Chapter 35: Chapter 35

EXCITEMENTS

I almost freaked out when Avan came into the hall this afternoon, grabbed me and pulled me into our chamber. His brothers looked at us worriedly. He strode up the stairs in such a hurry that I nearly tripped. "Avan!"

But he said nothing. Hurriedly pushed our door open and left me standing by the bed. With long strides he approached the chest, grabbed a dagger and his sword and threw me a bag of money. When he grabbed my elbow again, I put all my weight against his pull.

"Avan, damn it! What's going on? Is everything alright?"

Avan started to grin sweetly. For the first time in weeks I saw my beloved dimple.

"I haven't felt this well in a long time."

"Whatever you're up to, we should make sure you eat and sleep beforehand. Otherwise you'll fall over."

With a flourish but no apparent effort, Avan pulled me into his arms and kissed me. His face rubbed familiarly against my lip, but before I could open my mouth, he let go of me. "I'll be back in three days, my lady."

Excited and intoxicated, I pushed open the gate of the castle and stepped into the glaring sun. I whistled through my teeth and Taran's head appeared in the stable door. He represented Arin while he wasn't here.

"Saddle two horses and get the provisions that Bea packed for us from the kitchen!"

Taran threw down the pitchfork carelessly and dashed away. I literally ran to the pasture. And I found him immediately. We hadn't spoken a word to each other for three days, but this would change it. I jumped the fence and ran towards him.

"Taran has found Arin. We can ride to him and could show up with him tonight."

Eric slowly raised his head. He was just as skinned as I was. "We? You take me with you?"

I grinned mirthlessly. "Who else? Get up, Taran must have already saddled our horses."

He got up as if in slow motion. He mumbled something and then shook his head with a smile.

"Come on!" I snorted and went ahead. After all, I was hungry and tired...

But Eric stopped me again. "Avan... That's what I said last time..."

I rolled my eyes. "Stop it, let's move!"

"It's not your fault. Erlich not. And-"

"-So how long do we have to stay?"

Eric grinned and tried to keep up with me. I wasn't the type of person who discussed and chewed through such things for a long time. We fought, we fought and now it's over. End.

Especially since there were far more important things to do.

As he had for two weeks, Arin snuck out of the bakery in the middle of the night, feeling homesick. He climbed out of his window and onto the flat roof. Then he stared longingly into the darkness, hoping to see a horse that would carry him home. He tore his hair. He sensed the well-known hysteria boiling up in him. At some point he would probably let her run free, but not yet. It wasn't broken yet.

Arin turned his gaze into the darkness again. Crickets graced, the old widow's funny pewter rooster made a funny noise in the wind, and horses snorted. Horses were panting!?

Arin immediately felt hope and he stood up.

"Sit down immediately, you miserable runaway."

Eric! Arin almost freaked out. He sat down, but only to immediately and awkwardly climb off the roof. But as excited as he was, he lost his footing and staggered.

"For heaven's sake..." Eric hissed. "Hold on, Arin."

But it was too late. Arin fell backwards. It was going too fast for him to get scared or think anything. The air rushed past his body, his ears ringing. And when he was sure he would hit the trampled ground, two strong arms caught him.

"Damn it, Arin. I'm not riding all day to scrape your corpse off the ground."

Avan's voice trembled as if he was struggling to hold back a boisterous laugh. Arin didn't know when it happened, but he cried. His cheeks were already wet, but he only noticed it now.

"My goodness, squire! That has cost me almost ten years of my life now..." Eric snorted and stroked the boy's hair.

Avan put Arin on the floor. And even while his body was slightly bent, Arin threw himself at him and his neck. It was dark and it was difficult for him to see his brothers. But that was not tragic. It was wonderful anyway. Avan picked Arin up again and started smiling.

"Don't be angry that it took so long."

"I'm not... not at all."

Eric sobbed secretly. But Arin had heard. When he lifted his head from Avan's head again, Avan put him back on the ground. And before Arin could actually stand, Eric grabbed him and squeezed him with a fierceness Arin knew from Taran.

"Oh my little one I almost went insane!"

"What did you even want on the roof? At this hour?"

Arin didn't think to confess his suffering. "You recognized me?"

