Lys: Adrift

The bard was beautiful. Taller than Aithne, but she thinks near to her age. She doubts the woman thinks the same. Her entire life people had thought her at least five, sometimes ten years younger than she actually was.

Like a little sparrow off to her nest, the girl ran off to who-knows-where, leaving her alone with the bard-woman. I could have been she... she muses fleetingly. Daughter of a bard- she could've become a bard herself.

Could have beens. They had no place in life. She shrugged out of them and bowed her head respectfully, not speaking. This woman would have great influence on Vortigern, and one false step could make things hard for her.

I never did learn the girl's name...