About Lutes and Dresses.

"I can't believe King Ferris is your brother, Halt, I can't believe it."

It wasn't the first time Horace said that, but Alexis nodded again anyway. Her mind had been occupied by the same surprise, the same puzzled feeling. Will rolled his eyes, he wasn't that impressed of riding next to a member of Hibernia's Royal house.

"Yes. I got the message." Halt sounded annoyed, a warning that both Will and Alexis immediately heard and recognized. But Horace, well Horace seemed to miss it completely.

"You have to admit it had to be a big surprise for us, Halt. From everyone in the world, you'd be the last person I'd suspect to be a… well, royal? Yes, that's it. Royal." Horace looked quite pleased with his explanation.

Halt looked towards Horace, angry. Alexis held back Wolfie, a bit afraid of Halts reaction.

"Is it?" Halt asked, "So I don't act royal, do I? Am I a bit too common for you?"

Will turned his head to hide his smile and Alexis was staring at the young knight and her mentor with her mouth wide open.

Horace could tell he offended Halt in some way, but he didn't know how or with what. So obviously, he tried to save himself: "It's just, I think you… you don't really have a…" He hesitated.

"A royal haircut." Will saved him.

Alexis bit her lip not to chuckle.

Halts angry look pointed at Will: "My, haircut."

It wasn't a question. More a determination.

Will nodded wildly: "Yes, your haircut. Most royal people have, let's say, a certain style. One that is neat and accepted, you know, for public appearances and such."

Halt raised an eyebrow: "So you don't like my hair?"

Alexis joined in: "Don't listen to them Halt, I love your hair."

"O yes!" Will agreed, "I think your hair is truly sublime! The only problem is that it might be a bit casual, you know, for the Kings brother. It's not, how shall I say…"

He turned around in his saddle, studying Halts wild hair, pretending not to see the angry look on Halt's face, he thought up a word that fit what he was trying to explain: "refined."

Will nodded, that was the word he was looking for.

Horace, who had followed the discussion (happy that he wasn't involved) couldn't hold himself back anymore: "Yes Halt! That's it! Your haircut isn't refined enough, Kings and Queens should be refined!"

Alexis was still listening, mouth wide open with shock, when Halt turned to her: "Do you think I'm not refined enough?"

Alexis swallowed: "I am not going to grant that question with an answer."

Halt shrugged: "Okay, so I'm not refined enough. But what about King Duncan? Is he that refined?"
Halt kept using the word 'refined' on purpose and he said it like he was cursing someone.

Horace nodded: "O yes! King Duncan can be very refined! When he goes to parties and such, I mean, look at all his flowery jackets! Don't you think so, guys?"

Will said: "Yes, exactly! Very!" and Alexis just kept her mouth shut.

Halt was quiet for a while but then said: "Horace, do you remember a period of time we spent in the refined company of Lord Deparnieux?"

Horace swallowed, of course he did, of course he remembered the heartless warlord.
"Yes, of course I remember."

"Remember how we challenged him? Didn't I tell him I was a member of the Hibernian Royal house?"

Horace started to panic: "Yes, I do remember."

"Well, did you think I was lying about it? Do you?"

Horace fell quiet. For about half a minute, it was just the hooves of the horses clattering on the road.

"Is that a motley hawk?" asked Will, trying to push the conversation in another direction.

"No, it's not," said Halt, without even looking, "and if it is one I don't really care. So?" He asked Horace again, "Did you think I was lying or not?"

Horace scraped his throat and said: "Yes, I did."

Without warning, Halt brought Abelard to a full stop. Alexis, who was riding behind him didn't see it coming and Wolfie bumped against the bigger, dark brown horse before being able to stop himself.

The two boys stopped their horses too and turned, so that they had to face Halt.
Halt looked towards Horace, with a look on his face that said: 'you have hurt my feelings'.

"So you thought I was lying?" Halt said dramatically, "That hurts, Horace, that hurts dear boy. Please tell me, my sickly sweet little knight, have you ever caught me telling a lie?"

It was quiet for a while again and Halts dramatic you-hurt-my-feelings face was slowly changing into a big grin.

"Remember those girls?" Horace asked all of a sudden.

"Girls? What girls?" Halt raised an eyebrow.

"Those girls in the harbour, when we arrived in Gallica. They had very short skirts."

Halt nodded slowly: "I do recall, yes,"

"Well, you told me those skirts were that short so they could run very fast."

Both Will and Alexis almost fell off their horses with laughter: "You did?" uttered Will.

"You believed that?" cried Alexis.

"I might have," Said Halt.

"And I did believe him!" Horace was playing the victim now instead of Halt.

"O god no Horace!" cried Will, "You really believed him?"

Horace nodded: "Yes, because Halt is a Ranger and Rangers never lie. Rangers always tell the truth, isn't it, Halt?"

Alexis chuckled.

"It was for your own good." Halt said grumpy, and he spurred Abelard into a trot.

As soon as Halt was out of hearing range, Horace grinned: "See, there I had the old fox! This time I won!" and he spurred Kicker away, following Halt.

That left Will and Alexis, who were staring at each other with their mouth wide open: "I thought Horace was so naïve." Will said.

"I don't think anyone has been able to get to Halt like that." Alexis mumbled.

...

Within five days, the five travellers had arrived in Clonmel. Passing Selsey again, it took Halt quite some persuasion to convince the mayor of the city to lend them a boat to the island.

But, well, it was Halt that was talking, so Alexis didn't really worry about their ride.

