Chapter 19
Elia
“You’re a lifesaver, Claudia.” Claudia beams as she continues to fold clothes to be added to my luggage.
We leave tomorrow for Sevrin, and I had spent most of yesterday trying to figure out what to pack with no success. When Claudia came into my room this morning, it only took one look around before she knew I was a disaster and needed help.
“Glad I could be of help, Miss Elia.” I had given up on trying to have her drop the ‘miss’ title.
“Have you traveled much yourself?” I was currently deciding between the books on my desk I’d taken from the library. My small purse was already crammed with the lavender I’d harvested and different empty vials – no more than one or two books would fit.
“I have a cousin in Guilmond that I’ve visited before, but I’ve never gone across the sea. I’m what you might call a homebody. Everything I need is right here in Ashven.” Claudia finishes with the clothes and bustles into the bathing chamber.
“Is your family here, then?” I call to her.
Claudia returns with my hairbrush and other bathing essentials.
“Oh yes, most of us are right in town. I’ve been with my husband George for almost 40 years now.
He’s a blacksmith in town. And our boy Jack is all grown and has a family of his own now, too.
” Her face is lit up as she talks about her loved ones.
Claudia turns to me. “I didn’t ask about your family, Miss Elia.” It’s not a question, and I appreciate that she’s giving me leeway not to answer.
“It’s just me now. Parents left during the Golden Hunt and never came back.” I bite my lip, keeping my eyes lowered to the floor. “No siblings, no friends, no husband.” I try to laugh at the situation, but it comes out hollow.
Claudia comes and hugs me. It reminds me of my mother’s rare hugs, and I squeeze tighter, trying to stop the tears falling from my eyes.
“It must have been a very lonely life.” She whispers quietly, patting the back of my head gently.
Having someone else acknowledge my darkest feelings loosens the emotions I’ve kept so tight within me. I don’t say anything, but the tears fall free, and a small sob escapes me.
“Oh, honey. Please don’t cry.” Claudia pulls out a handkerchief from her skirt and passes it to me.
“I’m s-sorry,” I stutter through the tears. “I’m not usually this emotional.”
“You have nothing to apologize for, Miss Elia. We are your family now, you know that, right? You are welcome to stay here as long as you want.”
I will my tears to stop falling, and I try my best to pull myself together.
Claudia’s sincerity and motherly behavior fills a part of myself that’s been empty for years.
Could I stay in Ashven permanently? I can’t imagine leaving Claudia or Ginna or Hanson.
And Callum – well, I’d like to see how things go.
He’s already attached himself to a part of my heart and it would hurt to remove.
“Thank you, Claudia. But I would never want to overstay my welcome or be any burden to anyone here.”
Claudia waves a dismissive hand in the air.
“Bah! You and Callum are both the same – never letting anyone take care of you. You are far from a burden, and Callum would have your tongue if he heard you talk like that!” She flashes me a sly grin.
“From what I’ve heard you two have grown quite close in the last few months. ”
“We’re just –” I sigh, flopping back on the four-poster bed. “Ugh, I don’t know. Friends. Maybe more? I don’t want to push him into anything. I know Rafe broke his heart –”
“He told you about Rafe?” Claudia interrupts.
“Only the highlights. But the way he talks about him…It’s like they were destined for each other. You know?” I pause, staring at the arched ceilings, remembering how broken Callum was talking about Rafe. “I don’t want to come second,” I whisper my fear aloud.
Claudia joins me on the bed. “I watched Cal and Rafe’s relationship as it unfolded.
I may not have been privy to everything, but from my perspective, it was beautiful.
But just because something is beautiful, it doesn’t mean it’s perfect or meant to be.
There was something missing – like a puzzle missing its piece.
What that piece was,” Claudia shrugs. “I don’t know.
But the whole picture, the whole relationship, couldn’t be completed without that piece.
“I do know this, however. Callum hasn’t been interested in another person, male or female, since Rafe left.
Most of us thought that he would never love again.
But the way he talks about you…” She gazes at me dreamily.
“The way he looks at you, though…makes me believe his heart is open again. And once he falls for someone, he falls hard. He’ll offer you everything, if you give him that chance.
Rafe will always be a part of his history, but he wants you to be his future. I’m sure of it.”
I let Claudia’s words sink in. I meant what I told Callum in the lavender field – that I would never want him to forget about Rafe. Love is rare, and I would want to remember all memories I had of being loved, even if the person was no longer in the picture.
“Thanks, Claudia. I needed that. We’ll see how the next couple weeks go. Being stuck on a ship for weeks with each other will give me a good picture of our relationship, I’m sure! Hopefully we’ll both make it back without pushing the other overboard,” I joke.
“That’s the spirit, Miss Elia!” She rises from the bed, straightening her clothes. “Now, I believe all your luggage is set to go. I’ll have it delivered straight to the ship for tomorrow.”
“What am I going to do without you?” I complain.
