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"Dove, you needn't look so forlorn…"
But Rahela could hardly help it; not when circumstances were forcing her and her husband apart again. Even after the vow they'd sworn when they returned from the edge of existence: 'Wherever one of us goes, the other follows, for the rest of our lives…'
For the rest of their lives… Or at least until some Turali princeling demands Thancred and Urianger's services but not hers.
Thancred and Rahela had been on their island when the former received a letter; a letter requesting the utmost confidentiality, the client insisting that he not share any sensitive details with anyone—even his own wife. The most he could tell her was that the client was an individual from the far western continent of Tural, and that he was seeking the aid of Archons—and only Archons—for an upcoming event of great import. And it wasn't long after that that they'd learned that Urianger had received a similar letter from the same client.
The three adventuring partners had planned on at least going to Tural together, Rahela promising to find a way to occupy herself in the unfamiliar land while they were off meeting with their all-important client…
But that plan had hit an unexpected snag when a certain Hrothgar princess arrived in Sharlayan and informed Rahela of just what that 'event of great import' happening in Tural really was. And once she learned the full truth of what the contest was for, and was at stake? She wouldn't dream of turning down Wuk Lamat's request to help.
… But unfortunately, that meant that she and Thancred would be on opposing 'teams,' so to speak. When she'd heard Wuk Lamat speaking of her adoptive brother who had spent an extensive amount of time studying in Sharlayan, it wasn't difficult for Rahela to put two and two together and surmise that this 'Koana' was the same claimant who had been exclusively recruiting Archons to his cause.
Upon meeting up at the Nymphaeum to discuss their options, Rahela, Thancred, and Urianger had unanimously agreed that, first and foremost, the most important thing was to keep the claimant with imperial ambitions far, far away from the seat of Dawnservant. Rahela did still have some reservations, believing that their chances against the would-be conqueror would be strongest if they stuck together; but after much discussion, they eventually decided that it would be best not to renege on the agreements they'd already made. Thancred and Urianger would aid Koana, while Rahela, Krile, and the twins would aid Wuk Lamat.
Which meant that they would have to travel to Tuliyollal separately… and Thancred and Urianger were leaving today.
Rahela understood why, but that didn't mean she had to like it.
And when the time came for their departure from Scholar's Harbor and Urianger had respectfully stepped away to give the husband and wife some privacy for their goodbye hug, she couldn't help but let her discontent show.
"Dove," Thancred gently chided as he carded his fingers through her hair, "you needn't look so forlorn…"
"I'm sorry, Lovey," Rahela sighed, ears folded flat as she rested her head against his shoulder. "I know we have our linkpearl and our rings. If anything happens, you can call me and I can teleport to you. And it shouldn't take Erenville too long to charter a boat and gather the supplies we'll need, so the rest of us won't be that far behind you…"
"But…?" Thancred clearly sensed that that wasn't the only thing bothering her.
For this, she took a much longer moment to answer.
"…I want to be excited for a new adventure, but…" Her tail lashed. "It won't be nearly as much fun without having my partners with me. And I know I'll have Alphinaud and Alisaie, and Erenville, and Wuk Lamat's a delight, and I'm long overdue for a proper adventure with Krile, but… This whole contest has me worried."
"Ah…" Thancred winced, remembering what he'd said back at the Nymphaeum. "If I sounded overeager to compete against you, then I apologize, darling. I thought you didn't mind the occasional playful rivalry."
"I don't," Rahela said, shaking her head. "At least not when the stakes are just things like 'see who can swim to that island the fastest,' or 'see who can get the most meat for dinner tonight,' or 'see who can kill the most pests.' But, this is different…"
She hugged him tightly against her, shuddering for reasons beyond just the cold evening. "Even if it's not to the death, I don't relish the thought of having to fight you or Uri."
At that, a noise of understanding left him, and he squeezed her shoulders in return. But he kept his tone light and reassuring; "Well, with any luck, it won't have to come to us flinging any fireballs or firing any cartridges at each other. Personally, I'd be more than happy if any hypothetical clashes between us were battles of wits instead of arms. That certainly seems to be what Lord Koana is counting on if he's only seeking out Archons, and Urianger and I in particular."
Two Archons, one skilled in deciphering ancient texts and prophecies, the other skilled in gathering information and surviving in the wilderness. Rahela had to concede, they were a good, smart choice to recruit for solving riddles and seeking out lost cities in the deep jungle.
"But," Thancred went on, a warmth in his smile and pride growing in his voice; "I suspect he'll come to regret not recruiting you; even setting aside all your other skills and heroic feats, you've a sharper mind than you give yourself credit for." He broke the embrace to take her hands in his. "Through all the time we've known each other, you've always challenged me—sometimes in ways you don't even know—so I'm hoping you'll give it your all when you challenge me again in the more literal sense. Will you do that, Rah?"
For a long moment, Rahela could only stare in response, a dusting of pink on her striped cheeks… Before she began to beam, overcome with affection, and finally nodded.
Thancred let out a puff of relief, his breath visible in the cold Sharlayan air, and cupped his wife's face to bring her in for one last farewell kiss; warm, deep, already missing each other, as if they were drinking in as much as they could, before they were parted for the long and lonely weeks ahead.
But the cruel, clanging sound of ship's bell signalled that it was time to depart; reluctantly, they broke the kiss and gave each other one last look.
"Be safe, Thancred," Rahela murmured, pressing one last peck to his cheek. "Love you, Lovey."
"Take heart, Dove; it might take a while, but all will be well in the end," he said, taking a step away from her, but not letting go of her hands until the last possible moment, at which point he broke into a jog down the harbor and to the ship; but still he managed to call behind him, "And if nothing else, this will all make for an extraordinary tale to tell Ryne!"
She waved goodbye to the two figures waving back to her, as the ship unmoored and carried them away, off into the dark horizon. And she stayed in the harbor for a long while after they vanished from sight, simply thinking.
She hadn't forgotten. Their retirement plan, so to speak; once Y'shtola had finally perfected cross-rift travel, Rahela and Thancred would return to the First—to Ryne—and settle down in the Crystarium permanently. They were both counting the days until they could make that dream a reality… But rather than remain idle in the meantime, they would do all they could to make sure the Source wouldn't fall back into chaos the minute they left. And nipping a potential new empire in the bud was certainly part of that. Rahela only wished they could more openly work together on this mission, but such was life.
And if she knew anything, it was that life was nothing if not one big adventure.