Junkland (The Hoarding Book 1)

by Patrick Johns

  Felix began to sing and everyone in The Arcalane joined him.

  Cheers, cheers to all the girls in here,

  We toast to you with all our beer,

  We chug and chug until we’re done,

  Now fill us up again my dear.

  Cheers, cheers to all the girls in here,

  We hope you stay so close and near,

  We chug and chug with you for fun,

  Now fill us up again my dear.

  Just a drunken day at The Arcalane,

  A drunken daaaaaay at The Arcalaaaaaane.

  “Care to dance?” Jahrys offered his hand to Alana as the song continued.

  Dance? That word stung her. The last person I danced with was my mother.

  “I would love to dance,” Alana smiled, taking Jahrys’s hand.

  Hand in hand, Jahrys guided her to the dance floor. Elyara, Kat, Tarl, and Gabe followed them.

  “Ready?” Jahrys asked.

  “Wait—”

  But her words were taken from her when Jahrys pulled her close to him, and then spun her around and around. She twirled and spun and flew. Jahrys guided her through it all. It was the best dancing she had ever experienced. They danced close together and far apart, but always together. Alana caught onto the words and began to sing along with all the people in the inn.

  The band continued to sing the crowd pleaser, even though the song was really only the repetition of the same few lines. The crowd was getting drunker by the minute.

  Cheers cheers…girls here,

  We toast you…with our beer,

  We chug…chug…til…we’re done,

  Another…dear!

  Alana took a large swig from her new mug, and then slammed it down on a nearby table. She felt her whole body tingling with excitement. She ran back over to Jahrys and jumped into his arms. He held her up and spun her around and around. She let her heart take her away.

  They stumbled out of The Arcalane, laughing and giggling in each other’s arms. Jahrys was mostly supporting all of Alana’s weight.

  “Did you see Gabe’s face after Kat said no? I can’t believe it!” Jahrys laughed.

  “Ha! I know! Kat was…was furious!” Alana giggled and hiccuped.

  “You’re drunk, my lady,” Jahrys laughed.

  “Maybe…just a little.” Alana looked up at the night sky. “What…what a beautiful night.” A million stars sparkled over her head. “So pretty.”

  “You think this is pretty?” Jahrys held out a hand. “Follow me.”

  Alana studied Jahrys’s hand before taking it, and then looked up at him, smiling.

  Jahrys pulled her back down the road.

  Alana didn’t resist.

  Chapter 9

  Jahrys

  JAHRYS TIGHTENED HIS grip around Lily’s hand as he guided her onto the boat that was rocking gently on the Seaport River.

  “Watch your step,” Jahrys said, as his arm guided her. “I don’t want you falling in.”

  “I didn’t have that much to drink,” Lily proclaimed.

  But Jahrys wasn’t about to take her word on that.

  When Lily was safely on the boat, Jahrys walked over to the pillar and untied the rope. He placed one foot in and the other foot pushed against the wall at the end of the dock. The boat rocked gently as it floated into the center.

  Lily looked around nervously.

  “It’s okay, we won’t tip,” Jahrys promised.

  “I wasn’t worried,” Lily said, giving him a small smile.

  Jahrys coiled the rope and placed it at the bottom of the boat. He readied the sails and thanked Zalus for the wind. He was glad he wouldn’t have to paddle.

  He walked behind the helm and guided the ship away from the docks, into the center of the river. The Seaport River was not very wide in this part of Palor, but it opened up closer to Zalus’s Tears and over to the east by Seaport. That was where him and Kevrin would usually go fishing.

  Lily had sat down, leaning back in the base of the boat. She was looking up at the balconies that flew above their heads.

  Jahrys watched as the wind blew Lily’s beautiful brown hair into a tangled mess, carrying the scent of flowers. Jahrys grew dizzy from the soft fragrance of her hair, like lilacs carried in a long summer breeze. The moonlight outlined her perfect cheekbones and olive skin. Her lips were slightly parted. She was gazing at everything in wonder.

