He shifts a bit uncomfortably from the question being turned back on him, but thankfully Caedes just keeps talking so he doesn't have to answer right away. 

"That is true. I guess we will wait and see."

The fellblood's eyes catch Caedes' movement in their periphery and he watches the changeling silently as he removes the cape. The moonlight catches the loose strands of the man's long white hair a way that is almost blinding. How strange that a man that starkly stood out so much from the shadows could so easily vanish within them. 

His muscles instinctually tense as Caedes throws the cloak around him, but he refrains from flinching or stepping away, allowing the changeling to fasten the cloak clasp and fiddle with the hood. 

Zarius gives Caedes an unimpressed look as he finishes speaking. 

"Last thing I expected to gain from this venture was another sassy brat with the confidence to call me out. Gods forbid you two end up getting along."

"I can hear you."

The fellblood looks down at the dark elf, an unimpressed look on his face. "Congratulations for having functional ears."

She scoffs and sits with her back against the drake where its neck and shoulder meet. Folding her arms across her chest, she looks up at the two men. 

"So, we're going to Darkveil City?"

Zarius tilts his head skeptically. "Yes, what of it?"

"Dunno," she shrugs. "Never been there. Only heard rumors it was full of shady jerks. Seems true enough if you are from there."

"You will get to see it for yourself. I would recommend learning how to pick your words carefully before we arrive there."

Shael rolls her eyes. "Whatever."

After a few hours pass, Indra eventually stirs from her slumber. Her eyelids slip across the glassy surface of her electric blue eyes and her nostrils flare to take in the night air. She immediately picks up the scents of those around her and there's a thunderous rumble in her throat as he eyes lock on Zarius and Caedes.

Zarius pushes off the wall and stands defensively, ready to dive for cover if needed. "Call your drake off, Miss Shael."

For a moment, it looks like the dark elf considers letting the drake loose on the pair, but then she reaches up and scratches at the underside of the drake's throat scales. 

"Easy girl, they're not worth it."

The fellblood is simultaneously relieved and offended. But at least the drake doesn't immediately leap at them to tear them limb from limb. It does make sure to not let either of them out of its sight though. 

Zarius breathes. "Well, we should get a move on then."

He pats Caedes on the shoulder before stepping down the stairs, making sure to give the drake plenty of space.

Caedes laughs softly; his smile is lopsided at Zarius’ unimpressed expression over his comment; and his following complaint only opens more doors to bug him further. “You don’t complain about it too much anymore,” he jests, about to poke further at him, when the dark elf interjects. He closes his lips, glancing over his shoulder at Shael.

Caedes rolls his eyes and twirls on a heel, pushing his back up against the wall near Zarius; he crosses one ankle leisurely over the other while the two start going back and forth again.

“Clearly not all shady jerks are from Darkveil; you’re going to fit right in.” Caedes snickers, offering Shael a wave of his hand from where he’s standing; he would be surprised if he and the dark elf did get along. At least her sense of humor (or possibly just her sheer level of spite) is something he can appreciate.

…and also use as a ricochet to bite back at her snide comments.

As silence falls between the trio, Caedes slides down the wall to sit in the grass near Zarius; he keeps himself occupied by playing with one of his throwing knives; tipping, tilting, and flipping it effortlessly between his palms and the pads of his fingers. For the most part, he keeps an eye on Shael and Indra; but occasionally, the changeling tilts his gaze towards Zarius.

When the moon reaches its peak far above the abandoned house, the ghostly light outlines his silhouette flatteringly; highlighting the fellblood in cool tones, and turning the golden highlights of his outfit and jewelry to silvering hues under its influence.

As time passes, however, the drake finally does stir; the moment the thunderous rumble breaks the air, Caedes snaps to attention. He bounds up to his feet, flipping his knife within his palm and readying himself to make a sudden move if necessary; the tension crackles between all present for a moment, until Shael finally complies and scratches at the drake’s neck.

He doesn’t lower his defensive stance until Indra starts to back down.

The drake never fully backs down, of course; but he supposes that’s only fair given the events of the day. Slowly, Caedes unwinds his posture; only fully relaxing when Zarius rests a hand on his shoulder before heading down the stairs. The assassin breathes a slow sigh before stepping down after him, ensuring that he keeps a generous distance between them and the drake.

Regardless, he keeps an eye on the massive draconic creature, his throwing knife palmed in a way that would allow him to use it if absolutely necessary without fully displaying the weapon out in the open.

Traveling mainly under the cover of night, the group sets journeys back to Darkveil from King's Valley. Though it is a long and arduous trek, Shael cooperates for the vast majority of it. Well, save for her taking every opportunity to either complain or make jabs at one of the two, though it does just seem to be how she's used to interacting with people. 

Crossing the Zeinav Desert is particularly grueling, but they manage to make good time by riding Indra across the dunes at night and then hiding from the sun during the day. It's sweltering as expected, and having two extra stomachs to feed does make it more challenging, especially with one of those stomachs having a taste for fresh meat and nothing else. 

They do run into a few caravans along the way which make for perfect opportunities to trade protection for food and water. When offers of a trade of service for goods seem to be going south, having a storm drake at their backs seems to help with more forceful negotiations. 

There isn't much useful discussion between the travelers during the journey. Shael refuses to entertain any questions about her past while Zarius and Caedes keep their own business between them and only them. They do learn a little bit about the young dark elf rider though, including that she has a particularly acute allergy to Dust Melons. Thankfully Zarius' healing pendant had regained some liquid by that time. 

Eventually they make it back to Darkveil and its semblance of civilized society where Zarius makes arrangements to house Shael and Indra elsewhere in the city since the Rookery has insufficient space for a drake. 

After they are all settled back in the comforts of their own spaces, Zarius gets to work scrawling a letter to his contact who sent them on that whole rodeo to begin with. Hopefully their work will have been satisfactory to complete the contract and with any luck the Red Riders would be none the wiser to what had actually happened.