What Lies Beyond the Ocean

Chapter 26

A light mist drizzled onto us as we made our way out to the castle's entrance; the smell of earth awakening my fatigued eyes. I closed my eyes, exhaled, and gazed at the magnificent structure ahead of me. It all seemed ethereal, but it was all real. I found my father, and he was going home with me.

"Erline, you hopping on?" a voice chimed me out of my trance. I whipped around and saw Uli, opening the carriage door, a small smile sketching itself onto his face. I headed over to the carriage with my sack full of commodities that would prove to be dandy as we headed back to Nilopoia.

Before I followed Alyard into the coach, I swirled my attention over to Dasniz, Edouard, Uli, and a few other knights and servants positioning themselves to regard our departure. I felt something familiar emerge within my conscience; sadness. These people have helped me find my father, through ups and downs, the pretty and ugly- they never once gave up on me. Dasniz tilted his head forward, wispy greys crowning his forehead, gesturing for me to commence the sequel of this journey.

"Thank you," I lipped, making sure I present proper eye contact. Tears welled up in my eyes as I finally slipped into the coach. It felt as I was at the beginning of this journey once again; but this time, not so anguished.

~

The sunset outlined the silhouettes of surrounding villages and vegetation; making the world seem bronze and golden. The ocean looked like melted gold, delicately drifting away in the gentle breath of the wind.

"So," Father leaned towards me, reaching down in his sack for a handful of grapes, offering some to Alyard and I. Alyard, half-asleep, quickly reached for them, savouring the sweetness it offers to him. I held back a chuckle as I plopped a grape inside my mouth, regarding Father at the same time.

"This officially begins our new life together," he tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear. "It, too, did pain me to leave my colleagues behind. However, that is only a part of my past. I want to start again, fresh, with my family." He winked over at Alyard, who blushed as he swallowed down his last grape.

"It has been quite the tale," Alyard smirked, those eyes melting into honey in the warm hue of the sunset tinkling its way into the coach. "It definitely will go down in the family for generations to come."

I rolled my eyes and gently nudged him with my elbow. "At least we won't have to bump into those assassins once again and hopefully that applies that Scott as well..."

"Ahem, you mean, 'Prince Scott of Geafra?'"

"He is such a bastard." I scoffed, tossing a grape at Alyard, flicking it in his mouth.

"Its approaching nightfall, I am going to go ahead and rest my old bones and mind," Father yawned, sprawling out like a cat on the bench across from Alyard and I. He closed his eyes and turned his back against us as if he didn't want us creepily watching him sleep. Fair enough, I suppose.

I turned to Alyard and put my head on his shoulder, quickly falling asleep due to his warmth easing my tension away and we further made our way to our destination.

~

A wall of orange appeared before as I began to wake up, the sun was darting right in my eyes. I sat up and stretched my sore muscles. I quickly realised I was the only one in the coach. Confused, I stretched my head towards the window and saw Alyard, Father, you guessed it, Helivi, tending to the horses. Beyond their heads lay the silhouette of a city that I instantly recognise as Geafra. My heart skips a beat- glee and sadness both mixing together. We were here to hopefully find Feralo's family if that was even plausible.

The sun blinded me as the warm spring wind wisped me out onto the slightly damp terrain.

"Sleeping beauty has finally rose from her slumber!" Alyard exclaimed as he brushed out Nyx's mane, assumedly after doing Tide's.

"My prince's kiss didn't wake me from my slumber," I snorted as I gently jabbed his side.

"Now I haven't heard that type of flirting since Dasniz was with one of his mistresses..." Helivi smirked, covering his mouth to hide it.

"Helivi!" Father exclaimed, feeding Elfin apples from the palm of his hands. Elfin looked up at Father, lost, confused, but gobbled away just his master previously did before.

"Oh, what'd I say?"

"You're exposing Dasniz's past love affairs!"

"Oh, I need more booze then..."

"I think you need less booze, chap." Father chuckled as he stroked Elfin's silky mane and gently unwound him from the other horses, who looked up in surprise at their comrade leaving them.

"Anywho," Alyard brought us back to business. "We're going to need to deter as much attention away from the guards and Scott as they might recognise us." He pointed towards himself and over to me.

"Also we have to proceed with caution," Helivi added. "Since he and I are Zalfan, they might easily detect that."

"Well, possibly," I interjected. "But we all look fairly similar- Zalfans and Nilopoians. I do think it might be best for Alyard and me to go seek out Feralo's family. You guys can go rest if you so desire. It just helps lessen the attention we'd probably get..."

"Fair enough," Helivi nodded, glancing over at Father, who also reluctantly nodded as well.

"I agree," he stroked his strong jawline. "Just please stay as safe as you both can. Try staying away from that Scott lad..."

"Will do, as long as you keep his grubby hands away from booze." Alyard tilted his towards Helivi.

Alyard and I grabbed Elfin, walking into where this whole journey escalated.