Chapter 25 Lost and Burnt Out

Chapter 25 Lost and Burnt Out
We traveled for half a day till we reached the ocean. It seemed endless this ocean for the water seemed to meet the sky at the horizon. Although, the color of the ocean was a deep sapphire blue and the sky was a contrast color  of the ocean, for it was light blue color. Alaric advised we should rest for a bit and literally dragged me to a rock where I forced to sit. The shore was rocky, with jagged edge boulders wanting to reach the ocean, but was forced to stay put with gravity. 

Alaric gave me my pouch and demanded that I drink water. At this moment, Alaric seems to have much authority in what I must do. “Yes master. Shall I wipe my mouth after I’m done drinking water Lord Alaric?”.

“You are sunburned which could also indicate that your body temperature is high and dangerous for you. You could have a heat stroke. You should be thanking me for I might’ve just saved your life”.

“Didn’t have to be so bossy though”, I mumbled to myself. 

“What was that?”. Oops, didn’t think he heard me. 

“Nothing captain. Where to next?”, Alaric was looking at the map and was mumbling to himself. He seems to be preoccupied at the moment so I decided to venture across this rocky shore. 

I never been to the ocean for my kingdom was surrounded by mountains in the north and our villages down south until our borders end. I never did journey beyond our borders, for nothing ever happened beyond the border. 

Sitting here on this rock while mentally painting this view was mesmerizing yet it made me feel homesick. I miss father and Debbie with her muffins. Talking to my sister was out of the question for she’s chained up as a prisoner by the Mujari Empire. 

“You’ll see your sister soon. Don’t worry”, I heard Alaric say as he sat down next to me. 

“I know but I’m also worried that I won’t get there in time before they can hurt her anymore. I should’ve called her more or even tried to contact my father”, saying it out loud made it seem real than keeping it to myself. 

“You can’t blame yourself you know. You had no idea that your mother would do that to your sister. Besides your father would’ve said something if he knew what your mother was planning to do”. I shook my head but that also made me wonder if father is also in trouble. All the more reason to get my sister back home as soon as possible that way we can get answers from my mother. 

Deciding that changing the subject would lift my mood up, I asked, “Where are we going next?”. Hopefully Alaric found out exactly where we were so we can at least replenish our water and food.  

We got up and got back on the sled to ride through the dry desert. Night began to rise over the horizon which meant I can finally soar through the sky. Alaric was a little hesitant about me going, but this was the only way we can see anything at all. 

I didn’t bring any dresses with me, because I never thought I was going to fly in the desert especially with Alaric around. I didn’t trust him with my life, but after Levan, I was insecure to his reaction. I did have to cut my shirt in the back to make room for my wings so they wouldn’t be cooped up. 

I was nervous but also excited for this time I had the liberty of soaring through the sky with no regards for anything, in hopes of finding an empire in the middle a dusty desert. 

Alaric had this worried look on his face as I was getting ready to leave. “I just don’t like the idea of you being alone out there without someone to look out for you. Like if what you get captured midair or what if they struck you with those arrows again. Or what-“ I had to put my hand over his mouth to make him stop talking, for he was making me nervous. 

“Alaric, listen I know you want to protect me, because the Queen trusted you to protect me but I can take care of myself just as well. Besides I have the cover of darkness so no one will be able to see me”. Alaric still didn’t seem like the fact that I was going alone, so I did the only thing that could make us both happy. I took his body with me. Because I took him by surprise, his body tense and his face was frozen in a shock state. Shooting up at an immense speed, even with his body weight, the shock state seemed to be an appropriate response to this surprise flight. In my defense though, this seemed to be the only way to shut him up. 

Once Alaric seemed to have calmed down, he stopped holding me so tightly and I could breathe more easily. I held onto him by his waist where I could feel his muscles. I had to calm down, for we were high up in the sky, probably higher than most mountains. I have accustomed myself to breathing at this altitude but I wasn’t so sure about Alaric. He seems to be doing ok, for the most part I hope. 

It has been three days and three nights of aimless skidding through the desert and flying through the sky, and we still had no fortune of finding this empire. Alaric was annoyed maybe more so with himself that he couldn’t find this place. 

We decided to stop for a while and rest for the night, thankfully. I wanted to sleep for more than half the night without being bothered to fly aimlessly without success to find this empire. 

We were both falling asleep when the ground seemed to be moving, or maybe shifting underneath me. Then I felt it sinking, slowly at first. I tried to shake Alaric awake but he grumbled to leave him alone. 

“Alaric, wake up! I think we are sinking!?”

Alaric immediately sat straight up and exasperated, “What?”

Too late. For we fell.