The Nun and King

Chapter 32

I frown at the empty snare and mutter a curse. Out of the ten I set, all but one were empty. "Hopefully Uriah had better luck," I think, looking up at the setting sun and squinting. Sighing, I untie my snare and slip it into my pack and pull out the medium sized rabbit before heading back to our camp. As I walk, I think over Claires short conversation and contemplate why exactly I told her no when she asked to set the snares with me. I knew she wanted to use that as an opportunity to talk about whatever she had to say two days ago before the incident with Falsta. Was it because I wasn't ready to hear what she has to say? Because really, whatever she had to say wouldn't change things? And how exactly does that reflect on me, a man unwilling to listen to the words of a woman he cares about because he's afraid of getting his feelings hurt. And to rub salt into the wound, I've all but avoided her for two days "Pathetic."

I hear the voices and laughter through the thin pine forest of the Hallows before it comes into sight. Nik works on cleaning an animal—but from this distance I'm unable to tell what—while Markus, Bastain, and Uriah tend to the horses. Torva, Claire, Noel, and the other three women sit by the fire braiding each other's wet hair.

When I draw nearer, Nik gives a low whistle. "Good thing we have extra food from Lagras," he says, holding out his hand for my rabbit.

"Uriah didn't do so well either I take it?" I ask, eying the turkey that Nik cleans. On the ground is a massive pile of feathers and entrails.

He gives a shake of the head. "I heard the Hallows was supposed to be teeming with game," he says with a shrug.

"Has all the women bathed yet?" I ask, glancing over to the fire. Claire's dress is damp where water has soaked in from her braid.

"Aye. If you go, take the other's with you. I'm tired of smelling them," he says with a smirk. I give a chuckle and walk over to Bastain, Markus, and Uriah and pinch my nose. "Is that the horses or you lot I smell?" I tease.

"That's Markus," Bastain jokes, earning a laugh from Uriah.

"I'm going to head to the creek if anyone wants to join," I say, walking to my saddle bag and digging out a bar of soap and clothes. The other's follow suit and together the four of us make the walk to the creek. It's still in eyesight of the camp and any prying eyes could steal a peek if they chose to but given the fact that those eyes belong to a group of religious women I'm not all that worried.

Stripping naked, I walk into the knee-deep water and begin washing myself as best as I can. The other men do the same and we idly chat, mostly about their families. When Channing comes up—Markus's twin brother—the chat goes stale. Being their leader, I find that it's my place to offer a word or two. "Sorry again, my friend," I say, meeting Markus's gaze.

He offers a smile and scrubs his arms, lathering up with soap. "Thank you, Thomas. It means a lot."

"The few times I sparred with Channing he always bested me," Uriah offers. "I remember one time th—" he begins, but is cut off with Bastain giving a yelp.

We all turn and look at him, seeing him holding up his foot for inspection. "I think a fish bit me," he says simply. Grinning, I shake my head and roll my eyes glancing back at camp. Nik seems almost done with the rabbit and the women still sit by the fire. I'm about to look away when I see Claire steal a glance in my direction. When she notices that I too am watching her gaze quickly darts away and she does a complete one-eighty, her back now facing towards me.

"Stealing a peek, huh?" Uriah says, smirking. At first I think he is referring to Claire but realization sets in that he is talking about me.

"Aye. She's a looker that one," I say, in some attempt to protect Claire and her image of modesty. I then grin to myself and rinse off. Claire was undoubtedly discreetly looking at me while bathing and the thought begins a disturbance down below. It's bad form being at attention around other's while bathing so I quickly walk to the bank and retrieve my towel and wrap it around my waist, tucking up as best as I can.