Sky Full of Stars

Chapter 3: Across the Sea and Sky

    "Keep those air sails filled, Reloros! Xaniver, more flames for the fire sails!" I listened to Gulgram continue to shout orders. The only time I didn't hear his voice was at night, when his First Mate Irnoth, a gold dragonborn, took over so Gulgram could sleep. Those were the only times I found true peace, and could stare up at the sky. So far from the main cities, and even from the farm, it was a sky full of stars, many more than I'd ever seen at one time.

~

    "Y'know, lass, they say the titans and demon princes of old live among the stars. That hundreds of thousands of miles away, you'll find other planets harboring thousands of different species, races, animals, plants, all beyond your wildest imagination" Irnoth said to me on the third evening he spotted me on the deck long past midnight. He had walked over and draped a blanket over my shoulders, and I'd smiled gratefully.

    "Mother used to say the same thing... I don't suppose you ever met her?"

    "Rhalta? Oh aye, she traveled us for some time. Who d'ya think she learned that from. Sweet girl she was. Always talked about one day starting a family with old Tearlar. She'd been crushin' on 'im for years, and he was oblivious" he chuckled.

    For once, I wasn't feeling pain when I heard someone talk about Mother. I was curious to know more. "How did she finally draw his eye, Irnoth?"

    He laughed warmly. "Ah, Rhalta was a clever girl, got herself into and out of many scrapes with the crew. One time in particular, she picked a fight with Tearlar 'imself. Old sailor had never been beaten in hand to hand combat, but he had 'is ass handed to 'im that day. That's what first drew 'is eye. She wanted to solidify that attraction, not that it was needed. So, rather than tellin' the poor lad straight out, she finally accepted one of Gulgram's many pleas to have an evenin' with 'im. Gulgram was smitten, alrigh', but that wasn't his true love anyway, so he was more than willin' to help Rhalta out with her... Predicament. One kiss in front of Tearlar was all it took for him to make certain that woman would be his, and from then on Rhalta and Tearlar were inseparable. I guess they did get that family started after all, eh?"

    I smiled sadly and brushed away a stray tear before anyone could see it. "They had six children. Me, my younger brothers, Bruenl and Byldum, Iadara, Levah, and Elva. Mother wanted more, but..." I swallowed down my grief.

    Irnoth nodded calmly. "Aye, I know lass. You needn't relive that. Y'know, you probably hear this all the time, but you're just like yer mother, both in looks and actions"

    I looked up at him. "Really? How so?"

    "She loved the stars too, beyond just imagining. She believed that when we died, we became a star and could look down on our loved ones from our own special spot in the sky. In addition to the idea of the titans and demon princes claiming them as homes. That's why there are so many stars"

    "A sky full" I murmured softly.

    "A sky full" He responded.

~

    I smiled at the memory as I listened to Gulgram shout orders.

    "Aye, put your backs into it, lads! We're nearly there!"

    Two months in the sky, with only a short stop in Uplein's capital of Sleekhallow to resupply, I was finally ready to be off this stupid airship. Still, it took us a whole lot less time than going by sea. It would've nearly tripled our time, having to stop in various ports to resupply much more frequently, and we would've been moving much slower, not to mention being susceptible to attacks from sea creatures and pirates.

    In all that time, I charted the stars in my journal, coming out every evening to learn the constellations from Irnoth, hear stories about Mother and Father and about his own travels, and learn to navigate using only the stars. I hoped that time wasn't wasted, and that skill came in handy one day.

    Finally, after so much time in the air, we finally began our descent into Ravenwallow. Iadara joined me above deck and smiled bright. "Awesome! We're here! I can't wait to start studying!"

    I smiled at her enthusiasm. "Yes, we'll get you all settled in. I have a couple more days before I'm set to be at the Defiant Plate anyway. You're sure this is the college you want to attend? I can have Gulgram take you to any of the others, you know he'll do it"

    Iadara rolled her eyes. "I know, but this is the one I want to attend. It's one of the most prestigious, and... There's someone here I can't wait to see!"

    I shot her a knowing grin. "That's right, Elwyn started teaching at the wizard's academy, didn't he?"

    The blush that spread across her face was simply too adorable to tease her about. "You two've been writing back and forth for some time, right? Since he left a few years ago?"

    "Once every other month. It took so long for letters to get from Rushen to our farm. Even with aarakocra flight, they still had to fly over the ocean itself. But still, six letters a year is better than nothing. And sometimes he'd surprise me with extra letters if something really notable happened, or if he just wanted me to know he was thinking about me. I really think he's the one, Nimue!" The happiness in her voice made me happy, if not a bit jealous.

    Iadara and Elwyn had been together for the last six years. Mother loved him so much, she was sure they'd be married before Elwyn had to leave for Rushen, but the time was never right. He left just after Mother passed away, so for the last three years they've been communicating through letters only. He used to send multiple letters a month shortly after Mother's death, but as time went on the letters slowed as the cost of sending them increased with the increase in storms and the frequency of deaths in Thunia from the plague.

    I planted a soft kiss on top of Iadara's head. "I'm sure he is, Iadara. But remember, he needs both mine and Father's blessing before he can marry you" I warned her, grinning.

    "Oh, he already has Father's. He asked him before Mother... Anyway, he has Father's blessing, and had Mother's too. But I want you to see him in person again to give him your blessing before I accept anything." Her voice grew quieter at the mention of Mother, but then as she talked about Elwyn, she perked right up.

    I was so glad she had someone to help her through her grief.

    I wondered what that'd be like... Being able to turn to someone, hold her tight in my arms when I needed someone close... Someone to draw and sing to, to make dinner for and sleep beside every night...

    Iadara grinned at me. "I know that look. You're in love too!"

    I raised a brow at her. "Excuse me?"

    "That look in your eye, it's the same look I get when I talk about Elwyn, I know it! So? Who's the lucky one?" She elbowed me playfully.

    I rolled my eyes at her. "Oh, shut up. You know I haven't had the time to even think about romance. I've been making sure we get to keep our damned farm. I was only thinking about... What it'd be like to find someone to love. But it'll never happen, I'm much too busy"

    "Oh, don't say that, big sister. You're going to travel the world! I'm sure you'll find someone out there in the big, wide world who'll love you like Elwyn loves me"

    I chuckled and hugged her gently. "I'll leave the dreaming to you, little sister. I have to get enough money sent home for Father to pay off our debts, and that'll take at least a few years. By then, I'll be much too old to find someone to love"

    Iadara rolled her eyes. "You'll see. Soon enough, you'll see I'm right. Everyone needs someone to love, and you're no exception"

    I snorted. "Alright, Iadara. Let's get you settled, then I need to find the tavern"