The waiting felt like pure torture. After Thomas left early that morning with the letter, Austin and Alina were literally trapped inside the small cottage. The walls felt smaller with every passing hour. They could not risk going outside. They couldn't even speak loudly. The fear of being discovered hung over them like a sword.
Austin sat near the door with his sword close by. Every small noise outside made his body tense. Alina kept peeking from the small window, hoping to see Thomas returning.
Hours passed without any news. In the afternoon, Alina made Austin sit down on the bed and knelt before him so she could change his bandages.
Carefully, she unwrapped the old cloth from his shoulder and side. The fabric had darkened with dried blood. As she removed it, Austin winced.
Alina's hands shook as she cleaned his wound. Every time the cloth touched a tender area, his breath hitched. But he stayed still for her, resting his hand lightly on her knee for comfort.
