A week later, Wil and Audra rode back to Vilnas under a wind that howled with fury and dragged dry leaves and clouds of dust. Wil’s horse trotted onward, head down, under the weight of a wooden coffers and leather bags that held Audra's belongings, while her thoughts wandered adrift. She was about to leave, perhaps,not to see her brother again, nor the cow Avza, nor her castle, until gods knew when. No matter what distracted her thoughts, those facts hovered over her heart like an iron yoke.

Worst of all, Wil kept asking her questions like there was no tomorrow.

"Audra… So. I’ve been your personal rider, taking you up and down the city. The least you could do would be to tell me where you’re going?"

She sighed.

"And..." he insisted, “I’ve invited you home, again. You can’t just leave us like that. Sura has been preparing a stew for you since last night."

"I can’t," Audra sighed.

"So?" he said. “Where are you going, woman? Am I gonna see you again? What can I expect.”

"I'm going away, Wil. Far away."

"You’ve said that a thousand times. I need a single word: the name of a place, or your general direction. Gods. Who even invited you on that mission? Come on, Audra, tell me. Are you going to work in Wodania? If so, I have an uncle living near the Garden of the Beasts, and I can visit you."

"No, Wil, I'm not going to Wodania. I'm going somewhere else. I want to tell you, but I cannot."

"What do you mean you cannot? I will find out anyway."

"I can’t stop you from finding out," she said, "but I cannot tell you. It just doesn’t feel right."

"Why?” Wil's voice seemed increasingly desperate.

"My own business."

"Last question: are you ever coming back?" he asked, unable to hide his frustration.

"I hope so," she said. And she really felt it.

"If so… when?"

"I do not know, Wil. Do not ask me all this, please. I don’t even know."

Suddenly Wil pulled the reins, and Perkunas stopped. "Audra. Get off the horse."

"What?" she said, raising an eyebrow. What did he think, that by helping her he felt worthy to receive her secrets? If she didn’t tell him it was for a reason. He didn’t need to pester her like that. Couldn’t he understand no meant no?

"I try to be your friend, but you don’t let me. You approach me only because I have a horse and I can take you from one place to another, but you do not care about me, nor what I think. You don’t even care that I’m trying to help you.”

"It's not like that at all, Wil! Also, you offered me help. Does that mean I owe you all this information? Also, Tara said I should not tell anyone."

"Why you do not trust me? I hurt you, I disrespected you when I first met you. You're right about that, I admit it, but I've tried to change the way I act and the way you see me. I want you to really know me! But for that, at least, you should let me in just a bit."

"And I believe you,” she replied. “The way I see you has certainly changed. Now I know you better. But my life is not happy, nor rose-colored. Bad things have happened to me, only bad things and nothing else. Now, even worse, I have to go and leave my brother alone, knowing that there are bad people out there who want to hurt him."

“Why are you even going?"

"Because I made a promise."

Wil turned his neck to see Audra more firmly and took her hand. She pulled hers away slowly.

"Don't go, Audra!" said Wil. "It's a mistake. I can help you too, and I'm sure your aunt can help you. You can work with us, you can bring your brother home, we can take care of him."

"No, Wil, I cannot."

"Audra..."

"Alright, you want to know," she said with determination. "Can you promise you won’t tell anyone?"

"Who would I tell?”

"Your sister. And it is not that I don’t trust her, but sometimes you trust someone and suddenly, everyone knows it, or worse, a version of what happened."

"Okay, I promise. Where are you going?"

Audra cleared her throat, regretting having promised to tell him. "I'm going to the Eastlands. To Navgarod. I’m part of an expedition with people from the East. They’re looking for blue gold. I don’t know anything about blue gold. I do not even know how this happened. And I do not want to leave! But I must do it because it is my duty and I made a promise. She… she promised she’d take care of Kaunas."

"Why would you even do this?”

"Father told me to never break a promise, and every time I break them, things go wrong. Besides… Wil, this might not make sense to you, but I… trust her."

"Blue gold... Audra! And what if you do not find anything? Blue gold... It's rare, like nothing else in this world! And there are a couple of mines out there in Wodania, each of them sucked dry."

"I don’t know anything about it, but I made a promise and I must fulfill it. You know what? I hate doing it! I hate it! But I cannot give up fulfilling my promises. That's what I promised Father and what I promised Tara."

Wil stared at her. It looked like he was trying hard not to cry. "Audra, stay. Please. I…"

Audra bowed her head and wiped her tears.

