Chapter 32: Chapter 32

HOW INAPPROPRIATE

I had never felt so connected to him as this time. I felt his sadness and loneliness. This time he didn't have to feel it alone though, that made me happy. I felt needed and important. I would protect this big guy. No matter how ridiculously small I looked next to him...

"Do you want to go to the field?" Avan asked me after we had everything neatly stowed on the empty cart.

"Excuse me? What should I do there?" I really wanted to. But I didn't want to get in the way. As Arin and Taran supposedly did.

Avan grabbed my waist from behind and placed his lips on my cheek. "Arebiten, woman. So that you can earn your luxury." I grinned, his lips tickled and I pushed him away with my butt. He inhaled sharply as he did so. "Sure, you can also do that to earn your luxury."

"I'll just get in the way."

"If someone says that, I'll punish them with overtime." Avan's infamous mischievous smile appeared.

"You're really enjoying this. You're being mean."

"Every now and then I deserve joy too." He took my hand and pulled me onto the field with him. "And now don't hold back, now that we both know how disappointed you were when you had to stay here."

It was just uncanny how fast Avan could see through me. That just couldn't be true!

He led me to the field where a wagon full of rubble and wood was parked. His brothers around him hacked at large boulders or were run over by Arin and Taran. Avan's eyes darkened and he stopped dead in his tracks as the two boys ran his way. Not noticing him, they both crashed into him, tumbling and flying on their butts.

Taran tried not to smile while Arin looked up rebelliously. "Many Thanks!"

Avan grabbed the two boys by the ears and pulled them onto them both. Taran yelped loudly while Arin, as always, stubbornly tried not to show pain. "Do you all seriously think you're an exception? Get to work..."

They wriggled out of his grasp and ran away. I just had to smile. At least Avan too. "Next time they will be hung on the tree and taken down again when you go home."

As if he could bring himself to do it. I rolled my eyes with a grin and followed him to the top of the hill where our three helpers were working with Michel on the morass. Avan and I grabbed shovels and helped them.

After the meal the sun didn't seem to be so terribly hot as at noon. On the contrary, it suddenly got windy and clouds moved across the sky. Avan exchanged a look with Michel.

"Everything okay?" I mumbled.

Avan wiped his sweaty forehead and halted his work. "It's going to pour soon."

"Like out of buckets." Added Michel without breaking from work.

A man with a short brown beard and focused eyes nodded. "It's going to be like judgment day."

Avan raised his eyebrows in surprise. "How do you know that?"

The young man grinned and briefly looked up from his shovel. "Experience, my lord. The smell, the wind, the clouds, the light... I was born in the field, so to speak. If I don't see something like this coming, I should change my profession."

Avan laughed and looked at the sky. The clouds that just flew past us bright white, slowly turned gray to black. In between, thick white clouds flew by again and again.

"Hail..." Avan growled.

The boy looked up and made a face. "This is bitter, my lord..."

I didn't understand any of this. "Isn't that good? The soil needs the water. Dry like that, it needs all the water it can get, doesn't it?"

Avan continued to stare at the clouds. A boy with a pubescent voice nodded imperceptibly. "Yes, my lady. But today it is extremely inconvenient. First of all, the work has to be stopped when there is hail. Especially when the ground turns to mud, we have to get rid of the wagons. Even without hail. And then this morass..."

Avan looked at me, not liking what the weather was promising at all. "If not for the rain, then the hail will sweep it down the hill in the field, undoing all today's work..."

Oh no... Michel exchanged a look with Avan again, he turned to the bottom of the hill and cupped his hands around his mouth. "Arin! Taran! Come here!" The boys raced up and then came to a stop in front of Michel. Before she could say anything, Michel continued. "Tell the others to get to the horses as quickly as they can. They are not allowed to go through. Arin and Eric should stay there, you know your way around best."

Avan turned to them as well. "Unload the wagon with the rubble as quickly as you can, load the tools and wait for us on the road."

Arin's face went blank. "Will there be a thunderstorm?"

