an elvish city… that and much more. It was stunning in every way, despite its guardians being what was most likely considered as the most dangerous creatures alive, and this place had a city of them!
However, this had me thinking back on what the captain had said when he had first announced himself. How he was the Captain of the Guardians, meaning they hadn’t originally been there for me but to guard the beast at my back. To retrieve the creature and ensure its safe return back to these lands.
The army hadn't just been the protectors of their King, but they were also the guardians of the very beasts that gave their land the name, Land of the Dragon Fire, and I could see why, even if the dragons had been absent from the picture ahead. The city was clearly dedicated to them, with the castle being at the centre of that shrine. The colossal wall itself that surrounded the city was thick enough to be a palace in its own right and one that could clearly have housed hundreds, if not thousands of Fae beings.
Of course, the view from up here offered you the ability to grasp the sheer scale of the place, as the wall surrounded a place that could have easily been as big as Manhattan!
In fact, we were so far away from the main castle that I almost questioned why they hadn't opened up a portal closer to the entrance. This meant that it wasn't really shocking that we had a good few hours left of walking and in all honesty, I wanted to cry. Or at least my legs did!
I was just thankful when the captain had obviously taken pity on me and handed me a silver flask of some sort of juice. It was delicious and I couldn't help but comment with a moan of appreciation, making him again smirk down at me as if this was a common trait of his. I had to say, it was one of those smiles that was infectious and not solely because it came with a pretty face.
He was at least gracious enough to grant me his name when I asked for it, but then in true Amelia fashion, my way of doing this was,
“So, does everyone call you captain, because, no offence, that kind of reminds me of a pirate.” At this he laughed, and it was a warm, comforting sound that strangely reminded me of someone drizzling honey.
“My name is Balin.”
“That’s a nice name. Actually, if history serves me right, it means knight.” He grinned again at this and gave me a soft look that Trice obviously didn’t like because he was giving the captain daggers with his eyes.
“That may be so in your human realm, but here it means trust and not something I imagine your shifter friend is all too eager to grant me yet,” he replied with a knowing grin.
“Ah, yes, well, he doesn’t trust easily,” I said defending Trice, even though he was making it increasingly hard to do so, especially when he started flicking a small blade in and out of his fingers.
“Um, I wonder?”
“Wonder what?” I asked making him look down at me with a mischievous glint in his eye before telling me,
“If it is because I am a Fae being or the lack of trust is because I am speaking to a girl he is obviously in love with?” he tested, whispering the last of this sentence closer to my ear and making me swallow hard. Then I naturally start stuttering out my excuses,
“Oh no… no, we are just… well, you know… we are friends and he’s just protective of me… of our friendship, I mean… Gods, I am so bad at this aren’t I?” He laughed and said,
“Yes, but then again, you are human,” he said with a wink, obviously teasing me and it made me laugh back, which in turn made Trice growl. Something I chose to ignore on account of I wasn’t doing anything wrong and he just kept adding fuel to the fire… pun intended because, hello, we were in a city named after Dragon Fire, so totally needed to be done!
But as for Trice, well it wasn’t as if I was flirting with the guy, flicking my hair seductively out of my face and laughing in some sing song way at something he just said that wasn’t even funny. I was just talking to the man!