Inheritance: Threads of Fate

Chapter Twenty Two - Goodbye Old Friend

"Hellooo?" Caspians voice drifted to the front of your attention.
"Oh, what?" You looked up. Caspian was riding his own camel, while you were on Abra.
"Are you ok?" He asked again. "You're lagging pretty far behind."
You realized you had been holding Abra back from a fast walk, and the others were a good several yards ahead.
"Yea I just...needed some space." You exhaled.
"Are you upset about something?" He looked concerned, as if he was worried he did something wrong.
"Not really, just... tired." You weren't sure exactly how to explain being irritated at them but not being irritated at them...
He looked down at you like he was trying to read your mind. "I know you're exhausted. I promise, you get the first bath when we get back on the ship."
"Thanks." You tried to smile appreciatively, but you barely managed a small flicker of your lips.
"Anything I can do in the meanwhile?" He offered.
"No..." You sighed. "I'm just so done with this fucking sand."
He laughed warmly, "I know. Me too."

Finally, you could make out the tops of the buildings of the coastal town. It took all your restraint not to throw Abra into a full gallop and just charge through to the docks.
"I hope word hasn't spread about our little escape." Raxe worried.
"Only one way to find out." Zumi responded. "We'll go in first, yea? Come back and get you if it's safe?" He turned to suggest to Caspian, your father, and yourself.
"Good idea." Caspian agreed for all of you, and Raxe and Zumi went ahead.
"At this point, I don't care if they have the whole army looking for us. Nothing is stopping me from getting to my ship." You grumbled.
Caspian let out a breathy laugh,"Well at least you're owning your new position."
You didn't even realize that you had been referring to the Shade as yours for the last few days, your ship, your crew, your quarters...it didn't feel as foreign to you anymore. Or maybe it was less about acceptance and more that you were finally just too exhausted to doubt yourself. Either way... you're going to call it progress.
No more than fifteen minutes later Zumi came back up over the dune in front of you.
"No less dangerous than when we left. Your wanted posters are still up though, so may want to cover your face." He cautioned you.
You nodded and wrapped your veil up, moving everyone forward.

Once the docks were in sight you began to get antsy.
"Where's your ship?" Your father looked around excitedly.
"She's waiting offshore, we didn't want them to stay in port the whole time in case the guards came snooping." You explained as you dismounted Abra.
"One of our longboats is tied up, we'll row out to her." Caspian added, shouldering a pack.
A realization suddenly hit you. You were leaving Calormen. You looked towards Zumi, who was helping unload the camels of your belongings. Then to Abra, and you felt a stone sink to the bottom of your stomach. You couldn't take him with you.
"Zumi?" You called out to him, and he came over to you.
"It's not lost on me that you sacrificed a lot to help us, help me, since we arrived. You risked your life for us time and time again." You began. Caspian overheard you, and stopped to listen.
"Oh don't worry about it, really." He tried to shrug it off.
"No. I do worry about it. You showed us kindness and hospitality in a strange and dangerous land that we had NO idea how to navigate. You saved my life, saved Roisin's life, and my dad's life. I can't even begin to express to you how grateful I am to have met you."
"I'm just glad we all made it out in one piece." He smiled selflessly.
"I want you to keep him." You handed Abra's reins to Zumi. "He likes you, and you clearly take very good care of your animals, I know he'll be safest with you."
"Really?" Zumi replied in shock. "You're not going to take him with you?"
"Even if I didn't think he'd be happier here, how could I? He wouldn't fit in the longboat." You chuckled as you felt a tightness in your throat.
"I promise I'll take good care of him." He looked into your eyes with sincerity as he took the reins.

You turned to face Abra, and stroked his forelock as he turned his big brown eye on you. "I know you're a Narnian at heart boy, but I think you were meant to stay here and help our friend. Maybe one day you and he can cross this big ocean and come see me." You kissed him on the nose, and he nickered at you. That lump in your throat jumped to your face without your consent, and tears began welling up in your eyes. Abra seemed to look right into your heart, and you swore he understood. You threw your arms around his neck as the hot tears began streaking down your face.

Behind you Caspian had joined Zumi and gave him a big hug.
"You know you can come with us right? I would be honored to give you a place in my court." He assured Zumi.
"Thank you, but the village needs me, Sire. The ex-slaves need a place to escape to." He responded gently.
"You may consider yourself an honorary citizen of Narnia. If there is any way I can help..."
"I appreciate it. And if I can find a way through that Tash-forsaken desert, you can be sure I will be bringing the whole village up." Zumi smiled.

You turned your attention back to Zumi, hugged him, and kissed him on the cheek. "You were the best fake husband I ever had." You joked.
"I'll be sure to let my future wife know you said that." He laughed.

Raxe took his turn. "Thanks for everything old friend." He clapped Zumi on the back.
"Look me up when you get sold back into slavery." Zumi teased.
"You bet." Raxe laughed.

Your dad shook Zumi's hand, thanked him as well, then you all boarded the longboat. Raxe and Caspian took an oar each, and rowed out to sea, while you sat facing the docks with Abra and Zumi standing side by side, waving goodbye.