Chapter 11
Halt woke to a scream. Deja vu, he thought to himself as he rubbed the sleep from his eyes. For a moment, he was tempted to ignore Crowley. If he curled up with the pillow over his head, maybe he wouldn't hear the screams.
Halt groaned, knowing that he was kidding himself. He slid out from under the covers, the cold stinging his bare limbs. He treaded softly over to Crowley's side of the room.
Remembering the last time he'd tried to wake his friend up, Halt gripped Crowley's wrists, pushing them down on the mattress.
"Wake up," he hissed, trying to shake the other boy while not letting go of his wrists.
Crowley tensed suddenly, pushing back against Halt in a vain attempt to break free of the hold that pinned him to the mattress. Halt saw his eyelids flutter then open as the apprentice ranger fully awakened.
Crowley relaxed, blinking away the tears in his eyes. Halt released his wrists and sat down on the bed.
"Another nightmare?" Halt asked softly. He couldn't see his friend clearly, only a darker shadow in the night. But he didn't need to see Crowley clearly to know that was the case.
Halt looked down at the dark outlines of his hands. "Someone very dear to me once said that if you talked about your troubles, you would feel better for it," he said. He said it clearly, without the slightest falter in his voice. He still missed her, but he was learning to cope with his feelings.
"I don't want to talk," Crowley said. There was a rustling sound as he rolled over, pulling the blankets up higher.
Halt shrugged to himself. "Alright then," he huffed. "Good night."
"Night."
Halt went back to his bed, burying himself under the thick blankets. He relished the warmth that embraced him, coaxing him to sleep.
He slept.
…...
Pauline woke to the sunshine on her face. It was uncomfortably warm under the blankets and she kicked them off.
It felt like she was drowning in thoughts. Rosalee would punish her when THEY found her. Pauline had tried to follow Orhan but the dark haired boy named Halt had held her back.
She closed her eyes, breathing deeply. Maybe, just for today, she could pretend that these people weren't going to die. She could pretend that they would be friends.
Pauline stood up and walked over to the wadrobe. She gripped the wooden handle, swinging the door open. With a soft sigh, she let her fingers trail over the assortment of clothes inside.
The clothes of the girls who had been killed. She had seen them die. Now here she was, invading their personal space.
It was a horrible thing to wear the clothes of the dead. But her couriers gown was dirty and stank of sweat. She picked out a dress made of soft fabric. It was a light blue colour with flowers embrodered in silver thread. Pauline traced one of the flowers with her finger. It was a little uneven, sewed with an unprofessional hand. Probably, the farmer's daughter did it herself.
Pauline changed into the dress. She felt terrible for wearing it but did it anyway. Just like she found the girl's hair brush and brushed her blonde hair until it shone.
She took one last look around the room. It seemed smaller than it was because there were two beds crammed into it. Still, it was cozy enough and even reminded her of her room back in Castle Araluen.
She sighed, trying not to be too overwhelmed. Her head was spinning with troubles and thoughts. Dont think, she told herself, thinking is too painfull.
She stepped out into the hall and found herself face to face with the hibernian boy.
She watched as his dark eyes looked her up and down.
"You look nice," he said, a little awkwardly. Pauline felt a blush heat up her cheeks. She ducked her head, hoping he wouldn't notice.
"Thank you," she murmered, realising how long it had been since someone gave her a compliment.
Halt didn't say anything. She started hurrying towards the stairs, half running. She regained herself when she reached the bottom of the stairs. She felt stupid now, running away like that. Why was she so embarrassed?
The other boy, Crowley, was sitting in a comfy looking chair, watching her with wide eyes.
"What's up with you?" he asked, his lips twitching in a smile.
Pauline shook her head. She heard the stairs creaking behind her.
"What did you do to her Halt?" Crowley laughed.
Halt glowered at him. "I didn't do anything, she just-"
"Looks like you did something to me," Crowley interrupted. "You look nice, by the way," he added, turning to Pauline. "Coffee?"
Pauline brushed a few strands of hair out of her face, trying to calm herself. She had to stop thinking and focus on what was happening right in front of her. Otherwise she'd be caught by surprise like that again.
