There were about eighty of the Comte’s men on top of roughly the same number of the villagers. I couldn’t count all of the Treedwellers, who called themselves Barkskins, but I was sure there were more than a hundred. And I only had three dozen fish. There was no other option but to make soup; at least everyone would have a bowl of fish-tasting liquid. Hopefully, with some vegetables thrown in. The women from the village were having a heated discussion with their Barkskin counterparts regarding what else to toss into the gigantic pot that was boiling in the middle of the large clearing. I hung around and listened to various ideas flying around between the women. I was genuinely interested and had already picked up some useful hints and ideas that I could try the next time I make fish soup.

Anna was milling about, slightly annoyed. The sun had gone down, and it was fast approaching her usual bed-time. Although she had already had some fruits and jerkies, she wanted to have the fish soup, too, before going to bed, but the soup was taking too long for her patience. Anna wasn’t pleased with the bedding arrangement either. Shortly after we had returned from my Slinky, she realized I hadn’t brought our tent and bedrolls.

“She can sleep with me in my hut,” Marion had offered, which I accepted. Anna was terrified of this woman, what with the unpleasant experience she had had earlier today. She insisted that I, too, sleep INSIDE the hut with her just in case Marion was planning to do some other horrendous things to her bottom.

After much fussing and pacing about, Anna ran out of steam. She sat down cross-legged on the mossy ground, close to the pot, and silently watched the logs burn. Her cheeks were rosy pink from the heat, and her lips slightly ajar. She sat there, absent-mindedly toying with a patch of moss, until I told her to go sit somewhere else because she was getting in the way of people and Treedwellers, who were preparing the communal meal. Lips pouting, Anna stomped away to the edge of the clearing and sat down there. I became worried the warmth from the fire wouldn’t reach that far. I borrowed some blanket from the Barkskins and approached Anna, who was, as I had suspected, shivering from the chill air.

‘Sit with me for a while,’ she pulled me down next to her as I put the blanket around her.

We sat there silently watching the scene in front of us. The air above the massive pot in the center of the clearing was wobbling, and soon enough steam started to rise. Across the circular clearing was the Comte and his entourage, engaged in some discussion with the villagers and the elders of the Barkskins. Marion was there, too, and it seemed both the villagers and the Treedwellers had entrusted her to speak on their behalf. I noticed Sieur Henry among the group. I could not hear what he was saying, but clearly, he was actively participating in the discussion. I was impressed with how well he integrated himself into the Comte’s men in mere days.

“It’s going to be like this from now on,” I nudged Anna. She rested her small head on my shoulder and motioned for me to elaborate.

“It was just you and me when we left the manor. But from now on…” I could not think of a proper way to finish the sentence. I myself couldn’t exactly put my thoughts into words. It must have been the appreciation of the reality; we were two little country bumpkins out in the big world. A world that was too big and too complicated.

Anna did not say anything, but I felt she understood what I was trying to say. That feeling alone was reassuring. After all, she and I were literally born for each other.

The soup was ready. A Treedweller brought us two clay bowls with wooden spoons. It was a bit comical how the tall figure walked so carefully, trying not to spill the hot contents. The soup was good, with onions and potatoes and some herb that was unknown to me thrown in. Once finished, I studied the etching inside the clay bowl. It was a repeating pattern of some leaves, elaborately etched onto the clay surface before fired in the kiln. The spoon was also a good solid piece of woodwork.

Belly full, Anna was dozing off, her eyes half-closed and the head rolling off from my shoulder occasionally. I was wondering how I would bring her up to Marion’s hut on the tree.

“Hey, don’t fall asleep now. I can’t carry you up,” I was saying when Sieur Henry walked across the clearing and came to a stop in front of us. He paused for a moment and studied us with amused eyes. I quickly brushed off Anna’s head from my shoulder and moved away from her, putting a little distance between us. I had to reach out and grab her to prop her upright.

“Never mind, lad. By now, everyone knows you two are close,” Henry winked.

“We are indeed close, my good Sieur, but not in that way.”

“As you say. I wish to ask Her Ladyship of her plan, but…”

I shook Anna’s shoulder, and she jerked her eyes open, now awake. She shot me an annoyed look, which quickly went away upon realizing the Sieur was before us.

