life that could never be
filled. I wasn’t sure I could move on. Was going to the mainland, possibly to
my death, damning her to that fate?
“Sai,” Perin whispered. He took a step toward me and placed
a hand on my shoulder. “Please consider my words. I realize you’ll find a way
to accomplish what you want if you have enough determination, but I beg you to
think before you act.”
I turned to leave, suddenly unsure of what to do next. The
fear of hurting Aylen further hampered my resolve, which, of course, was
Perin’s intent. I might have decided to give up and go back to Vairda if Perin
hadn’t spoken one last time.
“You don’t truly want to leave your island, do you Sai? For
Aylen, it was only a stopping point, but Vairda is your home.”
I stopped walking but didn’t face him. His words had nudged
a memory from over a year ago, when I’d promised Aylen I’d always stay by her
side. “You’re wrong.” I spoke so softly I wasn’t sure he could hear me. “My
home is wherever Aylen is.”
I continued toward the door, aware that Perin was close
behind. When I exited, the guards were waiting with Haji and Faema.
“Make sure they leave Nethra,” Perin instructed them. “I’ve
decided extended visits are not welcome today.” He didn’t offer a goodbye as he
strolled back inside.
We were a somber group as we made our way toward the exit
above the city. My mind spun in several directions as I tried to rationalize my
purpose for following Aylen. I also needed to come up with a way to get back to
the beach where I’d left my weapons without the guards following me.
When we reached the exit pool, Lirig stepped forward. “I’ll
see them out,” he offered. “They’re not problem causers so I doubt we need more
than one person to make sure they go.”
The other guards didn’t argue and before leaving, one of
them winked at Faema. “Come visit again,” he whispered, loud enough for the
rest of us to hear.
Once they were gone, we connected with our Sea Gems. After
we jumped into the water we allowed Lirig to lead us away from Nethra and out
to sea.
When we were far enough away from the island that no other
Nethrans were close by, Lirig changed direction. It didn’t take me long to
realize he was taking us back to the unguarded beach where we’d stashed most of
our belongings.
“How did you know?” I asked him once we’d scrambled ashore.
“Know what?” Lirig stood, fists on his hips, glancing around
our little strip of sand appreciatively.
“How did you know to take us here?” I rummaged through my
weapons to be sure nothing had been disturbed while I'd been gone.
“You and Aylen used to come here. I followed you a few
times.”
“That’s creepy,” Haji muttered.
“Creepy was how they acted when they thought no one was
around. Believe me, I left that alone.”
“Jealous?” I said, strapping a knife to my leg.
“Not on your life. If the Gem Heiress wants to waste her
time on the descendant of a traitor, that’s her business.”
“Watch it,” Haji growled. “You’re insulting my ancestors
too.”
Things were tensing up again so I decided to bring the
conversation back around. “What do you want, Lirig? You didn’t lead us here out
of the kindness of your heart.”
Lirig snorted and flopped onto the sand. “I brought you here
because I want out of Nethra and the only way that’s going to happen is if I go
to Miranasch with you.”
“Why don’t you just leave if you want out so bad?” Faema
asked.
“Are you kidding? It takes more than one person to break
into a vault. Besides, it would be suicide to travel the sea alone.”
“Yeah, well you’re not coming and we don’t need your help,”
I said.
“Yes, you do.” Lirig said, unruffled by the surety in my
tone.
I didn’t want to encourage him but I asked, “What makes you
so confident?”
“I’m one of the few on this island who knows where the other
vaults are.”
This information surprised me.
filled. I wasn’t sure I could move on. Was going to the mainland, possibly to
my death, damning her to that fate?
“Sai,” Perin whispered. He took a step toward me and placed
a hand on my shoulder. “Please consider my words. I realize you’ll find a way
to accomplish what you want if you have enough determination, but I beg you to
think before you act.”
I turned to leave, suddenly unsure of what to do next. The
fear of hurting Aylen further hampered my resolve, which, of course, was
Perin’s intent. I might have decided to give up and go back to Vairda if Perin
hadn’t spoken one last time.
“You don’t truly want to leave your island, do you Sai? For
Aylen, it was only a stopping point, but Vairda is your home.”
I stopped walking but didn’t face him. His words had nudged
a memory from over a year ago, when I’d promised Aylen I’d always stay by her
side. “You’re wrong.” I spoke so softly I wasn’t sure he could hear me. “My
home is wherever Aylen is.”
I continued toward the door, aware that Perin was close
behind. When I exited, the guards were waiting with Haji and Faema.
“Make sure they leave Nethra,” Perin instructed them. “I’ve
decided extended visits are not welcome today.” He didn’t offer a goodbye as he
strolled back inside.
We were a somber group as we made our way toward the exit
above the city. My mind spun in several directions as I tried to rationalize my
purpose for following Aylen. I also needed to come up with a way to get back to
the beach where I’d left my weapons without the guards following me.
When we reached the exit pool, Lirig stepped forward. “I’ll
see them out,” he offered. “They’re not problem causers so I doubt we need more
than one person to make sure they go.”
The other guards didn’t argue and before leaving, one of
them winked at Faema. “Come visit again,” he whispered, loud enough for the
rest of us to hear.
Once they were gone, we connected with our Sea Gems. After
we jumped into the water we allowed Lirig to lead us away from Nethra and out
to sea.
When we were far enough away from the island that no other
Nethrans were close by, Lirig changed direction. It didn’t take me long to
realize he was taking us back to the unguarded beach where we’d stashed most of
our belongings.
“How did you know?” I asked him once we’d scrambled ashore.
“Know what?” Lirig stood, fists on his hips, glancing around
our little strip of sand appreciatively.
“How did you know to take us here?” I rummaged through my
weapons to be sure nothing had been disturbed while I'd been gone.
“You and Aylen used to come here. I followed you a few
times.”
“That’s creepy,” Haji muttered.
“Creepy was how they acted when they thought no one was
around. Believe me, I left that alone.”
“Jealous?” I said, strapping a knife to my leg.
“Not on your life. If the Gem Heiress wants to waste her
time on the descendant of a traitor, that’s her business.”
“Watch it,” Haji growled. “You’re insulting my ancestors
too.”
Things were tensing up again so I decided to bring the
conversation back around. “What do you want, Lirig? You didn’t lead us here out
of the kindness of your heart.”
Lirig snorted and flopped onto the sand. “I brought you here
because I want out of Nethra and the only way that’s going to happen is if I go
to Miranasch with you.”
“Why don’t you just leave if you want out so bad?” Faema
asked.
“Are you kidding? It takes more than one person to break
into a vault. Besides, it would be suicide to travel the sea alone.”
“Yeah, well you’re not coming and we don’t need your help,”
I said.
“Yes, you do.” Lirig said, unruffled by the surety in my
tone.
I didn’t want to encourage him but I asked, “What makes you
so confident?”
“I’m one of the few on this island who knows where the other
vaults are.”
This information surprised me.
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