Nyssa stared at him. "Thoroughly confusing, but okay."
He chuckled under his breath. "Makes a lot better sense in the old language. Translation can get a bit weird."
“What are you doing out here?”
“Ah…” his head hung, and he began to rock just noticeably, almost as though it were a muscle reflex or comfort he didn’t know he was doing. “Sometimes I come out here to see him.”
"See who?"
A slow smile trickled up his features, and he laughed at the sky. "You haven't seen them," he realized. He turned back to the sky and gave an upwards nod towards the east. Nyssa squinted at the patterns in the sky, remembering that there weren't as many in the east as in the north and south. But the smile on Nadir's face made her chest tighten.
"What am I—“
Words ceased.
Her entire body caved in on itself, and she hardly noticed Nadir reaching over and squeezing her hand.
"It..." She couldn't believe what she was seeing.
Her sister, arrow pulled through the bow in her hands. Draven with his back to her, holding his horn. Tears slipped down her cheek, and Nadir wrapped his arm around her, pulling her into his chest.
"It's them," she managed, weight lifting off her shoulders somehow. A relief that they had done what they'd said they would. Change their world. Change the stars. Even in that void, they were leading the charge.
"I thought you'd seen them."
"I haven't exactly seen stars in a few weeks."
For a few moments, they didn't speak. Nyssa took in what was in front of her, wondering and hoping that her brother had seen them. Her stomach knotted at the thought of him.
"Have you heard anything from my brother?" she asked softly.
Nadir paused, fingers entwining with hers. "The last I heard, he was on his way back from the Bryn."
Nyssa's eyes widened as she remembered the Infi. "Are they sure it is him?"
He seemed to consider her words. "Honestly, I'm not sure any of the Blackhands know to ask otherwise. Why would you think it wasn't?"
Nyssa stared at the ocean, remembering the vision she'd had the night she took down the camp. "My brother and I have always shared a bond stronger than Promised children before, and I am starting to think it was because we were marked at the same time. We can usually feel each other, know when the other is in pain. When Rhaif burned me, Dorian felt it. He thought, at the time, I had simply hurt myself training... Nadir, I can't feel him. And that worries me."
"Hagen was going to send him here with whatever information on what he'd found," Nadir said. "We'll know soon if he is okay."
She sighed her head onto his shoulder, his words assuring her and giving her a small comfort. He kissed her head again, and then she felt him slipping from around her. He stood, and he held out his long hands to her.
“Come on, Princess. I want to show you something.”
She frowned but took his hands anyway. “Why do I get the feeling you’re about to throw me into the ocean?”
He grinned. “I definitely am.”
“I’m not wearing proper clothing,” she argued.
“If you’d prefer, you can wear my pants,” a sly brow raised on his perfect face. “I don’t mind swimming naked.”
“I’m sure you don’t,” she chuckled.
He was leading her into the water, ankles deep. Knees deep. And before she knew it, the water was hitting her breasts.
“You’re going to give me hypothermia,” she accused.
