"The fuck is that?" Asks Stellan, poking a small golden figurine of an eagle that protrudes out of the water. He tugs it, grimacing with effort. "I can't even lift it."
"That, Stell, is the top of the Marsonne Bell Tower. Twenty feet tall," I reply, marking our location on the map. "We're rowing over what last week was a village.”
“It’s a tale as old as time,” begins Stellan, a dark look in his eyes. “Kings play chess with civilians as the pieces, and in the end, neither of the Kings truly lose. Only the people.”
Half of the roof of a house floats past us, beside a bundle of clothes that I'm going to hope doesn't have a body inside. I hear Onyx's swallow, the horror of it all sinking into his brain. "We have to do this."
"I know. We will."
Stellan just remains quiet, save for his constant humming as he rows us over the flooded earth. I listen to the two of them talk for a while, only one thing going through my brain. I have to tell them, but I'm afraid it'll ruin my relationship with the two people I love most in the world. The only two people I consider family.
“I…,” my voice falters, wavers a little. "I have something I need to tell you."
"You're…a lizard in disguise?" Asks Stellan, nonchalantly.
I laugh and splash him with some water. It’s nice to not be the only one with the mental age of a child. "Nailed it, first time."
"What is it, Rennalya?" Asks Onyx, a serious frown on his face. He's worried, I can tell.
"You're...seeing a woman?" Suggests Stellan. "Wait, no. We already know you go both ways. You're...addicted to sex with Rexxan?"
"Well, yeah. But that's not it."
Stellan grins, holding his hands a certain distance apart. "I just know it must be huge. We're all lying if we've said our eyes haven't accidentally drifted downwards on him."
"Stellan!" Yells Onyx, swinging his oar at my friend as I try and steady the boat, laughing at his comment.
"What? All I'm saying is, the last three nights you and Rexxan have both taken off from work, you've been limping the next day."
"I haven't!" I yell, at the same time that Onyx covers his ears, burying his head in his cloak. ‘It’s huge!’I mouth at my deputy, now Onyx is dead to the world.
Stellan beams at me. "I can tell, because you were limping."
“I most certainly was not."I was.
"So what is it?" Snaps Onyx, coming out of hiding.
Stellan continues, obviously enjoying his game. Despite being six hundred and fifty years old and having the fighting ability of a god, Stellan's maturity age stopped developing long ago. "She's...engaged to be married?" He suggests, as a joke. He and Onyx both snicker. I swallow.
"What is it?" Asks Onyx, rowing in time with Stellan.
"I'm...I'm engaged to be married."
Onyx laughs uncertainly before seriousness washes over his face, setting his features like a marble statue. "What?"
"Um...what?" Repeats Stellan, as we row past a floating wooden cart, battered and broken by the current of the giant river.
"I'm engaged."
"Towho?" They yell, at the same time. The boat rocks violently as they both fly off the handle, erupting into shouting. "If it's Rexxan, I swear to the gods—“ Onyx growls, his head in his hands. "Who has a hold on you? We'll work it out!"
"ItisRexxan, and I'm engaged by my own volition."
Stellan's eyes flick down to my left hand and he gives me his world-famous white-toothed boyish grin, slapping Onyx on the arm to get his attention. "Some prank, Renna. O, there's no ring."
Onyx's gaze follows Stellan's, and he lets out a huge huff of relief.
Fuck my life. "Stellan, you were the one that told me to commit fully to Rexxan."