"Stay with me!" He looked into her eyes, his eyes clear as amber. “I have met you just a few days, but, let me tell you, I’ve never met anyone quite like you.”

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"I cannot," Audra said, her eyes brimming with tears.

Wil sighed and spurred again. "Audra... Do you promise to come back?”

"I… I would… But…"

"And if you come back..."

"What?"

Wil swallowed.

"If I come back. What?" Audra grabbed Wil's shoulders.

"Nothing, it's just a thought."

"What thought?"

Wil sighed, his horse neighing. He ran a hand through Perkunas’ mane. It seemed like Wil was tense.

He cleared his throat. "That your family is good. And my family, well, we are not nobles, but maybe..."

"Maybe what?

Wil swallowed. "Maybe we can get married." Wil smiled, but his eyes showed pain and uncertainty. "What you think?"

Audra felt a smile come to her lips and made an inhuman effort not to laugh.

"Why are you laughing?" Wil's smile faded.

"No, Wil, I’m not laughing at you. It is just that… I… Just met you, Wil."

"Why not?" he asked.

She felt blood rushing to her cheeks. This was embarrassing. "It was unexpected."

"But what do you think?"

"That’s fast, Wil."

"What you think? Why not?"

Audra sighed. "No. I have other things to think about, Wil."

"Think about it, we can be together, you can live with me, your brother too, and we can move, then help refurbish the castle."

"It's not that," Audra said and released his body. “It is not so simple.”

"Okay." Wil spurred Perkunas, and the horse trotted quicker across the field.

They continued to face the wooden gate of Vilnas, with the drawbridge on the ground and guards taking shelter from the wind and the sun under a wooden hut.

They climbed back up the paths of the citadel to Wil's tavern and entered through another door, into lonelier and narrower alley.

The house was small and with narrow rooms like most of the houses in the citadel, but a wide rectangular table stood at the center, covered with a white tablecloth. As soon as they entered, Sura walked into the room, she took Audra in a tight embrace like a lifelong friend and kissed her cheek.

"What are all those things down there, Audra?" Her eyes were wide open and her smile made her dimples show. She seemed to expect a pleasant surprise from Audra. Perhaps, an exciting announcement.

"Audra is leaving," Wil said dryly.

"Wait. What?" Sura’s face turned pale.

Audra cleared her throat. "Yes, I'm going to take a long trip, and I do not know how long."

"A trip?" Sura’s expression was pure disappointment. "Why?"

Audra shrugged. "It's an expedition. A job.”

"Good. Well, then, I hope you're successful." She smiled uneasily and pointed to the table. “Sit down. Tell me if you want to drink something before dinner. Where are you going? Wodania? The Eastern Empire?"

Wil and Audra locked eyes with her for a moment, as if agreeing not to reveal the secret.

"Thank you, but I'm fine," Audra said and sat in a corner, while Sura returned to the kitchen. Wil sat down next to her, his face downcast and sad, then looked into her eyes as if he were about to confess something.

Audra anticipated the topic, and wished she could leave that house as soon as possible.

He cleared his throat and spoke clearly: "What I told you before... It's serious."

"Wil, it's too soon.”

"It's fine," he interrupted. "I get it. But this is my promise. I want to marry you, I never wanted anyone else in my life like I’ve wanted you. You just… rocked my world."

What was wrong with that boy? No, she would not let him commit to her, nor should she feel pity for him. "Don't say such nonsense, Wil. You’re just infatuated. This is not real love."

"Then what is it? Listen to me. I understand that you will leave, but please, do not forget me."

Wil extended his hand, curling it into a fist, and brought it near to Audra's. She raised an eyebrow as she looked at him. "This is for you. I just ask that you take it with you." She held out her palm while he covered it with his hand, leaving behind a small, solid object. It was his wooden necklace, featuring a roughly engraved horse profile.

"Wil, I cannot accept that." Audra stretched out to return it.

"I cannot take it back. I must give it to you. Audra, I want, I want to marry you, and I understand that you do not want to, but I have to give you something of me. Do not think it's a commitment, or something like that. It's just... Something that comes from my heart."

***

Audra allowed Wil to accompany her to the specified location mentioned in the letter. They made their way to the heart of Vilnas, near the central market. The strong wind tugged at the canopies and supports that covered the market stalls. A few vendors who hadn't packed up their products and gone home were struggling to keep their stalls standing.

