Page 15 of A Warrior's Heart

“I know I am asking much of you,” Malik said to Fletcher and Kellan. “You are free to decline my request. The journey has the potential to be dangerous, especially if we run into King James’ men along the way and they learn of our intentions.”

“I want to help,” Fletcher said.

“Aye.” Kellan nodded. “It’s been much too long since I’ve sailed the sea. It’ll be like going home again.”

“It’s settled then.” Malik stood, casting a large shadow on the wall behind him. “We’ll begin making preparations on the morrow.” He then turned to Lorcan. “There’s something else. Your father insisted that you join us on this mission.”

“Why?” Lorcan asked.

“He did not say.”

“The answer is no,” Lorcan said in a hard tone.

“It was not a request, my prince.”

“You dare order me around?” Lorcan stood and approached Malik. “Last I checked you are but a guard. You have no right to give me orders. I’m not some man in your army. I am your prince.”

“Lor,” I said, going over to him. “Calm down.”

“I’ll bring you cushions and blankets for your bedding.” Lorcan pulled from my grasp. “You can stay here for the night.” He moved his eyes to Malik. “And then you can be on your way.”

Lorcan left the room.

“Forgive his rudeness,” Alek said, standing from the chair with his son nestled in his arms. “He hasn’t been sleeping well lately.”

“More nightmares?” Malik asked.

Alek gave a sharp nod of his head. “It’s odd. Just the other night, he woke from a dream shaking like a leaf. He said he felt like something was coming for him.” A sad look clouded in his eyes. “I guess he was right.”

***

The next day, I sat on a hill overlooking the crystal blue water.

The netted top I wore covered very little of my upper body, exposing my skin to the sun. My shoulders were warm and sweat trickled down my back. But I enjoyed the heat. The light. All the colors of the surface world. The lush, green mountains to the west and the white sand of the shore.

“Beautiful, is it not?” Lorcan said, sitting beside me on the grass. “I never tire of the sun on my face. After so many years without it, I cherish each moment spent beneath the blue sky.”

I had a different blue sky I liked to lie under; the dome with water on the other side of it. We were so different.

“Do you ever miss Avalontis?”

“I missyou,” he answered, moving his green eyes to me. “And I miss Eva and Malik. But I do not miss the palace. It was a prison to me.” A gentle breeze swept around us, ruffling his silvery locks. Lorcan shut his eyes and turned his face upward. “This? This is freedom.”

“You don’t think you’ll ever return home?”

Lorcan looked at me. “Thisis my home, Troy. I know that isn’t the answer you wished for, but it’s the only one I can give.”

Birds flew overhead, and I tilted my head to watch them. Such creatures didn’t exist in my world.

“Itisbeautiful here,” I said, meeting his stare. “But my place is below the waves.”

“And mine is above them.”

I nodded and looked over the cliff, watching the morning sun break across the water.

Deep down, I’d known there’d be no convincing my friend to return to Avalontis when all of this was over. Yet, hope had lingered in my chest despite knowing that truth.

For so long, I had wanted everything to go back to the way it was before Lorcan met Alek. But then I’d seen the love in my friend’s eyes when he looked at his mate. I saw Lorcan’s joy when he held his son.