Page 72 of The Rake OR The Orca Who Met His Match in a Selkie Desiring Revenge
Feann pursed his lips, his face taking on the faraway look he did when he thought deeply on something. Elspeth squirmed in her seat, though, because that was not nearly the full story.
"The truth is, he's been wonderful, and I'd be lucky to be with him, I'm just… worried that he will get tired of me or something. After... everything, I have some... difficulties... I—"
"Ellie, if anyone understands, it's me. I can imagine… vividly." His eyes unfocused and a pall came over his expression. They’d both need to address it… at some point, but if she wasn’t ready to yet, and it had been weeks, she doubted Feann was either.
"Yes, and so I worry that I might not be the right choice for him, you see?"
"I do, keenly.” He reached across the table to squeeze her hand. “Perhaps you will have to remind me of this someday, but don't you think you ought to let him make that choice? If hehas a problem, he should tell you. Has he given you any indication that he is upset about it?"
"No, he's been quite—erm—eager to explore our options...."
"So then, are you just barmy? Have you seen that man?" Feann grabbed her in a hug, pulling her down so she lay sideways across him, practically in his lap, so he can look down at her.
"Ellie, you haven't been... well, since Da died, and I know you blame yourself, or you think you need to take care of a lot. It's something that I have really admired about you but also, you've got to know that youcan’tbe in charge of his feelings. That’s his job. And you can only go off of your own and what he tells you and unless I’m mistaken, he’s told you that he wants you, that he wants what you have. And you just need to decide if you believe him.”
Elspeth let that sink in. When it was reduced to such a simple binary, that she needed to decide if she believed Aegir, the answer was easy. She did believe Aegir, she trusted him, and she allowed that meant she needed to trust him to know his own mind, to know what he wanted. And if what he wanted was her? She wanted that too.
She smiled, a light, giddy feeling bubbling up inside of her, making her wiggle in her seat.
Her brother matched her smile and nudged her shoulder. “It looks like you have someone to go talk to.” He winked at her.
As much as she wanted to talk to Aegir, should she really be leaving Feann like that? He was only so recently out of a traumatic situation… The feelings must have broadcast on her face, because her brother screwed up his mouth and waved his hand.
“My problems aren’t going to be solved today. I know I was a little dramatic when you got me out of there, but so many of my nightmares involved them re-capturing you. It’s going to take me a while, I think, to even process what happened. Let’s get your problem dealt with in the meantime.”
Elspeth hugged him and they both returned topside. She left Feann with Dahlia, and floated across the deck and into the bridge where she found Aegir at the helm. The second she entered the room, Aegir turned toward her, raising an eyebrow. “How is he?”
“Shaken up, I think he’s still having a difficult time believing it’s real, but he’s well… if not annoyingly insightful. How’s Jokith? Did he find the boy?”
Aegir shook his head, growling. “Oh, he found him alright. And he ignored the plan. He’s got the kid below-decks.” He ran a hand across his face. “I’ll have to deal with that at some point. Come here.” He opened his arm to indicate that she should come stand between him and the wheel. She stepped between his arms, the warm, steady strength of him at her back.
“Can you blame him? Could you have left a little boy in a bad situation?”
“I don’t know, but the kid doesn’t seem like hewantedto leave. It makes me feel like it was a kidnapping, instead of a rescue. And to do it without talking to us about it?” He quieted, settling his head atop hers. “It could rile them up. Could make them come for us. I can’t have him putting you at risk.”
“More than we just did?”
“Fair point. I’m just grumpy about it. I’m not the Captain he needs, I think. When we get back, I’ll need to have that talk with Hanne, see what to do.”
“You’ll figure it out.” She knew he would. Jokith had a good heart. She knew she couldn’t have left a little boy with the Pathians, no matter what, even though she understood Aegir’s frustration.
Standing at the helm, only a thin bit of deck stretched between her and the deep blue expanse that was the ocean, and it called to her, as it always did, but that call was echoed by the man at her back. Between the two, she felt like she was home.
1. Though selkies can only have one binding at a time, if previous bonds have been broken by death, they can in fact create a new bond.
Epilogue: Aegir
IN WHICH ENDINGS ECHO BEGINNINGS WITH REMARKABLY SIMILAR RESULTS
For a time, Aegirstood with Elspeth and simply enjoyed her closeness.
“Where are we headed then?” She asked.
“Hillskerry, I strongly suspect that once the Empire discovers that that flotilla has been destroyed, they will only send more towards your home. I think we should arrive first and work out a plan.”
“What do you think we should do? We aren’t equipped to fight them. Hell, I can only think of two or three people who even know how to fight worth a damn, and that’s only because they have a penchant for getting into them.”
“I think you’re right. Now that the Empire has remembered your people, and has learned of a way that they can bendthem to their will, they will likely capitalize on that. I think we have a few weeks, maybe a month before they are back, and attempting to take more captives. I can’t say how many, it depends on how valuable they think you are, which, I suppose Feann could probably give us some insight where that is concerned. I propose that we meet with your leaders and come up with a strategy. I think you’ve mentioned other communities of selkies, perhaps your people could go there, or maybe they are prepared to fortify the island and fight back? Whoever wants to leave would be welcome in both Sanctuary or Berggeheimnis, I know that for a fact. I’m sorry that your people are being dragged into this. You didn’t ask for this, but you are getting it nonetheless.”