Hidden thoughts

The town had settled down and drowned in sleep. The stalls and tavern were all closed. The streets and the center were empty.

The hall where they gathered before still had lights. In the hall, Rhaet and Mosce sat drinking. Mosce was so inebriated that he was swaying back and forth. However, he continued drinking with his shaking hands.

It was in the middle of the night, and only the two were in the hall.

Rhaet was sober even after drinking as much as he had.

"So what did your lord say?" Rhaet asked him. But Moses was mumbling. Rhaet clicked his tongue.

He drank another full and smacked the jug on the table, looking at Mosce. His forehead wrinkled, frustrated.

Mosce didn't budge upon hearing the jug's sound. He was hunched on one side, his eyes half closed.

Rhaet and Mosce were the only ones present in the hall. He got up and approached him.

"For three years, I had acted all obedient and nodded my head to whatever you people said."Rhaet leaned in closer to Mosce's face, placing one hand on the table.

Mosce wasn't responding; he only moaned.

Rhaet continued, "But your Lord was still not showing interest in me."

"How much should I quiver in front of you guys to make you happy to give me what I want?"

"I thought that when the marriage proposal came, it must have come from the Lord's family."

"But I expected too much."

"Do you think I would sacrifice my daughter for your son?" Rhaet raised the head of Moses with his hand.

Mosce could only mutter as he was intoxicated.

Rhaet released him and wiped his hand on Mosce's tunic.

He turned to face the door and saw Synnove standing there.

"Father!" Synnove walked in.

Rhaet walked back to his seat and sat in the chair. He sighed, looking at his daughter.

"Are we going on with the wedding?" Synnove also sat beside him and asked, staring at Mosce.

Rhaet heaved a sigh.

"Maybe, maybe not."

"Despite me saying before that I would not marry, I agreed because you said so," Synnove said, leaning forward and supporting her chin with both her hands.

"We will kill them on the wedding day," Rhaet said it in a serious tone. He was looking at Moses.

Synnove was also doing the same.

"It was the day after tomorrow."

"Now I have to kill my husband-to-be."

Synnove let out a heavy breath of air.

"Then we'll see what the Lord does."Rhaet poured himself another glass and drank it.

Synnove was lost in thought.

***

Aragon, who wasn't aware of what happened in the night, got up early and went out into the forest.

It was already morning, and he was walking through the forest. He ended up near the river. He took a bath in the river and returned home.

The town and village weren't very far. The distance can be covered in a few minutes of walking. They also laid out a road for easy mobility.

While Aragon was returning back to the village, he heard someone call him. He turned to see and noticed Ragna coming from the direction of town.

She was alone and was holding a cloth bag. Her entire family was staying in town for the wedding tomorrow.

"Aragon, could you help me carry this to my home?" Ragna gave him the bag and smiled at him.