Eric only involuntarily left Arin alone again. "Well, the moon isn't very bright, but if you see a little guy in an unusual place, it's usually my squire who puts himself in danger again."

Avan sucked in air through his nose. "You snuck out, huh? Now how do we get you back in?"

Arin paled. He was glad that the moon was overcast and that his affected face could not be seen. He wouldn't go with them. The boy felt big tears running down his cheeks again.

Avan must have had a hunch. He squatted in front of Arin and sighed, not pleased himself.

"You know Arin, you can't come with us yet. But soon."

Arin involuntarily whimpered. Eric promptly grabbed him and pulled him back to himself. Arin would have preferred to be able to calm himself down. The boy had never been much into cuddling like Eric always was.

"Don't cry, Arin." he murmured softly. "Avan has a plan."

We slept outside the village on our coats. The nights were getting colder, but it was okay. Arin's break-in wasn't as hard as we thought. Eric got on his horse's back and heaved Arin up until he regained his footing and was able to climb into his window.

The next morning Eric and I walked back to the village, leading our horses by their bridles. We bought bread and stale beer and had breakfast on the go.

"Avan...I don't think I will be able to ride back with you." Eric mumbled next to me. "It breaks my heart when Arin cries like yesterday. How could I just ride away?"

How did he think I could do that? I rolled my eyes, grumbling. "You said yourself yesterday that I had a plan. Take comfort in it and be a man."

"Do you need me then?"

"Sure. You, Ben and Bea."

"Bea? What-"

"-Avan!" Arin ran to us. His robe was covered in flour, as were his cheeks and hands. "Eric! Are you hungry? I saved my breakfast for you!"

Eric brushed flour from his face. "Wouldn't you rather eat it yourself?"

Arin grinned exuberantly. His cheek was flushed. Roughly I took his chin in my fingers and brushed away the rest of the flour. I could clearly count five fingers. Arin jerked his head away and gave me a disarmed smile. "Will you tell me about your plan?"

I swallowed my anger and nodded. "I'll do it."

Arin's eyes gleamed sadly. "When are you going to get me?"

"As fast as I can."

He swallowed hard. "I have to get back to work. Anders will rage."

He turned to dash away, but I suddenly grabbed his arm. He looked at me in surprise. "I didn't forget you, understood? Give me another week."

Dazed, my little brother nodded.

Benedict banged his fist on the table. An unusual gesture from the otherwise calm consultant. "I'm definitely not going to give out Henry's will!"

I tried to stay calm. "But you have no right to own it. You stole it from Avan. I want it back."

Avan had put me on it before he left. I was supposed to take Benedikt's will back so Avan could prove it was fake. One night when he was looking for it, he found that Benedict had stolen it. Since then, he had struggled to find it while finding another way to break the treaty. Because if Benedict burned it, then we would look pretty stupid.

"Give me the will, Benedikt. Avan has the right to have it. More than you." I sat in Avan's chair, behind his desk. His advisor before.

"avan." Benedikt spoke my husband's name like it was poison. "Avan here - Avan there! Henry's Holy Avan, huh!?"

"Benedikt..." my voice still sounded calm. In the process I lost patience. Either he would hand me the sheet of parchment or I would slit his throat.

"How insane would I be to hand you these important documents? Who says you don't forge for your own gain? It's easy to forge these days."

I smiled mirthlessly. "You should know better than that."

Benedikt's little bald head turned bright red. "I don't like you."

That cheered me up immensely. "Give me the document and you can go."

There was a knock and Kora entered. Benedikt still kept his eyes on me. Kora smiled hesitantly at Benedikt's look. After all, he had justified hatred of the old man, who had banged his skull against the castle wall so that the blood just spurted out of his nose.

"What is it, Kora?"

"Forgive the interruption, Lady Bea. But the girls have arrived. You wanted to pick them out and hire them."

Even though we had no money to spend, we needed two kitchen maids and one to help me with the tailoring. Because only the ladies in the castle got clothes from Eldonaro. And sewing for eight men, including three boys, was exhausting. Arin's pants and shirts always needed patching. Kora's robes were broken every other week and Taran wonderfully white lost his things.

