Evelyn

Evelyn couldn't help but think about it. Edwin had been distant in terms of mood for over three long days now. He would pass his mornings meditating for hours. Meanwhile Evelyn tried to cheer him up but to no avail. She had even stopped her flower picking routine, not like Edwin seemed to notice. Her efforts would have been better spent talking to a stone. Or Nameless. Just like his master, Nameless seemed to be affected by nothing. He was standing silently on the day of the raid, he didn't as much as neigh as they passed the burning houses to get out of Wheatbridge.

Maybe his name does suit him.

On the forth day Evelyn saw a little change, Edwin's mood seemed at least less morose than it was before.

Time for the last resort weapon.

"Hey Edwin," she said suddenly, making Wind neigh. Now Wind was a more lively beast.

"Yes?" He said.

"I was wondering if some of the boys in Andlenore committed a folly," she said her tone grave.

"What sort of folly?" inquired Edwin not showing the slightest bit of interest.

"Suicide," she said in a bland tone.

"Why on Earth, would they commit suicide, Evelyn?" Edwin asked not even pretending to be confused or astonished.

Well that's a start, he at least spoke my name.

"Because a regal beauty left the town, leaving their hearts broken and hopes crushed," she said her voice modulated, head tilted and hand on her cheek.

"And you have consequently also broken the single condition for which I let you travel. No whore jokes, did I not tell you?" Edwin reprimanded.

And that's the most you have spoken since morning.

"You are but a shallow man. Comparing my beauty to a whore? I am offended," Evelyn replied in a modulated hurt tone. Her finger stopped an imaginary tear from rolling down her cheek.

"Stop Miss break-all-hearts,"

And now you cracked a joke or at least tried to and miserably failed.

Evelyn burst out laughing at her own act. Wind snorted too seeing Edwin take a sharp breath. Nameless failed to notice all this, as always he was in some other space.

"Come now, a little laugh won't hurt you," Evelyn said truthfully concerned this time, her voice back to original.

Edwin did not reply.

And my last weapon shattered like the hearts of those imaginary boys I talked about.

Her brow furrowed a little, "What is it Edwin?"

"Huh?" He said as if in a daze. Nameless agreed with Edwin by not responding.

"I am asking you what? It has been three days and you still don't talk and can't even hold a proper conversation. I have been trying since the last three days to cheer but you go on brooding over some murderers you killed. First instead of escaping you go risk your life to go save the townsfolk or whatever and then sit brooding for days on end. What is distressing your mind such?" demanded Evelyn infuriated.

She went on,"They were raiders, thieves, smugglers, rapists, murderers, the lowest tier known to mankind. They weren't saints draped in holy clothes preaching about humanity."

"But they were still human Evelyn." said Edwin his tone almost inaudible.

"Yeah good riddance I say. What else would you have done Saint Edwin? Opened a monastery mid raid, to preach the buffoons about the value of human life and the sheer uselessness of committing crimes? If you hadn't killed them they would have killed innocents, that would have stood good with you? They had already burnt half the town, and they weren't going to stop, damn they haven't stopped since I don't recall how many years!" Evelyn retorted letting her tongue take over her mind.

"I lost control over my own mind, the only control a man has is over his actions and I lost that," Edwin said still in a daze.

"Yeah and again you haven't been in your usual mood, isn't that a part of control too? To learn from past mistakes and move on rather than letting them slow you down?" Said Evelyn with preaching skills she acquired about five seconds ago.

"Okay Miss Preach-a-lot," Edwin attempted a joke only to fail. Edwin made another failed attempt, this time at smiling. But Evelyn found these failed attempts quite amusing.

Finally a mild change!

"You really need to work on how to crack all those jokes. Even Nameless surpasses you in generating more laughs. Learn from the wise ones," said Evelyn holding her head high, pretending to be proud. Nameless neighed in agreement; a rare sight.

Smart horse.

"Teach me Master," Edwin mocked.

"Yes, that's better."

****