Maybe I Will Chapter 15
My last Authors Note was supposed to be at the end of the chapter, but I was so eager to have it up that I completely spaced on it. Nothing to say then, or now. Bye bye!
Beka POV:
When Rosto leaned forward, I was a bit surprised. We hadn't kissed since that first one several days ago. So it was unexpected. And enjoyed. The second one was expected, but no less enjoyable than the first. The cheers and laughs were a bit embarrassing, but Rosto seemed to not notice it. Bask in it was a better description. I shook my head inwardly as he called out to the soldiers.
"Thank you, thank you! We'll be here all week!"
Really. He even bowed, to top it off.
"Well, if you'd like to stay, be my guest. I was under the impression that I was here to get you home."
"Tunstall!" He walked toward us as the soldiers walked away.
"Well. Now this is a surprise. Here I was thinking I'd have to hunt all over Scanra to find you, and here you all are. And with Beka and Rosto kissing, of all things. Bizarre world we live in." I blushed as Rosto grinned, putting an arm around my waist and pulling me to his side. I was perfectly content in an instant.
"Well, if you'd been around, you would've found out about the Puppy's new arrangement. I believe you can guess what happened." Goodwin was grinning. So was everyone else. A smile of my own creeped onto my face. This was the most fun I'd had all week. For over three weeks, actually.
"Yes. It is pretty obvious. Now, I'm sure you're wondering why I'm here, but I want to hear your story first."
"Why should we go first?" Rosto teased, gently massaging my side with his hand at the same time. It made it very hard to concentrate.
"Cause I said so. And because I had to ride all the way here and wait for all of you to show up." That wasn't right…
"You've been waiting all of an hour, whiner. But we'll tell." And so Goodwin told the tale, starting with what I'd told her about my abduction, where Rosto and I filled in what had happened in Klyminet's palace, to the afterword, when we escaped, to the ride here.
When we finished, Tunstall rocked back on his heels. We were all sitting on the soft grass, Kora in Erskren's lap and me next to Rosto, who I'll bet wanted me to follow Kora's example. Goodwin and Tunstall sat next to each other, but not close enough to mistake them as a couple.
"Well. Now that's a fine story. The ministrils'll write about this for years. My story isn't nearly as interesting. After Goodwin rode off, since you all were missing for so long, I went to my Lord Provest to beg to get you. I argued that you wouldn't be able to get into the country unless someone vouched for you. Your little brothers backed me up, even offered to go instead. My Lord gave in quickly enough. So I rode off. That was about it." I watched him, a bit saddened. My sisters hadn't said anything. Or had they?
"How is everyone? My family, the Dogs, Aniki? Anything happen?" They turned to look at me, but I only watched Tunstall.
"Your family is fine. They all are worried about you, especially the eldest sister… Diona, wasn't it? Yes, her. She seemed most anxious. No casualties or injuries serious enough to tell about. The Rogue continues to strengthen, despite their leader's long absence. In fact, the Rats seem to believe you leaving to deal with the Scanran Rogue is good, and it has increased their faith in you." He nodded at Rosto. I was thinking.
So she doesn't really hate me. Just resents my occupation. There's hope yet. A new thought raced through my mind.
What'll they say about Rosto?
"Well, I'm all for getting home. So hop up and get the horses ready. Me'n Mattes here'll get us through the patrol." With that, Goodwin hopped up and, dragging Tunstall behind her, walked toward the captain's tent. It was almost comical, the short women dragging the tall, gangly man down the hill. I stood as well, walking along to where the horses were picketed. The others followed right behind me. We each walked up to a horse. Since Kora and Erskren shared a horse, as did Rosto and I, there were enough of us to get all the horses ready. I ended up with Rosto's and mine. The dark brown and white horse was a sweet thing, but quick, as Ii found out on our way here. Rosto saddled Tunstall's horse swiftly, then walked over to me.
"Such a pretty horse. What'd you name her?" I looked at Rosto as I cinched the saddle up. He gave me an exasperated look.
"Her name is Hope, silly. What else would it be?" Hope? Ah… The colors are so close to our own. He would think of that. I grinned.
"Her mane's white, too." As I expected, Rosto instantly scowled.
"It's not white! It's blond, sun-colored, corn-silk…" He stopped as I began to laugh. The look he gave me was contemplation.
"You do that just to annoy me?" He didn't sound sarcastic, or accusatory. Unsure of where he was going, I nodded.
"Then…" He grinned, making me wonder exactly what he'd come up with.
I didn't have to wait long.
"You don't think I'm old!" I looked up at him, shocked at this. Did he worry about it that much? I voiced this thought as a question.
"Well, yes. If you thought I was old, I would have never gotten you. As it is, our situation is a little shaky. Being so new and all." So that was it. And I thought it was all vanity. Although…
"You just didn't like being called old. Your vanity couldn't take that kind of insult." I grinned at him. He pulled me into a hug.
"Maybe…" he murmured into my ear. "Or maybe…"