“What about their safety?” Anders asked. “Won’t Merglan come after them to get to us?”

“It’s possible, but not likely. We’ll make sure the Rollo warriors keep an eye out for that possibility. Merglan somehow missed that you two were Anders’ kin,” Ivan addressed Thomas and Kirsten. “It’s possible that he still doesn’t know, but we’ll have to keep an eye out for that scenario.”

“Okay,” Anders said, unhappily but agreeing to the stipulations because he knew they were necessary for his duty. “And what about Maija? Will you send her away too?”

“No, Maija is coming with us. Natalia wants her to come back to their childhood home in Cedarbridge. That is if you will agree to it?” Ivan asked, turning to Maija.

Maija raised her eyebrows, looking slightly surprised, “Yes, I’d like that. Maybe I’ll find some much-needed answers about my past.”

Anders smiled, glancing over at Maija. He was glad they’d be able to continue their relationship.

“Then it’s settled,” Ivan said, clapping his hands briefly. “The elves will be ready to leave by nightfall. And you two,” Ivan pointed to Thomas and Kirsten. “The Rollo people will be ready to set sail in a matter of hours, so I suggest you find a ride.”

With that, Ivan turned and walked back toward the elf camp.

“Come on, let’s see if Britt will take you aboard her ship,” Anders said.

Kirsten and Thomas nodded and grabbed their things.

I’m hungry, Zahara said to Anders. I’m going to find something to eat.

Okay, Anders replied. Don’t venture too far though; there could be more of those airmines nearby.

Zahara nodded, leaping off the ground and taking flight.

“Where is she off to?” Kirsten asked.

“She needs to find something to eat,” Anders said as he watched her rise into the sky.

“I’m glad it isn’t us,” Kirsten replied.

“She would never eat people,” Anders said, casting her a scornful glance for thinking such a terrible thought.

“How do you know that?” Kirsten asked.

“I just do,” he said defensively. “We’re bonded now, so I can feel her emotions. She doesn’t have the desire to eat people; especially my family.”

Together they walked down to the beach where they found Max, Bo and Britt loading her ship. When Britt saw Anders, she ran to him, giving him a big hug and laughing.

“Anders, I’m so happy you’re still alive,” she said in accented Landish.

“What? You doubted I would be?” he asked with a smile.

“Last time I saw you, you were about to be slain by that evil beast, Thargon, and then a dragon came from nowhere and took you away,” she said acting out the flight by moving her hand through the space in front of her.

“That was actually very terrifying,” Anders said. Wow, that seems like it was so long ago, he thought. He knew it had only been a few days but so much had happened to him since then that it seemed like a lifetime.

“Will you be joining us on our voyage?” Britt asked. “I need a few more good warriors.”

“Unfortunately I can’t come along. Zahara and I need to be trained properly if we’re going to have a chance at taking on Merglan and his dragon,” he said.

“Aw, shoot. What about them?” she asked, pointing to the three behind him.

“That’s what I’m here to talk to you about,” Anders said. “My two cousins, Kirsten and Thomas, need a ride back to Grandwood. Ivan said you would be stopping by there on the way back to the Rollo Islands. Can you take them?”

“Of course, we can take them back. And if they’re any good at fighting, they’re welcome to stay on with me and the rest of the crew.”

“I’m good with a bow,” Kirsten piped in.

“I’m not too bad with a blade,” Thomas added.

“Good. You’ll fit right in with us then,” Britt said. “Go on then, find a place for your items and then get to work helping us load the rest of the boat,” she ordered.

Kirsten and Thomas began to carry out what Britt told them to do before Anders called to them, “Wait! Aren’t you going to say goodbye?”

They stopped short and Kirsten said, “Yes, we’re just excited to join the crew. Besides, we’ll be seeing you sooner than you think.”

“I hope so,” Anders said, hugging them one at a time and squeezing them tightly for several seconds each before letting them go. Maija did the same. “Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do,” Anders called after them as they ran aboard the ship, joining Max and Bo in their duties.

“Thank you so much,” Anders said to Britt. “I know they’re in good hands with you.”

“If you ever decide to trade out that dragon for a ship, let me know. I would be glad to have you,” she said shaking his hand.

Max, Bo, Thomas and Kirsten ran to the ship’s railing and shouted back to him, “See you soon!”

Anders and Maija both waved goodbye before walking back across camp to join the elves.

“What’s going to happen to us now?” Maija asked.

Anders stroked several strands of her hair away from her face and said, “I’m not sure. We’ll have to wait and see what lies in store for us among the elves.”

“At least we’re able to stay together,” Maija said smiling at him.

“I know, we’re lucky in that,” he said and leaned in to kiss her. Their lips met with a soft and warm embrace. Anders didn’t know how much time he would have to devote to her, but he knew he wanted to make it work no matter the cost.

Chapter 23

New Leadership

Kirsten and Thomas watched the Eastland coastline fade into the distance as they set sail into the Marauder’s Sea once more. The warm afternoon breeze filled the ship’s sails as seagulls flocked around the masts, squawking loudly. Kirsten recounted the last time she’d been above deck when Merglan hauled them out in the light of the full moon. The more she had struggled against the invisible force he had imposed on all of the captives onboard, the more strenuously the magical force required her to obey its will, so this time she made sure not to take the experience for granted. The wind washed across her face as she stood next to her brother gazing off the ship’s stern, the scent of saltwater and fish tickled her nostrils. It reminded her of home back at Highborn Bay.

“Isn’t it strange to think we’re going home?” Kirsten asked turning slightly to address Thomas.

He took a breath, letting the sea breeze fill his lungs, and then exhaled heartily before responding, “I thought this day would never come. Back there at the fortress, I wasn’t sure we were going to make it out alive.”

Max and Bo joined them at the rear of the ship. Max placed his forearms on the deck railing and looked longingly at the fading coastline. “We shouldn’t worry about him you know,” he said, his gaze fixed to the east. “Anders is resilient and surprisingly quick-minded. He’ll be just fine without us.”

“I know,” Kirsten said. “He’ll be alright without us, at least he’ll be with Maija.”