“You’re right, Avani. It’s unfair of me to ask you to come. But I cannot stay here when my heart is so... turbulent,” he said.
She sighed and nodded. “So it’s settled then. You will leave and I will stay,” she said evenly.
“Yes,” he said.
“Goodbye, Lucius Nostra. I pray your journey is safe and that you return soon.”
Before he could say anything she leaned in and kissed him on the cheek. Then she turned around suddenly and walked away. He stood alone by the obelisk for a moment, wondering if he should go after her.
“Let her go, lad,” a familiar voice spoke from behind.
He spun around to see Ulric leaning against the obelisk with a tankard in hand.
“How long have you been standing there?” Lucius asked incredulously.
“Long enough to know you and the elf princess are parting ways,” he said. “If I were you, I wouldn’t fret about it. I learned long ago that the sea is the only mistress for me. That might apply to you as well, Lucius.”
“That’ll depend on how often I get seasick on your boat, Ulric,” he replied.
“Bah! Seasickness comes with the territory, lad. But once you’ve felt the wind in your hair and the salt spray on your face, you’ll see there’s nowhere else you wish to be. A few days on open waters and the pain will begin to fade, boy.”
Lucius turned and glimpsed Avani entering her carriage before riding off with her family to Numa. “I certainly hope so, Ulric.”
Chapter 29
The morning sun shone brightly on the docks of Aldron where Ulric’s ship, The Dusty Mountaineer, floated alongside the northern pier. Lucius stood on the pier marveling at the size of the caravel and its large sails. He’d never been out on the open sea before and excitement welled up inside of him.
Ulric’s crew had packed all of his belongings early that morning and now they moved to the task of securing Penna in the hold below inside a makeshift stable. Lucius hated the idea of leaving the horse behind in Aldron when she’d proven to be a wonderful companion over the past year. He hoped sailing on a large ship would not be a miserable experience for the mare. But then he had the same hope for himself.
As the horse was brought onto the deck, Lucius noticed several of his friends and family arrived to see him off. First was Helmer, who strode up the gangplank somewhat hesitantly. The elf sage probably preferred to be back in Gilead Palace in the spacious study Silas had given to him rather than on a rickety ship on the water.
“So you will be leaving after all, my son,” Helmer said with a smile. “I hope you’re prepared for the seafaring life especially under the command of a dwarf captain.”
Lucius laughed. “If I can handle dragons, then I think a few weeks on a dwarf ship should be no trouble,” he replied.
“I’ve brought you a gift for your travels.” Helmer handed him a large package wrapped in linen and tied with a silver cord.
Lucius took it, feeling its heft in his hands. He untied the cord and discarded the linen. The package was a large leather-bound book. On the cover was an inscription written in gold that read, “The Genesian Chronicles.”
“I thought the two scrolls I gave to Alistair where all that remained of the Genesian Chronicles,” Lucius said, opening the book and leafing through the pages.
“That’s correct. After departing from Arkadeus to the Grey Swamps, Alistair made copies of the originals and had them sent to me at the palace. Once I received them, I set about making copies of my own and for Brother Elendon. He had the bright idea to bind them in a book which is the very one you hold in your hands,” he said.
“Thank you, Father. It is a kingly gift,” Lucius said. They embraced each other tightly. Then he bid his adoptive father farewell and watched him descend the gangplank onto the pier.
Silas and Violet were his next visitors on the deck. The king and queen of Aldron, dressed in their royal attire, looked out of place on the unwashed deck of the caravel. But Lucius knew neither of them cared much about that. Violet had risen to her position from a lower class and Silas had never placed much stock in his royal upbringing, preferring to befriend and fight alongside the common man.
“Are you sure you want to travel with that short-tempered, impertinent dwarf?” Silas asked sardonically.
“I heard that!” Ulric shouted from the quarter deck.
“I’m sure you’ll be just fine, Lucius,” Violet said, nudging her husband with an elbow. Then her face turned somber. “You’ve not heard from Avani since the funeral?”
Lucius shook his head. “No. I think the chasm between our stations frustrates any chance for our pairing. Perhaps that’s as it should be,” he said. Though he wasn’t entirely convinced of his own words.
“I think you’re both thinking too much on this,” Silas said.
“Silas!” Violet elbowed him again, harder this time.