“I’m sure Callum will help you in the morning,” Claudia taunts, wiggling her eyebrows at me.
I toss a pillow her way and she ducks, chuckling. “Would this be a bad time to mention the contraceptive tonics I slid into your bag?”
“Claudia!” I shriek, tossing another pillow at her. Claudia’s laughter echoes in the hall after she leaves my room, and I can’t help but chuckle in solidarity. After all, maybe the tonics would come in handy.
???
The next morning arrives in a wave of nervous anticipation.
I tossed and turned all night. I’d never traveled this far before, and I’ve never been on a ship.
I’m excited that the next couple of weeks won’t consist of research but instead will hopefully be spending time with Callum and Ginna and having fun.
Living life. Something I haven’t done since I was a child.
Claudia helps me get ready, and I try not to cry again when we hug our goodbyes. I promise I’ll return, but I’m not sure when that will be, so I soak up her embrace.
Callum knocks on my door seconds after Claudia leaves. He looks extra handsome today in his royal blue travel coat. It makes his sapphire eyes appear especially bright.
“Ready for our adventure?” He extends his hand out to me and I happily accept.
Callum escorts me down our usual back entrance to where a carriage awaits to take us to the docks. “I’m nervous,” I admit, climbing into the carriage. “I’ve never travelled this far.”
Callum squeezes my hand that he’s kept firmly clasped in his. “There’s a first time for everything. But don’t worry, I’ll keep you safe, I promise.”
“You sure make a lot of promises,” I smirk at him.
“Only ones I know I can keep.”
“What if the ship is attacked by a giant kraken?” I counter.
He stares at me curtly. “Krakens don’t exist.”
“What if another giant sea monster that may or may not be a kraken attacks the ship?”
“I would kill it before it could hurt you.”
“You make it sound easy.”
He smirks. “Probably is.”
“You’re that good with a sword?” I quirk my brow. I hadn’t seen him, or Ginna and Hanson for that matter, train, but Relic Hunters don’t scream ‘ruthless kraken killers’ to me.
“I’m good with all kinds of swords.” Callum winks at me. He seems lighter today, and I wonder if the fact that we have a lead has taken some weight off the heavy burden he must bear.
“Is that a dick joke you’re making, Callum?” I ask, playing along.
He feigns a gasp. “Me? I would never be so crude.”
We laugh as the carriage reaches the docks. The journey hasn’t even started quite yet but I’m already optimistic. Ginna is waiting for us at the end of the docks.
“Meet Midas!” She exclaims, gesturing to the enormous wooden ship behind her.
On the hull, I see Midas painted in thick gold letters that can’t be missed.
The ship is even bigger than I expected – with three large masts, the center proudly flying the blue and gold flag of Ashven.
The rightmost mast is flying a flag I don’t recognize – a splattering of gold coins on a black background.
People are bustling around, heaving large crates and barrels onto the ship and the smell of seawater overwhelms my senses.
Callum can tell this is all a bit too much for me, because he gently places a hand on my lower back. “Shall we?” He asks, nodding to the ship.
I hesitantly nod and allow Callum to lead me up the gangplank and onto the oak boards of the ship.
He walks me to the bow, and I can see a figurehead of the ship, a prince with a gilded crown.
I lean over the smooth railing and into the sea below, watching as the waves gently hit the side of the ship.
I become more excited the longer we stay there. “This is wonderful!” I exclaim, turning to Callum, finding him already staring at me.
He laughs. “I’m glad. Wait until we leave and pick up speed. Hopefully you don’t get seasick like Hanson does.”
Ginna joins us as the gangplank is removed. “We’re about to take off.” Ginna acknowledges me bouncing on the balls of my feet. “First time on a ship?”
“That obvious?”
“Sometimes I forget what it was like when I saw the sea for the first time. When we sail out farther, and it's just us and the water…” She sighs. “There’s no other feeling that can compare.”
“I can’t wait. And I was told if a kraken attacks us Callum could handle it.”
Ginna’s brows furrow, and Callum shakes his head. “Don’t ask. Elia thinks a monster is going to attack the ship.”
“It’s an honest fear!” I retort.
Ginna chuckles. “No monsters. You might see a couple dolphins. Probably a lot of gulls. But nothing that exciting.”
Everything is exciting to me. Seeing a dolphin? I can’t wait.
The ship starts to move and for a second I’m startled.
Before I realize what I’m doing, I’m sprinting to the back of the ship, watching the docks shrink in the distance.
Strong gusts of wind blow my clothes against my body, and I’m thankful Claudia pulled my hair back in my usual braid.
I stay there until Ashven is no longer in sight, the turquoise waters now surrounding us on all sides.
When Callum approaches me, he remains quiet, leaving me alone with my thoughts. I lean against him, and he wraps an arm around me, pulling me in tight. This is the fresh start I’ve been desperately wanting. A new beginning. New life. And possibly…love.