“She doesn’t want you to go,” the ranger said.
Inara smiled. “It’s strange, isn’t it, interpreting the emotions of another being?”
“It will take some getting used to,” Asher admitted.
“It will be easier when you can communicate directly,” the Guardian assured. “How do you feel?” she asked, glancing at the cuts on his knuckles.
The ranger clenched one of his fists. “Better than I should,” he replied lightly. “A chase like that should have left me with sore knees and an angry back.”
“Avandriell will make you stronger and faster, but,” she added with a light-hearted laugh, “she will do nothing for your humility. Dragons are proud.”
“I can live with that,” Asher replied, his tone refreshingly contented.
“Have you disposed of the body?” Inara questioned.
“I’ve had the soldiers place it in the dungeons for now.”
Inara took a second to cast her eyes over Vighon, who was still talking to her parents and Gideon. “Is it still customary to retrieve the bodies of any fallen Arakesh?”
“It was in my day,” the ranger answered. “Lady Gracen and now Veda Malmagol are doing things their own way.”
“And here I was,” Kassian Kantaris announced from the road, “fearing that you had given up on killing assassins!” The Keeper patted Asher twice on the arm. “Good work! That’s one less killer on the streets.”
“Kassian,” Inara greeted with a nod.
“Inara,” he responded, bowing his head. “I would ask that you leave some Reavers for the rest of us.”
“You cannot ask a dragon to hold back their wrath,” she quipped.
“Indeed,” the mage said with an amused grin.
Inara followed his gaze to Avandriell and Athis who, absent any hint of wrath, were clearly playing some kind of game on the larger dragon’s head.
“I can’t believe you have a dragon,” Kassian said, directing his words to the ranger. “I want a dragon. Perhaps you should take me to Erador next time.”
“I’m not sure you could stomach the rejection,” Inara was quick to say, displaying her own grin of amusement.
“Safe journey,” Asher interjected, ending their banter. “Make sure you both rest before entering the battle.”
“We will,” Inara said seriously, before embracing the ranger. “You just keep Avandriell safe. We’ll see you in The Moonlit Plains.”
Parting from Asher, Inara looked to the Keeper but he was already walking away. He disturbed the conversation between her parents and Gideon, giving Vighon a chance to step back and slip away. He offered a reassurance of some kind to Kassian in passing. Then he made directly for Inara, who led him around Athis for cover.
The king immediately pulled her in for a passionate kiss which, for a brief moment, Inara enjoyed. “Careful,” she cautioned, pushing him back a few inches.
“I have waited too long to kiss you again,” he expressed eagerly.
“You kissed me this very day,” she instructed, struggling to hold back her smile.
“I have a lot of days to make up for,” Vighon said enthusiastically. “And I’m getting tired of the world ending - it always seems to come between us.”
“It certainly does,” she agreed with a kiss. “But we need to be careful. You’re the king of Illian, I’m the…” Inara wanted to say she was the Guardian of the Realm, but it was a title she had always felt was too burdening for just one person. It also sounded pretentious when said out loud.
“For years I was harassed to find a wife, a queen for Illian. There are none I would rule beside for there are none stronger or wiser than you, Inara Galfrey. Damn being careful.” The northman leaned in again and they embraced with all their love for the other.
Inara allowed herself a few more seconds to take pleasure in it. Besides the fact that they were being split up again, there to face peril and possible death, she simply enjoyed the very human emotions that came with kissing the man she had loved for so long. She wondered how many other human things she had missed without realising it.
“Inara?” came her mother’s voice.
They parted from their embrace but Reyna was already in view of them. Her mother made to speak, seeing them together as they were, but made not a sound. Instead, she corrected her expression of surprise and offered a quiet apology before wandering back towards the keep.
Both Vighon and Inara fell into each other, sharing a laugh that spoke of their amusement and awkwardness. “I’m going to have to deal with that,” she reasoned.
“I would keep you to myself a moment longer,” the king whispered.
Inara looked into his brown eyes, his concern evident. “We will see each other again,” she promised. “We haven’t come this far to be torn apart at the end.”
Vighon gently placed his head against hers. “Fight hard. Come back to me.”
“By the time you reach the battlefield,” Inara replied, “I will be standing victoriously wondering what took you so long.”
Vighon stared into her eyes for a long moment. “Let Gideon face Alijah.”
Inara arched her back to better see the king. “What are you talking about?”
“I have no doubt that you could best him,” Vighon explained, “but I do not want you to have to live with it.”
The Guardian placed a hand against his cheek. “I will do what I must. Even if that means killing Alijah.” Inara was momentarily surprised by her own tone; speaking so matter-of-factly. But she also knew it was the only way she could slay her brother.
Vighon could do naught but nod his understanding and kiss her again. “Then I will see you soon.”
Inara squeezed him in her arms before making to move away. A hand each remained clasped until the last possible second. Rounding Athis, Gideon was now talking to Asher while her mother clearly informed her father of what she had just seen. Inara took a breath and decided to get it over with.
“Have you said your farewells
