a tea bag steeping.

“Isa black tea,” he chuckles bashfully with a twang.“I saw that Trace Mark of yers and figged you need sum.”

“Thank you, sir,” Fae says quietly.The mug almost slips from her saucy fingers, so she grabs the base, ignoring the heat radiating to her palm.Warmth was also returning to her body and limbs, restoring her concentration and motivation to keep going.

As nice as the treat is from a stranger, Fae has to keep moving.

When the man turns away, Fae chugs the hot tea down her throat and drops the plate before dashing out of the building and running down the street.She doesn’t look back but doesn’t hear anyone after her either.Maybe it’s expected, but she still appreciated the kindness and didn’t expect anything different from a Sapphirian.

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