According to Henry, the villagers had decided they would like to stay with the Treedwellers for now. There was nowhere for them to go; their village burnt down, their fathers and husbands dead. A group of homeless women and children and old men aimlessly roaming around the land that had lost its Seigneur would not end well. Apparently, to my amusement, Comte d’Armas had offered the villagers refuge in OUR Roseland.

‘I would have offered so anyway,’ said Anna, not minding it at all.

“I am afraid,” the Sieur looked sad, “the villagers have more faith in the Treedwellers than in fellow people. Although I understand their sentiment, it is truly regrettable that our kingdom has come to such a state.”

“The Sieur wished to ask Lady Anna of her plan?” I tried to change the topic seeing how the whole thing was making this man depressed. He gave me a quick look of appreciation.

“Yes, indeed. My Lady, the Comte, satisfied that the folks are in safe hands, has decided His Lordship would deliver the much-deserved justice to Baron Hugo. I wish to know what Your Ladyship intends to do.”

Anna and I exchanged glances. Sieur Henry looked eager, which told us he wanted to go with the Comte. We were puzzled. Was he inviting Anna?

“In case you have forgotten,” Henry noticed our confusion and smiled, “even though I walk around freely, I still am a prisoner of the young lady.”

‘Will there be more fighting?’ asked Anna.

“If the Baron still has an army left in Bourg, then yes.”

‘Then we go,’ Anna announced without any hesitation. Borrowing my voice, of course.

Henry bowed swiftly and bid us a good night. We were leaving the forest in the morning.

###

From across the clearing, I had noticed Marion arguing with her grandfather, their voices rising. After a while, She stomped to us in frustration.

“Your young lady is half asleep. Let’s bring her up to my hut.”

Marion went away and came back with extra sets of blankets and pillows for us. Probably borrowed from neighbors. As soon as Anna lied down, she fell sound asleep.

“Would you step outside for a moment? I need to renew the treatment on her…,” opening a jar filled with a gooey substance, Marion nodded at the general direction of Anna’s lower half. I quickly stepped outside as she got down and inserted her hands underneath the blanket. Standing outside of the hut on the massive tree branch, I blushed, hearing the rustling sound of Anna’s trousers being pulled down. This felt so wrong.

The night had come surprisingly early here in the forest, and the air was chilly. I shivered and shuffled on my feet, waiting for Marion to be done with applying her ointment on my Anna. When she called out to me, I rushed in and slid myself under the blanket.

“It has become cold in the night, hasn’t it?” whispered Marion, “soon, the winter will come.”

I turned to my side and looked up. Marion had her back on me, half crouched. She was packing, gathering things from her already bare huts, and stuffing them into a large travel sack.

“Are you going somewhere?”

“I’m going with you lot.”

She turned her head and met my baffled eyes. Or rather, I imagined her eyes behind the blindfold met mine.

“Get some sleep. And stop staring at my arse.”

With that, she got back to packing. I turned around and closed my eyes, trying to fall asleep.

Which was very difficult because later in the night Marion’s papi came and they started arguing again. It got so heated they were practically screaming at each other in whispers. I kept my eyes shut and pretended to be sleeping. Although I could not understand a single word they were saying, I kinda figured out what the argument was about. Papi didn’t want his precious granddaughter to go.

I pretended to turn in my sleep, and that made them quiet down for a few seconds. Only for a few seconds. I opened my eyes ever so slightly and saw, from time to time, Marion and the Treedweller pointing their fingers at me while they continued to argue. The two hushed up again when Anna turned in her sleep. I quickly shut my eyes just in time as their heads turned our way. Oh, Anna, you goddamned- I could sense Anna rolling out of her blanket and into me. She pushed my hands away and curled up in my chest, burying her head slightly below my neck, blowing hot breath, which tickled. The smell of her unwashed hair was a bit too much, and I made a mental note to do something about it in the coming days. I heard Marion gasp and immediately felt a blanket thrown over us. Her grandfather let out a couple of embarrassed ‘Ahem’s. Oh, no, don’t tell me… I slowly moved my hand under the blanket and felt the smooth skin of Anna’s bare legs. Marion, obviously, didn’t put the trousers back on after she had her way with Anna’s bottom. ‘My, my. This isn’t going to look good in the morning,” I thought.