It was a long summer. Terrible heat and destructive hailstorms took turns on our crops, leaving us with little for the winter. I owed it to Roric to live my life as best as possible in his absence. I tried to give strength to the other women who needed it. When there wasn’t work to be done, Idania and I gathered them just to share what weighed on our minds. It helped. One time Idania and I were alone, I allowed myself some weakness.

“I am putting a brave face in front of the others, but I am in pure agony, Idania” - I said - “I hope they come back sooner.”

“Me too.” - she said, sniffed, and smiled at me.

“How can you be so calm and composed? How can you be so strong while we’re barely holding up?” - I couldn’t hold it in me anymore.

“Promise you won’t tell.” - she said and looked around.

“I do. Please tell me your secret.” - I answered.

“I sleep with one of the shepherds. It gets my mind away from this whole thing.” - she said and sniffed again.

To each their own.

Still, the window frame was the only comfort I needed. I shot a hopeful glance in the distance each time I could. But this summer taught me that not all monsters hide in the woods, and not all enemies are imperial. Some are here with us. Arron got closer to Roric and me. Now that my husband was fighting again, Arron was the person who provided a man’s strength when the house needed it. Even limping, he was far stronger than I was. One day he helped me bring water home, and I offered him to stay a little and rest, feeling pity over sending him home limping.

“No need to thank me, Anya.” - Arron said - “It’s the least I can do.”

I don’t know if he mistook my politeness for an invitation, but his hand found its way high on my thigh as we sat and talked. I got up and pulled away instantly but that only angered him.

“You invite me in, but you shy away now?” - he said and got up.

“I’m married, Arron. To your friend.”

“Well, he’s not here, is he?”

“Thank you for the water, but you should leave.” - I said

“Do you have any idea what’s going on there? Do you honestly think he’s coming back from that twice?”

“He promised he will.”

“I’ve always liked you.” - he said and reached for my hand - “The gods will understand.”

“Leave my house, Arron!” - I said and made another step back.

“He’s probably dead already!” - he said through his teeth - “Lying in the mud with an arrow through his neck. Even if he still breathes, he’s probably had more whores than you can count already, liberating those villages. And you’ll sit here alone, waiting for him?”

I mustered all the courage I had in me not to cry at the scene he painted. I looked him right in the eyes and yelled.

“I will never swear any kind of oath to you. You can have my body, but Roric will return, and I will tell him. He made me a promise. Leave my house and pray that I show pity on you, cripple! You know what my husband’s capable of.”

The gods are my witness I meant what I said that night.

Arron left, not because I had scared him, but because he didn’t believe the things he was threatening me with. He didn’t believe Roric was gone, but he hoped I would. We both knew that my husband kept his promises, and he kept this one too. When the bells rang once again, I rushed to the square.

He was already there, waiting for me with a blue flower in his hand, the color of the sky.