Asha of the Border — Chapter 22

I SAW THIS AT THE MARKET, AND IT REMINDED ME OF YOUR EYES.

I CAME ACROSS A TRAVELING MERCHANT ON MY WAY HERE.

HE TOLD ME DESPITE ITS STRONG SCENT, IT WON'T ATTRACT BEARS.

THEY SAY SAILORS CONSIDER THIS A GOOD-LUCK CHARM.

LOOK, LOOK, YOU REALLY DON'T HAVE TO KEEP DOING ALL THIS... ALL THIS...

IF IT MAKES YOU UNCOMFORTABLE, I'LL STOP.

THEY SAY YOU'LL NEVER LOSE YOUR WAY AS LONG AS YOU HAVE IT.

OF COURSE, THAT'S PROBABLY JUST A SAYING

THAT WORKS ON SOMEONE AS DIRECTIONALLY CHALLENGED AS ME.

SO THAT WHEN YOU RETURN HOME SOMEDAY,

YOU WON'T LOSE YOUR WAY.

AH, I DON'T MEAN TO PRESSURE YOU.

JUST HAVING YOU HERE LIKE THIS IS ENOUGH FOR ME.

SO THAT WHEN YOU RETURN HOME SOMEDAY,

YOU WON'T LOSE YOUR WAY.

RETURN HOME...?

MY HOME IS RIGHT HERE.

RETURN HOME...?

MY HOME IS RIGHT HERE.

THAT KINGDOM BASTARD... MAKING HER SAY THINGS LIKE THAT.

WHO DOES HE THINK HE IS, DECIDING WHERE THAT CHILD BELONGS?

DON'T LET HIM NEAR THE VILLAGE.

THE VILLAGERS MIGHT GET UNCOMFORTABLE.

I'LL BE CAREFUL.

DON'T JUST BRUSH ME OFF.

ARE YOU EVEN SURE HE'S TRUSTWORTHY?

HE'S A CHILDHOOD FRIEND.

WITH THE VERY PEOPLE WHO TRIED TO HURT YOU,

HASN'T HE BEEN ASSOCIATING ALL THIS TIME?

SINCE WHEN HAVE YOU BEEN SO HOSTILE TOWARD OUTSIDERS?

ARE YOU PLANNING TO BECOME A CITIZEN OF THE KINGDOM AGAIN, TOO?

...WHAT?

WHAT EXACTLY IS THAT SUPPOSED TO MEAN?

IS THAT REALLY HOW YOU’VE ALWAYS SEEN ME?

...I SEE. SO THAT'S HOW IT IS.

ABOUT THE SLEEVES.

DON'T PRETEND YOU DIDN'T HEAR ME.

JUST FORGET THE WHOLE THING EVER HAPPENED.

I WON'T ASK YOU FOR ANYTHING AGAIN.

ASHA! HURRY UP AND COME OVER!

YOU PROMISED YOU'D TRY ON YOUR COMING-OF- AGE OUTFIT!

HAVE YOU DECIDED WHO'S GOING TO TAKE YOUR SLEEVES?