Petran voiced the question that he’d never gotten a complete answer to and stopped asking because of the sadness in his father’s eyes whenever he asked. “What happened to her?” All he knew was she died when he was young.
Da took a deep breath, stared out at the sea, and finally nodded. “One day, I went to town with the harvest, took you along with me though you was just a wee mite. Was gone for a day or two.” He paused, clutching the taffrail in a white-knuckled grip. “The Lady’s Chosen came, accused your mum of wickedness. Took her away to the Lady’s temple.” He clenched his hands into fists. “A defenseless woman. And none of our neighbors tried to help. Instead, they watched as those men took Rosemary away.”
Images flashed through Petran’s mind of a beautiful woman, running, screaming, falling… taken away, tears on her face.
“No one the Lady took ever returned. I went after her, tracked her back here, where she’d run from, but never found her.” Da shook his head. “I promised to keep her safe. I… failed.”
“Why did they take her?” After the incident with the wind, Petran thought he knew. He needed to hear the words.
Da glanced right and left, then leaned in to murmur, “Yer mum was mage-born. Fled the city when the Lady declared death to all mages. But the Chosen brought captured mages back to the temple, drained their magic first.” He balled his hands into fists, blinking a few times, chin lifted. “Yer mum never hurt anyone, used her powers for good. No one believed.”
Petran knew the next part. “So you took me and a few things and returned to the sea.”
Da nodded. “Mind yourself when we dock in E’Skaara. It’s not a safe place for the likes of you.”
The likes of you?
“The day you were born, yer mum asked me to keep you safe, do my best to raise you right. I think somehow, she knew she wouldn’t be here to watch you grow into a man.”
“I wish I could remember more of her.” A brief smile, a flash of golden hair, a quiet laugh. Snuggles. Mum had loved him for all too short a time.
“One day, maybe you’ll chance upon a lass on a beach, lost her way.” Da shrugged. “Yer mum says your kind call to each other. Or maybe you’ll find a lad.”
A lad? Petran stiffened. What did his father know?
“Ahoy, Captain!” came a call from the crow’s nest.
Da glanced up at the land growing ever closer, clapped Petran on the shoulder, then strode away. “I must ready the ship.”
Well, that was… odd. Petran left the taffrail to make preparations of his own. His mother was mage-born. Why had his father never told him before? Did Da know of Petran’s odd bits of wild magic that only appeared when he really needed them?
Maybe now that his father had told him, he’d answer more questions.
Later. For now, Petran had plans of his own for sneaking Arkenn ashore.
But first, one more night. Morn would be soon enough to break his own heart.
He’d once complained about his cramped bunk, but the narrow width meant his front would press against Arkenn’s back throughout the night.
With Arkenn asleep, Petran could drop a kiss on the back of his neck, wrap him in a firm embrace, and miss him with a breaking heart.
With Arkenn none the wiser.
Chapter Eight
Afterbeingmostlynakedfor so long, wearing clothes—especially someone else’s— and going into the world struck Arkenn as strange. He’d rolled the overly long trouser legs to keep from tripping, and the simple shirt hung from his shoulders.
Petran tucked Arkenn’s hair into a hat, pulling the brim low. For one moment, Arkenn longed for a kiss, to feel those lips on his skin once more, like he had several times during the night when Petran thought him asleep. “Most of the townsfolk have darker skin, hair and eyes. This will keep you hidden until you’re far away from the port. If any ask, tell them you’re from A’shkalia, a farming community to the north. They aren’t too trusting of strangers here, but they depend on A’shkalia for food, so they’ll be more likely to accept you.”
Arkenn nodded, trying to take in every word, while his heart grew heavier with each. “I wish you could come with me. Didn’t you say your father would leave you one day? Why not come now?” The captain had said he’d have to let his son go. Why not today?
But no. Loved ones in Arkenn’s life had been few and far between. So he couldn’t blame a father for wanting to keep his son around as long as possible.
Petran gave a sad smile. “He’s all the family I have. I’ll stay with him until he finds a place he believes I’ll be safe. He promised my mother. For some reason, he doesn’t believe E’Skaara is for me. Given their distrust of strangers, I understand.”
Yes, but Petran still had a father. Arkenn had no one but Petran. Saying so would likely cause unnecessary pain while making Arkenn appear desperate.
Hewasdesperate, but their remaining time together should be pleasant.
