by Kacey Ezell
“He’ll take no food, only water,” Amelia said fretfully. It was obvious she didn’t wish to leave her patient.
“Leave him with us,” Adrienne replied, her beautiful voice pitched in soothing tones. Once again, she reminded Lucia of water, with the graceful way she moved and spoke. “We know what to do. If he can be saved, we will save him, Sister.”
“The master requests your presence, Sister Amelia, along with that of Lady Lucia and Captain de Graaf in the Library,” Madame Devoir said from the doorway. “He requests you don’t delay, for unfinished business causes him heartache.”
Lucia reached out and caught her cousin by the hand.
“Amelia, come. They can help him better than we can. We really don’t want to keep the Buyer waiting,” Lucia said.
Amelia sent one last, long look over at Matthias then allowed herself to be pulled away from the side of the bed.
“I must return to check on him once I’ve finished speaking with your master,” she said in a low voice to Madame Devoir. Amelia’s tone made it clear this was not a request.
The Immortal chatelaine inclined her head, then gestured for the two ladies to follow her. Marit, who had accompanied them inside, remained behind with Adrienne and the Buyer’s medical staff.
Captain de Graaf joined them in the hallway. He inclined his head at their approach and offered his arms to Lucia and Amelia.
“How does Matthias?” he asked softly as the ladies took their places on either side of him.
“He’s weak, but Adrienne and your medic are with him,” Madame Devoir answered for them. “He will survive long enough for this fierce Sister to speak with my master as he desires. If you’ll all follow me, I’ll take you to him now.” Then, with something that may have been a bit of a smile, she turned and glided down the hallway toward the stairs Lucia remembered from last time.
Amelia exclaimed softly over the gaslight, and then again at her first sight of the magnificent library. This time the Buyer greeted them soberly, with none of last time’s whimsical fancy.
“So, de Graaf,” he said as he approached them from the dimness between the stacks of bookshelves. “You return late, and with a heart-wounded mortal. I have told you, have I not, that you must take better care of your Sources?”
“You have, Elder One. I don’t believe that it was I, however, who wounded his heart. I’ve asked Matthias many times to leave with me, yet he stayed. I think, in the end, he couldn’t bear to give up the dream of his father’s approval one day.”
“Hmmph,” the Buyer huffed. “You’re not wrong,” he said, “but you aren’t entirely right, either. There are oceans of pain in this young man’s mind, and some of it bears the salt of your name. You’re not wholly innocent in this.”
De Graaf swallowed hard. “No,” he admitted. “I’m not. You’re right, Elder One. I should have seen earlier what Matts needed. I should have made more of an effort to get him away from his father, even if it wasn’t out to the sky with me. I should have taken more care, as you say.”
Lucia held her breath as the Buyer looked the captain up and down. After a long moment, the Elder One gave a slight nod.
“Well. Let us move on from that for a moment. What else do you bring me besides a wounded man? I believe a story was promised. And a stone.”
“Yes,” Lucia said. For the first time since they’d entered, the Buyer’s eyes slid to hers. Once again, she felt the weight of centuries in his gaze. Once again, she felt the depth of his longing… and something very like loneliness. Then the feelings receded, and he gave her a careful smile.
“Lady Lucia. My heart sings to see you again. Have you the jewel?”
“I do, Elder One,” she said. She reached into the pouch she carried inside her travelling skirts and removed the cloth-wrapped emerald. The Buyer extended a hand, and she placed the gem into it, fervently hoping it was the last she’d see of the accursed thing.
The Buyer unwrapped the stone and held it up to the light, such as there was. The stone’s green clarity twinkled dimly at them, and the Buyer’s lips curved in a slow smile. He wrapped the stone again and stashed it away on his person in a move too quick for mortal eyes to follow.
“Excellent,” he said, his tone far more jovial. “Most excellent. I am well pleased. Now, shall we adjourn to the sitting area for the second half of the deal? You owe me a story.”
* * *
It took the better part of an hour to relate the entire tale. De Graaf and Lucia took turns telling the Buyer about the momentous events that had shaken Marinport. Even Amelia chimed in occasionally with her perspective. The Buyer seemed to drink it all in and said not a word until they had finished.
