Page 22 of Buoy
“What the fuck is going on down there?” Someone bellowed. “Soren, get a move on it, you scrawny little fuck!”
“I. Sorry. Vex. We leave today.” Soren scrambled away.
“I love you,” Rhys whispered.
Chapter 8
SOREN(AGE14)
“Where the fuck is your head, Soren?” Vex barked out. He slashed Soren with a talon.
Soren yelped and jumped back, tripping over a box and landing on his bottom. His head was entirely filled with the fact they’d be in Lane soon. He’d spent the year wondering why Rhys was in the storage hold the year before. What he thought he heard whispered behind him as he left. And did he feel the same way?
Yes. Yes, he did.
Vex attacked again and again, making Soren focus on practice instead of Rhys. It was for the best.
Chapter 9
RHYS(AGE16)
Rhys flopped into bed with a huff, rattling the seashells Soren had given him over the years.
They’d missed each other. It’d be another entire year before they could see each other again. He missed Soren’s smile. His laugh. His voice. His stories. At least this was Rhys’ last year at the academy. He’d never have to miss Soren again. Never. Because once Rhys was a Grand Mage, he was going to free Soren.
Rhys scrubbed a hand across his face. Soren was a pirate. But it didn’t matter to him.
Honestly, aside from the solstice feasts, Soren was his favorite part of the year. Soren’s stories about the crew and what he’d seen fueled Rhys to get through dull lectures.
Rhys loved magic, but there had to be a better way of teaching it. One day, he might be the person to make it more interesting, though he doubted it. He wanted to free Soren, and they could travel the world. Rhys would earn them money being a traveling mage. Or they could settle somewhere and he’d set up a shop. Soren could pursue whatever he wanted, Rhys would support him. As long as they were together. He could only hope the letter he left for Soren conveyed he was not of the same mind as his parents.
SOREN (AGE 14)
Soren had done everything exactly right. It was the first time he could wander at Lane, and he hoped Rhys would show him around like they had talked about for years.
He sped up the closer he got to Rhys’ house, excited to surprise him. But he couldn’t help stopping to pick a few flowers along the way. Something pretty for Rhys’ parents. Soren had another small gift, a necklace of some of his favorite shells he’d strung together for Rhys. He clutched the small bundle to his chest.
The cobblestones were smooth under his bare feet. Wind whipped around and he was glad for the trousers. The braid he’d wrapped around his head was more a bird’s nest now though, and he frowned at the thought.
Shaking, he stood in front of the house Rhys had pointed out years before. The door was massive to allow the dragons to enter without ducking. But what if this was the wrong house? He took a step back and paced, but found his courage and marched right up to the door and knocked. His heart pounded so hard he could feel it in his throat.
Just as he lifted his hand to knock again, it opened. Carys, Rhys’ mother, answered the door. He tried to look around her to find Rhys. But she blocked his vision entirely.
She tipped her head. “Soren? Rhys went back to the academy three days ago.”
Soren’s heart sank, his shoulders drooped. He knew the ship was getting in later than usual, but had hoped they’d still get to see each other.
“Sweetie, come inside.” Carys moved and opened the door wider.
Soren dropped his gaze and handed her the bunch of flowers before he passed the threshold.
“How lovely.”
Taron, Rhys’ father, looked up from his artwork at the massive wooden table set in the middle of the room.
In no time, the pair had Soren seated and a big plate of food in front of him. The bright bouquet in a jar was the centerpiece of the table. They both sat across from him and watched. Their stares made it difficult to eat, but he shoveled it in nonetheless.
“You’ve gotten taller since we first met,” Carys said.
