Chapter 8: Chapter 8

ALL THE LITTLE THINGS

Arin looked down at his bride who just turned to face him. Elain looked at him differently now. As if she had finally gained a little more trust in him. Still, he didn't want to rush anything. He would never underestimate her so easily again.

"Well, I'll lie down now." With that he lay down on the prepared cookie and made himself comfortable. Elain was still looking at him. "Comes." he commanded lightly.

In fact, she only hesitated for a moment, then lay down quietly next to him and tried to make herself comfortable.

Even though Arin was dying to pull her to him, kiss her, and drive her back to that peak Mylord scream, he controlled himself. Difficult though. She would lie next to him every day from now on. He would have an opportunity.

But his dreams drove him insane. When he finally fell asleep, he dreamed of dozens of ways he would roll onto her, have her on top of him, or pull her onto all fours.

The next morning, Arin was more exhausted than ever. And in a bad mood.

Elain woke up immediately as he sat down. She rubbed her eyes and stretched her legs. This reminded him of one of his dreams and his mood turned even worse.

"Good morning Arin!" Syman. God, just let him shut up this morning! Arin prayed, but Syman was just getting started.

"Didn't you sleep again today? You look like a disgruntled boar!"

Don't take your anger out on your cousin, he told himself irritably, trying to ignore Syman. But he made it difficult for Arin.

The little one had a streak of evil. He cracked jokes at Arins expense and laughed at him for looking so miserable. Actually, Arin never bothered. Syman was like that. But today he somehow couldn't take it.

He couldn't let his cousin feel his anger...

But his squire does.

Syman drove it ever more colorful. Elain started to tell Syman to be quiet and distract him, but the ten-year-old didn't understand what she was trying to do. Still, he stopped joking and just asked Arin questions. He just babbled on to him like he did every morning.

Syman stood next to Arin and babbled on. But Arin was in a bad mood! He was hungry, tired and had built up a great desire for his wife, which still hadn't subsided. Also because of all the jokes from before. He gave the boy a warning look, who ignored him.

He kept talking to Arin. His nerves were on edge. When Arin stopped listening to him, Syman nudged him.

"Arin?"

It happened so fast that Arin couldn't stop himself. He got up, grabbed Syman by the collar and punched him in the face.

The bang made my stomach churn. I didn't understand the whole thing. Syman was just kidding and stopped immediately when he noticed Arin getting angry. And when he tried to make amends and talk to him kindly and even apologized, he was beaten. It broke my heart.

Syman gritted his teeth. His eyes turned red, as did the side of his face. Arin was still holding his collar. Syman waited to see if anything else happened, but Arin lowered his hand and released the boy. Then the squire disappeared into the forest.

Bad asshole! - was the first thing that came to my mind. I jumped up and stepped in front of Arin. As angry as I was, I didn't know whether to hit him with a piece of wood or ram my nails in his face. Luckily for him, I just punched him in the face. Just like he had just done with Syman.

Arin caught himself immediately and stared at me in concern.

I yelled at him. "What are you imagining what you're doing!? Just when I was starting to like you just a little bit! So it's so easy to destroy! The boy just apologized!"

I wanted to walk past him and find Syman, but Arin held me back. I looked at him angrily.

"You stay here." His voice was deep and calm. His gaze was downcast.

"I think-"

"Sit down and wait until I get back!" With that he pushed me next to the smoky fireplace and disappeared as well.

It was quiet for a long time and I didn't know how long I would be left alone. But I knew I didn't want to just sit around.

I folded the cloaks of the two and cleared our camp. Then Syman stepped out of the forest. Alone.

Without a word, he saddled the horses, fed them apples he pulled from his backpack, and sat with them until Arin returned.

I wanted so badly to talk to him. See his dimples again and make him laugh. But he clearly signaled to me that he wanted to be alone.

Arin returned shortly after. He walked over to Syman without looking at me. I heard his voice, but without a word the boy handed him Pocket's reins and dragged his horse past Arin.

Arin handled it far better than I did.

Without Syman's constant chatter and laughter, the riding was truly lonely. Also, I didn't want to get caught up with Arin. I wish I could have beaten him more often. Every time I thought about this morning... I was still confused. I couldn't deal with injustice. And I felt it was unfair to hit a child just because you were in a bad mood...

"Elaine?" Arin's voice really repelled me for the first time. "Don't you know this area?"

"Should I?" Florence would say I acted defiantly like a child. And maybe I did too.

"I guess so." Arin growled. It bothered him how I treated him. But I didn't care.

Still, I raised my eyes and looked around...

"Do you recognize it now?"

A small hut in the distance, a paddock and men in the fields. The smell of fresh bread for lunch.

My home.