The Nun and King

Chapter 14

Locating my tent, I dig into my duffle and pull out a somewhat clean pair of trousers and a bar of soap. Not having much to wet it with, I dampen a cloth with some water from my water skin and do my best to get clean before changing into the dark green pants. I decide to go barefoot for the evening, needing to let my boots dry out if they can and abandon the idea of a shirt all together given the humidity. Ducking outside, I prop my boots upside down with men's and see that they have shared my thoughts given the lack of shirts and shoes.

My eyes scan over every one and I see that Beth Ann still sits atop my brother's lap, a tanned arm draped behind his neck as she closely listens in to one of Max's stories. Claire sits a few feet away, her legs tucked beneath her as she too gives her attention to young Max. I hear him say the words "goat" and "coin" and watch him how animated he becomes when describing an old farmer and I give my head a shake having heard the tale numerous of times. It's one of his favorites—about how one day in Paevia the old goat farmer caught him and his oldest daughter messing around in his barn. The farmer walloped Max over the head with a herding staff and threatened to hang him by his toes for ruining his daughter's virtue. Little did he know that half of Fogbottom had their share of the lass, my brothers included. Max being Max, he pulled up his pants and dug in his pocket for a coin before flipping it at the old man, being sure to thank him for making such a lovely creature before jumping out of the barn's only window. He ended up passing out on his way home in an ally and woke up with a nasty headache and a significant goose egg.

Gale, Nikolas, and Warren still idly stand by and chat as they prepare the rabbits and stew so I decide to head over to them. Over the next hour, I help with dinner while sipping ale and even with the thoughts of Rory in the back of my mind I find myself enjoying the time with my friends. We four have been through a lot together over the years—schooling, growing up and becoming men, watching Nikolas become a father as new life is brought into the world, and burying fallen friends as other lives are taken due to war. I care for all of my men here with me tonight as each as earned my trust in their own significant way, but these three before me I care for deeply.

"What's on your mind?" Warren asks me, handing me back my waterskin.

I take it and give it a good shake, noting its emptiness. "I handed this to you half full," I pout before unscrewing the cap and tossing back the remains of drink. The bitter sweet ale slides down my throat and I belch before giving him a shrug.

"You told us to get piss drunk tonight, how am I to do that if you don't share?" he retorts, pulling out his own waterskin from his satchel that lays carelessly in the grass by his feet.

"I was reminiscing, is all," I say, answering his question. "Reflecting or whatever," I say, waving my hand.

"On?" Warren asks, taking a long swig.

I give a smirk. "On the time your sister got drunk and showed everyone her tits at the tavern," I say slyly, earning a round of laughter from Gale and Nikolas.

Warren glares at me and takes another drink, this time a smaller one. "She'd never had corn liquor before—give her a break."

Gale wags his eyebrows, relieving Warren of his ale and taking a sip himself. "You ought to be proud, she's got a nice pair. Perhaps one of the best sets in all of Paevia. Wouldn't you agree, Nik?" he says, elbowing Nikolas who grins as he stirs the stew.

"Aye—aside from my wife's of course. Very perky," he adds. We guffaw and even Warren can't hide his grin.

"Honestly, I was thinking back on life in general and how we've all come along over the years. We had some good times," I say.