The Stage is Set

The Town of Irdien

Docks

THE WAVES splashed invitingly against the pier and below it. Every so often, a particularly large wave would squeeze a bubble of water up through cracks in the time-worn boards.

Around the bench where they sat, the harbor was already bustling with life. Late fishermen unloaded the last of their catch while passengers disembarked from a small ferry boat. Beyond the various vessels bobbing in the harbor, the sun was climbing upwards in the sky, spilling light across the waves that they would soon be riding across.

Tytania lounged next to Zosia, bouncing her crossed leg. Her usual boisterous confidence had seeped back since their heart-to-heart this morning, but there was still an undercurrent of excitement between them that had continued all the way down to the docks.

As they waited to board the large ship resting at the end of the pier, the hint of a blush lingered on Tytania’s cheeks. Her eyes sparkled brighter than the sun against the waves in a way that Zosia found almost infuriatingly charming.

What was she going to do with Tytania and these feelings that now had a name and a mutual label? She supposed they’d have a whole week to explore things as they navigated both a new relationship and the sea.

Zosia shifted on the bench, feeling the pinch of something against her skin. Between the waistband of Zosia’s pants and her hip, the pouch with the crystals pressed into her. Tytania had made her own opinion of the crystals clear, but Zosia still wasn’t sure what she’d end up doing with them. For now, she would hold onto them. She supposed she had plenty of time to figure out what to do with those as well—assuming Tytania gave her any time to herself.

From the not-subtle looks the other woman kept flinging her way, Zosia doubted she’d get much time to dwell on her career choices. A few weeks ago, that would have been both inconceivable and unacceptable to Zosia. Now, she found she didn’t mind it much at all. Her priorities had changed significantly since she had gotten closer to Tytania.

“Boarding in twenty minutes!” a woman yelled from the gangplank, loud enough to be heard over the noise of the docks. Across the pier behind her, their monster of a ship waited patiently, unshaken by the waves lapping its sides. “Last call for tickets to Lythenor!”

Zosia turned to Tytania, only to find the other woman already staring her way.

Tytania grinned.

“Are you ready?” Zosia asked. She mentally checked her list. The ferry ride was paid for, and they still had a bit of Tytania’s money they could exchange when they docked on the other continent. It would be enough to get them to the Under. Or, if Zosia did decide to keep the crystals, somewhere they could sell them. “Do we have everything we need?”

Tytania shifted on the bench, uncrossing her leg so their knees pressed together in a neat line of four.

“Let’s see,” Tytania said, “I have you. So yes, that’s everything.”

Zosia pushed her lightly, biting her lip to keep from smiling. The flirting, it seemed, would continue as always. It was a good thing she didn’t mind.

A horn sounded from the ship, drawing eyes from the small group of people who gathered on the pier. It sent Tytania leaping to her feet, holding out her hand to Zosia. Other passengers got to their feet as well, starting to form some semblance of a line in front of the ship.

The boat would ferry them across the ocean. For Zosia, it meant going home to Lythenor—back to where she had signed her contract with the Under, met Tytania, and embarked on the series of heists and cover-ups that were now at an end.

For Tytania… Zosia wasn’t sure. The other woman clearly didn’t like to talk about her past and Zosia didn’t want to pull the information out of her against her will. Perhaps things would come to light when they set foot on the other continent; or perhaps Tytania’s past would remain settled in the shadows of who she had become.

Regardless, wherever they went from here and whoever they worked for—the Under, the Law, themselves—Zosia felt confident. Everything they had been through had led to them here, to this moment. The jewels were just a small piece of their journey, and it was time for the next stage. The curtain was about to rise on their next adventure.

Zosia accepted Tytania’s hand, letting the other woman lift her to her feet.

Tytania was right again , Zosia thought, as she let Tytania sweep her towards the end of the line. As long as we’re together, that’s all we really need.

THE END