Taran sneered at Arin and Avan placed a hand on Arin's head. "Eric is with you. Now hurry up."

As soon as the boys were on their way back down, thick cold drops fell from the sky. Michel swore and started shoveling as much mud as possible onto the wagon, just like the rest of us. We had to save what we could save. First it rumbled very quietly, got louder and louder until it suddenly banged loudly. I jumped, startled.

"You'd better go too, Bea..." suggested Michel. Then I remembered that we were the same age.

Avan nodded and grabbed my shovel. "It's okay, I'm not used to it. It doesn't seem so loud in a castle."

The young man with the beard grinned. "Believe me my lady. This is just the beginning."

Since Avan let me stay or go, I stayed. Even when the thunderstorm grew louder, the rain came down in thin feathers and thicker from the sky and the morass began to run... The morass on the field next to us was already beginning to simmer over the hill. Like a black cloud he buried the field beneath him.

In fact, even that morass got so muddy that it just slipped around the shovels and still ran past us. We soon looked like real pig farmers. The hem of my dress was wet, heavy and dirty up to my hips. Likewise men's pants.

When the thunderstorm got so terribly loud I was about to start shaking, Avan grabbed my arm and roared above the drumming rain. "Let's go! If there's lightning, we'll be grilled!"

Michel packed the shovels together on the wagon and dragged it down the hill with the help of the bearded man. Avan supported me on the mountain away, otherwise I might have just fallen a few times. Because the crap swam down the mountain so fast that not only d

Thankfully, I finally recognized the edge of the hill. Michel drove the car under the oak tree and then walked with us to the road, which was further away than I had hoped. We dived through a short strip of forest, with gnarled trunks and roots sticking out of the ground. Suddenly the ground shook under a bright light and we tumbled...

"What was that!?" I yelled, stunned.

"Lightning struck, no idea where. But probably not far from here!"

Finally, I recognized the narrow street where two carts were standing and horses were stumbling uncertainly and anxiously. The Campbell brothers sat on wagons and horses, hidden in their cloaks, watching for us. When Ben saw Avan raise his hand, he almost collapsed in relief. Taran sat with Ben, Arin hid under Eric's cloak, and Kora led Avan and Michel's horse over to us. Michel mounted behind him, I in front of Avan and the helpers on the wagon.

Samuel and Joe drove the two wagons, which must have been difficult. Because they skied and danced anxiously. Ben, Eric and Avan jumped off their horses and tried to help in front of the agitated horses. It crashed again, the rain got worse and the horses threatened to bolt.

Just one thing. Eric's horse, on which Arin sat shaking and crying, pranced but didn't shy away like the others. At the next flash, Arin winced and made himself smaller and smaller. He was terrified.

I struggled to steer Avan's magnificent white steed toward the eight-year-old and touched him lightly. His shoulder was rock hard, all cramped.

"Bea?" When he looked up and saw me, he cried a little more and jumped over to me. Still holding the reins, he wrapped his arms around me and pressed his small, trembling face against my shoulder.

The men yelled and pulled and somehow managed to move the animals. So we struggled down the deep muddy path to a tiny village that could hold maybe twenty houses. When we got to the main square, two men came running.

They spoke a few words to Avan and then took the first four horses away. When they came back, a plump, pretty woman followed, waving the brothers after her. With Arin I dismounted very ungallantly and almost sank in the mud.

Avan came running at once. "She'll take you to an inn." He gently stroked Arin's back. "Will you leave him with you derwell?"

As the next lightning died and thunder rumbled, Arin whimpered bitterly and tried to hug me even tighter as if he might miraculously disappear.

"Of course."

Avan nodded and helped the others. I gathered my brothers-in-law and followed the landlady. She led us to a house around the corner and waved us into a small inn. It smelled of fresh hay and spices. Also, a warm fire crackled in a chimney and the drumming rain stopped falling on us... I shuddered.