"Thanks, Kora. I'll be right there." Kora left and I got up. Benedikt saw that I was wearing my pants again and snorted. "Last chance to hand me the document. Otherwise it would be uncomfortable."

Benedict smiled arrogantly. "Lady Bea, your maids are waiting."

The ten girls were all fifteen years old and reasonably cheerful. A very quiet but apparently skillful girl I chose as my help. The other two were the butchers' daughters. You wouldn't have much trouble with Brenda. Hopefully...

I accompanied the rest of the girls to the gate and stopped at the guard room next to it on the way back. "Is Ben in here?"

The man at the gate nodded and politely gestured for me to enter. Ben sat at a round little wooden table and sharpened his dagger. Beer stood next to him, two other guards on a stool chatted and laughed. On the walls were lances, armor and chests.

Ben laughed happily and brought the dagger to his armor. That's when he discovered me. "Everything okay?"

"I wanted to speak to you for a moment." He grinned at my smile too. He followed me outside and cocked his head.

"What is it about?"

"Avan wanted me to tell you." I looked across the yard to the well. "Kora is to come into your service starting next month. You are to train and teach him."

Ben quickly followed my gaze. Kora pulled out a bucket of water with no apparent effort. "You... You're serious, aren't you?" Ben beamed. His dark eyes shone. "So he did it after all..."

"If you mean Avan, then yes. If he tackles this about Avan, he washes it all up at once. So to speak."

Suddenly, Ben spun around, pressed his lips to my forehead in high spirits, ran to Kora, and left me staggering. When Ben explained it to Kora, Kora cheered and knocked over the buckets. But he didn't seem to care.

"Why are you crying, Bea?" Suddenly Taran put his small hand on mine.

I shrugged and bit my lip. I didn't even notice until Taran asked me about it. But I really had tears running down my cheeks.

"Bea? Has something happened? Do you want me to hug you?"

"I... I just miss Avan so much." I tried to smile to calm the nine year old but couldn't.

Taran wrapped his arms around my waist. But said nothing.

"Right now he's so far away all the time. Even when he's at the castle."

Taran lifted his head and looked overwhelmed. "I do not understand that..."

I stroked his small cheeks. "No, me neither."

Arin bravely lifted his head and nodded. "I'll take care of myself."

Eric looked at him sternly. "Are you sure? I would stay here too."

The little one looked at me with a grin. "You're not going to let that happen, are you?"

Although Arin once again tried to be strong, I saw how scared he was. Nevertheless I played along. "Why shouldn't you? You're too old for this nursing job."

Eric rolled his eyes. "Don't think I don't see how bad it is for both of you just because you're getting nauseous. But please, let's ride then."

The maids had withdrawn. Just like everyone else in this castle. I had been sitting in our room, which I actually occupied alone, for quite some time and felt sorry for myself. I had taken off my boots and trousers and was just sitting on the windowsill in a loose shirt with my hair loose.

August was coming to an end, soon autumn would come. There would be plenty of hunting, the pantries to be stuffed, warm robes, cloaks, Day of Justice approaching Avan,... The disaster with Benedict, Arin and the field was forthcoming. all these problems And yet it was really only at Avan's absence that I was so distressed. Especially since I got a letter today.

The door opened softly. "Evening, my lady."

I wasn't surprised. After all, I was waiting for him. "Good evening."

Avan closed the door behind him, kissed me, and placed his arms on the windowsill next to me. "Is everything ok?"

"I told Ben about Kora yesterday. Avan, you should have seen those two."

My missing husband smiled. The lost warmth in my heart broke out again. "I heard we have three new maids now?"

I nodded. "They're pretty happy with your wages. But only after they found out there might be more after the harvest and the rent."

Avan rubbed the tip of his nose against my jaw. "Why do you smell like almonds? How do you do that?"

"Bathe." I confessed dryly, burying my hands in the hem of his shirt.

"I think I could sleep for ten years now..."

His hands went to my hips, his lips to my exposed collarbone. It didn't fail to have an impact. The warm hands on my bare hips, stroked up to my thighs and back again. "I thought you are tired..."

"For a man is never too tired."

"I think woman does..." even though I really wanted him, I felt uncomfortable.

