The Faint of Hearts by Garrett Mazzuca (electric book reader .txt) 📕

thing I thought that could save you was her. I saw the way you looked at Relyndra. So, in my love for you I stepped aside. I left so that you could have a chance at happiness. She was supposed to forget about me and choose you!"
"She did," said Calin, "but I left…"
"Then you have to go back!" Virgil felt his face beginning to redden with heat.
"I will, when I am done I will go back to her. I can't until I make things right."
"You're a damn fool," said Virgil as he turned his back. "But you've always been that way huh?"
"I suppose so," said Calin with a forced chuckle. "I understand you're called the King of Hearts now."
"There are things you just shouldn't be able to know," said Virgil. He nearly cracked a smile.
"I wish I had a nickname like that, but I would likely be the Faint of Hearts. I've never meet a more cowardly man than me."
And as quickly as Calin had appeared he had gone. Virgil awoke to a knock on his door. Grom burst in with a little more force than was absolutely necessary.
"Danorin is in sight boy. Prepare to see your woman."
**
Virgil walked the darkening streets of Danorin. The lights along the path went out as shops closed for the night. They flickered out like dying fireflies. Like so many fading dreams. It was beginning to rain, the cold water going from a soft sprinkle to drums of it pounding on him like small, sharp needles.
This was wrong. He knew deep down he should be staying at an inn tonight, but his memories pulled him down familiar walkways, his heart betraying his frantic mind. Calin was coming back. He shouldn't be doing this.
His hand knocked on a door before he could fully comprehend that he was standing in front of one. Immediately he wished he could take it back, but his feet were planted. He wanted this. He wanted nothing to do with this.
A beautiful girl answered the door.
"Calin?" the soft voice cried. Relyndra's eyes were red and swollen. Virgil winced. "Oh my God, Virgil! I didn't expect you."
Virgil stood in the rain for nearly a minute before she let him in. The sound of falling water and thunder muffled as she closed the door. A fire burned in the fireplace. His presence, Virgil could tell, had thrown the girl off her balance. She fumbled as she tried to take off his wet cloak. Virgil forgot to breath. His eyes closed and he clinched his fists so tightly that his knuckles whitened. A hand ran through his long, wet hair. He gulped.
"What's wrong with you?" asked Relyndra, her voice as sweet as Virgil had remembered it. "Are you sick from the rain?"
"No," said Virgil as he sat near the burning hearth. "I just…I just don't think I should be here."
"What are you saying?" Relyndra balked. "We've been friends since childhood. I hardly ever see you as it is."
"Calin said he was coming back."
"I know," she said, her tone suggesting little faith in Calin's word. "That fool will probably be on his way and stop to save an entire village person by person. It could be a year before he's back."
Her voice was cold but the look in her silvery eyes was one of heartache.
"You love each other don't you?" Virgil's eyes flickered as he stared into the fire.
"Of course I love him," she said more loudly than intended. "I thought we were going to be happy here. I thought I could stop him from his self-destruction. Though, I thought I could stop you from the open seas. A foolish girl's hope I think."
"Calin really hurt you didn't he?"
"You both did. But at least you had courage enough to come back."
"I wouldn't call it courage," Virgil admitted. "More like a foolish boy's longing."
Relyndra came to stand next to Virgil. He jumped up. He towered over the small woman by at least two heads. She looked up at him. He returned her gaze. She put a hand on his chest. He hoped she couldn't feel his heart racing. He flinched.
She smiled and rested her head on his chest. He wrapped his arms around her as if to shelter from the outside world. He cursed himself as he did it.
"Before you left I dreamed about this," Relyndra whispered.
Virgil made a conscious effort to keep his trained sea legs from buckling. His tongue was dry in his mouth. He was sweating all over, and he knew it wasn't the fault of the roaring fire. She looked up at him and leaned upward ever closer. Virgil began to bend his head down. He could feel her breath on his lips. It was like a dream.
But this dream didn't stop. He felt her soft lips on his own, the moisture so soothing. His heart raced and the back of his mind tinged with regret, but he pushed it aside. His eyes closed in forbidden bliss. Virgil broke the connection after a short while. He went to rest his chin on her shoulder instead. He could feel her shake with new tears.
"Calin is my brother," Virgil whispered. "He is coming back for you…"
"I know," Relyndra said through her tears. She held Virgil tighter as she gasped for air. "It's so unfair…he left me abandoned and alone."
Virgil kissed her cheek. His mind shouted for him to stop but he could not; he felt like a ravenous beast. His body ignited like fire and he could feel Relyndra panting response. Her hands ran through his hair and clawed his back. For a moment he believed in heaven again.
And as he began to kiss slowly down her neck he began to wonder to himself. If it was wrong for Calin to destroy her happiness, then it would be wrong for him to destroy Calin's. One man would have to take the fall.
With a heroic effort he pulled himself from her body. She stared at him with yearning eyes and he fought not to rush back to her.
"Calin hated himself Relyndra. He had to find the good within before he could love you with all his heart. You have to trust in his return. I think I should turn in for the night."
"I love him, with all that I am," she replied. "But the body yearns for desires that betray the heart. Stay here and I will get you a blanket. We need not speak of this again."
Virgil found himself lying next to the burning hearth; the heat soothed his mind. The image of Relyndra leaning forward to kiss him flashed in his eyes. He burned to have her by his side, underneath the covers. He shook his head and struggled to fall asleep.
"You saw her didn't you?" called Calin's disembodied voice from everywhere at once.
Virgil was surprised. He had not realized he had fallen asleep.
"Was your reunion eventful?" asked Calin.
Images began to form. A house formed around him like colorful ink blots dripping onto black paper. Virgil and Calin stood face to face in a familiar house, the fire smoldered in the fireplace but boar no heat.
"I went to sleep rather quickly," replied Virgil hiding his shame, "'twas a long trip at sea."
"And there is nothing you wish to tell me brother?" asked Calin, the shadows behind him darkening as if he were about to fade away.
"Nothing of consequence. I…"
"I cannot tell much from my dreamwalking," Calin interrupted, "I cannot tell if what people dream are desires or just random, uncontrollable images. I can never know truly what you are doing at all times. I have my trust in you brother. I have to trust you are not lying next to her as we speak. Tell Relyndra not to let her love for me go just yet. I am on my way."
Calin shrank into the shadows and disappeared. Virgil was shaken awake.
It was Relyndra, kneeling next to him with a dangerous look on her face. She wore loose fitting, nearly see-through undergarments. Her silky smooth skin called to him, begged him to reach out. He jumped to his feet.
"I cannot Relyndra," Virgil said with panic,” no matter how much I want to I can't. I can never look at Calin with a clean conscience again. I cannot lay with you and call him brother."
Relyndra's eyes swelled. "I know. I don't know how I'll face him. I am a fool for submitting to lust like this."
"Perhaps we are both fools, but I think it is best I leave."
Relyndra paused then nodded frantically. Without another word he left through the door as he had come, through the pouring down rain. The tears streaming down his face mixed with the rainfall. His stone