Restart Again: Volume 2 by Adam Scott (best adventure books to read .TXT) 📗

hand combat practice I led Lia through completely exhausted any energy reserves I had remaining. The two of us hardly made it through dinner with her parents before turning in for the night, far too tired for our usual exchange of questions.

Marten rescheduled the deliveries he had planned for the following day in an effort to spend more time with us before our departure. The four of us walked to the Tolamar market together, where we spent a large portion of our day browsing the various stalls and talking with family acquaintances. I was happy to fade into the background and listen to the conversations; watching Lia and her parents spend time together brought me a deep sense of comfort and satisfaction.

When our trip to the market was complete, Lia and I spent the remainder of our day helping with various household chores. The feeling that I was taking advantage of the Corell’s hospitality still weighed heavily on my mind, so I did my best to make myself useful. After a delicious dinner and an amusingly competitive game of cards, Lia and I found ourselves in her bedroom on the eve of departure for a second time.

I leaned my chair back on two legs and perched my feet on the edge of her bed, watching with interest as she went over a mental checklist of belongings to pack. Most of the possessions she had taken on our first adventure were still bundled in a small bag at the foot of her chest of drawers. After looking between a small pocket mirror and a wooden figurine for the fourth time, she set them both down, sighed, and crossed the room to sit on her bed.

“When we were getting ready to leave on our first trip, I was so nervous. I had no idea how long I was going to be away from home, or what my life was going to be like. It was scary to think about leaving everything I knew behind.” She chuckled softly as her face grew distant. “Now it feels strange to be back.”

“You’re a different person than the girl who left here with me to go adventuring,” I said with a smile. “I know it hasn’t been all that long, but you’ve grown a lot since that day. Imagine if you told that version of Lia she would be arrested, judged by the King himself, and tasked with an important diplomatic mission.”

She grinned. “I’m not sure she would’ve gone with you.” With a laugh she rolled over onto her stomach and faced me, propping her head up on her hands. “I’m glad that I did, though. The time I’ve spent with you has been the best of my entire life, arrest and all.”

“It’s been by far the best time of my life, too. This life, anyway,” I said, smirking at my own joke. Lia looked less amused as a frown crossed her face. “What’s wrong?”

“I just…” she trailed off. “I thought of what you told me the other night. About why you were sent away from Alderea.” Her bottom lip quivered as she paused. “I don’t want you to get sent away, Lux.”

“And I don’t want to leave,” I sighed. “I’m ashamed to admit it, but that’s why I wanted to go to Lybesa. I thought that maybe, if I could get away before anybody found me and set me on my mission, I would be able to just...live. I’d have a chance to mourn everyone that I’ve lost.” I shook my head and looked away. “I know it’s terrible, running away when the world needs me. I put my feelings ahead of the lives of every person in Kaldan. It was a selfish thing to do.”

“That’s not true,” she cut in. “You didn’t ask for any of this. Nobody should have to carry the weight of the world on their shoulders like you do.” Her frown lengthened, and a waver entered her voice as she continued. “You deserve to live a normal life. You deserve to be happy.”

“I am happy, Lia. Right here and now.” It pained me to see her so upset, especially on my account. “I’ll stay happy as long as I get to keep spending time with you.” The statement brought a smile to her face and a blush to her cheeks. “And who knows? Maybe this whole situation is one big coincidence. Maybe we’ll get back from our mission, and that’ll be that. The King will keep his promise,” I paused to give her a dramatic eye roll, “and then I’ll get to go live that normal life.”

“I hope you’re right!” she said happily. “I’d like to see that.” A sudden yawn caught her off guard, and she rubbed her face sleepily. “Wow. I guess that means it’s time for bed.”

The yawn infected me as well. “I suppose you’re right,” I said as I stood from the chair with a stretch. After stripping down to my boxers and folding the clothes neatly into a small pile, I crawled up over the end of the bed to my usual spot against the wall. The sheets were cold against my bare skin, and I shivered as I burrowed underneath them to get warm.

Lia changed quickly into her nightgown before snuffing out the lamp on her bedside table, plunging the room into darkness. When she took her spot beside me, I pulled her in close to my chest, eager for any source of heat. She let out a short squeal as she slid across the mattress, snuggling back against me once my arm was comfortably rested around her waist. “You know,” she spoke quietly into the darkness, “this could be the last real bed we sleep in for quite some time.”

“Don’t remind me. I was just starting to get used to it again,” I said with a groaning laugh. “Although, there’s something to be said for sleeping out under the stars, too.”

“And this time, you’re not hiding out with a bounty on your head,”