When Faust went to his room that evening he looked around and sighed.
‘The last night to sleep in this room…’ he ignited the fire and sat down next to the warm flames, enjoying the feeling on his skin.
He thought of his father, his mother, and his little sister when he saw the flames.
‘I can finally look into the fire again… without hearing their voices…’ he smiled briefly.
‘If you can hear this, I love you all. And I will make sure what happened to you won’t happen to any other family on the border.’ He closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
‘I will become so strong I will be able to eradicate the Orcs from this continent.’ His eyes seemed on fire and full of resolve when he opened them again, to look into the fireplace.
‘Never again will you burn down a village… tear asunder families… torture children…’ rage fueled his oath, yet it came from the desire to protect instead of revenge. He then loosened his fists and sighed.
‘Flora… I haven’t seen you all week… I hope you are doing alright.’
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2 rooms away
Flora sat on the ground in her room, looking at the ceiling. Her eyes were empty, and she was muttering something inaudibly. Her voice sounded husky. Only some words could be understood from time to time.
“Betrayed… alone…”
She had cried for a long time. Nearly an entire day she locked herself in her room completely, not even letting Mirabella in when she knocked.
The days right after she had only left to get some food and water. She did not want to see anybody. She needed to be left alone, or so she thought.
Instead of sharing her grief and talking about it, she had let her negative thoughts spin in her head a carousel. To call it madness would be a stretch, but to state that she was fine would be a lie.
‘He left me all alone… he is with Leona all the time… it's her fault, yes! She is the one that stole him from me!’ she repeated these poisonous thoughts over and over and they were getting to her. Having nobody to talk to they slowly but surely burnt themselves into her mind, forming an obsession.
Mirabella was anxious. She hadn’t seen the girl for days and she was really worried. When Schenk told her what had transpired initially the baroness had been seething, until he explained to her the events of the last months and how they connected.
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When she heard that Faust had been raised to a knight she nearly fell off her chair. After finally learning about the relationship between Faust, Flora, and Leona she was able to connect the dots and concluded it was better this way. The relationship her daughter had seemed to reach much deeper than a normal one.
Of course, she knew she couldn’t separate them now and she didn’t intend to either. She liked Faust. But she dreaded the effect this would have on her close friend. Every day she tried to talk to Flora only to be ignored. This amplified her worry, but there was nothing she could do.
She knew her husband had done the right thing, but she hated the effect it had on the girl. When she met Faust and Leona together, she smiled and let them know they had her blessing as well, which made Leona ecstatic and jump into her mother’s embrace which she hadn’t done for long.
“My little girl…” Mirabella stroked Leona’s hair.
“Why must we only now bond again before you are leaving?” Mirabella felt so happy and relished the moment. When she heard these words Leona’s heart nearly splintered.
“Mother… I am sorry for avoiding you for so long… I was just so afraid of being judged by you for choosing this lifestyle…” Leona said with a tear in her eyes and a happy smile.
Mirabella smiled at her motherly and stroked her cheek.
“I was so wrong…” she said in a husky voice and shook her head in regret.
This caused the two women to hug tightly.
“To think it needed a life-threatening event and a marriage to get us closer again…” Mirabella looked bitter but smiled right after.
“We both made mistakes, please don’t blame yourself, Mother!” Leona pleaded and her mother smiled.
“Yet I will have to let you go again so soon… and for so long this time…” she sighed.
“My little girl…” she whispered.
Leona blushed.
Mirabella’s head turned to Faust.
“Protect her well, son-in-law.” She smiled at her daughter’s fiancée.
Faust smiled at Mirabella. Leona wanted to say she wouldn’t need protection, but when she saw her mother and future husband this happy she chose not to say anything.
“I would give my life for your daughter without thinking twice milady.” He smiled and bowed slightly.
She laughed loudly. It sounded joyous and sweet.
“Again, you mean,” she winked. “Don’t worry, you have proven to be a good protector for my daughter, now the only test remaining is if you will be a good companion in life… and if you have what it takes to become a Baron.” She smiled and at that moment the real implications of Schenk agreeing to their marriage dawned upon Faust and he nearly stumbled.
‘I… I will be the heir to the Barony when we marry!’ he gasped and looked at Leona who laughed together with her mother about his surprised facial expression.
It was in no way malicious. Faust loved to see Leona this happy. He knew her conflict with her mother had weighed on her mind.
‘It is good she won't carry that emotional baggage into our mission.’ He thought with a smile.
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The next day they spent packing their things and spending time with their loved ones, and comrades, and preparing for the mission. Faust received a new set of clothes. A large mantle with a cape. Beneath that, plain, dark clothing. It was very wide and could be worn over his armor to conceal it. If he wore the black cape one couldn’t see he was fully armed. Of course, he couldn’t wear a spear if he wanted to remain hidden. Each of his squad had received such a big cloak. They would not travel as knights but as merchants. The night passed as quickly as it came and finally, the day of departure was here.
It was time to leave for Antioch.