'Let’s not get ahead of ourselves, Isa'

I watched as the sceneries changed from one to another after we crossed Vlona's border; passing by fields after fields; plains after plains; some other town then mountains. The ever so calming, blue sky stretching from one side of my sight to the other, like open arms waiting for a hug—I let out a puff of air from my mouth. I've been out and about, but I've never been this far east. 

At some point, Cosmo started talking about a siege at a neighboring kingdom where Count Astor was held captured for three days. I wondered that maybe he wasn't that good after all, but then Cosmo added that he purposely let himself get captured to kill the enemy commander. He said, the Count came out of their base with the commander's head on his hand.

I asked if he ran into trouble in between freeing himself, sneaking into the commander's camp, taking the commander's head, and getting back out. Here, Cosmo tilted his head as he tried to recall what happened, and he said, "He told us to wait for three days before coming to save him, wait for a signal and said to only bring our best men, of course I was one those,"—he shyly admitted, scratching the tip of his nose lightly—"On the third day, we laid in wait, hidden in the forest near their base. When we heard a familiar whistle, we knew that we had to make the attack. There was only, what, around thirty of us?

It was bloody, I tell you. Swords clashed and sparked throughout the darkness. A fire started in one corner, a lot of shouting, and then bodies fell one after the other. This here," my breathing hitched when Cosmo suddenly unbuttoned his uniform and showed me his chest where a still reddish scar about quarter of a foot long ran across the top of his right chest, a few centimeters down his collarbone. "This was from a dagger. It was a good thing that when my enemy lurched towards me, I was surprised and took a step back. If I didn't, he would've gotten my neck." I was so invested in Cosmo's story that I couldn't help but grimace.

Only looking at it was already painful. How much more actually experiencing it? And it looks really deep too.

"The Count, does he… have that as well?" I asked even though he already told me earlier that the Count has them.

"We consider battle scars as trophies, Miss. It just shows how lucky we are to come back alive." Cosmo said smiling but his voice and his eyes conveyed otherwise. I know, it must've been judgmental of me to be concerned of such when they've spent a decade in the north wondering when their last breath would be, or if they get to be alive long enough to return home and live normally or start a family.

"I didn't mean to offend you, Cosmo. I know everyone tried their best," I reached out to place my hand on top of his as comfort, and he sighed, forcing a faint smile before turning the other way. They just returned a few months ago, I should've been more careful with my words. The hardships they went through and the comrades they lost must still be fresh in his mind.

After making myself comfortable again, I stopped asking questions—for now. Cosmo kept quiet too, only answering to simple questions that slipped my mouth out of curiosity, but none touched the subject of their time in the north or about Count Astor.

***** 

It took a week and two days to travel from Vlona to Ozryn where Count Astor resides. We slept at an inn if there's one along the way, and if not, Cosmo and the coachman would cover the whole carriage with a large thick cloth to make it a makeshift tent since it's big enough for me to stretch my legs and sleep in, while they slept outside.

"Are you sure you're not tired?" I asked Cosmo since he had been on guard every night to let the coachman sleep, and when he's with me in the carriage, he kept me entertained. I told him that he could doze off if he wanted to, but he kept on saying that back in the north, they barely had any sleep. "Your master could've sent a guard or two with you. I mean, I've been thinking about it these past few nights. But why are you my only escort? He's a count and a commander. Does he only have you to spare?"

"I'm enough to guard you and the coachman," was his short reply, but I wasn't going to stop there because even if he's enough to save me, being a commander and being the man Cosmo pictured the count to be, he should have at least two people after his head. They could be surrounded on all sides, and she'd be dead before she could reach Ozryn. How does this Count Astor think so little of me as to not even provide a proper escort?

This is beyond unacceptable.

Just because I don't have any title to my name doesn't mean he can just brush off my security. There's plenty of equally successful, equally wealthy men back in Vlona and the city who'd grovel at my feet and send an army to fetch me—the audacity.

I puffed out some air and let Cosmo receive my daggers, and by the time I lifted my gaze to see where we were, the surroundings suddenly turned dark as huge, towering trees with red flowers lined on the side of the paved road. I wasn't able to focus my attention on the road because I was slightly bickering with Cosmo. The road, carpeted by red petals from the trees, was wide enough for our carriage to pass through—two if the carriage was smaller.

