Chapter 3.3

With the introduction of Elise, things start to spice up -- but it takes Gerard a bit to get the message.

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Morning intruded on my eyes like an unwelcome guest. The soldiers were already awake and active, polishing their weapons and oiling their leather armor. I rolled over and pulled the blanket over my head.

The door creaked open. "Mornin’," I heard a woman say.

"Morning," chorused the soldiers. Ison added, "Is that breakfast?"

"Aye."

I peeked out to see the serving maid from the night before, with a wooden tray in her hands.

"Ay’ve got bread and sausages, all stolen from his lordship’s table. An’ a couple of pies."

Charles took the tray, which held a small feast for the four of us. He sampled a sausage. "Good."

"The best a’ my hands." She looked at me. "And Ay’m willing to give you anything you want."

I pulled the covers back over my head.

Ison then whistled, and I peeked back out to see that the maid had lifted her skirts to step over the pieces scattered across the floor. She bent over the bed, drew the covers down to my waist, and whispered loudly, "Anythin’."

Ison whistled again, and Charles widened his eyes.

"Don’t you want to see what I have for you in my skirt?"

I swallowed. Hard.

She drew out a piece of slate from her apron, and a hunk of chalk. She marked a word on it, then showed it to me. "See? I’ve learned to write my name."

Elise, it read. I took the slate from her hands and wrote, Gerard.

She puzzled over it long enough that I realized that I would not be writing her any notes. Finally
Charles looked over her shoulder, mouthed the word, then said, "That’s his name. Gerard."

She smiled at me. "Ah, you understand. Now, if you want anything..."

I took the slate from her hands and drew a rough sketch of a washbasin and a towel.

"That’s all you want?"

I nodded, then wished I hadn’t. Too much wine the night before.

"As ye wish, my good Gerard." She smiled regretfully. "I’ll bring some hot water straightaway."
After she left, Ison sat down on the edge of the bed. "Forgive my forwardness, you being my master and all, but ah see ye’ve been with the Silent Monks too long. That thar’s a woman, and women are for, well – ah’ll see to it that you have a time and a place tonight."

I growled at him.

He winked back, knowing full well I could not command him to stop.