The Stableboy's shadow (BL)

Chapter 16

In the morning, we set out on the road again. It had rained a little during the night, so the grass under our feet was cold and wet. Since it was only a little over an hour walk to the next village, we decided to break our fast there. A warm meal would do us good before the long trip ahead of us. The next village wouldn't be for a couple of days after that.

When we got to the inn and settled at the edge of a long table in the far back. There were more people than I would've thought, given the hour, but a lot of folks most've thought the same as us; a cold and wet morning needs a hot coffee to have a change at being ok.

Percevin hadn't really talked yet, and as soon as we had sat down, he rested his head on his joint hands in front of him and sighed loudly. I chuckled under my breathe.

- What's up with you?

- Mornings like this are meant to sleep in, inside, where it's warm, he mumbled.

- That's why we stopped here, I laughed as the waitress was stopping by our table. We'll both have two eggs, bread and sausages, with the strongest coffee you've got.

Percevin raised his head at this as the elder woman left, one of his brows lifted in surprise.

- What? I don't always drink booze...

He rolled his eyes and went back to dozing off. From where I was sitting in the inn, I could see the comes and goes of folks starting their day, and, after a few minutes, the waitress coming back with two mugs and a large steaming pitcher. I smelled the delicious aroma before she reached us. When she placed the mugs on the table, Percy jumped and straighten himself, which made the girl and I share an amused look as she poured us our drinks.

- Do you have any syrup or sugar, Percevin asked.

- Sure, darlin', she answered as you would to a child, reaching to her belt for a glass flask and putting it on the table.

I winced, and stared at the boy who nodded a thank you. I stared at him while he uncorked the flask and poured at rather excessive -in my opinion – quantity of the cream-like sugary substance in the already rich, delightful nectar. The almost black coffee turned an untasteful light brown.

- You can drop the face, he said flatly. Don't judge it if you've never tried it.

- Dude, even the lady judged you. You're a grown up. No adult takes coffee like that.

- Well, it's good with sugar. Try it if you don't believe me.

Having spent my life with people much older than me, desperately trying to fit in, I never altered this venerated beverage with anything else than booze. So, when he lifted the opened syrup in my direction with a shine of challenge in his eyes, I gritted my teeth and pushed my mug to him. I'd never back down from a dare, even if it'd cost me everything.

He started pouring the liquid slowly, but even when the acceptable amount -which should be none- was more then exceeded and he kept tilting the flask, I quickly retrieved my mug and sent a nasty look on his direction.

It was the most disturbing taste ever. I could still taste the coffee, but the usual bitterness I loved was gone, covered by the thick sweetness of the syrup. It rolled on my tongue and I winced again.

- Nope never again, that's just plain nasty, I complained, reaching the pocket inside on my coat.

I retrieve my own flask, mine made of metal and so worn out by the ages it was almost round and the leather was detaching from it, but it held what kept me warm most of the night. This time, my marvelous best friend had refilled it with our favorite brandy. So, I filled my mug to the brink, a good two ounces of liquor mixing up with the now tolerable coffee.