sorry, I lied...this is the last chapter that I have already written. So expect a good long wait for the next update. :tear: o( I'll try to get it up as soon as possible. Oh! And there is a possibility of things heating up between Tristan and Codi in the next few chapters.

savor it, my ducks, for you'll have a long wait after this

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Codi awoke the next morning to the dubious pleasure of Lady Misery's dulcet tones. Groaning, she tried to snuggle into her blankets and let out an inarticulate cry of indignation as she found them snatched away. Codi sat up and glared blearily at Tristan, who was neatly folding her blanket for her.

"Mmph," she grunted at him, rubbing her face.

"I let you sleep in because you didn't sleep much last night," he said sternly in response to her wordless accusation. "You should be thanking me. Get up, we're almost ready to leave."

"Bastard," Codi muttered.

"I heard that."

"Good," Codi grumbled.

That day Codi found herself riding beside Brenna, who was perched precariously atop one of Lady Misery's pack horses (she had finished the last of the horse's supplies that morning). Codi fidgeted under Brenna's oddly direct gaze. The girl made no attempt to hide the fact that she was staring at Codi.

"Can I help you with something?" Codi asked edgily.

"You don't trust me," Brenna stated.

Codi opened her mouth and then shut it. "No."

"What would you have me tell you?" the girl asked.

"What were you hiding yesterday?" Codi asked without preamble. "When Arthur said you could come with us."

"Everything I said was true," Brenna said. "I just—wasn't as surprised as I perhaps seemed. I have heard of Arthur Castus. It occurred to me that he might take me in. In fact, I was counting on it."

"What would you have done if he hadn't?" Codi asked curiously, mind set at ease. Her internal Lie-Detector, or whatever it was, was silent.

Brenna shrugged and smiled crookedly. "I suppose it's a good thing he did, isn't it?" Brenna studied her closely. "How old are you?"

"Twenty one," Codi replied, startled. "You?"

"Seventeen," Brenna told her, and looked at her intently. "You don't look any older than me—except for your eyes. Your eyes look older than the stones."

"Er..." Codi wasn't sure what to say to this. "What do you suppose you'll do when we get to Gaius Tullius' lands?"

"Find work," Brenna shrugged. "His lands are near the fort at Caerleon, aren't they?" Codi nodded. "Perhaps I'll go there. Where there are men, there's coin to be had."

Codi stared at her in shock. "Do you mean—you would--"

"Work as a prostitute?" Brenna laughed humorlessly. "Aye—what did you think I've been doing? They'd have killed me, else. At least now I'll be paid."

"But—you said you're husband--"

"Oh, he was my husband, aye, and could do with me what he would," Brenna said bitterly. "So says the Bible. He didn't even believe in it, really—he just needed something to justify it to himself."

Codi couldn't speak for a moment. When she found her voice, she said, "Forget I asked. You'll come back to the Wall with us and we'll find you decent work. My friend Vonora—she'll set you straight. She helped me get on my feet when I first came here. She'll help you, too."

Brenna slanted a glance at Codi. "You're not disgusted by me?"

"No," Codi said, taken aback. "Why would I be?"

"Because I let those men use me and humiliate me over and over again without fighting—like you did." Brenna looked away. "Because I'm willing to go on letting men use my body, but for coin."

Codi hesitated. "Yes and no. I'm repulsed by the idea, certainly. But I understand where you're coming from. We all do whatever is necessary to survive. In a way, I think you're stronger than I am."

Brenna stared at her. "How? You—you're a warrior...no man will ever touch you again without your consent."

"But you endured," Codi said slowly, turning over the thought in her head. "After...you know, it happened...I couldn't even speak to a man, let alone sleep with one for coin. If my life depended on it, I don't think I could do what you would do, even now. You're right—a man will never touch me again without my consent. And I don't think I'll ever be able to give my consent. To anyone. So, no—I'm not disgusted by you."

"I never thought about it like that," Brenna murmured. "I just...I didn't want to die. I felt like I was a coward because I would rather—defile myself than let them kill me."

"Survival is any living thing's first priority." Codi shrugged uncomfortably. "Enough of this. You won't have to anymore, so the point is moot. Come on, let's catch up to Gawain and Galahad—they said they had a new joke to share."

Once Brenna was suitably engaged by Galahad and Gawain, Codi dropped back to ride with Tristan, who shot her an amused glance.

"A shock, was it?" he asked sympathetically.

"A bit," she admitted. "I mean, I know many women are prostitutes, but...I don't know, I didn't think she'd be so frank about it."

"Ah, well, she was probably putting on a brave front," Tristan shrugged. "I don't doubt she would have done it if she had to, but I hardly think she was as uncaring as it seemed."

"I suppose," Codi murmured, and shuddered. Suddenly something occurred to her. "You know, it's not usually considered polite to eavesdrop."

"Well, then, I suppose it's a good thing I'm an ignorant savage," Tristan said seriously. "Those Sarmations...so uncivilized."

"And dirty," Codi agreed.

"And smelly," Tristan continued. "Almost as bad as Woads."

"Quite," Codi nodded, and then couldn't keep a straight face anymore. Chortling merrily, she shoved him. "You, sir, are a loon."

"Me?" Tristan asked, innocent as the summer sky. "I was being serious. Sarmatians are second only to Woads when it comes to being smelly and dirty and generally uncivilized."

"Of course, of course," Codi said, still chuckling, and spotted Lancelot returning from scouting duty. "My turn!"

Lancelot took Codi's place and stared after her thoughtfully. "I think that's the first time I've seen her laugh in days. You know, Tristan, I've only ever seen her look happy when she's with you."

Tristan shrugged, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "Tis a fair difficult job, aye, but someone has to do it."