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Chapter VI: The Wrong One

Wil had been waiting for Audra since the day he left her at the castle gates, believing she would visit the sorceress often, maybe daily. He waited in vain, gazing through his window while his hopes to see her again waned with each passing day. He missed her like he'd never missed anyone; he spent hours remembering the short conversations they'd shared; he thought of her voice and the future they could have if she decided not to leave ever.

That day, he was sitting in the barn, a hammer in his right hand, a nail held between his teeth, holding one of Perkunas' back legs, and nailing the last horseshoe after the cleanup. Then Sura broke his concentration.

"Wil, come, quick!" she said through the window.

He mumbled back, trying not to let the nail fall to the floor, and meaning to tell her not to interrupt him.

But then she insisted. "Come, your girl is passing by!"

As soon as he heard that, he let the hoof go and rushed to the house. Sunlight broke through the windows. The chairs were still on top of the tables for the morning clean up. Sura stood next to the window, broom in hand, her hair wild as if it had been visited by a typhoon, leather apron on her chest.

"Fast! You'll miss your chance!" she said.

"What? You mean Audra?"

"Who else?"

"Where is she?" he said, leaning toward the window, but he only saw the stone street, the sun casting shadows on the walls, and a mountain of horse dung in the middle of the road.

"She just passed by. I'm pretty sure she's going to Talia's. Go and talk to her, you northern lion, hurry up. I want to have nieces and nephews."

"Fine. Fine… I'm going... But...what should I tell her?"

"Well, offer her help. Come on, there's nothing strange about it. You're going to give her a ride so she can get home early. It is not an impropriety. What could go wrong?"

"I'm going now," he said, striding down the stairs and out into the street. He saw her just before she crossed the corner, with a veil hiding her long hair, but her figure was unmistakable. Wil felt his stomach churn, but he knew that if he did not stop her then, he might not see her for a long time.

He swallowed and followed her through the streets, hiding behind the walls until he saw her knocking on the sorceress's house; and later, Talia receiving her in her own home.

Wil stayed there, by the door. He thought about what excuse he was going to give because waiting for someone like that could be perceived as strange. Yes, she sure already thought it was weird, he should not ruin his reputation any more than he already had. He decided to go back home, or at least wait behind the pillars and pretend to meet her by chance.

Suddenly the door opened, and he saw her come out with a sack on her back. Wil felt his heart beating, and he ran to the corner. He thought of the solution. How not to look like an idiot?

He walked toward her as if everything was a coincidence. "Ade!" he shouted.She seemed surprised and looked from one side to another until their gazes locked. Her large eyes shone like jewels in the sun, one green as an emerald and the other blue like sapphire.

"You again!" She frowned. "Why do I have to find you everywhere I go?"

"I don't know." Wil smiled. "Maybe it's our density."

"Our what?"

"D-d-destiny. I mean destiny."

Audra rolled her eyes.

He sighed. Why did she have to be so mean? But he had been mean earlier, he remembered.

Audra cleared her throat. "What do you want?" Audra said, as if questioning why he was standing in front of her. Wil took a deep breath. This was his chance to make things right. "Do you need a ride home? That bag looks heavy, and I don't think your shoes are gonna make it."

Audra sighed and let out a shy smile, revealing perfect teeth behind her soft, rose-like lips.

"Yes, why not? But don't you dare to ride like a savage, understood?"

"Yes." Wil smiled, reaching out to help her with the bag of peaches. "Come on, follow me."

Wil turned around and guided her to his family's tavern, but instead of entering through the front door, he passed through the barn, which smelled of excrement, with open barrels filled with oatmeal and grain scattered across the floor. He left the sack in a corner and led them to the shabby garden until they reached the barn. He pushed open the wooden door. Perkunas stood there, watching their movements intently, with his ears facing forward and coughing as if expectant.

"Come here, my friend," Wil said, gently tugging on the reins. Perkunas trotted forward, while Audra watched, arms crossed. "Have you ever owned a horse?" Wil asked as he took the bridle that hung next to him and adjusted it gently on Perkunas's head.

"Yes, I had a pony when I was little. But I didn't take care of it myself. We had a caretaker."

"What was its name?"

"The horse or the caretaker?"

"Why would I be interested in the caretaker?"

"The pony was called Avza." Audra smiled.

"Avza? Couldn't you think of something more creative?"

"I wasn't very creative as a child."

"Well." Wil finished saddling and tied the sack to Perkunas's saddle.

"Your house is quite big," Audra said.

"Well, it's not a castle," he said and mounted Perkunas with a gasp. Then he reached out and helped Audra up.

Wil glanced sideways and saw that something was about to fall out of the sack. He took it quickly and held it up. It was a carefully folded paper envelope, with flower designs engraved in brown ink and a red stamp bearing the shield of King Jogälion.

