Chapter 39
Axel the Pervert
"So we're almost there." Jean sighed to no one in particular.
"Yes," Kitty replied unnecessarily.
It was true, they were almost there. Hannover was less than an hour's ride from their final camp. At the moment, the two women of the party were off on their own. The men hadn't liked the idea as there was always a chance that bandits could be about, but Kitty took her sword along so there was no further argument. And so here they were, walking through the wooded country on a brief mini-retreat from their male companions.
"And what a lovely day to arrive in the city." Jean added.
"Yes, it is." Kitty quietly agreed.
The day had dawned warm and clear. Breakfast had been quickly thrown together and eaten. Logan and Piotr had argued for leaving immediately when Kurt had reported how close they were to their newest destination. Bobby complained that he was tired and still sore from yesterday and whined for more rest. Remy and Kurt took no sides. The Frenchman merely sharpened his daggers as the reluctant German noble sat nervously on a tree stump, his spell already in place. With no solid agreement to continue on for a while, the two women had seized their chance and now had a rare chance to enjoy themselves.
"What's that?" Jean asked suddenly, stopping in her tracks. Kitty paused and listened to see what had caught the mind-witch's attention.
"It sounds like a stream." Kitty said after a moment.
"Yes, yes it does. Should we go find it?" The red haired woman asked.
"Yes, why not." Kitty replied.
The pair continued on through the pleasant woods, pausing every now and then to listen for their destination. They really didn't have to walk very much further. Just beyond a thicker section of trees was a clear stream rushing over nearly smooth stones. It was very shallow through this stretch with no spot deep enough for any fish. The scene of the beautiful stream was further enhanced by beams of light that broke through the canopy and sparkled on the ever-changing water's surface.
"My, aren't we lucky this morning." Jean giggled as they stopped on the stream bank.
"We certainly are." Kitty sighed as she kneeled down and began splashing the cool water over her face. "Now I can at least get some of this travel dust off my face."
"Good idea." Jean returned, joining her younger friend on the bank to wash her face as well.
"Oh, I feel much better." Kitty sighed once she finished scrubbing the last vestiges of grime from her hands and face.
"As do I." Jean agreed.
Before they could speak more on the virtues of being clean as opposed to dirty or some other random topic Jean gave a start. Barely a second later she shrieked, jumped to her feet, and spun around to confront a man. He was a handsome blonde stranger dressed in the livery of a noble's guardsman. For a brief moment Kitty feared that it was one of Lord Grauhard's men, but a second look at his crest and colors told her otherwise. Before she could properly place what family he served, he opened his mouth to speak.
"Guten Tag Frauen!" He declared gallantly. "Wie geht es Ihnen."
"Guten Tag." Kitty replied warily. "Sie sprechen Deutsch nicht."
"Was sprechen sie dann?" The soldier asked curiously. Jean's expression was suspicious.
"Englisch." Kitty replied slowly.
"Englisch? Ah, you are in luck my dears, I speak English as well!" He cried cheerfully. Kitty frowned slightly. This man looked and sounded vaguely familiar though she found that she couldn't place him properly in her mind.
"And you are?" Jean asked.
"The question is not 'who am I?' It is 'who are you?' What are two English beauties such as yourselves doing out here in Germania unescorted?" He asked smoothly.
"Answer her question first and then we shall answer yours." Kitty firmly insisted, crossing her arms over her chest and lifting her chin defiantly.
"Oh ho! Don't you have spirit." The man grinned, though his grin was bordering on a leer.
"We will not answer you until you answer us." Kitty repeated, her tone unwavering.
"Spirit and determination." He mused, walking around her like a buyer inspecting a horse. "Spirit, determination, and an exquisite body." He purred after he finished his perusal.
"Answer us or leave." Kitty demanded tightly, her face flushing with rage at the soldier's crude treatment of her.
"No need to be impatient my beauty. I will answer." He murmured. Off to the side Kitty could see Jean looking very unhappy.
((This man's mind is slimier than a stagnant swamp pool.)) Jean silently declared.
((I figured as much.)) Kitty grumbled.
((Be careful.)) Jean warned.
((I will.)) Kitty promised.
Perhaps the soldier noticed that she was distracted or maybe he just decided to take a chance. Whatever the reason was, he still did it and Kitty suddenly felt his hand settle on her hip. She didn't move, didn't react, she just stood perfectly still and waited. The hand slowly drifted from her hip to her lower back, then down to settle on her backside. Still she did not move, she gave him one final chance to back off. He didn't take it as she felt him give her a squeeze. In the blink of an eye she spun around and had her sword drawn and at his throat.
"How dare you." She hissed coldly.
"Yes, you are spirited." He laughed, not at all concerned for his well-being.
"You filthy cretin! Do you not believe that I know how to use this?" Kitty demanded.
"Of course you don't, you're a woman." He smirked.
"Even if I didn't know how to properly swing, strike, or parry, I still could run you through!" She snarled.
"Ah, but women are weak creatures unable to be more violent than a few weak punches or slaps." The soldier chuckled.
"That shows how much you know." Kitty hissed as she drew away from him and fell into a fighting stance. Now the man looked a little concerned.
