Chapter 6
Captain Gavonn Viox
I sat on my bed, reading the letter again. How could it be possible? All this time, she was alive. I read it over and over, savoring each word. I was scheduled to depart on a small ship vessel the next morning. It could not come soon enough. I almost wanted to steal one, but I did not want to call attention to myself.
“What are you doing?” I heard Samara’s voice say. I quickly crumpled the letter into my hand.
“Nothing, just going over some orders. You are back?” I said as I stood up and pushed the letter into my tool belt.
“Yes, I am back. Turns out I did not need to stay too long for that meeting. I have too much to do here anyway,” she said walking to me.
“I understand,” I said looking at my wife and feeling guilty. She was my wife, after all. Yet, I was thinking about a human female.
“Listen, about before. I do not want to argue. That is not what I want for us,” she said as she put her arms around my neck and smiled.
“That is not what I want either,” I said.
I was glad that she was admitting that what she had said was not appropriate. I did not need her bullying me into a higher ranking simply because she was embarrassed to be with a captain and not a higher official or rank.
“I should not have been bugging you about it at all when this entire time, all we had to do was have dinner with my father. He can see to it that you get a promotion. Maybe even leave the battalions altogether. You could work with him. You can be part of the governing structure, an official, or at least on your way to a position like that,” she said.
“What? That is not what I want. I enjoy being in the battalions. I am a warrior. That is what I do. That is who I am. I don't need you trying to change me,” I said, grabbing her arms around my neck and pushing them off of me.
"But I already have a dinner set for us with father tomorrow,” she said.
“No, I do not need his help. Besides, I am going on a short to mission tomorrow. I will be away from Mooreah,” I said heading for the door.
“You are? But where are you going?” she asked.
“That is classified. I am a warrior, remember?” I said before turning and leaving.
“But, Gavonn. Don't walk out on me. Come back here!” she shouted after me.
I just kept walking. Once I was outside our home, I shifted into dragon form. Then I took flight.
“Where is she?” I asked Ritona as I landed on the ledge outside his home and walked into the open door.
“Betty? She is in her own home. She will not be sharing my home until we are officially married in a few days,” he said.
“I need to speak with her,” I said.
“About the human? Her friend?” he asked.
“Yes,” I said walking to his drink area and pouring myself a generous amount of wine.
“Tell me what's going on. Does this have to do with the message she brought? I do not want my new bride getting in trouble, Gavonn,” he said.
“She will not. The three of us are the only ones that know that Noelle sent me a message. I am not going to tell, and I assume that the both of you will not. Even if the message is found, no one will know that Betty was the one that gave it to me,” I said, taking a drink and then another.
"Do you want to tell me what it said?” he asked.
I turned and looked at him. I wanted to tell him. He was my most trusted friend, but this was a lot of information, criminal information.
“I can trust you?” I asked.
“Do you even have to ask? I am offended that you do,” he said.
I poured myself more wine and then sat down.
“My Noelle; she is on Sala right now.”
“What? How? Has she been there this whole time? That can't be,” he said.
“No, she only just arrived. She is there for a business trade. Her work has sent her on a mission to Sala to gather materials.”
"And you want to go see her?” he asked.
“Of course I do. How could I not? After all of this. After I thought that she was dead. I must go see her,” I answered.
“But just see her and speak to her and then leave it at that, right?” he asked.
“What do you mean?” I asked.
“You are married. You are sworn by oath to your wife. Your wife is the daughter of a high official. Being with another, especially a human female, is a criminal act. You will be thrown into prison or banished; they will not go lightly on you,” he said.
“I know the consequences,” I said.
“And you have made your decision? You mean to do it anyway, don't you?” he said, crossing his arms over his chest.
“I have not decided. I only know that I need to see her with my own eyes. I need to hear her voice,” I said.
“Then you are going to Sala?”
“I am,” I said.
“You're willing to give up everything for this human?” he asked.
“I am; I always have been willing to do anything for her,” I said.
He walked over and poured himself some wine. Then he held his cup up to mine.
“Then to our friendship. I will always remember it fondly. If you return to Mooreah one day, know that you will always have a friend in me, and my trust,” he said.
I held my cup up to his and bumped it against it. He knew me. He knew that if I left, that I would not be able to keep my hands off of Noelle. He knew that I was willing to give up my life as a Drackon warrior, and that it was possible he would never see me again.