"What is this?" he asked.

"Nothing, give it to me." Audra reached out to take it away from him, and he quickly held it out of her reach.

"What is it?" Wil's voice was agitated. He took another look at the envelope. "Tell me."

"Give it back, Wil!" said Audra, worriedly.

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"Yes, I'll give it to you, but tell me... What is it?"

"It's a letter."

"Whose?"

"Do you mind?"

"Yes, I do."

"Give it to me," Audra said, stretching her hand out as Wil lifted the letter and kept it out of her reach. "Wil!"

"Tell me who sent it," Wil asked. "Are you engaged?"

"No, Wil, it has nothing to do with that! It's something else!"

"What is it, then?"

"I do not know, I have not opened it yet."

"What the hell is it, then?" he said, handing it back to Audra.

She sighed. "Tara gave it to me. I have not read it, Wil, but…it's really no big deal."

"Why don't you tell me?"

"I promised I would not show it to anyone."

"Well," he said with a sigh and spurred on Perkunas. The horse trotted out of the barn and dashed through the streets.

But Wil couldn't ignore the curiosity that consumed him. Was she going to seek help from the king? Or had some nobleman invited her somewhere? Maybe someone wanted to marry her. That would shatter the dreams he had nurtured all week; dreams that had shaped his world and his expectations. He couldn't let his future be determined by that mystery. He had to find out. He turned his gaze back towards her.

"So, are you going to open it?"

"Not yet," said Audra, sounding annoyed as if she didn't want to continue the conversation. Wil, however, felt overpowering emotions.

"Well, open it."

"I'll open it when I get home."

"And will you tell me?"

"Wil, do you even care about this? Seriously?"

Audra's responses made him feel like he was repeatedly hitting a wall. What was this girl thinking? She clearly hadn't forgiven him for his less than stellar first impression.

"It's fine," Wil sighed. "It's your thing."

Suddenly, Audra screamed, causing Wil's heart to race.

"What's wrong?" he asked.

"I forgot! Wil, do you know the temple of Lakmé?"

"Yes, why?"

"I have to go."

"Now?"

"No, Wil, next year."

"Well, next year..."

"Now! Don't you understand sarcasm?"

For a moment, Wil questioned if he had fallen in love with the wrong girl. But he took a deep breath, pulled on the reins, and turned Perkunas around.

"What's wrong with Lakmé?" Wil asked, surprised.

"I have to make an offering to her."

"Did Talia tell you to do it? Well, well," he said, sighing. He glanced back and noticed Audra staring at the letter.

"I'll take you home now. It's not that close, huh?"

"It doesn't matter," she said, but her gaze remained fixed on the envelope. The paper seemed to glow in the sunlight.

"Do you want to open it?" he asked.

"You know what… Do you have a penknife?" Audra said, and he smiled to himself, hoping his anxieties would ease.

"Take my knife." He unsheathed a small knife from his belt and handed it to her without looking back. Then he heard the envelope open behind him. Suddenly, the horse stumbled over a stone, and both of them were jolted forward. Audra clung to Wil to prevent herself from falling, and he struggled to maintain his balance in the saddle.

Suddenly, Audra let out a scream. "Blast! No! No way!"

"What's wrong?" Wil turned his head quickly, alarmed, and saw the letter rise with the wind, as if thinking by itself and wanting to go, then fall into the ditch on the side of the street and move afloat into the black water.

"Gods! Wil, the letter!" Audra shouted, her whole body thrown forward.

Wil looked at her. "There goes your letter."

"Blast!" She gave a shout so hard that Wil thought her throat was going to be cut. Audra looked terrified and pointed to the ditch. "Let's get it back!"

"By Perkunas, god of thunder. What's wrong?" Wil asked.

Audra turned her body and dismounted awkwardly.

"Come on, Audra? Is it that much of a problem?" asked Wil. "What do you want to do?"

But Audra was already running to the side of the ditch.

Wil looked at her, perplexed, and spurred. Perkunas neighed and galloped lightly.

"Come on, friend! Get moving!" he shouted as he reached for Audra and passed her with an outstretched hand.

He could not get there, so he slid to one side, avoiding Perkunas's head, holding onto the saddle and down the side as the horse accelerated.

Wil felt his feet touch the ground and took advantage of the moment, took two steps as he descended and pushed forward, and ran, following the sheet of paper that flowed next to the sewage ditch. He reached out his hand and felt pieces of who knows what next to it. rushing through the current. He felt the letter and pulled it out. The parchment dripped, and he felt he could tear it in one go.

"Thanks, Lakmé! I beg for your forgiveness!" Audra cried, her eyes fixed in the sky as she snatched the parchment from his hands.

