Chapter 19: 18.

We exit the palace gates and trek down the long road; several merchants pass us as we head down, their carts full of food, shoes, livestock, and other things. Deckette talks excitedly the whole way down, but I can hardly hear him. The rumble from the carts, the chatter from the people and animals, and the heat from the sun is drowning him out.

We finally make it into the city. I smell something sweet which immediately makes my mouth water; people push past me, making me bump into other people; and somewhere in the city, if I listen closely enough, I can hear the glass makers at work.

Breen was never crowded to the point of breathing on the back of people’s necks, but here at the Core City, it seems like it’s never *not* this crowded. I cling to Deckette’s arm, just to make sure I don’t lose him. To me, Deckette is really tall, but seeing him in the midst of these people, he’s average height and he blends right in; unlike myself, who is very short and has hair as white as sea foam.

Everyone here has hair unlike the variety I’ve seen in Breen. All the shades of red seem to be here and the shade of Deckette’s hair is most common; however I don’t see as many light haired people, like Wicker and D’ka.

We stop at a few bakeries and Deckette buys me a few pastries. I inspect them thoroughly, finally coming to the conclusion that they won’t kill me. The first one is spicy, making my nose sting and mouth water; the second one comes right out of the oven, and I am told that it has to be eaten right away. I eat it, but the price is a burnt tongue. The last one is actually decent; it is sweet, creamy and soft.

Deckette sweet-talks the baker's daughter, who gives us a free drink. The whole time the only thing running through my mind was that if Anna were here, she would’ve boxed Deckette’s ears for all the honey coming out of his mouth.

It smells sweet and spicy, making me skeptical. I drink it and frantically spit it out. Deckette turns when the girl gasps. I feel my face scrunch up as my taste buds and mouth pucker while my eyes tear up.

“Hot embers!” The girl exclaims. “What is your problem?” She demands.

“Excuse me?” I cough. I inhale through my mouth to relieve some of the sourness but it only makes it worse.

“Were you raised on a farm? You can’t just go around spitting on people’s stuff!” Her delicate face turns sour as she looks at me with disgust. Deckette frowns.

“What’s wrong with the drink?”

“False advertising, that’s what! It smells sweet and spicy but tastes so awful!” I thrust the cup to Deckette. “It’s so *tart*!” My taste buds are going haywire. I’ve never tasted anything like it before and the sensation was throwing me for a loop. The girl rolls her eyes.

“How weak can you be?” She snaps. I glare at her. “Pathetic.” She mumbles loudly.

Deckette takes a sip and his face scrunches just a little. “Lemon licker. It’s a classic drink for those with the stomach.” He downs the rest then turns back to the girl. “You’ll do best to watch your mouth. You’re speaking to a lady Lux.” He warns.

*Even Deckette calls me Lux*. I glance at Deckette. *Maybe I should ask Deckette about it. We’re closer than Vo or the captain...he wouldn’t be too suspicious...would he?*

The baker’s daughter scoffs. “Yeah, right. That’s probably a wig.” She sneers.

“Far from it.” Deckette nods. “Remi.” He walks past me and opens the door. I’m halfway out when I hear a retort and Deckette answers hotly.

“Yeah, well the king didn’t want you!”

We walk in silence, although the city is hustling and bustling with noise.

I can’t get that “Lux” out of my head. Ever since Captain Jace, everyone has been calling me Lux. I’ve never heard that title before, and I doubt anyone in Breen knows what it is either, or else I would know what they’re all talking about. From the snappy conversation with D’ka, I only learned that Lux is something special and that Captain Jace, I mean, *Prince Jace*, can help me.

I glance over to Deckette. Between him and Jace, who do I trust more?

“I’m sorry, Deckette, for yelling at you. I’m sorry for taking my anger out on you. I’m sorry for hurting you. You’ve only ever been good to me and I repaid that goodness with evil.” Deckette glances at me then turns away.

“I forgive you.” Tears spring to my eyes. “It’s nothing I’m not used to. I did grow up with sisters, you know, and you ladies can be quite…the iron rod at times. Don’t worry about it, Remi.” He gives me a soft smile and just like that, the world feels like a better place.

“Thank you.” We pass a vendor that has shiny jewelry and I don’t even stop to think about the words that come out of my mouth. “Are there any romantic spots in the Core City?”

*What an embarrassing thing to say, to imply*! I can feel my face turning red. However, I can see that Deckette is trying to suppress his mirth at my embarrassing spectacle. I don’t know *why* that thought came to my mind after looking at jewelry.

“Are the forges as magnificent as they claim?” I quickly try to save myself from further embarrassment. “What about the glass-makers? Is it true they are a special sub-element?” I have always heard stories but never thought that they could be true; and now I’m in the heart of the Fire element. I actually have a chance to see them.

Deckette sighs and stops at a clothing booth. He browses through the different silks, taking his time to feel them between his hands. He turns to me and holds up different colored silks to my face.

“Yes, whatever you’ve heard about the forges and glass-markers, they’re true.” He tilts his head slightly to the side, examining the golden silk next to my face. He turns and swaps it out with a soft blue silk and drapes it across my shoulders. He suddenly pulls me forward with it and I stumble into his chest.

He smirks at me, then leans down to whisper in my ear.

“As for romantic spots in the city, I know a few.” I feel my face ignite. My heart is racing and I find it hard to breathe. The fabric around me loosens suddenly, making me stumble backwards a little bit. “But, you’re not my type.”

“What?” I mumble and look up at Deckette, completely bewildered. What in the coral reef was *that*?

“You know, with the white grandmother hair and murderous look, it really turns a guy off.” He looks at me and bursts out laughing, hardly being able to catch his breath. His amber colored eyes sparkle, as his face starts turning as red as his hair from laughing so hard.

Did he just...call me a grandmother?

“I’m not into older women like that.” He wheezes. “But, thanks for the offer, *grams*.” I throw off the blue fabric as I finally come to my senses.

“Deckette! You’re so rude!” I start to lightly hit him. He blocks me and keeps laughing. “Is that any way to speak to a lady!?”

“I’m just speaking the truth.” He laughs and catches my hands. He pulls me close to him and bends down so that our faces are inches apart. I can feel the heat rolling off of him. A huge grin is spread across his pale face, accompanied by a mischievous glint in his eye. “But, even though *I’m* not into it, I know of a certain captain who *is*.”