32. Our Lives – The Calling
Raphael stood in the fading light of the sun. He cut an imposing figure that made even Amelda pause. The strong lines of his comrade's profile were like something out of an old oil painting. He half expected to see rifle hooked in the crook of his arm and a faithful hunting dog at his feet. No matter what he did, what he wore, or where he was, Raphael always betrayed his heritage by looking like an aristocrat and making everyone around him feel like peons.
"So what now?" Amelda asked, approaching anyway. He may not have the looks of a traditional male hero, but he wasn't a coward either.
Raphael shrugged. There was a lot in the gesture.
Amelda joined him in watching the sunset. Ocean spread out in all directions, a pathway to the rest of the world – and this time they had no bitter mission of hate motivating them to explore it. They were their own masters, their demons and regrets finally put to rest.
Well, almost. They'd never forget those they'd lost, but they weren't consumed by them anymore, which counted for something. Amelda's heart felt lighter than in had in years, though it also ached with that last ghostly touch of his brother.
"I guess Valon wasn't such an idiot after all."
Raphael glanced sideways at him. "How so?"
"He bought a house. He's got somewhere to go now."
Raphael snorted. "Where will you go? Back to your country?"
Amelda shook his head.
"No," Raphael said softly. "Me neither."
Neither of them had countries anymore, just places they'd started out, and places they didn't want to finish up. Dartz had gathered them together from all the corners of the globe for a single purpose. It was what had united their unfavourably disparate characters. Still, even without him to keep them together, parting seemed … wrong. Amelda didn't know what to do with himself anymore, and though the other man gave no sign of it, he was certain Raphael felt the same.
"I have a full tank of gas," Amelda suggested.
"Me too." Raphael finally turned from the brilliant wash of colour. "I guess that's good enough for now."
Side by side, they walked away from their pasts and into their future.