“Ow! I’m just trying to be honest!” Silas said. “What I mean to say is, you both love each other and your societal roles shouldn’t get in the way of that. It certainly didn’t prevent me from marrying Violet.”
“That’s never an easy choice, Silas,” Violet replied.
“Love seldom is,” Silas said, glancing at Lucius.
“I agree with you, Silas. But I haven’t given up on Avani nor do I think she’s given up on me. It’s just that so much has happened that perhaps we’re not ready to take the next step,” he said.
Silas sighed, but didn’t argue the point. After they exchanged farewells with him and Ulric, the king and queen joined Helmer on the pier watching the crew untie the ship’s ropes from the moorings.
Then a burst of movement on the pier caught Lucius’ attention. Someone was running down the boardwalk with others following closely behind. As they drew closer, Lucius realized it was Avani. Her dark hair flew in all directions as she rushed toward the ship. Two elves accompanied her carrying bundles and weaving through the sailors on the pier.
Avani halted at the bottom of the gangplank then looked up at him. She tucked her hair behind her elvish ears and walked up the gangplank to meet him.
“You came,” Lucius said softly. “I thought—”
“I couldn’t stand by and let you go,” she interrupted.
Lucius gave a faint smile. “So you came to stop me?”
“No. I’m coming with you, Lucius Nostra,” she said. “After hours of arguing with my father, he finally gave his blessing. So here I am.”
Lucius raised his eyebrows. He suddenly felt a lump in his throat and could not speak.
“I know you wanted to leave this place and forget the pain you’ve experienced. But I hope, despite the grief you feel, that your heart has room for me in it. For I do not wish to be separated from you for another day. Not by war or by sea or even by death. I will not abide it, Lucius,” Avani said.
“Neither will I, Avani,” Lucius said, smiling. He stepped closed to her and kissed her gently on the lips. “Will you marry me, Avani Rubiwind?”
Her eyes widened and he could see tears in them. “Yes, Lucius. Of course, yes.”
Lucius grasped her hand and led her toward the starboard railing. “Silas, can you marry us?”
“It would be my supreme pleasure, Lucius,” Silas said, beaming at the prospect.
“Wait a minute! This is my ship and as captain I also have authority to officiate this wedding,” Ulric said.
“Why don’t you both marry us then?” Avani said impatiently, eliciting a round of laughter among their friends and the crew.
Silas and Ulric officiated the impromptu wedding on the quarter deck while Violet quickly gathered some lilies from a shop nearby and created a bouquet for Avani. Helmer gave Avani’s hand to Lucius in marriage when the ceremony was under way. Lucius and Avani, clasped their hands together and stared happily into each other’s eyes as Silas performed the first part of the wedding ritual. Then Ulric had each of them recite vows promising to love each other and care for one another for as long as they
live. Both recited the vows eagerly.
“You may kiss the bride, lad,” Ulric said with a hearty smile.
Lucius kissed Avani passionately. In her embrace, he felt life spark inside of him again. The dark cloud that hovered over him since Siegfried’s death dissipated and he thanked Yesu for it.
They held a short reception on the pier before Ulric announced they had to set sail soon or they’d miss the easterly winds that would carry them southward. More farewells were uttered and Lucius found them harder than before. He realized Yesu was right about his family. Though his father and mother and brother were no longer with him, he still had a family in Azuleah who loved him. Helmer was a father to him and Silas and Violet like brother and sister. Ulric was perhaps an odd uncle and Alistair a quirky grandfather. And there was also Avani. His true love and now his dear wife.
Lucius embraced her tightly as they waved goodbye to their friends on the pier. The wind picked up and puffed out the sails as The Dusty Mountaineer departed the shores of Aldron. Avani tucked her head in the hollow of his neck and he cherished the warmth of her closeness. The salt water sprayed on his face with the ship’s increasing speed and Lucius smiled as the wind tousled his hair. A new adventure awaited him on the open sea and he eagerly welcomed it with Avani at his side.
Note from Author
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About the author
Daniel Adorno is an author of fantasy and science fiction, and he has dabbled in poetry in the past. When he’s not writing or planning his next novel, Daniel loves to draw and design t-shirts on his outdated computer. Daniel lives in Farmington, Minnesota with his wife and two sons.
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Keep of Dragons (The Azuleah Trilogy Book 3) Page 34
