That was an accolade, to be sure. The Drowned Veil was equally magical and perilous. None who ventured through its violent maelstroms were ever seen again.
“And as for the dragons,” Lira continued, refusing to be swayed. “I’ve been out here with you both almost every day. They’re familiar with me and they recognize my voice. But I’ve been watching. And learning. I know I can bring them safely to Aeramere.”
Caelian was inclined to believe her. Lira had such a fierce heart and determined spirit, though it was all often overlooked by the fact that flowers quite literally bloomed wherever she went. It gave her a soft shell, certainly, but beneath those fragile petals was a female who could quite certainly handle her own.
Kjeld, on the other hand, huffed and folded his arms over his chest.
“Kjeld.” Caelian curled her hands around his muscular arm and traced the pattern of his tattoos with one of her nails. “Certainly you can see the logic? It could work in our favor to have Lira in Aeramere with us. She is a Druid, and she could helpwhen it comes time to stand against Queen Elowyn. And to have all three of the whelps with us is also an advantage, is it not?”
“You intend to use strategy as a form of attraction.” A muscle feathered along his jaw, and his summer blue eyes landed on hers. “It’s working.”
Rising on her toes, Caelian kissed him soundly on the mouth, then turned to Lira, whose eyes shone with tears. “It’s time to pack for Aeramere.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
There couldn’t be any precautions left, because Kjeld had taken every single one.
Lira knew how to sail and, surprisingly enough, the whelps obeyed her. He decided a few practice runs would be necessary, so Lira sailed around the bay while the baby dragons joined her on her ship. He watched from the shore as the sails, touting mossy green and dark pink swirls, whipped in the breeze, as the bow rose and fell with the waves. Lira guided her ship with precision and care, despite having three baby dragons afoot. More than anything, Kjeld wanted to make certain they didn’t accidentally set fire to the ship or worse, sink it completely.
With Sylvan’s help, they charted her course. It would take Lira approximately three days to reach Aeramere’s shores, maybe longer since she was on her own.
“It worries me that she intends to sail alone.” Kjeld hefted the final crate of supplies—salted and dried meat for the whelps—and carried it below the main deck. Lanterns glowed, swinging lightly with the rocking of the waves, illuminating the space in a dim amber glow. He tossed a glance over his shoulder as he stacked the last crate. “Who will control the helm while shesleeps? How will she be able to steer and adjust the sails without a proper crew?”
Sylvan’s usually stoic demeanor fractured, and a smile split his face.
“Ah, you are thinking like a general and not a Druid.” He unloaded a barrel of fresh water, setting it next to the others. “The ships you are familiar with require a crew, where every man has a job, where each hour demands something be done. That is not the case with our vessels.”
“What do you mean?” Kjeld followed him above deck.
“Look around.” Sylvan spread his arms wide. “Every part of this boat was crafted in Wenfyre. The hull, the mast, the sails. Even the figurehead. All of it given as gifts from the Myrkwild.”
He ran his hand along the polished wooden railing, where tiny leaves were carved into its surface. “This is not an ordinary ship, it is the product of the world around us, a land imbued with ancient magic.”
Kjeld glanced around him, taking in the proclaimed beauty of the boat, the stunning craftsmanship, the way it smelled strongly of rose and cedarwood—the scent of archaic power. It lingered with the subtly of a faint aura, humming beneath the wooden planks and whispering through the billowing sails. Brohm and Pyran were nestled together on the port side, while Lunaris stretched out on the starboard side, basking in the early glow of dawn, her silvery scales twinkling. If the dragons were at all disturbed by the fact that they were currently aboard a magical vessel, they made no show of it.
“The Myrkwild will guide Lira safely to Aeramere.” Sylvan clapped Kjeld firmly on the shoulder. “She will not be alone.”
“Right.” Kjeld’s gaze was drawn to the sound of laughter, where Caelian, Lira, and Morwyn stood on the dock.
Other than Sylvan, the Druid queen was the only one to come see them off. Kjeld had been concerned at first, troubled by thefact that maybe he and Caelian weren’t as welcome in Wenfyre as he originally thought. Maybe they didn’t fit in after all. But then Sylvan explained that was simply the way of things, that many Druids never bade farewell, for fear it was a permanent goodbye. They would rather each day pass as planned, counting down until they saw their loved ones again.
It was an interesting way to go on about life, but as he watched Morwyn pull Lira into a tight embrace, he wondered if perhaps there was some truth behind it. An indescribable value. Because while Lira was making promises to return and wiping away a few stray tears, Morwyn looked forlorn yet resigned, as though she knew something the rest of them did not.
Lira stalked up the ramp and boarded the boat, pausing in front of Kjeld.
“Thank you again for letting me join you.” She blew a strand of wild pink hair out of her face, then planted her fist over her heart. “I promise I won’t be any trouble.”
“Of that, I have no doubt.” Kjeld nodded in a show of respect. “We’ll see you in three days’ time.”
Lira slid past as he stepped onto the dock, waved once more to Caelian, Morwyn, and Sylvan, then set to work in preparation of sailing.
Kjeld tucked his hands behind his back and turned around. Caelian grabbed his arm, and he watched her nose scrunch as she tried to hold back tears.
Sylvan cleared his throat, then placed a fist over his heart and bowed. “Until we meet again.”
“Until then.” Kjeld mimicked the movement with his free hand, and from beside him, Caelian made a garbled choking sound.
“My deepest apologies.” She sniffled, swiping hastily at the tears slipping down her cheeks. “I had hoped to be more composed today.”
