Chapter 11: Chapter 11

ARIN AND SYMAN

"Syman is my cousin. I don't know if you already knew that. He was eight when I took him in."

Arin threw away the straw he had been chewing on after eating and leaned back on one arm.

"His father had married my aunt Enna early. They had a child too early. He beat both of them. Once he went too far and beat Enna to death. Syman stayed behind with him."

He paused and shook his head angrily.

"Even then I had trained with Syman and schooled him in swordplay and horseback riding... which he also needed. Of course I had noticed that something was wrong. But whenever I asked Syman, he just said No, Arin. Dad was right. or I deserved it!."

Little fun-loving Syman, an abused child. You couldn't tell. Never. I couldn't think of a situation where Syman ever seemed sad or wanted to avoid certain topics. He was actually quite cheeky and direct.

"At some point it was enough for me. I took Syman away and made him my squire. Even if everyone tried to talk me out of it. I couldn't leave him behind."

"Wasn't he good at riding?" Or why should anyone turn out to be unfit to be a squire?

"He was malnourished and constantly ill. And weak. So weak that at first he couldn't get his saddle off the ground."

"How cute."

Although I didn't like the idea of a starving and weak child struggling with a saddle. What should I say?

"He was. Everyone in the village adored him. To this day."

"Is your homeland the next destination?"

Arin nodded silently and scanned the area. It was slowly getting dark. Syman still wasn't back.

"Is Syman afraid of the dark?"

Arin laughed. "He's not afraid of anything."

I believed him. The whole story got me thinking. However, I didn't know if I should talk to him. I absentmindedly toyed with the hilt of my dagger, which was clipped to my belt.

"He's fine, Elain." Arin laughed and stood up. "Shall I call him?"

"No, if you don't think it's important."

"You seem to think it's important." He pointed to my restless hand.

"That's not what worries me."

"What then?"

I got up to escape if Arin got angry. I wouldn't argue.

"Did you murder Syman's father?"

Arin sighed. "You can read between the lines, huh?"

"To be honest, it was very obvious." Now I went a step further than I wanted... "How did it happen?"

"He drew his sword, yelled at me to leave, and attacked me. It was close...but...I was luckier than him..."

A load fell from my shoulders. He didn't kill on a whim. It was self-defense! And then it was a duel. And no actual murder.

"Then it was legal. Then why are you wanted?"

"Because my brothers are looking for me."

Uh... I still had so many questions. Right now. But Arin had been very open with me. More than the last few days. I couldn't go too far.

"Did you kill one of them too?"

Hah, I went too far... Arin stared at me with surprised eyes.

"Sarcasm. It kinda suits you."

Then he put his hand on my waist and pulled me towards him. Thank god he wasn't offended.

He ran one hand down my back to my neck. "No corset?"

"Apparently I'm not a lady after all."

His hand rested on my neck as he pressed his forehead against mine again. At least he wanted to be as close to me as I was to his.

"I've known that for a long time..."

And then he kissed me. First very carefully and tenderly, then suddenly very intimately and demanding. I felt compelled to undress him. And this time I didn't want to deny it anymore.

When it broke, I was disappointed and felt lonely. If he had kissed me like that before, he wouldn't have had to say anything. Or was the kiss only so nice because he had trusted me?

And then I was sure. Simply that way...

"When do we leave, my lord?"

That was probably the best thing he had heard today. Elain knew about it and still wanted to go with him. He knew he could trust her.

"Not until morning. Before breakfast."

"Okay. I'll be ready."

She looked far better in that dress than in the pink Florence dress. You could tell that Elain felt better that way.

"Better go inside so your parents don't scold you."

"Are you sending me to bed again, my lord?"

A sly glint appeared in Elain's eyes.

"Believe me, I'll never dare to do that again."

Elain smiled so brightly that the slowly rising moon lost its importance.

Listen to him... Where did such thoughts suddenly come from? That was scary...

"I obey husband."

A little shyly, Elain kissed Arin and then went back to the cabin. It bothered him terribly that he and his wife slept separately.

