His Captive Sorceress

Chapter 9: Sharing His Room

Trevus collects the cards back into a deck. With all the giggling and smiling at the other table, it's evident that the three women are enamored with Marcellus and Giddius. The hot sun of the harvest season must have melted their brains. Both men are enjoying the attention that comes from being prestigious soldiers in a poor remote village.

Trevus stretches in his chair, but he doesn't move from our table.

"You're not going to join them?" I ask.

"I am babysitting," he says.

"I think I'll be fine."

"I suspect that you would consider an early exit from this campaign to be fine as well," he says.

I wouldn't risk it now. Fetching Becky from the stables, mounting her reins, passing the watchman - there's too many things that could go wrong. "You could watch me just fine from over there. What's the real reason you chose to stay?"

Trevus looks at the other table. "All the maidens who held my heart only wished to wear my oban themselves. Being the spouse of the Captain of the Palace Guard lends weight to one's words."

"There are women who don't care for soldiers. Some would even say uniforms make handsome men ugly as trolls."

He chuckles. "I suspect a bitter experience has left such maidens biased."

"If you're so worried about being treated differently, why not just go to the market without the uniform?"

He smiles. "You have a romantic heart, Jade of Mephia."

I did spend many days dreaming about being swept off my feet. In my imagination, I'd dress up in a disguise and sneak into the night dance at the bazaar. There I'd meet a dreamy boy, and we'd escape Antiock together. Other times I was a princess who'd have caught the infatuation of a brave young knight. He would rescue me from the tower, taking me to a land far away to live out the rest of our days in bliss.

Trevus takes another sip of ale. The fire has dried my clothes, and the low-roofed room keeps the warm air close. Each table of men and women is like its own little world, all bubbling with laughter. A lonely evening in my cell could never compare.

"Do you do this often?" I ask Trevus.

"Ventures are uncommon," he says.

"No. I mean this." I gesture around us. "When you're back at your home."

"Never," Trevus says.

"Not even when you're off duty?"

"I am here only for shelter. My residence in Lystra is well furnished."

My eyebrows scrunch up. "You're silly."

He chuckles. "Am I?"

"You're a free man. You could have great fun and company every evening."

"And what leads you to the notion that those in taverns make good company?"

"Are you suggesting I'm not good company?" I wag my finger at him.

The corner of his lips tugs up. "Of course not." He presses my finger back down on the table. I didn't realize that I was still holding it up. "But you are not one to frequent taverns."

"Oh, I will be," I say. When I'm living free, I'll never choose to spend an evening alone again.

"Are you certain?" he asks.

"I am only ever certain."

He finds my response amusing. "Well, it is said that decisiveness is a desirable trait."