The Hunchback's Reluctant Bride ✔

13| Fields

No, not all the things Vadde washed every day were done well, but they were done.

Each time Vadde could escape to see what Wyrn'd accomplished for the day, she was pleased. She became an expert of doing the wash 'well enough' even in the morning and would join him until lunch. Those days were fun but something unexpected happened—he started spending lunch alone. It wasn't that she'd intended for that, but he simply vanished, and she couldn't find him anywhere.

So one evening when they took the laundry down for the day and Wyrn's mother boasted about how Vadde's wash was always near perfect, Shaza and the other wives weren't the only ones surprised.

Shaza's scowl was a common thing these days. Vadde was almost starting to like it.

"Thank you, ma'am," Vadde said, still scanning the houses for any sign of Wyrn. No matter, she'd see him for dinner at least.

He was late arriving, but Vadde didn't feel right starting before he came. Everyone else wasn't as dedicated.

Wyrn looked a wreck once he sat down beside her. "Sorry, Jeo lasted a few days longer than expected."

Today, Vadde only smiled at the joke. She was happy to see him. He was still sweaty, which was unlike him for supper. In truth, it wasn't uncommon for the men to be unkempt, but it certainly was for Wyrn.

Once he sat, she brushed his hair out of his eyes and asked, "Are you all right? You're not ill, are you?"

His eyes were blue, she'd come to find, though no one would guess. And they were quite striking. She'd lost track of when she'd started brushing his hair aside of her own volution to get a better look at him. He looked tired.

"I guess we'll forego the stargazing?" she asked.

He blinked at her, stunned.

What he did next was strange. He turned to face the table and pulled his hair to hang before his eyes once more as he ate. Everything about the way he acted said she'd made a mistake, but she couldn't understand what.

Perhaps he wanted to see the stars with her.

But after dinner when she went out and waited for him just in case, he never came.

The next day with the wash was equally as effortless. Her expert washing had Aggu thrilled, Shaza angry, other wives confused, but Wyrn was more accommodating when they met before lunch. He ate on his own yet again but was on time for dinner.

It was the first time the two of them ate without speaking. it was also the first time Bonn spoke to her in weeks.

"I hear you've been having much success with the wash."

The wash? Why was everyone so concerned with the wash?

She would have answered if not for Shaza's tensed shoulders. Shaza wasn't the only one acting strangely. Wyrn's jaw tightened. In fact, when Bonn tried to speak again, Wyrn glared at his brother and the man shut up.

That night, Vadde waited after dinner, too. She'd all but given up when she stood to find him standing at a distance, watching her.

Vadde wasn't sure what to make of it but when she sat down again, he finally approached and did as well. They didn't have much to say but that was all right.

In the days following, the praises for the wash didn't dull, but the tone...changed.

"It's very lovely," Aggu said, teeth gritted. She picked up a dress and straightened it out with a flick of her wrists.

Till now, it had been sheets and rags she'd put on display. Swallowing hard, Vadde formed one conclusion...that wasn't what she'd washed that morning.

And the women were tepid to her as well.