But Jacob didn't like him. If Elain had wanted to sleep with Arin, her father would have declared war. And Arin didn't want to put Elain through that.

At least one of her parents had to remain kind to her.

Syman reappeared a little later. Arin remembered the story of the two again. It was driving him insane how the day had begun.

Syman set up his bunk and nibbled on his last piece of bread. "Is Elain coming with me tomorrow?"

"Yes."

"What will Eric say to you when they find us? With a woman?"

"I have no idea."

"Will you hit me again if I say I wish you the same punch from Eric that you gave me today?"

There was old Syman again. Thank God the boy wasn't too resentful.

"Elain has already done that."

Syman laughed and jumped up. "Are you serious?"

"Do you have any idea how hard she can hit?"

Syman was ecstatic.

***

THE VILLAGE OF SCHOLARS

The village of scholars was isolated on a trade route. I was glad that there wasn't as much hustle and bustle in the small village as on the street. It was nice to watch the quiet bustle of the people.

J

Everyone knew everyone and they spoke openly to everyone. Even me, even though I wasn't one of them. And that felt good after I said goodbye to my parents again.

They packed me my favorite book and some clothes and told me to come home immediately if Arin treated me badly. Jacob also secretly talked to Arin. He refused to tell me exactly what he had said. But that was fine.

Traveling felt a lot better now that I was willing to go with Arin and say my goodbyes properly.

And also the marriage of Arin and I seemed more real to me.

"Two still very warm bodies." The baker is friendly and struggled with three crying children.

I put Arin's money on the counter and waved at the little one.

"I don't remember any of my cousins ever yelling like that..." Syman growled, staring at the babies.

"Every baby cries, Syman. That's how they communicate."

"Our babies don't..."

He cut the loaves of bread from me and took me outside to Arin. He laughed with a man who tried to sell him medicine.

Seeing Arin so happy made me happy. He looked so young, so attractive. I thought I was in love with him at that moment. But what did I know about love?

When the medic slipped him a piece of paper, he finally let go of Arin and disappeared. He waved me over and gave me some more money.

Stunned, I held out the money to him again.

"I think we have everything. We should be able to get by a little longer with the supplies my parents gave me."

Arin nodded. "I know that, but I want you to sew me a new shirt."

"Arin, that's pretty patronizing!" Syman laughed, pushing off Pocket, who was trying to steal one of the loaves of bread from him.

"Quiet, squire."

"A shirt, my lord?"

Arin nodded. "Buy what you need with it. It's getting warm and I need a lighter shirt."

I didn't need a reason. My husband wanted a shirt so I would make him one too.

"Would you like me to come with you, Elain?" Syman asked.

"Of course you should. Make sure nobody dared talk her into something." He waved the medic's paper and smiled devotedly. "Like me just now."

"What is that actually, Arin?"

"An invitation to the Apothecary's Banquet."

"Boring..."

I had a different opinion. Arin and Syman were amused at the invitation, but I was curious. Not because of the pharmacy aspect of the banquet, but because of the banquet.

"May I see that?"

"What for? We're not going there anyway." Syman grinned.

Arin handed me the paper. It didn't say much.

"Are you interested, Elain?"

Syman laughed out loud. For the fact that he had just received a scolding the day before, he already had his cheeky sense of humor back.

"What do you find funny about that?" I grumbled.

"Do you have any idea how boring these guys are? I'm imagining your face right now when it's not as funny as you thought it would be, but still have to smile politely. That sure looks cute."

"My lord?"

"Milady?"

"Would you mind sticking your cheeky cousin?"

Arin laughed and nudged Syman lightly. Despite this, the ten-year-old boy stumbled against his horse.

"I meant no harm, Elain."

"I know that..." Still, I wanted to show him that I had limits. And if he crossed them, I would strangle him just like the cheeky ponies we once had on the farm. Those snappy little-

"Are you sure you want to go there?" Arin put a hand on my back.

"I would have been interested to see what a pharmacy looks like."

