The Exiled King | ✔

EPILOGUE III

Spring came once more to Dargon, and with it, the first great event of the year in Sanobar—the royal journey on the largest ship in the world. It was a marvel of craftsmanship and the beginning of a new era of sea travel. To celebrate the completion of the ship, the king and his closest family and advisors would sail around the coast of Sanobar and land in Jaromaen, the largest coastal town in the northernmost point of Sanobar. They would sail from the port city Pyrthi, southwest of Sor'othi.

Adrian strolled through the crowd who had all gathered to see him and his retinue off, sweating in his thick robes and thicker fur cape as the sun's heat bore down on him. He envied the people in the crowd sporting thinner layers, but he knew it would get cold out at sea.

"Abyss, I feel sweatier than a pig roasting on a spit," Lasair complained from beside him, fruitlessly fanning himself with his hand.

Out of the corner of his mouth, Adrian whispered, "It's damned unbearable, but you better keep a smile on your face all the same. People's eyes are on us."

From the other side, Kylian jumped in and said quietly, "What does it matter if your captains look like they'd rather be anywhere else but here as long as you—their king—is smiling?"

Keeping a smile on his face, Adrian answered honestly, "It wouldn't matter, but as your king I order you to suffer with me."

There was a collective groan from both men before they chuckled. Their easy-going friendship was something that Adrian cherished greatly, as his friends had been few and far between and there was a certain distance that being king put him at.

Adrian looked behind him and saw his siblings equally miserable and took some delight in their shared plight.

"Is that the captain?" He heard Lasair whisper, and he turned to look.

Standing in front of the gangway of the ship was a tanned elf with long white hair braided down her back, a large faded purple wide brimmed hat concealing part of her face in shadow, dressed in salt-worn leathers of the same colour as her hat. She carried herself with an air of confidence and approached the party as they got nearer, smiling warmly.

Adrian stepped forward and held out his hand, introducing himself, "I am Adrian Blackrose. May I have the pleasure of knowing your name?"

Adrian thought he saw her smile falter, but she grasped his hand in a firm grip and replied in a cool, lilting voice, "Eryna Aegivyl. I am captain of the ship."

He felt like she had a colder and more unapproachable air than previously, but she handled matters with utmost professionalism. Adrian couldn't help but wonder if he was just reading into things too much.

Even as Eryna led the entourage on a tour through the massive ship, Adrian's gaze kept returning to her. They got settled into cabins, Adrian still somewhat in a daze, and Kylian and Lasair gathered with Leyon and Adrian in a private lounge fitted with plush couches and tables.

"I saw you staring!" Lasair whispered conspiratorially, grinning slyly.

Adrian avoided his gaze and firmly denied it, but a slight flush to his face and his vehement denial did nothing to help his case. He looked to his brother for support, but saw only a smirk on Leyon's face. He was enjoying this far too much, Adrian thought thunderously.

"So... the pretty elf captain, huh," Leyon mused, his smile widening, "Is this what they call 'love at first sight'?"

Adrian groaned and covered his face with his hands and cried, "Not you too, brother! I- I think she hates me... that's all!"

"Have you ever met her before? Wronged her in some way?" Kylian asked, and Adrian shook his head.

"I've never met her before... I would remember!" He added.

"Maybe you should just ask her," Leyon suggested helpfully, eliciting another groan from Adrian.

"Well... what if I'm wrong? What if she really is just like that to everyone? I'd make a fool of myself!" Adrian exclaimed.

"You're acting like a fool now," Lasair pointed out, then he waited for a beat and added with a wide grin, "... like a fool in love!"

Adrian sighed, but realized that they were right. With some reluctance, he left the cabin and found Eryna at the helm of the ship. At first, he tried to speak to her at the helm, but his voice could barely carry over the sound of wind and crashing waves. Eventually, she relinquished control of the ship to her vice-captain and led him inside to talk.

"What is it?" She asked coldly.

Adrian hesitated, then said slowly, "I... may be misreading your action to me, but I have just felt that you have been... quite cold towards me. Tell me, have I wronged you in any way? I don't think I have met you before."

Her sea-green eyes narrowed and she was silent for a moment before responding.

"We were supposed to meet, but it did not happen," She said simply.

"I have done something to wrong you, haven't I? Please, tell me what I have done wrong so I may fix it!" Adrian implored her.

Eryna did not elaborate further, simply declaring it 'a thing of the past', but Adrian felt like if he did not straighten things out now, he'd never see her again once this cruise was over. He had not felt this helpless since the night his family died, but he resolved to find out what he had done wrong before the end of the cruise at all cost.

He stepped closer to Eryna and said quietly, "To me, it is more than 'just a thing of the past', and I will keep trying to find out, which will probably annoy you and your crew. So, please just tell me now to spare everyone headaches."

Her eyes hardened and she hissed, "Fine, have it your way, you royal pig! You may not remember, but I do. I heard what you said that day. I would not have cast away such a contract between our countries, but you... well, 'shackled up for life', you called it. I suppose I should be glad to not be 'shackled' to you for life!"

The fact that she not only failed to address him as a king, but directly insulted him, was not what surprised him.

Shackled...? Why does she keep mentioning-

He paled as he put everything together.

"Oh, marai vrae, you were the princess!" He whispered in horror, "I- I'm so sorry...!"

Wordlessly, she pushed past him and resumed her place at the helm and Adrian made his way back to the cabin, his mind reeling.

I was... to marry her? What a fool I've been, He thought.

"So... how did it go?" Leyon asked cheerfully, then his grin slipped from his face as he saw Adrian's face and he asked, "What happened?"

Adrian made a beeline for one of the couches and fell on it with a sigh, before mumbling, "She... was the elven princess I was supposed to marry. Mother must have brought her with her to introduce us... and she heard all the terrible things I said in anger!"

Kylian and Lasair both winced sympathetically and Kylian leaned over to give him an awkward pat on the shoulder, muttering, "That's rough, man."

Leyon said reassuringly, "Well, you can show her that you're a changed man now. All you have to do is win her over with your charm and good looks."

Leyon's words filled Adrian with renewed hope and his mind immediately wandered to what he could do to prove himself to her.

The road to redemption was a long one, but nearly two years later Sanobar celebrated the engagement of their king to Princess Eryna Aegivyl of Silvardor. Rumour had it, that it was a love match.

THE END?

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Oh, the irony that Adrian would fall for the one he spurned.

So, that's it. This is where we leave the world of Sagar and the four realms... or is it? 

There will be side stories, probably uploaded to a new book, as this one is quite long enough already. Please tell me if there are any characters or moments you'd like to know more about!