Sailing, Learning, Finding (4/4)

"Aestos," I said after a while. "On my island, this is how our mornings and evenings were like. We came together, and I produced music that enriched our souls. Because my people and I were the largest family to exist on this Earth. And because of you, I get to have a piece of this again."

For a while, Aestos was silent, so I opened my eyes to notice him smiling at the activities of my people. His joy was tangible. Golden threads woven between gleeful bodies to connect with every dancing soul. I felt his happiness reach into my chest and lift my heart so that it would not sink into the burdens living there.

I leaned and kissed Aestos' face. He swiveled his head—rapidly—and our noses brushed. I laughed tiredly.

"What is with that reaction, friend?"

His face tightened. But he was not upset. He wore the countenance of a delighted man who feigned confusion because it was comfortable not to recognize what some actions meant.

"You are always touching me. Every hour, a hand of yours reaches for me. Why?" he asked.

I felt bashful, although confessions came naturally to me. "You must understand by now."

"I am trying to," he answered sincerely, and he spread his fingers over his chest. "Because here, I feel something I am not used to. Whenever you touch me."

I smiled softly. "You feel your heart."

"I feel more than that."

"Does it frighten you?"

He pondered over it while holding my gaze. "I don't want it to."

I stole his other hand and held it against my chest to let him feel the music of my heart. "Do you feel the rhythm?"

His eyes fell to where he held me. "I do not need to feel it," he murmured. "I hear every time it changes."

I adored him with an enthusiastic smile. "Your ears are extraordinary, and you notice when affection drums in my chest. For you, Aestos. Because you are becoming someone special to me."

Aestos lifted bright eyes unto my own, and we remained silently transfixed in each other's souls for a while. Unblinking. Unmoving. Then, bravely, he slid his hand to my neck and cupped me there. Held our faces close beside our flickering fire and the loving music.

"I have never felt anything like this before." There was no fright in his voice. Only desire to experience more.

"You are experiencing joy for the first time. And the warmth in your chest is not from the fire but the affection you feel for me." I was with the same desire as him. To become even closer. "Aestos, you are beginning to see me as a friend."

"I wish to keep you," he murmured, like he had not meant to speak it.

"Then keep me."

Then his expression changed. Turned reticent, then reluctant. Aestos removed his hand. "You are with your people now. I will take you back to the city and leave you. The king has already agreed to welcome whoever you might find, and if you teach them to be quiet about who they are, they should be safe."

"I agreed to help you," I argued, but my voice was mild.

Aestos shook his head once. Finalizing something I had not agreed to.

He did not want to be selfish with this new friendship, but we had made a deal, and I had become more than a partner to him. I might not have been as honest as him, but I did not go back on the deals I made. Yes, I loved my people. I would indeed miss them. The children who aspired to be like me and the women who would weave nest-like crowns for my head.

And I would remember the men who would kiss my feet and lighten the burdens on my shoulders if they could. And most of all, I would miss my sister. Leaving her behind, in the care of someone I did not know well enough frightened me like nothing else. But she would be safe. Aestos had said she would be. And him, I did know.

"We had an agreement, Aestos. I am your friend. I will help you. Do not deny me this."

A marring of opposition folded the edges of his eyes. "You do not even know the full details of what I wish to obtain."

"Then tell me."

He paused, and I knew he wished for the conversation to end. He was honorable to do this. To want to hide securely the things that had brought him joy, but I did not want him to cast me aside.

"Please, Aestos."

He looked ahead, eyes desperately seeking the calm he'd had moments ago. He could not find it. "I am after a sword."

"Yes?" He was still reluctant.

"Yes," Aestos repeated dully. "It is rumored to strip men of abnormal abilities. Meaning, I am not the only one cursed like this."

His strength was not a curse. It was magnificent. It would be useful. But Aestos had been alienated for it. Held in so high of a regard that he had not been allowed to dwell amongst men, even as a man himself. It was crushing what prestige and strength earned a man in this world. The strong were lonely. Cast out from their families and without companions to rival them. And most heroes lived miserably. I understood why Aestos wanted to avoid such a destiny.

But a corner in my mind wondered dangerously what I might do with power as great as his. I did not long to be violent with it or destroy lands. I only wished to be more capable than I was as a meager musician and a prince. I could become someone my people confidently relied on. I could be magnificent, too.

And how I wanted to be greater.

"I believe all it would take is for me to wield it, and my abilities would leave me to enter the sword," Aestos continued.

I touched his knee sincerely. "I am very sorry, friend, for what you went through to despise such wonderful gifts."

"Destruction is not wonderful," he murmured.

"You do not only destroy," I assured. "You build, and you hunt and—" I tapped his temple, "you create. And I wish to stay beside you to see more of what you're capable of."

Aestos disagreed. I could see it across his forehead, which had collapsed, and his pinched lips. But then he smiled, and I knew he had done it for me. "You are only trying to flatter me."

"I am being honest, friend. I won't lie to you."

Aestos contemplated something, then said, "This sword is also capable of granting abilities. I do not know how it works, but we'll come across others who wish to obtain it. The city of Hethonious will not be easy for any of us to enter. It is ruined by dense forests and plagued with deceitful spirits that inspire men to betray their comrades. We could be tricked. We could be hurt. There is no guarantee you will return—" he looked at my sister, "to her."

I swallowed mild panic. I wished to return to Nelera. To spend more time with her than we'd had with our parents. But also, I could not abandon my friend to such a perilous journey alone.

How could I neglect his call for help when he had already done incredible things for me? And I could not wait with worry for however long his journey would take. The only solution was to journey together. We would keep each other safe. Then, we would return to make a home on his island.

"I am willing to take those risks with you. We swore to defend each other, and that we will do."

Aestos squinted, touched by the ache of potential. "I do not wish for anything to happen to you. This journey will change any man not resilient enough into a hideous version of themselves."

"My heart cannot be influenced that easily. Do not worry for me. The person before you now will be the person you return to your island with. I will not change, Aestos."

A promise to him. And myself as well.

This one, I hoped I could keep.