((Author's Note: Slash has always been my favorite of Magus's minions for
some reason. I know that most of you reading are expecting me to portray
Slash as being the strong and silent type. By all rights he is but I don't
know, I think that Slash holds alot more inner wisdom then Ozzie and Flea
combined. Out of the trio, he no doubt is the most level headed of them.
*laughs*))
Chapter Nine
"I look to you, how you carry on,
When all hope is gone, can't you see.
Your optimistic eyes seemed like paradise,
To someone like me."
- Black Celebration by Depeche Mode
There was no moon that night as the -The Schala- sailed smoothly across the waters of the Medina Sea and that night Magus was out on deck with his arms leaning against the railing, looking onto the dark foamy water. In a strange way it mirrored his heart and he took comfort in the simple pleasure of staring out into the murky unknown.. His cloak billowed around his form in response to the cold winter chill of the storm clouds that were brewing on the horizon. Before they hit the Medina Continent, there would be a bit of rough weather hence why he was on deck. It would be easy to take the helm as soon as the waters became choppy. Most importantly it gave him a chance to think over the events of the evening meal, such perplexing events as he had never expirienced before.
Raking his fingers through his chameleon hair, he was uncertain of where his thoughts should begin. To be sure, he could start with the -kinship- that he felt with Corrine, a strange connection that couldn't be placed for perhaps that was the most bizarre. Observing Corrine over his bowl of turtle soup, he noticed how easily she put everyone in good humor. Ozzie turned into a purring kitten right in front of his eyes, eager to do Corrine's merest bidding. Slash hovered over Corrine much like a mother hen guarded its young, served her the choicest selections from the sideboard and even smiled whenever she choose to speak to him, which was quite often. And Toma, the jealous lover.. it wasn't just him that Toma was edgy toward, it was Slash and Ozzie as well; Every smile that Corrine bestowed upon anyone other then Toma, he was almost certain to get that gleam in his eyes.
Magus couldn't steal more then a few sentances to Corrine, the rest of the company were so eager to monopolize her attentions, so he contented himself with watching Corrine. A moth to an illuminating source of light, that was the likes of what he felt. He didn't need to speak to her to bask in the warmth that radiated from her.
A light that was going to be snuffed out shortly, and he would be the cause of it. When he had thought of a virgin to sacrifice on his own personal alter of revenge, he hadn't quite pictured a woman such as Corrine. She was deserving of life and would only be repaid in the rotten fruits of death. Death was always what it came back to in the end, at least where he was concerned.
Footsteps came up behind him and he paused in his thoughts, listening closely before his features relaxed and he resumed his position. "Yes, Slash?" Magus inquired, his minion rarely interrupting him in his thoughts except when it was important.
The dark cloaked figure stepped up beside Magus and leaned against the railing as well, the cowl that he wore to protect himself from the elements shielded his face so that Magus couldn't see the expression. A low sigh issued from the folds and the breath that escaped it turned opaque against the cold air.
"Why her?" Was the only words that came out, a voice laced with a subtle trace of sorrow, the hands folded against the railing where blue and clasped together tightly.
For once, Magus couldn't readily answer a question that was posed to him and for that reason he stayed silent a space of time. ~*Indeed, why her? Why not someone else?*~ But his rational mind interrupted the newly revealed emotional side of his persona. "She is not to live any longer then a few months, It was her choice and Toma informed me that this was what she wanted. We do not have much time, Lavos grows restless underneath the earth, I can feel Him and his energy."
"Our cause is not worth it, The Mystics do not need to be rulers of the world. I would rather see one decent human girl live then all the scum of the human race die." Slash murmured sorrowfully as he peered sideways toward his master.
If he only knew.
However Magus couldn't tell Slash that his agenda differed from the Mystics of Medina, his true reasons for summoning Lavos was to destroy him, a personal vendetta that would consume him until he avenged his sister, Schala's death. If death came, then so be it. He had promised himself that he would laugh it in it's face. Corrine's death, he knew, wouldn't be a laughing matter at all and from the looks of it, would crush both Toma -and- Slash.
"It is not my decision, it is hers. She was the one who placed her life willingly in my hands. If you wish to entreat her to reconsider, then let it be so but Toma has tried and to no avail.. and he is the closest of us to her." Magus said as he watched the storm clouds gathering into a black void that filled the sky, rolling slowly over them.
