Soldier

Chapter 4

Chapter 4

“You have to be still or I'll cut it wrong!” Phee tried to keep me straight on the chair, but it was hard. I was anxious about the result. Since wigs or anything like it didn't exist here the only solution was to cut my hair. Men in Tahol did simply not have long hair. First I grew bold to do it, then scared and now I wanted more than anything to get out of it. “I can't do it” I said and whined. Phee's mother stood before me and held me tight on my spot. When we told her about our plan she was doubtful. “I am glad that you want to help, but dress up like a man? I don't think people will believe the lie” She had said and looked worried. Eventually we persuaded her and she decided to help. We sought out old clothes that was left after Phee's father. I had asked her once more what happened to him, since I didn't remember the first time she told me. “He died when I was little. He worked as a knight at the kings court”

Finally I sat still on the chair and Phee took hold of the blunt scissor. I held my breath when she took a piece of my hair. “Breath” I heard her say in my ear. I breathed out and felt pieces of hair fall to the floor. I let out a cry and covered my face with my hands. “Don't worry, it looks fine” I wanted to choke the person who came up with the word 'fine'. I was not fine at the moment. I was lost in a land out of the map, about to enter a competition which I have no clue about the rules and now my hair is gone.

“Maybe we should talk about something” Phee suggested. “Okay” I said and nodded. “What is your village called?” “York” “Is it big?” “Quite, but there's bigger cities. But I live outside of York, like on a farm” “Oh”

It strange how we haven't talked to each other about personal stuff. Or even things like where we live and what we like. I guess we never got to that part. “Do you live with your family?” “Only my grandmother” “Not with your parents?”

I've wanted to avoid that question coming from them. I hated to feel miserable. Ever since they died people only took pity on me and quite frankly, I've had enough. “No, they died when I was little” I crossed my fingers, begging for no more pity. “Well, there's nothing you can do about it”

If I said I wasn't surprised by her answer, I would have lied, because I was. I didn't hear any pity in her voice. “I'm surprised you don't feel sorry for me” I said quietly. “Why would I? I've lost a father and know how it feels. There's no need to keep reassure those feelings” I thought about it and agreed. We were quiet for a while until Phee spoke. “You have a very strange shaped birthmark on your neck” I knew which one she was talking about. I was born with a crescent-shaped birthmark on the left side of my neck. I was quite embarrassed about it and often had my hair down. I didn't thought about it when we agreed to cut my hair. “Yes, I know it's ugly”

Phee touched the mark in silent. “I think it's beautiful. You shouldn't be afraid to show it” “Well, I have no choice now, but to show it” My head got lighter as Phee finished. “Done”

I felt on my head and quickly breathed to calm down. It was short. Not so short as I would have expected, but short enough so I would be judged as a man. Phee held forward a small piece of a mirror so I could look. I was afraid I was going to look ugly, but when my eyes wandered to the little piece of reflection I was surprised. “I look good” I said and laughed. “I said it looked fine” Phee said and smiled at me. “Now with hair as a man, we will dress you as a man”

Phee's mother took out her late husband's clothes for me. I took a good look at my new outfit. The trousers were brown and made of linen. The shirt was also made of some sort of linen but had the colour white and with lace on the sleeves. Quite fancy for a farmer, but then I got reminded that he had worked as a knight. There were a brown vest to have on top of the shirt and quickly I undressed. When I put on the shirt I looked down on me. “I think we have a small problem” I said and pointed down to my chest. My breast were all too pointy to not be seen. “I think I have a solution” Phee's mother said fetched some bandage out of a drawer. We tightened the bandage around my ribs to keep my goods as close to my body as possible. Once more I put the shirt on and no sign of women parts were visible. As soon as I was done I looked at Phee for approval. She nodded and smiled. “Now, we need only a name” She said. I haven't thought of that and I have no clue which names appear in Tahol. “Well, I have no idea” I said and looked at them both. Phee and her mother gave each other a look before they spoke. “You shall now be called Yuric Keen” Phee said and made a gesture like she dubbed me to a knight. “Right then” I said and walked to the door. “Now we only have to introduce me to Tom” “Why?” She gave me a curious look. “If we can fool him, we are totally safe”