Never Miss a Sunrise

by Mademoiselle Anime Amour

Organization XIII is shattered, each member dealing with the fallout of war, lies, and emotional scars. After so long in the dark, they will each have to carve out their own path toward dawn. For, with hearts come purpose. With light comes redemption. Rated T for language and sexual situations. Near-unapologetic KH3 AU. Heavy spoilers.

3. Chapter 2

A/N: Wow, guys, I am genuinely sorry for the FOUR-MONTH wait between chapters! Work has kicked my ass to the curb this summer, a large part due to another competitor closing temporarily for renovations. Gotta love retail. :P Then, my old computer was on its last legs anyway, so now I'm bringing this to you through a new computer. And yeah...Anyway, here's a 21K chapter to make up for it, lol.

So, I'll try to keep this short, but this is where I go completely divergent from canon. I actually liked the twist with Xigbar/Braig at the end of 3, in terms of how interesting that scene was...Buuut, I can't lie and say I wasn't a bit disappointed, mainly because I always had a completely different idea (or, inkling, rather) of what I thought the character's backstory was. In spirit of that, I wound up inventing a whole new backstory that even I was surprised how much effort I put into it. To the point that, yes, I'm devoting TWO chapters to good ole Braig here! I think we can agree, though, that if there's any character who deserves two chapters, it's probably him. Hope you all enjoy my spin-I should also note it's partly inspired by A Second Twilight by BlackJacketsandPens, which I rec by the way. Main differences are she's short and sweet with it, and I'm, well, more detail-obsessed.

Today's song, I think, captures this lone gunslinger vibe that fits Xigbar/Braig perfectly. It's also one of my favorite songs of all time.

Warnings: cursing (b/c Braig and another character you'll meet are potty mouths), recreational drinking, implied sexual situations

---

Desperado,

Oh, you ain't gettin' no younger

Your pain and your hunger, they're drivin' you home

And freedom, oh freedom, well that's just some people talkin'

Your prison is walkin' through this world all alone

-"Desperado", Linda Ronstadt (originally by the Eagles)

---

Chapter 2: Braig: Before

Within the Organization, in both its incarnations, Xigbar had always been the most enigmatic. Judging by his demeanor alone, the newer members would have disagreed, but that underestimation was a mistake on their parts. Indeed, he had quite enjoyed leading them—leading everyone—astray. Let them think he was an apathetic slacker along for the ride, with his casual "as if"'s and pretending he knew less than he actually did. That was the whole point. Although he'd resolved to be one of the very few members to go willingly along with the Real Organization XIII, his loyalty to Xehanort (whatever little there was) had died a long time ago…or perhaps had never existed at all.

However, he'd still held out hope, or whatever skewed version he had of it, that if he waited around long enough, he would be given the old man's weapon: the most ancient, powerful Keyblade in existence. There were a few little tricks he would have liked to have used it for, and he imagined keeping it for himself. Sure. What else was there to live for at this point? All these years alive, Xigbar had mastered the art of persuasion, knowing which buttons to push and what hints to drop to get all those poor fools to chew on like dogs desperate for any thrown bone.

Yet, even with all the predictability, he could still be surprised. He supposed he could even surprise himself…with just how bored he had become with playing people. With always staying one step ahead of seemingly everyone he ever met. Even until the lingering bitter end, when he fell in a grand show of a farewell, he couldn't resist making one last jab at those hero kids. Different kids, same naïve obliviousness. Unbeknownst to all of them, both Organization and Keyblade wielders alike, Xigbar had always been an independent agent, acting out of his own secret motivations. And they had stayed so deeply hidden as long as they had for a reason.

Simply put, this was all personal.

---

Cirragia, the Age of Fairy Tales

Many worlds, pinpricks of stars across the sky, dotted the universe long ago; many more than the number that existed by the time Xehanort rose to tyranny. It might have seemed strange to later generations, almost a fantasy, but all of these worlds co-existed peaceably. Light was blessed to all, while Darkness remained exiled to the furthest corners. It was still there, as darkness was then as now a part of human nature, but it hadn't caused widespread harm, at least not yet. And one star gleamed as brightly as the rest, perhaps brighter.

Cirragia, so named for its clear skies teeming with sprawling clouds on its renowned sunny days, was considered among the most beautiful of the worlds. Its reputation was not unearned, with its fair climate and clean air, boasting the best of nature. Roaring river valleys, precipitous, misty peaks, rolling green hills…There was much to be treasured. And in some respects, it was considered a more progressive world in that its people relied on ingenious methods of energy generation. Windmills and wind turbines alike could easily be seen from above as well as rooftop panels that absorbed the sun. The people tended to be kind and well-intentioned, so if so much as a minor conflict ever broke out, it was rare in this world's history (as with many of the worlds at the time). Although class differences unfortunately still existed, most of these denizens found honest work, whether it was through farming or mining the precious jewels hidden deep in the mountains. Occasionally, one could see the imposing ship hulls overhead belonging to factions of sky pirates, but even these merry bands meant little harm. Mischievous, yes, but not as bloodthirsty or malicious as what might otherwise have been assumed.

Generally, there was understood reciprocity among the relationships in Cirragia, so that in turn, its cities and villages only grew and prospered with time. One such town was Silverhurst, a major center of trade for miles around due to its location near the Emerald River. Its market days were famous for bringing together people of all walks to browse and barter the stalls in turns. In spite of this bustle, it somehow retained the pure, cozy atmosphere of a small town, ideal for families.

Here, Braig Keln was born and raised, the son of a blacksmith and the eldest of four (with two younger sisters and a younger brother). When his mother deemed him old enough to fend for himself as well as his siblings, she did what she could to boost the family income by taking on work as a barmaid. They may not have been the wealthiest family around, but if happiness could be measured, they were certainly quite rich in that. However, always aiming higher, Braig wanted to make sure his family was well taken care of for many years to come. He studied quite hard in school, though one wouldn't have thought him much capable. For he could also get up to his fair share of mischief with his school friends, pulling pranks and playing wild, imaginative games in the adjacent woods. The same woods where he also learned to hunt (and developed quite a keen marksman's eye), forage, and, yes, even kiss a girl. Many times, he would return to this place of refuge, almost neglecting his chores and studies.

But, not quite, for Braig's ambition could not be denied. He was as erudite and curious as he was adventurous, spending as much time with books as he did with nature. From an early age, it was clear that he could charm both his peers and elders alike, rising to the role of natural leader amongst his schoolmates. When he chose to, he could lead more responsible endeavors—such as putting a stop to the occasional bully—as well as being a mastermind of light-hearted japes (usually at teachers' expense). With a customary sly grin and a wink, he could win almost anyone over, no matter what doubts they might have had.

So, it wasn't so surprising to the townspeople when he went on to attend university. Even less surprising that he soon made politics and history major points of study. He already had some ideas of making Silverhurst an even better place than it already was, but he also wanted to give back to his community in his own way. From university onward, he climbed the social ladder, befriending the right people for the natural next step of running for mayor two years after graduation. And winning! Silverhurst residents were more than eager to turn out in droves to elect a local boy made good, not to mention a young, dynamic candidate. It also didn't hurt that he'd become considerably handsome, as well as charismatic, with his lustrous black hair and sparking dark brown eyes.

Even with this remarkable rise to power, Braig never forgot his humble roots. Nor did he forget the promise he made. His family was indeed generously looked after, as he bought a roomier, more comfortable house in town for them with part of his first year's salary. Never again would they have to worry over sharing cramped spaces and dealing with the consequences of an overheated kitchen.

In spite of living in quite the manor himself, he wouldn't allow himself to let all the fame, fortune, and power get to his head (not quite, at least). He treated the locals as if he was still one of them and could be seen mingling amongst them during market days. He gave his personal staff every weekend off without fail. Often, he'd hold open council meetings to address as many business owners as he could, from the wealthy merchant to the poorer innkeep. As for his old school friends who chose to stay and make their livelihoods here, he could be found visiting their homes, sharing drinks at his favorite tavern, or going hunting within his favorite haunts. All in all, Braig was seen as a man of the people, someone who one could approach as a peer. And he was loved and appreciated by everyone who knew him, including some women who spared more than passing glances at him. However, no one fling ever truly stuck, as he was more than occupied with his social calls and duties.

Indeed, so dedicated was he to his mayoral responsibilities, he was willing to set aside his time to listen to a concerned citizen…even if it lasted well after the sun had set. On this particular evening, he sat in his office, trying to maintain his patience with a chatty—almost rambling—farmer. He'd had a long day already and felt rather guilty that his patience wore so thin.

"So, you see, sir, that's why I have…um…apprehension over these panels being built so close to my property," the farmer concluded at last, wringing his hands. "I'm really worried they'll taint my well water, not to mention my crops."

Braig raised an eyebrow. "Well water? That's the first time I've ever heard of them doing that."

The farmer cleared this throat before continuing, "Yes. I've been told that, by those things getting built, they'll disrupt the soil and pollute the nearest water source."

"OK, who told you that ridiculousness, Frederick?" Braig asked, barely resisting a weary chuckle at this nonsense.

"Wilfred Penwick, sir."

"Oh jeez, him again? He's always going around telling people our energy methods are a mistake and a conspiracy to destroy our world," the harried mayor sighed and shook his head. "Not to mention…Hey, when we went over the map earlier…His property isn't far from yours, is that right?"

Frederick nodded his head, looking a bit more hopeful. "That's right."

"Then, he probably thinks these solar panels are going to be an eyesore. Too bad for him, this is the second time I've heard his name mentioned this week. Listen"—and here, Braig gave Frederick a reassuring pat on the shoulder—"Next time I hear about him hassling you or someone else with his pile of pigeon droppings, I'll personally come to his house and tell him off. Protocol be damned! I don't want him hurting this town with his lies any more than you do."

The relieved farmer now beamed. "Y—You would do that? Thank you, sir! I didn't want to believe the panels ruining my crops would be true…"

"Of course not!" Braig scoffed. "And besides, like I said, they'll be built not quite over your property line. Everything should go well. I think you're like me and want what's best for everyone."

"Like running that nuisance Penwick out of town?"

With a full-on laugh, Braig gave Frederick another solid pat on the shoulder as he stood up. "Now we're just getting into petty territory, my man! You know I can't abuse my power like that."

"Oh well, it was worth a try." Frederick stood from his seat as well, giving Braig a grateful look. "Thank you again, sir. I know putting up with me must have been quite a trial. And look how dark it's gotten! I'm sure I've rui—"

He held up a hand. "Say no more! I'm just glad you told me who's been going around with the anti-panel poppycock. I'll definitely keep an eye on him. Good luck on the wheat this season!"

They shook hands, and Frederick the farmer soon departed, assured of his property as well as his peace of mind. One more one-on-one session brought to a satisfying end.

With another tired sigh, Braig locked up his office for the night. Once he'd done this, he turned to face his personal aide and childhood friend Lukas Frost.

"Meeting go well, Braig?" he asked.

He nodded, mustering a smile. "As well as can be expected, considering it went on for two hours. I went over the projected acreage of the solar farm with him, I reminded him what it's going to be for…Went over the property map I don't know how many times...Oh, and come to find out, Fred came to me in the first place because he heard Penwick's propaganda."

"Penwick again?" Lukas clicked his tongue and shook his head. "Hard to tell what's going on with that man. You'd think enough people would take the solar farms for granted to where they wouldn't believe his rot."

"You'd think, but never underestimate a shit-stirrer like him." Braig patted his friend on the shoulder. "But, oh well, it's done. And maybe some of this will start dying down, eh?"

"I certainly hope so." Lukas tilted his head toward the main staircase. "Well, since you don't need me any more tonight, I guess I'll head out."

"Just don't drink yourself into a stupor." Braig chuckled good-naturedly. "Man like you shouldn't be overdoing it."

"Oh, I won't." Lukas started going down the steps. "I can't be late for the bedtime story! The girls want to hear 'The Three Bears' again—they love my voices."

Braig let out a low whistle. "That's a wild night right there, buddy!"

"Don't I know it? They'll probably want to hear it twice. Take care of yourself, friend. See you tomorrow."

And, after another long and productive day, he was alone at last. He had intended on going out for a drink but felt drained, making him consider turning in for the night. As much as he prided himself on his social energy and ability to take in a good time, even he had his limits. Upon checking his office door once more to make sure it was properly locked, Braig strolled down the hallway, whistling a jaunty tune. And to think, he had to do this all over again tomorrow. He started running down a mental list as he idly turned down the electric wall sconces. For one, it would be a market day, so he couldn't very well miss that…He could use a few more odds and ends after all, especially with his father's birthday coming up. Then, he was to meet with Arthur Deckhart, the mayor of nearby Goldwood, to discuss the matter of the upcoming ball…What else?

