Chapter 45: Chapter 45

FRIENDS AND ENEMIES

At first I recognized pure joy on Armin's face, shortly afterwards it darkened. Two men rode into our courtyard. One was tall, broad-shouldered and had a relaxed smile on his face when he saw Armin.

The second seemed about Armin's age. His hair was dark blond and his eyes were grey. Both wore simply a doublet.

"Do you know them both?" I whispered.

Armin suddenly grabbed my wrist. But didn't say a word...

The two men dismounted. The one with the black hair was unmistakably a Campbell. Armin put on an expressionless face, letting no one see how angry he was.

"Armin." The man smiled broadly and shook his head. "Don't look at me like that."

"How, Syman?" Armin's smile returned and both Campbells showed their adorable dimples.

"Like your father." Both men hugged her for a moment. "It has no effect on me."

Armin shrugged his shoulders. "I don't care." He put a hand on my back and introduced us, including the other man that Armin had ignored until now.

"And this is Arthur. Arthur Moor."

The gray eyes lit up as Arthur leaned down to kiss the back of my hand. "What an honour."

Armin told me that they used to be friends. And also that those times were already over. So what was he doing here? And why did Armin seem about to commit murder when he recognized it.

"You know me?"

"All England is talking about you, my lady."

Syman nodded and gave Armin a blank look.

"However. All of England is holding its breath."

Armin rolled his eyes. But Arthur said what Armin wanted to say. It sounded almost challenging.

"As the son of the Black Knight."

The red knight pointed to the castle. "Wine?"

Armin was bursting with anger. Syman knew that Arthur was the last person Armin wanted near him. And yet he had brought him here.

They sat at the table with wine and cold meat, Isabella was in the kitchen for a moment. Then Arthur's mask fell. He surveyed Armin's modest hall openly and lifted a corner of his mouth in amusement.

Only Arthur Moor could convey condescension and contempt in such an incomparably unmistakable way with just one facial expression.

Syman hadn't noticed. He probably didn't want to notice it anymore. Armin poured wine for his former employer.

Syman smiled and shook his head. "Isabella is really beautiful."

That was her. But Armin didn't feel like speaking anymore. So, as so often, Arthur took over. "Too bad you only have her because of your name."

Armin skilfully skipped it. Syman too.

Syman had trained both Arthur and Armin. He had seen the two of them often enough and often punished them for it.

But it never did anything. The two men became increasingly enemies. Fighting was normal when they were kids, but as the boys got older it got worse.

And even if Armin was something like a little brother and best friend to Syman, he had never treated him particularly. It often even seemed to him that he often asked more of Armin than of any other boy.

All in all, he still had the urge to treat him like his squire at times. So Syman tried hard not to discipline the twenty-year-old like a fifteen-year-old when Armin glared at Arthur with his very own angry glint in his eyes.

"Arin told me everything, Armin." He grumbled instead. "What are you going to do now?"

Armin was reluctant to air all his problems in front of Arthur. "I wanted to see you, that's all."

Arthur sneered. "We've known you long enough for you to be able to lie to him or me."

Who was talking to you!? Armin hissed in his thoughts.

He remembered jumping on Arthur's neck when he was eight years old and repeatedly dunking his head in a puddle of mud because he just wouldn't shut up. That calmed him for a moment.

Syman rolled his eyes in annoyance. "Is that necessary, gentleman?"

Arthur, of course, felt guilty. "Sorry, I'm bitter."

"Why?"

Arthur nodded at the seething Campbell Knight. "He got married without inviting me. I thought we were friends."

You pighead know exactly why I didn't invite anyone, Armin cursed. After all, Richard Armin hadn't given any information about what to expect in Spain. "Naturally. Friends, meets exactly what we are." Murmured Armin and got up.

Arthur did the same. "May I accompany you?"

Armin mumbled something that sounded like: Go to hell. Nevertheless, Arthur followed Armin into the inner courtyard.

As soon as they were behind the horse stable, Arthur grabbed Armin by the collar and threw him against the wall of the stable.

Armin wasn't in the least surprised. Wasn't it the first time that the alleged boyfriend, who was a year older, didn't always try to calm him down in this way.

