Chapter 17 - 1299
Lois came back from the orchard, carrying a basket of apples on her head. She placed it on the kitchen table and took to peeling and slicing the apples. Tedium had closed in from all directions since Nicholas’ departure. The worry about him kept her company in the interstices of the day’s chores and all through the night.
Her long strolls and solitary evenings at their secret place by Kouris River were her only comfort. She loved the timeless peace of the grassy swards, sheltered by giant reeds, elms, and plane trees. But it was still the afternoon, and she had to be patient. In the evening, she would play the flute.
When she was little and had no chores, Lois enjoyed lying by the river, listening to the soft breeze sigh through the reeds. That music spoke to her, and
