Otherworld (working title)
an excerpt

Turning on his heel, he padded softly into the shadow of the great wall of Telone. It was but half a day until he would make his escape, he needed somewhere to lie low until then. He leant against the pale wall nonchalantly as a small winged creature flitted from the sky to land on his shoulder and curl up there, as if this was his favourite perch of all.

“Sulin?”

“The ceremony will take place in three hours.”

“We already knew that! Did you find out anything useful? You were gone forever!”

“I was not,” Sulin said. “I was gone an hour and you know it.” He settled his snout into curled up paws, his eyes closing sleepily. Torran reached up and prodded him sharply in the ribs.

“Oi, lazy. Tell me something I can use.”

“It’ll cost you.” A sigh.

“What this time?”

“I want, hm, let me see… a dragonfly. Mm, yes. That should do nicely. They crunch so delightfully, you know.”

“Done. You know, I still don’t know why you insist on eating. It’s not as if you need to, is it?”

“I happen to enjoy the sensations, thank you very much. Now. Something you can use, you say. Well, you’ll like this! Her grace Azerith will leave the Temple at the precise moment the sun falls below the horizon. Why? Because she’s a flashy bitch, and she wants to make the maximum impact on gullible fools. But you already knew that. The important thing to remember is this: for exactly one hour, you will have the Temple to yourself. Azerith’s entourage will be following her as good little lackeys do, and she, get this, has given everyone permission to attend the festival.” Sulin paused dramatically. “Even the servants! Such generosity from the soon-to-be High Guardian! She’s already on her way to worming her way into everyone’s hearts as the best we’ve had since, well, since Tyr Damen. And we all know how famous he was, Mister I’m-so-perfect-everyone-loves-me-Tyr-Damen.”

“This is perfect. I never expected it would be… well, this easy.”

“Do you think it’s at all suspicious? That they’re leaving the Temple unguarded on such a momentous day? I mean, it’s not as if they don’t know you’re a renegade now. You’ve gotta be one of the most famous former High Guardians ever.”

“Perhaps you’re right…but I’m going to have to take that risk, as much as I don’t want to, Sulin. Although I suppose I have the advantage of having you around. I bet no-one knows that guides can stick around, even after their master has been fired.”

“Mm, you’re right. Can I sleep now?”

“Lazy reptile.” Torran smiled. He had no idea what he’d do without Sulin. In fact, as soon as he’d been exiled, he’d been worried that Sulin Slytewing would be taken from him. After all, a guide was only there for a High Guardian, something he was no longer. He pursed his lips at the memory; they had clung together, so certain that they were to be separated. It was quite a shock to find Sulin still in his arms when Torran’s eyes had opened.