Katnya walked home with an uncharacteristic slump to her shoulders. She led her horse by the reins, pulling the empty cart the short distance. She sighed when she opened the door and looked to the huge stack of letters just inside the door. A bunch had arrived together just a few days ago. Why had she never opened them? 

What does it mean to be happy?

The question often returned to Katnya’s mind, so it was no surprise when it popped into her thoughts as she tended to her bees. She considered it as she scooped honey out of the third hive. If all her hives had done as well as the first three, then this first harvest of the year would have a good yield.

Arenborn knocked on the door struggling to hide his broad smile. How long had it been? Three months? Four? It felt like it had been far longer. His fingers curled around the small bouquet of flowers he had picked on his way through their little village and he took a deep breath.

The bright afternoon sun shone down onto Hookworth as Arenborn strolled leisurely through the village, breathing in the warm summer scents. He made his way along the well-maintained paths to the Sizzling Turtle Tavern and strolled through the grass to sit at the base of one of the tall trees in the yard and settled between two large roots.

Dearest Diary,

How much I do love thee. So much. So very, very much. Well, not really, but I figure if I'm going to continue calling you “Dear,” I should at least occasionally add a little sweet-talk. Or not.

In truth, I don't have much to say today. Merely a few hopes, concerns, doubts, and fears. Normally I could keep them to myself, but it can't hurt to write them down, document them. Can it?

Alaya tumbled and hit the ground, but jumped back up and continued walking straight away. The infant had been learning to walk lately and hadn’t quite mastered it. She stumbled and fell a lot but never cried and always pulled herself back up.

The sounds of steel clashing together rang out in the yard, with the many boys shouting as they fought one another. It was a warm afternoon in Pelargir, and everyone was sweating and panting as they trained with their swords.

Far Away From Home II.

Far Away From Home