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The following morning, breakfast was very calm and lonely. Prolur, Taura, and Naed sat alone around the table and ate in silence. Lord di Sauria and Elden had obviously found their way back to their rooms and were nowhere to be seen in the great hall.
Prolur had a difficult time eating and found himself staring at Naed who sat opposite him. The boy looked very much like his mother. He had her slim face and pale skin, yet the eyes, which were indeed set deep in his head, were the same green color as Prolur’s and the hair a dark brown.
The silence in the room was broken when Laster entered it and let the door close behind him. He looked more moody than usual, his hair was in a state, and his skin had a grey tint to it. He seemed to be very ashamed about his behavior the previous day because he only had one glass of water for breakfast, which he consumed while completely silent. As soon as he had finished his beverage, he left to go back to his room—to mortify his flesh, Prolur assumed.
Even Elden and Lord di Sauria joined them with much the same appearance. di Sauria barely touched the food that had been laid out for him, but Elden ate with great appetite. Prolur finished his meal, leaned back in his chair, and watched the sickly lord of Saurania as he tried to force down a slice of bread, but he kept gagging on it. Prolur had to cover his mouth with a napkin to hide his smile, and when he looked over at Taura, he noticed that she wore a grin across her face. di Sauria threw the bread on the table, rose, and decidedly exited the room, gently closing the door.
Taura began to giggle, and Prolur desperately fought to control himself by biting his lower lip. The door opened again, and di Sauria returned with a grim look on his face.
“I have informed the men that I wish to leave shortly,” he said as he walked over to Elden. His voice was hoarse from the drinking. “They are arranging the horses and the carriage, so I suggest that you get ready to leave, Lady Armana.”
“Yes, my lord.” Taura nodded and rose from her chair, took Naed by the hand, and left the room.
“Why such a hasty departure, my lord?” Elden inquired after the two had gone.
“There are many matters to attend to elsewhere, and I do not believe that the monastery needs to be looked over again. We will remain in Barnavor for another few months, and if you need us, we will not be far away.” di Sauria looked at both Prolur and Elden and bowed. “Now if you would excuse me, I must dress and pack.”
The two monks rose and returned the bow as he turned and left the room.
“Was the remainder of the evening pleasant?” Prolur asked after they once again were seated.
“Too much of a good time I would have to say,” Elden replied and laughed. “Where did you disappear to? I did not see you at all past dinner.”
“I felt quite unwell. It must have been the mass of food I consumed—”
“Did you see the face on di Sauria?” Elden interrupted.
“He is very ill. I think he had too much to drink last night,” Prolur answered sarcastically and raised his glass of water in a mock toast.
Elden returned it and laughed. “I would not want to be a part of his entourage on the ride back to Barnavor,” he said, and they both laughed at the image of a hungover di Sauria riding.
The farewell was not as heartfelt as the greeting had been. di Sauria was still grey in the face and walked slowly up to each of the monks, shook their hands, and nodded to them without speaking a word. After him came Lady Armana and Naed, who followed his lead.
Prolur stood at the end of the row of his brothers—even Laster had left his room to bid farewell. His knuckles were covered in dry blood, and his face was completely white and his eyes red from his self-inflicted pain.
Lady Armana reached Prolur and offered him her hand as she curtsied. He took it, bowed, and gently kissed it. Her skin was soft against his lips, and he felt that he wanted to hold on to it forever, but he let it go.
He straightened himself out and gazed into her eyes. “Farewell, my lady,” he said, trying to hide the trembling in his voice.
“Walk me to my carriage, Father,” she said and began to walk towards it. He quickly walked up beside her, and they slowed their pace down to make the moment last. It was done instinctively as if they both had thought of it at the same time.
“It was wonderful to see you again, Prolur,” she said in a low voice—almost a whisper—so that the others present could not hear them. “I hope that you can pay us a visit soon.”
“I will be with you as soon as possible, I give you my word.”
They reached the carriage, and Taura helped her son into it. She stretched out her hand for support, and Prolur took it again. Once inside she turned to him, still holding his hand.
“I will hold you to that promise, Father.” She smiled and let go of his hand, and he let it fall to his side. She sat down next to Naed, and Prolur closed the door for her. He took a couple of steps back and looked over at Elden and Laster.
Lord di Sauria looked down at him from his horse and then over to his entourage. “It has been a pleasant visit, Haugén Elden!” he boomed, trying to look twice his size on the horse’s back, but failing because of his state. “You should be very proud of the monastery, and I hope to see it when it has been completed.”
Elden bowed, and di Sauria looked towards Prolur again. “It was good to see you again, Cousin, and I do believe we will meet again soon.” Prolur bowed at his words, and di Sauria raised his right hand in the air.
Flanked by two royal guards, both of them carrying the Haugarian standards, he stood in his saddle and gave the signal to ride off. He took the lead, and the entourage followed. Lastly came the carriage. Prolur watched as it disappeared over the hills, long after Laster and Elden had gone inside and the rain began, first in the form of light drizzle and then as a complete downpour. He didn’t know for how long he had been standing there, but by the time he was back in his room, he was thoroughly soaked.