Chapter 25

Chapter 25

Arvena, One Year Earlier.

The sun shone brightly that day, and the warm weather was a welcome change. The sky, visible through the forest canopies, was a brilliant shade of blue. It contrasted greatly with the reddish leaves of the late fall season.

It was the tenth day after their departure from Bellandia. The Arvenians had crossed several hamlets and villages along the way, but only the lords, knights, and their retinues could stay for the night. The rest of the troops had to make do with their simple tents pitched in the fields.

Last night, they had camped just outside the forest, in a clearing where they built a large campfire and a field kitchen. The site wasn’t ideal, but the woods provided them with easy access to firewood and opportunities to forage for wild berries and eggs.

After breakfast, Lansius and Stefi began packing their belongings. The strong morning sunlight made the situation rather hectic, as some had decided to march earlier than usual. Several men with their spears and shields were already forming groups and waiting on the dirt road.

This far from the frontline, they marched at their own pace. While it seemed lax, the rearguard who marched behind would ensure that nobody was deserting.

Stefi had taught Lansius how to pack his gear, and after more than a week of living on the road, he had mastered some simple tasks. Stefi untied the ropes while Lansius carefully pulled and wiped them off with a dry rag.

Ropes were costly, so care was needed to maintain them. They were literally the thing that held the roof over their head every day. Without ropes, the tent would turn into a large poncho. Made from braided natural hemp fibers, they were coated with wax to protect against mold and decay.

As Lansius worked with the ropes, Stefi gathered the bowls, spoons, and waterskins and said, “Pack them all up. I’m going to the stream.”

“Don’t take too long. Everyone is already on the move,” Lansius warned.

“No worries. We have Horsie, remember?” And then she left.

Indeed, she was right, Lansius admitted. He initially thought that only the rider would benefit from a horse, but he was wrong. As it turned out, having one benefited the entire group.

Tents, battle gear, and foodstuffs were especially burdensome to carry. A pack animal could easily carry them, allowing the group to march faster and farther.

Lansius continued to dry wipe the remaining ropes. Once he was done, he gathered them all and approached the horse carefully. After a week of traveling together, Horsie was already familiar with him, but Lansius was wary of the big animal. He approached from the front and only proceeded to the saddle once he was sure that the horse’s demeanor remained unchanged.

Although he winced at the horse’s strong odor, he put the ropes into the saddlebag and left gracefully with a relieved face. He repeated this process several times with the bedrolls, blankets, and their lantern.

Finished with it, he noticed Horsie nudging toward a patch of tall grass, so he pulled out his knife, cut it, and brought it to her.

As the horse ate, Lansius noticed more movements on the road. He saw that the usual group he had marched with had started their march. Even the traveling peddlers that followed their column were preparing to move.

Lansius patiently waited, but after a while, he couldn’t ignore it any longer. So, he rose, took his and Stefi’s bag, and tightened Horsie’s reins to ensure that she wouldn’t wander on her own.

Before leaving, Lansius took a good look at his surroundings to ensure that no one was eyeing the horse and their belongings. Satisfied that nobody was nearby, he made his way to where the stream was supposed to be, guided by its faint sound.

Lansius took a sip but hesitated to drink more, worried about the raw water. He typically made excuses to boil the water or mix it with wine to, hopefully, kill any pathogens inside.

Stefi put the utensils she had cleaned inside her bag. Afterward, she fished out a clean cloth and used it to dry her hair.

“Umm, shouldn’t we hurry?” Lansius asked.

“Before we leave,” Stefi said sharply, and Lansius sensed a scolding was coming. “Lans, it’s best to keep this between ourselves.”

“I understand. Again, I apologize,” he said remorsefully.

Stefi shook her head. “I don’t blame you. It’s just that I had a friend who saw a village woman’s thigh by accident. She reported him, and he was forced to marry.”

Yikes . . .

“At first it was funny, but it didn’t end well for them,” added Stefi ominously. “Also, if that happened to us, everybody would say that I’m taking advantage of you as my charge.”

Lansius bowed his head. “I swear, I’ll never mention it to anyone.”

“Well, let’s get going.”

Leading the way, Stefi showed Lansius an easier path upward. As she began to climb, she suddenly asked, “Say, since you saw mine, what should I do with you?”

Lansius shook his head and replied meekly, “You know I don’t have that much coin.”

Stefi looked at him. “Who said it had to do with money?”

“Eh?” Bewilderment was written all over his face. “You want to see me naked?”

Stefi giggled. “I’m a squire. I see men left and right, so that’s not a good bargain.”

“Then what?” Lansius was intrigued.

She motioned for him to come closer, as if to whisper something in his ear. He leaned in, eager to hear what she had to say. But before he knew it, Stefi had her hands on either side of Lansius’s face and was pulling him in for a kiss. It was sudden and unexpected, but he couldn’t help but feel a rush of excitement as her lips met his.

As abruptly as it began, she pulled away, a mischievous grin on her face. “I stole yours, so now we’re even!” she said, and nimbly climbed up.

“How—how did you know?” Lansius anxiously asked, but all he heard were faint giggles coming from her direction. He was confused by the mixed signals, but the big grin on his face didn’t lie.