The negotiations in the suntide left Kael mentally exhausted. Even after leaving the majestic castle of the suntide, he could not rid himself of the echo of their words, half-truths cloaked in courtesy. He stood alone upon a high balcony, where strong winds lashed against his cloak. Below, the ocean roared endlessly, hurling itself against the sheer stone cliffs. Above, the Crimson Flame Spire, a great lighthouse, burned an eternal deep red fire whose light had guided countless ships for centuries.
His hands rested on the rail, eyes gazing at the horizon.
"You look like a man who lost the crown in the sea."
Kael turned. Sylvaine stood there holding two cups of wine, her lavender locks shone under the dying crimson rays.
Sylvaine shoved a cup into Kael's hands. "Drink."
Kael sighed, but accepted. "I expected you to be displeased about me for wandering off alone."
"On the contray." Sylvaine leaned lazily against the chair. "I hope you haven't forgotten about your debt."
"I haven't." Kael replied while gazing faraway.
"Then be ready early tomorrow morning."
▪️▪️▪️
The morning sun painted Moonveil Lagoon in gold. Sunlight poured over cliffs, plunging into the turquoise waters of the lagoon.
A small painted skiff waited at the pier. Sylvaine stood barefoot on the planks, holding her sun hat while her light white dress fluttered softly by the gentle breeze. She glanced at Kael, who stepped aboard with measured grace.
"I'll row." Kael reached for rows and firmly took them in his hand.
"Since when did the Crown Prince row boats for anyone?" Sylvaine teased him while sitting in front of him.
"Since I decided I wanted to." He said simply. The skiff lurched as he pushed it away from the pier. His first strokes were awkward, splashing water across the side.
Sylvaine gasped loudly with great fear visible on her face. "Oh heavens, we'll sink before we leave the shore! It will be like that time your makeshift raft sank in a heartbeat. Do you remember?" Even with her rant she made no effort to take oars away from Kael.
Kael smirked. "Just a hiccup, nothing serious."
Kael adjusted his rhythm, and soon the boat glided smoothly over the water. Sylvaine leaned back, letting her fingers trail in the lagoon. For a while, only the gentle splash of oars and the calls of distant seabirds filled the silence.
"Kael," she said softly, "are you happy with me?"
Kael didn't answer, instead he let one of the oars slip from his hand and then scooped up a handful of water and sprayed it at her.
"Now, I'm the happiest man alive."
Sylvaine chanted her magic mantra, summoning a waterball the size of a football, and hurled it at him. Kael laughed and used his oars to deflect and tried to spray more water on her, Sylvaine in turn reciprocated and laughter echoed in the lagoon. At this moment they truly forgot all the worries of the world. In here they were, two childhood friends, playing with each other.
▪️▪️▪️
The path beyond the lagoon wound upwards through thorny vines and shiny flowers. Steam curled faintly through air heralding the existence of a hot spring.
A pool of pure crystalline water from the depth of the earth nestled among the cliffs. Sylvaine stepped forward eagerly, slipping off her sandals. She dipped her toe in, then gave a contented sigh. "Perfect."
There was a huge stone almost bifurcating the pool. Kael walked to the other side and changed his clothes and then entered the pool.
Sylvaine, wrapped in a bathrobe, came to him and sat across from him. Droplets falling from her tucked up hair reflected the sunlight and shimmered on her lavender lashes.
"Isn't this improper?" Kael asked with a frown.
"What's improper? It's just two childhood friends enjoying a bath together. "
"But we're not children anymore." Kael protested, but Sylvaine stopped him in the middle. "It is only improper if we think improper things. Is the Prince thinking of improper things?" Sylvaine put her hands on her bathrobe. "Might the Prince be thinking how I look under this robe? I might let the Prince see. Shall I?"
Kael flushed slightly. "Please, I want no such things." He definitely was interested but had no appetite for finding out what would happen to him if he saw the daughter of the prime minister practically bare.
After a while, a temple bell, faint and distant, tolled signalling the dusk. Its solemn chime reached even here, breaking the fragile stillness.
Kael stood up, "I don't know if I could do what I should without your help."
"All you have to ask."
"Then become my right-hand woman." Kael requested.
"I'll happily become one."