He saw Arthur's fist swoop towards him, clenched his jaw just in time and took the punch. Only to grab Arthur by the collar the next moment, throw him next to him on the stable wall and pin him to Arthur's throat with Armin's shimmering red blade.

There was pure hatred in the gray eyes of his former friend. Just like in Armin's. "Don't you dare raise your hand against me in my own castle again."

Arthur raised an eyebrow mockingly. "How close is your wife to you, little one?"

Armin ignored this remark as well. "You've been smarter before. Attacking the lord of the castle can end up in the basement. So behave yourself and get out. As you can see, there isn't much to gain here."

He felt so much like just scratching the blade on Arthur's skin. But at the moment he didn't trust himself enough for such antics. So he reluctantly let it go. Armin could actually hear his blade sigh as he put it away again.

Arthur smiled and made a mocking servant. Then he went back into the castle and left Armin behind.

Syman was a charming and apparently very strict man. He told me he had two children. Namely twins in Jacob's age - ten proud years.

And although he spoke lovingly and proudly of his wife and two children, I could clearly hear that, unlike Arin, he set more limits on his children.

Also, Syman told me what Armin was like as a boy. “He just had no limits, I tell you. Even the village priest had to suffer from the little devils."

I laughed after each story and slowly got an accurate picture of the man I had grown to love surprisingly quickly.

"He doesn't get along with Arthur though, am I right?"

Syman nodded. "God knows why..."

"Is there a reason?"

"Of course, but I still have no idea. When Armin was around nine, he came to me. Surprisingly shy. He begged that I take not only him as a squire under my wing, but also Arthur. He's the son of an innkeeper and would otherwise have no chance of becoming a knight." Syman rolled his eyes. "Actually, our village is too small for an inn. That's why it's the center of the village. That's where everything happens."

I played with my fingernail in confusion. "So he was still friends with him back then... And from one day to the next..."

"Not quite. It was always subliminally cooking. But as children they weren't receptive enough to the hatred that they later let loose."

The warm sun shone on my face. Syman sat under the window with his elbows on the tabletop. “Armin and I are only ten years apart. He was like my brother. Even so, I rarely understand him..."

I casually refilled Syman's cup. The thought that a man who was really getting on Armin's nerves was under his roof bothered me. I didn't think it was right...

"Why did you bring Arthur here with you?"

Syman smiled. "I need a few hands that will lend a hand when Armin finally tells me what he needs from me. He hasn't done it yet."

"You don't seriously think he'll let Arthur help?"

"No. But I'm not thinking about Armin either."

Campbell's... Why was everyone thinking so weirdly confused? Was it really that difficult to think straight and not have big intentions behind it? Couldn't this family help but think about everything and plan ahead?

How was I ever going to fit in there, dammit!?

IN DRY TOWELS

"Are you serious?"

Armin nodded and took another bite of his chicken leg. Isabella sat next to Armin in her red dress and was really the only thing that could put a grin on Armin's face that evening.

Syman looked down at his plate for a moment, thinking.

"Your steward... The steward of a poor church mouse..."

Isabella laughed softly. Unknowingly, Armin was infected.

"Unfortunately, that's the way it is. I can't pay you, I can't promise you'll ever be happy here."

Syman raised an eyebrow and grinned. "What prospects!"

"But!" Armin raised his mug to his lips. "I promise you drudgery, poverty and lots of thankless work between hostile and rebellious people."

Isabella's velvety laugh reached Armin's ear again. Then her slender hand rested on his forearm and she winked innocently in Syman's direction. "In the meanest castle in England!"

Syman tilted his head back and sighed, as if genuinely thrilled to accept a tempting offer. "Oh man..."

"And the best is yet to come, cousin! We'll probably starve. Soon. And long."

Syman raised his head again, dropped his palm on the table. "Good, you have me. I remain!"

Although Armin had known it from the first moment, he was a little relieved to hear it.

"But I wasn't kidding, Syman. Your children have no school here. No prospects. At the very least, they would have to work hard for every prospect..."

Syman scowled ominously, but only in appearance. "Are you trying to insult my children? Don't underestimate them both, Armin."

"You know I don't do that. But... I know exactly what I'm asking of you here. what you would give up for it But you're the only one I can trust..."

Because his father would suffer just as much as Armin himself. So only his best friend remained.

The cheerful grin returned to Syman's face.

