Chapter 17

The sound of rustling awakens me in the morning and I open my eyes slowly, blinking the sleep away. Pale light shines through the tent's doorway and careless voices sound from outside as men prepare for our departure. In in only few short hours we'll arrive at the encampment. Looking to my left I see that Claire struggles to get dressed underneath my blanket back into her damp dress from the day before.

"Would you like me to grab something dry for you?" I ask in a voice thick with sleep.

She jumps, unaware that I had awakened and looks over at me before giving me a nod. "I would appreciate that thank you."

Yawning, I climb out from under my blanket and realize that I'm still in my skivvy's. Not wanting to have to deal with the cold dampness of my trousers I decide to risk the walk to our clothes outside. Stepping out, I earn a few whistles as my bare feet walk on the dew covered grass to where our clothing was left hanging on a limb.

Not putting too much thought into what I wear, I retrieve the first shirt and pair of trousers that is closest to me and finally a pair of socks. Turning to Claire's few dresses that are displayed, I decided to go with her hunter green dress that compliments her hair. "If she doesn't like it she can change," I tell myself with a shrug.

Glancing to my left I see that Sven is standing with his hands on his hips while Nik struggles to dig into his medicine bag. Walking over to them I can hear that the two are arguing. "I told you not to poke it! It's sore," Sven chasatises.

"I have to! How else are we going to know if it's infected," Nik retorts.

Sven crosses his arms over his chest and winces at his discomfort before muttering, "You hit your head so hard you can't listen to simple instructions?" which Nik then shoots him a scowl.

I offer a nod. "Morning," I greet with a yawn. "How are you two holding up?" I ask, my gaze focusing on Sven's forearm. It's rather angry and pus slowly oozes out causing my nose to wrinkle. "That looks infected."

Sven frowns, "It didn't look this bad until he decided to prod me like a cow."

Nik ignores his comment and finally finds a small jar of ointment he's been searching for. "I'm done playing nurse. Here," he says, passing the concoction to Sven.

"How's your head?" I ask amused. He tilts his head down and pushes back his hair allowing me to examine the small cut. The swelling has gone down and the small cut appears to have stopped bleeding. "Seems like you'll be alright. How do you feel?"

Nik shrugs a shoulder and bends down to retrieve his bag before tossing it over his bare shoulder. "I've got a headache from hell but I'll manage." We chat for a few more moments before I remember that I'm still in my underwear and that Claire is waiting for me in the tent. Saying goodbye, I head back and clear my throat before sticking the dress through the tent flap so she can get dressed in private.

"Thank you," her soft voice says as she takes the dress from me. Standing outside, I wait and take in the morning. The sun's morning glow paints the sky in a beautiful pale pink and birds chirp in the distance. The majority of my men are up, slowly getting ready for the day's ride. The nuns stand in their own group chatting save for Beth Ann, who sticks by my brother and watches Rory break down his tent.

I'm still not quite sure how I feel on the subject of those two, but any negative thoughts are bottled away for the time being.

Gale and Warren sharpen their swords by the dying embers of last night's fire and laugh lightly amongst themselves which is welcomed given that the two didn't get along so well a year ago.

"All done," Claire says as she steps out beside me. "I'm never taking dry clothing for granted again."

Grinning, I tilt my head in the direction of the other women. "You can join them if you'd like. I'm going to change and load our things on the horse and we'll head out."

Her lips open as if she is going to say something but snaps her mouth shut and nods before walking towards the nuns.

I quickly get dressed, slipping into a thin blue shirt and my trousers before wiggling my socks on and lacing up my boots. It's customary for us to arrive back at the encampment in full armor—especially since we are in enemy territory—but with these temperatures we'd all collapse with a heat stroke before we made it halfway.

Once I'm finished, I roll up our bedding and make multiple trips to my horse as I first saddle her up then attach our belongings to her before finally breaking down the tent and slipping it in place by my saddlebag. She gives a nicker and of protest and I offer her a pat.

"I know you're thirsty girl, we'll stop at the first river I see. Promise," I say before leaning forward and planting a kiss on her muscular neck. I then make my way to the others and clear my throat, gaining their attention.

"We've got about a four hour ride ahead of us before we reach base. When we get there I want those with injuries to immediately report to the medical tent," I say, glancing at Sven and Nik. "Eat and drink your fill tonight but in the morning I want you to remember why we are here in the first place." I say. "Now, before we head out, I want to personally thank you for accompany me and Rory back to Paevia to see our father—I know it might not have been an easy journey but both your presence and friendship is appreciated. That being said, I also want to thank you for taking the extra care to protect our new companions and for making that their needs were met before your own," I finish. They nod and some give a whistle while Beth Ann reaches up on her tiptoes and kisses Rory on the cheek.

