Page 15 of Lost Starlight
Peter
Ten Months Before Present Day
They held their swords at the ready.
Lord Grey placed one hand up to signal to the others to hold.
They held as the sounds of battle, the clanking of metal swords and groans of men, surrounded them. The smoke from the billowing fires on the ships darkened the water, and the beautiful flare-ups and the fires’ flames mocked the seriousness of the situation, making something beautiful out of devastation.
“Hold, men!” he called again—
“I cannot!” I said as I rose from the sette and began pacing back and forth.
“Are you well?” Lady Darling asked, setting the book down to walk over to me. We had known each other for two years, she could sense my mood, at times.
“Sorry–the suspense of this battle–” I started; then pausing my pacing, I looked up at her. My, she was so pretty. I cleared my throat. “I apologize. You read so well—pull me so deep into these stories—”
“That is the purpose.”
“Yes, and never was there such a storyteller as you.”
“Areader—”
“I am sure you have tales of your own. I would love to hear them, too.” I cringed inside. It was not my place.Why am I asking such things of her?
“My life is not one of adventure,” she shared.
“My life seems one of endless torment, pining for all the things I want and cannot have,” I said, tangling my hand in my hair.
“What do you mean?” she asked, but then she answered her own question. “Ah, of course, you speak of your curse.”
“And my siblings’ curses, Layla and Dominick,” I said, walking closer to her. I wondered for a while how soft her hair would feel, but of course, it was only because–well, I had no reason, but it was not because Ilikedher in any other way than as a friend. She smelled of strawberries as I moved in closer. I loved strawberries.
Why am I moving closer to her? I should not be doing this. Where is Martha when I need her?
I looked to the corner, and Martha was looking up from her needlework, staring right at me. She winked as our eyes connected. She was incorrigible. I looked from Martha to Lady Darling, examining the beauty of her face. Yes, she was pretty, but there was far more that made her more appealing than any other maiden I had ever met.
Her eyes for one, her beautiful–no, stop.
“I am so sorry—” she began, stumbling over her words. I looked away, not wanting to make her uncomfortable.
“–Dominick abandoning us. Layla lost to us.”
“I am sure the weight feels so very heavy,” she whispered.
I could not look at her. I should have moved away, but I could not. I wanted to confide in her, although I knew I should not. I could not get close to any lady or maiden without breaking my curse. I would not inflict that pain on anyone. I saw how abandonment had hurt my mother.
“And all this talk of pirates? I heard last week that Dominick was seen with pirates. I have no way of knowing if he is alive unless someone reports back to us, letting us know that they saw him at some royal event. Why does he ignore us? Everyone acts like it’s fine. No one knows how my mother longs for him to come home, or how I do also.” I pulled my fingers through my hair.
She walked even closer to me, placing a hand on my shoulder. Her touch–it was like lightning to my soul. I could no longer resist looking up at her.
My friend,I silently affirmed.
“It is okay. I am here to listen if you need me.”
“I shall always need you, Lady Gwendolyn Darling. More than you know. Someday, I will tell you just how much,” I said with a smile.
What was that?I scolded myself.Why did I say that?
