Page 50 of Draekora

Because when they arrived near the city’s entrance on the outskirts of a large pillared courtyard, Alex knew something unexpected was happening. Something not even Aven had known about, given the inquisitive look on his face.

The courtyard appeared to be hosting some kind of market event, with Meyarins bartering left, right and centre for goods. In the middle stood a small group of people who were gathering the most attention. It was strange seeing their horse and cart laden with goods, mostly because after everything Alex had encountered that day, the display seemed rather primitive.

She glanced at Aven, wondering how to ask without actually asking, and was struck by the look on his face as he gazed upon the group in the middle of the square. She’d never before seen such open wonder splashed across his features.

Interest piqued, Alex turned, and with the force of an incoming freight train, her stomach lurched violently as understanding washed over her.

The people Aven was watching weren’t Meyarin—they werehuman.

She automatically reached for Aven’s arm, wanting to drag him somewhere—anywhere—away from there. But he was too entranced to notice her feebly grabbing for him.

“You there,” he called to one of the Meyarins walking by. “What’s going on here?”

The male Meyarin paused, his eyes widening in recognition before he bowed deeply. “Prince Aven! What—I mean, uh—It’s an honour to meet you, Your Highness!”

Impatient, Aven repeated, “Do you know what’s happening here?”

The Meyarin turned to follow the direction in which Aven pointed. “It’s Market Day, Your Highness. The mortals have come to trade.”

Aven looked puzzled. “But humans rarely ever come here. Normally my father leads a delegation to meet them in Tryllin.”

The other Meyarin tugged at his collar, clearly not knowing how to respond.

Seeing he was of little further use, Aven dismissed him with a quiet note of gratitude and, with another deep bow, the Meyarin disappeared back into the crowd.

Throughout the encounter, Alex had struggled to stay silent while panicked thoughts screamed in her mind. All she knew was that this was bad. As in, very,verybad.

Aven’s face was lit with excitement when he turned back to her. “I’ve never seen a human up close before. Let’s go meet them.”

“No!” Alex cried. “Naha, Aven!” But he was on a mission and didn’t seem to hear her urgent plea, nor did he pick up that she’d understood his Meyarin words. Instead, he grabbed her hand and pulled her after him, his steps buoyant with purpose.

No, no, no!Alex thought, tugging uselessly against his grip. If the account D.C. had once told her was true, meeting mortals for the first time was what prompted Aven’s initial hatred for them. Alex was literally about to witness history in the making, and that absolutely terrified her. What was he going to do? What wasshegoing to do? Lady Mystique had said nothing could change the course of the future, but the idea that Alex was about to watch events set in motion that still affected the world thousands of years later was enough to make her want to curl up in a ball and hide for all eternity.

“Hello, mortals,” Aven said upon reaching the small group at the centre of the courtyard and dragging the reluctant Alex closer to his side. “How are you all today?”

Alex had to give it to him, he at leastsoundedlike he understood the common tongue. But when a short, portly woman stepped forward and began to speak, it was clear Aven was lost within seconds.

“It’s a mighty fine city you’ve got here, sir,” she said in a deep voice with a broguish accent. “All this shiny My-whatsit stuff sure is pretty in the sunshine. It’s like lookin’ at starlight, only in daytime. I don’t know how you lot get anythin’ done ’round ’ere. I’d be too busy lookin’ about to do anythin’ productive.”

When Aven turned wide, pleading eyes towards Alex, she sighed deeply and took pity on both him and the human by stepping forward.

“Uh, hi there. I’m Ale—uh, Aeylia,” she said to the woman, catching her name just in time.

The woman appeared to be starstruck as she gawked at Alex. “Bless my socks, but you are somethin’ to look at, ain’t you? Much more natural than most of these other folk, yet still just like ’em.”

“That’s, um, very kind of you,” she replied, brushing hair behind her ear in an effort to draw attention away from anything that might reveal her humanness. “Might I enquire of your name?”

“There I go again, forgettin’ me manners,” the woman said, pulling the beret off her head to reveal frizzy grey hair. “Name’s Bensie Hayes, and this rusty lot are my companions, Chadwick, Hestor, Dunstan, Emerson and Lilith.”

The humans each nodded their heads respectively as Bensie said their names, finishing with Lilith giving Alex a curtseying bob.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you all,” Alex told them, while internally screaming at them to run before they screwed up everything. “Can I ask, is someone looking after you here?” She motioned to the courtyard, wondering if the group was simply left to fend for themselves.

“Aye,” Bensie said. “One of your womenfolk has been translatin’ for us. She’s just run off on that enchanted path of yours but said she’d be back in a—”

At the sudden appearance of a new Meyarin appearing out of what seemed like thin air on theValispath, Bensie let out a startled oath before offering an apologetic glance to Alex and finishing, “Uh, looks like she’s back now.”

Alex had to hold back a smile at how terrified Bensie and her companions appeared. Not so long ago, Alex, Jordan, Bear and D.C. had visited Meya for the first time and they’d probably looked even more fearful than this motley group.

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