He lost his train of thought when he heard the sound of footsteps directly above him. Due to his well-trained ear from all his hunting outings, he could tell that these came from a person and not some clever squirrel or raccoon. And here he thought he was alone! Nonetheless, he kept whistling so as to lull this potential thief into a false sense of security, pretending he didn't suspect a thing.

When he got to his room, he grabbed his handgun from under his bed and locked the door as he left. One could not afford to take too many chances, especially if this was a dangerous intruder. Then, he went up the short flight of stairs to the third floor, staying alert for any further noise. Moving further down the hall, he heard some jingling of coins. He determined that his unwanted guest was in the study and helping themselves to the contents of his safe. If he wasn't sure about his survival chances at the moment, he would be almost impressed. He didn't figure anyone would crack the safe's code other than him—not even Lukas would have guessed it if he dared.

Braig stood outside the door when he heard a whispered, "Merde!" and the sound of quickened footsteps trying to escape. Well, he'd put a stop to that!

"Hold it!" he yelled, promptly barging in and holding up his pistol…only to see another similar barrel staring him in the face.

He ventured a glance at his would-be assassin and found himself rather taken aback. Somehow, he hadn't expected the intruder to be a woman. And, if he had to admit it on first glance, a rather attractive woman at that.

She had just opened the window and was standing on the sill, one hand along the frame and that fancy pistol in the other. Her chestnut hair cascaded past her shoulders in slight waves, and she was quite elegantly dressed in a flowing black shirt with bell sleeves and maroon leather pants. Between the heart shape of her pale face and her deep-set gray eyes, she looked young for her age, yet her defiant expression betrayed no innocence. She could put him down with one shot if she wanted to…At least that was the threat conveyed through her steely eyes and jutted chin. And pursed lips. Overall, she did cut an imposing figure in spite of her petite height.

To all of that, Braig could only say, "All right, put the gun down."

"You first." She cocked her head to the side.

"Not until you tell me what you planned on doing with that." He motioned toward the open safe and the hastily half-filled bag on his desk—a bag containing quite a bit of money and some sapphires and rubies.

The woman rolled her eyes. "For donation…to my personal treasury, that is."

"So, you're not planning on assassinating me?" he asked, maintaining his grip on his pistol while gazing at her to make sure she didn't move.

"Of course not!" she barked out a laugh. "Why would I deign to kill someone as small-time as you? Please don't flatter yourself! Besides, cold-blooded murder goes against my moral code."

"But stealing doesn't. You certainly have an interesting definition of 'morals'."

"Just put the bleeding gun down, won't you?"

"Nah, I don't think I will unless you do." He smirked, unable to resist the urge to lord this over her.

"If you try to shoot, I won't miss—I have a hell of a good aim. Don't be foolish!" Yet, he could see her holding back a grin.

"You're enjoying this."

"Well, I must admit, this is a rather stimulating conversation. I'd expected to partake in this loot and steal quietly away into the night. This little diversion is a bit…unexpected…but not entirely unwelcome."

Meanwhile, her eyes seemed to ask the question Now, are you going to put the gun down or not? Teasing, almost in challenge. And, Braig had to admit, she had made a compelling case. She wasn't there to kill him, only to make off with some of his wealth. She had breezily switched to a more jovial mood, mocking the ridiculousness of the situation. The longer he stood there, aiming at her, the less reason he had to pull the trigger.

She made for an intriguing image too, standing on that sill with the moonlight streaming behind her. Almost like a goddess, if he was romantic enough to think such things. Which he wasn't, of course.

"Oh, let's put these guns away!" she entreated, lowering her pistol a fraction of an inch. "It would be a shame to blow each other's faces off over a few gems and coins."

"Hmm…How do I know you're not luring me into a trap?"

"You don't," she said wryly. "But, let's just say my mother and father raised me well enough to teach me that it's poor manners to shoot someone you just met."

He laughingly snorted while lowering his weapon in kind. "Then, this is probably for the best. It'd be a waste of a bullet if it hit your face."

"Likewise."

With a toss of her head, the woman replaced her pistol in her holster. Braig could see her gaze drifting toward her bag of treasures as she let slip a crafty smile.

Just as she was about to lunge toward his desk, he stepped in front of her. "Ah-ah-ah, not so fast, little thief!"

"Who the bloody hell are you calling 'little'?" she asked, not much heat behind her words. Her facial expression flickered from devious to an odd combination of amused and offended. "I came here for a reason. I intend to still follow through…if not for me, at least for my crewmates!"

"Ah, so you're a sky pirate then? Didn't think you all frequented these parts!"

The woman pursed her lips. "Damn…"

After a moment, she elaborated, "Normally, we don't. But, I was taking us to my sister's to see my nieces and nephew. This was meant to be a stop along the way. You just so happened to have the biggest, fanciest house in town…so I thought a quick little pilfering was in order. Please don't punish my friends—they had nothing to do with it, it was all my rash idea. I figured you had to have a few good things lying about, and at least I was right on that score!"

Braig leaned on his desk now, picking up the almost stolen bag of goods to casually toss and catch it in one hand, smirk plastered on his face. "That I do. Glad you noticed. Unfortunately for you, I can't let you walk out with this…Nah, actually, I can't let you out of here at all. You might try to steal from me again when I go to bed."

The woman went pale though stood to her full height (still quite shorter than him, he noted) and leaned towards him with a pointing finger. "And what is to be my punishment? You won't cut off my hand, will you? I've been close to that a couple times, but I'll have you know that—"

"I was thinking you could work for me for a month. Pay off your debt. I could always use an extra pair of hands around here."

Leaning away from him, she wrinkled her nose in disgust. "Be your bloody maid? No thank you. I'd just as soon go to the authorities and turn myself in!"

"You won't be a maid, number one. Two…," he trailed off, considering his next point as he emptied the bag's contents back into his safe. "I could report you to the authorities. I have that mayoral cred, not to mention they quite like me. It's good to have friends in high places sometimes!"

He could see out of the corner of his eye that she was fuming, tapping her foot impatiently. "Blackmailing me, are you? I respect that…on some level. But, I will not be your servant."

"I'll give you a weekly salary, relax. You seem like you're pretty smart. You can balance the books for me, do some chores…Whatever needs done around here. Hey, you gotta admit"—he shrugged, giving her a disarming smile—"it's not a bad offer to someone who just breaks into people's houses whenever she wants. Best part is, you'll get to keep all your body parts."

"How kind," she lightly mocked and then followed that with a huffy sigh. "Let me think about it."

And she genuinely seemed to as she spent a few moments of silence mulling his proposition over. Braig noted that she started pacing back and forth, habitually tossing her chestnut hair and tapping lightly on her holstered gun. He didn't want to have to worry about her shooting him. She had quite the wit, made obvious with their sparkling conversation. So soon into their acquaintance, he already couldn't help but like her.

And then, she finished her pacing and looked up at him with shrewd eyes. "So you will pay me weekly?"

"The same as I would anyone who works under me."

"And you won't throw me in a dungeon or torture chamber the first chance you get?"

"Well, shit, I'm going to have to put away my iron maiden," he quipped, raising an amused brow at her. "No. Nothing like that at my house. I have guest rooms, what do you think I am? Sadistic?"

"And the tasks won't be humiliating or degrading?"

"Can't say basic accounting isn't a bitch sometimes…But, other than that, nope. I'm not that kind of boss, say what you will about me otherwise!"

For the first time since their encounter, the woman brightened. "Then, we have a deal! Just allow me to pack some belongings and let the girls know."

"Sure, just don't fly away."

To his bemused surprise, he saw that she opted not to take the stairs but instead went for a more unorthodox approach.

She stepped back onto the sill, leaned out, and bellowed, "Sorry, girls, afraid the owner has caught me fair and square! I've agreed to work for him for a month, make it up to him!"

Unmistakably feminine voices from outside (and sounding quite close, up around the rooftop) let out a stream of curses and questions in response. One such question Braig could easily make out:

"Is he cute at least, Val?!"

"Val" turned back around to face him, as if appraising him for the first time. Initially, her face was unreadable, though her gray eyes glinted with amusement.

Smile tugging at her lips, she tilted her head back and replied, "Passable!"

She then glanced back toward him and winked. He snorted, rolling his eyes, yet he couldn't help feeling oddly flattered.

Holding onto the frame with both hands, she asked at the top of her lungs, "You'll wait for me til then, won't you?!"

"Sorry, no can do. We got treasure to seek!"

She couldn't suppress her laughter. "Faithless scourges! What am I to do with you two, eh? Abandoning your captain like that, for shame! Let me come up and pack my things at least!"

Braig observed a rope ladder being thrown down, precariously swinging back and forth. Of course, that wasn't about to deter Val. Without blinking an eye or even staying still long, she leapt onto the flimsy ladder and scrambled up it with ease. He walked up to the sill, looking up to make sure she'd keep her end of the agreement. Beyond a dark head and a blond one, he couldn't make out what the other two sky pirates looked like. Every now and then, he could hear snatches of wily banter (with language he rarely heard outside local watering holes) and laughter but not much else. It felt as though she would be up there for a while, in no real hurry to come back.

Eventually, he heard her yell, "Catch!" and he caught hold of a rather hefty suitcase that thumped against his chest.

"Yeah, you're welcome," he quipped as she came back into view on her descent.

Balancing a smaller valise on her hip, she peered over her shoulder with a grin. "I wasn't going to be able to carry two cases on the way down, now was I?"

He let out a short chuckle. "I don't know. You sure managed that ladder fine enough."

"Eh, I'm used to it. Bye for now, girls! Cheers!" Val shouted once again at her crew before launching herself off the ladder and onto the sill. She waved away his proffered hand and performed a backflip from there to inside the room.

"Huh. Show off more, why don't you?" He smiled, shaking his head as he put the window latch back in place. There was no denying she could impress.

She winked at him again. "Trick of the trade. You have to be creative in my line of work. Quick escape attempts and all that."

"So…since you work for me now…Mind telling me your name?"

And she gave him a sweeping bow in response. "Valeria Gloria Bernadette Manigault, at your reluctant service!"

Braig tried her full name on his tongue, realizing that that was quite the mouthful. But, of course, such a proudly unique person as her would have an equally flamboyant name. However, some of those noble names he'd heard bandied about…Perhaps this was not a sky pirate's imaginative nom de plume but her true full name.

"Hm, Manigault…That nobility by any chance?"

"Ha!" Valeria scoffed. "Clever blighter, aren't you? Yes, I'm just your garden-variety viscount's daughter who ran away from home due to dissatisfaction with her sheltered lifestyle. It's all quite boring stuff. You don't need to hear the whole story, trust me."

She proceeded to step toward him, hand extended. "And you would be…? Or shall I call you 'Mr. Mayor' from here on out?"

"Braig Keln. Just Braig, though, to pretty much everyone."

"Braig…I like it. It suits you. Well, Braig…" She took his hand in a firm yet friendly grip. "Let's hope that this will be an advantageous opportunity for the both of us."

Glancing down at her with her bright eyes and smiling face, he returned her handshake. "I plan on it."

"Very good. I expect you'll make this month worth my while then," she said, lowering her voice to a husky murmur. He only barely noticed that she hadn't withdrawn her hand, and she stood mere inches away from him.

Holding his breath, he nonetheless retorted, "Don't worry, I will, just as long as you don't try to steal from me again."

He thought he felt her slender fingers stroke against his. "Naturally. You have my honor as a Manigault…for what it's worth."

They both stood there, never releasing each other from the protracted "handshake", and their eyes locked. A sign of things to come.

---

Over the next week and a half, as Braig had hoped, Valeria proved her worth as an employee. Although she had made such a big to-do about her reluctance, she dove into any task with enthusiasm. She balanced the household account books almost as well as he could ("Navigating involves more math than you'd think!"), haggled with the local vendors for that day's shopping ("You've been cheated on this fellow's apples before"), and even advised him with town affairs albeit less successfully ("Build those panels right on that Penwick bloke's property, see if he goes into hysterics!"). She won over Lukas and the rest of the small personal staff with her curious, outgoing nature and occasional bawdy jokes. And he found her a delight at the dinner table, talking animatedly about the days' events as well as some tales of her travels. It didn't hurt that he could leave much of the work to her, while he could go about his civic duties and solitary walks in the woods.

However, she still could be prone to distraction, as he discovered one day. Instead of dusting some of the library shelves, like she'd offered, he saw her stretched out on an armchair, engrossed in a book.

