Page 126 of The Dark Mage

Their hearts entwined in death anddark

And though their love burned bright atlast

Their graves did lay both still and stark

Tears burned Ren’wyn’s eyes as the song ended.

“Take me to bed?”she whispered toFael.

In their room, he held her in his arms, kissing her slowly as the breeze blew through the open window.

“What’s going to happen to us, Fael?”she asked.

He was silent for a longtime.

“I don’t know,” he finally responded.“But I love you today, right here and now, and I’m trying to make that enough.It’s hard not to agonize about the future—the dreams and hopes and plans.It’s hard not to want more and more.But I’m working to focus on this moment, withyou.”

Then, he danced with her again beneath the sheets, summoning frost and fire before they drifted off to the wind sighing through the trees and the last of autumn’s crickets singing of peace.

On the day they entered Riva, Fael checked over their belongings, making sure they had money for taxes.He looked concerned and determined, and he urged her to strap a dagger to her hip over her black leggings as well as braid her hair off her neck for the eventual humidity.

Fael, too, wore black leggings and a white, loose shirt.He strapped on three swords and tied on his leather arm greaves.

He was a sight to behold, and Ren’wyn watched him in a way that made Fael chuckle.

“Later, my dear,” he laughed, pressing a kiss to her pink cheeks.

“You have to promise to wear the gauntlets,” Ren’wyn said, grabbing his shirt.His hands ran lazily over her backside.

“Promise,” he grinned, and they headed out to face theday.

The road was barely visible through the heavy fog.Fael had shown her the map of their final path before they left, so she had an idea of the distance they would travel.Maps had never been her favorite subject, though.She was glad Fael likedthem.

“Are you looking forward to Anduan?”he asked.

The road had become paved with bricks, bustling with people heading to Riva.The familiar scent of Fael and Patina comforted her in the crowd, and Fael’s large hand rested heavily on herhip.

“I am,” she admitted.“I’m hoping to see Peria and looking forward to another adventure.I’ve never sailed, though, and the thought of the sea makes me nervous.”

A little shiver coursed down her spine.All ships ever made her think of was a watery grave.

“Sailing isn’t so bad,” Fael offered.“It’s not my favorite way to travel, but the sea is beautiful and wild.Maybe we’ll see whales or dolphins from theboat.”

That was a better picture than drowning, and she latched onto it.

“I imagine Zev and Esrin will be adept at sailing.Wights have a strange predilection for the water, and Esrin is from Ishvaen, which is known for its shipbuilding,” Fael explained.

“And Ren’wyn will vomit her guts up over the railing,” she muttered.

Fael chuckled.

“I’ll be there to hold your hair back and wipe your brow,” he said, squeezing herhip.

The sun finally burned away the fog, and a distant glint caught Ren’wyn’s eye—the Serath Sea.It was a tiny sliver far, far away, but she had never seen the ocean before.

“Fael,” she squealed.“Thesea!”

She squirmed in excitement, and Fael bit back a tight, rough laugh.