Page 70 of Reign of Light
The roar of excitement calms, and all but diminishes when someone calls out, “What do we do now, Captain?”
His throat bobs and his eyes soften. I know he’s realized it too. We’re leaving. All of us.
And it’s time to say goodbye.
His lips turn up in a soft smile. “We go home.”
Murmurs start up but fall silent again as he raises his hand, quieting everyone quickly.
“But first, I want to tell you all how honored I am to have been your captain for all this time. Even those of you who haven’t been here that long”—his hand squeezes mine as his eyes drift to Taril, then to Fin—“and those of you who didn’t get the chance to be with us.” He nods toward the Voyagers who all sat in the same general vicinity, except Gauge who threw himself right into the middle of the Castaway mix.
“Everything I did, every decision I made, whether they were easy or extremely difficult, was to get to this moment, so all of us could return where we belong. The island kept us safe, but we were never meant to stay. I can’t tell you how grateful I am that it gave us a sanctuary and made the life we shared here one that will stay with me forever. I will never forget any of you, and I have hope that you will take everything we learned here, and all our experiences, and live the best life of your choosing back home.”
My throat tightens, and a tear falls down my cheek. Weston doesn’t show his emotions very often. He stays strong for his crew and the people he cares about, but now in front of his family that he is about to let go, I can hear the thickness in his voice as he bears his heart to them.
He releases my hand and cradles the pouch between his palms, and the gaze of everyone on deck shifts to it.
“I don’t know if it will work, or if the Guardian is the only one who can use it, or if we need to be back at the plateau?—”
“We don’t,” I say with a shake of my head. “He left from other places on the island.”
Weston nods, then looks back at the group. “Well then, I’ll be right here for anyone who wants to go tonight. If you need to take some time, that’s fine too. But know I won’t leave until everyone gets back home.”
The air is still as Weston’s words settle. Right now. Everyone could be home in the next few minutes and find out what happened to their loved ones they left behind.
But no one moves.
It’s as if no one knowswhatto do. How can we leave everyone we care about here, behind? How can we not? No one was prepared for this to happen, in this moment. We’d hoped, and with every shift, every search, the anticipation was there. But it wasn’t tonight, and the stunned looks on everyone’s faces as they stare back at Weston, processing his offer, prove that.
“I’ll go, Captain.”
Something in my chest breaks when I hear her voice, and I look over to see Stassia rising from where she sits with her arm slung around Auralie.
“Are you sure?” he asks as she weaves through the bodies, making her way across the deck toward us.
“I’m sure. Someone has to be the first. I’m not afraid. Gotta make sure it works, right?” Her tone is light, in her usual Stassia way, but I can hear the sadness she’s trying to hide.
Weston nods, then gestures to everyone behind her. “Do you want a minute?”
“Uh, of course. Just because I volunteered, doesn’t mean you can get rid of me that easily.”
Everyone stands as she turns her back on us, and heads into the crowd, walking around, giving hugs, and laughing with each person. Even the Voyagers she didn’t really know, who came after she found the waters, all say their heartfelt goodbyes.
When she gets to Auralie, who has been sobbing the entire time Stassia moved through the group, I no longer can keep it together. Despite being from the same kingdom, life will never be the same back home as it is here. I cry silently as I watch the embrace of two women whose friendship held them together when the loneliness of this life and the possibilities that were left behind were too much.
A chasm opens in my chest as I watch the evidence of their friendship, of my friendship, and know that I have nothing like that to return to. They’re all here. And now they’ll be gone. Every woman should have a friend like that, who supports her and is there for her, and I am so glad I got to have them, even if it was for so short a time. Now I’ll never question what friendship feels like, because I discovered it in Dawnlin.
Stassia breaks away, leaving Auralie swiping at her eyes, before walking to Jorn, giving him a shove followed by a warm hug, as smiles and laughter exchange between them. I can’t watch as she hugs Sig just as fiercely as she hugged Auralie, but when she steps in front of Weston and offers him an exaggerated salute, a watery giggle bubbles through my tears.
“Aye, Captain. Thank you for this crazy ride, and all you did for us. Don’t forget to smile every so often.”
“You’re welcome, Stass,” he says with a smirk, then opens his arms. “I’ll miss you.”
Stepping into his embrace, she wraps her arms around him. Her head rests on his chest facing me, and her mouth falls open, an exaggeratedlyexcited look on her face as her eyes playfully roll to the back of her head. I giggle again, holding my fist over my mouth, knowing she has been coveting that hug for a very long time.
Her head tilts, and a closed-lip warm smile spreads on her face as she steps in front of me.
“Lennox.”