"Did you grow up near an English guard station? Your stance is very good." He asked sounding slightly worried.
"No," she growled coldly, bringing her sword to attention and preparing to strike.
"Now, now there's no need to make a fuss." The soldier soothed though he dropped his hand to his sword handle.
((Maybe you should wait, I called for the others to come.)) Jean mentally added.
"Yes, there is a need to make a fuss. I gave you a chance to remove your hand and you persisted you dirty pervert." Kitty snarled.
"But you said nothing." The soldier complained, tightening his grip on his weapon.
"Did I have to say something? I thought my reactions were perfectly clear!" She almost shouted.
"You did not slap my hand away." He replied, still looking nervous.
"So what if I did not? Does that mean that I am good for the groping?" She countered acidly.
The soldier said nothing, only squirmed a little before drawing his sword. He remained in a relaxed stance, his sword pointed at the ground. Kitty narrowed her blue eyes. Still the man was humoring her even though he admitted that her stance was the correct one for fighting. She aligned her blade so that it was near perpendicular to the ground and the sharp edge was facing him. She took one step to the left, then another, slowly forcing the man to move to the right. Jean continued to look worried, but she knew better than to interfere and so could only wait to be needed. Kitty felt about ready to charge the man when a new voice said some rather startling words.
"Axel Schwarzstein you miserable creature! What on earth did you do!" Kurt snarled angrily. Kitty froze and her eyes widened in surprise. Axel?!
"M'Lord?" Axel asked, looking off in confusion. Kitty's eyes now shrank to slits.
"You crude-minded swine." She spat, sheathing her sword and glaring at the unfortunate man. When she finally looked away she found Kurt looking more furious than she'd seen him in a very long time.
"Explain yourself before I decide to run you through." Kurt commanded coldly.
"W-well I was walking through the woods and I see these two lovely ladies. I came over to speak with them and found them to be English. They wouldn't explain themselves to me so I investigated the younger one and she drew a sword on me." He replied, his tone almost whining at the end.
"So to you, 'investigate' means to violate?" Kurt questioned icily.
"Nein, no, it wasn't like that!" Axel protested weakly.
"Axel, tell me. Do you remember your promise?" Kurt asked suddenly as he purposefully made his way over to stand in front of the soldier. Now Kitty finally recognized his colors and crest as those of the Wagner family.
"What promise?" Axel inquired.
"Your most important promise." Kurt replied.
"The one where I swore to sooner die than let harm come to you?" Axel guessed.
"No, you made that oath to my father. The promise of which I speak was made directly to me." Kurt said, his voice so low it was a little difficult for Kitty to hear.
"The one where I promised that no matter what, no matter how pretty she got, that I'd never touch your wife in an inappropriate manner or say foul things to her?" The guard nervously suggested.
"Yes, that one." Kurt confirmed, his voice frigid.
"Well, what about it?" The soldier wondered.
"Guess what," Kurt whispered. "You just broke it."
"Huh?" Axel replied stupidly. Then he glanced over at Kitty and studied her again. He looked deep in thought for a long moment before he paled. His face was whiter than a fine linen sheet and Kitty seriously thought he was going to faint. "Oh dear God what did I just do?" He whispered to himself and sat heavily on the ground.
"Are you alright?" Kurt asked, suddenly appearing at her shoulder.
"Yes," she sighed.
"If you say so." He said softly. Kitty could tell that he didn't entirely believe her, but he'd let it slide. "So," he called, turning back to Axel. "Just what are you doing out here? Home is to the south and east."
"Eh? Oh, one of your father's allies has thrown a party in Hannover. Everyone is there now." Axel distantly replied, still caught up in his enormous mistake.
"I see," Kurt trailed off in thought.
"So are we done here?" Logan gruffly demanded. Kitty turned to find that everyone was present and none of them looked terribly pleased.
"Hm? Oh yes, yes we're done." Kurt fell out of his thoughts and stood up to leave.
Kitty jumped to her feet and walked over to rejoin the others. None of them looked the least bit happy, Jean and Logan least of all. Remy and Piotr appeared calm, but distantly displeased. And Bobby looked a little mad and very lost. Kurt sighed and dragged the ashamed guardsman to his feet and towed him along as he also came to join them.
"What are you bringing him for?" Piotr asked curiously.
"Oh he's supposed to follow me whenever I'm away from home." Kurt sighed. "One of the perks of nobility, a constant companion anywhere you move."
"Then, why wasn't he with you before?" Bobby wondered.
"Because I snuck away from him." Kurt replied nervously.
"Oh," Bobby replied, seemingly satisfied.
"So let's go." Kitty grinned, hurrying off and forcing everyone else to follow.
Kitty they weren't the least bit happy with Axel following along, she wasn't either. But it was his job to follow Kurt around and make sure that no one tried to stab him, shoot him, or otherwise dangerously molest him. Axel apparently couldn't really help being a pervert. She recalled times when he tried to be civil and proper to ladies, but in a few hours he couldn't contain himself and was getting smacked left and right. At least we'll be in Hannover soon and everyone will forget about him. Or maybe just not think on him too much. Hopefully…