The landlady only had to be thirty, had big curves and so did her baby. Still, she had a slender neck and slender arms. Her brown hair was pinned up in a loose bun and her piercing gray eyes looked at me pityingly.

"No, my darling, you must be freezing. You're shaking! Gilbert!"

I looked down at myself. In fact, I hadn't even noticed...

A slim man with blond short hair came out of a chamber and surveyed the conquest of the innkeeper. "We need more wood and fire in the chambers. These people aren't going anywhere today!"

Gilbert nodded and came over to us. "Are you alright? Does anyone need a healer?"

"Only fire, darling..." the landlady murmured and disappeared behind the counter. "You'll get warm herbal wine soon!"

Taran came over to me, clearly concerned, and gently patted Arin's back. "Are you okay, little one? We're safe now."

Arin couldn't say a word. Gilbert dashed off and the landlady came over to gently stroke Kora's wet hair. "You will get two warm bath tubs and dry clothes. You look very hungry, my little one. How old are you?"

"Eleven, madam."

"Then you'll get something delicious right away. You're still waking up! And you two handsome men too! Come! I'll take you to a room where you can bathe and wait for your food."

Taran clung to my skirts as I followed the lady. "It's really nice that you receive us so easily."

"Oh no, that's my job." She smiled thoughtfully. "My name is Gerta."

"Bea." I smiled, but I was kinda sick of a dog. And Arin grew heavy.

She pulled open a heavy door. "For the lady."

"Many Thanks." Taran followed me and quietly closed the door. Tired, he sat down on the floor in front of the fireplace and rubbed his eyes.

Arin sobbed into my shoulder and looked up as I sat down on the windowsill. "I'm sorry, Bea."

I stroked his flushed little boys cheeks and his black head of hair. "It's okay, you don't need to be afraid anymore."

"When will it finally stop?"

Taran sniffed too. "Arin? Did Gerta remind you of mother too?"

Arin's face went rock hard. All childishness was suddenly gone. "No." His voice was final and Taran said no more.

Gilbert brought bathwater and fresh clothes with his two sons. Taran refused, Arin willingly stepped into the steaming water. Suddenly his trembling stopped. When Taran finally decided to bathe, Avan came.

I didn't know why, but it was a relief to see him. Now we could eat, bathe and sleep... Tired and blue-lipped, Avan threw his shirt, boots and coat on the floor by the fireplace. "What are you two doing here?"

Taran pouted. "Bathing..." then he took the sponge and wrung warm water out over Arin's back.

"Very good." Avan sat down on the floor with me and snorted.

"You should go in the water too. You seem to have a cold already." Avan was pouting and looked exactly like his brothers. "The food will be brought to us shortly. Come on, it can't hurt."

Reluctantly he took off his trousers and sat down in the trough as well. His eyes were tired and his nose a little red. "That's good... I think I'll fall asleep."

When Avan got another bed downstairs with the little ones, I stepped into the now lukewarm water and closed my eyes wearily. A lot had happened, but it was still one of the best days of my life. We laughed, ate, fought and in a way even achieved something. After a while I dried myself off, put on the plain green women's surkot over a white linen dress and, dog-tired, sat down by the fireplace. Avan followed shortly after with a pallet, blankets and food.

"You look tired."

"I feel even worse." I joked and helped the two boys with the cups. "Have you seen your brothers?"

"Kora, Samuel and Eric are ill. Michel's friends have ridden back to their families in the next village and unfortunately these two are sleeping with us." Arin clung to Avan's leg for help as the next thunder rumbled overhead. "Eric is too ill to be with him. So..."

"No problem, we'll definitely sleep like stones anyway."

Taran threw the straw mattress and blankets in front of the end of the bed and began to eat from his bowl. Arin continued to sit by Avan, wincing at every flash. After dinner we put out the fire, put a brazier as close to us as possible and went to sleep...

In the morning I couldn't breathe through my nose, my throat was scratchy like I'd swallowed nails and I was tired. Because the thunderstorm didn't go away all night and didn't have the heart to let Arin cower alone and whimpering next to the door. So I slept exactly two hours after the clouds finally cleared.