"I cannot like it..." Slash ventured reluctantly as he moved away from the railing as the waves started to crash against the sides of the ship, dampening the wood of the deck. "..But you are my Lord and Master and I must follow your orders in everything and I must trust you. Ozzie covets your position, Flea lusts after you, but I can only follow, being no better then a servant." There was feeling in Slash's voice and deep down inside Magus was moved by it. "I will serve and protect you, but also will I bestow the same treatment on Lady Graie To both you and her I give my fealty."
Stunned, that was what Magus was. Such a profession he would have never suspected from his silent minion, but within the course of half a day, a change had been wrought on this ship and he didn't know how he would ever steer things back to how they used to be. Magus merely nodded his head in acknowledgement and stepped away from the railing toward the helm. "We are heading for rough weather, you might want to take shelter below." There was a tad bit of gruffness to Magus's voice, not being used to such willing and kind respect.
"Yes Master Magus." Slash murmured and executed a half bow and then brought himself up to his full height of six foot six inches. "I will notify everyone below deck of the impending weather if you wish."
"So be it." He trained his eyes on the sea in front of him, water being a natural realm for him, it was easy to hear its calling lure, and therefore systematically avoid it. Slash then took his leave with as much silence as he entered and only then Magus was allowed to relax his guard considerably. While it was pleasant to have that heart to heart with Slash, it still left a bit of bittersweet wistfulness in its wake as Slash's questions was the catalyst to his awareness that Corrine would die, and by his hands.
Previously the concept of murder had meant little to him. All lives were expendable had been his creed, and so he had killed descriminitly. No it had not been exactly murder, but this.. this surely would be and he regretted it even before he had time to prepare for the intricate ritual much less carry it out.
Glancing over his shoulder he saw a cloaked figure emerge from the door leading to the guest cabins. He cocked a brow slightly as the figure went to the other side of the boat and paused to look out on the water. Then he saw a slim arm leave the confines of the cloak and steady the figure against the railing. ~*Corrine? What is she doing out in this weather? She might catch her death of cold.*~ Magus thought with the faintest trace of displeasure racing through him at the little thought of concern that instinctively took over his mind. He pushed away from the railing and made his way over to the lone figure's side without even knowing that he did it. Tapping her on the shoulder, he cleared his voice faintly.
"Miss Graie? Should you not be in your quarters where it is safe and dry?" Magus made his voice stern and authoritative. It was an attempt to mask the fact that he gave a damn about this village maiden. In a reflexive gesture he put his hand on the wooden railing next to her. It would make it easier to catch her in the off-chance that she swooned or was tossed off the boat by the tumultuous waves sending the craft flying.
"I couldn't sleep." Corrine said, not turning around to acknowledge Magus even though she desperately wanted to see his face, wanted to speak to him without Toma becoming consistantly jealous of every word that she directed to him.
"Ah, insomniac too?" Magus said as he came to grips that there was no harm in the girl taking the air for a short time. Sea air was supposed to be good for those that were sick or ill, its restorative powers known to one and all. But likewise he knew that Corrine's mother likely did not have the means to take her to the sea.. Rarely many mainland dwellers did unless they lived in the Township of Truce where the ruler was of a generous nature and provided completely for his people.
"Yes. Most of the time I was likely to pretend I was asleep for my mother's peace of mind. That way she could get her rest and she wouldn't resent me all the more for keeping her from it." Magus detected a wistful note to Corrine's voice and he cleared his voice with trepidition. After all he didn't want to sound too curious but in his mind where formed at least five questions for every sentance that fell from Corrine's lips
"I assume that relations between you and your mother were less then congenial, at least from how you speak."
"My mother and I are very different, almost opposite in temperment. I have tried to compromise with her and when that didn't work I aimed for quiet acceptance, but she was happy with neither. Needless to say it did not tear me up over much not to be able to say goodbye to her." Corrine though -did- feel guilty for it, for the complete lack of remorse.
"Mother problems are something that I can fully sympathize with." Magus responded to Corrine as he leaned against the railing however he was not relaxed. Every muscle was tensed in anticipation of lurches in the boat that did not seem to come. Perhaps what he was really worried about was those strange lurches that he got in the pit of his stomach at each word that Corrine spoke.
"I was not even aware that you had a mother." Corrine said with a faint raise of her brow as she burrowed herself further into her cloak. When Toma had told her stories of Magus, she had built him up only to idealize him. It was somewhat hard to swallow to imagine that he had a past beside the stories that she drank up so eagerly. "But then even legends among men have their roots somewhere."
