Mages of Rubia ✔️

29

It's raining so hard I nearly miss the knock at the door. Ravana, though, stands up from the couch and opens it.

The woman there startles, a hand flying over her mouth. Her clothes are drenched with the rain and she shivers.

"Lief!" Ravana calls out.

He comes out from Bee's room where he was playing music for her.

"What--"

"Rose?"

The woman tumbles toward him, finding her strength in his arms.

"It's okay, Mom. It's okay. Come on, let's get you warmed up."

He takes her back to the bathroom.

"That's Lief's mother? I thought she was dead."

Ravana shakes his head. "His foster mother. She escaped Rubia... It's time."

I frown. I just hope I'm ready.

"I'll start packing."

He sighs. "You shouldn't. You know you're in danger."

I tuck a stray hair behind his ear. "So are you."

He presses a kiss to my forehead. "We'll see."

If I don't go, I'm certain they'll die. Esmeralda's basically told me as much, with her eyes shifting to ignore them everytime she tells me I'm in danger with them. They're in danger without me, and I'd rather I die than them.

Lief comes back out.

"Rose is passed out in our bed."

"So why's she here?"

We've passed three years in peace, and now it's going to be ruined. I was surprised when we got over two years, but completely overjoyed. I've been told my chances are higher the longer it takes.

"She said Rubia is invading other islands."

"Fuck. Well, she's safe, here."

"We're going to Rubia."

He says it in a tone that doesn't invite argument.

"We're safer here, Lief," Ravana says.

"This is the meaning I've been feeling."

Ravana shakes his head. "I'm not telling Trent."

Lief nods.

-

I pack what I can from my shop. Ray's been left in charge for as long as it takes. I've written her into my will as the sole proprietor of my shop in case I pass. I left what else I have to Lief, Ravana, and Bee.

"This is stupid," Esmeralda says, folding her arms.

"What else is a stupid conman to do but seek out danger?"

Sam scoffs. "You're going to die."

"Hopefully not in vain."

"I'm sure you'll be fine, boss."

"Glad somebody thinks so, Ray. So, you know what you're doing with the shop?"

She nods. And Trenton is taking Ravana's animals while we're gone. Everything is sorted except our boat, which Ravana has to do some maintenance on. I hope it takes ten years.

-

"I'm coming," Bee insists, "I'm eighteen, you ran away at that age! I can do what I want, you aren't my dad!"

She and Lief have been arguing for days. It's already been foretold that Bee's coming, so she won't take no for an answer. Her visions have been getting stronger, the war clearer.