  It’s almost as if she has never been outdoors her entire life, Jahrys thought as he was stuck in his trance. She is beaut—

  The boat veered sharply to the right. Jahrys tightened his grip on the helm, and guided the ship forward, avoiding crashing into the walls that paralleled the river.

  Jahrys looked up to see Lily staring at him with large eyes. “Sorry. I was…distracted.”

  “Eyes on the water, O’Jahrys,” she said, teasingly.

  Jahrys felt his face redden.

  “Would you like to steer?” he asked, offering the helm.

  “Steer? Are you serious?”

  “It’s quite easy.”

  Lily laughed. “Yea…after you almost crashed us into the wall from your distraction,” she said, making quotes with her fingers.

  Jahrys felt himself blush yet again.

  “Sing me a song,” Lily said, after an awkward pause.

  “A what?”

  “You know. Words set to music…”

  “I know what a song is!” Jahrys shouted.

  “Well, from the stories I’ve read, sailors usually sing to entertain their guests on their ships.”

  “Well, I don’t know what kind of stories you’re reading, but I am not singing.” Jahrys crossed his arms. The boat veered right again and Jahrys shot his hands out to catch the helm.

  Lily laughed. “Tell you what…” she stood up and walked over to Jahrys while keeping her arms out for balance. She stood next to him. The rocking of the boat made her lean forward, brushing her arm against his. Her skin was smooth, as if it was made of pieces of silk. “…If you sing me a song, I’ll take the wheel.”

  The thought of her standing so close to him was too good to pass up. “You got a deal, Miss Bellsworth.”

  Gently, Jahrys took her left hand and placed it on the helm as he stood behind her. He reached for her right hand, praying to Zalus that she didn’t notice how sweaty his palm was, and placed it on the opposite side of the helm. He felt awkward holding her hands there, so he quickly let go.

  The boat veered right.

  Lily let out a frightened scream.

  Jahrys shot his hands back. He placed them over hers as they gripped the helm together.

  They both steered the boat forward as his nose was filled with the scent of her hair.

  “Sorry, but I think it would be best if I helped you,” Jahrys reasoned.

  “Don’t be sorry,” Lily leaned back and smiled up at him. “I like your hands there.”

  Jahrys stared into her face, her blue eyes were glistening. Her lips were lightly parted again. Jahrys wanted nothing more than to kiss them. He leaned forward.

  Lily backed away, her eyes wide open. “I believe you owe me a song, Sir Jahrys.”

  Jahrys felt like an idiot. “I…okay…”

  Lily faced forward, staring out into the water, waiting for him.

  Jahrys held onto her hands, helping her guide the boat as he fumbled through a mental list of songs he knew. What do I sing? Does she want a love song? Maybe a song about the sea? By Zalus, help me! I’ve never sung for anyone in my life!

  Lily let out a sarcastic cough to signal she was waiting.

  Jahrys took a deep breath in. Here goes nothing. He began to sing.

  Trust me as I take your hands,

  And I will bring you to distant lands.

  Far beyond the lined horizon,

  Past the wall your mind’s in.

  I’ll open your eyes to the world,

  Away from Palor, past the farms of Danor.

  We’ll find adventure no man’s encountered�
�

  Discovering new lands where we’ll be the founders.

  We’ll roam the world, find perfect views—

  Sail the Farrest Sea to somewhere new.

  But any place won’t feel as good,

  Unless it is a place with you.

  Lily was looking at him with sparkling eyes when he finished the song. “I’ve never heard that song before.”

  “Galagar Poole sung it to the Princess Isabella,” Jahrys lied.

  “It was beautiful. What’s the name of it?” she asked, curiously.

  Her face seemed like it was inching towards his. “‘A Place With You’.”

  Was he imagining it or was she even closer now? Her eyes were staring at him, hypnotic. It was as if they were signaling him, calling him.

  All Jahrys was thinking about was how sweet she smelled; she smelled like roses and berries and lilacs—like a beautiful summer day. He was thinking about the warm heat of her breath against his neck and about how much he wanted to kiss her.

  Jahrys leaned in again.

  The boat tilted violently to the right.

  Jahrys toppled on top of Lily.