I took another deep breath and exhaled through my nose.

Ahead, the paved road vanished and at the end of tunnel of trees, I squinted my eyes. When I opened it, I gasped. I leaned closer to the window and my eyes darted from one place to another—at a distance, surrounded by steep verdant mountains, perched on a small island in the middle of a huge lake connecting to the distant ocean, Limont Castle stood magnificently.

I couldn't help but question Cosmo how they managed to build a fortified stone wall around the island. Of course, he answered me that he didn't know since they only lived there just a month or two before they were sent to the northern regions.

As the carriage eased through the stone bridge connecting the island to the rest of Ozryn, I couldn't help but look down. The serene water was a welcome respite from the hustle and bustle of Vlona where there's pounding noises here and there, and if not, the busy market was always noisy with merchants and vendors exchanging words—curses, even, sometimes.

"Excuse me, are you sure we're in the right place?" I asked, my heart pounding in my chest so hard as I saw the water sparkled like there were little gems floating on top of it; I bet Cosmo could hear it.

"Pretty, isn't it?" he replied, and I gawked some more as the carriage stopped in front of the massive wooden gates. The coachman only showed some sort of golden badge then the gate opened inward. If I could, I'd get out of the carriage immediately and roam around.

"Welcome to Vervin Island, Miss."

Everywhere I looked there were small buildings, houses, and other structures. And though it looked small at a distance, Cosmo said it would at least take three days to fully explore the island. Cosmo pointed out the vast field up ahead, just a few meters, behind the castle and said that the island is self-sufficient and that they hardly even have to go to Ozryn for supplies.

"Are there already people living here when you arrived?"

"A little. Most of the inhabitants here are Count Astor's knight's family. I'm sure you noticed that we're sort of isolated from the rest of Ozryn. Who'd willingly live here? It's basically like a prison." I nodded but I never really noticed the inconveniences since the sight alone took my breath away.

"You can freshen up and rest once you've settled in the castle. It's midday so I'd bet the Count's doing his usual rounds—or maybe even training. You'll see your new home in a few minutes. Though it's not as grand as yours back in Vlona, it's a homey place so I hope you'd feel right at home in a jiffy." I gulped and nodded, taking in the sights, the houses, the plaza, the market and the merchant stalls.

The winding road to the castle went slightly uphill. There were less and less houses and building until there were only trees and some odd rock formations that I took note of. Cosmo said there's another route, shorter than this one but steeper. They only use it when they're with their horses as it's safer than passing through it on a carriage. 

When they reached the castle entrance, two gatekeepers from a nearby shed-like structure rushed to open the gates. From outside the castle already looked magnificent but knowing who's living in it, I didn't expect that it would have a vast garden with two huge fountains on either side of the way, well-trimmed bushes, and lawn with little white wild flowers here and there.

I didn't come here as a mistress, am I? I asked myself because there's no way that an island full of knights would be able to have a commander who would even bat an eyelash at how a proper garden should look like—no, proper doesn't even begin to describe this freeing sort of beauty. I thought it'd be more… I don't know, barracks and horses and swords clashing?

A sensible enough woman must be in-charge.

My heart pounded again. I'm not going to lie and say I'm not scared about this new page in my life, but I don't have the liberty to regret and turn back now. Though I pray I won't be some other man's secret lover again.

I shook my head. "Let's not get ahead of ourselves, Isa." I whispered to myself, and I was thankful that Cosmo didn't seem to hear it. I anxiously straightened up on my sit, then ran my palms across my hair and my skirt.

As the carriage eased its way to the castle, I can see two upright rectangular doors with Count Astor's banners—purple edged with gold braided threads; an annulet with a sword in the middle and perched on the sword's hilt was an owl wearing a crown. 

That oddly looked familiar, I noted after staring at the dancing banners. When my ride made a full stop and my eyes wandered lower from the banner, I swallowed hard, and my palms started sweating.

In the middle of the bunch of servants waiting to greet me, an elegant-looking aged woman, stood in front of them, her hand cupped the other as it fell straight in front of her.