Chapel

The chapel had survived the siege intact. Like many such places, it was dedicated to one deity - Waukeen, in this case - with small alcoves to other powers along its walls. Olena did not see Silvanus among them, but that didn't bother her - she was looking for someone else.

Oren sat at a pew near the altar, lost in prayer. She felt reluctant to bother him, but why delay the inevitable? "Oren? I'm back," she said, her voice echoing through the room in spite of her respectful tone.

At once, Oren looked up at the sound of her voice, and a smile crossed his face when he saw her. That, she was not expecting.

"Am I interrupting?" she asked, hoping that he was, so she could try again later. Where did that come from? she wondered.

"Not in the least," Oren said. "Did you... learn anything useful?"

Was he dancing around the larger issue? Or was he truly more interested in their mission? "All manner of things," Olena replied, crossing the chapel and sitting further down Oren's pew. Let him close the distance if he wants. "I'm having the devil's time keeping it all straight in my head. Demaris's father is my father, though; that was the most important thing I learned. That must be while I feel so connected to her."

"Are you certain?" he asked, more than a bit surprised. "That seems... strange. You're nothing like her."

"I know. Kyrian and I always wondered what life would have been like with our father. From what I've learned about Nymbus, I feel... glad that he wasn't part of our lives. If he had been, I might have turned out like him." Or like Demaris, she thought, glad she stopped herself from saying it out loud.

"His students - your friends - think the world of him."

"I know. But I learned a lot about Nymbus in his demiplane, and I didn't like much of it. I'm sure he tried to change in his later years, but I don't feel a connection between the man who created that place and the man who taught my friends."

She talked for what felt like hours, jumping from one topic to the next. Oren remained fixed on her all the while, asking the occasional question, absorbing everything she said. Finally, Olena could think of nothing else to say, and an uneasy silence stole into the space between them.

"How did it go," she finally said, "with the surrounding chaos?" That was stupid, she thought. What if he doesn't remember saying that?

To her relief, though, he did. "It will be a long time before things get back to normal, but I do think they will get there, eventually."

"I'm so glad to hear that," she said, relaxing as best she could on the pew. "Some of us... Demaris, plus Sam and La'ss'a... we're going to Maztica." She explained why; Oren listened carefully, and nodded when she was done.

"I would like to go with you," he said, "if you'll have me."

Olena laughed. "Of course I want you to come! I'm sure the others will feel the same way."

Oren slid closer to her and took her hand in his, a bit nervously. "I'm sorry about before," he said, and Olena heard her blood hammering in her ears.

"Don't be!" Olena squeezed his hand, hoping it reassured him. "What's done is done. If you have to worry, worry about now. Or maybe later."

"I cannot say that I am entirely comfortable with the situation, but I think it is more because I am uncertain how to proceed."

"It's all right; I'm not sure either." She placed her free hand on his chest, felt his heart beating. Somehow, it made the noise of her own pulse diminish. "Trust your heart, Oren. I do."

"I do know that I would like to proceed, however. It sounds so trite to say, but I would like to get to know you better."

"Not to me it doesn't."

Oren slid her hand from hers and placed his arm around Olena, hugging her gently. She allowed herself to melt into his embrace. His face came to rest on her shoulder, and he sighed into her hair. A tingle jolted Olena's spine, but she didn't budge.

"It was a strange journey," she said.

"I think it will only get stranger."

"I've no doubt of that. The strangest part is, I'm not afraid."

They lost all track of time until they heard footsteps echoing toward them. Oren lifted his head, but did not move his arm. Demaris approached them, saying "Garmon's ready to ship out. We've got fifteen minutes or we'll miss the tide." Without another word, she turned and left the chapel.

Oren withdrew his hold on Olena, and got to his feet. After stretching his legs, he helped Olena to stand, and they left the chapel, headed for the open sea.