Gilbert's eldest son Meurig sat down next to me and handed me a warm cinnamon tea. He was my age and still learning at the mill, since he wasn't the first born he would never own the inn. So he had to learn a trade.

"So you are Lord Campbell?"

"Yes."

"Then we should have brought you a little more expensive meals and clothes, my lord."

I smiled faintly. "Well, too late."

Meurig smiled too and stared at me. Eventually he realized it and apologized. "It's just that you don't exactly conform to the village gossip. You're neither a monster, nor a recluse, nor a Heartless bastard who has no life experience or shows interest in others. Clearly you are different."

"Well, then I'm relieved..." I mumbled dryly and drank my wine.

Arin rubbed his eye. "You're the bastard if you spit all the rumors in someone's face like that. You have to be very stupid, like a sheep, to believe rumors from someone you've never met..."

I choked on my wine and hoped he didn't see my grin. I wouldn't scold though. Meurig looked at him with a dark grin. "What a pointy tongue you have..."

As Bea came down the stairs we rose and went outside to our horses and wagons. I paid generously and made my way home with my people.

At home, Benedict reprimanded me on the spot. The otherwise pale bald head turned fiery red. "What were you guys thinking, not coming home!? We thought you all died in the storm... Do you have a cold!? That's it... Brenda! Soup and tea! These rascals are all sick!"

Bea stared at me in surprise and followed me into the stable. Growling, I cleaned the hooves and rubbed my horse down with straw. "My God, the last time I was scolded like that was when my father was still alive."

"Why does he even care?"

i grinned "He'll be hanged if anything happens to me."

Bea's eyes widened. "Your father?"

"Yup, he was a genius."

After lunch I crawled into my bed and ordered soup and tea. As I had hoped, Bea came and crawled into bed next to me. Her warm body nestled against me and challenged me.

"Are you feeling bad?"

"I was just longing for you. Besides, I'm tired... So tired."

She grinned and scratched the back of my head. That's why they loved horses so much...

Bea giggled. "Don't go to sleep now!"

Oh never...

We spent the rest of the day in bed and just enjoyed that nobody dared to disturb me today....

The shy little girl nervously kneaded her hem dress. Arin felt terribly guilty. Her little cheeks turned pink and her voice trembled. Arin wanted to help her, more than anything, he wanted his best friend not to be scared anymore.

"It's going to be bad, Arin. Father will be so angry... He always seems to be open and nice, but he's very different to me." Her small shoulders shook. "And Avan first..."

That's enough, he thought. "Don't worry, Benita. I take all the blame, neither Eldonaro nor Avan will touch you. I promise."

He was relieved when Benita looked up hopefully. "Are you sure, Arin?"

Was that him? He looked behind him at Eldonaro's burned car. He was black with soot, the costly cloth and thread was either dirty, burned, and not aflame. Benita sat behind the wagon while waiting out of Arin, trying to make fire with her new flints just to try... In doing so, she ignited the thin thread. Luckily the others were able to put it out quickly, but it was still a serious offense to play with fire. And that person had to bear well or about the bill for it. And that wouldn't be so easy... so he was sure to take on Benita's guilt and turn himself over to Avan?

"Do not worry." He smiled, but felt his scalp tingle with panic.

The door flew open behind them and Eldonaro rushed over to them with Ben and Eric. "Benita!"

Eric grabbed Arin's arm and let his gaze wander over him. "Did something happen to you?"

"No..."

"Who was that?" Ben growled, glaring at the scorched earth.

Just as Arin was about to raise his hand, Avan approached them with Bea. His eyes betrayed how beside himself with anger he was. His jaw tightened and his eyes blazed dark blue... Now he couldn't get a word out...

"I want an answer." Ben growled hoarsely. Benita hesitantly looked at Arin. The men followed her gaze. He would have preferred to disappear into the ground.

