Barbaric Spouse, Descry the Night's Lure-Chapter 116: Scene CXVI

By the hand, the couple walked back to the square where guards and horses, along with small yet many humble tumbrels loaded with necessary goods waited.

Aslak’s gaze looked over the many heads to find his warden’s and calling his name, the orders were given so those at the walls of his Spiked Eye Barbican would know the gates should open for his march.

"Uth."

"!... My Lord."

"We are leaving. Tell the men and send Grey to the Granite Tower tomorrow. We will take it with us from there. If anything happens remember to send word with Sibbi."

"Yes, Your Grace. I am to follow your orders... May your travels be safe within the wildness Earth place against us, Myrkzver Archdukes, my Lords."

"... Keep the place safe. It’s been peaceful for a while yet the beasts are roaming and can attack."

"... I will stay alert to the light and scent the air brings to this fief."

"Good."

"... Farewell, Uth."

"... Stay safe, gentle Madame. I promise to properly look over the care you placed in these walls of stone." — Almost affectionate, Uth told Ewelina as a farewell. While the woman followed her husband’s steps that went towards those he was to instruct too.

"Jazhara’s Tail Guard." — Aslak prominently said, bringing the men’s attention to fall on him. Immediately followed by their walk coming closer to hear their honoured Lord’s words. — "The gates will soon open. Mount your beasts and join the march... I see you all are wearing the armour representing this territory’s owner... Get used to its weight so your axes can reach the enemy’s head properly. Sortnafeigr’s people ought to show the honour this tough ground gave us to those weaklings in the north... Isn’t that right?"

"OooUouuu!"

"Get in line! Kir!" — Concealing the excitement the growl of his men instilled, Aslak ordered, summoning his Constable for further instructions.

"Ai. My Lord."

"I’ll put on the armour. Take care of the trope."

"Ai. As you say. Your Grace."

Sharing a nod with Kir who would now become proper while on a journey to the North, Aslak then looked back to the woman he kept chained to his hand’s grasp. Recalling she was one of the north... Yet feeling proud as the sight did not comply with her roots.

Gracious, Ewelina stood virtuous and distinguished, behaving as the woman of a great Lord. Just as she was... Indifferent to the referral to those where she was born and only becoming gentle in expression once her gaze noticed his stare... That also softened lofty of her wonderful presence and ferocity aiming to support her spouse.

"... Fatædi..." — The Archduke began, solely to be interrupted by a running child.

"Master’s Wife! Nu will help Master’s Wife ride!"

Turning in the girl’s direction, Ewelina gave a soft smile to her Husband whose frown appeared quickly. Signaling with a whisper she would take care of the innocent one. — "... Go ahead, spouse of mine."

"... Tsk. Alright."

"Master’s Wife! Come! Our horse is over there!"

"Where is it?"

"That one next to the tumbrel~"

"Hmm. I see... Little Nu, this time I am not to ride with you."

"Eh~~!? Why~~?"

"I am to ride a beast with your Master. Litilmenni will be the horse I ride on this occasion."

"... But... Nu wanted to ride with Master’s Wife..." — Lowering her head in sadness, the brakian child mumbled, gaining more of her lilac shade because of the emotions.

"I am aware. Yet forfeit the sadness from your fair countenance... You are to pace near us, alright? I cannot lose sight of sweet Nu."

"!? Nu will not get lost! Hehe~! Nu will follow Nu’s Masters~~!"

"Hahaha~ That’s right. Come here, Nu. I am to help you mount your horse."

Going along with the newly joyful child, Ewelina made sure her seat was properly secured and fondly grazed Nu’s hand with an affectionate peck, lifting her gaze to find a confused Nu gain pink in her lilac cheeks.

"Nu is a good child. I appreciate your sweetness, little Nu."

"...~ master’s wife is gentle... master’s wife is nice... Nu likes..." — Shy, the girl mumbled. Shrinking in her shoulders as happiness filled her differently. 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

"Mhm. I also like Nu... Alright. Be careful and stay alert. Do not drift too far that I cannot see you."

"Yeees~"

Glaring playfully at the child, Ewelina went away to where her Husband stood.

Closing the distance, she admired his appearance in armour. However, once her eyes arrived at the top of the handsome man, a displeased glare was given before he turned away from her.

"?... Husband?"

"... Looks like that kid is earning privileges."

"Pardon?"

"... It’s nothing." — Ultimately facing her, Aslak held the helmet he was to wear between his arm and torso. Tracing the woman’s appearance, wearing a cloak in a dress that was much humbler than those she usually wore, then, the man scoffed mischievous to say.

"... Unlike last time, wife doesn’t look sick and scrawny. I’ve fed you well."

"?? What? I- When was this last time you mention??"

"? When we went to get you at that nameless village. You looked awful. As if you had returned all of your insides outside."

"!? W-what..." — Stuttering out of shock, Ewelina took a moment to consider his sayings. Widening her eyes to ask what she understood from his words. — "You were there?"

"You didn’t know? I went the other path."

"..."

A blank stare at his sayings resulted in the remembrance of that difficult day. When the wife was thrown away from her house and endured a feral ride whilst grief engulfed her heart at the dubious future awaiting her.

The drowsy sensation and faint demeanour after vomiting the little food she managed to eat felt as vivid as it did at the time, and looking at the intense amber of her spouse’s eyes under a bright yet cloudy sky... the pressure of a wild stare in the ominous darkness of what she deemed as one of the worst nights in her life traversed with the same intensity fear did back then when crossing her gazes with the threatening head of that other trope, that followed another path in that lonesome village her freedom was handed.

"... That man was you, husband...?" — Surprised to learn of this after months had passed, Ewelina’s voice sounded far from shock.

"You remember?"

"... Why... why did you... at the time you did not even stop to introduce yourself..." — Somehow dejected, Ewelina mumbled without energy as her head lowered according to her mood.

"... We were supposed to meet here. I had matters to attend to at the time too... Ewelina, are you upset?"

"....."

"... Fatædi?"

Keeping silent, the woman pondered in his inquiry. Taking the necessary time to reflect on what it was she should say.