COF 2: The Soul Spells

6 | Celebration (II)

The ride back to Depandes was quiet. Cyrdel stood on the sled's helm, his hand resting on the pommel of the sword by his belt. Xanthy had to stop herself from glancing at him every now and then. That guy in coveralls was actually a royal? Gods, she should not judge people ever again.

Cyrdel turned away from the sky as if sensing Xanthy's attention. He sat down across her on the sled's available benches and smiled at her.

"I feel like we did not get properly acquainted and I really regret that," Cyrdel's Ylanen accent sounded a bit strange now that Xanthy heard him speak in a more formal tone. "I was in a hurry to go back to Depandes because my parents will have my head for dinner if I did not show up on time. Ravalee insisted that we get you from Flaron. I have no choice but to risk it. I am sorry if I acted unaccommodating."

Xanthy pursed her lips. Cyrdel had been the most accommodating person she met so far. Why was he apologizing?

He extended his hand. "My name is Cyrdel Sonasson, Crown Prince of the Alkaran throne," he gestured to Ravalee. "This is Ravalee Vivenca."

Cyrdel nodded at Xanthy after they shook hands. Her throat dried up as words died in her head. "Uh, I am Xanthiene," she took her hand back and clenched her fists on her lap. "Xanthiene Vivenca."

He scratched his chin. "Hmm. That poses a problem," he shook his head and crossed his arms. "I guess I shall call you Miss Vivenca."

"Please," Xanthy looked down to her hands. "Just 'Xanthy' is fine."

Cyrdel turned to Nyxis and leaned back. Against the sled's walls. The wood gave a little creak. The human cleared his throat. "Nyxis Helgase."

"How about you?" Cyrdel raised his eyebrows at June.

Xanthy stole a glance at June. He was paler than usual. Was this the moment she would learn of his family name?

"I'm June," he said with the beginnings of a frown on his lips.

Cyrdel raised his eyebrows, expectant. June's face darkened. "It's just 'June'."

"Okay," Cyrdel nodded. "Just June."

June was about to protest when Cyrdel whistled sharply and the birds banked a hard right. Xanthy's side slammed into the sled's walls, eliciting a yelp from her lips. The birds descended sharply and Xanthy left her stomach in the sky. Her nails dug into the sled's wood as she clenched her jaw to avoid screaming.

The birds' claws touched the ground, stirring dirt as they flapped their wings shut. Xanthy's world sped back to her. Her knees shook as she crept out of the sled. Her feet slapped beige cobblestones. They were back in the open courtyard in the fancy estate.

So...was this the Alkaran Palace?

A chorus of twittering tore Xanthy's attention to Cyrdel tossing something to the birds. Orange and yellow feathers bristled in delight as the birds snapped their food (that looked a lot like an animal's leg) with joy. Ravalee whizzed past all of them and hurried inside, her hair already a loose mat at her back, the ribbon tied at her wrist.