Lady of Vodriala

They are coming back

Two years had passed since Kayd left. I never really had any news from him since, but I waited. I stayed in Brutheya as there was no other place for me to go while Kayd was away. Since the quest had started, the news around the land were always about the brave soldiers that were fighting away the rebels. They had helped a neighbouring land rescuing their lady who had been kidnapped in the hope to exchange her safety for a generous sum. They were definitely bringing peace and safety to the kingdom, but it had been over a year since the last time Kayd’s name was mentioned in one of these adventures. It was a beautiful spring day, and I was sitting outside with my dear friend Lea, she was also from Brutheya, but not noble. We became friends after both our husbands had joined the quest and we spent most days together. She was probably one of the first friends I have had in a really long time, she was simple, friendly and funny. Always managed to keep me in a good mood even when things in the castle were not great. Mother was not the biggest fan, but after I got married her attitude calmed towards me, that and probably the fact that it did not take long for Hisha to finally get engaged to the son of Portvel, a very powerful house of the kingdom due to its vast territory surrounded by water which made them one of the richest countries through boat trade, or at least that is what I remembered from a tutor lesson I had a long time ago. Other than Lea, I met Coldin. Coldin was a manager at the Merchant’s Lounge. He played quite an important role with organising new trading lines and sealing deals with neighboring kingdoms, but other than that he enjoyed spending time with me and Lea. Coldin was single, and he has always been for as long as I have known him. I have met him through Lea, as they were friends before, her being a regular at the Merchants. She initially introduced us as I picked up a hobby of making my own gowns with the leftover fabric from the luxurious gowns that the most prestige seamstress would make for Hisha. With this new hobby of mine, I started to accompany Lea to the Merchants to find new fabrics and materials to design my clothes, not only it kept me occupied, but I enjoyed transforming my ideas into something physical. Lea loved what I did. She tried to convince me multiple times to ask father to help me open my own shop and sell what I made, but I preferred the idea to keep it as a hobby and just treat my friends with some nice gowns and clothes made to their taste.

Me and Lea were walking through the market, Lea was buying some fruit and vegetables while I tagged along. I had a few projects in mind for my next sewing experiments and was on the lookout for something that would capture my eye. As Lea finished negotiating her deals, someone placed their hand in my shoulder, ‘Hey you! I didn’t know you two would be coming to the market today, I could have joined you’ said Coldin as he swirled around me so he could face me and Lea. ‘We just came for a walk initially to enjoy the beautiful day that it is, but I wanted to pick up a few things on my way home’ responded Lea. ‘Oh, preparing for the grand return?’ Coldin replied in a cheeky way with great emphasis in the word grand, which made me and Lea exchange looks, we were not sure what Coldin meant by this ‘what do you mean Coldin?’, ‘The notice came in this morning…’ he replied with a confused look, which made Lea become a bit irritated ‘Coldin! Just explain it at once and stop beating around the bush’. ‘The troops sent by Brutheya are due to return this evening, we received the communication earlier this morning at the Merchants Lounge to supply the castle for a banquet’ as Coldin continued describing the details of the message he received, me and Lea froze in place. ‘They are coming back?’ Lea asked in a shaking voice. ‘They are coming back’ Coldin replied in a kind tone, aware of what it meant for Lea to have her husband return… Lea often shared how much she missed him, only to expect from someone who has been together for so long and had to hope that two years ago was not the last goodbye they shared and there would be a hello in the future. Lea and Coldin were my close friends, therefore they were aware of my initial arrangement and my feelings for Kayd. Even though no words about it were expressed, they knew… While our time was short, it was sweet. I spent a night with a man I had only just met, but I felt loved and cared for the night we spent together, as we drifted to sleep in each other arms. I awaited his return for so long, and my heart burst when I heard the news and understood what it meant.

They were coming back. Kayd was coming back.