"Ladies," I say, now addressing them only. "I'm sorry if we have failed you in any way or caused the others to disband, it was never my intentions for that to happen. When the war is over I'll make sure that you all are joined once again. That being said, when we get to our military base, you must remember that it's exactly that: a military base. I apologize in advance if it doesn't meet your standards, but we have to make do with what we have. Everyone is served three meals a day—two when rations are low. If anyone bothers you while you're under my care, let me or any of the men here know and we'll handle it. I don't think that there will be any trouble, but still. Any questions?"

They give a nod and with no questions to be asked, we mount up one final time. Putting my boot in my stirrup, I hoist myself into my saddle and offer Claire a hand, pulling her up to sit behind me. "Comfortable?" I ask, looking behind me. She offers a smile and a nod before snaking her arms around my waist. I'll admit, I enjoy the feeling. But it's then I realize that this will be the last time that she and I will share this closeness. Upon our arrival at camp, there will be no reason to share a tent or a horse or share stolen moments in the woods where I teach her how to use snares. Perhaps if I was smarter I would have appreciated our time together more.

Clicking my teeth, I push those thoughts from my head and we continue south on the muddy road. We pass by trees whose limbs are encumbered by Spanish moss then a large grassy field before arriving at a wide shallow river. Knowing we need to water the horses, I tug on the reigns and lead the caravan to a halt. "If you need to relieve yourself now is the time to do it," I say, standing up before hopping down, my boots earning an audible thud. I turn to her to offer aid.

Claire looks around and frowns. "There's not much for privacy here," she says, noting the vast grassy plain. She then reaches for me and I place my hands on her small waist as she finds a grip on my shoulders. With ease, I help her down and make sure she's steady before letting go.

Smirking, I grab my horse by the bridle and lead her to the still waters as Claire follows. "You should know by now that my men aren't vagrants. They won't look," I promise.

She thinks it over, her full lips pressed together before nodding. "Alright," she says and trots off to the other women before a group of them heads out in the distance.

Letting my mare drink her fill I walk over to where some of the men have convened and relieve myself as well. Their excitement is noticeable as their chatter fills the air but I can't say I share their enthusiasm. Warren notices and he walks over to me as I turn to head back to my horse.

"You alright Tom?" he asks, handing me his flask he has since filled with water.

I take it and pop the cork before giving my head a shake. "Just thinking of what's to come. The war efforts, my father," I pause before glancing in the direction that Claire walked off before remembering my own promise. "The usual," I finish, squinting as the sun's unforgiving rays find my gaze. I then take two gulps of his water before handing it back to him and he too takes a swig.

Popping the cork back into place, he places a reassuring hand on my shoulder. "All will be well in due time," he tells me with a half-smile. I return it when I notice that Rory is making his way towards us and it falters. Not in the mood to speak to him, I turn and head to my horse ready to finish out our ride. Placing my boot in the stirrup, I hoist myself up and look down to see Rory standing by, his arms folded across his chest with a look of concern on his face.

"Avoiding me are we?" he says in his husky voice. Water drips from his hair and falls onto his shoulders and I can only assume he made a quick attempt to clean up—most likely for Beth Ann's sake.

Letting out a slow exhale, I shrug a single shoulder and grip the leather straps of my reins. "I wouldn't say that. Just not up for conversations today," I tell him truthfully.

He gives a snort of annoyance and turns before walking off.

I wait atop my horse for another five or ten minutes while everyone finishes up. The cool air from yesterday seems to have slowly been replaced with the south's usual humidity. Beads of sweat collect at my temples and I wipe them away with the crook of my elbow. Eventually everyone returns to their horses and I see Claire is walking in my direction, a hint of a smile on her face as if she is trying to hide it. As she nears, I hold out my hand to her offering assistance.

"What's so funny?" I ask as she accepts my help. In one quick motion I scoop her up and place her behind me, adjusting my body so that the two of us fit.

"Beth Ann and Darla were being rather comical," she answers, scooting closer to me. I can feel her breasts on my back and I can't help but wonder if she does this on purpose. Clicking my teeth, we lurch forward and she snakes her small arms around my waist until we are galloping through the vast field. The wind feels cool against my face and in the distance I hear someone give a whoop of glee. Grinning, I see from the corner of my eye Gale, Sven, and Max racing. It's probably not the best idea given Sven's arm, but I'm not his mother.

