Orsgadts
Emune Decision

“Your father is a good man. He always helps his friends even though he himself lives a limited life. Your mother worked as a servant in the palace and died a few days after you were born.” Arrand told Emune in a bright morning.

“Do you know my mother?” ask Emune.

“Yes, visited your family several times before you were born. Good women.”

“Is she beautiful?”

“Beauty. Friendly and kind. You know, your dad used to say he wouldn't get married before he was 40 but once he met your mom, he didn't think much of getting married. As I recall at that time your father was 27 years old, the first person to marry in our group.”

Emune laughed a little. Arrand was happy to make Emune laugh. This girl is not the girl she met last night. Sadness is still visible but this morning he was able to smile and laugh gracefully.

“His box is open? Your father told me not to open it.”

“Already. There was a letter from Dad telling me to stay excited. He prayed for my happiness. A leather bracelet. I immediately put it on,” Emune showed off the leather bracelet her father gave to Arrand.

“Good bracelet. By the way, it's your mother's bracelet. Your mother took it off when you were born. He and your father wanted you to wear it as an adult so they kept it in that box.” Arrand smiling.

“Oh, really? It's a very valuable bracelet, I'll take good care of it.”

“It should have been.”

“Master, how did Dad die?”

Arrand did not expect to hear this question. Girls usually don't ask that far. Arrand cleared his throat, his throat felt dry.

“Your father was sick on a business trip in Imperia. Before returning to Arsyna, he sent a message to a merchant to meet him in Alder. His condition is bad. He told me to look for you and give me this box if anything happens to him. If ... yes, if he dies.”

Arrand was silent for a moment and sighed softly.

“I insisted on staying and taking care of him. The third night he seemed to know that he would not be able to survive until morning. He ordered me to bury him in the backyard.” Arrand stopped for a moment. “The next day, he was gone. My best friend Edmund Steggar is dead,” he said sadly.

“Mr Arrand, I know you love my father. You traveled a long way just to let me know. Thank you.”

Arrand rubbed his slightly wet eyes. He was glad the hardest part had passed. Today he learned one important thing that his long journey was not only to get the news to Edmund's daughter but also to let go of his own feelings. He is aware that losing someone can make us vulnerable to sadness and anger but everyone has the power to rise up and get better.

“What are your plans after this, Emune?”

Emune smiled. The plan is for sure, survival. Maybe Thomas and the twins will get better at him over time. They're getting married and out of Grantea's house. I will take good care of Uncle and Aunt, he thought.

“I want to go back to Alder. Dad included the land letter and I think I should go back and take care of my parents' legacy.” Emune was surprised by what he just said. He did not think how his mind could be different from his words. Perhaps it was his consciousness that yearned for the Alder mountains that made the idea come to pass.

“Wow, you're really great. Do you want company back to Alder?”

“I guess you're going to Eimersun.”

“I am going to Eimersun but there is a group going to Imperia through Alder. I can ask them to take care of you.”

“They will come this afternoon to watch Ulrych Celebration later tonight and leave for Alder in the morning. What an incredible coincidence. I'll introduce you to them later. Are you sure? What about the Grantea family?” ask Arrand.

“I'm sure. It would feel better if I were to talk about this with Uncle and Aunt as soon as possible. Tonight's Ulrych, it will be hard to find a chance to talk to them. Thomas, Clarice and Clemence would be very happy if I left,” Emune replied.

“Ya, that's a good idea.”

Emune stands. “See you later, Mr. Arrand. Thank you.” He smiled at Arrand who was sitting while breaking the straw. Upon seeing Arrand return her smile, Emune rushed to find Grantea's husband and wife.

Intrigued by Grantea's husband and wife's reaction, Arrand clandestinely follows the girl's direction. He sees Emune finding his uncle and aunt near the chicken coop. Emune's voice was not heard from far away but Arrand was sure he was talking his plans to Alder on both.

As soon as Emune finished, chaos ensued. A basket of chicken eggs slipped from Mary Grantea's hand, her shirt and legs filled with fluid from the broken eggs. Meanwhile Henry, her husband, spilled the milk of a newly milked goat. Emune tries to help her uncle and aunt in the midst of their protest of her plans to Alder.

Arrand chuckled from where he was hiding as he watched the three dissolve into panic. Arrand back to the barn. Last night he refused to sleep in Thomas's room and asked to be allowed to spend the night in the barn.

He was surprised to see a neat barn. One of the corners is filled with large wooden boxes and boxes that are given cloth. The corner became like a small defensive fortress.

Henry said that Emune slept there. At first he was angry that Emune was left to sleep in the barn but after hearing Mary's story, he became respectful to Grantea's husband and wife. Edmund had entrusted Emune to them.

He was amazed at the independence of his best friend's daughter. The constant misfortune did not make him weak. Arrand often meets young girls who experience the disappointment of life and slump without the slightest desire to get up. Some were abandoned by families and some were sold by their families.

The kingdom had banned human trafficking but in fact, landlords were secretly buying and selling with the villagers who were powerless to get cheap labor. The world is not safe for young girls.

Arrand snatched his travel bag. The robe covers his body well and the head covering is very useful to protect him from dust and the heat of the sun. He's going to Mogrum, the only drinking house in Ulrych.

He drank beer all night with Henry and didn't want to sip any alcohol this morning. There are some items for supplies that must be purchased if he wants to survive to the eastern region of Imperia. The journey to Eimersun is more difficult because he will go along the borders of the human land and if not rushed, he can be caught in a desert storm.

Arrand passed through the fountain in the square and went straight into Mogrum. People saw him for a moment then again busy with their respective affairs. Arrand handed over the shopping list and some silver keeping to the owner of Mogrum, a thick-bodied and mustachioed man.

“Travel far, uh, Arrand?” ask the owner of the Mogrum.

“Yes. Make one. I'll take it this afternoon,” replied Arrand.

A woman came in with a basket of bread. The owner of the Mogrum nodded at him. The woman offered wheat bread to anyone she met. Two visitors to Mogrum bought to take home. He was very cheerful and more cheerful when his bread was sold.

The woman approached Arrand and thrust her basket. Arrand bought one for his additional supplies. Again the bread merchant cried out cheerfully for another one that was sold. After once again wandering around in Mogrum and no one bought, the bread merchant left. The sound of his screams was still heard for a while and then disappeared completely.

Arrand's business at Morgum is done. He walked around the square. People are busy preparing for the celebration tonight. Horse carriages with various merchandise lined up outside the square. Musicians and dancers also arrived. The crowd started to stifle and it became a sign for Arrand to quickly get away.

Arrand back to the barn. He sat in a wooden box with an apple in his hand. The apple was in the bag in his robe. He did not remember buying or receiving apples from someone. The apple was a little dusty, Arrand rubbed the apple into his robe. He turned it around and stopped when his eyes caught something. There was a small writing that could still be read carved into the skin of the fruit.

“Finally started too,” he said.

Arrand threw the apple into the air and caught it before it fell to the ground. He sighed. Once again he read the text and his smile grew.

Orsgaadt.