“Olivin is…” Eira paused, her mind back in the other night. “Like a dream that you wake up from and just want to fall back into.”
“Dreams can be dangerous. They’re not the real world.”
“I know, and that’s part of the problem.” Eira sighed. “With Olivin, I want to explore, and discover. With Cullen I know what I have, I just don’t know if it’s enough.”
“What do they feel about it all?”
“They’re willing to wait until I know what I want. So far, at least.”
“Good. They should give you room to explore and decide.” Noelle nudged her shoulder. “And deciding should befun.”
“You make me sound so scandalous.” Eira laughed, as if a dozen such thoughts hadn’t crossed her mind already.
“Be scandalous. It’s delightful.” Noelle beamed at the mere sight of Ducot as he emerged from the shop. “If you’re going to be stuck between two hard places at least they have very handsome faces attached.”
“You are awful!” Eira slapped her friend’s shoulder playfully. “What has Ducot done to you?”
“Made me a devious pirate.” Noelle cackled.
“What about devious pirates?” Ducot asked as he approached. Eira noticed how Cullen and Olivin flanked him, no doubt to help him stay on the right path in the crowded market. His magic would surely have a hard time keeping up in such a busy area.
“That I love this devious pirate.” Noelle kissed him on the cheek. “Now, are we ready to continue?”
“Essential supplies gathered.” Ducot lifted the bag he was carrying, the neck of a bottle reminiscent of the liquor Adela had stuck out at an angle. “Let’s venture onward.”
Noelle and Ducot took the lead as they left the center of the small town. But Eira, Cullen, and Olivin stayed close enough that it felt like they moved as one large pack rather than two smaller groups. The foliage and dense underbrush of the jungle beyond town was just like the paintings Eira had seen of the North. Just like Alyss had described to her. She hoped her friend would venture far enough from town to see it. Though, it might just make her homesick.
Home… The word had a definition in her mind, but no meaning. Where was home for her? It wasn’t Oparium. Nor was it the house she’d grown up in. The Tower of Sorcerers didn’t fit, either—none of Solarin did.
Eira continued mulling over the thoughts as they crested the hill and walked down through small but rocky bluffs that stretched out into the sea. It was exactly as Ducot had promised—a beach secluded by trees and rocks. Waters as blue as the sky, gently lapping powdery sand of pale gold.
They set up a small picnic area and, while enjoying some of the local delights Ducot had procured them, Eira asked, “What is home?”
“Pardon?” Noelle blinked at her. The rest of them seemed equally confused.
“Home. When you hear that word, what do you think?”
They were all silent a moment.
“A ship on calm seas,” Ducot said.
“A warm house not far from my parents. Maybe a little brood.” Noelle grinned in Ducot’s direction.
“Let’s not get ahead of ourselves.” He laughed, though wore an easy smile that told Eira he wasn’t bothered by the idea in the slightest.
“Anywhere my brother is. Home is more people than place, I think. Home is what I can keep safe.” Olivin couldn’t stop himself from glancing back through the trees and toward the town where Yonlin was. Eira doubted he realized he even did it.
“The last place that felt like home…” Cullen’s voice was wistful, deep with longing. “Was our home in the East, where I was born. When it was just my father, mother, and me. But, since…” He shook his head and looked to Eira. “What about you?”
“I don’t know,” she admitted, willing to help Cullen change the topic. His secrets were safe with her. “That’s why I asked.” Eira looked out to sea. “When I think of home…it’s a sort of blank spot in my mind. I know what home is, or it’s supposed to be. But I don’t think I’ve found it yet. I’d thought that once I found my birth mother, I’d know—it’d give me all the perspective I’d need…but I still don’t know who my birth mother is or what home looks like.”
They were all silent for a long moment.
“Mother above, Eira, you can kill a mood.” Noelle laughed. Eira joined in, as did the rest of them.
“Sorry, sorry!” Eira held up her hands apologetically. Noelle’s remark shook her from the heaviness that had been settling on her shoulders. “You’re right. We’re in a beautiful place. And this might be the last opportunity we have for a while to just enjoy ourselves.” Because Carsovia was waiting for them, just beyond the horizon.
“Bringing it down again.” Noelle leaned over and pressed her finger into Eira’s nose with another laugh.
