The Blood's Flame (The Dragons of Flareia Book 1)

Chapter 13 - Corrian

The Coast of Aurae Island, Venteer

26th Year of the Ocean

2nd Moon

When the he could finally see the harbour of Aurae Island from his place on the ship, Corrian was so relieved he could hardly form words. It also may have had less to do with the relief he felt than the fact that he had been leant over the side of the ship being aggressively sick as the harbour came into view – as he had for the majority of the journey to Venteer. To his utter humiliation, Maylif hadn't been affected in the slightest.

"You've lived in Gaiamere your whole life." He had grumbled in a rare respite from the seasickness. "A full blooded Gaian. How are you so fine being away from the land?"

His betrothed had simply brushed the hair away from his clammy forehead. "Not all Gaians work the land, Lord Dragonheir. Though I lived in the Cornfields, my father was a fisherman from the south. I was used to the sea before I could talk." Then her eyes had scanned the horizon – water, as far as they could see. "It's beautiful, isn't it?"

Corrian had scoffed, leaning his head against the side of the ship where he sat on the deck. "You know what's beautiful? Trees. Grass. Dirt. Gaiamere. Not this." He had nodded weakly to the sea around them. "Humans weren't made for the ocean."

She gave a small laugh. "What about the Avalonians?" She had asked, her amber eyes sparkling in the sun's reflection off the ocean.

He had rolled his eyes. "Insane," he muttered, "every one of 'em."

Now, Maylif wiped his forehead with a damp cloth, her smile wide. "You survived to see land once more, Lord Dragonheir." She told him.

"Thank Bacchi for that." He breathed. "We can go the long way home." He decided. "We'll visit Ignisia and Anemasi – go home over land. Hell, I'll even request to visit Umbrassé if it means I won't have to step foot on a boat ever again."

Maylif laughed. "I'm sure we'll get leave to do so if it will help us find Tellus." She said, turning the conversation serious.

"I'll find him." Corrian said. He wasn't sure why he said 'I' instead of 'we' – but he couldn't bring himself to include Maylif. Though he was thankful for her taking care of him throughout their journey, he was still unsure what to make of her. Her eyes still unnerved him, though they were the same Dragon-Gifted amber as his own. He had taken to not meeting her eyes for too long – he had started getting headaches when he tried, and well, he could hardly tell his betrothed that looking at her made him ill.

"Of course you will." She rubbed his arm gently. "They don't call him Zero the All-Seeing Owl for nothing. He'll have answers for us."

Corrian nodded, forcing himself not to shrug away from her touch. He wondered why she felt the need to touch him all the time. Are girls always like this? He wondered as he pushed himself up from the deck with weak, shaky arms, the ship's crew scurrying around as they docked. "Let's hope so." He murmured.

"Here," Maylif said, retrieving something from behind her back, "the Venti Dragonheir should be meeting us on the docks, so you should look the part." She handed him his green Dragonheir jacket.

He shrugged off the thick woollen coat someone – possibly Maylif – had thrown around him once when he was being ill. He had never had the strength nor desire to take it off – he couldn't fathom how the Venti people survived in such a climate. He was almost surprised they could reach the harbour at all – it felt as if the whole Venti Ocean should have been frozen solid. He shivered as he pulled his uniform on, wishing it was thicker. His hands shook so much that Maylif had to help him fasten the wooden buttons. Then she reached up and brushed away a few creases by his shoulders.