Chapter 44

Amid so much happiness, time passed very quickly and, without feeling it, the day of the second festival arrived. The excitement in Dranda for the arrival of the foreign envoys was evident, everyone was thrilled to see the newcomers. People gathered outside the castle gates to see the numerous carriages arrive from Brodora. I waited alongside Gregory in front of the main door for the carriages to stop and our guests to descend.

Numerous men with black hair descended from the carriages, all of them were bare-chested and laden with necklaces and jewels. After a few minutes, another man descended, he stood out from the rest, he was younger and infinitely more handsome, he had violet eyes and long black hair.

Gregory and I walked to meet them. All the envoys were stocky and tall, taller than any man in Dranda, including my husband and his knigh