Capítulo 651: Ships that Pass
The logistics of properly outfitting the two ships were much more complicated than Devrim had initially thought. The supplies needed to be counted and anything ruined by the wave of salt water had to be discarded.
Hitching the ships to sea creatures was another issue that the group encountered. This was not something that had ever been done before, and there was no set procedure.
It did not help that the two creatures which rose from the deep were vastly different.
One was a much larger version of the eight-armed friend of Danya. Its body was too soft to rope, and so the creature used one of its tentacles to pull a tow line instead. Fortunately, the smaller ship had a shorter journey. So the colossal squid could easily alternate which arm would do the pulling as they went.
The other monster was more difficult to use. The giant whale—the humans had no other word for what they were seeing—was very round and slick. There was no clear connection point.
With the whale's permission, the sailors fashioned a harness similar to a horse's bridle to loop through the creature's mouth. Fortunately, the whale did not have teeth, so the cords were in no danger of being cut.
But the third problem was by far the most challenging. They needed to decide who would stay and who would go back to Whitewater.
The balance of having enough soldiers, sailors, and supplies was vital.
Dervim would have liked to take both ships, but it was not feasible. Even if they had had enough supplies, there were injured people who needed better medicine than what they could get at sea.
With the others' input, the Emperor and Empress divided the people into two groups. Most people accepted the decisions with stoic expressions.
Some were relieved to head back or continue. Others wished that they had not been chosen for their particular task. And still others were worried, but not for themselves.
Sav fell in the final group. Her eyes misted as she looked at the doctor with a longing expression. "I don't want to leave the Empress. She still has so much recovering to do."
"I will watch over her, don't worry," Rafa stood beside her as they waited.
A ramp stretched between the two ships. Sailors and soldiers were feverishly moving items back and forth as part of the final preparations. Soon, everything would be ready.
The changes had been happening all night. But now, as the sun rose over the water, the time of waiting was coming to an end.
"You think if I spoke with His Majesty, he might reconsider sending me away?" Sav watched the doctor shake his head with a sad smile.
"You don't trust me to take care of Empress Aurora?" he chided her.
"No, it isn't that. I just..." Sav paused, trying to find anything she could say that would make sense of the feelings she was having inside.
"You are needed to take care of the wounded until they get back to Whitewater. I will feel much better knowing you are safe on shore and not out here in the frigid waters." Rafa watched Sav's expression change slightly.
"Why should you care where I am? I'm just an incompetent healer."
The words made Rafa's heart ache. "If I ever made you feel like this was true, then I am the most foolish man alive. I have seen time and again your care and concern for others. I was almost jealous enough to hurt myself just so I could receive your tender mercies myself."
"You would hurt yourself just to be near me?" Sav's bit her lip, suddenly concerned. Her eyes trailed to the cut still healing on his head from their run-in with the pirates.
"It sounds crazy when you say it like that. I would never actually hurt myself on purpose. However, I would be lying if I said I didn't enjoy your care when the occasion arose." Rafa touched the bandage affixed to his forehead. To him, it was a badge of honor.
"I am going to miss all of this," Sav sighed. "I was beginning to enjoy the adventure, frightening as it has been at times. This is not how I wanted it to end."
"I'll come back and tell you the rest of the story soon enough," the doctor tipped his finger playfully under her chin.
"Do you mean that?" Sav's face turned fully toward him, sending a chill down the man's spine. "Will you find me when you return?"
"I will if you will let me. In fact, if you want a job when you leave the army, I could use another attendant at the clinic. Things have gotten very busy lately. I don't suppose you would want to move to Secluse, would you?" Rafa was confused when he saw Sav's countenance fall.
"You want me to move to Secluse...to work with you?" she asked quietly.
"Of course!" the doctor paused as a tear streaked down the woman's face. "Why are you crying? That is a compliment!"
"She doesn't want to work with you, you dimwit. She is in love with you!"
Startled, Rafa and Sav looked above them to see Brinn sitting on one of the masts over their heads. She had a snack in her hand which she was leisurely eating.
The elf shrugged. "I was enjoying the show, but you are going to ruin it by being dense, Doctor. I thought you were supposed to be smarter than this."
Rafa started to argue with Brinn when he realized what she had said. Looking back at Sav, the doctor saw the crimson hue of her cheeks. It was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen.
"It's true, isn't it?" he asked earnestly. "You love me?"
"I'm sorry. I know I shouldn't. You are destined for great things. I only want the best for you." Sav turned to leave only for Rafa to catch her arm.
He spun her around and placed his hands on each of her shoulders. "You."
"Me?" Sav averted her gaze. He was suddenly so close to her. Closer than he had ever been outside of working together.
"If you want me to have the best, that is you. No question in my mind." Rafa released the woman and took up her hands in his.
"Is that what you want?" Sav felt herself going a thousand ways all at once.
"No question in my mind," Rafa repeated his words. "By that, I mean yes. It is probably too early to admit, but I think I love you."
"Me too. The princess was right." Sav tried to meet the man's gaze despite her embarrassment. "I love you too."
"You know what else I'm right about? I am right that if you don't kiss her, you'll regret it for the rest of your life." Brinn said with crumbs flying from her mouth.
Rafa stared deep into the woman's eyes. When she did not object, he pressed his lips against Sav's.
The healer gasped. For a moment the doctor thought he had made a mistake. He began to pull away.
Sav lifted her arms and wrapped them firmly around Rafa's neck, deepening the kiss. The young man was both frightened and thrilled by the panic in his stomach. He pulled the woman close once more, reveling in the moment. Finally, they were forced apart by the rocking of the ship.
"Wait for me?" Rafa asked breathlessly.
"I will," Sav promised. "I'll be in Valiant unless my regiment gets stationed elsewhere.
"I'll find you," the doctor promised. He kissed her once more, before letting her go.
With the ramp now clear, the healer reluctantly crossed to the other ship. She gave Rafa one last longing look before disappearing among the crew.
"There's the happy ending I was looking for! Bravo!" Brinn climbed down from the mast and slapped the doctor on the back. "Have you ever considered stage acting?"
Rafa could not give his biting retort. A horn blew and the ramp between the two ships was removed.
The two beasts—the colossal squid and gigantic whale—began pulling the boats in two different directions. Slowly but surely, the two boats leaned and then sprung up to coast along the water.
"Whoa!" The doctor held on the railing to keep from falling. Picking up speed, the ships parted ways with waves and shouts from both crews. Each wished the other well.
With luck, everyone would be alright.
Rafa watched as the other boat became smaller and smaller. The woman he loved was on that craft, but at least she was heading to safety.
The same could not be said for him. He would just have to do his best to make it back to her.
"I suppose this would be a bad time to make a joke about two ships passing in the night?" Brinn patted the man on the shoulder.
"A very bad time," Rafa did not look her way.
"Very well. I cannot say I understand love," Brinn looked at the ship almost to the horizon. "But I can spot it. And boy do you have spots!"
Rafa looked at the elf and then turned aside with a sigh. "Thanks… I think…"
He willed the ship to move faster. The sooner he arrived, the sooner he could get home.
In response, the ship continued to pick up speed. There was no time to lose. The South was waiting.
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