by S D Simper
And then, a thought came, a tiny spot of light in an otherwise dark sky. An impossible thought, yet it filled her with hope.
“Goddess Staella, what if this question isn’t meant for me? What if there’s someone else who might choose between duty and love?”
Dauriel had spent all her days seeking a great escape. Perhaps fate might allow that after all.
“I know I must choose, and I will. But you once gave me legs with no cost to me. Could you . . . Could . . .”
Her words failed, but Staella smiled, and it was sweet yet nearly impish—as though this were the answer all along. “Neoma will object, but we never dismiss the free will of our people. Dauriel must make the choice, but—”
Her words were stolen by Tallora’s sudden burst of sobs. Staella embraced her when she fell apart. “I love you, my Tallora. I shall quell any potential storms that might arise from this decision, but I believe you have chosen the greatest part. I shall see it done.” She traced soft lines into Tallora’s hair as she wept—though there were no tears, and it felt so odd. “A final question, before you go: Your mother has been found. She lives a wonderful afterlife among like minds—your father included. Is there any message you would like me to give them?”
Tallora shut her eyes, knowing she could write a novel of thoughts but had to pick only one. “Tell them,” she whispered, her sobs finally waning, “that I’m happy. And I shall be so all my life.”
“They’ll be delighted to hear it.” Staella released her but kept a hold of her hands. “Are you ready?”
Tallora nodded. She shut her eyes, and all the world went dark.
In the early morning, High Priestess Tallora of New Stelune chanted the final refrain of the prayer with fellow worshippers of the Goddess of Stars:
Mother Staella, hear my plea
Grant me love and serenity
Bless my home with joy and light
I shall not forget your gentle might
They concluded the prayer with a murmuring amen. Fading starlight signified the sun would soon come, and Tallora waited near the surface, greeting those who came to thank her for the service, granting blessings to those who asked. And there was true magic in it, a small portion of Staella’s power granted to her through the sleek little fish always at her side—a lovely, vibrant thing of purple and red and brilliant yellow. ‘Fairy,’ Tallora called her, and though her familiar did not speak, there was affection in the way she bumped against Tallora’s cheek, how she slept in her mass of white hair.
Dawn had arrived by the time the final few worshippers cleared the scene. Tallora dismissed her small group of priestesses-in-training, then spared the waning stars a final goodbye, admiring a particular constellation, when a familiar voice sparked joy in her heart. “Tallora!”
To her bafflement, there floated Prince Kalvin, Ambassador of the Tortalgan Seas, his familiar navy hair flat to his head above the water. She swam to greet him, quickly embracing his decorated form. Across his chest was a sash of braided kelp, signifying his new duties beneath King Rek’Thir and Queen Narissa’s reign—Kal’s sister’s marriage to the Onian Prince had sealed a new era of peace. “What are you doing here?”
“I’m visiting the local magistrate to discuss new building plans for the capital—we need more houses, as always, and the orphanage could use an expansion. But I couldn’t come to New Stelune without seeing an old friend.”
“How long are you in town? I’m exhausted from leading worship, but we would love to have you come over for dinner.”
“My wife and I will be here for a few weeks, actually. I’ve been instructed to supervise these new plans by my mother.”
The Queen Mother did not hold power anymore, but she held influence. The world had not forgotten her bravery when she had led her people from Stelune. And when King Merl had been returned to the people of the Tortalgan Sea, his fate at their mercy, she had shed no tears when announcing his execution for treason.
“I shouldn’t tell you this, so keep the news quiet, but my sister is expecting,” Kal said, and Tallora’s heart soared for that. “She’s asked if you would be willing to come to the capital after the birth and grant the baby a blessing of Staella.”
“I can’t think of a greater honor,” Tallora replied. “Tell her I’d be happy to.”
Kal looked up to the sky, his knowing smirk nothing less than impish. “She’s the brightest one up there.”
With a wistful smile, Tallora gazed up to one of the remaining constellations, the collection of stars a clear image to those who knew what to look for. “Dauriel wouldn’t have settled for anything less.”
Memorialized in the sky was Dauriel’s image, the commemoration of her sacrifice in the great battle with Yu’Khrall, so that all the world might remember. Near it was a mermaid’s tail, and Tallora knew it was no coincidence.
When she and Kal bid their farewells, Tallora gave him an address and told him to visit any time. They embraced and then they parted. She grinned as she swam her way home, followed closely by Fairy.
New Stelune lacked the grandeur of its predecessor, yet it held something far more valuable—hope. In the five years since its founding, Tallora had watched something beautiful come from the ashes of her home, reborn like a phoenix of old. No longer in the valley, no, but instead they had settled farther north, away from the memories of destruction and murder. Here, they could become something new.
In the early morning hours, most sane people were asleep—except for worshippers of Staella, who pledged to the stars every dark moon. As Tallora passed newly built homes, she spared a glance for the distant sky, the dark waters leading to a realm she never tired of. Though tempted to bid farewell to the final few stars before sunrise, home called to her.
She did not live far from the temple, her home a gift from the city when she had accepted her calling as High Priestess. With ease, she rolled aside the stone before her humble abode, unsurprised to hear only peaceful silence.
She removed her vestments and laid them carefully upon a table, leaving her in only the chain bearing her wedding ring. With a kiss, she whispered, “Go rest, sweet Fairy,” and the little fish swam to her alcove. Tallora went to the single bedroom.
There lay Dauriel, fast asleep.
With her deep maroon tail and cropped black hair, Tallora thought her the most wonderful sight in all the world. In peace, Dauriel rested posed to show her tattoos, her scars, every perfect piece of her. Everything was different, yet it was all the same; all Tallora loved and adored.
