Hope in Deep Waters (an AtE story) Ch 22

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Anticipation

That evening, the group decided to spend the night on a small uninhabited island just off the western shore of the Hollows. It was getting late, so Nia suggested that it would be better to cross the short span of water to Anniera in the morning after everyone had had a good night’s rest. Kalmar agreed with her but didn’t voice the full reason why her plan sounded good. In truth, it was a relief to be able to delay diving into his kingly role by even just a single night. Usually, Kalmar liked to jump into things headfirst, but this was a task he was not sure he could succeed in. It wasn’t like a championship Zibzy game or a sackytack race. No, this was something different altogether, Kalmar thought as he unloaded his and Leeli’s packs from Hulwen. The blue dragon, who was larger and stronger, had carried the adults.

After the green dragon lighted on the ground, Janner prepared himself to dismount. Untying the strap that fastened him to one of Lachlan’s spikes, he hoped it would go more smoothly than it had at their last stop where his stiffer-than-expected legs had crumpled beneath him as soon as his feet hit the ground. Sara dismounted first and landed gracefully on the soft grass. Janner followed close behind, having stretched his legs and wriggled his toes a bit first. This time, he managed to keep his feet. Hopefully, he’d be able to do it again tomorrow so he wouldn’t make a fool of himself in front of Arundelle and whatever other Annierans would be watching when they arrived.

Just as he was about to start unfolding his tent, he felt his mother’s arm around his shoulder. 

“Look,” she whispered, and turned him toward the west. 

The sight brought tears to Janner’s eyes. Not so far across the sea, the flaming sun had sunk behind the ruins of what had clearly been a beautiful yet modest castle, its living beams of golden light setting it aglow with life once more. As the sun sank lower and the bright beams faded to a mere pinprick of light, it seemed to Janner that a glow emanated from the castle itself, and with it, a sense of hope and anticipation for the restoration to come.

Kalmar stood off to himself a few paces down the shore and watched in silence, and Janner couldn’t read the complex emotions playing across his face. His brother would be stepping back into his role as king tomorrow though, and Janner made a mental note to set up a game of zibzy with him as soon as possible. 

“I think this is the most beautiful sunset I’ve ever seen,” Leeli remarked with awe. “And look at those stars!” She was right. There was not a cloud nor a smudge of hazy smoke to be seen in the whole expanse of the sky, where the vibrant colors of the sunset faded and the stars glimmered boldly in the inky darkness of the night. It was agreed without a word that they should not set up their tents on this final night of the journey, but sleep under the stars. 

~~~~~~~~~~

That night, as the embers of the campfire burned low, a sound woke Janner. He listened carefully, but didn’t hear it again. He was sure he had heard his brother whimpering something in his sleep, but though Kalmar’s blanket was rumpled as though he had been thrashing about, he seemed to be sleeping peacefully now. Janner sent up a quick prayer to the Maker for his brother before drifting back to sleep.