They were riding down a road to the west, Halt decided it would be best to ride for Craikennis, to seek a bed for the night, but the road was long and the farms at the side of the roads empty and abandoned. The farms that weren't abandoned, were closed off, almost literally sealed. Every time they rode past a farm like that, someone would come out holding a weapon, a sword, a spear, sometimes just a pitchfork or a broom.

Halt ignored the small towns and farms they passed, but in the early morning of the second day, following the river (that had no name, according to Halt), they came upon a small town.

The entrance was build shut with wooden boards, tables, and other big pieces of furniture to close the holes with.

"Jeez, they aren't really fond of visitors in Clonmel, are they Halt?" Horace softly pulled Kickers reins and forced the big steed to stop.

They saw one man with a large, iron helmet and a big spear.

"That's not looking very friendly," Alexis noted.

Will chuckled: "Maybe he'll roast a pig for us on there."

Horace moaned: "I could eat two pigs."

"Yes, yes you could," Halt and Alexis said simultaneously.

"Hey! You there!" the man with the big spear shouted, "You are not welcome here! Leave this town or prepare to defend yourselves!"

Instead of pointing out that the spearman was alone and Halt accompanied by two skilled archers and a knight he hung his long bow around his pommel and spread his arms, sitting relaxed in his saddle: "A, but friend! We mean you no harm!" he said, working up his Hibernian accent.

"But we do, if you dare to come any closer!" the man said violently.

Alexis studied the barricade. Several pitchforks, swords and spears wove above the wooden boards. There was something odd about the numbers and timing.

"I think that they try to make us believe that they are with bigger numbers then they actually are," whispered Will.

Halt nodded: "And I bet that more than half of them are women and children. That's why he doesn't want us to come closer."

He raised his voice: "Listen my dear friend! We are prepared to pay for a meal and a pint of beer and then leave without any fuss!"

"We don't want your money and you're certainly not getting any of our food! Get lost!" the man sounded desperate, scared.

Halt shrugged, if it was him up there, he wouldn't let three men, armed to the teeth, into his little village, even if they promised him gold and riches: "Fine, but do you know any inns near here? We've been on the road for a while and like to get a good night sleep!"

Silence, but then an answer: "There is one, in Craikennis, about one and a half kilometre to the west. Just, follow the road and leave, please."

Halt nodded and turned Abelard around: "Let's go guys."

About half an hour later, when they saw the faint lights of Craikennis in the distance, Halt stopped again. "Will, have you brought your lute?"

Will sighed: "Yes."

"Well, four armed men, with all due respect Alexis, but you are as dangerous as the rest of us," Halt said with a nod towards Alexis, "are not welcome in Craikennis, so I thought that Will could go alone, as a bard and we could follow as travellers."

Will nodded: "You want me to get a room for us?" but Halt shook his head: "No, that would blow our cover."

"Okay, well, any requests?" he asked, smiling broadly.

"Anything but Greybeard Halt." Halt growled.

"What is Greybeard Halt?" asked Alexis.

Will took a deep breath, but Halt cut him off: "If you dare, I promise, that night in the tree will seem like a dream to you."

Will shrugged: "I'll see you guys in a minute!" he said cheery, spurring Tug into a trot.

Halt led the two youngsters into the woods, leading them to a small clearing. A very small clearing.

"How did you know this would be here?" Horace asked surprised.

"Do you want an honest answer?" Asked Halt, "Plain luck. Alexis?" he asked.

"Yes Halt?"

"Do you have any… feminine clothes with you?"

Alexis smiled: "I do, actually. A dress. But I don't have a pillion with me."

"But can you ride with a dress?"

"Easily. Just… erm… give me a minute of privacy please." Alexis blushed as she ducked into her saddlebag and then into the bushes.

She had brought a dress that was appropriate on parties, but could be used as a regular dress. Emerald green, plain, but there was one thing Alexis didn't take into account.

It wouldn't fit her if she didn't put on her corset.

"Guys?" she called.

"Is there a problem?" Halt. Serious as ever.

"Erm, I need help to put on this dress." She bit her lip.

"Why?" Horace called. Alexis could hear he had to hold back his laughter.

"It's a corset."

"O, I helped Pauline with one before, I can do that. Do you want me to help you?" Halt had problems seeing the awkwardness in the situation.

But Alexis didn't have a choice. It was either Halt or Horace and Halt seemed to have some experience.

A bit pissed, Alexis fit the corset on her chest, held it tight and sighed: "Fine, Halt, could you help me please?"

This time, Halt did chuckle. Alexis could hear him get off Abelard and approach her. She turned towards a tree and took a deep breath. She felt Halt grab the laces: "Ready?"

"Ready." She said, holding her breath.

Halt pulled the laces tight, very tight, and tied them together.

Alexis groaned: "God, I really hate corsets."

Halt turned away again to give Alexis the privacy she needed to put on the rest of the dress and when she was done she came out of the bushes, only to find out that Halt and Horace had already made camp.

Wolfie's saddlebags were gone and Kickers too. The only horse carrying luggage was Abelard.

"Horace is going in, fully armed. He is our mercenary. I'm taking my bow and arrows and Alexis, you only take your knives."

Alexis nodded. She wouldn't be able to shoot in this dress anyway.

"I am a farmer from the south, trying to reach the market in Mountshannon to buy some sheep. I hired Horace to protect me on the way there and my sheep on the way back home."

"And why am I wearing this ridiculous outfit?" Alexis asked.

"You're my good-for-nothing-just-sitting-and-being-pretty-daughter," Halt said, "If you pretend to be stupid and we get in trouble, you're the one they'll expect nothing from. Now, mount your horses and lets go."

Halt mounted Abelard and rode back to the road, Alexis and Horace close, following him to Craikennis.