Jonen stepped off the boat and lowered the hood of his coat. The last two months on the boat sailing across the sea left him with little to do but think and practice his magic. He grabbed his bag and sat against the soft ground. The warm sun on the grassy plain greeted his face and for the first time in weeks, he didn’t feel seasick.
“Jojo!” A voice called after him, “Be a dear and help me carry my bags.”
“Yes, mother!” He walked towards her.
The small elf smiled at him with all the love she had. He grabbed her bags and threw them over his shoulder. Their golden wavy hair and strong blue eyes showed their relation.
“I’m sorry about this.”
“You’ve only said that hundreds of times the past few months,” She rolled her eyes, “It’s fine. It has been decades since I’ve been to Saceida. If I have to hide here with my youngest child and some of his friends, that will be fine with me.”
“It’s my fault that—”
“Jonen, I am not upset,” She patted his face, “I get to spend more time with you. It has been years. I missed you.”
“Lady Leveilleur de Devorte,” Amethyst hobbled over with her wooden leg and threw her bag over her shoulder, “I can’t promise the same accommodations you are used to in Vanora, but I will try my best to make you comfortable.”
“Oh, Amethyst,” She snorted, “I told you to call me Levee. Only hoity toity people use my full name. Now, Jojo, where is the young girl?”
“Aunt Levee!” Tella giggled and ran towards her, “I had to get Rosie from below deck.”
The small human threw her arms around the woman and hugged her tightly. Jonen’s mother picked her up and twirled her in a circle.
“There’s my little sparkle!” Leveilleur grinned and picked her up, “What else are we waiting for?”
“That should be everything,” Irae placed the yowling beast’s kennel on the ground, “Rosie seems particularly hungry.”
“I will find something for her to eat,” Quince grunted, “As well as the rest of us.”
“Okay! Can I get candy?” Tella grinned.
“No,” The man grunted, “We still have a lot of traveling to do. You got too sick last time.”
The girl crossed her arms “You’re no fun! Can we let at least Rosie out now? I want to pet her.”
“Of course. Let’s see if she misses land,” Irae smiled.
A shrill “Amey!” cut through the crowd around them.
“I know that shriek anywhere,” The mossy green orc grinned and turned as someone sailed through the air at her, “My queen! How the goddess knows I’ve missed you!”
The tiny human woman threw her arms around her. They kissed deeply and proudly. Amethyst held her close and spun her around. The woman squealed happily and both giggled. She was older with graying hair on top of a curvy form. Amethyst dipped her and rubbed their noses together.
“I love you so much,” The woman grabbed her face and kissed her repeatedly, “Where is our new daughter?”
“Hi,” Tella shyly stepped forward, “My name is Tella.”
“You are soo cute,” She smiled, “My name is Venna. My wife Amey sent me a letter talking about you. I’m so excited to have you come live with me.”
“I don’t know if I can call you mommy. I’ve already lost two,” Her voice trailed off.
That didn’t stop the chipper woman’s attitude. She smiled brightly and tapped the girl’s nose with a loving smile.
You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.
“Well, you can call me Vee, and you know my wife, Amethyst. We’ve wanted to adopt a child for a while. I’m happy you’re here. I understand you brought a little pet, too? I’ve been trying to convince that grouchy old woman to let us have a cat!”
“Be nice, Vee,” Amethyst chuckled, “I lost a leg.”
“I told you to come back in one piece. That might have been my favorite leg!” The woman stuck her tongue out, “Now, show me your pet. Rosie, was it?”
Tella grinned and opened up the kennel door. A fluffy, pink cat shot from its cage and yowled at everyone that approached it. She reached towards the cat with a pout. It blinked up at her with bright, human eyes that seemed misplaced in its head. Rosie purred as it approached the girl and lovingly rubbed against her.
“She likes mice and jerky,” Tella mumbled.
“Well, we have plenty of mice on the farm. I even got you a room just for you set up!” Vee smiled.
Jonen and his mother watched the trio get to know each other. Tella giggled and smiled more than she had their entire trip from Zrud. She looked like a child again instead of the grief struck girl from before. Her sudden happiness made him smile. He missed being a kid again.
