The very next day as soon as the sun shows its face from behind a cloud, Delyth awakes early, searches for Jothan and asks him, more like begs him to be her escort for the day. Fortunately for her, he agrees. Varusa is big but not that big of a nation. Basically, all he's doing is introducing her to the people of Varusa.

Her first stop is to Priscilla's house. It took a while, even by asking for directions, but they did manage to end up standing on the outside of a small brick wall house, seemingly to fit two people. A window on the left of the door, the roof is low and a chimney attached to the side of the house.

She knocks on the door and a minute in the scorching sun passes by before the door opens to reveal Priscilla's mom. Her face lights up when she sees Delyth and quickly bows respectfully when her eyes land on Captain Kersey.

"Miss...I'm sorry, I didn't catch your name before," Delyth trails, realizing she was fully introduced to the woman on the first meeting.

"My apologies. My name is Edith Goddard." She opens the door wider and lets them in. "I better call Prisci. She has been wanting to see you again since you sent those dresses. They are beautiful by the way. How much should I pay you for them?"

Delyth stops her, shaking her head and smiling politely at her. Such a wonderful woman. "There is no reason to pay anything. I enjoyed every minute I spent making them for your daughter."

Realization shines on her face. "Oh, you made them? They are even more beautiful. You are really talented. Would either of you like something to eat? The mince pie was just out of the oven."

Both Delyth and Jothan politely refuse but Miss Goddard ignores it and cuts reasonable sizes for each of them, places them on tiny plates and hands them to them.

"Prisci, you have a friend," Miss Goddard calls. In no time, you can hear her tiny feet running out of a room. Upon seeing Delyth, her face lights up with excitement and she runs to her. Delyth lifts her into her arms while Priscilla hugs her tightly.

"You're here! Thank you for the dresses. My friend Norah tells me I look like a princess. See?" Delyth places her back on her feet and Priscilla spins in circles while giggling loudly.

"Doesn't she look exquisite, Captain Kersey?" Delyth nudges a quiet Jothan to get his attention. He looks up from his plate with his mouth full.

"Like a flower," he says and shoves the last piece of pie in his mouth. More specifically, Delyth's pie since he already ate his. Miss Goddard notices and offers him another slice—a bigger one.

He smiles and plants a kiss on her cheek. She blushes profusely. In the meantime, Priscilla rants about how jealous her friends are of her dresses and ribbons. She even tells her about a boy who keeps trying to pull a ribbon out of her hair. Apparently, this is the first time Miss Goddard has heard this story. She was not pleased. Even more so when she discovers it's the son of one of her good friends.

The time comes when they have to leave and Priscilla hugs her once more and makes sure she pinky promises to visit again soon. With maybe one more dress for her mom.

"How was the pie?" Delyth asks snarkily, raising an eyebrow at him.

"Heavenly." He grins, licking his already clean fingers.

Delyth playfully rolls her eyes. "Clearly." She mocks him by puffing her cheeks to show he looked when he was enjoying her pie.

"I might have to visit Miss Goddard a bit often for more pie." Delyth punches him gently on the shoulder. "I want you to meet someone."

Delyth blinks two, three times as she stands in the stunning house, staring at an almost flawless dark haired woman. She wears a floral blue and white gown, pearls around her neck and her hair tied in a bun.

Jothan stands by her side, peering down at her with an adoring look on his face and a smile she's never seen before. "Delyth Aiken, this is my wife, Cybil."

Recognition passes her expression and she closes the distance between her and Delyth and stretches forth her hand, offering a hand which Delyth accepts.

"Finally, I get to put a face to the woman who will finally change Silas Casteron. That man has been a horror in Varusa and I'm glad you have arrived like a hope in disguise. Jothan tells me so much about you. Almost every day is another story which I absolutely find fascinating. At first he didn't like you much. He worried you were bad for Silas but then as the day went by he became convinced that you were the person who could change everything. My goodness, you are a beauty! Your fiance must be a lucky fellow. Jothan tells me he's sensible and hard-working. 'Best among any knight and guard combined' he said. Such a powerful pair. When is the wedding?"

Jothan places a hand on her shoulder. "Breathe, Cybil. Give her a chance to get a sentence out." Delyth couldn't help but laugh at how funny she is and how much she said in one breath. It reminds of how she and Roisin first met. Suddenly, she thinks to herself that if Cybil and Roi are to meet each other, they would be the most dynamic duo.

Cybil laughs and presses a hand on Jothan's hand. "I apologize, Delyth. It's just that I admire you. The thing is, this is the closest I can get to hearing something interesting in the Lardel Castle. Silas doesn't know I exist and we would like to keep it that way in case–" She casts a concerned look at Jothan whose head falls to his feet. "But now that you're here. We won't have to worry."

"No!" His sudden outbursts shocks the women. "My apologies. You are never meeting him. We can't risk it."

Delyth reads between the lines and understands that even Jothan knows how psychotic his best friend is. He knows there will come a day when Jothan does or says something to upset him and Silas will either hurt him or hurt his lovely wife. And by God is she lovely. She doesn't deserve to be in this world, caught up in the same life, so close to Silas.

"Very well, then. I made some cranberry pie. Would you like some?" Cybil offers with the warmest of smiles.

"Thank you very much," Delyth returns the smile and turns to Jothan when Cybil disappears into the kitchen. "Do your best to try not to eat all of it."

"Whatever, goat," Jothan wiggles his fingers on his chin, indicating the beard that a goat has.

"Chipmunk," she blows her cheeks up with air and widens her eyes, imitating the small animal.

"Nice," he compliments and high-fives her.

It is one of those nights where Tiarnan and Delyth get to spend the night together. However, this time they are spending it outside. So, she pulls him to a waterfall Silas told her about. As soon as they near the cliff, they quickly strip themselves to their undergarments and jump into the plunge pool below.

Their heads push up above water and they simultaneously push their hair out of their face. They swim towards the rock shelter and lean against the rock, laughing together. It's been a while since they've had this much fun together. He presses his hand against the rock beside her head and leans close to her face, loving how her breathing becomes uneven. He lifts her chin with his index finger. He smirks when her lips part in anticipation. He brushes their noses together then presses a kiss on her forehead, corner of her right eye, cheek, corner of her lips and crook of her neck.

"Tiarnan," she gasps, her head falling back when he presses a deeper kiss on her collarbone.

"Patience." His hot breath hits her ear and he nibs on it gently. He looks her in the eye and bites his lower lip.

Beautiful, he adores in his head.

"I'm yours, Odessa. Do with me as you please," he whispers against her lips. Him calling her by her birth name is him connecting with her on a personal level. He doesn't want Delyth Aiken. He wants Odessa Penteau. He wants to feel her love.

She shifts positions, now he is the one with his back against the rock shelter while she snakes her legs around her waist. He lifts her in his arms and stares up into her beautiful brown eyes. He uses one hand to brush her soft curls out of her face so he could look at her properly.

"I will always love you, Odessa 'Delyth Aiken' Penteau. Every nerve, every cell, every muscle belongs to you," he declares.

She giggles lightly, her eyes welling up in tears and the possibility of such a man existing and being here with her. "I will always fight for us. You over everyone else."

24/07/22

Au revoir...

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