Jack Simple

Chapter 3

Silence reigned over the first few hours of their journey.

He led her through the forest at a blazing clip, half hoping that she would soon tire and give up. She kept pace with him quite easily, and only a small reddening of her ivory cheeks betrayed any sign of exhaustion. She tromped along cheerfully, humming as she walked. Lightfoot ranged out ahead as always, sniffing about.

Even with the uneasy circumstances surrounding this particular jaunt, Jack still felt his usual contentedness as he tracked further away from Brecht and into the Alrean hills. The weather was perfection itself; a cool breeze woke the tree boughs from sleep, the sun beamed joyously down through open spaces in the forest canopy. He smelled woodsmoke from the village for the first hour, but that soon faded and was replaced by the earthy scents of soil and pine. He had always regarded the calm silence of the wood as a personal balm, a cloak of healing and rejuvenation. Normally, his mind would be still as he walked. Today, his thoughts were quite active and were focused on a singular subject.

Soon, the sun began to dip to the west and Jack knew that it was nearly time to find a campsite for the evening. He looked about to recenter his bearings, something he would not have needed to do were his mind not so occupied. They were getting close to Elid Peak, he realized. The pace he had set had brought them quite far in only half a day. He halted and turned to the woman. "We should find a campsite soon..." Jack announced, hoping he didn't sound as uncomfortable as he felt.

Eidna simply nodded, unperturbed. "Do you know any places nearby?"

"I believe so..."

He led her off the trail and out onto a point that looked over an agreeable valley of timbered meadows leading up to Elid Peak lying snow-capped in the distance. A monumental oak straddled the cliff edge with giant exposed roots that created a decent windbreak. A fire pit he had dug some years before stood between the roots, fenced in by colored stones he had brought up from a nearby brook.

Eidna looked wide-eyed as she surveyed the valley. "I had no idea somewhere so beautiful existed so close to the village," she said, all wonder.

"Have you never left Brecht?" Jack asked, somewhat surprised at her awe. He sometimes forgot that not everyone wandered as widely as he did through the wild.

"I have family in Tierna that we used to visit from time to time, but that was a rather boring wagon ride through farmland. Nothing like this."

Jack couldn't help but smile. Her marvel made him happy for some reason. "This is nothing compared to what you will see in the next few days."

Eidna looked at him and smirked. She lowered her pack from her shoulders and sat upon one of the roots. Lightfoot padded up and rested the bottom of his chin upon her thigh. Eidna wasted no time in give him a good scratch behind the ear. "You want a treat, don't you? I think I have something you may like."

She knelt and rustled about in her pack, withdrawing a piece of dried fish which Lightfoot attacked voraciously. She looked at Jack. "Your pup is trying to get me to fall in love with him," she said. "He is succeeding."

"If I were a doggo I would fall in love with you too," Jack tried.

Eidna raised her eyebrow but said nothing. Careful, Jack, he told himself. "I'll gather some wood, shall I?" He wandered away from the camp defeated, eagerly seeking the solitude of the trees. What a foolish thing to have said. If that was the best he could come up with, his cause would be better served by saying nothing at all. And what was that cause, exactly? It's not as if she would ever want someone like you, you backwards fool.

The dark was gathering quickly. He gathered much more wood than they would need and reluctantly made his way back to camp, feeling like a farmhand returning to work after a festival day. Eidna had removed her boots and stockings and was massaging her bare feet. She jumped a bit when he appeared from behind the tree.

"Announce yourself next time, sir!" she demanded jocundly. "I was not decent." She slipped her woolens back on and looked at him expectantly.

Now's your chance, dolt! Jack said to Jack.

He cleared his throat, not wanting to sound croaky. "My apologies for having seen your naked foot, mi'lady," he proclaimed penitantly. He offered her a conciliatory bow. "I had wondered what the smell was, as it carried quite far into the wood."

Eidna's eyes widened. "By the gods! A jest!"

Jack dropped the wood by the fire and set to striking the tinder, exultant at this very small victory. The freshly gathered fuel was soon blazing merrily. Eidna brought two small pork pies from her pack. "I baked them this morning, its why I was late to your cot."

He took the offered pastry and ventured a hesitant bite. It was perhaps the most delicious thing he had ever tasted. One side was filled with meat, potatoes, carrots, onions, and gravy. The other was filled with sweet cream and sugared fruit, which was a welcome surprise after the heartiness of the first half.

"A family recipe," Eidna explained. "I hope you like it."

Jack could do nothing but nod as he chewed, his stomach gratefully accepting the woman's gift. As total night fell he began to feel more comfortable with the situation at hand. Her request to accompany him was contrary to social norms, but to have her company was an undeniable pleasure. Besides, what did he care about social norms?

The moon rose over Elid Peak, driving away all but the brightest stars. The wind out of the valley was sweet and cool, causing the fire to subtly dance. They did not speak much, both of them simply gazing into the fire. Jack leaned against a root and stretched out his legs, retrieving his pipe from one of the pockets of his buffcoat. He took a small brand from the fire and lit the leaf inside, inhaling the vapors contentedly. Lightfoot laid down beside Jack, and the dog's back made for a soft, woolly arm rest.

Eidna was looking at the pipe curiously. "May I have a toke?"

"You smoke leaf?" Jack queried. It was not something he would have expected from a young lady, but he was swiftly learning to expect anything from this beautiful creature who had strayed so suddenly into his life.

"No, but what's the harm in the try?" Eidna returned. She reached out her hand.

Jack passed her the pipe, striving mightily to keep a straight face. She cradled the pipe with two hands and examined it as if unsure of the proper grip. Finally, she grasped the shank and put the stem to mouth, inhaling. She devolved into a fit of coughs immediately, just as Jack knew she would. Lightfoot shot up his head in alarm and padded to her side with concern. Jack laughed. Hard. Harder than he had laughed in years.

Eidna smiled between coughs, her eyes watering, the smoke still curling from her mouth and nostrils. "You, koff, knew that would happen, koff, didn't you!"