"Really, I hardly consider myself a man." There was a bitter tinge to his voice, not meeting Corrine's eyes for fear of what he might read there. Accusations? Perhaps even chastisement. From Corrine's eyes it would be damning and he damn well knew that. He looked down at the swirling black waters of the surroundings seas.
"You are not a monster, you are not a man... Where does that put you then? Who do you -see- yourself as?" Corrine inquired. Right now the man that appeared before her looked so helplessly vulnerable. Yes, he tried hard to disguise it, to cloak as surely as the clouds were now covering the moon. Her heart went out to him. When Magus did not readily answer, she continued. "I know the reason why you want to summoun this being.. Toma told me. It is to avenge your sister's death. You must of loved her dearly in order to go to such lengths." There was a subtle tinge of melancholy to her voice as she said those words
"Yes, she was very dear to me." Magus trailed off, he caught the undertone of wistfulness to her voice. It was those nuances that caused him finally to look at her profile. At that moment he was struck by how brave she looked and so still, like a graveyard angel underneath the moonlight with her silver hair peeking tendrils out of its confines. Such bravery in the face of death. For a moment he was reminded of Cyrus and the similar way that the man had faced death. He had known exactly what he was getting himself into when he accepted Magus's bargain. Likewise Corrine knew as well, and the stoicism which she displayed filled him with confusion. He had seen mighty generals weep before the death strike of his scythe, what made Corrine and Cyrus different?
"Tell me Corrine. Why are you so prepared to give your life to my cause?" What Magus -really- meant to ask was ~*Why are you so brave*~ but those words would not form, it was probably something that she wouldn't be able to answer and so he had phrased it into something less ambiguous.
"I have nothing to live for, Magus." Corrine said softly and bowed her head as a silent tear fell. Magus could not see the tear but it rang out like the veriest peal over his head, much like the black wind that howled around him constantly. However for once, the black wind didn't seem to exist. It was silenced by those soft words of wisdom dropping like pearls from her rosebud lips. He continued to listen as she had merely paused, he sensed it. "There is no way that I would stand the rigors of village life, my body likewise was not made to have children and no man would have me with the knowledge that I will eventually die. I am a liability to my mother and my sister. I figure that if I cannot do anything worthy in life, then surely I can find some purpose in death."
"But what makes you sure that my way is -right-?" Magus countered as he reached up almost instinctively and wiped that tear away from her cheek. He then noticed that a few tears had followed the first one and that her cheek was dampened by the result. Corrine looked up at him and at that moment he froze once again as her eyes held him in awe. There was something sacred there, a light that he thought only existed in the stories that Toma liked to weave of maidens and chivalry. It humbled him in a way that he could not even begin to describe.
"Anything done in the name of love is a cause that hasn't been in vain. You loved your sister, I can clearly see that with the way you are looking right now. You loved her so much that you are willing to summoun the creature that killed her in order to avenge her memory. However what you are going to do is like tossing a stone out into a lake. The stone touches one single part of the lake, but the ripples resulting pan out and enfold everything on the surface, the memory of the stone connecting carries on long after it has sunk to the bottom." Corrine said softly as she then stifled a yawn and rubbed at her eyes. She then smiled up at Magus softly. "I think that perhaps that is my cue to retire. I wish you sweet dreams, Magus."
No one had ever wished Magus a good night before much less sweet dreams and so he was just as perplexed at her ending to the conversation just as much as he was by her answers to the questions that poured readily from his lips. He wanted a selfish excuse to keep her here on the desk, indulging in his whims for conversation and discussions on ethics and philosophy. Perhaps it was only to soak in her wisdom, or maybe it was those amethyst eyes. However he could respect her wishes to seek her bed.
He took her hand a bit awkwardly and gave it a very soft squeeze and the traces of a smile played across his normally set in stone lips.
"And you have sweet dreams as well, Lady Graie.. If I do not see you at breakfast, I will no doubt see you when we dock at Raven Wing's Fortress."
"Please Magus, do not call me Lady Graie. I am merely Corrine." She returned the squeeze tenderly and then her hand slipped out of his, or did he merely let it go? They both were not sure as the moment passed by in a blur. She silently made her way to the door leading below decks and then she was gone. Thereby leaving Magus to his thoughts.
And he was no closer to understanding the enigma that was her, nor could he comprehend the quickening of his heart at the memory of that touch shared between them. The thoughts whirling through his mind occupied him until he had seen through the worst of the storm and was thereby allowed to seek his own sort of shelter.
