Chapter 99 Separate Ways

Chapter 99 Separate Ways
Zorrik quickly sat up next to Ra'Jeem. His heart thumped wildly, and his first instinct was to protest. But then his Mate turned to him, and the look on his face was determined, yet peaceful.

"Are you sure?" he quietly asked.

Ra'Jeem smiled fondly and nodded. "It's something I have to do."

Zorrik nodded toward the jungle and tree houses beyond. "I can understand that," he admitted. "I just wish it was something we could do together."

"Me too," Ra'Jeem said and put his arm around his Master's shoulders. "But there isn't time."

The two of them sat there, in each other's arms, until the sun finished coming up. Then they quickly gathered everything they'd need for their journeys. All the while, Zorrik felt a lump in his stomach that refused to relax. When they came down from the tree house, the rest of the villagers and the Assassins were hard at work.

The two of them found Zyla with the boat captains, going over the sailing plans one last time. When they told her the news, her eyes widened.

"I know it must be difficult, the idea of being away from each other at a time like this," she said and took their hands in hers. Then she smiled at Ra'Jeem with a look of pride.

"Helping your people is a noble cause, though. We will see you again at the Royal Palace."

She hugged him, and then the two Assassins helped finalize the preparations. When they caught up with Perrin, they found, to their surprise, that he'd made a similar, though opposite, decision from Ra'Jeem.

"You want to sail with me?" Zorrik repeated in disbelief. He was starting to wonder if he could handle any more surprises that day.

Perrin nodded enthusiastically. "I've thought about it a lot, and I don't know when I'd get the chance to sail again. Plus, I'll be able to learn more about being an Assassin during the journey."

"You're going to learn about being an Assassin soon enough," Ra'Jeem quipped.

The young man gave him a sarcastic look and then turned back to Zorrik.

"I'm sure," he insisted. "I really want to go with you."

"Alright, kid," the Master Assassin said, and gave him a playful hug, while Ra'Jeem ruffled his hair.

He pushed them both away but laughed anyway.

A few hours later, there was nothing left to prepare, and no more ways for Zorrik and Ra'Jeem to put off going their separate ways. They stood on the beach, at the edge of the jungle road. A few of the Assassins were going back with Ra'Jeem, along with a few of the Zytherians, and they waited for him further up the trail.

"We'll set out for Alambra as soon as we get back to the North," Ra'Jeem said, trying not to have to say goodbye.

Zorrik nodded. "With any luck, we'll pull into the Imperial City at the same time."

"We will," his Mate replied, sounding older and wiser.

"We should have taken the time to make you a Master," Zorrik said, his voice thick, and he put a hand on his Disciple's chest.

Ra'Jeem returned the gesture and shook his head. "Then we wouldn't get to spend so much time together."

Zorrick chuckled, but couldn't hold back the tears in his eyes. He felt Ra'Jeem's arms slip around him, and he melted into the taller man's hug.

"We'll see each other soon," his Disciple whispered.

Zorrik nodded into Ra'Jeem's chest, pulled back, and then wiped the tears from his eyes.

"Go. Free your people," he said, his voice thick with emotion, but determined.

Ra'Jeem nodded back, gave him a smile and a wave, and then disappeared into the jungle.

Zorrik stared at the spot where he'd stood. It might have been minutes, or it might have been hours. Eventually, he heard someone run up behind him, and he turned.

"Zulee wants to come with us too," Perrin said, breathless from the run, and nodded toward the steel-haired Zytherian.

The Master Assassin snorted when the young man gave him a shy wave. Zorrik had quickly become somewhat of a celebrity since his Seadragon ride.

"Well, if his sailing is as good as his magic, I'll be happy to have him," he answered.

Perrin and Zulee grinned, then gave each other a look that Zorrik recognized. It made a lump form in his throat, but he swallowed it and got back to work. The boats were brought out of the cove and loaded with crew and provisions. It would be a longer journey than the one from the Imperial City to Alambra and a lot less comfortable.

"Where do we sleep?" Perrin immediately asked as he stumbled onto the dragon boat.

A couple of the Zytherians laughed and patted him on the back.

"There are a few hammocks down below," Zorrik answered. "We'll sleep in shifts."

Perrin watched as Zulee carried a crate of fruit down below. Then he noticed the long benches on each side of the deck.

"We're not rowing all the way, are we?" he asked.

"I certainly hope not," Zorrik answered. "She has sails," he added, pointing up. "But if anything happens to them, we'll row if we have to."

When the boats were ready to leave, the Master Assassin noticed Zyla standing on the shore, supervising. His boat was close to the beach, so he jumped off the deck into the knee-deep water.

"You'll get your feet wet like that," Zyla teased.

He grinned and sloshed over to her. "You're not coming?" he asked.

Zyla scoffed and waved the idea away. "I think I'm getting a little too old for this kind of adventure."

"I don't know," Zorrik disagreed. "You'd make a formidable figure, looking out on the Imperial City. And you're a great speaker."

She cocked her head, realizing he was only half-joking. "I think you underestimate yourself," she said with a coy smile. "You are the leader we need for this. They need to see that you are one of us, but you are also one of them."

Zorrik nodded, and then Zyla took his hands in hers and pressed her forehead to his.

"Be safe," she said.