Hi, guys. I am sorry for the delay, and yet I have to thank you for your support, your kind words. Thank you very much.
And the ones who states in reviews that this is stupid and waste of time ... It's simple, stop reading this story!
However, I hope you'll enjoy this chapter.
T73.
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Jane hasn't found any sleep the night and sits up in the bed, hoping that she doesn't wake the sleeping blonde. She buries her face in her hands and swallows down a groan. She isn't quite sure why she can't find rest but decides to give it up now.
Weeks have passed by since she got to know who actually is after them and a voice in her head tells her that one of the citizens has told their enemies that they had found refuge in this town, that would explain the current siege. She wouldn't care if only she and her men suffer from that, but the entire town is suffering right now. Maybe that's what keeps her mind busy.
Jane's surprised that neither Susanne nor her brother are rebelling against them or that they don't sell them down the river, just like her friend the governor. She sighs heavily and runs her hands through her hair, knowing that she has to find a solution as soon as possible. For the sake of the citizens. She looks over her shoulder as soon as she feels an hand on her bare back and a deep frown crawls up on her forehead.
"You are thinking about handing yourself in," Maura whispers and her heart drops when the brunette doesn't negate her statement. "Why do you want to do that?"
Jane takes a deep breath but then she looks down at her hands. "All of this is my fault, Maura. The people of this town feel the pinch of hunger because I thought that it would be the best to hunker down here. And now they have to pay the price. And you are living a life on the run because I stole your from your fiancé."
The blonde sits up and tilts her head to the side. "You did not steal my from him, Jane. I asked you to come with you, remember?"
"I doubt that he's seeing it the same way."
"So, you already made that decision, without talking to the others?"
Jane is silent for a moment and starts to chew on the inside of her cheek. She has been hoping that she could sneak out of the house and avoid any kind of discussions. She knows that especially Bear'll try to talk her out of doing so, just like Aegeus, Tadeo and Alastair, but there's no way that she'll change her mind. "It's the best for us all." She whispers back and avoids Maura's eyes. She can't handle it if she looks into hurt eyes right now.
Maura swallows hard and closes her eyes for a brief moment. She's sure that no one will be able to talk Jane out of that, even Bear won't have any chance. She forces her tears back and tries to find the courage to speak again. "At least, grant me one last night with you."
The brunette looks surprised at the other woman before she nods and then she kisses Maura passionately.
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The brunette went straight down to the stalls so she could avoid running into one of her friends and to avoid any kind of explanation. But it seems like Amyntas' feeling that something's about to come because he capriole every now and then.
Jane caresses his neck and whispers soothingly to him until he calms down again. It breaks her heart to leave him alone, but she's still sure that this is the right thing to do. "It will be alright, my friend," she says and isn't sure to whom she's saying that. "You will be fine, I promise. But I have to do this to keep you and the others safe."
He snorts and shakes his head like he's disagreeing.
"Yes, you know that I'm right." She chuckles and descends from his back. "And now stop arguing with me. I won't change my mind." She clenches her jaw and takes the halter off, caressing his muzzle. She smiles sadly and nods to herself. "You have been a great friend Amyntas, the best I ever had. I do not know where I would be without you." She sniffles and furrows her eyebrows. "We will see each other in next life."
The horse perks his ears and looks straight over Jane's head like he's seeing something that she has missed.
The hairs on her neck stand up and she turns her head as she hears a rustling sound. Her eyes become huge as soon as Baako and Caden comes closer from behind a tree. "What the devil are you doing here?" She hisses.
The two men exchange glances and then Caden shrugs. "We missed you at breakfast." He answers and smiles as she quirks an eyebrow.
Jane feels bad for just leaving behind and that she put the burden on Maura's shoulders to tell the group that she voluntarily went to the enemy's camp only to sacrifice herself.
She stumbles forward and looks over the shoulder because even Amyntas gave her a push with his muzzle like he's trying to say Don't do this. You are a part of this group. I need you, we need you.
Shefrowns and looks long at Baako, who glances expectantly at her.
"What are you doing outside alone," he asks and runs his hand over Amyntas' nose.
"I -" she starts but then she hesitates, looking at the camp which start to wake up slowly. She can see the amored man and how they think that they are beyond safe right now, they're almost conceited. She has seen such peoole in her younger age. People who walked around and thought that they are the only one who has the right to life. People who treated he r family, her friends and herself like they're nothing more than livestock. Already in the past this kind of people made her angry. Not because she was jealous of them, because this kind of people think that everything they have is given. She never needed their money, she had the love of her parents, the love of her brothers, the love of her friends, but then all of it was gone once and for all. Because people like those in this camp thought that they are judges and hangmen in the same time, just because her people were farmers who yielded poorly.
But now she isn't that girl anymore. She now knows who is responsible for the death of her family, her people, and deep down inside she wants revenge for that. Over the years, she got it somehow, she's sure that she killed more than enough of them to satisfy the need, but she also knows that it'll never be enough. There are other places which are terrorized by that kind of people who killed her people, and that it won't stop anytime soon. She also knows that neither she, nor Bear, nor, Caden, nor Baako, nor Tadeo, nor Alistair, nor Maura are the one who end this terror. But they can try to be a example for those who'll follow, a kind of inspiration.
She turns her body to her horse, brushes the forelock away and traces the small pallor with her fingers. Something happens in her heart when Amyntas lowers his head and steps closer. She runs her hand over his nose and clenches her jaw. "I just needed some time for myself. I needed to think."
Caden crosses his arms and starts to chuckle low, Baako rolls his eyes.