Braig suppressed his rising laughter at the sight. She can actually sit still once in a while!

Not only that, he couldn't help but feel rather endeared to this image of her reading. Perhaps her penchant for snooping around often led to trouble, but he admired her curiosity for the world around her.

"Slacking on the job, are we?" he drawled, leaning with crossed arms on the nearest shelf.

Valeria startled to attention, letting the book close on her finger marking her place.

"Absolutely not!" she grinned. "Someone has to read your books, since you certainly don't visit this room often."

He shrugged. "Not enough hours in the day. 'Sides, it's good to keep a lot of unread books. Makes me look studious."

"Right, you, studious," she teased, opening the book back up.

And when she shifted her position, he couldn't help but pay special attention to the way she uncrossed then re-crossed her legs. Her black leather pants (of which she had many like them) generously showed them off, emphasizing their length and shapeliness. He wondered what they would…He quickly glanced away, pretending to let out a short cough.

Easy there. She's only been here a week, don't even go there, bud.

When he looked back at her, he could see the rather smug smile on her face.

"Enjoying the view? Can't say I blame you," she quipped, casually turning a page.

"Well, you certainly have good taste in pants!" Braig replied before changing the subject as smoothly as he could. "So, what are you reading anyway?"

Valeria held up the book so he could glimpse the title. "It's sort of a philosophy book from what I gather. Something about Kingdom Hearts…?"

"Ah, yeah." He stepped closer to the chair, setting a hand on one arm. "It's kind of like our…I guess you could call it a god, but that's not quite right. It's more of a presence, I guess, a life force. What hearts get put into it can come back out…or not."

"Hm, like reincarnation then?"

"Vaguely. But, hell, even the sages can't always suss it out. So, it's hard telling."

Humming to herself, Valeria seemed to skim some previously read passages as if she could hazard a guess. "Interesting. I'm actually not much into religion myself. I'm just more fascinated with what other people believe in. It can say a lot about them."

He smiled. "Can I ask why you're not religious?"

"As long as you don't stuff pamphlets down my throat." Her gray eyes twinkled. "Religion was done so much more intensely where I was from. The outlying villages made it more about celebration and peace offerings. Meantime, I was forced to go to this cold, musty church where all of us children would be lectured. If we weren't well-behaved, Magmus the fire god would come to our beds at night and consume us." She let out a chuckle, rolling her eyes. "I can only imagine what those priests told the adults…I can't remember. I quit going when I was twelve."

He laughed as well. "A fire god eating kids? That's some imagery."

"Indeed, all rubbish! All I need to believe in is the open sky and a good, strong breeze." Valeria gestured to the window behind her. "What use do I have for religion?"

Braig peered outside where she was indicating: brilliant blue sky with patches of clouds. Freedom from all earthly ties. In that moment, he saw her point. There were just some things that seemed so trivial compared to simply living life on one's own terms. An idea that she represented and embraced completely, he could see that through the lively sparkle in her eyes.

"Good point. Though…" He brushed his shoulder against hers as he traced the gilded lettering on the book cover. "You'll find in here that this whole Kingdom Hearts thing is beyond religion. I know, I've read it."

She snapped her gaze to his, shaking her head and pursing her lips in false outrage. "Why, you…"

But, he was already halfway out of the room, laughing at how well he'd pulled her leg, even in this small way.

---

The days passed in a blur. While Braig oversaw the beginnings of the solar farm as well as the biannual spring ball marking the planting season, Valeria continued to assist when needed. However, he saw her less and less as a paid employee and more as an emotional fixture. A good person to talk to and joke with, someone who he was naturally drawn to—it felt great to find someone else he matched wits with.

And the longer she stayed around, the more she had gained her bearings in Silverhurst. Along with the more mundane market days, she made good use of her earnings by visiting the established shops. Not content to let the silver and copper coins burn in her pocket, she would return with arms full of packages containing purchased treasures: books, pants, skirts, and various small trinkets. She even stopped by the taverns once in a while. In one such instance, she had participated in festivities to the extent that Braig had had to help her up the stairs upon her return.

"You know which room is yours, right?" he'd asked, fighting his urge to chuckle.

With bleary eyes, she'd looked at him and slurred out, "Of c-course I dooo," opened the nearest door…and fell right on top of his bed. Out of good graces, he took the liberty of sleeping in an unoccupied guest room that night. The next morning, they'd laughed about it, though she nursed a horrifically pounding headache and would wince while doing so.

Otherwise, she did not let the spontaneous part of her personality get that much the better of her. The townsfolk got used to seeing her around, and if they were put off by her strangeness, they were soon set at ease. And if Valeria felt the nerves of their potential judgment, she rarely showed it. She made many casual acquaintances and came to know some of the shopkeepers by name. She was not only a good assistant but a good complement to their mayor, many people figured out. They gossiped about how they could picture the two of them becoming more than colleagues. Braig could not help but hear their whispers, particularly when he'd sometimes accompany her on market day outings.

Romance, however, would remain a distant fantasy. Before he knew it, it was now a few, short days before Val's month was up. She would leave them. She would leave him. Of course, he wouldn't stop her. Who was he to try?

"I mean, that whole arrangement was kind of icky, wasn't it?" he asked Lukas as they walked toward his office. "I wasn't gonna put her under full-on house arrest—that's not my style—but I shouldn't have threatened her with the fuzz. I'd look bad if I asked her to stay now. Don't need that blow to the ego."

Lukas glanced at him with a knowing smile. "So, you've taken quite the shine to her. I understand. Can't say we won't miss her around these parts. She's been entertaining."

Braig groaned, holding his head. "Don't even mention the 'l' word, Luke."

"I wasn't going to…" Lukas' smile widened.

While they were in his office, looking over a business application, a large shadow suddenly blotted out the filtered sunlight. Lukas went over to the window to investigate.

"Ah, Braig, it looks like a…very large ship is close to your house."

Braig looked out, and, sure enough, he recognized the wood-and-metal hull of Valeria's ship.

"Well, hell, she can leave early if she wants. It's been close enough to a full month, so I won't get picky."

The least I can do is see her off, he thought as he mounted the steps to the topmost floor. Yet, he couldn't help but feel a certain pang, one he didn't typically get. Sadness? Regret? He suspected but he dared not think it. After all, the circumstances of their meeting had been weird. The whole situation was weird. If she'd developed any feelings at all like…

When he opened the unusually large window of his attic, he could see and hear Valeria engaging in conversation with her friends. Now that he got a better look at them, he saw a black-haired woman with dark brown eyes and an olive complexion and another with straw-blond hair and rosy skin. All three of them were chatting animatedly.

"…And that's why I don't see the harm in staying another month or two. Good shopping to be found here besides," he heard Valeria remark. "So tempting to actually acquire things through legal means!"

"Yeah, but then we'll get rusty," the dark-haired woman pointed out.

The blonde nodded in agreement. "Have to agree with Em on this one. It's just so much more fun to get into a little swordplay and run across rooftops!"

Valeria sighed, shaking her head. "I suppose you're telling me I've gone soft. Be that as it may…"

At this point, she spotted Braig peeking out, smiled, and waved. "Come on aboard, Braig! These two"—she pointed at her friends—"are Emmalia Pressaro and Lynessa Nisk, my dubious crewmates in arms. They were just leaving."

Lynessa looked affronted. "And miss out on making proper acquaintance with your friend?"

"Afraid so, Lyn." Valeria shrugged. "Besides, you two can't have much to complain about. I'm giving you free leave to enjoy yourselves."

Emmalia stared straight at him. "Hello, Messere Braig! It appears you're as good-looking as Val told us."

"Huuush," the put-upon captain begged with (if he was not mistaken) a slightly flushed face.

Meanwhile, he only let out his customary easygoing chuckle and bowed. "Hey, I'll take a free compliment where I can get it. Thanks."

Without needing to be prompted, Lynessa went about lowering the gangplank, which he then gingerly got onto and started walking across. However, he soon found that, much like her fellow shipmate, she too couldn't hold her tongue.

"All righty, you two, we'll let you have the ship for the afternoon. Keep in mind, though, that I just washed the sheets yesterday."

"Lynessa!" Valeria yelped, sounding rather oddly scandalized as her face turned a darker, ruddier red.

"Only putting that out there!" Lynessa smirked with a sly wink for good measure.

Braig bit the inside of his cheek, knowing that even if he cracked a hint of a smile, Val would be further mortified. He was many things, but heartless was not one of them.

He gestured off to the side, motioning the two women to cross the gangplank to his sill. "You can just leave through my house, ladies. I don't mind. I doubt you'll try to steal anything with my staff around."

Passing by him, Lynessa thanked him with a slight nod. "Wouldn't dream of stealing from you. A friend of Val's is one of ours!"

"We'll behave! Your town looks lovely," Emmalia followed her friend close behind, paused, and then stage whispered, "As lovely as our Val, wouldn't you say?"

"All right, you two, get out of here!" Valeria pretended to sound authoritative, placing her hands on her hips. "And be good!"

"Yes, Mother," both mocked in unison before giggling and retreating inside the house.

Braig walked the remainder of the gangplank to the ship, and as he approached her, he noticed that she was still blushing. Tossing her hair back, standing proud, and yet…giving him somewhat furtive glances.

She cleared her throat then. "Right. My apologies for my friends. They're a bit rambunctious, prone to saying whatever's off the tops of their heads…They do mean well."

He waved away her apology. "No offense taken. Quite the contrary. I think they're funny."

"You would," she retorted, yet he saw the traces of her familiar smile begin to show. "At any rate, welcome aboard the Celestial Comet! Helmed her for six years, and I cannot think of a finer ship. I'll give you the grand tour."

The blush had now faded to a pink tint that also managed to show off her light freckles, he couldn't help but observe. He followed her belowdecks, briefly admiring both the outward view and the sheen of the deck before he went down the short flight of stairs. Already he had to hand it to her and her crew—it was obvious that this ship meant a great deal to them.

Once they made it down and Valeria started showing him around, he nearly stopped in amazement. It was so much more expansive down here than he would have assumed. And so ornate, with the beautiful, shining light wood paneling as well as the occasional patterned rug here and there. Little nooks and crannies were filled to the brim with treasure chests, jewelry collections, and even small pyramids of gold and silver ingots. They stopped by the library, where she let him peer at the various leather-bound tomes dealing with topics such as other worlds, astronomy, and cartography. There was even an ebony desk in the corner with marked-up maps strewn on top.

Then, they went on toward the three main bedrooms, with beds that looked soft and inviting, piled with pillows that definitely had not been filled with straw like he'd been used to growing up. And what he guessed to be Val's room seemed to have a generous amount of closet space as well as another messy writing desk, where a leather-bound journal lay in wait. However, he only caught that barest glimpse before she closed the door.

"Don't even dare, pervert!" she laughed as she moved breezily right along the hall.

He shrugged. "I wasn't thinking about snooping."

Well, I kind of was, but there's no way I'm telling!

"Liar," she replied in sing-song.

The end of the hall branched off to three distinct areas: galley, parlor, and dining room. The parlor had four tall, purple velvet chairs clustered around a glass table, where an elegant stained-glass lamp stood. Two more bookshelves were also showcased along with minor decorations (such as marble lion bookends) in the empty spaces.

He guffawed, rather gob-smacked at all this finery. "Did you really steal all this?"

"Am I really still a mere thief to you? I thought we'd progressed further along our friendship than that," Valeria mockingly lamented, punctuating her words with a slight pout. "If you must know, some of what you see here was purchased honestly. It's just as nice to find a little something unique to buy as your own. Yes, we steal, but only from the highest and wealthiest. And we give to the poor as well as shopkeepers and artisans."

Braig gazed at her, tracing a finger along the head of one lion bookend. "Yeah. Guess I'm still getting used to the whole 'having extraneous stuff' thing myself. And I didn't mean to accuse you or anything. I'd like to think I know you pretty well."

They held each other's gaze before Valeria turned and coughed. "Of course you do. Open book, that's me! I'll show you what's left."

And she led the way to the galley, stepping quite lively as if to put distance between herself and this more intimate moment. As before, he tagged along, now catching sight of a still-life painting of red chrysanthemums. He quite admired the lush yet comfortable abode she and her friends had created out of this ship.

Among other things…

The galley appeared more utilitarian than the other rooms but no less pleasant, with an iron stove and various dried herbs hanging from the ceiling. Attached was a walk-in pantry with jars of preserved fruits and jams among other goods stashed away.