"But-!"

"Enough, Syman." Arin interrupted him without looking at him. Because he was still looking at me. "Then you must make sure that my new shirt is already ready for tonight."

"Really Arin?" Syman was so surprised that his mouth fell open. "Then I have to wash myself..."

"Who the hell said that about you? You stay with the horses."

Syman walked me across the village before we finally found a nice fabric that would last. Then again across the village to the other end to get needle and thread. I felt really sick after not being able to return a Silver Thaler to Arin.

He took us to an inn where he ordered us a warm stew. Syman had to take care of the horses. The inn was a lot louder than the village. Men laughed with other men across three tables. Others bullied and were immediately reassured by the others. And it smelled of beer and meat. It was great!

"Today we sleep here. We'll move on tomorrow and arrive home in the evening. If everything goes right."

"Thank you for going to the banquet with me. It means a lot to me that you're doing me this favor."

Arin smiled so I could see his dimple. Not for the first time, I wanted to kiss him right there.

"You don't often get the opportunity to do that. There will be a lot of people there."

"Does it disturb you?"

Arin nodded gravely. why the same? Then I remembered. My knight was wanted...

"I forgot about that... Then we should move on, my lord..."

Arin shook his head and took my hand. "Did you find a fabric?"

After Elain told him everything, she withdrew to start on his new shirt. Arin followed her.

The room had a narrow bed with some animal skins on it and a small chest where sheets for washing and another fur were stowed.

"I must measure you, my lord."

Elain stepped in front of him. After he nodded, she lifted his arms away from his body. Then she put her hands on his sides above his waist. Gently she rode up until her hands were on his chest.

He had had to control himself for so long, his dreams had driven him to despair and now he was finally going insane.

Her slender hands, which slowly wandered along his chest to his stomach, left hot marks... It couldn't just be measuring what his wife was doing. But he didn't want to complain.

"I...I think I have everything...thanks." She turned around and started writing something down.

But Arin had jumped. She should move on immediately! He grabbed her hips and pulled her body back against his. He cupped her waist and kissed the top of her head.

"I should begin, my lord..."

"Later..." And if he was going to the banquet naked, he wanted Elain. Immediately.

Her delicate hands rested on his forearm and her head rested on his shoulder. That wonderful neck, Arin thought and laid his lips on it. He heard her sigh and rubbed his nose against her skin. Even though he had just eaten, he was damn hungry.

He put his other hand on her breast. And although he was very gentle, she squirmed out of his grasp and pretended nothing had happened!

"I think this color will suit you!" she trilled happily.

Arin felt like hitting someone again. Maybe even her. How could she leave him like that again!? He watched in desperation as she flexed her entire body as she spread the fabric.

"Elaine."

"Yes?"

As innocently as if he hadn't even been there, she bent down and stuck her ass in his direction.

She had to do that on purpose!

"Elaine!"

Now she looked at him in surprise.

"Oh stop me with that face! why are you avoiding me Are you scared?"

"We don't have time..."

He had to digest that first. He felt like he had been sold as an idiot.

"You just started it!"

"By accident..."

"Are you actually concerned about the time? Then I'll shit the shirt and put this on!"

Again she just looked at him.

He was a man... your man. He was actually allowed to take whatever he wanted... But would that be okay? Yes, Elain was very snappy when she wanted to. And she struck too. However, he was determined.

Elain seemed to be able to read minds. "My lord...?" she asked suspiciously.

It was already happening then. He had grabbed her, thrown her onto the bed and knelt over her. Of course she screamed this outraged my lord.

"If you can't give me a reason other than this damn time, then I have to say that you can scream all you want!"

"I just don't feel well...Now."

"Because of the time?" Arin growled. Because that would be a rarely stupid excuse.

"No... Please don't force me..."

He couldn't. Not even if he didn't care so much about her. You didn't do that.

Even though there were enough men taking advantage of it, the court didn't believe women. He wasn't one of those rabble.

So he got off the bed and left the room without saying a word.