“Well,” he said, when they finally fell silent. “That is a worthy tale indeed. Isn’t it interesting how affairs of the heart can become so tangled up in matters of far-reaching importance? I must say, Sister Amelia, I applaud your proposed compromise. I would prefer it if the NightShips could engage in truly free trade, but if protecting the Sources is the price we must pay to do business…I find that to be an acceptable restriction. Well thought out, certainly. My compliments.”
“Thank you,” Amelia said softly. Lucia thought her cousin might feel rather overwhelmed by the library and the Buyer both. She could certainly sympathize.
“And now,” the Buyer said, “I have but one question. What do you wish me to do with the thief upstairs?”
De Graaf stiffened slightly. It was subtle, but Lucia noticed, and judging by the wolf-like smile on the Buyer’s face, he did, too.
“Elder One, it is not my intent that any harm should come to Matthias,” de Graaf began.
“You should have thought of that before you allowed his heart to be broken,” the Buyer retorted.
“Elder One,” Lucia cut in before de Graaf could say anything that might be harmful to their cause. “As you have already noted, Matthias is not well. It’s more than a broken heart, however. Matthias is adrift without an anchor. He’s always been the kind of soul who needed someone else in his life. He’s… he’s lost, and he fears that he doesn’t deserve to be loved. So, he cannot accept what love we would offer.”
The Buyer stared at her for a long time, then turned his gaze back to de Graaf.
“He’ll stay here, with me,” the Buyer said.
Amelia opened her mouth to protest, but the Buyer held up his hand.
“Eventide Sister, I created your order, in part, to care for those who were hurt by careless Immortals. Your devotion does you credit. But you must believe me when I say I can care for this poor boy the way no one else can. I give you my word when Matthias regains his strength, he’ll be free to leave my house, if he should choose. I also give you my word, if you take him from here, he won’t last another three nights.”
Amelia stilled, eyes going wide as she learned the truth of her Order’s origin. It wasn’t what she’d been taught, but something in her told her it was, nevertheless, absolutely true. The Buyer met her eyes with the same truthful intensity Lucia had seen and gave her a nod. Amelia took a deep breath…and nodded in return.
“Done, then,” the Buyer said. “We’ll handle payment for the stone in the usual way, de Graaf. I’d ordinarily invite you to stay for the day, but I find myself rather disappointed in you at present. You may leave tonight and stay in Paris or wherever the dawn finds you. You may come back…but perhaps not for a while. I will heal this boy, but I dislike having to clean up your mess, Johannes.”
De Graaf nodded. The Buyer turned his smile on the two ladies.
“You ladies are welcome to stay, as always, but I already know you’ll leave, Lucia. Keep de Graaf from making any more tragic mistakes, if you would. It was my pleasure to see you both. Come back anytime.”
And with that, they were dismissed.
Within an hour, they were back on the Leeuwin, preparing to cast off for Paris. Amelia had stopped by Matthias’ room, and to her great surprise, found Adrienne spooning broth into his mouth. He wasn’
t entirely alert, but he was lucid enough to thank Amelia for what she’d done and assure her that he was content enough to stay where he was. He still looked haunted and lost, but he was eating, and that was enough progress for the Eventide Sister to feel marginally more comfortable about leaving him.
“That…was interesting,” Amelia said to Lucia as the airship slowly accelerated away from the chateau.
Lucia laughed. “Isn’t he, though? I don’t know whether I’m more terrified or fascinated by him. I didn’t really like the way he spoke to Johannes, though. Matthias’ problems were not his fault.”
“Not entirely,” Amelia said. “How does the captain feel?”
“Glad to be out of there, mostly. And I think relieved for Matthias. If anyone can heal him, it’s the Buyer. He isn’t even particularly offended at being spoken to like a recalcitrant child.”
“Your captain is wise,” Amelia observed dryly. This made Lucia laugh again, and she threw her arms around her cousin in a randomly exuberant hug.
“I’m so glad you came on this trip,” Lucia whispered.