First he stopped. Then, very slowly, he raised his head. The excitement visible at every point. He stared at me, confused. "Are you serious?"

I made up my mind and nodded. "If you're not mad at me..."

Avan's tongue brushed the inside of his cheek, making it bulge. Still I was pretty much trapped. "Are you upset about something? Be honest."

"No, I... I'm just not in the mood."

His strong arms grabbed me, carried me to our bed and dropped me there carelessly. My shirt was gone so quickly that I didn't even notice where it had flown.

Avan appeared above me. "I promise I can change that."

Please, he's the man. It is his right to take what is his due. It's every damn woman's lot... Avan held still over me. Realization flickered in his eyes. And he actually started pouting.

"I don't like it when you look at me like that."

"I said I don't want to, but you do. Then I'll just accept it."

"Quiet like a good marriedwife, yes?" I pushed him off me, got up and put on my pants and shirt. "What are you doing now? Bea, I've been without you for so long. I want you to stay with me."

I spun to face him. At that moment I was really angry. Actually rather ashamed before, but now inflamed with anger. "Do you know how long I've had to be without you without you caring what I want? But it's not abnormal, is it? That's how a marriedwife behaves!"

Avan ran his hands through his hair in frustration. "I'm sure I'll hear that more often, won't I?"

A truly unladylike word was on my tongue. Instead, I stormed out of the room, down the stairs, and fled to the lower east wing of the castle.

"Bea." Avan's whispered voice was menacing. He grabbed my arm and forced me to stop. "What are you doing? Why are you starting a fight with me? Come back upstairs."

It took me an effort to free my arm again. "Good night Ava."

"Don't think so, I'll stand in front of your door and beg for admission."

"Good, then you will be spared a disappointment."

The bed in the spare room was cold and strange. And the woman lying in it was stupid and quarrelsome. But also lonely and... so ashamed. So terribly ashamed, I wanted to sink into the ground.

In the morning I was the first to sit at the table. After that came Kora, who was used to getting up early. But since the new maids, he just had to wait to see Ben. Avan came after Taran, who was always last. Because there was no more space next to me, he simply sat down somewhere else. He didn't look at me once. And I didn't think that was bad at all. I wasn't quite ready to look at him myself.

Avan disappeared with Eric, Ben and Michel. I followed Taran into the stable. After lunch went exactly the same as breakfast, I disappeared to the guards. I needed something I hadn't felt in too long!

"So everything is settled? Do we have the plan?"

Eric nodded, finally something should happen than just digging through mountains of paper. Ben grinned. "Let's see what else you've got, huh Avan?"

"Yeah yeah, just be ready."

Ben and Eric left. After that, I had to let Michel fill me in on everything that was happening on the field. They had made good progress. The morass was finally cleared, as was the rubble on the field. At the beginning of September we were able to sow.

"Avan!" Ben stormed through the door angrily. "Bea... they... the men... oh my god..."

The swords clinked, a surprised grumble went through the circle of men who have crowded around the two combatants.

Both with a chain mail, whose hood both wore. Thick leather gloves and a cheap little round shield. Typical for practice fights. However, atypical were the tight trousers instead of the thick fabric leg warmers.

I recognized Bea from her elegant posture. She lay in wait like a wild animal. She waited until the opponent attacked and then dodged a tiny step. The hit missed.

The soldier cursed. He had also figured out Bea's tactics and tried to pass them over quickly. But Bea's slim body was always a hair's breadth from him. His comrades laughed at the next blow, which hit the ground again. He then angrily threw down his shield and stomped away.

Bea laughed mockingly. "Number Two! A bigger wimp than Number One! Hotheads! Doesn't Ben only have hotheads? Where are the real men!? I'll teach you all!"

A man laughed. It was Edward de Pole. He was just knighted by squires. "Show us what really interests us, little maid! Take off your shirt!"

Bea's cheeks turned slightly pink. "Not three hairs on the chin and want to know what's under a lady's shirt!"

One soldier, Conner, smiled thinly. "And you're older and more experienced, yes? How old are you? Fifteen? Or only twelve? Where's your father? He should meet you here sometime, eh? Teach you manners, you cheeky brat!"

