by Kealohilani
Justin gave a long low whistle. “Okay…”
“That’s crazy…” Kendra reflected.
Erik didn’t say anything. He simply looked from one face to another, and then down at Raoul, who was now partially sitting up and leaning against the trunk they were using as a bench.
“What makes someone a Half-Heart?” Kendra asked.
“Heck if I know! Something about their hearts being drawn to one another— or fitting together or something— like a missing puzzle piece.”
“But is it just random? Or is someone picking?”
“It’s a calling. The Universe selects them long before they are born. That’s why Vranah knows their identities. He’s older than time itself. He saw every person the Universe would ever choose before our worlds even existed.”
“Whoa,” Justin replied.
“And Lani said they’re only born here on Alamea?” Kendra queried.
“Correct. Wouldn’t help much if they couldn’t find each other at all now, would it? I mean, with billions of people on our planet it’s already pretty flaming unlikely, isn’t it?”
Arante’s expression informed all four of them that she was not open to answering any more follow-up questions. So Kendra returned to her place on the wooden chest next to Justin and Erik, and they all sat there quietly, thinking.
Arante jumped back down from her sitting position— landing like a cat on the deck. She walked off on her tiptoes, soundlessly and gracefully— to the other end of the ship, out of their sight— without another word to anyone.
Jharate smiled and held Lani closer. She wrapped her arms around him and clung to him tightly, with a sharp, troubled sigh.
“You need not worry, Lani. I will protect you. He will not lay one hand on you— and neither will any of his men.”
Lani loosened her hold on him, rested her head on his shoulder, and nestled into his strong muscular arms. The deep sincerity she had come to associate with him coaxed the muscles in her own body to relax one by one.
She felt her eyelids getting heavier and heavier and she struggled to keep them open to see the early glow of the first rays of morning light filling the lake with shimmering sparkles as the sun began its ascent into the heavens above. But, the Sandman finally got the better of her entirely and she fell asleep.
Jharate smiled as she slipped into peaceful rest and stroked her hair carefully so as not to risk waking her. Raoul crawled over from where he had been sitting against the chest until he reached Lani.
Jharate placed one hand on Raoul’s shoulder and looked intently into Raoul’s eyes to express his deep gratitude. Raoul looked away modestly and a bashful grin— mixed with happy and grateful pride— graced his face as Jharate removed his hand from Raoul’s shoulder and gently replaced his arm around Lani.
Raoul shifted a little— embarrassed by the sincerity of the thank you— and then straightened up with a determined look. He took a deep breath, placed his hands lightly on Lani’s leg, and closed his eyes.
When he didn’t feel anything, Raoul opened his eyes and looked at Jharate with a disappointed glance and a frustrated sigh. Jharate nodded encouragement to signal Raoul to try again. Raoul repeated the attempt again— and then again— and yet again— without result. Finally, the warming sensation came— as did the glowing white light.
Raoul opened his eyes with a wide grin on his face. The corners of Jharate’s mouth went up in response and he bowed his head slightly in acknowledgement. Before attempting to remove the splints, Raoul examined Lani’s leg carefully. Not even a bruise was left behind to show that her leg had been injured in any way whatsoever.
A breathy laugh escaped Raoul. Only a bloody rip in Lani’s jeans told the story. To be sure, he gently pressed on her leg and incrementally increased the pressure. When there was no reaction, he undid Justin’s professional splint work until her leg was free.
Raoul backed up and once again lay down on the deck to recuperate— happily playing his little pinky/thumb game as he rested.
The sun was high in the sky when Lani’s eyes opened again. She blinked, adjusting to the light. As she realized she was still in Jharate’s arms, a bright smile spread across her face. She looked deeply into his dark-chocolate-brown eyes and took note of the mystery that lay beneath the shimmering flecks of light reflecting on their surface.
“Didn’t you sleep at all?”
“I did not.”
“Oh, no! I hope you’re not too tired. You didn’t need to stay up—”
“Do not trouble yourself, Lani. It was my privilege to watch over you.”
Lani felt a deep blush burn her cheeks. She slowly pulled herself up, out of Jharate’s arms, and knelt in front of him until they were at eye level with each other— shocked for a moment that her leg was fully functional again. She looked at Raoul with something beyond gratitude as he slept on the deck nearby and then returned her attention to Jharate. She leaned in and gave him a kiss on the cheek.
“Thank you for saving me.”
“You need not thank me. I am grateful that I was able to do so.”
Lani could barely stand the intensity of Jharate’s dark eyes searching hers. Something felt different about the way in which he was looking at her now. She couldn’t quite put her finger on it though.
She smiled and looked away. Through the ship’s railing, she saw the shore as they sailed towards it— and then she caught a glimpse of something else.
“Oh my goodness! Look at this, Jharate!”
Lani scrambled to her feet to get a closer view with Jharate right behind her— smiling at her enthusiasm.
“I’ve never seen a dock anywhere near that beautiful!”
Lani gazed— in awe of the masterpiece— and tried to take in every last possible detail. But there was always something more to be discovered in the intricately-carved woodwork.
