On Our Way

After racing through the market and realising she had no idea where to go, Leyade met up with Silas in the city square. It was paved with polished stone, and a beautiful fountain made from the same stone seemed to rise from the ground itself. Fairies hurried to and fro around it.

“Well…” Silas sat on the edge of the fountain, watching Leyade. He looked as though he had been there for a while. “Have you finished running around like a madwoman?” A teasing smile spread across his lips.

“You elves are so strange sometimes,” Elindra murmured after drinking from the fountain.

Leyade folded her arms, sulking.

“Sorry for wanting to set off for Falathel already,” she grumbled, narrowing her eyes. “For some reason, I’m in a hurry.”

Silas chuckled to himself, shaking his head and pressing a hand to his forehead.

“I’m not saying you aren’t, but you can’t just leave like that. I need the hour I asked for. And you, young lady…” He pointed two fingers at Leyade. “Don’t you need anything? Perhaps to replenish your potions and rations, prepare some medicines…”

“Silas is right,” Elindra said. She looked at the water for a moment, then slipped into the fountain and floated on the surface. “You should calm down and prepare properly. Better safe than sorry!”

Leyade closed her eyes and sighed.

“I was going to! But I was so excited to have somewhere to go that I couldn’t help running off,” she explained, watching Elindra in the water. “Don’t treat me like a child, Silas. I know what I need to do.”

Silas raised his hands in surrender.

“Easy. I wasn’t judging you. There’s nothing wrong with being excited. In fact, I’m glad to see you in better spirits. But I wanted to give you this.” He took a closed leather pouch from his satchel. It looked full. “You can use what’s inside to pay if anyone asks you to barter.”

Leyade accepted it carefully and looked at him in surprise.

“Oh. Thank you, Silas. You didn’t have to.” Regretting the way she had treated him, she looked down at the pouch in her hands. “I’m sorry I spoke to you like that,” she added, a little embarrassed.

“It’s all right. You’re under a lot of strain. It’s understandable that you’d snap,” Silas replied, waving away her apology.

“Don’t worry, Leyade!” Elindra exclaimed. “Silas can be a bit silly sometimes. Don’t feel bad.”

The dragon said it as though it were the most natural thing in the world, peeking over the edge of the fountain.

Silas slowly turned his head towards her.

“What did you say?”

Elindra gazed back at him from the water, perfectly unruffled.

“You little…”

Silas stood, scooped Elindra up and held her beneath the stream of water pouring into the fountain.

Leyade tried not to laugh. When she could no longer help it, she hid her face behind the pouch.

“We could split the tasks between us,” she suggested, still smiling. “I’ll buy the supplies, and you arrange our departure and transport. All right?” She fastened the pouch to her belt. “We’ll meet back at the bark dwelling when we’re done.”

Silas nodded, lifting a thoroughly soaked Elindra out of the fountain with one hand.

“Yes, boss!” He gave Leyade a salute. “I’ll be there.”

Still holding the dragon in the same hand, he raised her, supporting her from beneath as though she were a ball, while she wriggled and growled.

“Well, see you later, Leyade.”

Silas waved goodbye and left.

The young elf watched him until he disappeared into the crowd. An amused smile still lingered on her lips. She shook her head and set off to buy their supplies.