Completion of the Whisper

Chapter Twenty-Three.

"Nysh."

He stood up, shook his head and said "I'm sorry, but Caaln..."

A loud knock at the door, rushed. I pushed myself off the bed, grabbed a blanket.

"Nysh?", I heard Caaln's loud voice from the corridor.

"Yes, I...", he turned to me "I have to..."
The door burst open and I heard someone enter the other room "Candles? Oh damn...."

Annoyed, Nyshard rolled his eyes, gave me another apologetic look and murmured "I'll be right back."

"But..."

He disappeared, and I wrapped the blanket closer around me and simply followed. Caaln was standing in the next room, battle-ready, his swords on his back.

"What happened?", I couldn't keep the fear out of my voice, knowing, he wouldn't bother Nyshard unless it was something important.
"The Circle", Caaln answered, looked at Nyshard's naked torso, and his eyes widened when he saw the marks on his Lord's upper arms. I assumed Nyshard had told them, but hadn't shown them the strange purple lines both us still had – although a bit faded – from where the Whisperers had held both of us. Then, I felt his eyes on me, and an apologetic look crossed his face "I'm sorry to disturb, but... Nyshard said if they are seen..."
"I'm coming", Nyshard strode past me to his bedroom, probably to get dressed as well.

Caaln looked at the table again, at our empty wine glasses.

"How bad is it? Where are they?", I asked into the silence, and almost startled, he looked up, met my eyes "The coast, not far from Ilyria."

"But it's the Circle, not the King?"
Caaln nodded, just when Nyshard strode out of the bedroom and said "Yes. But...", he glanced at me, hesitated.

"I'll wait outside", Caaln murmured and I heard him walk through the door and down the staircase.
"Adri...", Nyshard's hand brushed along mine "I'm sor-..."
"No, don't be. I just... for a moment I thought it was because of me."
Understanding flashed in his eyes "Adri, no..."

I cut him off, by kissing him "It's your duty as Lord to protect your land. I would never stand in the way."
"I'll make it quick", Nyshard smirked, kissed me and took a step back "I'll see you later."
He put his belt with his sword around his hips and turned towards the door.

"Be careful", I whispered, as he left and closed the door behind himself. Wrapping the blanket tighter around myself, I stood there for a minute, then I glanced around the room.

The empty plates, the empty bottle of wine, the glasses.

I wasn't angry or anything, but I couldn't help to feel a bit alone, now, that he was gone. And from the look on his face, he had not wanted to leave, either. But as a Lord... he had to.

This wouldn't be the last time, and I didn't even dare to think about what it would feel like to be in a war, with almost constant battles. Nyshard risking his health, his life. He, and many others. I knew he was strong; I knew he would come back as soon as he was finished dealing with the Circle, but in what condition was to be seen. But a war? I wouldn't want to experience that. Not for me, not for anyone else. The constant fear of losing someone...

Headshaking, I glanced at Nyshard's big bed, and decided that I couldn't go to sleep now. Instead, I began tidying up, stacking the empty dishes, extinguishing the candles, pushing our dirty clothes from the day in a corner of the bathroom where I knew a servant would pick them up the other day.

But my task didn't occupy me long, and so I found myself taking a seat in an armchair which I had dragged closer towards the window. I stared out into the night sky and was reminded of another, similar night, when I had sat in this exact same chair, waiting for Nysh.