“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.”
“I can’t believe she turned out to be an elf,” Thomas said, running his hand through his hair.
“She was an elf?” Bo asked, surprised.
“Yeah,” Kirsten said. “She had this crazy magical hearing while we were captive, but I would’ve never thought she was that rider’s sister.”
“Wow,” Max said, eyes widening. “So that’s why she stayed behind?”
“I guess,” Thomas said.
“I knew there was something special about her from the moment I saw her,” Kirsten said.
“Sure you did,” Thomas said sarcastically.
“I did. And I like Maija, I’m glad she’ll be with Anders, but it’s hard for me to see him go after such a brief time together.”
“Things are going to be different now, no doubt. We’ve just been reminiscing about what it’ll be like once we get back to Grandwood,” Thomas said.
“At least you’ve got a home to go back to,” Max said pushing his black hair out of his eyes.
“You two aren’t going home?” Kirsten asked.
Together Max and Bo shook their heads, “Even if we were welcome, I wouldn’t want to stay there again,” Max said.
“Not as long as Tony’s alive anyway,” Bo added.
“Yeah, besides Britt’s offered us working positions among her crew,” Max finished.
Kirsten felt a rush of disappointment when she heard the two boys would stay on with Britt, not because she didn’t think them capable of the job, but because she realized her time with Bo would be ending soon. Nothing between them had been said, but Kirsten could feel that he was beginning to grow fond of her and she’d only recently warmed up to the idea.
It’s probably for the best anyway, she told herself, trying to see reason. Kirsten suddenly became aware that she’d been staring at Bo while she was wrestling with her thoughts. His dark eyes were locked with hers as they gazed longingly at each other from opposite sides of their respective brothers.
“Have you two ever been to the Rollo Islands?” Thomas asked, abruptly changing the subject after noticing the look Bo and his sister were sharing. When he spoke, Kirsten snapped her head back forward, rosy-cheeked and flushed with embarrassment. Bo kept his eyes on her for a moment longer before he, too, looked back to the east.
“No, but I’m eager to see them. I’ve heard their beaches are like none other in the five nations. It could all be a rumor, but I intend to find out,” Max said with a smile. He placed his hands on his hips and puffed out his chest, striking a pose for them, “I’m not one to turn down an adventure, you know.”
Bo scoffed at his older brother, hitting him with the back of his hand directly in the belly and making Max double over.
“The only thing you’re ever up for is talking someone’s ear off and bragging about all of your wonderful accomplishments,” Bo mocked while taking several steps backward and readying for Max’s retaliation.