"Not much to see here. Just our survivalist cooking space," she beamed. "We all contribute. It's like what my sister Helene would say: if you can't cook for yourself, then you're un balourd paresseux, a lazy oaf!"

He let out a short laugh. "I mean, I cook here and there. I cure my own meat and cook that."

"Do you?" She wagged her eyebrows. "I do commend you for giving work to your personal cook. But, if that's all you can do…"

"Hardly! I fix a mean venison stew." He playfully nudged her elbow.

"I ought to try that. Well, I saved the best for last! This way."

Similar to the galley, the dining room was a simple affair with a table and a set of five wooden chairs with powder blue upholstered cushions. There was a freshly picked bouquet of violets as the centerpiece. A large painting of a sky ship at sunset hung on the wall. And right next to that painting, Braig noticed what must have been the main attraction: a liquor cabinet. Bottles of different shapes and sizes gleamed with rays of sunlight from the nearby porthole. Most on display appeared to be wine bottles, but he recognized the odd whiskey or beer among them. Valeria moved towards this collection, opened the cabinet, and traced her finger along the labels. She furrowed her brows in careful thought, making clicking noises with her tongue. Finally, she pulled out a bottle and removed two glasses from the nearest cupboard.

"I think we ought to cap off your tour with my personal favorite!" she remarked as she unsealed the bottle. She proceeded to pour a reddish-brown liquid into each glass, and Braig could see the foam fizzing on top.

Valeria said simply, "Amber ale. I got this from a world called Montressor, but it reminds me of the stuff from my home region. Very rich, very delicious. Try it!"

He took the proffered glass and drank deep, allowing the warm liquid to course down his throat. Closing his eyes, he found the taste perfectly bittersweet, and it went down so smooth.

"It's great!" He smiled broadly. "But, am I getting this right? You were a kid when you had this for the first time?

She scratched the back of her head, trying and failing to look sheepish. "Guilty as charged. I was fifteen, out with a few friends at the Grey Dragon. Had to find my fun somewhere. Let's take these up topside and enjoy the view!"

When they returned to the upper docks, Valeria slipped into the bridge to "mess about with some gadgets", as she explained. Once she accomplished that, she strode toward him, drink firmly in her hand. He felt the ship shudder into movement, so that he had to grip his own glass to prevent it falling away. Meanwhile, she stood steady, not at all bothered.

"I put her on auto pilot!" she mentioned. "We'll go once around Silverhurst, so you'll get to see how I first saw it."

He nodded, still gripping his glass hard. "There isn't such a thing as being 'airsick' up here, is there?"

She chuckled. "No, not usually. Perhaps a mild case of vertigo for heights sufferers, but other than that, this is much smoother than conventional sailing."

She took a long drink of her ale then, until the glass was half-empty, Braig observed with appreciation. There wasn't much in the worlds that seemed to perturb her.

Both of them stood quiet for a while, gazing down at Silverhurst from a perspective he would have never dreamed to see it. No doubt, the view was breathtaking. Everything below appeared neat and evenly spread-out, a veritable patchwork quilt of fields, hilltops, shoreline, and woods. The grand Emerald River cut through the landscape yet, from here, looked like a glistening blue ribbon. And so many townspeople walking around, going about their business…If he didn't know better, he would have thought he was studying an ant colony. All the while, the Celestial Comet slowly drifted along, so that little bypassed them. He felt then that, whenever he would consider his pride and affection for this town, he would think of this moment and of how magnificent Silverhurst truly looked. And how great it was being a part of it.

Only Valeria's voice broke through his reverie. "Beautiful, isn't it? I suppose there was something about this place that attracted me other than potential riches. And now…"

"And now?" he prompted, daring not to hope for what came next.

"I don't know how much of our conversation you heard. But, I want to stay here for the next month or two. What do you think?" She turned toward him, propping her elbows up against the rail as she gave him a slight smile. "I could get a house here, avoid the utter scandal of being an unattached woman living with you…Of course, I'd like to visit often."

The complete joy this news stirred in him almost made him burst.

However, as cool as ever, he drawled, "Well, I suppose that would be all right. Considering this is practically your home and everything. And here I thought I'd have to beg you to stick around."

"Oh, please, Braig!" she grinned, letting out a short laugh. "You can't get enough of me, and you know it!"

If you only knew how true that was.

He merely flashed his crooked grin in response and took another drink of ale.

They both looked down at the bustling town again, each lost in their own thoughts. This silence did not last long, for as soon as she finished her ale, Valeria asked softly, "So, what was it like to grow up here? I can imagine you had a fascinating childhood."

"Not much to tell," he replied with half a shrug. "Son of a blacksmith, oldest of four kids, grew up near the woods…Right down there"—he pointed down to the verdant expanse of trees and shrubs—"I'd be out there all the time. You couldn't drag me away. I guess you still can't! I still take walks there, still hunt…I think that's what's comforting about them. Not much changes. It's a great spot to get away from things."

She hummed in thought. "That all sounds quite rustic, quaint even. But lovely. So, you were an outdoors sort."

"Oh, yeah. My siblings or my friends and I would be out climbing trees and playing hide-and-seek. Except our version was more like fox-and-hens." Braig smiled down toward the woods, dark eyes softening with nostalgia. "But, through all that, I was still a good kid. Kept my nose relatively clean and hit the books when I needed to. I just knew that, whatever job I went into, I was going to help my family, too. I was gonna make sure we were all going to live in better places than a cramped little cottage. And that's how I got to be the awe-inspiring, self-made man you see today."

When he glanced back at Valeria, he saw that she had been listening intently, her smile looking wistful and almost sad. However, that teasing glow danced in her eyes again as she grinned. "Can't you go two minutes without praising yourself?"

"Hm, I don't know, Val. Can you?" He turned to face her, eyebrow raised.

She let her mouth fall agape in an overexaggerated show of offense before lightly swatting at him. "You cur! Do you talk to all women like that? Is this how you charm them?"

Braig lifted his hands in mock surrender. "You got me. Now, you can tell every woman you know about me, and I'll get ignored at every shindig."

"It'd serve you right!"

Not even hiding that this was all in jest, Valeria held back her head and laughed. For a moment, he wondered if it was the alcohol or her wily sense of humor making her act this way. Not that he minded.

When she settled down, he said, "All right, your turn. What was growing up like for you?"

The smile abruptly slid off her face, and even her eyes took on a shuttered, guarded look. She resettled her arms atop the ship rail, going so far as to hunch over her shoulders. He hoped that he hadn't hurt her feelings, but he wasn't so sure—she'd turned her face slightly away. If only he hadn't been so short-sighted. After all, she had alluded to running away from home earlier.

Just as he made to touch her shoulder out of comfort, she sighed and murmured, "My childhood was not nearly as idyllic as yours."

"So what? Tell me anyway." He laid his hand on top of her slim one. "We've got all afternoon, and I've been told I'm a pretty good listener."

Continuing to stare off into the distance, she looked so mentally far away that he almost didn't think she would acknowledge him. When she did, she withdrew her hand but patted his before running her fingers through her hair. She bit her lip in consternation, as if he'd proposed throwing her off the ship instead of opening up to him. Yet, when she glanced up at him, he could see the pained wince on her face.

Finally, with another heavy sigh, she relented, "Very well. I don't go around telling people about my background—because, yes, I have had it used against me before—but Em and Lyn know at least. And I actually trust you too, so…"

She went on, staring at her hands. "I never felt like I truly belonged back home. Certainly not to my station in life. I was the middle of five children, so I always felt as though I needed to stand out in some way. And even though we were relatively low on the nobility food chain, our parents still largely entrusted us to the care of nannies, governesses, and tutors. It also felt as though we had to compete against each other. Who would turn out to be the most charming? Who would marry into the best alliance? That sort of rot. When I was really young, I opted to be the most erudite. I was an avid reader, studier of maps, and knew parts of three languages by the time I was ten. But, of course, no bloody point in that"—she let out a bitter chuckle—"because my parents fretted that my nose was too stuck in the books. They wanted me to master needlepoint, the pianoforte, dancing, etiquette….All so I could attain the ideal husband when the time came. I never took any of that seriously, since they'd neglect me often anyway. I'd hoped at some point, they'd forget all about that shit and give me up for a lost cause. Because I could get up to my fair bit of mischief myself."

Valeria indulged in a sly smile, her eyes gleaming. "I would have dreamed to have your childhood, out in the woods and going on adventures. As it was, I was quite unruly, wild even. I once chased my history tutor around with a frog, begging him to kiss it to break its curse. I'd race on horseback with my sisters Helene and Arabelle until we got appallingly sweaty and unkempt. I often sneaked into the kitchens after midnight. And, every now and then, I'd get into the rare fight if any visiting noble child dared to insult my sisters or my little brother Henri, our house's crowning glory. I had to defend their honor—I was their knight, wasn't I? My parents would be mortified when that happened. One more marriage alliance in the gutter, oh well!"

Braig idly tapped his fingers atop the rail, listening, entranced by her story. "So, did you always know you'd be an adventurer?"

"More or less. I wasn't content with sitting still, unless it was with a book or atlas of some sort. I couldn't play one good chord on the pianoforte. And there was more than one instance where I wanted to chuck my embroidery out the window. This wouldn't be my whole life. I knew I was destined for bigger." She stretched her arms out to reveal just how far she'd come. "This! This is more like it!"

"But, then, you got older, you went out to the village for fun…" He tilted his head, sensing a change in tone.

"Yes," she muttered. "The pits of adolescence. Saying goodbye to Helene when she got married off…Saying goodbye to Ari when she was fifteen, shipped off to marry that piece of offal she has to call husband. Literally just had her coming-out ball, and she was gone in a flash. Josette, the great Manigault beauty, had been gone for some years. So, it was me and Henri left. Or, really, just me"—she frowned—"since he was the heir and therefore got all the attention. You're right about my village tavern visits being the turning point. Dear Father and Mother eventually got wind of that and, well…They rushed my coming-out and held it as soon as I turned seventeen. But, I had few takers. They were getting desperate. Surely, a husband and children would sort me out. Never got the urge to have children by the way. Never have, never will, though I do love Helene's children dearly. I can play aunt all day and never mind it. Maman, on the other hand…"

Braig shrugged, smiling by way of sympathy. "Hey, I know all about that. I'm an uncle, too. I don't have the urgency to carry on my 'family legacy' or whatever, especially since there's already four of us. Besides, I don't think I'd be cut out for the whole parenting thing."

"Neither would I! I'd bribe mine with cookies to behave and let them climb trees unsupervised. I'd be the worst at it, and I know it."

"Cookie bribery? That's my go-to with my brother's kiddos!"

Valeria laughed, partially out of amusement, partially out of genuine surprise. "See, you understand! It is a good tactic, isn't it? Right, where was I? Oh, yes…There were a couple of suitors sent to court, ostensibly for a marriage contract. I was not high-ranking, so things were done slightly less formally in that regard. All the same, of course, I still gave everyone involved hell. One suitor got a little handsy with me, so I pushed him off a very short flight of stairs. Fell right on his ass, it was quite a sight! These whole proceedings became a proper disaster, my loving, supportive parents saw that a mile away. No more courtships then. One evening, they took me aside and told me I was to marry a forty-five-year-old widowed earl with five children. The contract had been drawn up in advance. Mother in particular was very cold, as she always was. She informed me they had only humored me in letting me be courted, but this had been decided for two years. And I still remember what Father said to me, 'Perhaps a husband will finally calm you down.' All to avoid me being more of an embarrassment to the family. When wasn't I in their eyes?"

Although her hands had remained still, Braig detected a slight tremor running through them. "I knew I could be difficult with my stubbornness sometimes. But, all I had ever really wanted was their approval. Don't we all seek that from our parents? Approval, pride, unconditional love? I rarely got it. There was always something to criticize, from my reading habits to how I conducted teatime conversation with my friends to even my size once. I was too short, whatever. Yet, I had always embraced my femininity—I take great pride in being a woman above all else but…That still wasn't enough. I had more talented, more obedient siblings. What was I other than a nuisance?"

Valeria clenched her hands on the rail, her gray eyes in steely resolve as her face hardened. "Then again, what need had I of my parents—of this life—after a certain point? If I kept bending myself backwards for approval, then I wouldn't be able to be myself any more. I couldn't let that happen. I had to be true to what my heart wanted. And what my heart wanted…was not to be confined to nobility. I'd dreamed of far-off places, exploring, and most importantly, making my own fate. So, running away to become a sky pirate…Well, that was the inevitable next step." She let slip a wan smile. "I fled home that night, went to the nearest port town, and met Frederica Thorne also known as Sly Fox Freddie. Offered myself as a cabin girl. She took me on and turned out to be a better parental figure than both my parents put together. Make no mistake, she was still brash and wily when she wanted to be and taught me how to use a pistol. She could be tough, probably still is! I was her eager pupil and then struck out on my own with this ship that she gifted me. One of her own that she had at port. Best of all? Freddie wasn't afraid to tell me she was proud of me or encourage me."

