Barbaric Spouse, Descry the Night's Lure-Chapter 229: Scene CCXXIX

Concerns were starting to invade every soul heading towards the Orteu’s residence, and once they continued their path, entering deeper into the territory, Ewelina started to recognise more of the land the further they advanced... Nonetheless, the silence they procured to maintain became unsettled by the sound they had not provoked and the savage alerted.

“Female Myrkzver.” — With a low whisper, Yngve called. — “... we’re an eye’s hunt.”

“...” — Gilead and Ewelina shared a glance, aware that the meaning entailed danger for their troop that continued to move. Noticing then how the child’s focus rested on the building ahead.

No change in the weather had occurred and the distance they travelled hadn’t made it so the dark of the night clouded their view, however, as if infected by the wild one’s instincts, her skin got goosebumps from the unsettling sensation the castle her mother owned delivered from afar.

“... Nu... does your ability allow you to know if people are near?”

“People are in that castle, ai... the tremors of their laughter, Nu can feel them.”

“... Laughter?”

“... It is laughter Nu doesn’t like.”

“... Do you think the noise you heard was one of them-... Uh? Where is Yngve?”

“... He went behind the noise.” — Gilead, who saw the savage separate skillfully and quietly, gestured awkwardly with his head in the direction the barbarian took without anyone noticing. Instilling silence while Ewelina and others tried to perceive him within the leafy forest, hearing the crunch of his steps while dragging the noise with him.

“Tha eye got hunted. Those ahead won’t learn of us.”

“... Right... Well done Yngve. Blessed thee earth.”

A moment of ponder was taken as the child’s sayings were clasped by her tired mind. Looking ahead after feeling sorry for the dead man Yngve prevented from alerting his comrades, she exhaled one last time to then extend her hand in signal to halt the march the men wanted to resume, turning to Gilead without losing sight of the Castle’s peak.

“Gilead. Tell the men we are to hide in the forest to the east. We have to be careful to shut any other like the man Yngve stopped... Once night turns the sky black we are to enter from the pond’s side.”

“... We will sneak inside, Ma’am?”

“It is obvious someone unrightful has taken the Castle, yet laughter says their guard is down. The less confrontation we have, the better. We should take advantage of their ignorance... Do as told.” — Once the nod of agreement was given by the guard, her eyes continued to watch the home she was raised at in this life.

Remembering the hazards, Ewelina pushed them aside for there were other things she appreciated about the place, and before the possibility of intruders, within herself, only concern was sowed while thinking about the graves of the parents this life had granted.

‘Hopefully, their hands have only reached the castle and not the mourning woods... if they have touched the dead... I won’t forgive their souls.’

Grasping the courage to lead the troops before the possible encounter, Ewelina thought of those loved ones this life and her previous ones had dismissed to the unforgiving death. For every soul had been a speck of her story... a piece of parchment that had written a memory her soul could go back to and feel their value even in dreams and nightmares.

‘I am able to count the people I have been born as... yet not the number of people that was part of those lives and died... Many mothers and fathers as well as aunts and grandmothers... never a sibling somehow... yet even the friends... I can recall their essence left within myself until this day...’ — Ewelina contemplated with yearning as the many specks lit as if pieces of herself. Closing her eyes as she knew not every single one was good to her being yet grateful for the wiseness their doings gave her. — “If they tangle with the dead... one who has died as well will not have mercy.”

“... Master’s wife’s sayings are scary. It is funny.”

“!... Ah... Haha, thoughts came out without my knowledge, do not mind my sayings, Nu.” — The woman told the child as if she had forgotten her presence. Meeting her stare that would not leave her... for a thought was about to be let out by the young one.

“... It is good Master’s wife did not die.”

“...”

“Master, Nu, Gilead, Ugh and many from Sortnafeigr would have been sad otherwise...”

Quiet was kept by the woman as the words from the girl lacked the playfulness she usually carried in her sound, and giving no response, Ewelina nodded after tugging the hair of the child behind her beautiful yet little lilac ear. Keeping to herself the secret she has never told any soul throughout her existence... for she had died many times... and in this life she believed was her last one... the idea of telling the length of her history... finally found some contemplation from the woman, even if as a little glint in the corner of her mind.

‘I always forget... Yet no one has ever known of my soul’s truth...’ — She thought while they moved to the spot where they would wait for night to reign the above. — ‘Otrur Nolsvun appeared to imply it once... yet never have I said it to anyone...’

She had lived enough to know tales like hers would be thought as nonsensical and a source of mental disruption... as well as a reason for a death sentence when those superstitious could misunderstand the occurrence... matters like such were feared by those who could not experience the unknown and life itself had taught the soul the fact.

Taking inside the air steadily growing colder as the time changed the nature of weather, Ewelina sighed deeply now within a humble tent, returning the whiff warm to the cold space as her eyes opened sincere to the idea she had contemplated in their move. Believing now, after learning some of the barbaric roots surrounding her husband’s nature, that telling her depths may not be judged like she had feared in other lives she led.

‘... The circumstances allow me to tell it... Maybe as it is my last life... ‘

“Ma’am, excuse me. May I step inside?” 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

“... Come in, Gilead.”

“Your Grace... I believe it is time. Many must be closing their eyes by now losing to the booze.” — Gilead who came to her side suggested. Ending the woman’s contemplations for another task was to be done.