Avan's gaze held him. Like a wildcat Arin had once seen at the fair, he stepped through the group and stopped in front of Arin. He had to tilt his head back to meet his gaze.

Pull yourself together! How many times have you been punished for pranks? Take it like a man, it's not the first time!, he scolded himself. But it didn't help. He knew this time was different. It was about a fire and a lot of money that Eldonaro had lost. That was far worse than a bucket of horse manure on the teacher's front door...

Eric tugged his arm slightly to get his attention, but Arin couldn't tear himself away from Avan's gaze. "Arin, say that's not true. Right next to the forge and stables. Please tell me it wasn't you."

Avan's soft, calm but barely controlled voice brought this situation to a direct end. "Was it you?"

Go for it, Arin! Please don't be so cowardly!, he motiverted himself. "Yes."

Benita took a visibly relieved breath, Eldonaro struggled to stay calm, Eric and Bentarten took a step back in resignation, and Bea clapped a hand over her mouth.

As if Arin hadn't just confessed to starting a fire in the dry heat next to a stable of horses and straw, Avan stared at Arin. "Go in, Arin."

Stunned, the eight-year-old nodded and wanted to get away...

I stared dumbly at the spot where my little brother had just stood and coldly lied to my face.

"That spoiled brat!" Eldonaro rumbled angrily and turned to Eric. "Imagine what could have happened! The boy could have killed himself."

I only heard Eric because my back was to them. "Avan will take care of it. Send us an invoice and we'll settle the debt immediately."

"Pah! Where are you going to get the money from, boy?"

Bea put her small hand on my upper arm. "Would you like a drink first?"

To relieve you, she probably meant. But I was totally in control.

A sigh caught my attention and turned my head. Benita stood there without any conscience. Cold and calculating, pretending to be a good little daughter. But incredibly relieved that this cup probably passed her. That made me really bitter.

"It's a good thing you weren't around, am I right?" My tone was cooler and more blasphemous than I had thought.

She stared at me in shock. She knew I saw through them both. The tumult behind me calmed down. My smile was just as mocking as angry. I saw fear in her eyes. Well! Fear you bitch.

She nodded almost hesitantly, all color drained from her lying face. I almost hit her, so I turned and stomped towards the castle. The servants ran away when they saw me coming. Even my brothers avoided me with eyes because they knew and didn't want to swap places with me. Only one came running to me desperately.

On the stairs to my study he tried to block my way. "Oh, please Avi! Spare him, just this time!"

"You always say that to Taran."

The boy's lips trembled. "But... but... don't you feel sorry for him?"

"Didn't he deserve it?"

Taran immediately shook his head and clutched my shirt. "He's still so small, Avi. Our baby."

I ran a hand through his hair and left him there. Arin wasn't a baby anymore. If he could lie to me, if that was what he wanted, then it would happen.

Arin stood in front of the window and watched as Ben and Eric tried to calm down Eldonaro. Benita stood beside him like a lost sheep. Bea didn't say anything. She let everything sink in.

When he heard the door behind him, his heart sank into his pants. He nudged Avan's footsteps, which echoed softly around the room. As Avan stopped, Arin forced himself to turn around. His big brother was leaning against the wall with his arms crossed and seemed to seethe with each passing second.

"Who was it Arin?"

Arin swallowed hard. "I."

"I?"

"I, Sir."

"You know I'll pull it off. I don't care if you or Benita can't sit anymore. I will, so think again."

Of course Avan knew. Arin had already suspected it when he stood in front of his brother... nevertheless. Benita was much more fragile.

"It was me, sir."

Avan gritted his teeth tightly and yanked his belt from its loops. "Then what are you waiting for?"

I waited for Avan in the stable. Sometimes he ended up here when he just had to get away. Then he liked to pretend that all he had to do was saddle up a stallion and he could disappear. Same this time.

I had expected him to rage and freak out. But he was surprisingly calm and composed. He threw himself onto a bale of straw next to his horse.

Embarrassed, I sat down next to him. "Is he in his room?"