Even then ensconced in his own room, the thoughts did not readily disappear.
*laughs*))
Chapter Nine
"I look to you, how you carry on,
When all hope is gone, can't you see.
Your optimistic eyes seemed like paradise,
To someone like me."
- Black Celebration by Depeche Mode
There was no moon that night as the -The Schala- sailed smoothly across the waters of the Medina Sea and that night Magus was out on deck with his arms leaning against the railing, looking onto the dark foamy water. In a strange way it mirrored his heart and he took comfort in the simple pleasure of staring out into the murky unknown.. His cloak billowed around his form in response to the cold winter chill of the storm clouds that were brewing on the horizon. Before they hit the Medina Continent, there would be a bit of rough weather hence why he was on deck. It would be easy to take the helm as soon as the waters became choppy. Most importantly it gave him a chance to think over the events of the evening meal, such perplexing events as he had never expirienced before.
Raking his fingers through his chameleon hair, he was uncertain of where his thoughts should begin. To be sure, he could start with the -kinship- that he felt with Corrine, a strange connection that couldn't be placed for perhaps that was the most bizarre. Observing Corrine over his bowl of turtle soup, he noticed how easily she put everyone in good humor. Ozzie turned into a purring kitten right in front of his eyes, eager to do Corrine's merest bidding. Slash hovered over Corrine much like a mother hen guarded its young, served her the choicest selections from the sideboard and even smiled whenever she choose to speak to him, which was quite often. And Toma, the jealous lover.. it wasn't just him that Toma was edgy toward, it was Slash and Ozzie as well; Every smile that Corrine bestowed upon anyone other then Toma, he was almost certain to get that gleam in his eyes.
Magus couldn't steal more then a few sentances to Corrine, the rest of the company were so eager to monopolize her attentions, so he contented himself with watching Corrine. A moth to an illuminating source of light, that was the likes of what he felt. He didn't need to speak to her to bask in the warmth that radiated from her.
A light that was going to be snuffed out shortly, and he would be the cause of it. When he had thought of a virgin to sacrifice on his own personal alter of revenge, he hadn't quite pictured a woman such as Corrine. She was deserving of life and would only be repaid in the rotten fruits of death. Death was always what it came back to in the end, at least where he was concerned.
Footsteps came up behind him and he paused in his thoughts, listening closely before his features relaxed and he resumed his position. "Yes, Slash?" Magus inquired, his minion rarely interrupting him in his thoughts except when it was important.
The dark cloaked figure stepped up beside Magus and leaned against the railing as well, the cowl that he wore to protect himself from the elements shielded his face so that Magus couldn't see the expression. A low sigh issued from the folds and the breath that escaped it turned opaque against the cold air.
"Why her?" Was the only words that came out, a voice laced with a subtle trace of sorrow, the hands folded against the railing where blue and clasped together tightly.
For once, Magus couldn't readily answer a question that was posed to him and for that reason he stayed silent a space of time. ~*Indeed, why her? Why not someone else?*~ But his rational mind interrupted the newly revealed emotional side of his persona. "She is not to live any longer then a few months, It was her choice and Toma informed me that this was what she wanted. We do not have much time, Lavos grows restless underneath the earth, I can feel Him and his energy."
"Our cause is not worth it, The Mystics do not need to be rulers of the world. I would rather see one decent human girl live then all the scum of the human race die." Slash murmured sorrowfully as he peered sideways toward his master.
If he only knew.
However Magus couldn't tell Slash that his agenda differed from the Mystics of Medina, his true reasons for summoning Lavos was to destroy him, a personal vendetta that would consume him until he avenged his sister, Schala's death. If death came, then so be it. He had promised himself that he would laugh it in it's face. Corrine's death, he knew, wouldn't be a laughing matter at all and from the looks of it, would crush both Toma -and- Slash.
"It is not my decision, it is hers. She was the one who placed her life willingly in my hands. If you wish to entreat her to reconsider, then let it be so but Toma has tried and to no avail.. and he is the closest of us to her." Magus said as he watched the storm clouds gathering into a black void that filled the sky, rolling slowly over them.
"I cannot like it..." Slash ventured reluctantly as he moved away from the railing as the waves started to crash against the sides of the ship, dampening the wood of the deck. "..But you are my Lord and Master and I must follow your orders in everything and I must trust you. Ozzie covets your position, Flea lusts after you, but I can only follow, being no better then a servant." There was feeling in Slash's voice and deep down inside Magus was moved by it. "I will serve and protect you, but also will I bestow the same treatment on Lady Graie To both you and her I give my fealty."
