COBALT: The Red Phantom (Book One)

Chapter 19: Stranger Danger (2/4)

          "What can I do for you today?" The shopkeeper called, his elbows resting on a bed of spread sheets that coated his counter with a fresh creamy white. His smile grew as Puff went straight for him, the dragon stopped at the massive wooden obstacle to warble excitedly. "Well good morning to you as well," Soren said, craning over the counter to smile down at Puff. "Did you friend get into more trouble?"

          Soren caught Káel's gaze, patiently waiting for an answer while the teen nervously eyed the man next to him. 

          He had turned to watching Puff, his cold frown unmoving as the dragon weaved in front of the counter, looking for a way up the polished trunk to his friend with dwindling options.

          The man finally finished scanning the dragon, his attention piercing Káel's comfort once more. "He can't fly?"

          Káel gulped, the stranger's accent somehow drawing more unease into the air. "He's... working on it." 

          Puff audibly snorted, one ear turned to catch the conversation Káel was having with the man.

          "Valerans," Soren said, giving the man a small nod as they exchanged their silent understandings at the word. "His name's Puff." Soren craned over the counter again, wiggling his fingers to taunt Puff up. "And you're very good at flying, aren't you?"

          Puff let out an indignant scoff, backing up his rear and making sure the stranger was watching. When he'd gained a meter on the counter he shot his little body into the air, flapping madly until he managed to hook his claws into the edge of Soren's counter, the chuckling locksmith dragging him up the rest of the way.

          "See?"

          A tiny smile flashed across the stranger's face as he watched the dragon assault Soren's face with licks, his lightened mood in no way lessening Káel's cringe when he turned to him. "And where are you from?"

          Káel slipped his other hand into his pocket, unable to hold the stranger's gaze as he muttered out a response. "The Mizer Islands sir." 

          "Tesirus have mercy on your lying skills," Phantom grunted.

          "Really?" the man replied, strangely shifting his gaze to Soren in expectation.

          The shopkeeper shrugged. "He hasn't told me otherwise. Bit pale, aren't you?"

          "I guess, yeah," Káel said, his form squeezing with caution as he stood completely exposed in the middle of the shop. 

          The stranger nodded, finally allowing the door to swing shut so he could draw closer to Káel and shatter the teen's efforts in casually tiptoeing away from him. without stopping he passed his side, taking a spot beside Soren's counter to size Káel up a couple times. "You must have had the luxury of shade. Pardon my intrusion, but are you the young boy that started that revolution?"

          "No... I don't think I am," Káel squeaked, stiffening as the two exchanged unconvinced glances. "I was just here to get some ink off me actually," he said, trying to veer the conversation as Soren paid him a confused look. "Do you know how to get rid of enchanted ink?"

          "Enchanted ink? I suppose, what kind of ink would it be?" Soren replied, a posh lift peppering his body as he and the stranger stared at Káel impassively.

          "It's some kind of black dye," Káel replied, not budging an inch from the center of the shop. "Hair dye..."

          Soren's eyes flicked to Káel's hair, and a look of concern crossed his face.