And, suddenly, I’m in message hell. How’d that happen? GRAH! Don’t you people know I have a story to WRITE?!
(Muah. I do love you all.)
In the meantime, go check out the following people:
Yoshi
Luka
Potterthon
$Eliza$
Heather
Sheana
CJ
Hopefully, they don’t have my backache…
I’m losing readers. (; Everyone’s becoming too tired to do any reading. I’m sorry! I really am! ::hugs:
Anyway, looks like you guys think Lucian should trust her. So – he will. Which is good. It’s nice to trust the half-elf. And seer. (;
In the next bit, you’ll hear more about what’s going on in Eyanea and with Lucian’s dad. And – they’ll finally arrive home. Horray!
Lucian checks his map as the sun sets slowly. As a group, and with Solstice’s blessing, they had opted to take a lesser-known path back to his kingdom, Eyanea. Lucian frowns a bit, thinking back to the moment of decision. Nicholas’s voice, telling him the amount of time to decide was short, Jarrod whispering his thoughts into his ear – and the look upon Solstice’s face as she had regarded him. He wasn’t sure what exactly that particular look had meant. There was an intensity there – and something else. He had not been sure – he still wasn’t sure.
“You look lost in thought, Captain.”
“Lady Solstice.” For there was but one lady on board his ship. Lucian looks up, finding her near. He offers her a faint smile. “I have to apologize that we will not make it to your homeland, Oriff. I will see about getting a ship to go there once we come to port in my kingdom.” Lucian begins to roll up the map.
“There is no need to apologize. Your intentions were good. However, there are times when life works against those good intentions.” She moves forward, a mug in hand. “What were you doing?”
“Merely checking our course. We are exactly where we should be.” Lucian pauses, looking toward her. “Was there something you needed, Lady Solstice?”
“Please. Stop. I am not a lady. I am just – myself. Call me Solstice.” She offers him a smile.
“A pleasure, Solstice.” Lucian smiles back at her. He reaches out a hand for hers. She chuckles, allowing him to take one of her hands.
“A pleasure to meet you as well, Lucian.” She watches him as he lifts her hand to lips. She draws in a breath the moment his lips touch the back of her hand. She groans softly, the mug dropping from her suddenly nerveless fingers. Her body sways toward him, despite her efforts to remain upright.
“Solstice?” Lucian is startled by the mug dropping. It was wood and was unharmed by the fall. He is more startled as her body sways toward him. He drops his map, his body shifting to catch her. “What is it?” He frowns, finding her breathing erratic, her eyes goign a pale color. He sweeps her up into his arms and heads below, calling for the ship’s healer.
“Lucian? What is it?” Jarrod was coming down the small hall, on his way up to take a shift on deck.
“I am uncertain. The lady is not well.” Lucian moves toward his own quarters, for now, as they were closest to where they currently were.
“I will find the ship’s healer.” Jarrod moves off.
“Lucian?” Nicholas’s voice. He had been resting in Jarrod’s cabin. “What is it?” Nicholas frowns, moving after Lucian. “What happened? What – oh.”
“Nicholas? Do you know what is wrong with her?” Lucian lays her gently on his bed, looking toward Nicholas.
“She is in the midst of a vision.” Nicholas moves into the room.
“So, it is true. She is a seer.” Lucian looks back to Solstice, brushing her hair from her face.
“Aye. She is a seer. A skilled one.”
“Hurry. You must hurry home.” Her voice is a mere thread, and, yet, it seems to echo throughout the chamber.
“Solstice?” Both men move toward her. Lucian looks down at her. “What do you mean? We are making good time to Eyanea.”
“An old man cries out your name, Lucian.”
“My father.” Lucian growls, moving to turn away. He blinks as she grips his wrist, holding him in place. He frowns, then looks to Nicholas. “Can you find Jarrod and tell him to push the ship to her limits?” Nicholas nods and departs.
“Lucian, do you trust me?” She looks at him, through him, into him. Lucian looks back to her, puzzled.
You guys really do surprise me, sometimes. ::grins::
The first time was when you thought Solstice should go home (or elsewhere) rather than go to Eyanea.
And now – you’ve surprised me again.
Based on your last response of whether Lucian should fight or distract, I thought for sure you would want them to stay and fight. Nooooo, you’ve opted for – flee to Eyanea.
So, they will go off to Eyanea. And I believe Lucian will get to see a bit of Solstice’s gift in action. ::grins::
Wow. You all have given me quite the curveball. Okay, here we go. Solstice has opted to be taken – elsewhere….
“Lady Solstice, I am glad to see you will be able to go home.” Nicholas comes up behind the half-elf, who was near the railing of the ship, staring out at the waters as the ship sails swiftly for her homeland.
“I admit, I was surprised by his offer.” Solstice turns, looking up at Nicholas. “Were you?”
“Aye, my lady. I was very surprised. I was certain he would demand you help his kingdom. However, I know where Eyanea lies – and we are not headed in its direction. He has been true to his word and is taking you to your homeland, Oriff.” Nicholas looks out at the sea, admiring the sunlight glistening off of the waters.
“I had no doubts he would be true to his words.” Solstice smiles faintly.
“And how did you know that?” Nicholas looks at her, startled. “Have you met him be – oh. Of course.” Nicholas chuckles softly. “You have seen it.”
“I have seen enough to know the truth of his soul, aye. I know the depth of his courage, the depth of his love for his kingdom. I also know he would abhor being a party to enslaving another human being, no matter how noble the cause may be.” Solstice turns, looking toward where Lucian stands on the bridge with Jarrod.
“What have you seen, my lady?” Nicholas is curious.
“Many things, Nicholas. The future is never really set. Everything is fluid. One decision can change everything.” She looks toward him. “Like you helping him rather than hindering him. Without your help, it was entirely possible he would have died that night.”
“I’m sorry?” Nicholas jerks, startled.
“I saw his death, not at your hands, but due to you calling the other guards, I saw it.” Solstice nods to Nicholas.
“I have saved his life?” Nicholas looks toward Lucian.
“Aye. And, quite possibly, the lives of many others in his kingdom. Thank you, Nicholas.” Solstice touches his arm.
“Why did you not tell me?” Nicholas rounds upon her, a dark pain in his gaze. “What if I had chosen the other path?”
“I could not tell you. You had to decide for yourself which path you would take. You needed to find yourself, Nicholas. I knew if I told you, I would be choosing your life for you. I could not do that.” Solstice smiles faintly at him.
“Er – oh.” Nicholas exhales slowly. “I see.” He turns, frowning.
“What is it?” Solstice blinks, watching Nicholas bound down the deck of the ship. “Nicholas?”
“Lady Solstice? Is there something wrong?” Lucian’s voice echoes across the space. He had seen Nicholas dart away from the woman.
“I am uncertain.” Both turn to look at Nicholas.
“They are coming, Lucian. There is a ship hiding around the edge of that island.” Nicholas points. “It is a new patrol, something Ryall has just begun. You must decide quickly. Either make haste for your own lands – or you will need to turn and fight.”
Lucian turns to look at Solstice.
“My lady, this will require your input. Shall we stay and fight? Or do we head for my homeland?”