"Sounds like that's not all."

Isabella exchanged a look with Armin. It was very clear that she liked Syman. So Armin was able to do the whole thing without any problems.

When he told Syman that he was going to borrow a ship from his uncle Avan and was trying to become a sailor, there was a moment's silence.

"So you want me here... to stand guard while you... become a Criminal Pirate?" As Campbell? Which are very favored by the king anyway, aren't they?"

In a nutshell... "Yes."

"According to me..."

Isabella's eyes widened almost imperceptibly, taking a closer look at the thirty-year-old man. She was probably trying to understand how you could make such a momentous decision so easily and make it sound like a swimming trip.

Well, that was Syman. Where others might have liked to spend the night thinking about it, Syman weighed it up over and over in seconds, made a decision, and was as composed as ever.

Even as a child, Armin admired this ability and struggled to learn it too. With moderate success.

In fact, Syman's mostly relaxed look was underestimated. Armin and Arthur often stood against the inn wall and watched with shining eyes as Syman brought his challenger to the ground with a few sword fights.

Simply because Syman was challenged, hoping to have found an easy victim. But he taught everyone, without exception, how quickly pride brought a fall.

Armin would be happy to only be able to do a fraction of what Syman was really able to do in his sleep.

"I'll send for Aliec and the twins."

Armin nodded. "I have a messenger if you want."

Syman grinned mischievously. "I have one of my own."

Isabella's eyes widened a little more. "Arthur?"

He was hanging around somewhere in the village. Armin didn't understand why he should let Arthur sleep in his castle and drove him away. Syman said nothing, as if he saw it coming.

The oldest of the group folded his arms on the table. "Totally right. Arthur. He will fetch himself here and take care of her. Better than any messenger could."

Armin saw the light. That's why this bastard was here.

"I'll have a room made up for you. Everything will be ready by the time your people get here!" promised Isabella and poured more wine. She smiled as if she couldn't wait to meet more of the family.

Once she gets to know the white knight's castle, she might forget it. A real tough test.

Syman finished his drink and started to leave. "Then I'll gather Arthur together. Let's see if he stirs up people to burn your roof."

"You wouldn't put it past him..." growled Armin and stared morosely into his wine. "You could have taken anyone with you. But taking him with you is a lousy tour."

Syman raised an eyebrow impassively. “First of all, you could be trusted without further ado. And secondly, Arthur is not my enemy. Only yours. I trust him and I know he gets along with my twins. Anyone else they would tear apart."

Armin wasn't so sure. For while Syman had often saved Armin from Elain's or Arin's wrath, he was a much stricter father than Arin. The exact opposite. And his children knew that as much as Syman adored them both, he didn't have much mercy on them.

Alone again with my husband, I snuggled against his arm and sighed, examining his grim profile. It looked like his mother when he brooded like that.

"A penny for your thoughts."

"What?"

"I picked this up." I shrugged. "When are we going to your uncle's?"

"If Syman has his family here and Arthur is far from my country." He smiled a little absently. "I'm just wondering if I forgot something. Everything seems to be going too smoothly..."

"Do you think? Does everything have to be complicated?"

"God, I wish it wasn't."

"The Campbells must be really funny people... Why do you often make life so difficult for yourself with your own thoughts? No matter how many times you think about something, in the end all you can do is grit your teeth and see it through, right?"

Armin nodded. "But if I think everything through beforehand, I don't blame myself afterwards that I could have done better..."

Why should one do that? It comes as it comes anyway. Apparently not everyone saw it that way. And it was incredibly difficult for me to understand Armin.

But if he needed it, then please.

So we just sat there for a while. He brooding, I dreamy and tired. As if we couldn't be more different.

Although the way he thought still puzzled me, I loved him for it. Because he was so different from anyone I had ever met. So different from me and yet so similar.

That said, actually I could almost be grateful to King Richard and Father for giving me this red knight.

Long live King Richard. Because he had unconsciously done something good after all.

THE TWINS

Armin had informed Syman that he could train the new guards if he wanted to. And Syman agreed. So they often spent time behind the castle on the clay court. First they had everything rebuilt, then they fought or tussled with each other for hours and then they rode out together.

Of course Armin asked me if I wanted to go with him, but I had my hands full preparing the rooms and stocking up on supplies.