This was a lot to take in, Braig considered when she finished her colorful story. Compared to his humble yet rewarding beginnings, hers had been full of all the complex twists and turns. Her strong sense of self had emerged, even as her own parents did their level best to suppress it. He couldn't say he could imagine tolerating that kind of scenario himself. And he suspected there were depths to her pain that she was still trying to swim past. Through it all, she had come out on top. He could sense his heart nearly flooding over with warm regard for her.

Valeria shook her head at some private thought before turning more fully toward him. "Moral of the story is that too much wealth turns people into wankers. Don't let your change in status change you, Braig. Please? I quite like you. Don't end up like my parents."

"Hey, don't worry," he reassured her with a wink. "It's enough to be mayor. Don't need to add 'duke' or 'baron' to my resume. Besides, I try not to forget where I came from."

"Stated very sensibly, as always. You're the salt of the earth compared to these other snobs with coin." She nodded approvingly before continuing with a light scoff, "Ha, I won't lie, that marriage prospect was the last bloody straw. As if I was going to allow my parents to dispose of me like I was chattel! I could never bear the idea of marrying this disgustingly older man, tend to his children, and become his next brood mare. Even at seventeen, I saw that future. As soon as I'd get past my childbearing years, I'd be like my mother and reduced to playing matchmaker for all my offspring. Then wither away doing accursed needlepoint, with my 'lord husband' likely having been dead for several decades. All this for what? So I could be a gorgeous young ornament on his arm at parties?"

Resting one hand on the rail, Braig leaned closer. "Did you just call yourself gorgeous?"

"Well, aren't I?"

With a pointed jut of her chin and a toss of her head, she meant this as a clear joke, he understood this. And yet, at that moment, he could no longer deny his sentiments on the subject. As the afternoon had given way to sunset, those dying rays flattered her appearance. Her eyes twinkled so brightly that they looked almost silver. And as the sun continued setting, it seemed to catch the copper undertones in her chestnut hair, creating a distinct glow around her head. On this ship, her home turf, she looked not only comfortable but unstoppable, as if nothing could shake her no matter what she'd felt in the past.

Before he realized he was doing this, he had lifted his hand and gently caressed her face, murmuring, "That's definitely not up for debate."

"Now, really," Valeria responded with a slight quaver in her voice yet revealing a hopeful smile, "I was just trying to be clever again, not fishing for compliments."

The two of them stood quite close then, closer than they had been the night they met. The night where, with all the casual flirtation, Braig had suspected his life would change for the better.

He got bolder, brushing his thumb across her lower lip and cradling her face fully in his hand. "Too bad, you're getting them. Here's another one. You're unlike any woman I've ever met."

"And you're certainly unlike any man I've ever met," she whispered back, with a beautiful smile that made his heart leap. "Being around you has made me even happier…"

When he would reflect later, he would be unable to recall with certainty as to who made the fateful move (though he was sure it was her), but they soon swept each other up in their first kiss. He could taste the ale on her breath as she poured every emotion into it, throwing her arms about his shoulders and stretching herself upward to get closer. And he responded with equal passion, letting a hand come to rest idly on her hip. As far as he was concerned, no one else's kiss had existed before hers. That had to be true, he assumed, especially once she moved her lips from his and left a fiery trail of kisses along his jawline.

When they parted, Braig felt as if he had just emerged from a hazy fever dream, with the breath knocked out of him. Judging by her dazed eyes and half-smile, Valeria must have felt the same. She even touched her lips as if she couldn't believe what had happened. Meanwhile, his heart couldn't stop beating, both from the exertion and the rush of heady emotions. What the hell was happening to him? He was more used to playing things cool, close enough to people…women…to where he was affable but distant enough to maintain a professional reputation. After all, as long as he was mayor, he figured he worked best as a level-headed, impartial party to everything.

That was surely dashed after this afternoon. And he did not regret it for an instant.

"'Fraid you're in real trouble now, Val. I'm involved," he joked once he'd evened out his breathing.

She smirked back. "If trouble feels anything like that just did, then send me to hell straight away!"

With a gravelly chuckle, he ruffled her hair. "Right there with you."

They stood shoulder-to-shoulder, lapsing into a more content silence that remained for the rest of the short trip. He affectionately massaged her arm every now and again, while she leaned her head on his shoulder. At that moment, the whole world had ceased to exist. For all he knew, it had always been the two of them the whole time, like a pair of swans purposely isolated on their own pond.

The Celestial Comet had drifted to the edge of the town boundaries, where it was all untamed woods stretching for miles. Off in the distance, he could just make out the blurred outline of the mountains. As high up as they were, perhaps they could come close enough to touch them. An unlikely fantasy yet a good one to indulge, especially since he felt like he could do anything now. After all, he had her by his side.

But, the ride had to end at a certain point, especially with dusk fast approaching. Valeria excused herself to recalibrate her ship's course and set her toward home. When she reemerged, the way she looked aroused Braig's suspicions. She still smiled at him, for all intents and purposes still happy around him. Yet, weariness seemed to pull at the corners of her smile, and her eyes held lingering sorrow from whatever thoughts she must have had in that brief moment alone. He wondered what she could have been thinking that hurt her so much after the joyous occasion they had shared. Was it him? Or regret from talking about the past? Or perhaps, a bit of both?

"You all right?" he asked, tilting his head as he contemplated her.

She smiled wider, so that whatever sadness had been in her eyes completely dissipated. "Never better. Probably one of the best days we've spent. Wouldn't you agree?"

"Undoubtedly." He nodded, returning her smile.

He wouldn't broach the subject any further, he decided. If it was a pressing matter, he was sure she would reveal it to him in her own time. Besides, there was so much more to appreciate about the day than not—it too had been one of the best days he could think of in recent memory.

Once the ship reached their destination, Valeria lowered the gangplank to give him leave to cross. As he walked across, he stopped when he didn't hear her footsteps following him. Glancing over his shoulder, he saw her standing on the deck, not having moved an inch.

"If it's all the same to you, I'd like to stay here for the night," she said. "Someone's got to keep an eye on the ship while Em and Lyn are out. I'm sure they'll be out late, visiting your town's attractions. Perhaps expose the locals to their repertoire of drinking songs!"

Braig chuckled. "I'm sure what tunes they know and what ones we know overlap."

"They more than likely do. That and…" She bit her lip in slight abasement, face reddening. "It may sound pitiful, but I'm one of those captains who gets homesick for her ship. I…I like to sleep out on the deck under the stars. All gushy sentiment, you know."

"Really? Looks good on you." He winked, breezily stepping onto the adjacent balcony. "In that case…good night, Val."

"Good night." He could detect a distinct note of fondness in her voice as she bestowed him with a soft smile.

And, though he kept his head turned, he could feel her gray-eyed gaze on him as he went inside. The dreams that night were sure to be ones worth remembering.

What could he say? The "gushy sentiment" had rubbed off on him.

---

"I must say, Braig," Lukas cheerfully pronounced, looking out over the lively crowd of well-dressed guests, "you've really outdone yourself this year."

Braig waved the compliment away with a light scoff and then adjusted the cuffs of his dark blue jacket. "I don't know about that. I mean, I hope I did! That wine was expensive as hell."

After a month-and-a-half's worth of planning, the biannual springtime ball was here once again. A regional celebration to mark the planting season and free for anyone to attend, undivided by wealth or status. Many Silverhurst residents as well as sister town Goldwood's had shown up in their best finery to commemorate the occasion. Casks of red wine from Goldwood's wineries had been sent in as well as various decorative flowers further south. Decadent dishes (roast goose, four types of quiche, and rich chocolate cake among them) had been carefully prepared and then refined to perfection from a team of skilled local cooks and bakers. And a musical octet was performing the most spirited jigs and sweeping waltzes. Everything he and Deckhart had arranged to the last lush detail. Exhausting but mostly worth the time and energy, if only to see the pleased smiles of the townspeople.

"Worth it, though," his friend pointed out, demonstrating with a sip of the deep red wine. "Besides, I checked—this won't destroy the town's account by any means. So, now that we're done planning all this, suppose we go hunting next weekend?"

"Hmm…" Braig stroked his chin. "It wouldn't be very exciting. All we could trap this time of year would be rabbits and squirrels. Buut, if we get closer to the mountains, we might be able to find an elk or two!"

At this moment, Lukas' wife Irene walked over toward them, resplendent in a long-sleeved olive green gown to match her husband's jacket. She had been another one of Braig's friends growing up and greeted him accordingly with a polite kiss on the cheek. And Lukas, of course, she gave a light peck on the lips.

"You men talking about hunting again? Is tonight boring you already?" she teased.

Lukas laughed while Braig replied, "Nah, just don't like showing off my money like this. Feels like I'm being a narcissist. And anyway…I'm waiting on Val. She said something about needing some extra time to get ready. All I know is she told me to wear blue."

Irene smiled. "So, Val's still in town? Good! She's been such a lovely addition here."

He went on to briefly explain how yes, Valeria was still around, and had settled in a nearby inn. She'd thought it would be a good middle ground between living with him and purchasing a house of her own. And while her crewmates hadn't taken up residence themselves, they still became frequent visitors and would stop by his manor every so often. She herself would stop in to chat as always but seemed to hide out in the library more and more as if it was her personal secret place ("It's probably the maps!" he speculated). What Braig did not mention—and what he would be too embarrassed to—were his misgivings about her staying in the in-between like this. She hadn't truly settled, and there was a good chance she would take off at a moment's notice.

The three friends did not have to wait for Valeria long, for she soon appeared at the top of the staircase. Braig happened to glimpse her at the exact moment, mid-sip of wine, and he found himself trying not to choke. To say she was a vision would have been a vast understatement. She wore a grand sleeveless gown of midnight blue tulle, complete with train and high collar. This gave generous emphasis to her firm, muscled arms and naturally long neck. She had left her chestnut hair loose, as usual, but pinned back around her ears. As she descended the stairs and made her way toward them, he had to remind himself this wasn't a dream. She stopped every now and then to graciously engage with other guests who either greeted her or complimented her. At one point, she laughed at something Deckhart said, with a wide grin.

When she finally approached them (exchanging hugs with the Frosts), she quipped to him, "What's the matter, Braig? Never seen a woman before?"

He exhaled his long-held breath through a raspy chuckle. "I appreciate a good, dramatic entrance."

"A response for everything, as always!"

"You're stunning," he complimented with a nod, pretending his jaw hadn't been near the floor a minute ago. And succeeding, he liked to think.

Valeria beamed. "Why, thank you." She stroked his forearm. "You look quite dashing yourself."

Irene cut in. "Your sense of timing is perfect! We were all just talking about you."

"Oh? Good things, I hope?"

"As opposed to bad things, Val," Lukas said dryly before elaborating, "We were telling Irene how you stop in to visit Braig's library quite often these days."

Valeria laughed a bit self-deprecatingly. "He does have an impressive library, among other things."

"Hem-hem." Braig cleared his throat. "You know what they say about the size of a man's library…"

"Well, now, Braig!" Irene pretended to scold, though her upper lip quivered. "There are ladies present. And we're all at a ball. Do try to behave yourself for once."

He shrugged his shoulders with half a smirk. "We're at a ball? I didn't notice."

"So, Val, how much longer will you be staying in Silverhurst?" Irene asked, ignoring his joke attempt.

Valeria seemed to ponder over this, nibbling at her bottom lip. "I'm…not quite sure. I do love it here, and I've visited castles before! I have been trying to look for a sort of home base. I would have to get back to you on that. For now"—she turned toward Braig, giving him an amused look—"I believe we're here to dance, yes?"

He instantly got the hint, offering her his arm. "Shall we?"

Her responding grin was positively giddy. "It would be my pleasure!"

He did not feel that they walked so much as swept toward the middle of the floor, just as a jaunty tune faded out. The musicians soon started up a slower, more dramatic waltz as the two of them exchanged short bows. Placing one hand in hers and the other on her waist, he led the way.

"How many of them are staring?" he murmured, though did not move his head to spare a glance.

Valeria brushed her chin across his shoulder (giving him slight goosebumps in the process) as she discreetly peered around. As a matter of fact, many of the guests looked transfixed by them. Even some of the other dancing couples stepped aside to give them more room. And of course, there was all the pointing and sly whispering.

