As A Stranger Or A Friend?: The Swallow And The Drowned Sailor

Wilkes - 9 Sun's Dawn, 1246 A.D.

"Calm, my boy, calm. I know it ails you to hear her cry, but you mustn't stop her. She must heal, and when she is ready, she will come to you." My father urged as I paced just outside of her chambers.

"I can't! I can't stand to hear her cry like that!" I screamed and coughed, feeling my chest tighten painfully.

That wasn't a good sign, but right now, I could only focus on how upsetting hearing her sob like that was. I shook my head furiously in an attempt to prevent her anguish from invading me, but it was no use. It was overwhelming and felt like it was splitting me apart. I let out a growl and slammed my hands over my ears as the world began to spin all around me. I could see my father's mouth moving but could hear nothing aside from Fay's cries. The halls suddenly passed me by in a blur. This place, this world, and this body all felt so small! It was not enough! I needed more! But I could not go, not without her.

When my legs finally stopped moving, I stood knee-deep in the sea, watching as the bloody sun rose. I dropped my eyelids shut and, for the first time, felt afraid that I would truly lose her. My chest tightened again, and I clutched it painfully; things were never supposed to be this way! I gasped for air and vomited blood into the sea. I was supposed to save her! Just as I did back then, just as I always did! I heaved more blood from my throat and did my best to calm down. Being so agitated would only make things worse. I closed my eyes and made every effort to recall a simpler time...

"Do you rescue women often?" She asked.

I looked at her strangely.

"I only ask because you had this on hand." She added in a quieter tone, gesturing to the clothing I had given her.

"Those belong to the company. They are costumes." I explained.

"Oh." She ate in silence for a few moments.

"Why? Do I look the part of a dashing hero?" I asked, feeling some measure of pride in the prospect.

She scoffed a small laugh as she looked me over. "No. You look more like a sellsword to me."

I chuckled. "Sellswords are known to be devilishly handsome, aren't they?"

She rolled her eyes as she chewed. "So you are one, then?"

"What?"

"A sellsword."

"Sure." I responded with a short shrug.

She eyed me for a minute. "Wait, are you an actor?"

I barked a laugh. "No."

"Why are you with the company then?"

"I just am." I said with a shrug.

I could understand why she might want to know about me, but I wanted to learn more about her, so answering questions about myself hardly seemed important or interesting. I'd seen her before, but where, I could not say. It irked me how familiar, yet unknown, she was to me.

"You run pretty fast." I remarked.

"Well, we were being chased, so..." She shrugged as she fiddled with a small bite of bread.

"Still. You run fast for a human."

"I suppose."

"Are you a pirate?" I asked, peering at her.

"No."

"Why are you with them then?"

She bit her lip and remained silent for some time.

"Are you their prisoner?"

She shook her head.

"Why are they chasing after you so feverishly, then? Are you the captain's wife?"

She shook her head and looked down at her lap. "I'm the Captain's wench."

I nodded, understanding her reluctance from before.

"That man you were with, is he the Captain?"

"No."

"But he hurts you, doesn't he?"

She nodded.

"Will you go back to him?"

"No."

"Then where will you go? Is there someone we can send a letter to?"

She looked back at me now. "I have no one. I was going to go as far as my feet would take me."

That was no good. I couldn't just let her leave. I had to know more about her, this mystery woman.

"Why don't you stick with the company for a while?" I suggested.

"Is that a good idea? You don't even know me, and I don't know you." She said with a frown.

I leaned forward and offered her my hand. "I'm Wilkes Evos Sikthax-Seymour of Tlanxla. I travel with the company as a bodyguard for one of the dancers."

She seemed stuck in her thoughts for just a moment before reaching out to put her hand in mine. "I'm Fay."

"Just Fay?" I asked with my head cocked to one side.

"Yes. I don't have a surname."

I nodded.

"What did you do before the pirates took you away?" I asked, letting her hand go gently.

"I survived."

Eventually, the retching stopped, and I let my hand rest on my chest, feeling the warmth of the brand that lay there. The night we took our vows to one another, we exchanged rings and inscribed a special rune into each other's flesh. Upon her breast and mine lay the mark of a rising sun, and with it came the promise to love and care for one another until our final breaths. Whether that was here or elsewhere, it didn't matter. We belonged together. She would follow me, as I would follow her, and our suns would always shine for one another. You and me. Yes. All we needed was each other. This world would be made barren for all it did to her, and then, we could go to the place we truly belonged. I pulled a small reed from my pocket and put it between my two thumbs, blowing upon it to play that familiar and lonely melody. It did nothing to drown out the sound of my love's cries, but faintly, faintly, I felt that door swing open.