Page 62 of A Conduit of Light
Shehad browsed the books on the shelves in his chambers but kept forgetting to ask if they came fromViridisor elsewhere.
Sheforgot just about everything in those rooms.
Therewere a few reference books on various stones found on the isle and a few about mudfishing and healing potions.
Onebook, found buried deep behind three others, was a romantic novel which she had teased him endlessly about before insisting they read it together each night, some of their more passionate moments taken in reference.
Shesighed, looking out into the courtyard, the trees waving in response and she closed her eyes, turning her head upward, soaking in the balmy summer sun.Awarm embrace enveloped her and she began to hum.
Itwas the song she had always loved as a child, the one her music box played for her when she soaked her aching body inRevich’senormous tub.
Inthe song, the moon and the sun confessed their love for each other, each resigning to the fact that they would only ever see each other at dawn and dusk.
Itwas beautiful, though heartbreaking that two such beacons of light would never meet for more than a few moments before attending to their duty to the world.
“ButIhave not the strength.”
Rev.
Keepingher eyes closed, she grinned, hearing him voice the lyrics to the song she hummed, and her heart hammered in the same way she had by now accepted it always would in his presence.Hislips brushed across her temple, and he settled himself behind her, pulling her back onto his warm chest, his arms wrapping around her waist.
“NordoI, my love,” she added.
Shecould hear the grin in his voice as he pressed his face into her hair and whispered, “So,Iwill see you at dawn.”
“So,Iwill see you at dusk.”
“Saidthe sun to the moon.”
“Saidthe moon to the sun.”
Hefound her hand and entwined his fingers in hers. “Yoursummer glow enchants me, mySun.”
“Wait.IthoughtIwas the moon?”
“Youare.”
“Andyou’re the sun?”
“No, you’re the sun, too.”
Karuslaughed, turning to see his face, his smile mischievous and somewhat reckless.
“Thenwhat are you?”
“Iam the sky that holds you.”Revichturned her body, pulling her legs over his so that she straddled him, the book she had been reading forgotten and fallen to the floor.
“Thesky?Butthe sun and the moon see the sky all the time.”
“Ah, so you’ve caught onto my schemes.IfIam the sky,Iget to hold you up forever, never leaving you at dawn and dusk and all that nonsense.”Hepulled his hands through the hair she had left down that morning in their rush to make it to breakfast. “Yourlight is too bright for me to ever compete anyway.So,I’llhappily hold you instead.”
Shechuckled, shaking her head.Thelight breeze flowed through the open hall, playing with his black waves, and she pulled them away from his face, tucking the dark strands behind his ears. “Andwhat about the new moon?WhenIcannot glow for you, forIam tired and weary.Whatthen, mySky?”
“ThenI’llwait for you and love you still.”
Sheleaned into him, wrapping her arms around his neck, her red lips above his.
“Promise?”