We also needed new shirts for Armin and Syman, a new dress for me and because my maid Carina was going to have her baby soon, I knitted some baby socks.

A full two weeks later, Arthur arrived with Syman's family. However, his twins reached us first. Or rather me.

The two men were secretly hunting in the king's woods. So the strange children met me first.

Laughing, a girl came riding into the courtyard on her white horse. She had long braided red hair and a triumphant smile on her face as she stopped.

Shortly thereafter, a boy with black hair followed and looked more than grim. His horse was plain brown.

"I told you I'm faster!"

"You cheated!"

"You can't lose..."

The boy jumped off and spotted me next to the stables. He was the very image of his father, only with green eyes. Like his sister, who was now standing next to him.

She grinned shyly. "Are you Isabella?"

"However. And you're Syman's twins?"

The boy grinned. "Yes ma'am. My name is Arin, but I'm called Ari. And this is Enna, my little sister."

As if bitten, the girl's head went to her brother. "Because of the few minutes!"

"Long minutes, madam." He smiled at me so adorable that I fell in love with the boy immediately. His black fringes and the typical dimple made him look like a real rascal.

"Are you hungry?"

Enna shook her head. "Where is our father, ma'am?"

My goodness madam in just two sentences... England and her courtesy. "Please, I'm Isabella. Your father will be back soon. Where's your mother and Arthur?"

The supposedly much better than anyone else could deal with the twins and yet they stood before me without him.

Ari cocked his head, I saw him trying to make the truth look beautiful. "We were probably too fast for the two..."

Enna and her brother exchanged a look. I didn't even want to know what it meant and pointed to the stable.

"Can you take care of your horses yourself?"

Enna nodded hastily and led her horse into the stable. Ari looked after her but stood in front of me for a moment.

"Spain is so far away. Are not you homesick?"

But... always with certain smells or impressions...

Still, I didn't say anything and just smiled because a ten-year-old actually thought of something like that.

He grinned mischievously. "So yes."

"Why do you want to know that?"

"Because I would perish without my homeland."

Behind Ari I saw Akay walking towards us. So Armin was already back. The boy knew that too and smiled shyly at me.

"Here comes my father."

"And Armin."

Ari looked at me in surprise. "You sound like you like him."

"Well..." I felt my cheeks flush. "He's my husband."

"Arthur tells us you actually hate him."

"What!?" Sir Moor, what an ugly side you hide!

Then the men with the horses by the reins came leading into the yard. Syman smiled and put a hand on Ari's back and pulled him to him for a moment.

"Are you alright boy?"

"Yes, sir." He pointed to the stable. "Enna is already there."

"Your mother didn't?" Ari smiled that impishly again and his father scowled. "Have you guys left?"

"Oh well..."

Armin stepped in front of me so I didn't hear the rest and, to my surprise, kissed me on the lips in front of everyone.

"I have great news."

"Indeed?"

He grabbed my hand. His brown eyes shone. I just overheard Syman scolding his son as they walked over to his daughter's stables.

"Did Arthur break his neck or what?"

Armin shook his head, but knocked on the wooden wall next to us. "We can see Avan tomorrow!"

"What!? But already?"

My husband's beautiful pirate face twisted mockingly. "Nice? It took long enough."

"But...Syman's family just got here."

That devious smile from Armin appeared and he kissed me again. "What's the matter, senorita? But cowardly?"

God, that man... I let myself be kissed again and nodded willingly. "Well, morning, captain."

"Let's just wait for Aliec and Arthur...then we'll ride at the first rooster crow."

The twins must have left quite early, because Arthur came into the hall with a petite red-haired woman only in the evening at dinner. Syman beamed and put them on immediately. He gently kissed her forehead and adored her.

She smiled fondly and then hugged him a little to introduce himself to me. Her name was Aliec and although she was from England she had roots in Scotland. Hence the red hair.

I found she was friendly and not at all grumpy like my Scottish maids. Aliec was like Enna.

She sat constantly with Syman and enjoyed it when her father dealt with her. While Aliec gratefully tucked into the food next to Arthur, father and daughter sat together and chattered about everything. Meanwhile, Ari stayed away from food.

