Jack Simple

Chapter 4

Eidna was faced away from him, standing knee deep in the water, the moonlight gleaming on her naked skin. Her curves were exquisite. Her golden hair fanned across her back, braided here and there with obvious care. She turned her head and smiled when she saw him. That is when he knew that she had braided it for him. She motioned to him with one delicate hand; inviting, enticing. Three splashing footsteps is all it took to reach her, and he crushed her nakedness in his arms and tasted-

Boom! an explosion echoed through the wood. He jolted from sleep, his heavenly dream torn cruelly away. "What happened!" he shouted, dazed and still half asleep. He looked around. The fire had faded to embers. Eidna and Lightfoot were gone. Jack staggered to his feet, using the trunk of the oak tree as support.

"Eidna! Lightfoot!" he called, his chest pounding. His heart was full of dread, a feeling which was intensified by his dazed confusion. Had bandits come on them? Had the shot he just heard killed Eidna? He reached for where he had left the Dragonhead leaned against the tree trunk the night before. It was gone.

He stumbled around the side of the oak, nearly tripping over one of the roots. She was there, standing frozen a few feet into the wood. Lightfoot was at her side. The Dragonhead lay on the forest floor, smoke rising from the lock and barrel. Both lady and doggo seemed unharmed. He felt relief trickling down into his stomach like warm milk. Anger followed.

"What happened!?" Jack shouted. Eidna jumped and turned around.

"I-I'm sorry. I was just curious about it. I somehow set it off!" she explained, tears in her eyes. She was obviously alarmed. Jack now saw that a nearby pine tree had been cleanly topped by the projectile wad. He nearly shuddered as he contemplated how easily it could have been her head lying severed on the forest floor.

Jack collected the blunderbuss from the ground. "What possessed you to fiddle with something so dangerous!? Do you realize how easily you could have died!?"

"I said I was sorry!" Eidna snapped. "My father always took my brothers hunting. I was never allowed to wield anything more dangerous than a sewing needle!"

Jack sighed. He could not remain angry at her, and curiosity was no sin. "I'm sorry I yelled. You just frightened me, is all."

"It's okay," Eidna said. "I was being foolish. The bloody thing is so powerful it nearly took me to the ground with it."

"You were probably just holding it wrong," Jack explained. "Here, try again." He held the cannon out to her. Eidna hesitantly accepted the heavy weapon, looking nervous. "Don't worry," Jack said. "You have unloaded it."

She held the weapon at the level of her waist, looking at Jack expectantly as she awaited instruction. He positioned himself behind her, one hand next to each of hers on the stock and grip of the blunderbuss. He was standing quite closely behind her, but she did not seem to have an objection. Jack suddenly remembered what he had been dreaming before his jolt. His cheeks warmed. Gods grant that I did not speak in my sleep, Jack prayed, in horror at the possibility.

"You'll want to brace it up high," he said, clearing his throat anxiously. "Like this."

Jack helped her raise the weapon to her shoulder, very carefully controlling his hands so as not to allow them to brush something they should not. How good she smelled. Even after a long walk yesterday and a night spent sleeping on the grass and dirt. It was intoxicating. "Now spread your legs out a jot," he said, clutching the top of her hips. She seemed to start just a bit at his touch, but shuffled her feet apart as he had coached. Careful, Jack.