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I basically flew off the back of the horse to open the iron gate that
was wedged between two large stones.
    Vivian
smiled as I helped her off the horse. The petite gal weighed a lot less without
her armor but she was still a solid little thing. I just couldn’t understand
where she was hiding all her weight.
    Her
bright teeth gleamed as her mouth widened further when we stepped onto the
yard. She seemed to be a good liar about everything. If I didn’t know any
better I would think she actually wanted to be in my home.
    “What
a lovely garden!” Vivian gazed at the vast vegetable and flower garden to the
left of the property then almost ran to the front door. “What a great home.”
    The
cottage was small, but the property was mine. Well, at least, father had
allowed me to have it. He said it was my payment for service. As that was
basically all he offered; I greedily took it and cared for it as it was really
my land. I had built the cottage with the help of some neighbors. They had
grumbled the entire time about how they hated my father. Then after the house
was finished, they disappeared one night. They hadn’t said goodbye and I had
never heard from them since.
    When
we arrived inside, I saw that Jadorion had put a pottage on the fire. He knew I
would be hungry but too tired to cook a supper. He was proving that he would be
a great squire, just as Brendan had said. I missed Brendan again and stared at
Vivian with disdain.
    “Why
art thou glaring at me in such a way, Sir?” Vivian removed her cloak and laid
it across my small pine dining table. I noticed the book she had tried to
conceal at the tent was tucked under her dress behind her back. The book was
small, but it still left an unsightly bump across her lower back.
    “Since
I’m the captor I’ll bid the questions, m’lady.” I reached for the book. Her
small hand swiped at me quick enough that I barely saw it. Pain exploded
through my hand, causing me to retreat. Three thin lines of blood oozed from
the thick skin where she had ferociously scratched me. “Ouch!”
    “Pardon
me, sir. Ye startled me. I assume ye were reaching for my journal and I’m not
inclined to let ye read it. That’s a very private book that I allow no one to
handle.” Vivian had stepped away from me and walked across the wooden floor
toward the large stone fireplace. She grabbed a piece of cloth and handed it to
me for my hand then reached for a ladle and stirred the soup. “Who put on this
stew?”
    “I
saw Jadorion when I went to get the horse. I asked him to light the fire but he
went the extra-mile. So, ye write in a journal that ye won’t share; that is
fair. But who is Mr. Hat and why was it so important for ye to get a message to
him?” I washed my hand in a well I had installed in the kitchen then retrieved
two tin bowls from a shelf. I handed them to Vivian who served the soup. She
returned the steaming bowls to me and I placed them on the table.
    “Well,
Sir Tristen, that is private business as well. However, since ye were kind
enough to take me to my camp I’ll say that Mr. Hat made an offer I can’t
refuse.” Before sitting to our food, Vivian moved her cloak from the table to
her chair. I removed my armor. We both sat and she grabbed my hands; startling
me. “Thou will say grace?” Her glossy eyes traced every inch of my face.
    “Of
course!” I didn’t hesitate in thanking God for the strangely sad day and for
company in my home. I remembered to tell him that we didn’t know his will but
we followed anyway. Vivian clasped my hands tightly, causing the scratches to
hurt me. I closed the prayer and yanked my hands away from her. “Goodness
woman! Please be careful with my pain and suffering!”
    “Pardon
me, sir. I forgot.” Vivian shook her lovely head, looked to the ground and
slowly sipped her soup. I realized I didn’t offer spoons and then I was
embarrassed for being a rude host. It was odd she didn’t even seem fazed by any
of it; just used her