Although the great fire in the library was roaring, Richard Seastone still felt the cold. For this time of year the weather was unusual. It was damp. The clouds in the sky were black and thick. Thunder rumbled in the distance. The cold went straight to his bones.
He pulled his robe tighter around him. Gazing into the fire, he shut his book. Instead, he went to stand in front of the window, looking toward the horizon as he had done for seventeen months. He sighed heavily.
"My Lord," announced Edgar. "There is a man and a young woman who wish to speak with you. I have them in the parlor where it is warmer. Quite truthfully, they appear exhausted and rather ill. I have never seen the look of haunt that they have in their eyes."
"Thank you Edgar. I will see to them," said Richard with a nod.
Sighing heavily, he turned back to the horizon for a moment then slowly allowed his feet to lead him to the parlor.
Richard stood in the doorway.
A young woman sat in a chair near the fire, most of her face hidden by her matted hair.
The man stood in front of the fire. His arms were folded on the mantel and face between them.
Both of their clothes were too big. They were quiet and tired.
Richard turned his attention back to the man. Only one person ever stood in front of the fire like that. "Alex?"
Slowly, painfully, and exhausted, Alexander Seastone lifted his head. He slowly turned it to his father.
Richard gasped as his body trembled.
"Father," Alexander whispered as he rushed into his father's arms.
Like a child, he buried his face into his father's neck, softly crying.
"Alex, I thought you were dead. It's been fourteen months. You should have been back thirteen months ago," Richard told him, squeezing Alexander against him.
He pulled his son away to kiss his forehead several times.
Alexander looked at him. He smiled, but only halfway. His face was pale, and he was shivering. He looked weak and exhausted. His eyes were dull and seemed to have seen too much. There was a deep scar beside his left eye beginning on his forehead and ending in the middle of his cheek. Some areas were still stitched.
Richard turned to the woman who looked exactly like Elizabeth. "Elizabeth?"
Elizabeth Turner nodded her head a few times. Tears continued to highlight moisten the lines on her face. Her eyes were red and sore. Everything about her showed she was in pain.
Richard went to her side. He knelt to press his lips against her forehead. His attention suddenly turned to her lap.
Elizabeth didn't look in her lap. She continued to gaze at the fire as her arms tightened.
"Uncle Alex?"
Alexander whipped around. "Lily," he whispered slumping.
Fourteen-year-old Lily Turner rushed into her uncle's arms.
Alexander shut his eyes as more pain passed across his face.
Seeing Elizabeth, Lily rushed to throw her arms around her. She suddenly pulled away and looked around the room. "You two are back. Will went with you. Father. Where are they?"
Elizabeth choked on her tears as she cried aloud. She covered her mouth.
Alexander shut his eyes, his lip trembling. He shook his head.
"A man and a young woman," Richard noted to himself. Elizabeth and Alexander.
His breath was carried away from him as he collapsed on the couch. He shook his head. Staring into the fire, tears and sadness consumed him. He bawled into his hands.
Alexander sat beside his father, crawled under his arms, and cried into his chest. "Hold me," he pleaded.
Lily looked around. She backed into the wall realizing it too. "They never returned did they?"
"Lily," whispered Elizabeth as she stood. "Your brother found his father."
"Where are they? Will promised he would come back with father. Where are they?" asked Lily, her voice cracking.
"They're alive, in a way, but they can never come on land," said Elizabeth, her words carried off with her lack of breath.
"If they're alive why can't they come back? I want to see my brother again. I want to see my father. Why can't they come back?" Lily asked between choking on her tears.
"Because," said Alexander, sitting up. "Because Will became captain of a different ship and he can't come on land but once every ten years for one day. Bill is staying with him."
"What happened?" asked Richard.
Elizabeth and Alexander looked at each other.
Lily's attention was turned to Elizabeth's arms at the beautiful chest. "What's in that?"
"Your brother's heart," Elizabeth told her, her voice barely louder than a whisper.
Lily's eyes narrowed in confusion. She was handed the chest. The chest was impressively light for its impenetrable appearance. She lowered her ear toward the chest. A sharp gasp escaped her as she stood upright, startled by the sound coming from within the metal.