In the center of the park, there stood a granite monument adorned with a carved marble figure of a king. The figure proudly stood under the sun. Audra's attention was then drawn to two flags. One flag displayed two eagles on a white and red background, representing the Commonwealth of Lechia-Ladania. The other flag depicted a bear over three mountains on a white background, symbolizing the mysterious Navgarodian Empire. Below the monument, two horses stood near the octagon-shaped benches that surrounded it. One of the horses was covered with a linen cloak that wrapped from its tail to its head, with masterfully embroidered holes for its eyes, ears, and snout. The other horse was a sturdy warhorse, its gray coat mirroring the color of the rainy sky. It was adorned with chain mail and iron pieces. The horsemen standing by the statue contrasted in a similar way. One of them wore gleaming chain mail over his sturdy body, a silver helmet on his head, and long brown hair that reached his waist. His face was rugged, with a large mustache beneath his straight nose, and weathered features that hinted at an age slightly above fifty. He scowled, seemingly trying to intimidate everyone around him. A red cloak hung from his shoulders, and on his iron breastplate, there gleamed a golden circle resembling a brooch, possibly made of the same material.

The other person, despite appearing to be the same age, had an entirely different lifestyle. His hair was stylish, just above shoulder length, and he wore a luxurious reddish coat made from the skin of an exotic animal. It had large, golden buttons and black velvet edges, all of which concealed the largest belly Audra had ever seen.

Audra felt her stomach turn and looked at Wil, whose gaze seemed to say, do you see what you're getting into?

She dismounted awkwardly, followed by Wil, who began to untie the saddlebags, while she took a last look at the city. She approached him and looked into his eyes.

"See you later, Wil." She leaned in and gave him a tight hug. He held on even tighter and rested his head on her shoulder.

"Take care," he said, with both sacks of cloth hanging from his back. She turned and approached the two Navgarodians, who remained frowning, their expressions as cold as ice. She swallowed and wished it were all a dream. She took the letter out of her pocket, dry but with marks from submersion in dirty water and ink, with real signatures smudged and barely legible. He gave it to the one who looked fancier than a noble, who took a look. He frowned and looked at his colleague, then spoke to him in a guttural and incomprehensible language. The man answered with an even more guttural accent, and added a laugh at the end. Audra felt her legs shake like an earthquake.

"Audra of Varunas?" said the man in the lavish suit, scanning her from head to toe and focusing on her worn-out shoes. He appeared to have a touch of dislike in his eyes. His command of the local language was nearly flawless, except for a slight overemphasis on the letter "r," indicating that he was not a native speaker.

"It's me." Audra bowed her head and swallowed instinctively.

"Well, the first one has arrived," the man declared, and stretched a hand wrapped in a leather glove. She returned the gesture and received a firm squeeze.

"I am Ambassador Maltov," he said. "We shall wait for the other guests, and then we will leave immediately."

Audra wished to reverse the time, or break her promise, say no and run to her castle. But it was too late.

The man in the armor stepped forward. His long hair fluttered in the autumn wind, damaged and rough. Audra felt terrified.

"Sit here," he said, his accent almost incomprehensible, and pointed to the bench nearby. Nodding fearfully, she watched as Wil approached, carrying the chest and the clothing sacks.

The man in the armor gave him an angry look, and Wil paused.

"This of the woman?" the soldier growled. His grammar was all over the place.

"Yes..." Wil's voice seemed to shrink.

"Cannot take it. No space."

"B-but…" Audra jumped forward.

"No space!" The man gave her a cold stare.

"But I need…"

"No… Space..."

"You cannot do that to me!" Audra hissed through her teeth. "I have to change my clothes every once in a while!"

"No packages," the soldier firmly stated, eliminating any potential options.

Audra sighed and glanced at Wil.

"Carry everything in hand," the man snapped.

"Really?" Audra complained and pulled a handful of clothes from the chest, then sat with the back up and a deliberate grimace.

"Audra," Wil said softly, then he looked down, as if unable to hide his pain. "I have to go now."

Audra felt like she would actually miss him. She could not think of marrying him, and she hoped that with time he would forget such pretensions. He was not a bad man at all, even though he could be rash and obnoxious.

She smiled at him, expecting for him to notice she was sincere. Suddenly, out of nowhere, she felt tears stinging the corners of her eyes.

"Remember your promise," he said. She took the wooden necklace, a carved horse in its center, and lifted it up. Wil grasped the horn of his saddle and pulled himself up, bowing his head and trotting up the street.