"What did they say?" I call back to Claire who is now gripping me tightly.

"Women's business!" she shouts back and gives a shriek of laughter as I press forward. We continue this for a few more minutes until our horses grow tired and we slow to a canter to cross the rest of the field until we are once again forced into the woods that loom on the other side.

Slowing our pace, we find the worn path and I begin to lead us through our final obstacle. Once we clear these woods, the encampment is just on the other side—quite literally. When we made camp, Warren thought it would be best to include the natural barrier of the pines as it offered shade and protection. About half sits in the forest's outskirts while the rest is in the beginning of another open field, the one where the war will most likely take place. Lugos and his men are camped on the opposite side about a half mile into a separate thicket of woods made up of large oaks.

My mare gives a huff as she catches her breath and I lean forward, patting her on her shoulder. "Almost there girl," I tell her. "I see lots of carrots in your near future." She gives a nicker as if she understands me and Claire and I both chuckle.

"Women's business, huh?" I state looking back, curious of what was said amongst the nuns. "Meaning...?"

Claire's pale face flushes and her eyes dart into the sparse forest as if searching for anything but the correct answer to give. "Uh..." she trails, "Well...Darla made a joke about how hard it is traveling with a bunch of men," she says, her eyes finding mine once again.

Smirking, I face forward and give my head a shake. "As true as that may be, I'm almost certain that is not what you women were laughing about."

"Is too," Claire immediately protests. "It was funny. She compared it to a..." she pauses, trying to think of something. "I can't remember what she compared it to."

"You're a terrible liar Claire," I counter, "A frog could fart and it would be more believable than you." I then turn around to see her reaction and laugh when her face twists into a scowl.

Pursing her lips, she folds her arms across her chest and they rest against my back given her close proximity. "I don't lie very often so blame it on lack of practice," she retorts.

I face forward again. "Oh right right. It's a sin and all," I say. "Even such small ones like that? Tsk tsk," I say, shaking my head in disapproval. I know that I'm probably annoying her right now but I can't help myself but to try and get under her skin. It's comical to watch her squirm.

She lets out a huff. "Sin is sin—neither weighs more than the other. I thought we went over that once or have you forgotten? Perhaps the ale you drank later that evening affected your memory," she pouts. It's adorable, really and I chuckle.

"Possibly," I agree. "Ale is tasty, what can I say."

"Hmph," she huffs, though I get the feeling that she is more playful than angry with me at the moment. Deciding to test my theory, I press on.

"I'll ask one final time and I'll drop it. I truly am curious," I say. When she doesn't budge, I add, "If you don't tell me I know someone who will." This of course is a lie, but it seems to do the trick.

"Fine," she says curtly. "We shared who we thought was the most handsome. Happy?"

This catches me by surprise and I must say I'm intrigued. "Oh?"

"Mhm," she says, shifting in the saddle.

A branch that hangs low overhead sways slightly and I push it out of the way. "Well you can't just say that and not share with me who you all said."

Claire gives a soft laugh. "Gossip is a sin, Thomas," she says, shrugging.

Now it's my turn to let out a huff of air in annoyance which causes her to laugh one again. "Oh please that's a cop out and you know it," I say.

"I'll tell you but you have to tell me something in return," she bribes.

Thinking this over, I give a nod as the path curves to the right. "Deal."

"Well," she begins, "Beth Ann of course said your brother—Rory. Darla said Warren was handsome as well. Margot and Sarah both said Gale and found him to be quite dreamy," she says, going down the list of nuns. As she does, I wait to hear her answer but it never comes. When she lists the final woman's name and her response, I frown.

"Can't help but notice you left yourself out. What of you?" I ask, cocking an eyebrow. "Or do you all find us hideous creatures?" I tease, pushing another low hanging branch. When she doesn't immediately answer I feign like I'm hurt. "Ouch Claire. You could of made something up rather than admit that you think we're unsightly."

She gives a small snicker. "None of you are unattractive and I think you know it."

"So who then?" I inquire, hoping my suspicions are correct.

"I think you know that too," she says softly.

Smirking, I shrug. "Perhaps. But I still want to hear you say it."

There is a few seconds of silence as she musters up her courage before admitting, "You. I may be a woman of God but I do have eyes."

Grinning, I turn back to face her and shoot her a wink. "That wasn't so hard was it?" Playfully she shoves me forward and I give a low laugh. "If it makes you feel any better, I find you to be quite a beauty as well, but you already know that," I say, mimicking her from before.