Jane rolls her eyes as well and punches Caden's arm before she turns to leave. "I am not Bear."
Baako is the first who starts to laugh and follows her without a second thought.
Caden is the one who only smiles but also follows her. Somehow he has the feeling that Jane doesn't tell them the whole truth, but he decides that he isn't the one who confronts Jane with that. But he'll talk to Bear about the situation because he knows that the Scandinavian man is the only one who can knock a little sense into the brunette's head, besides Maura.
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Alistair groans as he walks up and down in Susanne's dinning hall and places his hands on his hips. "We should disappear, never to be seen again."
Tadeo scoffs loud and leans over the table. "And leave Susanne and Stephen alone in this misery? Let me remind you that we're the cause of the siege."
"We can take Susanne, Stephen and Apuzzo with us. They'd be a good addition to our group."
"And what about the rest of the people? Shall we let them just die?"
"We won't leave anyway." Susanne suddenly states and looks at each of them.
"Susanne!" Her brother groans.
"No! This is our town, our place, our home. I don't leave with a fight."
"Yes, it is, but you are have no use for our people when you're dead."
Jane listens attentively but is unusually quiet. She looks at Maura as soon as the blonde squeezes her hand under the table and frowns deeply. Then she closes her eyes and wishes herself away. It makes her heart heavy that she caused a discussion like this and remembers why they normally don't stay longer at one place than one week.
Baako and Caden also keep their mouth shut. They learned fast that they should leave tactics to people like Jane, Tadeo or Alistair.
Alister throws his hands up and laughs humorlessly. "Your people are strong, they will get through this."
"Without leading, they are doomed!"
"They are already, Susanne!"
'That's what you are saying!"
"It is a fact."
Jane closes her eyes and listens to the voice in her head which tells her that they got themselves into that situation, now they have to get themselves out of it again. "We stay," she more or less whispers and raises her eyes.
Tadeo raises to his feet and points at the other man. "You cant know that, Alistair."
Alistair stops death and raises his eyebrows high. "I know that pretty well, Tadeo. My village has been in the same position and then it was burned down even though it didn't host fugitives. If we're staying we're doomed too."
"I said we stay!" Jane almost shouts and the two men become silent, just like the others.
She gets up to her feet and her face is beyond serious. "We are the reason why this place is in this situation and we will not leave them alone just because we have our backs to the wall. Maybe those people could live in peace if we would not come here, maybe they would be terrorized anyway! We do not know that, but I know that we never left people in distress. And just because this is a precarious position, we're not bail on people who helped us. Tadeo is right, we caused all of this, and now we have take the consequences of our actions." She pauses and looks long at Alistair. "If you want to leave, leave, Alistair. I won't be the one who is holding you back. Go wherever you want to go."
"Jane -"
"You don't owe me anything, Alistair. We are square. No one's holding you back. But I am staying until my last breath, because I owe them a lot. They fed me and they kept me safe. Who would I be if I just disappear?"
He looks long at her and frowns deeply, looking helplessly at the other men.
Caden seems to consider her words and nods slowly. "I will stay too."
"And me too." Caden says without hesitance.
A smile tugs in Baako's lips as he looks at the brunette and he nods. "I stay as well."Alistair looks long at them and scoffs. " And where the devil is Bear when I need him to talk sense into you?"
The room becomes quite again and everyone looks around, except for Maura.
"Alistair is right," Caden states with a frown. "Bear is the last one who misses breakfast."
Maura clears her throat decently. "Bear noticed Caden and Baakko preparing for leaving. I asked him where he want to go and he told me that he want to see where you did go. And he asked me not to tell you. I am not sure why."
"Stupid fool." Baako curses and jumps up to his feet. "He is as fleet-footed as a clumsy oaf."
Jane blinks a couple of times and panic starts to grip her heart. So many times she told Bears that she'd be better off without him, but she knew that she wouldn't have get so far without him. She furrows her brows and glances at the others. "All right, get dressed."
Neither of the men waste a minute and disappear in all directions.
Maura gets off the bench and looks worriedly at her lover. "Have I done something wrong?"
The brunette shakes her head. "No, Bear just played on your lack of experience. You have not done anything wrong." She takes a deep breath and frowns. "Now, get dressed."
The blonde blinks confused. "Excuse me?"
Baako suddenly stands beside her and smiles wryly. "That means that you shall take on your armor."
Maura turns pale. "I ... I think I am no good company. I have never taken someone else's life."
"And I make sure that it stays that way." He replies with a smile. "Jane needs you right now to safe Bear. He probably got caught by angry huntsmen. A armor with an emblem does help with that kind of people."
Maura frowns again and hesitate. "That kind of people? So you're willed to sacrifice their lives instead of ours?"
"On the contrary, huntsmen are most likely the better allies than governors and they don't hesitate to ... Trust Jane.' He pauses and smiles at the blonde. " Trust me. I keep you safe."
Maura has a very bad feeling when she realizes his words, and sadness overcomes her. 'Baako -"
He takes Susanne at her wrist and looks long at her. "Help Maura to get dressed."
The redhead looks long at him and nods slowly. She places an hand on Maura's arm and starts to lead the way to the blonde's room. She takes a deep breath and tries to smile. "Jane knows what she's doing."
Maura looks directly at her. "Are you sure?"
Susanne snickers. "Mostly, yes."
Maura looks skeptically at her.
The other woman rolls her eyes. "We're still safe and sound, aren't we?"
"Yes, you are." Maura sighs and opens the door to her room. "Yes, you are."