The Goodbye

Dea's POV:

I wait with my grandmother and brother in the center of town with the escorts. It seems the King is over protective of his Matches, he sent six escorts for a three week journey to the capital. I pay no attention to them, I am about to spend a lot of time with them, so I need to speak with my family for what little time I have left, I set the time of my departure I must abide by it.

I turn to my brother and pull him into a hug, Nike is tall, 6'5" at least, he has broad shoulders, and lean hips, he has hair like our mothers had, chocolate brown, with bright blue eyes and strong jaw like our fathers.

He raps me in his arms and squeezes me as if this is the last time we will see each other. He is not wrong, this actually might be the last time given what I am about to do. The thought alone sends a shiver down my spine.

"Take care of grandmother, I will be back as soon as I can." I tell him, I can't let him think I won't come back even if it is a possibility. He just nods and hugs me again.

I turn to my grandmother and pull her into a hug as well, she hugs me just as tight. "Fight little one. I do not wish to be on this seat for long."

"Yes grandmother." I pull back and bow my head to her. Lea is rounding the corner of a shop just as I pull back.

Lea comes up to me, hands me my things, I strap my quiver full of arrows to my back between my blades. I hold my bow and bag, an escort takes my bag without being asked, I dip my chin in thanks. I turn back to my third and hug her, as I pull back I say to her, "You will be third to my grandmother, your position will not change under Warlady Morrigan or Nike understood?"

"Yes Warlady Dea." Lea pauses for just a moment taking a deep breath, "Come back home my friend." Emotion leaked into her voice, which is not common for my friend and third in command, I pull her back into a quick hug. As I release her I turn to my escorts, one in the back I catch staring at me intently.

Koal POV:

Grandmother! This woman just left her grandmother in charge of the territory of Elyrea. For her to be a grandmother she must be nearly sixty or older and yet she looks as if she could beat nearly any person in a fight.

The man named Nike has to be the Warlady's lover, they clung to each other like life depended on it. Not only the intimacy shown with how quietly they spoke and the hug, but she has him as her second and now her grandmothers champion. She much trust this man with not only her life but the life of her loved ones.

I have been around her for a total of thirty minutes and I am perplexed. This will be a very interesting three weeks