First of Spears

by Billy Wong

  Sophie chuckled. "No need to flatter me like that. I prefer being a little more modest."

  "Oh, I know. You should know there's nothing wrong with having some justified pride in yourself."

  "I do have it, even if I don't let it show that much."

  Theo slapped her shoulder with a laugh. "I figured that might be the case, but I'm still pleased to hear it."

  "Hey, take it easy with your hands. I have some minor wounds from the last fight. But since I know you like a confident woman, yeah, there's more of that in me than you must've thought."

  They made the trip back, Theo talking with Claire most of the way as he wanted to savor what time they had. Sophie took part a lot in their conversation too, and found that she and Claire got along quite well when they weren't "competing" over him. He wished it could last forever, but supposed this wasn't such a bad way for them to wake up from their shared dream. Arriving at the capital, Claire and Lily got their things from their room and set out. Theo walked with them to the city gate, eyes moist despite his efforts to control it. It wasn't the end, he told himself. After all they'd been through together, their friendship had still only just begun.

  As the women stood on the threshold about to walk past the great wall towards their homeland, he said, "Be safe on your travels, First of Spears."

  "Thanks for your well wishes. And good luck with the crown prince thing. Be seeing you."

  "Yeah... see you around." Lily too waved him goodbye. He watched them walk into the distance under the bright sky, and felt grateful for the experiences and friends life had given him.

  When he turned for home, he found that Sophie stood behind him. "You're really going to let her go just like that?"

  "What do you mean? Her reasons for leaving seem perfectly understandable."

  "Sure they are. Yet I can tell you really don't want the two of you to be apart. So if she can't stay here with you, why don't you go with her?"

  He wasn't sure if he believed what he was hearing. "But I'm the heir." And for her of all people to suggest he run away from that...

  "It's all right, we'll work something out. I will tell your parents what happened, and as the person most intimately involved in this besides you and Claire, I should be able to convince them not to take it too hard if I'm not. Our country owes her so much, and we haven't even paid her back for wrongfully imprisoning her. It's justified for you to go with her." She smiled. "I'm grateful to Claire for asking you to give me a chance. But it's her that belongs with you, not me. So this is me returning the favor."

  Tears came to his eyes again. "You're such a good person, and I didn't understand before... I don't know what to say. Even so, if I leave the kingdom, who will carry on the royal line?"

  "I have some ideas. If I tell you them, will you just go? Your love walks fast, you don't want to take too long to catch up."

  #

  Striding down the road, Claire heard hurried footsteps approach from behind and wondered if somebody meant to attack her or fled from something else. Or maybe they were just in a rush. She looked back and blinked in surprise to see Theo running towards her. Lily too stared. "Is there something you forgot to say?" she asked as he stopped before her, putting hands on his knees while he tried to catch his breath.

  "I, hah, no, it's more that I changed my mind. I love you so much, and know we should be together. So if you won't stay in Egrent, I'll come with you to High Waloros."

  "But aren't you the sole heir?"

  "Sophie and I discussed this. My parents might be able to have another child—my mother's a bit old, but it isn't impossible. Otherwise, we'll deal with it when the time comes. Maybe by then, you'll be open to a change of scenery. If not, perhaps it's time for another family to take the reins... or maybe even a whole new form of government. Whatever the case though, I've decided I'm not willing to lose you."

  She hugged him, then leaned back to look into his eyes. "I'm glad our love means so much to you, and if this is the decision you've made I won't try to stop you. But I should warn you, living at my side will be a whole new adventure."

  "The way I've lived most of my life so far, some added adventure will only be filling a void. Besides, if Lily deals with it, I'd hope I can manage." The cook laughed, as did Claire.

  "Very well. I hope our adventure together lasts many happy years." She kissed him, the soft caress of her lips filling him with warmth. He threw an arm joyously over her shoulders, and they continued down the path.

  Cover design copyright © Christine Savoie

  Author Billy Wong is an avid fan of heroic fantasy, with a special love for strong female warriors. He draws inspiration from the epic legends of old, and is on a quest to bring over the top deeds and larger than life heroes back to prominence in today's literary world.

  http://bklynbill.blogspot.com/

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  Other Works

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