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Agnea could hear the sound of water. It was a nostalgic sound, recalling the times she and her family had traveled the Harborlands as her mother performed in Canalbrine and Conning Creek and neighboring towns. The trees around here, however, were oddly thick, more like the Leaflands than the Harborlands, and Throné followed behind her in silence. It would've been a rather pleasant stroll, if not for the fact they were hopelessly lost.
"If I could see the sun, I could probably figure out where we are," Throné said, frowning.
Agnea stumbled over a thick root, but managed to regain her footing before she hit the ground, and her cheeks burned as she hoped Throné didn't notice. She didn't need to embarrass herself any more in front of Throné today. "At least it's still light out, huh?" she said, trying to laugh.
Throné clicked her tongue. "I'd rather not spend a night out here."
"I hope the others aren't too worried…" Agnea muttered.
Silence fell over the two of them, and they continued to follow the sound of water, for lack of better direction. If they found a beach or inlet, perhaps they could follow the coastline back to town. Agnea cast a glance at Throné beside her, but Throné's expression was as guarded as ever. Since returning to the western continent, Throné was more distant than usual, and Agnea knew why; to gain her first key, she had killed the man she called "Father," and likely she would have to kill again for the second key. Agnea sighed heavily. Ever since Father's death, every idea she had to raise Throné's spirits seemed too frivolous.
"What's wrong, Agnea?" Throné asked unexpectedly.
She nearly jumped out of her skin; was her uncertain mood that obvious to Throné? "Oh, I'm just hoping we can still find that lady's lost ring…"
In Canalbrine, an older woman had taken a liking to Agnea's dress and hairpin, and confessed the loss of her rose ring while out on a stroll with her niece around the nearby forest. Agnea offered to find it, and while Throné seemed reluctant, she hadn't objected. However, how that they were lost, it was feeling more and more like a fool's errand, and Agnea wanted nothing more than to apologize for dragging Throné all the way out here.
But Throné's expression relaxed and she said, "You're not one to give up easily, are you? That's what I like about you."
A deep blush rose to Agnea's cheeks as a smile tugged at her lips. She thought of reaching for Throné's hand, but stopped herself. It was enough that she could be with Throné now. She didn't need to push her luck. She glanced again at Throné, and her eyes fell upon the dark collar around Throné's neck, and she remembered how bloodshot Throné's eyes had been upon returning from that abandoned church outside Montwise.
It wasn't such an easy thing to take another's life, Throné once told Agnea, no matter how much one tried to justify their actions.
They walked a while longer, exchanging few words. Agnea occasionally heard the cry of a critter or monster, but saw nothing. The trees began to thin and she saw more blue, and encouraged, she dashed forward. However, her foot slipped on some sand, and she fumbled forward down a small slope.
"Agnea!" Throné cried, chasing after her.
She landed on her front, and again her cheeks burned with the sting of humiliation; why was she always embarrassing herself in front of Throné? She could not help but recall how she'd made a fool of herself in New Delsta shortly after meeting Throné, during that conversation about dogs. Throné once asked why Agnea traveled with her, knowing her intent to kill those she called "Mother" and "Father," but really, Agnea often wondered why such an elegant and strong lady bothered with one as naïve and clumsy as her.
"Are you all right?" Throné asked as she knelt beside Agnea.
"Yeah, I think so," Agnea mumbled as she forced herself to her feet, and her breath caught in her throat. A small cove lay before them, almost enclosed by tall, jagged rocks, and the water was a bright blue against the white sands. She took a step forward, enthralled, and inhaled deeply to taste the salty sea air.
Throné chuckled softly. "It is quite beautiful, isn't it?"
"I didn't know there was such a place here," Agnea whispered. No trees obscured the sky in this place, an unending, sparkling vast of blue, and the waves hit the sands gently, like the rhythm of a slow dance. She couldn't tear her eyes away.
"Let's rest here a bit," Throné said as she sat upon the sands, right before the water's edge. "We've got time, after all."
Her body moving on its own, Agnea sat beside Throné, and her eyes remained fixated on the water before them. The salty scent lingered over them both, and Agnea drew her knees to her chest. It was a similar scent in Tropu'hopu, where she had met Giselle and her traveling troupe. Giselle had said she sometimes wished she was a seashell and could sink to the bottom of the ocean. Agnea let out another sigh; when was the last time she had simply relaxed like this? She couldn't remember.
Out of the corner of her eye, she watched Throné beside her, and although Throné touched the collar at her throat, her expression held a mix of longing and peace, and her profile looked so beautiful in the sunlight. Agnea's heart pounded painfully against her chest; no matter how lowly Throné thought of herself, Agnea could still see warmth in that stormy gaze of hers.
Much to Agnea's surprise, Throné reached out to touch her cheek. "You're been rather down lately," Throné said, her voice careful.
Again Agnea blushed; Throné's palm was warm and calloused. "I-Is it that obvious…?" she stammered, lowering her gaze.
"It's about what happened in Montwise, isn't it?" Sunlight gleamed off the gem on Throné's collar.
Agnea's arms tightened around her knees. No one had spoken much of Father's death since leaving Montwise. "You've been distant lately, and it's not like I don't understand why, after everything's that happened…"
Throné drew her hand back. "Do you regret traveling with me?"
