Skander watched as Liam and Ella conversed during the remainder of the trip. Each night when he would move from his cabin to the deck to be sure the weather was tame and no enemies were in sight, he saw them underneath the stars, speaking of childhood memories and dreams of their individual futures. He did not grow angry at her due to her already obvious distance she felt from him. Instead, he just watched from afar; being sure Liam kept his hands to himself. When the ship finally docked, Skander moved to place Liam below deck but Ella stopped him.
"I do not believe the binds are longer required." He glared at her before Liam nodded.
"You have my word. I will not try to flea." He smirked to her before Skander rolled his eyes before then moving forward, towards the city. She removed the makeshift cuffs before they moved further and further down the cobble streets and ended outside of a sewing shop. Upon entering, a woman looked at the duo with great happiness.
"How long have you two been a couple? Let me guess..." She placed her finger over her lips before looking diagonally then back to them. "A year." Before either could interject, she continued. "I say so due to the fact that you two are comfortable with one another, but still have a flare for what is exciting..."
"Actually, she is not mine to claim." He said with a saddened expression.
"Give it time. With eyes like yours...and lips...it will be a matter of days..." She commented as if Ella was not beside him. Ella could not contain her amusement as she giggled. They thanked the woman for her kindness before moving forward to find a fortune teller standing outside of a tavern. High flames lit her candles as she was dressed from head to toe in jewels and cloth.
"Do you wish for me to read your fates?" She asked them as they looked ahead to see Skander speaking to someone who looked more dangerous than death itself. Ella's gaze met with his for a moment before he looked away, to his conversation partner and she took a seat in front of the teller.
But she saw how Liam's fortune was already being read.
"You are a man of great recognition...not royalty...a specific title that gives you cause to fight for a war?"
"Yes...my uniform possibly states that..."
"A man of the eleventh infantry." He moved back, with wide-eyes.
"Yes...."
"And you have never been in love..." The woman suddenly gasped.
"What is it?"
"I wish I could claim a separate fate..." She took a second before flipping the top card on the deck of tarot by the hand free from Liam's grasp. Death. The card was clear as day even under the dim light. "A painful...sad...even tragic death...poetic perhaps..." He jumped up before Ella was pulled forward.
"Ah...you are a woman of great loss....your parents..." She nodded as Liam peaked with interest. "From something tragic?" She nodded again, now with Liam in the seat beside her. "It was no accident."
"Excuse me?"
"How they died. The blazing fire...it was no accident."
"How could you know-"
"It is my gift child...you see..we are all born with one. Most are subtle, others, they make history with them."
"And can you see my gift?"
She peered into her eyes before leaning closer than slowly back. "You will love with a love more powerful than armies. You will lose it and gain it more times than you will realize."
"of my parents...what else can you tell me of them?" The woman shut her eyes before then looking quick to her. "I see a frame. A silver frame with roses engraved on the edges. A young girl six-seven...you...you are her. A man is clutching the painting...a small painting. He looks to his side to see a woman...your mother...she is holding a candle...moving around the residence, placing the flame on what she could burn. Everything from documents-" She stopped. "A dark presence. I cannot see past it."
"Please. I need to know..."
"They hurt people. Important...then innocent, people."
"No. No, they helped people."
"No my child. They brought the death upon themselves."
"You know nothing!" She shouted as she jumped from the chair, gaining Liam and Skander's attention. Growing angry with tears in her eyes, Ella glared at the woman before she reached and touched her.
"I can give you one last thing-the last thing I am able to read..."
"What?"
"You will find your great love within the marking of the phoenix." She whispered as Ella was pulled away by Skander.
"Keep your pagan satanism to yourself hag!" He cursed to her before pulling her away. Upon seeing her sadness, he placed his hands on her shoulders. "Are you alright?"
"I wish to go back to the ship..."
"I understand. I will walk you-"
"I will." Liam intervened.
"It's my ship-"
"Technically not-"
"It is now. And I do not want her with you. I do not trust you-"
"This coming from the man who stole a ship-and a girl-and probably that name..." her eyes shot to Skander. She never thought of him using an alias. The thought made her uncomfortable.
"I will walk you-"
"No." She told Skander as she turned towards the ship with Liam following close at her side. Skander quickly walked through the village, moving to obtain what was necessary before continuing on their journey. But during his absence, Liam took the alone time to his advantage. Underneath the stars, he pulled her into him and slowly danced with her, humming the tune of a famed hymn as he then dipped her before pulling her back to him. As if frozen, he eventually moved in closer to her and connected his lips to hers. A sweet tender kiss that made her feel weightless as he pulled her close, tightening his grip upon her. Just as the kiss ended, they heard Skander move onto the boat and moved away from each other, standing on either sides of the ship. They turned in unison as their eyes met to him.
"We may leave now."
And with that, she kept this a secret from the man who had taken her captive, but in the same respect, the words of the fortune teller rung deep in her heart-as if she knew there was truth to her words.
