Yeah, me too. Thank the Spirits!
“And Merlin is insane,” Sparrow added as an afterthought. “I think… she’s been behind this all along. I can’t be certain, but given how the others deferred to her and the way she was talking, how she acted like she was already the queen—” Sparrow shuddered. “I think if the queen hadn’t died, Merlin would have found a way to kill her.”
“Great, so we just gave her more power while giving the nation more reason to hate and fear us,” I said bitterly. The trouble was, even now, knowing the why behind everything that had been happening, I had no clue what to do. But looking up at Sparrow, small and hopeful, those forest-green eyes seeking some form of acceptance and validation, I smiled. “I’m sorry.” I rose and hugged her close. “Thank you. You risked so much, and I can see you’re tired. Get some rest. I… I just need to take this all in and think on it.”
Her arms went around me, and she held me close. Her voice was a tremulous whisper when she said, “I was so scared, even though we were hidden. I’m glad I could help.”
“You have, so much, thank you.”
We held each other close for a long time before drawing back to kiss softly. She smiled and retreated to get some rest.
I was restless. It was already quite dark in the caves, but outside it was early evening, and light enough for a walk. So, I made my way down to the lowest level of the stairs to the rope room. The hooded lantern in the room was lit providing a little light, and the rope ladder was already down, someone was on the beach. Two bright-white scarfs hung on the wall, indicating two people were out. I grabbed another and hung it on a hook. This way if they returned before I did, they wouldn’t pull up the ladder. Then I climbed down and walked out of the cave.
I saw the two on the beach, they weren’t far away, both sitting on a large rock, looking out over the ocean: Alvere and Silence. Silence had his arm around the other man, as if comforting him.
A part of me wanted to sneak up on them, hear what they were talking about, but I wouldn’t betray their trust.
“Hey guys!” I called as I got closer.
They both started and turned their heads back to me. Silence’s brown eyes were hard to read, but Alvere’s ever-so-clear blue eyes were a bit shocked and… was that ashamed? What had they been talking about? I was curious but wouldn’t ask. They’d come to me if they needed me.
They love you, don’t worry what they might speak of.Auwei’s voice was soft, comforting.
I know, I know.
“I was just going to take a walk down the beach, either or both of you want to join me?”
Alvere smiled, his demeanor changing instantly to bright and cheerful. “I’d love to!” He turned to Silence.
The other man nodded. “As would I.”
They rose and came to either side of me, and we clasped hands as we walked.
Silence asked. “Have you heard from Sparrow yet?”
“Yes, she just got back. She’s resting. It’s because of her news I needed to walk and think.” So as to not leave the men in suspense, I told them what Sparrow had told me. Part of me hoped the retelling would spark some ideas for me, but alas, it didn’t.
“Vauphan would never think to claim the Mists,” Alvere said, bewildered.
“Well,youwouldn’t, but who knows what some king a hundred years from now might do. I don’t approve of any of this, but I can see the twisted logic they used to get to where they are.”
Alvere shrugged. “I suppose that’s true.” He sighed. “All this for… magic, is that it?”
“It is a significant commodity,” I said. “Isn’t magic the reason your people reached out to the Fey?”
He nodded. “Yes, you’re right.”
“We have our Mists, you have the Fey, Thraan has dragons, and who knows what other mysterious and wonderful things are out there in the world. Certainly, Thraan has used their dragons to good effect, expanding their empire and dominating the West.”
The two men walked in silence. They couldn’t dispute what I’d said.
“The Mists are a part of our identity as a nation,” I said. “If we didn’t have them, we… well we wouldn’t be thesameElistans we are now.”
You wouldn’t have me,Auwei whispered.
And that would be a great loss. Have I told you how much I appreciate you?
No, but I can feel it.
