He wrapped his hands around her and rubbed her skin. "I'm the king now." He smiled. "I can do whatever I want to the queen."
"Fine." She melted into his arms. "Let's get cleaned up. Salaris said that Vaamick had his own private baths heated by the same source as the shrine."
They reached the surface only a few minutes late. Salaris stood in the human encampment. She looked up and saw them approach. "Oh, thank Bara. I thought you weren't going to come."
Marsil shook her head. "Of course we would come and say goodbye. You are my friend."
"You get this business with Donoon straightened out and come home. You will always have a place here." Graaf slid his arm around Marsil.
"Thank you. If they ever let him free, we will be sure to return."
Alvin waved to them. "Come one, Salaris. We have to board the Atlas now."
She hugged Salaris. "Goodbye. Be safe."
"You too." Salaris gave her an extra squeeze and let go. She walked to where Alvin waited by the air lock.
"Make sure you stand behind the line." Alvin warned them, pointing to the circle the Marines had painted around the ship. "Hate to vaporize the royal family."
"You'd probably start a war." Graaf laughed. Marsil turned her head. "What? Too soon?" He smirked and Marsil chuckled.
She took his hand and walked over to the line. A few of the others waited nearby. The Barakaaks had seen a ship land, but none of them had ever witnessed one take off. No one alive when they abandoned spaceflight were still around when the grandparents of anyone on Bara had been born. Few of Earth's civilizations had even existed yet the last time the people of Bara had explored the world above.
Lana stood next to them. Speakers were set up to relay Donoon's voice from the cockpit. He spoke in English but Lana translated for the crowd.
"All lights are green. You are go for takeoff," Jerry called from the other ship.
"Roger, Captain Olers. Ignition in ten. A display counted down the seconds. At zero, the ship's engines rumbled and a plume of steam escaped from the bottom. The ship powered into the air.
Marsil followed the ship as it rose into the murky atmosphere. She lost sight of it, but could still hear them.
"We have cleared the atmosphere. Donoon called.
"Oh, Bara." Marsil could hear the awe in Salaris's voice. "Father Saturn. It's so beautiful. Just like the paintings. I never thought I'd see it."
The crowd continued to stand outside, watching the speakers as Donoon continued narrating their progress. They orbited the moon once and he powered the main ion thrusters, breaking free of Bara's gravity and heading towards the Earth.
Marsil had enough to worry about with turning peace into reunification, but for now, she could only wonder what would happen when they reached their destination.
They had separate lives, separate social statuses, and Fate was bound to drive them apart...but was love enough to change their destinies?
Love and ambition are a potent combination. What happens when a priest with big plans is denied both? Vaamick wasn't always a villain. He only wanted to do right by Lorinth. But gaining her father's attention meant compromising on morals. From there, it was a slippery slope until he took on the king himself.
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Once Upon a Saturn Moon Page 17