A Blaze in the Dark (A New Dawn #1)

Chapter 42 - Sebastian

The prisoners stay in their cells for a moon or more, turning them into rabid animals who will do every trick for a piece of frozen bread.

In all those moons living in Sunstone Castle, Sebastian had never set a foot in Alex's chamber. Now that he had, he cursed his own stubbornness for not visiting her earlier. There were no heaps of sausage-like pillows drowning the bed, just one plain rectangular one at the top; where it should be. Like the light that was shining her eyes for the first time in moons, it was all so perfectly Alex.

Blinking his tears away, he held his breath. He didn't want to be the bearer of bad news, but he had to do something before she left him and Sundale. He wrung his hands behind his back and fiddled with the edge of his shirt. "You're leaving tomorrow already. It's too soon. "

"I'm a quick learner. Lord Simon and his men will train me on the way," she said like she wasn't going to risk her life infiltrating the monsters that lived in the caves of Mora. She had agreed so quickly, without thinking of the consequences.

So typically Alex.

"But it will be dangerous. Uncle Tom warned me all about them—the pirates that roam the Greenlander coast are a large gang that bring terror and bloodshed to every city they pass. We never know when they strike, or where, and with how many. They're like ghosts."

"There are no such things as ghosts, Muttonhead," she said with a big smile. If it weren't so frustrating to convince her of the risks, her happiness would be infectious. "I'll be your messenger, save thousands of people. Tell your uncle I want a statue at The Academy if I succeed."

"But what if you don't?"

She ran her hand through her hair and let out a deep sigh. "Seb, I want this. It's as crazy as those plans our fathers used to come up when we were little. They caught bandits, they went out on hunting trips and came back with boars and stags."

"Until your father was killed by a bear during one of those hunts," he whimpered. His thundering heart skipped a beat.

Alex briefly averted her gaze. "My father died doing what he loved. I can't stay here, Seb. I won't wait for your aunt and uncle to marry me off to some man who only cares about what jewellery I wear. Or who expects me to give him a son. The Gods have my faith in their hands. I'd rather die fighting than not live at all."

He flew into her arms, buried his face into the nape of her neck. If real men didn't cry, then they didn't care enough about their friends or family. "But I don't. I will do anything. I'll convince Uncle Tom to give you a spot in the guards. I'll tell Aunt Crystal that no man is good enough for you. You need to stay. I don't want you to go. I'll miss you too much."

"You won't miss me." She rubbed his back, a heavenly touch that had to last forever. She wasn't allowed to ever let go of him. "You'll have Lana, Master Paul, your aunt and uncle. And Nick will be back shortly." She chuckled. "If he fails to do well at the camp, it's your duty to give him a hard time."

"I will." He sobbed. "But you'll leave so soon already. I'm not ready."

"Tomorrow, huh?"

He nodded. Lord Simon was going back to the Port of Diligence on the morrow. Sixteen hours—an evening, a night, and a morning—that was all he had left with Alex. He remained in her embrace, too afraid to let go and regret not keeping her close any longer.

"Any advice my Puddingbrain of a future King can give me?"

"Don't call your future King a Puddingbrain." He sniggered through his tears. "Or maybe you should. Tell those pirates how much you hate us."