Flight of The Harpy's Heart

Chapter xx: Timid

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It was a peaceful day, the sun shining brightly in the sky and the birds chirping merrily in the trees. The village seemed almost untouched by the recent harpy attacks as if they had never been under siege.

Aden was bored. It was a slow day. He had been standing his ground watching the sky and not a single harpy was seen. It was a blissful day after what happened in the Wailing Widow Pass. He turned his head to the right and saw Hjalmar already fall asleep hugging his sledgehammer with a shield as his pillow. He might've still got fatigued from yesterday's foraging mission.

They barely escape from the Wailing Widow pass. Everyone was asking why Aden had not seen a sign of fatigue with all of their near-death experience escape yesterday.

How could Aden tell them. That he got spirited up because he had been plowing someone's wife since two nights before.

Plowing someone's wife was his guilty pleasure. There was nothing compared to filling a married woman's inside with his seeds. Just thinking of it, excited him. He didn't know the punishment for having sex with another man's wife in this land of Andal, Wessen continent. Maybe stoned to death, Rule of Sword trial by combat, or executioner's axe.

Whichever one Aden wouldn't want to know.

Some said the men in the Wessen couldn't have any power over their wives if their wives opened themselves to other men.

And now he slowly got back to his old life and old habits. He didn't want to find out about the punishment because overthinking got him nowhere. He had to take a leap of faith.

Aden couldn't wait for Martin to ring the bell of lunch so he could slip out to the stable and have another round with Indry.

This morning, Aden had another quick round with Indry before a stretching session with Captain Willem. She was less submissive and even applied perfume to her breasts. Aden could never guess where she got the perfume in this difficult time.

They intended to meet again at lunchtime. Aden looked into the sky. It was full of glooming clouds and harpies were nowhere to be seen. Half of the men were not present in the front yard. They were mingling and chilling around, seeking shelter from the cold sun rays and the freezing breeze of incoming winter.

Aden decided to take advantage of the calm. He asked permission from Corporal Knightly and made his way to the courthouse backyard to get warm. The Corporal gave his permission. He didn't need to do that but he had to respect the chain of command. He was a soldier after all and that attitude is what differs between a soldier and a brute.

Aden walked through the main hall inside the courthouse, it was crowded with villagers who warmed themselves near the hearth. Indry was nowhere to be seen only little Jasmine playing with Agnes. She must have left for the stable before Aden got inside.

As Aden approached the backyard, he noticed young Oliver waving a curved wooden stick around like a makeshift shamshir. The sight brought a chuckle to Aden's lips, and he couldn't help but feel impressed by the boy's enthusiasm. Stepping closer, he greeted Oliver with a warm, friendly smile, eager to share his knowledge of swordsmanship.

"Hey there, Oliver," Aden called out, his voice welcoming and inviting.

The boy's head whipped around, startled by the unexpected visitor. "Oh, Aden. I didn't see you there."

"I see you're practicing your shamshir skills," Aden remarked, his eyes twinkling with amusement.

Oliver's expression turned somber as he nodded. "Yes. Everyone fought bravely, but I was just behind them, throwing rocks with my stone slinger."