Chapter 4 Beret and Durem
Beret arrived in Torinth the following morning. The mother and her children with whom he rode the day before had gone off to the Town of Gulet. It was a bit colder in his hometown due to the cool sea air. He sighed in relief at the sight of Durem’s house. He dismounted and tied his horse to a nearby post. The door opened and Durem’s large frame came out to welcome him.
“You’ve gotten bigger, my friend,” Beret said to him incredulous at how large Durem had grown.
“Your eyes fool you, sir knight,” Durem replied as he placed his hand upon his belly and smiled.
“I think you’ve spent too much time sitting and reading,” Beret told Durem.
They both laughed at this as they entered Durem’s home. Inside, the house looked no different than what Beret remembered when they were younger. The familiar clutter of books and scrolls could be seen everywhere. They then both sat near the warmth of the fireplace.
“I see that you’ve been keeping yourself busy,” Beret said.
“I have been working on the completion of the History of Torinth,” Durem replied.
“You finally decided to push through with that plan of yours,” Beret said.
“Yes,” Durem replied.
“Any word from Kort and Revik?” Beret asked.
“They have not yet come,” Durem said with an almost sad tone.
“Ah, worry not. They will be here,” Beret replied.
“That is what Misara also said to me,” Durem said.
At the mention of her name, Beret shifted uncomfortably in his seat. “Uhm, where is your cousin by the way?” Beret asked.
“She went to the market to buy food. It’s an old habit of hers. Despite her new life at the temple, I think she misses her old one.” Durem replied.
Beret tried to smile even as he recalled how disappointed he was when Misara chose that path. He had been in love with her since they were young. Yet he never had the courage to admit it. After she joined the temple, he became a knight to put to rest the feelings he had for her.
Just as he was about to say something, the door opened and Misara entered. She was radiant as ever, Beret thought. Her white robes flowed gracefully with her movements. Her long hair was even longer than he had remembered. He rose and bowed a gentleman’s bow.
“It is a privilege to be in your presence once more my lady,” Beret said as was customary for a knight to act in the proper manner befitting his Order.
“Sir knight, you honor me too much,” Misara said somewhat shyly as she returned Beret’s gaze with a smile.
A long moment of silence passed before Durem laughed so loudly it could be heard outside the house.
“I will have to work on getting used to you being all knightly,” Durem said as he continued to laugh.
Misara looked at her cousin and laughed as well. Beret felt embarrassed at first, but he too eventually joined in.
“You seem to be in better spirits now, cousin.” Misara said to Durem.
“I merely heeded your advice and rested,” Durem replied smiling.
Misara nodded approvingly.
They all sat, ate and recalled stories of their younger years. Durem’s mother joined them. Beret noticed that Durem’s mother hardly spoke. Her melancholy was palpable.
Misara looked at her aunt and said, “Would you like to hear about my life at the Temple?”
Her aunt smiled. Beret could tell that Misara was trying to cheer her up. “Yes my dear,” her aunt replied.
Misara smiled warmly and began her tale about her journey of faith.
This gave Beret the excuse to gaze at Misara. It was a struggle for him not to look at her adoringly. The only thing that kept entering his mind was that he was still very much in love with her. But as these feelings began to reemerge, his guilt grew. The Order would frown upon this, he told himself. It will take all his strength and resolve to keep his emotions in check, he thought. He kept hoping that this visit would be brief so he could return to his life as a knight and leave these feelings behind for good.