Just above the lake, the base of the dock was carved with brilliant swirls that mimicked the movement of water. Chiseled leafy vines appeared to spring from the water designs and wound around the poles until they reached the rafters and the pediment— where billowing spirals illustrated the long white clouds in the sky on the tympanum, all the way up to the gabled roof.
In-between and around these three areas of water, earth, and sky were exotic birds, tropical flowers, land and sea animals in their respective domains, and elegant figures representing humans— all in harmonious balance. With its totem-like posts and open walls, it reminded her a little of a Polynesian-styled version of a covered bridge she had seen in Lucerne, Switzerland— all of it made of a luxurious rich reddish-brown wood.
“The Kelamosans are expert carvers, are they not?”
Lani smiled brightly and nodded in response— still staring at the dock, as the ship continued its smooth approach.
“Oh yes! They truly are! I’ve never seen this particular style before, but it reminds me of an island people from Aotearoa, on Earth, called the Māoris. They have very sophisticated carvings similar to these that tell of their history and their genealogy, etcetera.”
“The Kelamosans do the same. As you may have already ascertained, the carving on this dock represents the deeply-held Kelamosan belief and understanding that the sky, the earth, and the waters are all connected with every living creature that dwells amidst their realms.”
“I love that! I think it speaks very highly of them that they would make such an ordinary object so extraordinary. Especially since it’s out here in the wild where very few people can appreciate it.”
Jharate smiled and Lani looked past the dock and studied the scenery. It was the first terrain in Alamea that she had seen in the daytime, besides the forest— a welcome and refreshing change. To the left of the dock was an immense and verdant green meadow, filled with tropical flowers— much like those depicted in the carvings. Thousands of enchanting butterflies and energetic hummingbirds fluttered, flittered, and flitted from flower to flower.
To the right were great mountains. A smell nearly
identical to the scent of pine trees with a hint of peppermint wafted down through the air from the mountaintops, along with a crisp clean cool smell that reminded Lani of snow.
It brought to mind the times she had been able to go to Big Bear with Kara during ski season. Kara’s dad owned a cabin there so— although Lani’s family’s budget did not have room for such a luxury back then— she had been able to learn how to ski because of Kara.
Lani had always remembered how great that had felt, and had always tried to invite as many people as possible to share her pool— and other fun activities in her backyard, like barbecues and games and making s’mores and singing songs while Tyler played guitar or ukulele by the firepit, etcetera— so that others could enjoy something they did not have themselves.
Not that she hadn’t done that before the ski trips— and not that she had forgotten to invite those as fortunate, or even more fortunate than she was, as well— but Kara’s family taking her with them really sharpened her focus on sharing whatever she had with others whenever she could. She wondered how Kara was now, and fervently hoped that Vranah had actually kept his word and sent her home.
The ship gently bumped up against the dock, and a few of the rebels tied her off.
“Let’s hurry this up, people!” Arante called out.
Lani could not help but notice that Arante had her boots back on and her hair and clothing were in perfect order once again. How does she do that?!
Arante’s voice brought Lani’s mind back to the moment.
“We lost a lot of supplies in the fire— but there is more than we need on this ship. Load the supply stretchers and make sure they are complete and secure!”
“Here, Lani,” Raoul said. “It’s your sword.”
“Oh, thank you! I was afraid I had lost it! I’m so glad it made it! And thank you so much for saving me, Raoul!”
Lani hugged Raoul and squeezed him hard with a quick-but-heartfelt kiss on his cheek. Once she released him, she buckled the belt with the attached sheathed sword around her waist— with her sword on her left side.
“Well, you know…” Raoul shrugged, nervously kicking the ground before turning awkwardly and walking away. Lani smiled happily.
“Erik,” Justin whispered sharply. “Erik!”
Justin shoved Erik hard. Erik staggered forward a few awkward steps to keep from falling to the deck.
“What was that for?”
“‘Cuz we need to get moving and you were staring at that ice queen over there. I said your name like twice, Dude!”
“Really? Arante didn’t see me staring at her, did she?!”
“How am I supposed to know, Kook? Just get moving, already! Oi! Kendra! Over here!”
“I’m coming— keep your shirt on!”
“Such a cuddly kitten, that one,” Justin mocked with a snort.
“You should have seen her in Italy,” Erik blurted. “She was a lot more relaxed then.”
“Oohoo! Do I detect a hint of history?”
“What? No! Grow up, Justin!”
“Well you learned that phrase from her awfully fast.”
“I learned that one on my own. I’d only known you for a couple days before I had to use it.”
“Nah, I’m sticking to my idea that you got it from Kendra.”
“Got what from me?”
“The whole ‘Grow up, Justin’ thing.”
“Oh grow up, Justin!”
“See! See! There it is.”
Kendra rolled her eyes and started helping everyone unload the approved items from the ship. She was surprised to see the number of supplies everyone had managed to save in the mad rush of the night before— even most of the shower tanks had made it! She guessed that that was more from the fact that they had been rolled up on top of the shower stalls— which had been used as stretchers to carry the rest of the supplies out faster— rather than from someone’s obsession with hygiene while a huge wall of fire was coming their way.
