We The Kings: Book Two

Chapter 17

We went back at night. Carlo held my hand as we walked through the dark city together. He brought me back to his quaint home. We finished the romantic night off with our lips mashed into each others all night, as well in other places.

Sleep was hard to accomplish. He fell asleep fast, swinging his arm arm around me. His bare chest was warm. I loved being around him. I loved his small home full of books that always smelled like baked goods. I loved his dark curls and running my fingers through it each night. I wanted to envision a life with him there. But I knew I couldn't even allow myself to imagine that. He was too good to get entangled in the war I was fighting.

The sun began to rise. I carefully rolled out of bed and began to put on my clothes. I thought it would be best if I was gone when he woke up, like the other men I had left in Naporia. It had been my panicked move before, but I didn't want to hurt him. I couldn't see him hurt.

I put on my pants and searched for my top. I reached for my bow and arrows that were on the floor. The wooden floor let out a loud squeak, awakening Carlo.

He rubbed his eyes and sat up. He felt around for his glasses.

"Where are you going?" He said.

I didn't want to look at him. I found my shirt.

"I have to go." I said, refusing to look.

"Go? Go where?" He said.

"I need to leave. I have to move on." I reached around for my bow and arrows.

"You don't have to go."He said. I avoided eye contact with him. I couldn't see the hurt in his eyes.

"You don't understand. I have to go. I'm sorry." I held the book in my hand.

"You can't go to the desert. No one has ever survived going there. It's a giant wasteland." He said.

"I have to." I repeated.

"Fine, then let me go with you. Wherever you're going. I'll come with and help." He said.

"You can't. You don't know what you'd be getting into." I told him.

"Look, Lee. I don't care if you're a damn loyalist. I want to help you. I want to be with you."

"What? I'm not a loyalist." I said. It was somewhat true. I wasn't a loyalist. I was the king they fought for.

"I'm not blind, Lee. You hid when the guards came. You were searching for dragon lore. You forget, but I was there at the loyalist execution, too. Do you really think the Place of Nothing book just fell out of my hands into yours?"

He dropped the book into my lap on purpose. It wasn't an accident for him to drop a stack of books. His blind loyalty and trust he had for me made leaving him sting even more.

"The point is, I don't care. I lo-."

"Don't. Don't finish that sentence. You're making this harder than it needs to be." I cut him off.

He grabbed my hand, I couldn't look at him.

"Please. Look at me." He begged.

I reluctantly did so. His soft brown eyes made my heart melt. I wanted to cry.

"Let me come with. You don't need to go alone. Please, Lee."

He didn't even know my real name. I had even lied to him about that. He deserved better. As much as I wanted to keep him for myself, I couldn't.

"I can't. I'm sorry." I pulled away.

He didn't reach for me again. I packed up my stuff.

"Can I. Can I keep the book?" I asked, holding up the Calkhorn book.

"Yeah, keep it." He said.

That was the last thing he said to me. I thought about hugging him, but that would have been selfish.

I left him. I left the boy whom I fell in love with too fast. I reminded myself that I had to. That I couldn't give into the temptation of him and the life I could have with him. Staying would have been selfish, and harmful to him. I created the monster that was being used against me, I needed to end it. I knew the journey ahead of me was going to be long, but it had to be done.

I headed west. There were ships sailing to Solaris from Vendov. Solaris was the small, sandy kingdom that was south of the Mullis Islands. The towns lied on the costal line. Going any deeper into the territory would be going into the cursed desert.

Passage on a ship was tricky. I didn't know if Solaris had joined the Vendov Empire, or if they were resisting. Months ago they weren't part of it, according to Johnny. But thinks may have changed since then. Vendov was getting stronger, more power hungry.

I sold the horse to a local store owner in town. I brushed her body with my hand. She was still soft.

"Thank you. I hope they take good care of you." I whispered to the stolen horse.

I tried to figure out a way to stow away on a ship. Many left the port to send goods to the Mullis Islands. I didn't want to go there, I couldn't be recognized.

A smaller ship came into port. I overheard the crew mates saying they were heading towards Solaris. It appeared to be a merchants ship leaving in the morning.

That night, I approached it. Stowing away was on this ship was my best shot. It was tied to port. It seemed empty.

I jumped on deck and immediately went under. I could take the ship, I thought. Before I saw six men, too many to take on my own. Merchants didn't tend to be trained in much combat, if there were less I could take them on my own. If only I had Johnny here or someone else that could help me. I entered the lower port and wondered below deck. There was a crack. I drew my sword. There was a small cubby like area, hidden with a door. I held out my sword as I carefully pushed back the door.

I couldn't believe what I saw. More so, who I saw. I lowered my sword. My eyes and mouth dropped.

"Charles?"