“As am I, Luce. As am I. It feels…healing. I didn’t think I’d any wounds left from so long ago, but apparently, I was wrong. I missed sailing through the sky. I’m glad to have had this opportunity, even if only once more. I may come back to see Matthias’ recovery from time to time.” She lifted her face to the gathering breeze and closed her eyes for just a moment.
When she opened them, something like laughter simmered beneath their surface.
“So, what’s next for you, Lady de Graaf?”
“Don’t call me that!” Lucia hissed, mortified. “He’ll hear you! Oh, Amelia, I don’t know. I just know that I love him, and if I think about life without him, I immediately become depressed. One last trip isn’t going to be enough for me, I’m afraid. But how can I run away without breaking my family’s collective hearts?”
Amelia stroked her shoulder.
“I don’t know, Luce. But you’ll find a way. Somehow.”
* * * * *
Chapter 25
“Meet me in my suite at sundown after you have your dinner. We arrive in Marinport shortly, and we have some things to discuss. — J.”
Lucia looked at the note that had been slipped under her door as she spent the day in the ship doing small tasks Florian assigned. Polish the brass, learn the parts of the ship and the names of the sails. As if he expected her to sail with Leeuwin after this trip.
Outside the window, the expanse of the blue seas below and the blue skies above faded to purple and black as the sun set. Ravenous and needing dinner, she braided her hair back and tidied her clothing. The simplicity of day to day shipboard life was more to her liking these days. Perhaps in time she would don trousers onboard like Marit preferred, but never wore ashore, changing to dresses in port.
The crew wasn’t in the lounge as Lucia made her way to the side-table, where some portions of dinner waited, a thick roast and vegetables, some cakes, fresh cut fruit, tea.
“Everyone ate and went to their posts. We arrive in Marinport just after sundown tonight. You ready to go home?” Marit chattered as she served herself and sat down across from Lucia.
“I don’t know. I mean, I miss my parents, and Amelia must get back, but I’m afraid. I don’t want this to be my last trip,” she confessed.
“Then don’t let it be,” Marit said. “You’re a grown woman. Your parents are reasonable, loving people. Just tell them what you want and be done with it.”
“Do you really think it can be that easy?”
Marit laughed. “I think it would be if you didn’t complicate things so much!”
Lucia frowned, snorted a bit, then relented and joined in the laughter. Perhaps Marit was right. Perhaps she was making it a bigger deal than it needed to be.
“Fine,” she said, squaring her shoulders. “When I return, I’ll tell my parents I wish to join the crew.”
“Good for you!” Marit smiled. “Now, we’ll have to see about turning you into a useful crew woman instead of a pampered groundsider,” she joked. Then she threw a wink at Lucia and tucked into her food.
* * *
At sundown, Lucia presented herself at the captain’s door. He welcomed her in without a trace of a smile. She felt the nervous flutter of anxiety in her belly as she entered. What would he say?
“The Buyer was right about me,” he said. Which was not at all what she was expecting to hear.
“What?” Lucia asked, confused.
“I should have taken better care of Matthias. Sources are sacred gifts, not to be abused or abandoned. My transgression was not as bad as some, perhaps, but that doesn’t make it right. I should have cared for him better, and I’ll forever regret that I didn’t. Will you forgive me?”
“What?” Lucia said again, blinking furiously as she fought to keep up with this agitated speech. “I don’t…why would you ask my forgiveness?”
De Graaf, who’d been pacing around the cabin as he spoke, turned to her, his eyes desolate and raw.
“Because,” he said, “I find that I love you, Lucia Delsarte. I love you, and the thought of losing you burns like the sun’s rays. I cherish you for your mind and your intellect, for your blood and your body. You’ve haunted my dreams since we met, and the thought of spending my waking hours without you… If you have doubts about me, about my ability to care for you, I can’t say you don’t have the right. I can only plead with you to believe me when I say I’ll never abandon you.”
“Shhh,” Lucia said, coming to her feet. She reached out her arms and, quicker than a thought, de Graaf held her in a close embrace.