  “The wheel, Jahrys! Grab the wheel!”

  Jahrys came to his senses and whipped around to see the wheel turning dangerously. He jumped on it, rotating the wheel in order to steer the boat forward.

  They both laughed.

  As much as he regretted it, Jahrys thought it best if Lily took a seat at the front of the boat while he focused on sailing; he didn’t want to kill them.

  The river began to widen as Jahrys approached their destination. A light roar began to echo in the distance.

  “What’s that?” Lily asked curiously, as she leaned over the bow, peering into the night.

  “You’ll see,” Jahrys said.

  The river opened up into a giant lake. A waterfall crashed down across from them, falling from a cliff that protruded out of the Western Mountains. A cloud of mist covered the water of the lake.

  “Welcome to Zalus’s Tears. The most beautiful spot in Palor,” Jahrys said, as he gazed at her instead of the waterfall.

  Jahrys steered the boat into the center of the lake, keeping clear of the misty cloud.

  When the boat was still, he walked over to the front, placing his hands against the rail. Lily walked over and joined him.

  They both stared up at the endless night sky. With no clouds in sight, it was perfect for stargazing. Millions of stars stared back at them, sparkling. The stars looked like diamond clouds that swirled in spirals around their heads. Every so often, a shooting star would streak across the black abyss.

  The boat rocked lightly in the water as Jahrys and Lily enjoyed the view. The chirping of crickets, the croaking of frogs, the splashing of the occasional fish, and the thundering of the waterfall surrounded them.

  “I’ve never seen so many stars in my entire life,” Lily said in amazement.

  “It makes you feel small, doesn’t it?”

  “What does?”

  “The stars,” he pointed up. “It makes you feel like an ant when you look up and realize there’s so much more out there.” He opened his arms wide into the night, as if he was about to hug the sky.

  Lily playfully slapped his hand away from her view. “Which one would you travel to?” she asked, turning her head towards him.

  Jahrys looked up and thought for a minute. They all look exactly the same. “Hmm. I think I’d pick that one.” He pointed up, at random.

  Lily tried to follow his finger towards the sky. “The bright one? Why did you choose that one?” she asked, curiously.

  “Um…because…even though it’s surrounded by so much darkness, it’s able to find the most light. There must be something special about it.”

  “Those are wise words, O’Jahrys,” she giggled.

  He cringed at the sound of his name, but ended up laughing with her. “Yea…they are wise words,” he said more to himself, thinking about what his father had said to him earlier.

  “Okay, your turn. Which star would you travel to?” he asked.

  “Hmm. I’d pick…that one!” she pointed up towards the sky.

  “Which one?”

  “That one! Way up there,” she dragged his finger as best as she could to the star she had picked.

  “That one? You can barely see it! Why’d you pick that one?”

  “Because sometimes it’s nice to be unnoticed. It looks like a place I could run away to…and no one would ever find me.”

  “I would find you,” Jahrys accidentally said outloud.

  Lily turned to face him, staring deep into his eyes.

  Jahrys felt his heart skip. He felt like he couldn’t breathe. It felt like his stomach dropped all the way down to the bottom of the lake. He wanted to kiss her, to pull her close, to—

  Lily kissed him lightly on the lips.

  Jahrys’s body tingled from head to toe as he felt the blood rush through him.

  She backed away, giggling.

  Jahrys was sure his face must look foolish. He had never kissed a girl before.

  They stared at each other, smiling. Her eyes sparkled more than the stars. He felt her stomach lightly pressing against his as she breathed. Her chest was lightly grazing his own.

  Jahrys wrapped his arm around Lily. The boat rocked and Jahrys lost his balance, bringing Lily down to the deck with him. They laughed and he rolled her onto her back. He was looking down at her. Jahrys didn’t know what part of her he liked best: her smile, her eyes, her cheeks, her chin, her nose, her freckles, her hair, every feature of her was perfect—especially her lips.

  He leaned in and kissed her, slowly. He wanted to savor every moment. Her lips were warm and smooth. They soon found a rhythm.