"And there he will stay until he grows a beard." Avan grinned adorably.

"I can't believe that thoughtful little rascal would do something like that..."

"Neither did he."

His casual tone almost got me overhearing. A thousand questions swirled in my head. As? Why? What..!? But instead I just asked:

"And yet you beat him up?"

"He lied to me almost four times. Besides, that's the way he wanted it. He knew I would do it."

I looked at him, still horrified. It broke my heart and Avan seemed unmoved. He clicked his tongue impatiently.

"How many times do you think Benita does damage and then blames it on Arin just because they both know I'd shut my eyes? Do you have any idea what she'd do because she knows full well Arin's gonna take the rap and get paid for it spared? If he doesn't mind being beaten up for no reason, then he needs to stop playing the martyr."

I knew he was right, yet I pictured the little guy barely reaching Avan's waist. A long silence followed. Avan's large hand settled on my thigh.

"I'm annoyed by the stuff between us..."

I smiled. When he looked at me longingly, the pants annoyed me as well. I ran my small looking hand up and down his broad arm. Avan's head buried itself against my neck and sniffed my hair.

"Get up, my beauty."

I reluctantly got up and let myself be pulled between his knees. He ran his hands up and down my thighs to my hips. Stripped off my boots and then my pants.

With a quick movement he pulled his pants down as well and pulled me astride him. His warm paws rested on my bottom and directed me towards him. He closed his eyes comfortably and sighed. Almost nimbly he undid the buttons of my blouse and freed my chest. Something in Avan's gaze changed at the sight and he became more greedy. And that in turn made me greedy. We gasped and moaned, our skin was wet with sweat, small drops ran down our chests and bows. After a raspy growl, Avan found release and hugged me tightly.

The aftershock made Avan smile. "I love the stables."

A stupid but blissful giggle escaped my throat. My head laughed against his shoulder, my arms wrapped around his chest.

"I'm hungry."

"What is there today?"

"Saddle of venison in cranberry sauce with mashed potatoes and then baked apples."

"Sir, I can almost taste it..."

I got up reluctantly and got dressed again. "Then we should go to the table. There hasn't been so much meat since Michel has been standing in the field. That's the last deer. The devil knows for how long."

While still in the hall, I still felt a little how weak my knees were. Whenever I want to be there for Avan, I end up on his shaft... Such a damn rascal.

The mood was exuberant. Michel, Samuel and Joe came from their field work shared by the Schichtartug brothers. They told the progress and ideas how it could be done faster. All costly suggestions, which Avan dismissed with an overly friendly nod.

Arin sat with Taran and stole glances at Avan, who skillfully ignored them. He laughed at Samuel's whining about wanting to go back to his math room and argued with Michel about his meat.

"I'm definitely not going to live off vegetables alone."

Michel made a face. "Then do me a favor and go hunt yourself." In the same breath, his eyes widened and he shook his head. "Don't you dare."

But Avan already had what he wanted and was beaming. "Joe, did you hear it? The hunter of the white knights allowed me to hunt in his territory myself under witnesses."

Joe nodded gleefully. "I'll hold it in a moment."

"You are such pigs!" snorted Michel.

What was the matter now? "What's the problem, Michel?"

"It's my territory! Avan already owns the castle. The woods are mine."

Aha. Pure selfishness. Avan tried to kick him under the table. "You can divide it up a bit! I'll take my squire and tear it off tomorrow."

Taran jumped up. "Yeah! Finally something exciting in this dusty castle!"

Ben and Eric exchanged a look. "I assume we ride?"

"If you want to."

Kora's eyes widened. "And I can come too?"

"You're Ben's squire?"

With a cheer, he clapped with Taran and began chatting about whether they still knew what a squire was supposed to do. After such a long time in which nothing had happened.

"Is Bea coming too?" Samuel frowned. "Who cares about the castle when the master and mistress are away?"

Avan grinned at me. "The lady of the castle stays."

Yes, I saw that coming...