She watched out of the corner of her eye— careful to avoid any eye contact with Arante— as Arante rushed around and rummaged through everything, casting anything unimportant to their continuing journey onto a large surprisingly-organized pile on the ship. All of this seemed to take almost no time at all as they disembarked nearly as fast as they had scrambled onto the ship in the first place.
Once on the dock, Arante cast off the ropes holding the boat to the moorings. She signaled as she called out, “We’re all done!”
Lani followed Arante’s gaze and saw a merman with short wavy brown hair and tan skin about a football field away. He nodded his head and motioned his palm. The boat pulled away from the dock. A rippling current took it back in the direction they had just come from.
“A thousand thanks, Amanon!” Arante called. “May your home be filled with life and wealth.”
“And to you, Princess Arante! And safety on your journey!”
The merman nodded once more. With a flip of his gleaming coppery tail, he dove beneath the water and disappeared from view.
“That was so cool!” Justin exclaimed.
“He’s hot!” Kendra thought aloud. “Did you see his muscles?! Like if Rambo was a merman! And his sexy voice! I wonder if he’s a good kisser…”
“Objectifying men, much?” Justin teased.
“You’re just jealous.”
“You wish!”
“If I said something like that about a woman, you’d kill me,” Erik accused. “Hashtag double standard.”
“I hate you,” Kendra said quietly.
“Come on,” Arante called, motioning for everyone to follow. “We shouldn’t stay here.”
The instant that they were ashore, Lani felt Jharate’s arm wrap around her shoulders. She leaned into his side as she looked to see where he was pointing with his other arm.
“Once we cross that meadow, it is less than a six-day walk into Destavnia.”
Jharate let go of her and took the bag she was carrying— strapping it across his shoulders in addition to his own pack. Lani didn’t really notice what he had done because her heart was still leaping for joy at the words he had uttered.
To be that close to safety sounded like a symphony to her ears. She gazed at the trees that lined the edges of the meadow and thought of the promise that lay behind them. She and Jharate would actually get to spend some time together, while not on the run! She stood on her tiptoes and gave him an elated kiss on the cheek.
“Do you mind if I run up ahead with Justin and Kendra and the others so I can tell them how close we are?”
“Not at all,” Jharate laughed.
Lani sprinted on ahead and waited excitedly for her turn to talk— almost bouncing on the balls of her feet as they walked. Raoul was talking to Justin and she didn’t want to interrupt.
“We could use some of these plants from the meadow to weave some hammocks!”
“Sounds cool,” shrugged Justin. “I’m down for th— What the monkey?”
They had walked about fifteen yards into the lush meadow when they heard the sound of a horse trotting toward them. It stopped with a loud snort as its master began to speak.
“Put down your weapons!”
The harsh and penetrating voice belonged to a tall, thin, sturdy-looking man sitting astride a horse that was blacker than the dark lake at night. The man had quintessential brown hair, which complemented his quintessential brown eyes. Everything about this man was precise— as if his proportions were entirely symmetrical and entirely under control.
Even his dress was precise— with the designs on every golden button precisely aligned and rigidly in place. The deep green jacket and black pants of his militaristic uniform were perfectly starched. The golden epaulets and cords on his shoulders were immaculate. Even his boots were perfectly shined and looked as though they never touched the ground. Below his right epaulet was a green and gold coat of arms— with a golden dragon and the motto, For the Honor of Kresar, embroidered below it.
But the man was n
ot alone. The weary rebels had drawn their weapons the moment they had heard his horse coming, only to find their way barred— as a semicircle of sinister-looking men ran out from the tree-line and confronted them with weapons drawn. Lani watched fearfully as that semicircle became a complete circle. They were surrounded again.
Lani turned to find Jharate for safety— but he was nowhere to be seen. Neither was Arante for that matter. Her heart dropped to the pit of her stomach like a cold rock. Where had they gone? And how had they done it so quickly?
“Asharen!” Jaresh yelled as he spat toward the dirt. “Do not hinder us.”
“That’s Lord Asharen to you. You would do well to remember that, Jaresh.”
“A title gained through bloodshed and the overthrow of the rightful monarch of this land.”
“But gained, nevertheless.”
“We fought side by side once. In honor of that former camaraderie, let us pass. We are not important enough for you to waste your time.”
“I will be the judge of that. And as for our former camaraderie when we fought together for the losing side— that was over two decades ago, before I became enlightened. Our kingdoms may have once been allies— but when mine began to fall, I had to make a choice and I chose what was best for Kresar.”
“You chose evil because it was more convenient. Do not try to make your choice sound like it was out of loyalty to Kresar. If you had truly been loyal, you would have fought to your dying breath to free your people from oppression.”
“Jaresh, I am tolerating your speech because you once saved my life in battle. Do not press me to the limit of my better nature.
“And— as for choosing evil— there is no such thing. There is only power. There are those strong enough to keep it— and those who would rather cling to an ideal no matter what the cost.
“I suppose we have both found out which type we are in the years since we last met. Do not speak to me further or I will have you all killed this instant. Now, all of you— drop your weapons.”