  Jahrys felt Lily’s fingertips creeping towards his neck. She ran them through his hair. Her mouth rose to the side of his head. She breathed into his ear and gently nibbled it. At first, he was surprised, but the shivers she sent down his spine made him want more.

  He found her lips again, kissing her harder. He felt her breathing begin to deepen and her body curved beneath his. He wrapped a hand around her lower back. Jahrys kissed her cheeks, her neck, her nose, her chin, her forehead, and her lips again and again and again.

  Lily tangeled her legs around Jahrys’s to the point where Jahrys was worried they would never untangle—and he was fine with that.

  They eventually sat up, brought out of the moment by the sound of fireworks. They looked around, enjoying the view. The castle was lit up in the distance, and fireworks exploded in the sky, painting the night above Astenpoole.

  “I’ve never seen the castle this way before,” Lily admitted. “It’s beautiful.”

  “Not as beautiful as you, though,” Jahrys smiled at her.

  Lily shot him a playful look, but she returned the smile and leaned over for another kiss.

  Jahrys sailed them back to their starting point. He docked the boat, and Lily helped him tie it up, as she was feeling more confident on the water.

  After they were finished, they stood hand in hand next to the river.

  “Thank you…for saving me today. Palor is absolutely stunning,” she played with Jahrys’s fingers. “Jahrys…there’s something I need to tell you…” Lily suddenly looked nervous.

  “What is it?”

  “I—”

  AHWOOO, AHWOOO, AHWOOO.

  Lily and Jahrys both shot their heads toward the castle.

  AHWOOO, AHWOOO, AHWOOO.

  Lily broke away from Jahrys. “I really must be going. I…I’m sorry!” She turned and ran down the road.

  “Wait!” Jahrys yelled out to her. “Will I see you again?”

  Lily shot him a quick glance over her shoulder. “Meet me at sunset in three days!”

  “Sunset in three days…” Jahrys recited her words, afraid he would forget them. “Where?”

  “Outside The Arcalane!” she shouted back.

  Jahrys watched as she took off, disappearing into th
e darkness.

  Something sparkled on the road, not too far from where Lily had disappeared. Jahrys walked towards it and picked up the necklace Lily had taken from Hugo’s shop. He looked up, ready to call out to her, but she had disappeared down a side road.

  What just happened? He thought, as he looked down at the blue, full moon shaped gem, tracing its outline with his thumb.

  Chapter 10

  Jahrys

  JAHRYS WAS HURRYING up the road filled with excitement. He couldn’t wait to smell her hair, feel her skin, watch her smile, and listen to the music of her voice.

  Three days had felt like three years. He had spent the days working in his father’s shop and helping his mother around the house. He still hadn’t heard anything from Kevrin, so his sword fighting had been put on hold. It was probably better anyway, gave his mother a break from yelling.

  The roads of Palor were beginning to empty of the travelers and merchants from the wedding festivities. However, there were still some who couldn’t get enough of Palor and lingered behind. Jahrys still had to weave in and out of the busy streets.

  “Chickens here. Get your chick—Jahrys!”

  Jahrys turned to see Frayel holding a live chicken in his right hand, and a butcher’s knife in his left. The dangling chicken cocked an eye up as Jahrys approached.

  “Hello Frayel, I thought you were heading back to Danor after the wedding?”

  “Ha! Did I say that?” Frayel said in his thick Danorian accent. “Me and my Astonia had so much fun, and business was doing us wonders, so we decided to stay a few more days.”

  “I’m glad. Palor is a great city,” Jahrys said.

  “Did your father end up letting you out for the festivities?” Frayel asked, pointing the bloody blade at Jahrys.

  “He did,” Jahrys moved to the side to avoid the blade.

  “By Zalus, I knew Alvys would come to his senses. Good for you, boy.” Frayel turned to nudge Jahrys with his giant elbow. “Meet any fine ladies?” he chuckled.

  “I did, actually.”

  “That’s my boy! I bet she’s a poole and a half.”

  “She is pretty,” Jahrys wished he hadn’t said anything. “Are you selling chickens today?” He asked, trying to change the subject.