Fall of Ima (Cycles of the Lights series)

Chapter Six

Songbird- 9743 Jeman Year

Vesper pulled her cloak tightly around her shoulders. Resting weary eyes, she allowed hum of the dragon to lull her. Ima and Jema were in close orbit and the journey would take a mere two weeks. Other passengers in the near empty cabin were Brisean merchants. They slumbered near the back.

As Vesper sensed drowsiness, she forced eyes wide. She didn't wish to sleep, afraid to dream. More often than not, she had nightmares. Vesper needed her wits.

The Queen sucked in a deep breath to keep alert. As she did, sharpness throbbed in her chest. A hand lifted and rubbed the area. The stabbing had begun as a dull ache when her husband first fell ill. It intensified year after year.

"When you're back, this hurt'll fade," she muttered to her memory of him.

Vesper thought fondly to her first meeting with Makarios. She didn't know his identity. His men had carried him into the temple of healing with armor stripped. Dressed in underclothes, they revealed nothing of his status. The Master of the temple was away in the mountains. As the excelling pupil, Vesper was called to evaluate his injuries. The young man's eyes sparked. "They didn't tell me the greatest apprentice was a beautiful maiden. Had I known, I would've been injured years sooner." He spoke boldly, "This must be love at first sight!"

As a young woman in her prime, Vesper had heard her share of ridiculous love proclamations. She told the young man to cease his nonsense. He laughed in amusement, but obliged.

The next day she tended to him again. He kept quiet as promised but his eyes spoke volumes. She scolded, "It's ungentlemanly to trail your gaze after a lady in such a manner."

"My apologies," he seemed sincere, "but you're marvelously talented. It enhances your beauty." She reprimanded with a glare, moving to change the wound dressing. His head jerked as he cried out. Vesper's nerves spiked as she immediately inspected the area for an infection. The cry cut short. "What, I didn't scare you?" he appeared disappointed by her steady hands.

"You did! My heart's pounding! What's the matter with you, feigning like that?" she admonished.

"At last! Your heart beats for me!" he declared triumphantly.

"You're impossible," she frowned and finished the dressing. Vesper didn't bother to hide crossness as she grabbed her utensils to leave.

"Wait, I didn't mean to upset you."

"All's forgiven," she spoke curtly, not wishing to have anything more to do with the patient.

"Please don't be so quick to forgive," he added.

Still cross but curious, Vesper rolled her eyes, "Why not?" Her hand remained on the door.

He grasped his chin as crinkles of rumination graced his eyes. "After I'm well, I'll offer you something in exchange for your forgiveness. Please accept it then."

"Is it your mother or father who raised you to be this forthcoming?" she asked sarcastically.

"Neither. My mother died birthing me and my father passed early."

"Don't joke," she warned.
"I promise I'm not," he responded sincerely.

The words won Vesper's sympathy. "Oh. You're an orphan?" She moved beside his bed.

"My father was with me until I was old enough to be called a man. I lost my brother not long after. I've no family now."

"I as well," she dropped her guard. "I never knew my mother or father." He extended a hand and she accepted. "The old couple who adopted me only told me my mother seemed desperate. They passed when I was young. Then this temple took me in."