“Matthias’ problems existed before you, my love,” Lucia whispered. “Perhaps you could have paid closer attention, but that’s a lesson learned. I’d never doubt your love for me. Nor my love for you. I…I want to sail with you, to stay with you forever. I want to explore this great, wide ocean and sky, and see what lies beyond the night’s horizon. With you. Always with you.”
“Lucia,” he whispered raggedly, bending to take her lips with his own.
“Johannes,” she whispered back as their breath tangled and became one.
* * *
The next night, Lucia accompanied her parents, along with Amelia and the family’s barrister, aboard the Leeuwin at sundown. The ship’s hull and decks gleamed, new brilliant white canvas sails flapped in the wind, and it looked as if no harm had befallen the stately vessel at all. Florian waved as he passed by and went about his duties. Lucia, with a sense of familiarity of the ship, led her parents up the gangway. The constant sway of the ship no longer unsettled her balance. She stepped up the walkway as confidently as any of the crew.
“You’ve become a regular sailor on the ship, Lucia!” Edith remarked with a laugh.
Captain de Graaf stood on the main deck, his long coat rustling in the breeze. Lucia found the sound of the ship at dock a comforting sound now. The creak of the wood, the clatter of chains, the rustle of sails. It felt like home.
“Good evening. Please, come aboard freely. I was just out here admiring the view of the city. Florian, my ship’s servant, has prepared a light meal, so let’s not keep him waiting.” De Graaf led the party below decks.
“I don’t think we ever sailed on the Leeuwin. It’s a beautiful ship,” Edith remarked.
“Not that I can recall, Lady. You did take passage on Sund, and my other, smaller ship while the Leeuwin was in for long term repairs. The Leeuwin is where my heart and soul live. You’re welcome aboard at any time.” De Graaf led the group up to his cabin. “My crew are boarding soon, so we might depart ahead of winter storms.”
Lucia stepped into the roomy suite and breathed a sigh of relief. Johannes had tidied it, drawing the heavy covers around the bed, straightening the books, and polishing the cabinetry. The bed, where they had often lay as lovers. Lucia felt a blush slip up her cheeks in spite of it all.
“Then there’s this matter of you and Lucia.”
�
��Father, be kind,” Lucia begged.
“I am. You stayed true to your word, de Graaf. Lucia sailed with you safe out of the city when we felt it best and returned unharmed. It’s apparent there’s a deeper affection now growing between both of you. I haven’t been privy to the details, but I can guess. After some consideration, your mother and I find little reason to stand in your way. It’s unorthodox and against all proper society, who will surely gossip like houses on fire when you leave, but that’s simply to be dealt with. It’s what Lucia seems to want, as well, despite her mother’s best efforts at matchmaking,” Duke Delsarte said, a small smile at his lips, and a wink in his eye.
“We don’t traditionally marry, sir,” Johannes replied. “If I could, and Lucia wanted me for her groom, I’d do so before sunrise. We do tend to take our Consorts for lifetimes. If you want a ceremony, I’d certainly indulge you against my Immortal custom, as you have with yours, allowing Lucia to forge this relationship, for which I’m profoundly grateful.”
The discussion halted as Florian walked into the room, carrying a tray laden with food. Sensing the awkwardness, he set the tray down.
“Sir, everything is cleared for departure at your word. I’ll be in my cabin. Everyone is due on board within the hour.”
“I do intend to leave tonight. It’s been far too long a stay in Marinport,” Johannes commented. He set a parchment sheet on the table and slid it over to the Delsartes.
Lucia gnawed at the inside of her cheek, knowing what was written on the paper.
“It’s not a marriage contract, but it’s as close as we Immortals get. Lucia has already put her signature to it, but I would be remiss in leaving you out,” de Graaf replied.
Edith skimmed the document. “You guarantee her safety, loyalty, and if she should want immortality, then you’ll give that, too. What of children?”
Lucia groaned. “Mother!”
“I’m very serious, Lucia.” Edith paused with her teacup in hand. “Children of this union will be raised on land until their tenth birthday, unless we decide otherwise. There are pirates, Lucia. And, oh, heavens, I would not sleep fearing they’d fall overboard. I’ll entertain short journeys and insist on a nanny while at sail.”