"Is your cousin in trouble or where is he?" I grumbled to Armin, who was watching Arthur as if he was about to set him on fire.

"No. He just forgot about it."

"Where is he?"

Armin shrugged his shoulders impatiently. “Probably riding out or making the village unsafe. Or he found guys to mess with. That's what guys do when they don't come to dinner."

I looked at Syman, who was looking more and more angry at the empty seat and back at the dusky sky out the window. "Syman doesn't seem to like it."

Armin lifted the mug to his lip. "It's not the first time." He also looked at Syman. "He's worried. Neither Ari nor Syman know the area."

"He looks like he'll tear Ari apart if he gets his hands on him."

Armin nodded with a smile. "He probably does too."

"Excuse me?" Not Syman! I just couldn't imagine that.

As if on cue, the boy stumbled over the threshold and nose-dived. He jumped up immediately, covered in dirt from top to bottom. He nodded to his mother and us and looked at his father out of breath.

"I'm sorry, I forgot! I was as fast as I could." Syman said nothing. Ari seemed under the stern gaze not daring to lie. "I'm going to wash up."

After he left, Syman immediately grabbed the boy's plate and followed him outside.

I grabbed Armin's arm in a panic. "Armin..."

Smiling kindly, Armin kissed my fingers. "Calm down."

"How come? The boy didn't do anything."

"Then Syman won't harm him."

"Did you see the look?"

"And the plate? Do you think he'll beat him up with our dishes?"

So I continued to eat and chatted with Aliec, who became much livelier after the meal. Shortly thereafter, Syman came back, sat down with his Aliec and involved Armin and me in conversations about our departure tomorrow.

I didn't think it was possible, but the thought broke my heart a little. Now that there was family here and this castle like a home, we rode on.

If I had told Armin how difficult it was for me to say goodbye, he would certainly not have insisted on taking me with him. But I didn't want to stay.

At least now I had a place to which I would gladly come Home again.

THE WHITE KNIGHT

Quietly and quietly we crept to the stable, got on and rode almost noiselessly out of the yard.

We said goodbye last night. Enna had smiled broadly and hugged Armin and then obediently went to bed. Only Ari stayed away

I thought it was a pity. The rascal had done it to me and I was infinitely sorry that I hadn't seen him one last time.

Wrapped in our cloaks and in thick fog, we rode through our village, over hills and fields, and finally into a dense forest.

When it was noon, the weather became friendlier.

"And we're going to your uncle's?" I mumbled and watched as Armin speared two rabbits and roasted them over the fire.

"I'm so excited to see what he's going to say. At some point he has to go crazy... New people again."

Armin had mentioned it several times before, when we always bantered after dinner in the evening, but I still couldn't quite get my head around the fact that there should be nine Arins.

And they, in turn, had families.

Then this eternal getting to know each other would never end...

After the meal we rode on until we came to a river, crossed it and rode through a sparse forest behind which lay the white knights' castle of the Campbells...

It looked like a fairy tale castle. Between the white stone wall and the green meadows with the forest in front, it was secured almost all around.

When we came out of the forest, Armin stopped and surveyed the castle. He smiled bleakly. "I was born here."

"She is amazing."

Armin grinned, then we rode on over the drawbridge.

A typical Campbell came out of a guard room. For a moment he didn't seem sure if he recognized Armin, then he laughed. "Armin. I haven't seen you for at least four years..."

Armin jumped off Argos and nodded before helping me down. "Yes, sir. Four years is coming."

The knight cocked his head charmingly. "What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be feeding your castle?"

"Well, yes. I'm doing the same thing right now, in a way, and I know. But I'd have to go to Avan for that, Uncle Ben."

Ah, Campbell two - Ben.

Ben grinned and then gave me a small wink. "There you go, you know where to go."

Armin grinned rudely and led our horses to a large stable on my right. To my left was a huge paddock and a forge that connected almost seamlessly.

Of course, the Campbell Hall was a completely different caliber than our little one. People were everywhere. Most of the time they seemed quite happy. They were preparing supper on the huge knightly table.

Candles shone in corners and on the long table, even though it was just beginning to get dark. The herbs lying between the hay on the floor made the hall feel homely. Two children ran around wildly, a puppy romped around in between and the maids gossiped without really noticing the romping.

