Resolved

In Artimé, Rohan did his best to step into a sort of leadership role, though it was weird because this wasn’t his island or his people. He observed as more and more people and creatures from other islands began to arrive in Artimé, and he knew without a doubt that the good mages of this land had more than a surface knowledge of their neighbors and a relationship with them. They had strong bonds that could only have been built over time. The people from Warbler, Karkinos, and the Island of Shipwrecks were clearly dedicated to the Artiméans. And so were a surprising number of the people in Quill. When they heard that Florence was calling for their help, they flocked to the shore in such great numbers that Aaron had to take a moment to magically extend the lawn so everyone could fit. Even some of the former dissenters begrudgingly joined in, for their lives had been saved multiple times by the fighting teams of Artimé. And perhaps seeing what a civil war could do to their precious land had changed a few of them along the way.

As Florence trained everyone, Rohan watched the seasoned generation of leaders, like Lani and Samheed and Aaron, and the elder scientists like Ishibashi, as well as Queen Maiven, with reverence and respect. He absorbed their moves and decisions and tried to figure out the mental steps they took that led them to make the choices they made. He was a sponge in the middle of the lawn, soaking up the expertise of the ones who’d built such a great example of leadership. And he took Florence’s request seriously. He didn’t want to let her down.

But he missed Thisbe. Desperately. Achingly. She’d brought out the boldness in him, and now that she was gone, some of his courage had left him. He knew he had to flesh it out again on his own, but it wasn’t easy. He was in a foreign land. Anxious about his pria. His love.

Rohan was a young man. Fourteen, on the verge of fifteen at his best guess—he wasn’t sure of his age. But his connection with Thisbe was electric. It was life changing. And he knew she felt something for him, too, though it might not be on the same level. She was driven by duty, as was he, and that in itself seemed enough to make them compatible. When separated, they were strong. But together they were stronger. Fluid. Dare he say it? Unstoppable. Whether they worked together as friends or something more was to be decided by fate. But working with Thisbe for life was no longer an if. They had formed something, an unbreakable bond, that couldn’t be removed no matter how much distance was between them. Thisbe had changed Rohan’s life. And even if he could only admire her from afar, so be it. But he knew that their connection had solidified something incredibly powerful between them that no human nor beast nor dragon-woman could sever.

Love was a strong word. He knew that, too, and anyone who hadn’t experienced this feeling couldn’t possibly relate to it. If what Rohan felt for Thisbe wasn’t love, it was a step above it. Something transcendent that hadn’t yet been named.

Luckily, he could concentrate on other things, though it was difficult at times. But when it came to assisting Thisbe’s people and statues that she counted on most, he was all in. Whatever it took, he would do it. His passion and drive had the wondrous ability to shove aside his weariness and fatigue. And his desire to be as powerful as possible against the Revinir was so strong that he would do anything… to learn everything.

That’s why staying in Artimé wasn’t quite as painful as it could have been, though he knew Thisbe had been captured again. He agreed with Florence and Thisbe that there was only one chance to beat the Revinir. And at first it seemed like their chance had been fumbled or lost because of Thisbe and Fifer’s capture. But Florence and Maiven didn’t waver, so neither did Rohan. The two of them knew that they all had to be at their strongest in order to continue on. And Rohan wouldn’t stand by and let anyone eclipse him. This was his duty to the land of the dragons, and his duty to Queen Maiven Taveer and the crown. He wouldn’t let the Revinir or anyone supporting her stand in his way. He was ready to be a great warrior like Florence. To assist Thisbe and Maiven. And to eliminate anyone who sided with the evil dragon-woman, for no doubt she was recruiting people left and right while holding all the dragons hostage. There was no question about putting an end to her. And he would convince his fellow black-eyed slaves of this too. They had one chance to knock out this monster, and they had to succeed. There was no alternative except to lose everything, including wiping the black-eyed rulers out of existence. And with so much life left to live, Rohan wouldn’t take that as an answer. The upcoming weeks would be the greatest education Rohan had ever received. And he was ready for it.

There was nothing that could possibly make his faith in Thisbe and her people waver. They were going to win. He could feel it—things were going to go their way eventually. But in the meantime, without Thisbe there, the chasm of loneliness in Rohan’s heart was growing deeper by the day.

He only wished he could talk to her. Just once. Just for a moment. He had a slew of send components now, but he knew what Florence had said. Under no circumstances should anyone contact Fifer or Thisbe. It could endanger their lives. So with great reluctance, Rohan kept his components safely tucked away next to his heart.