"Some," she reported dryly. "I'm sure we're not the main draw."

"Yeah, host of the party with a well-known sky pirate…How boring." Braig playfully rolled his eyes as he kept pace with her smooth steps. "You're an old pro at this! This bring back any memories for you?"

"Not really. Not any good ones worth any sort of damn anyway. I'd rather make new memories in this ballroom. It's got more charm, less stuffiness."

They continued gliding across the floor as the music played on, with the couples now joining in once their initial amazement wore off. As he led her along, he caught Lukas and Irene beaming at them as they clearly drew their own conclusions. They wove in and out of the other pairs, the music swelling more and more, while they spun faster and faster. He kept his eyes trained on Valeria's face, noticing the pronounced flush from her exertion and the way her eyes glowed from the chandelier lights. There was so much to study about her heart-shaped face, so many emotions to glean. He could gaze at her forever and never get tired of it.

"So, what did Deckhart say to you earlier?" he asked, leaning ever closer toward her.

Valeria smiled. "Oh, you mean the other mayor? He told me it was an honor to finally meet the famous Val Fleetwind in person."

He raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Fleetwind?"

"Oh, I never told you? I'm known as 'Val Fleetwind' almost anywhere I go, for my swiftness in my escapes. 'As fleeting as the wind', they say. It's a name that's stuck over time. Anyway, I was flattered by his compliment. I asked him if he was sure given my thieving reputation. Then, he told me it was no matter…I was living out his childhood dream! Imagine if he was like me, eh?"

Braig glanced over at his colleague and fellow mayor, trying to picture the older man as a pirate. "Can't say I could. Doesn't seem the swashbuckling type to me. And besides, no one could be like you."

For once, she had no quick response, only an affectionate smile. She seemed content to enjoy the romance of the moment, being one of many well-dressed people making the best of tonight. To forget about whatever lingering troubles on their minds and simply let the music carry them away. He couldn't argue with that logic and so allowed a moment to be just that for once. Thus, in that spirit, both of them spent much of the rest of the night being fully present: drinking, laughing, sharing light-hearted conversation, and dancing. Especially dancing. To onlookers, it seemed as though this magnetic couple could hardly stay out of each other's arms. To Braig, it was one more way to spend time with Val, given how precious yet limited it had felt as of late. However, as the ball was winding down, he realized he had lost sight of her during his mingling among the guests.

He approached Lukas, with whom he'd last seen her speaking to. "Hey, Luke, any idea where Val went to?"

His friend sighed in response, a slight crease forming between his eyebrows. "She said something about being tired and needing to turn in early. I believe that might have been half an hour ago. To be honest, I'm a little worried about her. She hadn't even touched her glass of wine when we talked, seemed rather distracted. I'd check in on her if I were you. Oh, and she was very pale besides."

Braig gave him a brief nod and a pat on the shoulder. "Thanks for telling me. That definitely doesn't sound like her. She wouldn't just ignore good wine like that."

Even as guests just started to leave, he brushed past them and hurried up the stairs. He looked in the library and then in her once designated room, where he found her standing on the walkout balcony. Shoulders hunched, she leaned across the rail, seemingly unaware of his presence.

"Valeria?" he addressed her carefully.

"I should know better than to hide from you at this point, shouldn't I?" she asked, letting out a raspy, almost choked laugh. "You have that habit of finding me fairly quickly."

When she still hadn't turned to face him, he stepped closer and stopped just within arm's reach. "I was concerned, was all. You made a quick escape there, like…Well, kinda like you wanted to be away from it all."

"Quick draw in your cleverness, I admire that ab—"She interrupted herself as she visibly tensed her shoulders. "Perhaps I should go. I've spent enough time here. I could sail to some new regions, new worlds. I would hate to be a burden on your hospitality for much longer."

He shook his head with a dry chuckle of disbelief. "Why would you say that? You've really livened things up around here! Like you've always been a part of the town, like you belong here. It'd feel a bit empty without you."

It was then that she turned toward him, and even if he'd halfway expected it, it was nonetheless a shock to see her normally grinning face pale and tear-stained. "That's the problem. I've become just as attached here. And then there's the fact that I've fallen in love with you."

The blood thrummed in his ears as his heart skipped several beats, as if he was back in school mooning over his first crush. It had been a long time since anyone had had that affect on him. Indeed, he couldn't remember if anyone had ever accomplished that, so preoccupied he had been with his ambitions. Now sidling up next to Valeria and getting a good look at her crestfallen expression, he hardly understood why her confession could evoke such sadness. He then looked outwards at the clear, starry night, frown unconsciously pulling at his lips. Somehow, it felt wrong to have these waves of joy wash over him while she stewed in misery.

At last, he responded, "I'm glad you told me that. But, maybe it's just me…You don't seem very happy for someone in love."

"I'm not in the business of torturing myself over matters like these," she retorted, a defensive edge in her voice. "Believe me, I hate how broken-up I've become. When I first realized I had feelings for you, I was thrilled. How perfect to fall for someone I could talk to so easily…"

On pure impulse, he laid both his hands on top of hers. "Then, what about this is complicated?"

She sighed yet looked him directly in the eye. "I've learned the hard way what it means for a woman like me to be serious with any man. I've been burned before, Braig. Remember when I told you I've had my background used against me? Well, in one significant other's case, he wondered when I would come into my inheritance"—she again let out her wounded laugh—"as though my running away from home meant nothing. All I left my parents were a note and a braid of my cut hair to drive my message home. Of course there's no damn inheritance. I've surely been stripped of it by now. Then, another man I was very serious about…He wanted me to give up piracy for him and be his good, little wife and mother to his future children. When I reiterated that I didn't want children and still wanted to travel, he called me half of a woman for those reasons. It was a foolish thing for him to say, but I won't pretend that that insult didn't sting. Maybe it still does."

Even while maintaining his gentle hold on her hands, Braig internally raged over her mistreatment by these so-called men. He could not wrap his mind over why anyone would throw her away so cheaply, acting like they'd never even known her worth. Their loss.

It's too bad they hurt her in the process, he thought, observing how her face sharpened from the memory.

Aloud, he pointed out, "Sounds like that guy was a petty idiot."

That made Valeria smile with a soft laugh. "Oh, he was. I'd made sure to tell him off, even if I couldn't do that as well as I'd liked through my tears. But, it was still a drain regardless."

She glanced briefly away again, though it was too late—he saw similar tears swimming in her gray eyes.

"The truth is I'm bloody terrified. I'm not sure I can bear the thought of another rejection. You may like me for who I am now, but who's to say how you'll feel six months from now? Perhaps you'll tire of me. All I know is I will not compromise myself. I did that for seventeen years, and that was long enough. If I'm to be with anyone, I want to be accepted completely. As an equal."

Shuddering, she touched his forearm as her tears started trailing down. "I can't ask you to leave your home for me. I'm always going to want to travel. It's in my very nature, else I'll get restless. So, if you want to end this now before it goes any fur—"

"Whoa, whoa, whoa, let's not jump to conclusions here," he murmured, lifting a hand to caress her face and drive away those tears. "I definitely don't want to be mayor forever. It'd be nice to go beyond here and see other places. Those other guys might not have had the stomachs to have you call the shots, but I'd follow you anywhere, Valeria. And no"—he cupped her face with a reassuring smile when she opened her mouth in protest—"I'm not bullshitting you either."

"You and your mouth," Valeria replied lamely and reached up to keep his hand in place.

"If you really want to know, I'm crazy about you. You're intelligent, funny, gutsy, beautiful…I didn't know you were everything I'd been looking for in a woman until you showed up. I wouldn't change one thing about you." He twirled a strand of her hair. "Not a. Single. Thing."

Looking almost innocent in her amazed expression, parted mouth and bright eyes, she caressed his face in kind and whispered, "You love me then?"

"Am I really that easy to figure out?" he joked before turning serious. "I do. I knew there was a reason I wanted you around, actually, when we met."

Her relieved yet exuberant smile was one of the most gorgeous sights he'd ever encountered. "I did, too. Let's just say that…I may have agreed to work for you out of a selfish desire to know you better. You left quite the first impression, handsome devil trying to outwit me."

Braig chuckled, shaking his head. "How'd I know that was the reason? That's just such a Val thing to—"

It was then that Valeria threw her arms around his neck and gave him the most passionate kiss he'd received from her yet. When she smiled (almost grinning) against his lips, he could hardly resist smiling back as he weaved his fingers through her silky hair. He breathed in her lavender perfume, which reminded him of open wildflower fields. An intentional choice on her part, perhaps?

Breathing heavily, they parted but allowed the barest amount of space between them, and she whispered, "Another one of my signatures."

"Hm, what else you got?" he murmured, bringing her closer to his chest, with every curve of her body fitting perfectly against his.

With a playful rolling of her eyes, she hiked up her skirts and wrapped one leg around his. "Enough talking. You'll find out soon enough."

This completely undid Braig, who had no problems following her train of thought. He kissed her again as he lifted her high enough for her to wrap her legs around his waist, walking back toward her room. Rather absentmindedly, Valeria threw off the pins in her hair and fumbled with undoing the buttons of his shirt. Meantime, he had shrugged off his jacket at some point, his vest going the same way. Everything blurred in his feverish state as he let his passion get the better of him.

She took him by surprise when she gently pushed him onto the bed while he still struggled with the laces on the back of her dress. And in that moment, he saw her more clearly: her eyes smoldering with desire yet soft affection and her hair framing her face in tousled waves. He knew then that he wanted that view every night and morning for the rest of his life.

Cradling her cheek in his hand, he asked quietly, "You're sure you want this? Do you really want to be tied down here with me?"

She responded with a gentle laugh and a lingering kiss. "More sure than I've been about anything. Don't sell yourself short, love. I know what I want. I'm not the blushing young girl I once was, after all."

As if to prove her point, she pushed his shirt down even further to expose his chest and left several harder kisses up and down while massaging his shoulders. Holding back a full-on moan, he worked on her dress laces with more enthusiasm.

He cursed under his breath, still struggling. "Why do they make women's clothing so damn hard?"

"You tell me." She looked up from her ministrations to grin at him. "Allow me."

Together, they worked through this obstacle among other things that night.

---

When Valeria rushed back to the manor with all her belongings later the next day, Braig had the inkling that the next few months would hold some of the merriest days of his life. He could barely contain his enthusiasm that now bubbled over like the sweetest wine. Over these two months, he showed her even more of his world, his life, and all he held dear. No longer was he taking those solitary walks in the woods—he'd often ask her to join him. As loquacious as she was, full of consistent observations and quick remarks, even she had to step back and take in the natural beauty surrounding them. In turn, she introduced stargazing to him, pointing out constellations he had not considered and worlds waiting to be visited. He felt content in the knowledge that love of these ordinary wonders bound them together like the twin souls they were.

So did their love of family. Once the other Kelns met her, they saw her sparkling appeal as soon as he had. And the dinners he shared with her crewmates, her found family, were among the most memorable. Emmalia and Lynessa proved steadfast friends to his Valeria as well as him, if a touch nosy over seedier details that they diverted with winks and laughs. Of course, they indulged in these more intimate moments when they could, whether it was through laying outside to stargaze or staying in bed as late as two in the afternoon (the latter of which Lukas kept alluding to with a sly smile). There was no one's romantic company he would have preferred over hers, or she with him, he could tell.

In the midst of all this, Braig continued to stay active in his civic duties from ensuring the solar panel project fared smoothly to finally levying Penwick with a hefty fine after he'd passed out pamphlets with alarmist, false information. The man took it as well as expected but stopped his activities at least. He oversaw his councils as always yet found himself anxious for a real day off. He had an important, more pressing matter to take care of. Every moment alone, he even went so far as to rehearse, so that when the time came, he could utter the key words as smoothly as possible.

The weather had to cooperate as well, though nature proved much flightier. It rained off and on for five days straight, which almost seemed like a ceaseless stretch of drenching showers. However, one sunny midsummer day arrived at last, yet it began in mundane fashion. He walked with Valeria in the woods, making idle conversation. The topic at hand happened to be tavern disputes.

"And then I just stepped in between them and went, 'Look, you don't want to pull this crap in my town. And oh, one other thing. The woman you were both picking a fight over…Well, she just left.' Served them right!" Braig dusted his shoulders off with a proud smirk. "I think those men were too drunk at that point to actually do anything to me, so they went home, tails between their legs."

