Across the ocean Book 1: On the run

Chapter Eight : The Old Tower

-"God of Creation, to you we give thanks before giving our bodies the nourishment they require for the day. We humbly ask you may give to those who are not as fortunate as we. I personally ask, as a father, your protection over us as we continue our journey. I know we cannot receive only blessings in this world, that eventually we will die one day or another; nonetheless, may you keep us from evil eyes. To you be the glory."

-"To you be the glory," repeated Mayen.

Friday morning was chilly, not to the point of penetrating your bones, but enough to make it uncomfortable. Drops of water crashing on the leaves of trees made a background noise which would have been quite pleasant indoors, not here in the open. Though the tent had kept the two wayside peasants mostly dry, it was still unpleasant this early in the morning.

Mulette had slept with the two humans in their tent; Nerlos had warned them about her dislike of being wet at night and that she could be quite finicky about it. They had forgotten so she had reminded them by forcing herself in. The surprise had been more one of confusion than annoyance. She had managed to get in without making it fall down, although Rowen's intervention had had much to do with it, and she had casually laid down comfortably in between the two humans as if nothing had happened. According to Mulette, it was them, not her, who had been finicky: they had been the one to get all agitated.

Mayen grew attached to her, enjoying the rough hair on her cheeks. He scratched her with his left hand while bringing with his right a flat bread for himself. The boy regretted it sooner than later the mistake he had just done. She casually turned her head to grab the food which was meant for humans. Luckily enough, he had managed to rip the biggest part for himself, but he would have to trim it before bringing it back to his mouth.

-"Wait, what? No! Mulette, this is bad for you! Nerlos told us not to give you bread!"

-"My boy, you should not give her any attention while eating. She will simply take a habit of it, and rather quickly! You need to learn not to be too naïve with animals; did you not learn with Elf and Junto already? They wake you up, no one else, because you give them attention at night."

As if knowing already she would not get any more food, Mulette rose on her legs and walked shyly under the rain for some grass to eat.

-"Sheeesh..." Mayen brushed some of his brown hair from his forehead. "The girl has some bad manners. First, she forces herself in a tent, then she goes outside not before having robbed me from my breakfast."

-"Hahaha!" Rowen was glad he had not yet taken the gulp of water he intended to. "Still like her, my boy, or you changed your mind after what she did?"

-"She did leave with almost half of my share of food," he answered with his lips pouting, "but she does carry it on her back so... Ahhh. She is a fine mule and, somehow, her personality is endearing. Somehow..."

-"May the woman we find for you have mercy upon your soul! If animals can get away with anything with you, I sure hope not with those future children of yours..."

After the breakfast, Mayen rubbed his teeth and gum with a linen cloth. It was rough linen, of course, soft linen hardly removed the residues from the tongue. The taste was not particularly great due to the charcoal of rosemary, but it was said the powder made of it helped keep the teeth in good condition. Of course, rinsing was the most important, for what smelled had to be removed from the mouth, not swallowed.

-"You know what boy?" Rowen had finished cleaning his mouth and started the packing

-"What, father?"

-"I think that dagger of yours has been the most confusing thing he has seen for a long time. I mean the ranger who interrogated you about it." He giggled. "Remember his reaction?"