Escape
Caspian dashed across a street opening, slow enough for Harry to keep sight of him, but fast enough that they would leave their probable pursuers in the dust.
The plan went off without a hitch. Caspian had somehow doubted it would work considering how simple it was, but perhaps that's what led to it working.
But now the most important job was in Caspian's hands. Leading Harry to one of the courts.
The night before Caspian had stayed up late into the night debating where he would take Harry.
He was most used to the Air Courts, because of his family working for them. But the Air Court was located up in the sky, on the floating city.
Then there was the Earth Court. Caspian didn't have a lot of dealings with the Earth Court but he knew where it was and had heard that the acting Crown Royal was kind and understanding.
And last but not least was the Fire Court. Caspian had never dealt with the Fire Courts and didn't really know much about it either. His sire, like most Aqua-kin'e, was dismissive of them. Caspian only knew where the Fire Courts were located because of his training and being forced to memorize every map of Nevarah (which was coming in handy right now as he dashed down another side street).
But there was one selling point for the Fire Courts that the others didn't have: contention with the Merrow Court. With the fiercely friendly rivalry between the Fire Princess and Merrow King, if Harry asked Princess Ebony for asylum from Merrow Waters, she just might grant it to be petty. And any advantage the two teens could get they needed.
So it was with that in mind that Caspian herded Harry down the streets towards the Fire sector of Nevarah. As they ran down the streets for what felt like hours it steadily became hotter as they neared the Fire sector, which since it was surrounding a volcano made sense.
Caspian was impressed with Harry's stamina. He only had to slow down and take a short break three times, and considering Caspian's physical condition was trained since birth, Harry keeping up with his weak health was downright impressive and proved his determination to escape. Not that Caspian blamed him. If Caspian had a parent like that, he too would run away.
When the air started to become slightly uncomfortable in its stifling heat to the young Merrow halfling, Caspian knew he was close. And seeing the Fire Palace in the distance, Caspian felt a smug feeling of pride fill him. Harry was almost free and he had helped.
As they neared the gates, the gheyos on duty took notice of them. Caspian knew they must look a sight. A young dragel of obvious Merrow heritage who was sweating from the heat and another uninherited teen who looked like he was ready to collapse from the intense exercise of running from the center of Nevarah all the way there.
“We request audience with the acting Crown Royal,” Caspian declared, pure will stopping him from panting at the heat.
The gheyos raised amused eyebrows.
“The Crown Royals don't see anyone just because they ask, kid,” one said, his hair a mix of orange with yellow tips swaying as he shook his head in amusement.
“My friend is asking for asylum. Please, grant us this request,” Caspian continued his plea, uncaring about his pride. His friend deserved freedom.
The other guard, the one with blue-green hair and who Caspian swore he knew-- but someone like him wouldn't be on gate duty, would he?-- tilted his head to the side as he considered the two kids in front front of him.
Caspian stood up as tall as his frame allowed to not show weakness and Harry tried to collect himself under the man's gaze as well, but with how frantic of a run they had just experienced and Harry's inexperience with heavy exercise, he only managed to look a little more like a worn out and kicked puppy. Whatever the man saw must have worked though, because the next second he nudged his partner.
“Hey, what's the harm in asking Princess Ebony? She might get a kick out of these brats' guts, anyways,” the man who Caspian was now almost one hundred percent sure was the Blood Flame, High Noble Zandian, said.
Caspian gave a bow to the fire elemental. If he was the Blood Flame and had just helped smooth the way for their petition, their luck was extraordinary and Caspian was going to be as respectful as he could.
The other gheyo gave a wary look at Caspian and Harry, before sighing and nodding.
“Wait right here, please,” he said, before moving into the palace, leaving Zandian and the boys outside.
“I've never seen a Merrow or even a Merrow halfling look so comfortable this close to Mount Ra,” Zandian commented, mentioning the volcano that was behind palace.
Truth be told, much like other physical weaknesses, Caspian had been forced to endure heat until his body's natural reaction to it could be handled. When he was younger being so near to Mount Ra without protective and water element grounding runes would have been torture, but by now it was only slightly uncomfortable and left him sweating.
Caspian shrugged in answer.
This seemed enough to amuse the Blood Flame, so Caspian counted it as a win.
A few moments later the other guard stepped out, looking slightly stunned.
“Princess Ebony has accepted your audience.”
Zandian gave a savage grin before nodding at the teens. “Follow me.”
Caspian gave a look towards Harry whose green eyes were so bright with excitement and relief.
He was almost free.