Armin took a deep breath and grinned. "Smells like home." He shrugged, a little embarrassed. "I sure don't have to tell you what it's like."

No, he didn't have to. I understood that some smells or impressions could make you feel at home. So strong that you felt like you were transported back to that time.

Smiling, I took his hand and followed him across the hall to a wide staircase. With surprising determination, and as if it were an old habit, we marched up the carpeted stone steps into a hallway.

In front of a door, Armin knocked and burst into the room.

It was big and light and the windows were huge. Everything in this castle seemed huge to me.

In front of a...huge desk sat a man who looked very different from anyone else I had ever seen around here. He had dark blond hair, dark blue eyes and broad shoulders. A heavy book lay on the table in front of him, an eyebrow raised arrogantly.

"Uncle Avi!" Armin said happily and entered with me. "May I introduce you? Isabella, my wife. But I'm sure you already know that."

Avan shook his head gently and nodded at me. "Senorita, how was the trip?" he asked me in Spanish.

Armin raised his eyebrows in surprise and smiled.

"Buenas, señor." It felt great to hear my native tongue again.

Avan was kinda sympathetic to me.

He winked inconspicuously and gave Armin the same look as before, with the raised eyebrow.

"How did you burst into my study, you lout? Didn't your father teach you etiquette?"

Armin smiled relieved. "Oh, Uncle Avi. We're on our own, you don't have to play tough."

Avan raised both brows. "Don't get burned, brat."

His tone had barely changed, but Armin raised his arms in surrender. "It was just a joke! I haven't teased you in too long."

The uncle rolled his eyes, a smile lurking at the corners of his mouth, and pointed at us. "Do you want to grow there? Sit down, dammit... what brings you here? How is my brother?"

Armin shrugged his shoulders. "I think good. You know, nothing knocks him over so easily."

"And Elaine?"

"As well. And you? What are Helena and Bea doing?"

Avan smiled, apparently with great pride. “My four grandchildren make life a little difficult for Helena. But her husband seems to have it under control. And Bea hunts the kitchen maids like a witch. Apparently she's doing the same as ever."

Then Avan waved him off decisively. "Why are you here anyway, boy? Is Syman after you?"

"Not this time." This time!? "I have something to talk to you about and I wouldn't mind wasting any more time than necessary."

Avan took a quick look at Armin and made a face for a moment. "Even if everyone tells you you look like Arin. You are your whole mother."

Armin smiled shyly and nodded. "I hope that was a compliment."

"Naturally. So what do you want to discuss?"

Armin lost all cheerfulness. "It's about your ship. I wanted to borrow it if you don't mind. Of course, not for nothing."

The eldest Campbell kept a straight face and listened.

"You've already heard about my castle situation, I think. And that my country is infinitely useless, even all of England knows. So I have to try other things to make ends meet. If there is a drought now and famine breaks out in my village, then we will also go hungry. It's my responsibility to prevent that."

Aven smiled. "I guess I don't want to know exactly what you're up to." He ran a hand through his hair. "Take the ship and... come back when things get tight."

Armin shook his head. "I don't involve anyone in my problems."

Arin's eldest brother grinned. "Your father's dungeon is always open to you..."

Arin's dungeon...? I looked confused at Armin, who laughed and shook his head. "Thank you Ava. I want it off tomorrow. Can we stay the night?"

"Naturally. Do you have any idea where you get your provisions from?"

When Armin Wölfisch waved him off with a grin, Avan looked like he was reliving an old memory.

"For heaven's sake..." he growled slightly annoyed.

After the conversation, Armin led me into Arin and Elain's old room and spread out on the bed. He sighed and comfortably closed his eyes.

A little overwhelmed by all the people who lived here, I sat on a chest under the window looking into the courtyard. A small cradle stood next to me.

"It used to be mine..." my husband grumbled sleepily.

i grinned "Do you have many memories of this place?"

"However. I was still young when my parents moved to a small village, but we still came back here often."

"That's why you look like the rat by the bacon. It seems you can't get out of the swarms. I've never seen you like that before." I thought it was nice to see him so completely happy.

Armin smiled. “I loved it here. I used to cry terribly when we left."

"Will you do that this time too?"

"Why not?" He fell back onto the bed and sighed. "It's finally starting Isabella..."