Chapter 40: Chapter 40
Despite the extremely stressful times that had just passed, the rest of the day went surprisingly well. No one had thought to mention the men we had killed in the baron's villa, and there was no question of us leaving the papers with him. But with his life and reputation on the line, Donatus couldn't have been more helpful. He provided us with two large sacks to carry the documents in and watched with a look of abject misery as we emptied the papers and tablets into them before closing them up and leaving them by my feet. We would be leaving shortly, risking the chance of a back-up plan by the baron and his little blue friends.
I went to saddle the horses with Gawain, taking our blackmail material with us. Tristan had stayed with Arthur and I was sure he was keeping a wary eye on things.
"So…" Gawain growled. "What exactly happened last night?"
I sighed and sat down on a low stool. "Leave it alone," I mumbled, resting my head in my hands. "I am exhausted."
"Not until you tell me if you kissed Tristan last night." He insisted stubbornly.
Gawain's strange behaviour was not worth trying to comprehend at this moment, so I simply glared at him. "Yes, we did—but not for the reasons you suspect." I proceeded to explain myself, but Gawain still seemed suspicious.
"And that's it?" he asked.
"Yes. Now stop being such an over-protective matron and help me saddle the horses." I said, turned back to tack up Tagiytei, who was starting to get impatient.
"Hmph," Gawain muttered under his breath and turned back to the other horses. Since I knew just how merry he had been in the tavern the previous night, I simply smiled blandly into his bloodshot eyes before returning my attention to our task. By the time the others joined us, we were almost completely ready to go. After retrieving Tristan's things from the room we had stayed in, we mounted up and rode out, promising to return in a few days' time to settle matters properly.
I rode beside Tristan, keeping my eyes fixed on the horizon and not looking at the men who sullenly watched us depart. All I could think of was getting back to the fort and going to sleep all day in some quiet corner where no one could find me.
The ride was uneventful. Tristan urged Tagiytei up to ride beside Arthur and recount the whole night in detail, also mentioning the men who attacked us when we retrieved the documents. Arthur listened attentively and I kept my eyes scanning our surroundings for any trouble. I knew I wasn't the only one, but I didn't feel safe. Not by a long shot.
We arrived back in the fort and were met by Jols and Lancelot, who reported a quiet day and nothing extraordinary. The spies that we'd captured had been gagged and secured from all harm and risk. Arthur gave the others their orders (resumption of the usual daily routine) and was now looking at Tristan and me with something bordering on concern. "Take a couple of days rest, but be ready if I have dire need of you," he said kindly. I almost sagged with relief as we all moved the horses to the stables.
Jols, Amandus and Mato leapt to help us and when Mato threw me a concerned look and asked if I was alright, I nearly hugged him. But then Tristan appeared and dragged me out of the stable and propelled me up to his room. He looked as shattered as I felt; but I was so disgustingly grimy, I knew that I needed a quick bath more urgently than sleep.
When I mentioned this to Tristan, he shrugged. "Do what you like," he muttered. "I am going to the baths myself, if you wish to accompany me then feel free to do so."
I did as he suggested and we left to enjoy the creature comforts of the fort. Tristan bathed first, not bothering to argue about the matter and simply stripping down to his skin before sinking into the cold pool to wash. It was fed directly by the river and therefore had a slight current running through it which aided in keeping the water clean. As soon as he was clean, he went to soak in the hot pool while waiting for me. When he was gone, I stripped and slid into the water, gasping from the shock of the cold, but determined to be clean before crawling into bed. As I scrubbed at my hands and face, I knew that these two days of reprieve were going to be blissful…
By the time we had finished our ablutions and dressed in clean clothes the sun was starting to set. I was feeling far too awake from the heady mixture of a freezing cold bath and the frigid air. It would be mid-winter soon.
"We should take Galahad hunting tomorrow," Tristan said suddenly as we walked across an empty courtyard. "The boy needs to learn how to handle a horse in heavy cover."
"He hasn't been allowed many freedoms beyond the fort has he?" I mused.
"Indeed not, he's still far too young and we do not risk our children in war."
I smiled at the idea that the knights (in their own gruff way) saw Galahad as a younger brother who needed a watchful eye constantly upon him and the occasional cuff round the ear. "Very true," was all I said. "But you forget that my hunting experience has simply been as spear-bearer to Gawain."
"Can you fire a bow?" he asked.
"Not from a horse," I said.
"It's easy enough—I'll teach you sometime."
This sounded ominous, but I didn't comment apart thanking him for such a seemingly pointless use of his free time.
"Oh it'll be useful…" he drawled, and I really hated the way he said that—it sounded like he had a plan that I wouldn't like, but nevertheless be forced to participate in. It would certainly concern something a great deal more serious than recreational hunting.
We entered our room and I hurled the laundry into its usual corner before making a beeline for the bed. Tristan followed suit and we crashed onto the mattress almost simultaneously.
"Why can't I just have my own bed?" I grumbled.
"Because I can't afford it," he said, tugging off his boots and curling up on his side. "Go sleep in Gawain's if you like."
"Fine," I snapped, not caring for a petty argument. I got up and stomped out, wishing that Tristan would just oblige me this one favour.
Gawain's room was messier than Tristan's, but that was only because I sought to keep it clean. I was asleep almost before my head hit the pillow.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone