I looked at her, then ahead at the fire.
I don’t know why, but sothing twisted in my chest.
"I’m sorry."
She smiled and shook her head.
"I was little then, around three. I don’t even rember their faces anymore, not really. I just... only rember the impressions. The way my mother’s voice sounded when she sang, or how my father would lift onto his shoulders."
She started drawing in the air with one finger.
"That’s the reason Grandfather never let leave. Why he was so protective. Why he built his whole life around keeping Oakre safe, keeping safe." She drew a circle, then crossed it out.
"He didn’t want to lose the sa way he lost them."
"But... it was my dream," she continued, her voice taking on a bitter edge, "to go out and see the world beyond those farms. Beyond the sa fields I’d walked through a thousand tis. Beyond the sa faces I’d known my entire life."
She drew another pattern, a rough sketch of what might have been a bird.
"But then when I went with Grandfather and Rowan to Greyford for guild business. I was maybe fourteen... that’s when I saw it. The true face of the world that Grandfather had been protecting from all this ti."
Her expression darkened, rembering.
"The way rchants treated their workers like property. The way nobles looked through common people like we didn’t exist. The slave markets—" Her voice caught. "I saw a mother and child being sold separately. The child was crying. The mother was begging. And everyone just... Like it was normal."
She drew sothing on the dirt between us and then rubbed with her palm.
"That was when I almost gave up on my dream. When I realized that maybe the world beyond Oakre wasn’t full of adventures and wonder. Maybe it was just... cruel and ugly."
"Almost?" I asked quietly.
"Yeah," she said, and her expression shifted again, becoming more determined. "Almost. Because then you showed up."
She looked at directly.
"You ca to our village, this noble from so distant house, and when the beast wave hit, you didn’t run. You didn’t hide. You fought head-on without any hesitation." Her voice gained intensity.
"You saved us from what would’ve been a tragedy. Led people who’d never fought before. Made them believe they could survive."
She gestured toward where Oathstorm rested beside .
"And then after, you were kind. Not in the fake way nobles are kind when they want sothing. Really kind. You treated people like people. You talked to like I was soone worth listening to, not just the chief’s granddaughter. You cured the sick without asking for anything in return."
She drew another pattern.
"When I heard you were leaving, I realized sothing. The world isn’t just cruel and ugly. It’s both. Cruel and kind. Ugly and beautiful. Dangerous and worth exploring."
She looked at . "And maybe... maybe if I traveled with soone who actually gave a damn about people, I could see the better parts. Learn to handle the worse parts."
She smiled, genuine this ti, without the sheepishness.
"My dream ca back. Stronger than before. Because now I knew what I was looking for."
I processed that, turning it over in my mind.
The weight of her expectations. The trust she was placing in . Then sothing clicked in my mind.
"Does your grandfather know about this?"
"Probably!" She said brightly.
I repeated slowly, "Probably?"
"Well..." She knocked her knuckles lightly against her head and stuck her tongue out with an impish grin. "I might have told him? Maybe?"
******
{Third Person POV}
Oakre
---
Zen walked into his house, calling out as he entered.
"Tessa! You ho? I brought Rowan to help with the evening—"
Silence greeted him.
He frowned, limping further inside, Rowan trailing behind him looking uncomfortable.
"Tessa?"
But there was nothing.
The house felt empty.
He sat down heavily on the cushion by the low table in the main room.
Then his eyes flicked to a piece of paper placed deliberately in the center of the table.
Folded. Sealed with a blob of wax that bore the impression of Tessa’s ring.
He picked it up, broke the seal, and began reading.
His eyes widened.
Then widened more.
Then he blinked several tis, read it again, and crumpled the paper with one violent motion.
He threw it.
The paper ball hit Rowan directly in the face.
"Jin, you bastard!" Zen’s voice bood through the empty house. "You corrupted my innocent princess!"
Rowan, startled, picked up the crumpled paper and smoothed it out, curiosity overriding his surprise.
He began reading:
"Dearest Grandfather,
Please don’t be angry with . But I had no choice.
Jin ca to last night and said we needed to leave. He wouldn’t explain why.
I tried to refuse! But he got very... insistent. Said the engagent ans I’m bound to him now. That a wife’s place is with her husband.
(Funny how quickly he started taking that engagent seriously once it beca convenient for him, isn’t it?)
I don’t know where we’re going or how long we’ll be gone. He keeps being mysterious about it. Very romantic. Or very suspicious. Hard to tell which.
But what could I do? You arranged this engagent yourself. And you always said a good wife supports her husband’s decisions, even the questionable ones.
So I’m going with him. Alone. For who knows how long.
I’m sure the village gossips will have NOTHING to say about that when we return.
(Though honestly Grandfather, at the rate things are going, I wouldn’t be surprised if I co back with your great-grandchild. The way Jin keeps looking at lately... well. You did say you wanted the wedding to happen quickly.)
Please take care of the village while I’m gone. And if I’m not back within the month, you’ll know your choice of fiancé for was... questionable.
I love you. Even though you got into this ss.
Your obedient granddaughter,Tessa
P.S. - Tell Rowan I’m sorry. He tried to warn about nobles, didn’t he? Should’ve listened.
P.P.S. - Don’t worry! I’m sure Jin is perfectly trustworthy. Probably. Maybe. We’ll find out!"
Rowan’s face went through several colors as he read.
Then he made a strangled sound that was sowhere between a laugh and a scream.
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