Stunned, that was what Magus was. Such a profession he would have never suspected from his silent minion, but within the course of half a day, a change had been wrought on this ship and he didn't know how he would ever steer things back to how they used to be. Magus merely nodded his head in acknowledgement and stepped away from the railing toward the helm. "We are heading for rough weather, you might want to take shelter below." There was a tad bit of gruffness to Magus's voice, not being used to such willing and kind respect.
"Yes Master Magus." Slash murmured and executed a half bow and then brought himself up to his full height of six foot six inches. "I will notify everyone below deck of the impending weather if you wish."
"So be it." He trained his eyes on the sea in front of him, water being a natural realm for him, it was easy to hear its calling lure, and therefore systematically avoid it. Slash then took his leave with as much silence as he entered and only then Magus was allowed to relax his guard considerably. While it was pleasant to have that heart to heart with Slash, it still left a bit of bittersweet wistfulness in its wake as Slash's questions was the catalyst to his awareness that Corrine would die, and by his hands.
Previously the concept of murder had meant little to him. All lives were expendable had been his creed, and so he had killed descriminitly. No it had not been exactly murder, but this.. this surely would be and he regretted it even before he had time to prepare for the intricate ritual much less carry it out.
Glancing over his shoulder he saw a cloaked figure emerge from the door leading to the guest cabins. He cocked a brow slightly as the figure went to the other side of the boat and paused to look out on the water. Then he saw a slim arm leave the confines of the cloak and steady the figure against the railing. ~*Corrine? What is she doing out in this weather? She might catch her death of cold.*~ Magus thought with the faintest trace of displeasure racing through him at the little thought of concern that instinctively took over his mind. He pushed away from the railing and made his way over to the lone figure's side without even knowing that he did it. Tapping her on the shoulder, he cleared his voice faintly.
"Miss Graie? Should you not be in your quarters where it is safe and dry?" Magus made his voice stern and authoritative. It was an attempt to mask the fact that he gave a damn about this village maiden. In a reflexive gesture he put his hand on the wooden railing next to her. It would make it easier to catch her in the off-chance that she swooned or was tossed off the boat by the tumultuous waves sending the craft flying.
"I couldn't sleep." Corrine said, not turning around to acknowledge Magus even though she desperately wanted to see his face, wanted to speak to him without Toma becoming consistantly jealous of every word that she directed to him.
"Ah, insomniac too?" Magus said as he came to grips that there was no harm in the girl taking the air for a short time. Sea air was supposed to be good for those that were sick or ill, its restorative powers known to one and all. But likewise he knew that Corrine's mother likely did not have the means to take her to the sea.. Rarely many mainland dwellers did unless they lived in the Township of Truce where the ruler was of a generous nature and provided completely for his people.
"Yes. Most of the time I was likely to pretend I was asleep for my mother's peace of mind. That way she could get her rest and she wouldn't resent me all the more for keeping her from it." Magus detected a wistful note to Corrine's voice and he cleared his voice with trepidition. After all he didn't want to sound too curious but in his mind where formed at least five questions for every sentance that fell from Corrine's lips
"I assume that relations between you and your mother were less then congenial, at least from how you speak."
"My mother and I are very different, almost opposite in temperment. I have tried to compromise with her and when that didn't work I aimed for quiet acceptance, but she was happy with neither. Needless to say it did not tear me up over much not to be able to say goodbye to her." Corrine though -did- feel guilty for it, for the complete lack of remorse.
"Mother problems are something that I can fully sympathize with." Magus responded to Corrine as he leaned against the railing however he was not relaxed. Every muscle was tensed in anticipation of lurches in the boat that did not seem to come. Perhaps what he was really worried about was those strange lurches that he got in the pit of his stomach at each word that Corrine spoke.
"I was not even aware that you had a mother." Corrine said with a faint raise of her brow as she burrowed herself further into her cloak. When Toma had told her stories of Magus, she had built him up only to idealize him. It was somewhat hard to swallow to imagine that he had a past beside the stories that she drank up so eagerly. "But then even legends among men have their roots somewhere."