“I remember when you were that little,” Leveilleur sighed as she grabbed his hand, “We used to come to Saceida so much more when your father was alive. Perhaps we can visit his grave while we are here.”
Jonen squeezed her hand, “Maybe. I think it would be nice to be there again, when it’s safe.”
“I’ll be safe because my big, strong son is here with me,” She grinned.
He nodded solemnly and looked in front of him. Leveilleur patted a hand against his chest as he stared into the distance.
“Still thinking about her?”
“Yeah, Mom. Have you heard from Jaspen?”
Agroth grunted as he pulled some of the bags onto a wagon, “Mail.”
Most ripped open the envelopes and read their orders right away. Jonen watched one particular companion react.
“What?!” Irae yelled as she read through a letter, “Why did nobody tell me – Amethyst, did you know about this?!”
“Know about –” The orc skimmed the paper with a groan, “Goddess above. You’re joking.”
“What?” Jonen stomped over to her and grabbed the paper.
> Dear friend Irae,
>
> It has been a long time since I sent you a letter. Many things have happened, but I will attempt to keep my letter brief. We fled with Prince Krission shortly after your ship left. I wanted to make sure all of you were safe before I continued my plan.
>
> I heard that Lady Leveilleur successfully joined your trip. I thought that having his mother would help Jonen find peace. I feared their mother may be in danger because of my actions. I hoped sending her with him would give him some form of solace. I will work to improve the fallout from my choices.
>
> By the time you get this letter, I will likely be married. I wish you could attend the ceremony, but it is better that you are safe with everyone else. This will not be a union of love. I do not think I will ever have that, nor do I deserve it after everything I’ve done.
>
> Bobabano once said that he did not think I would be capable of love after everything Isaan did to me. Perhaps he was right. Every time I thought I loved someone, it only ended in immense pain for them. Maybe it’s better that I no longer try and use this marriage as an excuse. I wait to hear your opinion.
>
> Do you think that Tella and Jonen will ever speak to me again? I miss them, Irae. Thinking about them makes my chest hurt. Almost unbearably. Bobabano’s ring helps stave the pain, but that only does so much when I’m still grieving him as well.
>
> I know I am still hurting them, even from this far away. Jonen hasn’t answered my letter I sent with him. I told him everything, as much as I could explain it. I lost hope he will respond if I haven’t heard anything by the time you get this letter. Perhaps that is for the best. None of you should be involved with me going forward. I will try my best to be a better person, but I know that will not be enough to change any opinions of me.
>
> Let me know how they are doing when you get the chance. I get some updates from Amethyst, but she will not tell me everything I want to know. Only that they are safe and that I shouldn’t worry.
>
> Irae, I ask you to continue to train young Tella as the healer she will grow into. I know that I have caused you to move across oceans. I hope it wasn’t too much against your will. The protectors assigned to her will take care of you as well. Whatever you need, I will pay for it. Just tell them. One day, I hope to repay your kindness.
>
> Sincerely, Miradash
Jonen read through the letter in his mind a dozen times before he handed it back to her. His mind spiraled at the words. He sat on the ground and placed his head in his hands. His mother grabbed the letter and read over it.
“Are you okay, Jojo?” She knelt at his side, “Tell me what’s wrong?”
“Mira…” He rifled through his bags and pulled out the unopened letter, “She—”
“You never read her letter?” Irae asked, “We’ve been on a ship for months and you never read it?”
Jonen frantically ripped the envelope and read through each page. The group stopped as he took time to read. He desperately searched for an answer. He saw the tear-stained pages and smeared words. Her neat handwriting turned into scribbles further into the letter he read. He flipped between the lengthy pages until he saw the answer repeated across multiple pages.
Leveilleur wrapped her arms around his shoulders, “Talk to me, Jonen. Tell me what’s wrong.”
“Mira…” He looked up to Amethyst, “What does she mean? What is this about a prophecy?”
“Perhaps its better we start our journey home, first,” The orc squeezed her wife, “But now that you’ve finally read the letter, we can talk.”