"Thank you, Lakmé?" Wil scowled. "Hey, I did not see Lakmé sticking her hand into a pool of filthy water," Wil said as he smelled his own hand and recoiled with a grimace of disgust.

"I thank you, Wil. Really," Audra said and sighed.

"Well." Wil stretched his back. The maneuver to get off the horse had left a pain in his back. "What does the letter even say?"

"I do not know," she said. "And I will not read it yet."

"They told you not to open it, right? Well it is already open."

"But look at what happened!"

"Come on, read it."

Audra looked from side to side and sighed. "Yes. I have nowhere to put it after all. Listen to me, Wil."

"Yes?" He sighed once more.

"I think I'm doing something wrong. This is magic, you know; if I don't follow the sequence exactly, things might not work out the way they should."

Wil rolled his eyes. "Stay calm. Just read it. If something happens, it is because it had to happen."

Audra began to read, and as she did, her eyes opened wide.

"So?" asked Wil. "What does it say?"

Audra blinked and shook her head.

"Come on! Tell me!" Wil insisted.

"I cannot believe it!"

"What is it? Come on, tell me."

"That..."

"What?" Wil looked at her steadily.

"We have to go to the temple of Lakmé!"

Next to the west gate, stood a wide green field with trimmed grass and autumn flowers of many colors. Fresh air blew through the terraces, and the wall enveloped the enclosure like a protective mother.

There were pruned trees that became more numerous the further they went, and there was a pond bordered by statues in the middle. A small shrine stood in front of the gate with a marble dome and five pillars around it.

Inside, the goddess sat cross-legged, with hands raised at her sides, as if to receive the embrace of her devotees. She smiled with her mouth closed, and her eyes were wide open. At her feet lay several baskets of fruits and vegetables, including wine bottles and tea jars. In front of her, an altar of carved stone smoked with ashes and incense.

Wil untied the bag from the chair and placed it over the grass. Then he opened it.

"Let's fill the basket," Audra said, pulling out a stick of incense and lighting it with the altar flames. She placed it in front of her forehead and closed her eyes. "Thank you for this opportunity."

Returning down the road, Wil had stopped asking, but Audra kept looking toward the horizon. They arrived at the castle, and Audra got off the horse.

"Are you coming back next week?" Wil looked at her from the top of his horse, while she hid her gaze and fixed it on the unfolded bridge.

"Yes," Audra sighed.

"Do you want to come to my home? Sura also wants to see you."

Audra let out a bigger sigh than the previous one. "Yes, why not?"

Suddenly, she turned her back on Wil and moved in, with two peaches in her pocket, and the peach sack, now half empty, on her right shoulder.

"Audra?" Wil heard her breathe heavily. "Audra, are you okay?"

"Yes," she said, wiping her eyes. Her voice was nasal, although she tried to calm herself. She could not.

"Audra, why are you crying?"

"It's nothing, Wil. See you next week," she said and ran to the door without turning around to enter and lock herself up as if running away from a wild beast.

***

"Are you gonna read me the letter or what?" Kaunas protested.

Audra wiped her tears once more and looked out the window. She felt that her life was about to end, and she feared she would not see the sunset on the plains ever again.

"You did not cry for Dad, and yet you are going to cry over a letter?" Kaunas said.

"Kaunas…" Audra wiped her nose.

"Come on, are you going to read it or not?"

Audra threw the letter, and Kaunas caught it clumsily.

"Let's see," he said and began to read.

Your Highness, Audra Magdala of Varunas and Holsztein-Wieszc.

We extend our deepest condolences for the passing of your father, the late Vytaulas, Duke of Varunas.

And from the honors with which the lady is revered in the circles of mystical knowledge; and the knowledge and prestige you possess in the detection of the spiritual vibrations of various metals, the Ambassador of the Navgarodian Empire, Rudmentkin Maltov, invites your honor to participate in the company that investigates deposits of blue gold in the imperial territories. You are requested to meet with the official government cortege in the Monument for King Mindaugas, on the twentieth day after the September Equinox, Year Two-hundred of the Navgarodian Empire.

Imperial cooperation

King Jogälion Viras

High Czar of Navgarod. Yaroslav Navesk.

"What am I going to do?" Audra moaned. "How am I going to say no? It’s been signed by two kings!"

"Navgarod? The East?" Kaunas said, his face whiter than paper and his eyes and mouth wide open. Audra tilted her head back, running her hands through her hair and pulling.

One thing was to abandon her brother, another was to fulfill her promise, another...

It was that she had no idea what the spiritual vibrations were, what the blue gold was, and how she had ended up being invited by kings as an expert in something she did not even know existed.