Chapter 67: The king and his guard [Suggestive]
It had been three days since their departure from the island, and they were finally approaching the country.
Tension lingered between Hael and Ceremus—though it was more pronounced on Ceremus' part. He resented the fact that Hael had run off alone, recklessly facing a group of unknown creatures. The sight had unsettled him greatly, but pride kept him from expressing why it had affected him so much.
"Manly pride is a useless thing," his father had always said. "With pride comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom. You only hurt yourself when you choose not to speak up or ask for help."
Ceremus' expression darkened at the thought of his father. He had always known the right things to say, always been the wisest man Ceremus had ever met. Taking a steadying breath, he resolutely left his quarters and stepped onto the deck, where he found Hael conversing with the crewmen. The moment Hael sensed his presence, he turned to see the king approaching.
The others took that as their cue to leave.
Ceremus' tunic shifted slightly as he walked, the movement revealing his firm, defined thighs. His stride was lithe, each step filled with purpose. As he stopped before Hael, his gaze dropped slightly.
Hael unconsciously swallowed, his throat suddenly dry.
"We will be arriving in Leacus soon," Ceremus said, his voice calm but firm. "You are to stay put and follow my orders from now on. I don't want a repeat of what happened on the island."
He was, of course, referring to the moment Hael had dashed off to save the blind old man from the thieving harpies. The fear Ceremus had felt in that instant—when Hael was suddenly no longer by his side—was not something he wished to experience again.
Hael saw the cold gleam in Ceremus' eyes and nodded without argument.
From a distance, Loki had been watching the scene unfold. He sighed, shaking his head at his friend's foolishness. For once, he found himself in agreement with the king. Hael's reckless actions had been frustrating, and it baffled him that the young man didn't seem to grasp how terrifying it had been to watch him take off like that.