Chapter 7

"Captain!" A guard from the North Wall shouted again and Gregoire immediately turned around to face the source of the call. "What is it?" Greg shouted across the compound, not wanting to waste his time if something wasn't truly wrong. "Sir, we spotted a boy in the woods." "A boy? Are you sure?" The young captain did not know anything of a boy, unless Quincy, Mrs. Pott's third oldest son, had snuck out again. Sometimes the young boy would come back too late and would get locked out until a guard let him in. "Yes sir, we are pretty sure. The figure was a little shorter than myself and was very slim. What would like us to do Sir?" The large soldier asked and stood rigidly as he awaited his orders. Gregoire sighed in an exasperated manner as he looked out over the wall and ran a hand through his short hair before returning his eyes to the man beside him. "Go out and get him if he hasn't run off already. It might be just a lost traveler looking for a place to stay the night. If so, bring them in and we will house them until morn." "Yes Captain!" The guard saluted his commander and turned to leave but Gregoire called out to him. "And soldier, if it's Quincy, leave him out there. He needs to start listening to his mother. She has enough to worry about with all the rest of her children; she doesn't need to be worrying about him going to the village every other night. Tell the other guards to do the same." "Yes Sir." The young guard replied with a smirk on his face knowing full well what Quincy went to the village for each time.

"Hello! Darius, are you up there?" The skinny boy knocked heavily on the door again before backing away to stare up at the top of the wall. "Darius let me in!" He shouted a little louder than before but no answer came to him. He reached forward to knock on the wood door once more but stopped short when his fist collided with a slightly softer surface. "Trying to feel me up now, aye Quincy? I don't know how many drinks you had tonight, but I bet you're sober enough to tell that I'm not that type of girl." "Darius, you scoundrel!" The boy jumped a bit, surprised that he now had company. "I have not been drinking on this lovely night and I don't have to to know that you are one of the prettiest maidens to ever set foot on the Earth." Quincy let out while putting on his most charming smile. "It's a shame though, that chest of yours is way too muscular to get you any respectable amount of coin or else you could be a real hit down at the tavern." Quincy's brown eyes twinkled with mischief underneath his cinnamon fringe as he openly groped the hard peck underneath his hand. "Oi! You little bootlicker!" Darius's blue eyes went wide and he quickly slapped the young man's hand away. "How dare you consider me a harlot! I'm respectable man!" He faked a mask of outrage but quickly gave into billowing laughter that Quincy soon joined in on.

"Nice to see you mate, it's been too long." Darius clapped Quincy on the back and smiled broadly. "Aye it has, thanks to my mother. She has been trying to keep a close eye on me lately since she has discovered my midnight rendezvouses. She's also given me several of my sibling's chores that are to be done along with my own duties to wear me out and keep me busy. But tonight a miracle was blessed upon me for my mother fell asleep before sundown and I received freedom!" Quincy held up his hand as if holding a mug of beer ready to toast his good fortune. He then noticed his gesture and his bright expression became slightly cloudy before continuing on with his story. "But sadly in my haste to leave these mundane rock walls I forgot my own bag of coin and did not realize it until I had stepped foot in that heavenly place they call a tavern. So tis why I have returned so early with no beer in me belly and no girl in my arms. Would you be as kind and honorable as to aid me on my quest and let me in? I must fetch that purse before all the best maids have been used up." Quincy sauntered past Darius heading for the door when Darius brushed past him and blocked the door with his muscular body. "I'm afraid not my dear friend. Captain has given me specific orders to not let you in. I'm afraid you'll be sleeping with the wolves tonight." The big man leaned back against the door and crossed his arms over his chest making his biceps bulge more than usual. He was not going to go against orders even if it was for a friend.

"Oh come on! What does ole Greg have against me anyways? He's never done this to me before." Quincy practically whined and gave Darius his best pout. "He wants you to listen to your mother and stay home when she tells you. He hates it when anyone disobeys orders, even on the smallest tasks. He's a bit of grump if you ask me but he has good intentions." Darius said since he considered both men good friends despite positions and social ranks. "And he hasn't done it to you before because it's not been a problem but now that we are on high alert we can't have our own people sneaking around the castle. They might be mistaken for someone else and get hurt." He explained as best he could without giving away details. The Captain said to tell no one of Adam's suspicions as to assure that Belle would not find out. "Alright, but couldn't you at least let me run in and get some money? I'll come straight back." Quincy begged even going to extreme measures and kneeling on the ground. "You know how sneaky I can be, I could go right past Greg and he wouldn't even notice!" Quincy exclaimed jumping up from his knees and acting as if he was some sort of spy. "You're as sneaky as an elephant rampaging in a jungle. Now calm down!" Darius shouted and grabbed the slim brunette's shoulders. "I cannot go against Captain's orders and let you in and you know that I won't let you get past me in one piece." Darius gripped his friend firmly before softening. "But I can help you, just this once." The burly man reached into his jacket and pulled out a small bag then handed it to the servant boy. "You sure are compassionate for a guard, ha!" "Only use as much as you need for a night's stay at the tavern, no accommodations! If you use more than that I'll make sure that your mother is informed of your "freedom" tonight." Darius's threat got Quincy's attention making his expression sober. "Alright, I promise I won't use any more than absolutely needed. And seeing as I'm not welcome here I'd like to be on my way." Quincy turned his back on the guard and took a few slow steps toward the dark dirt road when he was called back. "Quince!" "What?!" He turned on his heels and waited for a response. "Have fun!" Darius shouted and mockery was evident in his voice as he gave a small wave. Quincy scowled at his friend and turned around again to go on his less than merry way.