By the time Graham came back from his walk, we were ready to get going. Unsurprisingly, we didn't rush since it was still early in the morning, and the thick layer of silver clouds made the day gloomy, but still warmer than I had expected for this time of the year.
We are just a day away from crossing over into the new year, and I hardly can believe that I will be crossing it with Mason and Graham. It feels surreal.
The pier on Lake Sunniva is quite small, but fitting for a townlet the size of Meza.
Once aboard the small ferry, I take a seat, on one side of the boat, sandwiched between Mason and Graham.
In true Mason fashion, he loops my arm through his, threading our fingers together, tucking them close to his chest. At his insistence, I'm wearing his winter woollen coat, while he wears something that Graham has fished out of his wardrobe. Nothing as stylish as the mohair his coat is made of. The leather jacket he is wearing is teetering on the wild side, with metal studs, and colourful embroidery, contrasted by a skeleton on the back holding a scythe in one hand and a skull in the other. Mason doesn't seem to mind, he attracts quite of few glances from the ladies in the boat.
There are a few couples with us on the boat chattering with Graham about various things, while the group of four younger girls sitting on the far end of the boat giggle, and whisper among themselves while stealing glances in our direction. Well, not mine for sure, but at the dishevelled man at my side, who is wearing a very charming smile on his lips while looking at my profile.
I'm sort of relieved that he takes no notice of the girls, but at the same time, I worry that his once and now presumably defunct reputation of philandering was well, and rightfully earned. If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, I would've had a hard time believing it.
" You're thinking loudly, Petal," He slides a finger under my chin and turns my head to meet his burning gaze.
" There are things about my past that I cannot change," He says quietly, his eyes roaming on my features trying to capture my reaction to that statement.
So very true. He cannot. But, still, I cannot help it.
" But it is called the past for a reason...You are my present, and my future," He lets go of my chin, his hand slides under the coat I'm wearing and pulls out the chain that he has gifted me this morning. Two golden bands, one simple, incrusted with black gems, with no visible pattern. As if they had been thrown, and landed chaotically on the band. Whilst the other bears a filigree pattern of lilies, a nod to my name. Each petal, and the edge is incrusted with multicoloured gems, that catch the light most splendidly, creating a shimmering rainbow. Absolutely exquisite.
" Just like you," He presses a kiss on my cheek, a show of adoration. And, as if that is not enough to ease my worries, " One day, Canim....when the time comes, I'll give you what you deserve. The shadows are not fitting for a star that shines as brightly as you do," When I look up at him, I find him staring at me with the intensity of a thousand suns. Sometimes words fail to convey how we truly feel about someone. They seem to oversimplify an emotion so complex that it would require an eternity to truly grasp its expansive impact on our lives.
With a slanted smirk, he leans back against the edge of the boat and lets out a silent sigh, " I wish you'd stop worrying about my past. Even when I thought you were dead I've been faithful to you, because there is no comparison. None of them are you. I only truly understood what it meant to love you when I lost you. So perhaps, it was a good thing that you left, " I'm slightly taken aback at the sincerity behind those words, but when I look at him he is staring ahead, his gaze fixed on a cave in the hill of the valley we are crossing.
" Be prepared," He says sullenly, blinks and then looks at me with a breathtaking smile.
Wary, I look back up the cave he was staring at and find that there isn't anything there anymore. We have company. It didn't take them long to find us. For now, we are safe on the boat, but once we step on solid land, we might have to come up with an escape plan, because I'm nowhere near ready to face a large-scale attack.
Even if I were, the city would be crawling with people, who would fall victim if they decided to attack.
So far, the only time they cornered me in a crowded place was when I came back from Helej Norun. Nothing ever since, but then again, I haven't been out much.
There is no point heading back to Graham's because they have found us before we left Meza.
We reach Takka about an hour later, even though the Quay in Takka surpasses the marina in Morston, what leaves me speechless is the luxury of it all.
Floating docks, with luxurious barges, manned by uniformed youngsters. I find the uniforms striking since they are the same signature shade of blue as the tiles on the roofs in Meza, intricately embroidered with golden thread, a sight for sore eyes. They are so beautiful, it makes me want to cry.
" No need to get sappy," Graham laughs when I wipe my eyes.
" This is just some of it. Wait until you see the rest before you sob," He chuckles and loops his arm through mine. But I find it hard to enjoy the sights when I know that they are here, and they will strike.
I look over my shoulder, my eyes staying on the hourglass shape of the lake.
We dock at one of the floating piers and wait for the boatman to allow us to get off the boat. Once I step on the wooden deck, my eyes snag on the flawless state of the wood. Polished to mirror shine, it catches the light from the lamps embedded in the wooden frame of the floating pier.
This place is surreal. I begin to wonder if it has any connections with the mystical world of magic because there is no way this place is earthly. Humans, by nature, are flawed, and therefore as a consequence, everything man-made will be flawed as well. Even though perfection has its appeal, it quickly loses its shine, turns and dull and boring.
" Perhaps, it does," Mason purrs in my ear, and I look at him surprised. I love and hate that he can hear my most intimate thoughts. Sometimes it feels like a violation of my inner sanctum. But on the other hand, if I could hear his unbidden thoughts, I'd probably enjoy learning about his most intimate musings. So, I suppose it's fair game.