I stayed out of it all. She opened her mouth, then she had to put in the counter-comments. Nevertheless I stayed. If it went too far and some brave guy wanted to teach her manners himself, I'd step in. No one should lay hands on her. Even though it was common, I still didn't want it.

Grinning, Bea grew to her full height. "Come here and do it for him."

Conner went to her, grabbed her arm. "Someone should actually put you over their knee, right?"

Bea made innocent eyes. A moment later, Bea Conner slammed the pommel of her sword on her collarbone. She slapped his arm away, kicked him in the leg and gallantly dodged his counterattack.

"You little bitch! What will the lord of the castle say about someone like you?"

Bea laughed mockingly. "He can't do anything to me."

So far I've found it amusing and, admittedly, sexy as can be. But now, I thought, someone should take her sword.

Conner and Bea kept teasing each other. As I stepped through the crowd and Conner stretched out my hand around his sword, it became very quiet. Bea turned pale and seemed ashamed.

"My lord! Do you want to fence with the girl?" Edward turned white. "I'm sure she was just cocky."

I grinned at my decayed wife. "High spirits are not for someone who can't take the consequences."

Bea grinned wolfishly. "Do you always talk so much? Or can we finally start?"

The men around us shook their heads. Everyone declared her dead.

Bea and I stood opposite each other. I was very relaxed, Bea studied me. She tried to hide it. But I saw it, her eyes wandering over my fingers, my face and shoulders. I didn't care who started. I knew how to buy the guts from her.

But she was my wife. I would not humiliate her.

Bea raised her shield slightly and continued to wait. When she realized I wasn't going to start, she gritted her teeth and pretended. But I knew attack wasn't their tactic. I smiled and stayed relaxed.

Now the deception was over. She drew back her sword. I picked mine up at the last second, mock bored, and easily stopped her punch. With a slight push, I threw her blade back.

But even as our swords were joined, I knocked her blade aside and faked a thrust to her side. As she raised her sword to parry, I swung down and smacked her shield hard.

A grumble went through the crowd and Bea's eyes grew dark. And what can I do for you, my beautiful wild one! Her sword swung sideways for my throat, but again I was faster and entangled her so that we could exchange a look between crossed swords.

The men whispered again.

I saw that Bea was already struggling for strength and breath. Of course, because she had already used a lot of power before our fight. But I realized that she couldn't do it anymore. So I decided to end it before her defeat became too embarrassing.

Again we stood and faced each other. Bea suppressed her gasp only with difficulty. Again I stood in front of her completely relaxed. When I could read on her face that she wanted to attack, I took half a step. Deliberately using only the tip of the sword, I hit the tip of the sword in the direction of the ground and levered the sword out of my hand with an elegant movement.

It stayed between us on the sandy bottom. It was quiet like in the graveyard. Bea swallowed hard. Sweat ran down her temples, her black hair was plastered to her forehead and she looked so wonderfully angry. I longed to be near her, even if she was so angry with me.

I bowed slightly. "Respect, my lady. There was more power in your punches than expected. Be so kind and do me the honor. Take off your hood."

Bea pulled it back with one hand and her shiny head of hair immediately spilled out. The men showed recognition.

"My Lady Bea!"

"Forgive our choice of words! We didn't know!"

"You fought brilliantly!"

Milady Bea glared at me and swallowed before tilting her head slightly and following me back into the yard. I sat down with her by the fountain behind the castle. Kora's bloodstain on the wall was barely visible.

I handed her a ladle of water and placed my foot on a rock beside her. I leaned down to her forgivingly.

"Where did you learn how to use the sword?"

She stared at her shoes. "My father had many squires... one of them showed me."

"He was a good teacher."

Now she looked up. Again she seemed angry. "Do not make fun of me."

"I don't. You held up against a lot of men. I think that's very good. I had the advantage that you were already tired."

Bea shook her head. I got the feeling that just I wasn't her problem. She seemed distracted and bitter. I couldn't say exactly. It was just a feeling. A suspicion.

"No... I would never have stood up to your deceptions. I suppose you hadn't even warmed up."

My suspicions became certain when I heard her lost voice. It wasn't me. Not exclusively. Something was wrong with my wife.

"Bea-"

"-I'm going to change."

She jumped up and rushed back into the castle.