Gently, Tallora floated into bed and embraced her wife from behind, wrapping their tails together and placing a lingering kiss upon the back of her neck when she stirred. “Good morning.”
Dauriel rolled over in her arms, her silver eyes heavy from sleep. “Good morning,” she mumbled. “How was worship?”
“As magical as ever,” Tallora replied, delighted when Dauriel kissed her lips and smiled. “Kal and his wife are in town. I invited them over.”
“Of course you did.” Dauriel hummed contentedly as she settled in beside her, their bare chests pressed together as she shut her eyes anew. “Well, I’ll cook something. Or, rather, the mermaid equivalent of cooking.” When she snapped her fingers, a small spark of light flittered from her thumb—the Silver Fire was not true fire, but it burned hot beneath the sea.
Tallora giggled. Dauriel’s mishaps in maintaining her façade of just another refugee were frequent, but no one had found them out yet. She was not Empress Dauriel Solviraes, the most powerful woman in the world. Empress Dauriel had died that fateful day in the battle against Yu’Khrall. This woman was merely Dauriel, who went by a new name in public, who worked in city planning and was campaigning for the position of magistrate and had earned a reputation for being vicious and relentless in her negotiations.
And she was happy.
Tallora kissed her forehead, her adoration for her empress—for Dauriel would always be her empress—only growing in their years together. “G
o back to sleep, love. You have a few more hours before the world will want you.”
Dauriel didn’t need to be told twice, and within a few minutes, her breathing resumed its deep, comforting pattern. She had a peaceful life; it was all she’d ever wanted.
Tallora rested beside her, sleep evading her a few moments more as she reflected upon her new, impossible life. Duty brought rewards unparalleled, and Tallora was adored both in the city and beyond, the speaker for Staella herself, when necessary. Staella was both a mother and a friend to everyone, and Tallora had happily chosen to devote her life to the Goddess of Stars as a thanks for the greatest mercy of all.
Ilune had told Khastra the truth, or so Tallora had been informed, and the general had mourned but understood, joyful in that bittersweet way to know Dauriel was alive and happy. Kal knew the truth, for he knew Dauriel well, but had shown his commitment to secrecy over the years. The rest of the world spoke of the legend of Empress Dauriel Solviraes in a whisper, her great sacrifice the noblest end. The history books would remember the brutal woman who had defeated both Yu’Khrall and Morathma in a battle as superb as the world had ever seen.
With both the Speaker and Solvira’s Empress dead, the war had met a quiet, anti-climactic end. Certain to be resumed by future generations, yes, for the conflict was eternal. It would remain so, for as long as the Stars glittered by the Moon’s side, and the Desert Sands lay restless in his own realm.
For now, the affairs of gods would be their own.
Tallora held her sleeping wife, her exhaustion finally overtaking her as the sun rose to warm the waters of her new home.
The history books would write of a brutal, heroic end, for Dauriel had always been meant to burn brilliant and bright. But the unspoken epilogue would be a gentle secret for only them to know.
Quiet joy filled Tallora as she joined Dauriel in sleep. They deserved to rest.
Acknowledgements
Sea and Stars began as a silly ‘what if’ story between my wife and I, but it quickly evolved into something more. The story felt special. I couldn’t have anticipated how large of a project it would become. It was meant to be a standalone novel, but I couldn’t for the life of me decide on an ending. And then, one day, I realized it wasn’t supposed to end—and so books two and three were born.
But it takes a village to write a book. I couldn’t have done this alone.
Big thanks to my readers, new and old. Not a day goes by where I don’t feel your support and love.
Special thanks to Jaylee, who put up with my incessant chattering at the gym as we tried to piece together the details of Death’s Abyss’ ending.
Thank you to LaRae—the cheerleader I need.
Thank you to Andi—who saved the ending of Heart of Silver Flame.
And thank you to Ruth—who wasn’t afraid to tell me what sucked.
Thank you to Jerah, to Mariah, and to Jade, for being the artistic masterminds behind the scenes.
Thank you to my wife, who understands that I rarely live in the real world.
And, finally, a big shoutout to my feline companions, Mulan, Jasmine, and Elsa, who did everything in their power to distract me from finishing.
Want a bit more magic?
For more Sea and Stars—deleted scenes, extra scenes, even a continued epilogue (more Mermaid Dauriel, anyone?)—find me on Patreon! For as little as $2 a month, you can have full access to my archives, for Sea and Stars, Fallen Gods, and more!
You can find that here: https://www.patreon.com/sdsimper
I’m also thrilled to announce that there is a Kickstarter going on until August 9th for Sea and Stars enamel pins! The first goal has already been met, so the initial set of pins (Dauriel and Tallora!) have been unlocked!
Check them out here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/sdsimper/sea-and-stars-enamel-pins
To my wonderful readers—thank you!
If you liked what you read, kindly leave a review! That’s the best thanks an author can get. You can leave your review here:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B088XWLJLQ/
Sea and Stars may be complete, but the magic isn’t over! I have two FREE short stories available exclusively through my newsletter—one involving a certain General of the Solviran Army (being technically demoted and going on a date with an absolutely oblivious angel) and another about the protagonist of the FALLEN GODS series discovering she’s a witch and spending her days with her wolf mentor. Go to sdsimper.com for more info!
Also, check me out on social media! You’ll get all the latest updates. Plus you can meet other fans of SEA AND STARS, FALLEN GODS, and more! I’m @sdsimper on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Up next—Fallen Gods 4: Tear the World Apart.
See you then!
-S D Simper
S D Simper has lived in both the hottest place on earth and the coldest, spans the employment spectrum from theater teacher to professional editor, and plays more instruments than can be counted on one hand. She and her wife share a home with their two cats and innumerable bookshelves.
