It was freeing to walk through the town square on market day. A certain liveliness filled the air with townsfolk and merchants filling the space with their goods and coin and voices. It had been a couple of decades since Aydin had been able to relish this feeling of walking through the common folk. 

Being a lord of the realm was tiresome when you lived for hundreds of lifetimes, and he found that taking breaks from his lordship helped him regain much needed perspective. Aydin simply left his steward in charge of his holdings while he masqueraded as a commoner, a very wealthy one, for twenty or so years. The steward would enjoy living the decadent life of a lord for a while and none would be the wiser when the immortal master returned to his throne.

The local tavern had changed names and owners since his last visit, but was still supplied by the same brewery. Inside the crowd was bustling, enjoying the festivities of a market day and spending the hard earned coin of their labors. A trio of musicians sat in the corner playing an upbeat tune about a girl in the dell and many of the patrons clapped along. Aydin purchased an ale and found an open table near the musicians where he could see the room. 

“Is this seat taken?” 

Aydin found himself staring into the bright green eyes of a robust young woman, waves of fawn brown hair framing her face, and surprisingly fetching in a pair of breeches. He extended a hand towards the chair, “By all means.” 

The room was suddenly a very dull distraction, and Aydin found himself intrigued by the young woman. He talked to her for hours, but only discovered that her name was Lex and that she was visiting Carsiol from out west. It was nearly the evening when he finally realized what it was that intrigued him. 

“Your accent,” he said to her as they walked side by side down the street, watching the last of the merchants pack up their unsold wares and count the profits of the day. 

“Accent?” 

“It’s not correct,” he said, catching her arm in his before she could contemplate running off. “You speak too nicely for a commoner. Even one from out west…what town was it again?” 

“I didn’t say,” she said. Her green eyes flashed at him as he led her down a less crowded street. 

Aydin found an empty alleyway between shops and pulled Lex after him. “I have a proposal. You tell me where you’re really from and I’ll tell you who I really am.” 

Lex gazed up at him and he felt the nudge of an invasive thought as he realized their proximity. There was no fear in her eyes, but a fierceness that sparked Aydin’s curiosity further. Unknowingly, he leaned in and Lex turned away, mumbling an answer to his question.
“Misery?” 

“Close enough,” she replied. “And I know who you are, the barkeep told me. The whole town knows.”