"Really, I hardly consider myself a man." There was a bitter tinge to his voice, not meeting Corrine's eyes for fear of what he might read there. Accusations? Perhaps even chastisement. From Corrine's eyes it would be damning and he damn well knew that. He looked down at the swirling black waters of the surroundings seas.
"You are not a monster, you are not a man... Where does that put you then? Who do you -see- yourself as?" Corrine inquired. Right now the man that appeared before her looked so helplessly vulnerable. Yes, he tried hard to disguise it, to cloak as surely as the clouds were now covering the moon. Her heart went out to him. When Magus did not readily answer, she continued. "I know the reason why you want to summoun this being.. Toma told me. It is to avenge your sister's death. You must of loved her dearly in order to go to such lengths." There was a subtle tinge of melancholy to her voice as she said those words
"Yes, she was very dear to me." Magus trailed off, he caught the undertone of wistfulness to her voice. It was those nuances that caused him finally to look at her profile. At that moment he was struck by how brave she looked and so still, like a graveyard angel underneath the moonlight with her silver hair peeking tendrils out of its confines. Such bravery in the face of death. For a moment he was reminded of Cyrus and the similar way that the man had faced death. He had known exactly what he was getting himself into when he accepted Magus's bargain. Likewise Corrine knew as well, and the stoicism which she displayed filled him with confusion. He had seen mighty generals weep before the death strike of his scythe, what made Corrine and Cyrus different?
"Tell me Corrine. Why are you so prepared to give your life to my cause?" What Magus -really- meant to ask was ~*Why are you so brave*~ but those words would not form, it was probably something that she wouldn't be able to answer and so he had phrased it into something less ambiguous.
"I have nothing to live for, Magus." Corrine said softly and bowed her head as a silent tear fell. Magus could not see the tear but it rang out like the veriest peal over his head, much like the black wind that howled around him constantly. However for once, the black wind didn't seem to exist. It was silenced by those soft words of wisdom dropping like pearls from her rosebud lips. He continued to listen as she had merely paused, he sensed it. "There is no way that I would stand the rigors of village life, my body likewise was not made to have children and no man would have me with the knowledge that I will eventually die. I am a liability to my mother and my sister. I figure that if I cannot do anything worthy in life, then surely I can find some purpose in death."
"But what makes you sure that my way is -right-?" Magus countered as he reached up almost instinctively and wiped that tear away from her cheek. He then noticed that a few tears had followed the first one and that her cheek was dampened by the result. Corrine looked up at him and at that moment he froze once again as her eyes held him in awe. There was something sacred there, a light that he thought only existed in the stories that Toma liked to weave of maidens and chivalry. It humbled him in a way that he could not even begin to describe.
"Anything done in the name of love is a cause that hasn't been in vain. You loved your sister, I can clearly see that with the way you are looking right now. You loved her so much that you are willing to summoun the creature that killed her in order to avenge her memory. However what you are going to do is like tossing a stone out into a lake. The stone touches one single part of the lake, but the ripples resulting pan out and enfold everything on the surface, the memory of the stone connecting carries on long after it has sunk to the bottom." Corrine said softly as she then stifled a yawn and rubbed at her eyes. She then smiled up at Magus softly. "I think that perhaps that is my cue to retire. I wish you sweet dreams, Magus."
No one had ever wished Magus a good night before much less sweet dreams and so he was just as perplexed at her ending to the conversation just as much as he was by her answers to the questions that poured readily from his lips. He wanted a selfish excuse to keep her here on the desk, indulging in his whims for conversation and discussions on ethics and philosophy. Perhaps it was only to soak in her wisdom, or maybe it was those amethyst eyes. However he could respect her wishes to seek her bed.
He took her hand a bit awkwardly and gave it a very soft squeeze and the traces of a smile played across his normally set in stone lips.
"And you have sweet dreams as well, Lady Graie.. If I do not see you at breakfast, I will no doubt see you when we dock at Raven Wing's Fortress."
"Please Magus, do not call me Lady Graie. I am merely Corrine." She returned the squeeze tenderly and then her hand slipped out of his, or did he merely let it go? They both were not sure as the moment passed by in a blur. She silently made her way to the door leading below decks and then she was gone. Thereby leaving Magus to his thoughts.
And he was no closer to understanding the enigma that was her, nor could he comprehend the quickening of his heart at the memory of that touch shared between them. The thoughts whirling through his mind occupied him until he had seen through the worst of the storm and was thereby allowed to seek his own sort of shelter.
Even then ensconced in his own room, the thoughts did not readily disappear.