Storm of Souls (Book 2 of The Tempest Series)

Chapter 7

Shogo

The sun beat mercilessly down upon their shoulders as it rose to the highest point of the sky as Shogo glanced to Serena. He could see the exhaustion that had taken its toll on her as she leant against his chest and he knew they needed only to walk a little longer until they would reach the port. He was surprised not to have seen any guards travelling the roads in search for them and this had brought him a great relief and though he knew that the danger would pass if they reached the southern lands, he still feared for his love and unborn child.

Shogo took the flask from around his belt and took a small sip before he offered it to Serena, fearing that she would dehydrate. She took several sips before she gave it back to him and he strapped it to his belt once again before they continued onward.

He knew that they would soon be out of water if they were not careful and that was far more dangerous than having to ration it.

"When we reach the port, we shall pay to board the ship," said Shogo.

"Save your money and only pay for yourself," replied Serena.

"I will not leave you behind,"

"You will not, I shall swim beside the ship. I have longed to feel the water against my skin again," said Serena as the sandstone walls appeared on the horizon and Shogo knew it wouldn't be long until they were upon a boat, travelling to the south.

"No, you are far too exhausted to swim and what of our child?" Replied Shogo and Serena sighed. Clearly, she didn't wish to argue. They continued to walk in silence until they entered the docks, the large sandstone walls surrounding them.

They continued to walk into a merchants shop and Serena began to look around as Shogo gathered the supplies they would need. He gathered as much food as what would fit in his bag before he approached the merchant. Once the items had been paid for he placed them in his bag and refilled both their flasks with water before he led Serena to an inn.

"We require a room," said Shogo.

"Will you be requiring food and drink?" Asked the short chubby inn keeper.

"Yes," replied Shogo as he placed the coin in front of the man and was handed a key. Silently, Shogo and Serena left together and approached their room. Shogo unlocked the door and they entered before he locked it behind them.

Serena sat on the edge of the bed and her gaze fell upon Shogo's face. A long moment of silence passed as he glanced around the dark wooden room. An old dressing table stood at the opposite side of the room, it looked as though it were falling a part and the the mirror held a large crack in it. The small room would have been empty if it wasn't for the dressing table and the bed that looked almost as though the wood was rotting from the inside out.

Shogo didn't trust the state of the bed and he wondered whether it would have been able to support both of their weight. He hesitated for a moment, before he began to approach Serena and took her face in his smooth hands and kissed her forehead.

"You need to rest," said Shogo after a long moment of silence passed between the two.

"As do you," she whispered softly, her lips brushing against his as she spoke.

"I will, once I know that you are safe," replied Shogo, the worry in his body rose to his eyes as they slowly grew darker with a sudden age.

"I am safe and so is our child, we will always be safe as long as we are with you," she whispered, her voice holding a warmth that seemed almost inhuman as the smell of sea air entered through from the window. Lightly, she kissed him as she gripped his collar and pull him towards the bed. Without opening her eyes, she closed the window and they entered the tattered sheets.

There, he lay down and she broke away and rested her head on his chest. The sound of his heartbeat seemed to soothe her and her body relaxed.

"My heart is yours," she whispered, her voice remaining light and warm, "as long as I am in your arms, I know that I shall be safe,"

"And my heart is yours," he replied as a soft smile grew on his lips. Tenderly, he kissed her hair and combed his fingers through the white silk.

"Goodnight," she whispered as she kissed his chest. Tenderly, she ran her hand through the hair of his chest as she closed her eyes and a smile formed on her face as she became surrounded in comforts that only he could bring her.

He closed his eyes and his body relaxed before the exhaustion took hold of his body and forced him into a deep dreamless sleep.

He loved the sensations she brought him as she lay beside him and before he drifted, he thought of how it felt to hold her in his arms. How she made him feel complete again, something he hadn't felt in a long time.