Chapter 32 #2
Once everyone else had gone, Finley joined Eira and the travelers down the mountain as it was on their way to The Mystic.
There in the middle of the group was Amelia surrounded by soldiers.
She gave Finley one final look with those still piercing blue eyes, but Finley looked away.
Amelia didn’t deserve any more attention. It was all she wanted anyway.
It was a somewhat quiet journey down the mountain to where they would all disperse. There was nothing more to say. Until they turned a particularly tight corner around the mountain and a grunt came from the center of the group.
Exactly where Amelia was.
A soldier fell and there were yells and struggles.
From the center of the party Amelia elbowed and kneed her way through with iron cuffs still around her hands.
Cadeyrn and Rafe sprang into action right away and tried to get to Amelia.
It all happened so fast though, and they were so close to the edge.
Amelia got to the outside of the group, and with one turn of the ankle and a shrill cry she fell.
Eira screamed and the soldiers lunged forward, seeking to grasp the prisoner, but it was too late.
Finley pushed to the front to see Amelia fall down the side of the mountain and could swear she saw a smile on her cousin’s face.
Amelia had the final word and was gone.
The night sky was clear on the first evening of The Mystic’s voyage to the Dravian Islands.
A sea of stars sparkled brightly overhead and reflected onto the ocean’s surface, making it nearly impossible to tell when the sky started and the water began.
It was as if they were sailing through the night itself blessed by Luana.
In the wee hours of the night, nearly the entire crew was in their bunks save for a fae at the helm and two dwarfs in the crow’s nest keeping the night watch.
Finley walked the deck of her ship, dragging her hand along the rail.
She couldn’t remember the last time she’d been up this late with no sign of wanting to sleep.
She’d forgotten how peaceful the night could be. How quiet it was.
When she got to the bow, she spread out the blanket she’d brought with her and lay on top to get the best view of the stars.
Years before, when they’d first came aboard The Mystic and the full extent of the sleeping curse hadn’t hit yet, she and Ai would sneak out and lie here to look at the stars and talk and dream about their coming plans.
Most of their conversations had been about how to break the curse.
Sometimes they were about whatever place the crew was sailing to next.
Later, as they’d climbed the rankings, their discussions had centered more around The Mystic and the crew.
But as the effects of the curse had grown more apparent, their discussions become shorter as Finley would need to sleep.
In time the late-night star gazing talks ceased all together.
Finley placed her hands behind her head and stared up at the glistening stars, listening to the music of the waves against the ship.
She’d never focused much on the goddess Luana in her prayers and thoughts.
If anything, she might have thought about Ray and the sun on a warm beach, or Aros when in the heat of battle.
Now, her thoughts should be on Stula. But lying here on the deck, she couldn’t help but feel like the moon and stars and ocean went well together.
It was easy to understand why the people of Cresin loved Luana so much.
The expanse of the ocean and the night sky complimented each other, and she couldn’t help but notice how large the universe must be.
The stars were hung in the sky in layers, and once she thought she saw all of them more appeared.
How many of those stars were actually other worlds yet to be explored?
If only The Mystic could fly. The adventures they would have would be endless.
“Want some company?” a female voice asked.
A couple pairs of footsteps approached, and the faces of Ai and Rafe appeared in Finley’s vision. She smiled. The first genuine smile she’d felt in a long time. “There’s plenty of room.”
The two of them lay on the deck on either side of Finley, Ai on the left and Rafe on the right.
a sense of warmth spread over Finley as Rafe laced his fingers together with hers.
They all lay there in companionable silence for a few minutes with only the slap of the ocean against the hull for sound.
“Do you think she’s really gone?” Finley finally asked, breaking the silence.
“She’s human now,” Rafe answered. “Do you know of any human that could survive that fall?”
“I don’t,” Ai admitted.
“Me either,” Finley agreed. At least she hoped they were right. “It all just happened so fast, it’s hard to believe.”
“We’re safe now. All of us,” Ai reassured her.
She sat and hugged her knees close to her chest. The sight brought stillness to Finley’s anxious heart.
For so long they’d been chasing after curse cures and going on adventures and then fighting, it was odd to think that maybe for once they were at peace.
Finley pushed herself up to sit, too, and Rafe joined her.
“Thank you for saving me,” Ai said. “I realized I never said that. It’s too bad I missed all the action, though.”
Finley chuckled. “Of course we saved you. Do you think I would have left that mountain without you?”
“I mean, you have the love of your life now. What do you need me for?” Ai teased. She winked and smiled at the two of them.
Finley rolled her eyes. “We don’t need to get cheesy.”
Rafe nudged her shoulder with his. “I’m not the love of your life?” he asked in a mock shocked voice.
She let out an overly dramatic sigh. “Fine, you’re both the loves of my life. Happy?”
Ai and Rafe both wrapped their arms around Finley. “I guess I can share,” Rafe said and kissed her temple.
“It’s weird going home, though,” Finley admitted. “I never thought I’d go back like this. Without any threats or plans or anything. I don’t know if I’m ready for what’s ahead.”
Ai rested her head on Finley’s shoulder. “Well, you don’t have to do it alone.”
Rafe kissed her temple again. “We’ll figure it out together.”
Once again, Finley’s anxious heart slowed and calmed.
Together. What an odd thing to have people at her side no matter what.
Finley had never thought she’d have a love like Rafe, or even other friends like Myra, Rose, and Eira.
She always had The Mystic crew, but that was different.
She was their boss. Friends? A lover? She couldn’t help but let a smile take over her face. She’d never had that before.
She looked up at the stars and marveled at their expanse. At how all the deities and spirits were reflected. There was so much still to see and explore.
“I’m ready.”
“Ready for what?” Rafe asked.
“To live.”