Figurehead

twenty-two

"I'm getting honoured soon."

I manage a genuine smile. "That's great, Med." I won't be there the night it happens.

He looks uncertain. "The inking isn't painful, is it?" I shake my head. It's easy to forget he's only 17 Dre, especially since he's taller than me. He carries himself with maturity mixed with charm in a way that makes it difficult to figure out how old, or young, he is. He nods once. "More messages for your family?" he asks, taking them from me.

I nod. "I'm travelling again."

"For how long?"

I shrug. "Not sure yet." My voice is quiet.

His eyebrows furrow but he doesn't comment. "Be safe."

"You too." He turns away with a small smile before disappearing around the corner.

I heave a sigh and shut the door behind me, crossing the small space to pack my things on the table. I don't know how long we'll be there. I have no idea what it will be like there. I have no idea what it is like on the other side of Tresvelk and I don't know how locals of the Avu empire will receive us.

By the time all my things have been rolled up, folded and packed into bundles wrapped by spare cloaks, and I am in the process of rolling up my pallet, there are a number of quiet knocks on the door. "Janf."

"Come in," I say quietly, but loudly enough for my voice to be heard.

The door closes almost silently behind him. He sighs heavily as he approaches, coming to stand behind me. I bind my rolled-up pallet, wrapping it in a sheet and pelt before setting it on the table with a sigh of my own. I'm leaving. Tonight.

Will I see him again? If the Lord wills, yes. If not, no. Maybe I'll never come back. I don't know. I don't know.

I just don't know.

Lord, Your will be done.

What else can I say? What else can I pray? I let out a silent sigh and briefly close my eyes before reopening them, turning to face him.

What is there to say?

The same unsureness is etched in his features, mixed with an assortment of emotions. His eyes are vivid blue, intense, unreadable, as always. Beautiful.

"Finished packing, then?" he says, the heavy silence cracking. I nod.

"Ready to go," I mutter, pressing my lips into a line. My mind is in chaos. Say something. Do something. Kiss him. Just something. Something. Anything. Come on.

"I'll miss you." It's barely audible.

I take a half-step forward, looking up into his eyes. "I'll miss you too," I reply, even more quietly. I don't even know if he hears. He folds his arms around me in a hug and I rest my head against his chest, closing my eyes as I wrap my arms around him in return. We stand in silence and shared warmth for a while, heartbeats constant, breaths even.

For now, for however long, maybe for forever, this is our farewell.

"I'll be praying," he murmurs, and my eyes flicker open.

I almost smile. "You should be."

His quiet laugh ripples through him and I can feel it continue through me. He is warm, solid and real. "Always." But he is not mine. I am not his. We are the Lord's and the Lord's alone. Whatever the cost.

His arms tighten before he pulls back and we step away from each other. It is cold now. I take a breath. "This is it, then." He nods once.

I turn and collect my bundles in my arms, a sigh in my chest. We share another glance before leaving the now-empty dwelling behind us.

The others are standing by two horses and Kor when we enter.

"Time to go," Lus says quietly. I nod and begin strapping my belongings to one of the horses' back. Fik doesn't look particularly pleased to see me. At least it means he recognises me. He seems a bit more docile with Tui as rider, though. Jast doesn't seem to mind me.

"Ronseluf. Huistef. Eska. Deritri," Tui mutters to Kor.

"Can they cross into Deritri on horseback?" Lus asks.

Kor nods. "Too difficult without," he explains. He flicks his gaze over the two horses, then nods once. His eyebrows are creased in concern. "Be safe."

"Pray for us," Tui sighs heavily.

They nod. "Of course." Lus sweeps me into a brief hug, and then Tui, who then briefly hugs her other kin before Tui and I mount our horses. Dein takes my hand for a moment with a small squeeze before dropping it.

Farewell. The Lord's will be done.

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Well, hey there again. I wrote a snapshot/ one-shot of the 'farewell scene', if that's even a thing, haha. I'll upload it on Spontanéité when I see that someone has actually read this chapter, lol. Until then, it will sit in the dark and bide its time.