My previous self-assurance that only the kin would by hindered if he were caught seemed increasingly unlikely. I really did not want to cause this wagon-driver any more trouble than I had to, but trouble would definitely arrive if any of the guards saw Levent. Right now it seemed that would be a great possibility, with him sitting there for the all the world to see.
Anxious, I peered at the ever-nearing wall, hoping that for some reason the guards would decide to leave and ignore our lone cart. However, the helmeted figures were not going anywhere. I just stared at them, willing them to disappear until we finally stopped for inspection.
A uniformed man trudged over to the wagon, looking serious and grumpy. I turned back to tell Levent to run or hide, only to find that he had somehow disappeared! I blinked, staring at the indent in the straw where he had just been sitting. Just as he had done in the forest, he had vanished without a trace. How he learned to do that, I would never know.
I said nothing, just staring at the guard as he scrutinized the cart. He went to talk to the driver for a few minutes, and soon we were moving again. We passed through the gate without incident. As I watched the guards become tiny spots in the distance, my eye caught a sudden movement to my right that gave me such a start I nearly jumped out of the wagon.
Levent disentangled himself from his cloak, picking straw out of his hair and looking quite like this was a normal activity for a sunny afternoon. Somehow, by covering himself with his cloak and the straw, he had blended in perfectly. Clearly, I had underestimated the ability of a person his size to become invisible.
Calmly, he returned to his previous position, the corner of his mouth curling into a mischievous smirk as he caught my eye. I blinked and then looked away, not willing to grace him with the grin that was tickling its way over my lips. I would have to add that to the number of strange abilities the dragon-kin had.
The wagon pulled us through several narrow roads before stopping, the driver having reached his destination. Steadily, I climbed out and thanked him. He seemed unfazed as Levent nodded silently in his direction. The man grunted his farewell before he walked the horses down an alleyway and out of sight.
I turned to the dragon-kin, wondering what he would do now. Technically, our little alliance was over; I had gotten to the port, and that was as far as he had agreed