Valeria laughed, shaking her head. "How absurd! You did well to keep the peace, very mature on your part. Well, my problem was far less humorous, but it does have a happy ending…I poured an entire tankard of mead on that disgusting idiot's head! Least I could do after he ogled me all night, passed off spills on me as accidents when he'd wanted to see me wet. Ugh, degrading." She wrinkled her nose and then hand waved her anecdote away like a pesky fly. "Never mind all that. You are truly the rare gentleman who acted well and didn't try to take the woman home for yourself. Speaking of…I've never heard you mention your past relationships."

He cocked his head at her, brow arched in bemusement. "I just don't have much to say on the subject. I've always been busy with being mayor and making sure my family was financially stable. Nights over, yeah, I had time for those but…I've had three actual relationships at the most, all short. Everyone knows everyone around here. Gets almost incestuous to have anything serious with a woman here, especially if I know her from back in the day."

"That wasn't a problem for Lukas and Irene," Valeria pointed out, smirking at this comparison.

He shrugged with a carefree grin. "They've always had a thing for each other, about as long as I can remember. That was inevitable with them."

"They clearly agree on a lot, because they've teased me mercilessly about us, I might add."

"Oh, me too! I think they're happy for us, though, for me too. They were worried I wouldn't find the right person, though it was no skin off my nose." He chuckled. "I knew I had time. Traveling was always in my plans. If I found someone then, I would, and if not, so be it."

Glancing down at her with a more thoughtful gaze, he added, "I didn't expect all that to come directly to me."

In an almost shy manner, she twirled a piece of her hair. "I was lucky that I tried to rob the right house then."

The soft smile that had been on Braig's face widened to a radiant grin. "Yes, you were. We both were. Who would have thought, huh?"

By this point in their conversation, they stepped out of the edge of the woods, with all the bramble and bracken, and into a meadow dotted with violets, buttercups, and other vivid flowers. Smiling, Valeria promptly knelt down and picked one, even allowing herself the pleasure of smelling it. He studied her, almost getting the urge to puff out his chest from pride. For, this location had been nothing but an intentional destination. He was glad that she enjoyed this place as much as he did.

Perfect, he thought before he touched her shoulder to draw her attention back to him.

"So, I'm not that great with speeches…," he started out, suddenly feeling a trickle of nerves.

"You're a mayor," she deadpanned as she rose to her feet.

"Yeah, well…heh. Different kind of speech." He grasped her hands. "I just know that these months with you have been some of the best ones of my life. I don't take that for granted. And there are just some things that…that I don't have to think very hard about. What I'm saying is once I make up my mind on something or someone, I mean it. No second guesses. I tend to be quick about it, too."

He noticed her looking at him, her head tilted to the side as she listened to his slightly (very slightly) fumbling words. The only indicator of her true feelings was the dancing glint of excitement in her eyes.

Rummaging in his pants pocket, he finished by saying, "I guess what I'm trying to say is I got something to ask."

When he dropped to one knee, he heard her give an audible gasp. And when he produced the small box from his pocket to reveal the ring inside, he saw tears spring to the corners of her eyes. She held her hand over her mouth though failed to stifle another delighted gasp.

Nonetheless, she blurted out, "Where did you get that?!"

"I'm trying to propose here, yet you're more interested in the ring," Braig teased. "Actually, you got a good eye. These sapphires did come from my safe! I had the jeweler put them on a band not too long ago. I figured I ought to show you I was serious by giving you the sapphires you tried to steal from me. It's the least I can do after making you work for me that first month—a lot of that clerical crap probably wasn't fun for you."

Valeria only let out a weak laugh as she leaned further to admire the ring, which he could hardly blame her for doing. Indeed, the jeweler had outdone himself by placing a hexagonal cut sapphire in the middle with smaller ones surrounding it on a silver band. Blue for the sky, silver for the stars. He had known when he'd viewed the result that this would be the perfect ring for her.

With her hand to her chest, tears flowing free, she choked, "You've rendered me speechless! Good job there."

He let out a soft chuckle. "Took me forever. Val, will you marry me?"

The words had barely passed from his lips when she eagerly held out her left hand. "Yes! My answer is yes! It's about time, darling!"

So overcome with emotion was she that, once Braig slipped the ring onto her finger, she practically leapt into his arms and kissed him hard. As usual, he was happy to oblige and then some. He lifted her off the ground, even daring to spin her around, while sensing stinging emotion in his own eyes. They laughed together, still kissing, before he set her down at last.

With a glance down at her new engagement ring, she said wryly, "Guess you're stuck with me now, eh?"

"Guess so." He ran a hand through her hair. "Can't say I'm complaining, though!"

She shook her head. "No, I'm not either. There's no one else I would be willing to share my life like this. I love you."

He pressed his forehead against hers, whispering, "Love you back."

This memory would stay imprinted in his mind for a long time to come, he knew as much, and he would make sure of it. Even if there was ever a time he had to walk through hell and back…

Unbeknownst to him or Valeria, however, that time would come sooner than they thought.

---

By the end of that week, all of Silverhurst was abuzz over their mayor finally finding someone to share his life with (and so soon!) and the future beyond the engagement. Would he continue serving them? Would he take off on the Celestial Comet, with his fiancée at the helm? Braig could only smile at the gossip around him as well as the more direct questions he received.

"Is that sapphire a 12-karat?" his cook Eleanor asked after she served dinner one evening.

Another question, posed by Roger Colburn, the bookshop owner. "Will it be a large wedding?"

And then, of course, Nicolas Gawain dared to ask at the tavern, "You mean to be a pirate too, now?"

All of these he answered in due course: 8-karat but his love for her was immeasurable; maybe a large reception dinner the following week; and no, he would not steal Val's job away from her.

They celebrated with friends and family alike over the next several days, talking of what the future would bring. The wedding would not happen right away, but they didn't intend to wait for too long either. By the end of the year, perhaps, close to Val's birthday or even early next year, though this was all still too early to plan. He was content to be with his beloved while the wine and food were freely given by their respective loved ones. All was well with their world.

And what was a more ideal way to spend one weekend afternoon than to lay out a picnic in the exact clearing where he proposed? The sun shone down on them as brilliantly as ever, with the azure sky stretching for what seemed like forever. He and Valeria sat sprawled out on a blanket and indulged in the treats that they'd brought along with them. Finger sandwiches, three different wheels of cheese, sweetmeats, small fruits, and naturally, wine were all at their disposal. She happened to rest on his lap, her head leaning against his knee while he fed her the occasional grape. Meanwhile, he stroked her hair once in a while, taking advantage of these more private moments.

Valeria mused aloud, "We ought to travel for our honeymoon. Has there ever been anywhere you've really wanted to see?"

Popping a slice of cheese in his mouth, Braig chewed thoughtfully before replying, "I haven't thought much about that. You're the more well-traveled one. I bet you got somewhere in mind."

"As a matter of fact, I do. Either we go to Montressor or this other world I heard about called the Destiny Isles. Or was it 'Islands'?" She furrowed her brows, trying to remember, as she tapped her hand against his knee. "No matter. You would quite like Montressor. If you think our world is technologically advanced, theirs is leaps and bounds ahead in that regard! Though they do have these things called 'robots' I don't quite trust…They could take over one day."

He guffawed. "Relax. I'm sure they're like our solar panels here: generally harmless and part of the scenery. I'd like to see them myself but maybe not right away. Those islands would probably be quiet and a lot more peaceful. Great honeymoon destination, I bet."

"Mm, yes," she hummed, closing her eyes as if she could see them there already. "That would be better, wouldn't it? No bustling inns, just a mere seaside cottage all to ourselves."

"No interruptions from Luke every five minutes either!" he pointed out before launching into an affectionate impression of his friend's gentle but firm cadences. "'We need to consider this year's harvest taxes, Braig. Get up! You've had your fun with Val'."

She giggled, waving her hand away by way of playing along. "Oh, shove off, Lukas! Five more minutes, that's all we want."

"And I do get creative with limited time." Braig leaned closer, teasing her lips with the branch of grapes.

She bit one off, licking her lips with a brilliant smile. "Damn right you do, and I love that. However, we do pick on poor Lukas too much. He has a point, after all. I may have been a poor influence on you, diverting you from your responsibilities."

Taking advantage of his proximity to her, he kissed her gently on the lips. "You're too much of a good thing to be a distraction. Besides, I was long overdue to have someone like you in my life. You've really taken the edge off things."

Valeria gave a content sigh, fluttering her eyes closed again. "I certainly hope so."

After a brief lull in the conversation, she pondered, "Suppose I invite my parents to the wedding? At the very least, this would be my way of informing them that their impossible daughter managed to find herself a husband. If only I could see their faces"—here, she brushed her hand across his cheek—"Son of a blacksmith? With new money? Why, that would be the Manigault scandal of the century."

"Or you could write them after the fact," he drawled, giving her a conspiratorial smile.

"Or better yet, we could elope!" She looked up at him with a wicked grin.

As if to emphasize her mischievousness, she reached for the opened bottle of wine and proceeded to take a direct swig from it. An amused Braig shook his head at this display, like he was incapable of doing that kind of thing himself. If so many of their days would be like this, full of humor and specific inside jokes, he could hardly wait.

"Hey, that wine was for us to share, you know." He tugged at a strand of her hair. "And did you forget about the glasses we brought?"

"I haven't, but I won't waste good wine, especially good rosé! Let me have my fun," she protested, staring at him in mock reproach. However, her façade did not hold as she dissolved into giggles and fell back into his lap.

"All right, fine." He grinned back, eyes twinkling as he put aside the grapes completely and held her closer to his chest. "But, you know what they say: a sky pirate and her sobriety are soon parted."

"Bah, you," she carped, swatting at him once before giving him a fond smile. "Don't worry, I won't end up passed out on your bed again."

"No, we'll just end up in bed instead."

"Ah. I quite like the sound of that."

With that invitation, he leaned further down and stretched himself out. She wrapped her arms around his neck to pull him closer as she lay back on the blanket and started stroking his dark hair. Braig sighed, closing his eyes as he felt her caressing hands moving back and forth on his scalp, soothing as a cool breeze. This was his version of paradise.

He was ready to pursue a long session of kissing when he felt her stiffen. "Wait a moment."

Confused, he sat back up while Valeria did the same. "What is it?"

"Behind you."

Glancing back to where she was pointing, closer to the trees, he could just make out a large black swarm. The creatures looked too big to be gnats, even from this distance.

"Those could just be crows," he determined, though he wasn't so sure.

He stood up to get a better look, squinting against the bright, almost blinding sunshine. The swarm only seemed to gain more ground and—if he was not mistaken—race toward them. Their formation looked off, with this skewed funnel shape, not like any group of birds or insects he'd ever seen.

At that moment, he felt a lump form in his throat. Not crows. Definitely not crows.

Without hesitation, Valeria jumped to her feet and removed her pistol from her holster. She seldom went without her prized weapon, as he remembered her once telling him that she had been to deceptively safe places where she'd had to remain wary.

"I think I know of these. If I'm right, then we need to move. Now," she spoke firmly, voice leaving no room for argument.

Braig looked at her, gauging her steeled eyes and pursed lips, and realized that the swarm could be a credible threat. Looking back to the creatures again, he felt his heart sink. Rumors of these mysterious beings had reached him in recent weeks. But, they had been spotted in other worlds, ones much further away from here. He had distrusted these initial reports but now…

Why Cirragia? Why Silverhurst? Peaceful places with peaceful people who would never actively hurt each other.

Valeria interrupted his train of thought by pulling at his arm. "Are you listening? Braig, we have to go!"

"Right." He picked up his rifle that he'd thought of hunting with later (So much for that…). "What about all this—"

"Leave it!"

As they started sprinting out of the clearing, he wondered why he'd asked such an asinine question. Perhaps, on some level, he couldn't believe this was real. Only five minutes ago, he had been laughing and enjoying quality time with his fiancée like normal. Now, they—maybe the whole town soon—were set upon by malevolent intruders, their getaway picnic effectively ruined. No use in dwelling on that. All he did was run, keeping even pace with Valeria's short, quick strides, as they barreled down the wooded path. Trees, leaves, and shrubs blended into a green blur as they bypassed them. They ducked over protruding branches and leapt over fallen limbs. Beads of sweat rolled down his back, and a painful side-stitch made itself known on the left side of his ribs. Heart pumping with adrenaline, his lungs feeling like they were on fire, he nonetheless ran on.

Eventually, they made it to the brick bridge on the edge of town that would lead them home. Both stared over their shoulders and, much to their relief, found they were no longer being followed. Beams of sunlight streamed down without a shadow in sight. Cheerful birdsong echoed up and down the trail.

