The Journey To Acre

Chapter 2

Practical arrangements lead to an uneasy truce between knight and prisoner.

Vaisey had no interest in Marian's welfare other than to make things as uncomfortable for her as possible, and after a week or so stowed away like a bad secret in the hold, it dawns on her just how dependent upon her former fiancé she currently is. Other than when Vaisey came to taunt her, Guy was her only company. Other than a bucket of cold water thrown over her head by her tormentor (paired with unkind remarks concerning the state of her personal hygiene), Guy was the only one who gave her means to wash and change clothes. Other than overheard conversations between crewmen in the passageway, Guy was her only link to the outside world. This was her life for the foreseeable future. Something had to give.

It was not long after the cat paid them a visit that her attitude softened. It was difficult to take the moral high ground whilst shivering and hungry. The problem with this change in behaviour was that it gave him reason to hope and so they quickly found themselves back to square one - with Guy wanting more from her than she was ever prepared to give. What she couldn't (or wouldn't) understand was that it was all or nothing with him: he wasn't ever going to settle for a friendship, just as she wasn't ever going to agree to a relationship. With his volatile temper and her wilful determination, the storm clouds were gathering and it was only a matter of time before lightning would strike.

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"Do you think they're missing me in Nottingham?"

Guy chokes upon his husk of stale bread upon hearing this random question from his boss. A crewman wordlessly hands him an aleskin and he chokes on this too; it's filled with alcohol so strong one could strip paint with it. The men collapse into giggles. Vaisey carries on with his speech regardless,

"Jasper has no finesse you know, no affinity for the job..."

Guy studies him closely to see if he's serious. He is.

He takes another swig. The men cheer.

"You wanna take it easy my friend, that stuff will put you in a coma if you're not careful," Sully advises with a chuckle. Guy looks at Vaisey who is still pontificating about how Jasper couldn't possibly fill his shoes and being in a coma suddenly seems the alluring option. He's about to take another sip when the thought of Marian stops him. Who will look after her if he's out of it? He passes the beverage on and makes to leave.

"...And as for you, I doubt anyone will be missing you Gizzy; you've never had much of a way with people have you?"

Guy is offended, but it passes. It's not like he doesn't have a point.

"Well, Archie likes you, an' that's good enough for me," Sully chips in, patting Guy on the shoulder much to the younger man's surprise and the elder's consternation.

"Who's Archie?"

.*.

"First time I saw 'im, he could fit in the palm of my hand..." Sully explains, gesturing to the feline in question who is tentatively sniffing Guy's discarded jacket.

They've retired to the passageway near the hold; Guy's usual haunt when he wishes to escape from his employer.

"...all tangles an' dirt he was, runt of the litter but sharp as a pin, an' not backwards at comin' forwards I tell ye!" Sully laughs and Guy nods because from what he's seen of the plucky little fellow that sounds about right.

"He started followin' me round he did, much like he's taken a shine to you, an' one day I said to meself, you looks like an Archie to me..." The carpenter smiles proudly, as if the cat were his own offspring and Guy has to push down feelings of affection that are threatening to emerge. As per usual, it is Vaisey's voice that rings in his ears (another sermon about being too soft for this world), but then he thinks of how kind Sully was to him not ten minutes earlier and that silences the harsh words.