"I do, but I still like to hear you say it," she counters.

For the next hour I we talk about anything and everything, from the cat the runs about in the kingdom back home to the rooster they once had at the nunnery that would attack them daily. They had to go outside with a broomstick just to collect the hen's eggs until one day a coyote got ahold of the rooster, ending their comical terror. I tell recount funny tales of myself, my brothers, and Warren in our school days and how it was unusual for a day to pass where we weren't chastised for our antics.

When the distant sound of a blacksmith's hammer comes within ear shot I know that in moments we will arrive at the encampment. My men—who were singing bawdy tavern songs—are met with those at camp joining along, their deep voices echoing throughout the thin woods. A low horn is sounded, signaling to the others of our arrival.

As we draw near, I'm able to make out our makeshift wooden gates and see two guardsmen are already putting in effort to open the heavy doors. Looking back at Claire, I see her face carries worry and I give her a nod of reassurance. "It'll be fine love."

Gleeful shouts of "They're back!" "The prince is back!" and "They've returned!" fills the air as I give a wave to the guardsmen as I pass through.

He bows, grinning from ear to ear. "It's good to see you, Prince Thomas. You've been missed."

I return his greeting and take in our encampment, satisfied that everything seems to be as I left it. Semi-permanent buildings made of large canvas's that house a makeshift kitchen where smoke billows out as James prepares tonight's meal, a black smith, hospital, and a gathering area for medical purposes. Stables crafted of chopped down pine house the horses and I lead us in that direction. Tents of identical shapes but different shapes are pitched all around with small fires of their own scattered here and there. Further back towards the end of the encampment is a mirrored layout.

Soldiers wave while others watch in silence as we dismount, curious looks on their faces as they notice the women. Lawrence—one of the stable hands—steps out with a shovel in hand and grins. "I was wondering when you'd return."

Hopping down, I hand him the reins of my horse and assist Claire down. "Had some unexpected trouble along the way," I answer. Turning towards Claire, I nod to James with my head. "This is Claire, she was part of a church that was ravaged but bandits. They are our guests and will be with us until the end of the war and are not here as courtesans. Try to spread that around if you can, yeah?"

James glances at Claire and nods. "Yes, your grace."

I clap him on the back and wave a scared but welcomed face over as the rest of my men begin to dismount and turn their horses over to James.

"You dog," the older man says before pulling me in for a quick hug. He smells of sweat and leather and I pull away. "I thought you'd stay in Paevia and soak up all the mead you could before returning to us."

Chuckling, I shake my head. "It's good to see you, Morgan. Still as ugly as ever," I say with a smirk. Morgan falls into a fit of laughter and playfully punches my bicep. Morgan was one of the men that trained me growing up when it comes to swordplay. Other than what I've picked up on the battle field I owe to him. He's one of my oldest soldiers—in his late fifties—but still as strong as an ox. With thinning black hair that is now turning grey and a hardened face you wouldn't think much of him at a first glance, but he is skilled beyond measure and could probably take any of my men here.

A jagged scar stretches from his temple, around his eye, and carries down to his upper lip, leaving him with a face only his mother could love. But when women hear that he got it while hunting down a bear they don't seem to mind.

"Who's this fine lass?" Morgan asks, raking over her body with lustful eyes. I see Claire's face flush and she folds her arms over her chest in attempt to conceal herself.

Automatically I pull her in closer to me by the waist and release her. "Her name is Claire and she's off limits," I say. "We came across a group of nuns that needed aid, so they will be with us until we can take them back to a new monastery."

Morgan's eyes turn serious and he nods his head, "I see. I apologize Thomas, I thought she was...never mind."

Offering a smile, I wave him off. "Don't be. That being said, I was hoping you could show the women to the few extra tents we have set up and be their official escort if need be?"

Morgan grins, "I would be honored."

Turning to Claire, I place a hand in mine and cup it with the other. "You have my word that you'll be safe here. Morgan is a good man and he'll get you anything you need when I'm not available. I've got a few matters I need to tend to first but I'll find you for dinner."

She gives me an uneasy nod. "Okay."

Looking back to Morgan, I give him an appreciative bow of my head. "Send word that I need you and the other officers to meet me in twenty minutes," I command. He gives me a nod and turns, leading Claire and the other women to their tents. I watch for a few moments as he gestures to points of interest showing the women around but turning on my heel and make my way to where we gather to go over the upcoming—and hopefully final—battle.