They burst into laughter.

"Maybe it was crows, after all!" Valeria remarked. "I could have been seeing things."

"N-No, I understood what you meant," Braig replied between gasps for air. "You can never be too careful, right? It could have been the wine, too—we were in that pretty good, you know. Oh well, at least we got some exerc—"

"Oh, merde! Get down!"

He readily obliged as she fired off two shots at a shadow creature with lantern-like eyes. Its head evaporated, with the rest of its body following suit. Blinking a few times in disbelief, he propped himself up on his elbows and gripped the butt of his rifle. Immobilized, he could hardly stand up for all the frozen shock that overcame him.

"Val," he broached, evening out his breathing. "Pardon me, but what in the ever-loving fuck was that?"

Her face ashen, she explained, "Well, if I recall correctly, I've heard it referred to as a shade. My crew and I met these a couple years ago but…b-but they were smaller then. Smaller groups. Th-They've appeared to have grown much stronger and—oh, you've got to be joking!"

For the wave of these "shades" had caught up with them, hurtling down the dirt path and seeming to have increased in number. What had been thirty or forty had ballooned to a hundred, if he had to guess. He could also make out other distinct features, claws and antennae in addition to those unsettlingly glowing yellow eyes. There was barely any time to communicate next objectives, as they ran further into town. With the shades hot on their heels, it did not take long for people milling about the square to notice the disturbance and flee in terror. Their screams pierced the hitherto quiet of a lazy weekend afternoon. Mothers rushed to grab children, babies started crying, and men headed toward home to presumably take up arms.

"Please seek shelter!" Valeria implored, not that it took much convincing. "We'll try heading these off."

"No playing hero!" Braig chimed in. "I don't want any more targets. Keep your doors locked!

When everyone else cleared out and spread the word, he turned toward her, holding steadily onto his rifle. "I hope we know what we're doing."

With precise aim, she shot out a bullet that went through three shades' heads.

"You were saying?"

A manic grin lit up his features, as he tried his level best to stifle his worries for the time being. "Let's get these bastards out of our town."

Given the dire circumstances of how outnumbered they were, they fought the strange creatures as valiantly as they could. He opted for a longer-range tactic by aiming at those furthest away before pulling the trigger. The shades dissolved in quick succession while he repeated the process as rote: aim, fire, reload. Just as his father had taught him, only he'd never expected his sharpshooting skills to be used on something that wasn't an elk or a deer. Meanwhile, Valeria took a much riskier approach by engaging with the enemy up close. She darted in and out of the shadowy waves, with a practiced, almost graceful rhythm to her movements. When she had a few in her sights, she fired bullet after bullet, headshot after headshot. Braig soon copied her maneuvers in his own lumbering way, ducking and dodging away from the shades' greedy claws and gaping mouths. The couple met each other in the middle of the fray and stood back-to-back to shoot. Slowly but surely, they drove several of them back, a hopeful sign.

Mid-reload, he craned his head over toward her. "So, will traveling with you always be this much of an event?"

"Afraid so!" she admitted, extending her pistol arm. "Worse, actually. Em, Lyn, and I have faced our fair share of adversaries in our time. But, it'll sure be great to have you along!"

As was inevitable, they ran out of ammunition, Valeria first and then Braig. He took stock of the battle situation and felt an invisible hand squeeze at his heart with his assessment.

Damn it. They've respawned.

Indeed, the shades appeared to surround them with renewed purpose, their number multiplied by twofold at least. All he could see were dark wriggling bodies instead of the square's cobblestones, and he spotted more dangling off the main fountain. He refused to accept all their fighting had been for nothing.

"Now what?" he asked Valeria, unsure if he could come up with anything himself.

He noticed she was clearly grasping for ideas as she looked around, near-frantic in search of some kind of loophole. When she glanced back toward his manor and then up at the sky, she let out a triumphant laugh.

"There!" She pointed at a familiar ship sailing overhead and now stopping alongside the manor. "Lyn and Em must have seen them from above. I knew they wouldn't let us down!"

"Great! I don't want us sitting here and getting slowly eaten alive by these creeps. Not my preferred way to die," he replied dryly.

"Nor mine, darling. Now, come on, hurry!"

They made a mad dash for the stately house just off the square, fending off the occasional shade in their wake. Valeria gave them a kick and a swift elbow, while Braig used the butt of his rifle. Once they were within safe walls, they wasted no time in securing the manor. He slid a fire poker between the door handles, while she started pushing the dining room table over though somewhat struggled. Swooping in to help her, he made sure that they finished the job together. Afterwards, she slid to the floor to catch her breath and otherwise get in some quick rest. If only he could have afforded himself the same luxury, but his concern caught up with him like his sore muscles.

Restless, he paced from one window to another, looking out across the grim scene. The shades had swelled in number even more, if that was possible, and had spread themselves out over the area. What they sought, he couldn't begin to guess, only that they posed a serious threat to his town. And they were hungry for something that his people had that could sate them. He did not want to know what that something was.

He then spun on his heel toward Valeria. "Is there any way we can fit more people on your ship?"

As if she'd been dreading this very question, she ran her hands over her face. "Braig…"

"Don't 'Braig' me, there's got to be a way!" he exclaimed desperately, flinging his arms out. "This is my town, after all. I'm responsible for every last man, woman, and child here! I can't…I don't want to leave them like this."

She gave him an unflinching stare, even as she bit her lip. "If I could load everyone on board, I would. As it is…It's just not feasible. I could fit maybe a hundred people topside, another fifty or so belowdecks. That's it. That's…That's not even a fraction of the whole town. I'm sorry."

His stomach plummeted, though he could not say this information shocked him. Reason told him that she had told him nothing but hard facts. And she would have done everything in her power to save Silverhurst if she could. At this point, he knew her too well to know how strong her will and compassion were. Besides, he noted with a sharp, guilty pang, she looked so worn-out already. Far would it be from him to add to it.

"We're just going to have to hope they can fend for themselves then," he stated with a resigned sigh. "And that doors and walls can keep those things out."

When she stood up, he approached her and placed his hands on her trembling arms, leaning his forehead against hers.

"I wish I could save them all, too," she whispered, drawing him closer.

"I know." He tenderly rubbed circles in her back. "It'll be all right."

If we go down together, I can't think of a better way to go, he thought.

Their respite proved short-lived. The sound of several bodies slammed against the doors, again and again. Not out of desperation but intention. They broke apart, exchanging nervous glances.

"Well, break time is over," Valeria observed, tugging at Braig's arm. "Up the stairs. Let's go!"

He gave her a pale imitation of a smile and a nod in response. Once again, she reminded him of what he loved so much about her. Her take-charge attitude and just how capable she was under pressure. She really knew what she was doing. He felt comforted that he had someone like her having his back.

They charged up the stairs, aiming for the top floor. However, they had to take a detour over by the study when they heard small objects bouncing off glass. At first, he assumed they were rocks, but upon inspection, he saw a few gems dotting the outside balcony.

"Why here?" he heard Valeria murmur to herself while he opened the door.

"Long time, no see!" he called upward.

Upon hearing this greeting, Emmalia and Lynessa peered down at the couple and gave them vigorous waves.

"We came as soon as we saw them!" Emmalia explained. "They did not look very nice. Thought you two could use our help."

Lynessa added, "No time to waste. We'll just throw the ladder down."

"I'm sorry, but are you bloody serious?" Valeria stepped out from behind him, arms crossed in front of her. "That could be dangerous. Why not have us meet you up top, so we could use the gangplank?"

"Oh, sure, the gangplank, let's just invite them aboard," Emmalia scoffed before turning serious. "Those things move pretty fast. You saw yourself, Val! They can scramble across any surface."

Just then, they all startled at the splitting wood of the study door, as the shades kept crashing against it. One of them could not manage the job, Braig figured, but many…

He pointed out, "I'd go ahead and take the ladder. We're cornered now. You go first, Val, and I'll follow you."

With a huffy sigh, caught between a rock and a hard place, she relented, "Fine. Throw down the ladder, ladies!"

"Aye-aye, captain!" Lynessa saluted, straining to sound upbeat.

As soon as her crewmates threw down the ladder, Valeria leapt toward it and proceeded to scramble up it, like she had that first night. At the same time, however, the study door finally gave as yet another wave of shades burst through it. Mere feet now stood between them and Braig. With a backward glance, now near the top of the ladder, Valeria let loose a violent string of curses. He tried placating her with a wry grin.

"All the rotten luck, huh?" He let out a short laugh. "I'll say this for these guys. They know how to put up a fight."

On the deck, she looked down at him, chewed the inside of her cheek, and shook her head. "Just get climbing, you loveable idiot."

Braig did not need to be told twice, as unused to climbing rope ladders as he was. In his youth, his friends often compared him to a squirrel, what with his apparent ease with trees. Now that he eased his way up this obstacle, he found it much more of a challenge. He was not as light as Valeria, he knew that much, or as short and compact. True, he possessed a fair amount of strength but not the agile kind she had. Still, he forced himself to take it one rung at a time, in spite of the twisting of the rope and his own mounting weariness.

His fiancée and her friends cheered him on, half-playfully, half-urgently. "Come on, you can do it! Up, up, up!"

"Thanks for the support," he deadpanned but winked all the same.

All well and good until, while he was halfway up, the shades had joined him and chewed off the bottom rungs. With their added weight, it made an already difficult task much harder. But, damn it all, he would push through all that. He kept his focus trained on Valeria's face, knowing that this would be worth it in the end. Even as he could not help but think of his family, Lukas and Irene, their twin girls, and so many others.

Soon, he was near the top, and Valeria leaned down with her hand outstretched. "Grab on! Quick!"

Yet, all the while, the shades gained so much of the distance he had put between himself and them. He glanced back toward his beloved and saw the anxiety taking over her face. She breathed in and out, making so much effort to keep calm, as tears came to her eyes.

In an attempt to alleviate her fear the best way he knew how, he cupped her cheek. "I love you."

"Don't fucking say that like….," she trailed off but held his hand where it rested, holding back a sob. "Like you won't see me again."

"Hey, don't think of it like that. I love you no matter what."

With a strangled chuckle, she managed a soft, watery smile and murmured, "Well, in that case, I love you, too."

She then took him by the underarms and started lifting him, while Lynessa and Emmalia were on hand to assist.

When she brought him face-to-face, her eyes blazed with a determined light. "I'll be damned if you miss our honeymoon, love. I expect you to be there."

"Heh, what, as if I'd miss it? I wouldn't—"

All of a sudden, he felt his legs being yanked before he toppled over and away from Valeria's grip as if torn from her.

"Braig!" she screamed, trying in vain to catch him.

And then he was falling, helplessly falling. He registered how surreal this was, how close yet too far now from safety he was. Perhaps he was only falling off his bed to wake from the nightmare.

The last thing he saw was Valeria's pale face, with her beautiful gray eyes flown wide in terror.

I'm so sorry, Val…

---

A/N: OK, several post-notes here, but I'll go through them as quick as I can:

-I originally wasn't going to include a love story at all, but a certain character standing on a window sill would not leave my head! Thus, Valeria was born. Also didn't hurt that while coming up with her name and everything, "Valerie" by Amy Winehouse was playing on a TV commercial. I just went with "Valeria", because I thought Valerie would be too modern a name for my purposes.

-In case anyone doesn't know, merde is "shit" in French. I decided to stylize Val's hometown as French-like for some reason (I was inspired by Orlais in Dragon Age, roughly). Even though she has a British accent. Hey, they get away with it on Versailles!

-This is similar to Second Twilight in that I too wanted Braig to have an everyman kind of background. However, this character's always been far from ordinary, so I not only made him the mayor of his town but have something about him that grabs people's attention. Hope I succeeded!

-Sky pirates, solar panels, some modern ammenities...I was trying to create a world you might find in a Miyazaki film!

-Yes, Montressor is a Treasure Planet reference-if you've caught it, well-done. That's how much I wanted TP to exist in KH, but oh well!

-To fit the mood of the last scene here, I rewatched the Ten/Rose separation scene in Doctor Who. Why I chose to torture myself like this, I have no idea, and it still gets me, too!

-And finally, next time (I would today, but I'm in a rush), I plan to put up links to my Spotify playlist that's like the "soundtrack" to this story (though more of a "songs that have inspired" it) and Pinterest board that is like my vision board for this story.

I'm so sorry for the delay, guys! I don't plan on the next chapter being near as long, and I don't want put either you guys or myself through a long wait after ending this on a sorta-cliffhanger! Til next time.