"Oh, no, not at all!" Agnea quickly grasped Throné's hand between hers. A new fear filled her, but she willed her hands to remain steady. For Throné's sake, she needed to be brave. "I still want to be with you!"
Throné was quiet a moment, and cast a glance at the blue waters ahead of them. Only for a moment did Agnea see relief flicker across her expression. "I understand now. You want to lift my spirits, but aren't sure how."
"A song and dance don't seem so fitting right now, huh…?"
"But you still sang for me when I asked you to. And when you said I'm more than decent, and strong and kind - you've no idea how much that means to me."
"You probably think I'm naïve, but I meant what I said! I only wish I could do more for you…"
Throné's shoulders visibly relaxed and a faint smile came upon her lips. "Just being with you is enough. We're here now, together, in such a beautiful place. I don't care if we find that ring or not."
Carefully Agnea pressed her hand to Throné's face; once, she would've been too intimidated to be this close to Throné. "Then I'm glad we got lost and found this spot."
"The way you smile…" Throné paused, watching Agnea with an intensity in her eyes Agnea hadn't seen before. Again she cupped Agnea's cheek, brushing her thumb over Agnea's lips, and in the blink of an eye, Agnea felt the feather-light touch of Throné's lips on hers.
If she was dreaming, then she didn't want to wake.
Throné took her lips from Agnea's, and rare fear was visible on her face. "No, I shouldn't—" she began to say, but Agnea kissed her back, a surer, deeper kiss. Against the glint of the water, she needed to know this wasn't a dream.
After the second kiss, they stared at each other for a breathless moment, and Throné spoke again. "It might be too soon," she whispered, "but when I have the second key, if you still want me, I'll answer your feelings."
"I want to be with you, Throné," Agnea said, "no matter how painful your journey is."
Throné smiled as she lowered her gaze, and Agnea caught a faint glimpse of tears.
The sun hung lower in the sky, but Agnea was reluctant to leave this quiet little cove. Throné had said she didn't fancy spending a night out here, but Agnea thought she wouldn't mind. She laid her hand over Throné's, and Throné's fingers laced with hers. For just a little longer, she told herself.
A squeak behind them caught her attention, and as they turned, they spotted a small octopuff scuttling across the sands. "Oh, how cute!" Agnea exclaimed.
The octopuff jolted, and then shot into the thicket of tress, out of sight in the blink of an eye.
"Well, they certainly are as skittish as everyone says," Throné chuckled, seeing Agnea's dejected expression. "I think it dropped something."
Curious, Agnea examined where the octopuff had been, and in its imprint on the sand a silver band caught her eye. She picked it up, and gasped as she saw it was a ring with a red gem cut in the shape of a rose. "I think this is the ring we're looking for."
"Then your kindness today wasn't wasted." Throné touched Agnea's arm. "How fortunate."
"Hey, there you two are!"
Agnea and Throné looked in the direction of that familiar voice, and Mahina flew into Throné's arms for an embrace. Ochette followed closely, and behind her were their traveling companions.
"Ochette!" Agnea exclaimed. "How did you find us?"
Ochette tapped her nose. "Yours and Néné's scents are easy to track together. Now, let's get back to town - I'll show you the way!"
Agnea glanced at Throné, who still held Mahina gently. The waters behind them had grown a gleaming orange, and she and Throné followed Ochette and the others out of the small cove.
"I cannot thank you two enough," the elderly woman said to Agnea and Throné when they returned the missing ring the following day. "I truly thought it lost…"
"Is it very important to you?" Throné asked carefully.
The woman nodded. "It was a gift from my wife. She passed away a year ago. I was talking a stroll with my niece, along our favorite forest path, and it must've slipped off my finger."
"We found it with an octopuff in a cove near the forest a little south of here," Agnea said.
"A cove? Yes, I remember now." The old woman smiled wistfully. "She and I used to spend so much time there when we were younger. It's a quiet little spot, isn't it?"
Throné gave Agnea a knowing look. "Yes, it is. I'm glad we were able to find it."
"You know, I finally realized where I recognized your dress, dear," the woman said to Agnea. "You're Cuani Bristarni's daughter, aren't you?"
Agnea gasped. "You knew my mother?"
The elderly woman nodded. "I saw her dance here about ten years ago. I remember she had two little girls with her."
"Me and Pala," Agnea said softly. "I remember now too - we were here around that time."
"There's not been much cheer around here lately, with the murders and that plague," the woman muttered, and both Agnea and Throné tensed as she cast a glance in the direction of the murdered scholar's house. "It's a small thing, but if you tell the tavern keeper you're Cuani's daughter, he'll be delighted to let you dance."
"Are you sure?" Agnea asked, folding her hands over her heart. "Like you said, there's been a lot going on…"
Throné laid her hands on Agnea's shoulders. "I'd like to see you dance too. Watching you dance… it always puts my heart at ease."
"This young lady understands," the old woman added. "Cuani's dancing made me feel much the same way."
Agnea cheeks grew warm, remembering the kiss she had shared with Throné in that small cove, with only the sound of water surrounding them. To make Throné smile, she'd bare her heart as often as she needed to. "All right, I'll do it!"
"Thank you, Agnea," Throné said, taking Agnea's hand into hers.