"Yes, please," she said softly. "I would love some coffee."
"She speaks!" Crowley cried, throwing his arms out in a dramatic gesture. He bounded over to the coffee pot, pouring three cups of coffee.
Despite herself, Pauline felt a small smile pulling at her lips.
They sat down at the table, sipping the warm drink.
"Where's Lukas?" Halt asked. Pauline found herself looking around the room, in case he might suddenly appear.
"He's checking out the tracks from yesterday." Crowley shrugged. "I would have gone with him but my time is much better spent with a beautiful girl."
Heat rose in Pauline's cheeks again. She choked and spluttered on the mouthful of coffee.
Halt cocked his head, regarding his friend.
"So, you're feeling better then?" he asked.
A dark shadow crossed Crowley's face and Pauline realised that he wasn't as cheerful as he acted. Then the moment passed and he was laughing once more.
"Oh please, course I'm feeling better. I feel great!" Crowley laughed. Halt seemed satisfied but Pauline saw the truth in the blond boy's eyes.
She leaned back in her seat, regarding the two boys. She liked them. They were enemies of her mentors and she didn't have to guess the reason behind everything they said. They didn't know of the punishments or the beatings that she suffered through. When she was with Lady Melaine, she knew the courier was on her mentors "side." With these boys, it felt like she wasn't all alone on her "side."
"Pauline," she said. They both looked at her. "My name is Pauline," she elaborated.
They smiled at her. Friendly, warm, genuine smiles.
She smiled back.
…...
Lukas wheeled his horse around sharply.
"Dammit," he muttered. "Lost them." The tracks the surviving man had left when he ran away were clear enough to follow at first. But he had returned to Clifend and Lukas couldn't be sure what scuffs in the road belonged to him.
It was unlikely that the man was still in Clifend. The dark haired girl who had escaped might have alerted the baron and it would be dangerous to sta in the fief if that were the case. Most likely, they would wait for the commotion to die down then return to kill the winissess.
They would come back. In the mean time, Lukas would stay in the farmhouse with the youngsters.
Which was another reason he cursed to himself now. Because he had opened his big mouth and told them he was a ranger. Then he had gone so far as to train Halt. He had no plans to ever get an apprentice. He didn't want a young person nipping at his heels while he dealt with dangerous enemies.
That was bad enough. But oh no, he couldn't stop there. He followed his instincts and spoke to Jarlons former apprentice. Thinking of his old friend, he offered to train the boy.
Lukas groaned. He'd gotten himself not one, but two unofficial apprentices. Plus there was the mute girl.
He shook his head as he galloped back to the farm house. He watered and bedded down his horse and stomped into the house.
The three youngsters looked up as he entered.
"Guess what Lukas!" Crowley said with a grin. "She said her name was Pauline."
Lukas flopped down in a chair, regarding the girl with a practised eye. Halt poured him a cup of coffee.
"We'll be staying here for a while," Lukas said, watching Pauline closely. "They will send people after us to kill us. Then we will get them to lead us to the leaders. In a cult like this, once the leaders are dead the whole structure collapses."
Pauline's face twitched but she masked her emotions. Lukas mentally shrugged.
"How will we force them to tell us the way to the leaders?" Halt asked.
Lukas waved the question off. "Interrigate 'em, follow 'em, endless ways really."
"If you say so," Halt said doubtfully.
Lukas sipped at his coffee. "Don't doubt me, Halt, I have some ideas."
Crowley swung his camoflage cloak around his shoulders.
"Want a compitition, Halt?" he asked. "Hide and seek?"
Halt nodded, a determined look in his eyes. "I can never miss a chance to win against you."
Crowley patted his friends shoulder. "Aww, you mean you actually think you can beat me? Poor deluded Halt."
Anger flashed in the hibernians eyes. "I can beat you any day, any place, at any challenge!" he snapped.
Crowley smiled provocatively. "Yes, yes, sure you can," he turned to the others and whispered, just loud enough for Halt to hear, "Humour him."
Halt grabbed his friend by the collar, dragging him outside.
Lukas shook his head at them. He sipped at his coffee, still wondering how the situation had come about.