by S E Zbasnik
“Got the afternoon off from doing knighting things. Thought I’d stroll the market to see if there were any other boys dressed like bee vomit.”
His hand drew down the ruffles and Finn winced, pain rising in his eyes. He never lasted long in the dregs though, the boy puffing up his chest and striking a pose. “Can’t go telling me this doesn’t catch your eye.”
“Oh sure, same way a boar shitting in the road does. But it works for you. Really shows off your…” Hayley’s picking faded as she realized she wasn’t staring at the eye gouging outfit anymore, but the boy’s frame under it. The strong hands were yanking out a coat cut just to his trim waist. It all helped to emphasize his shoulders, which looked more imposing that she remembered.
“Eyes,” Hayley ended limply with, twisting to stare at the horizon.
“You noticed my eyes?” Finn asked, his voice dipping lower.
A muffled roar of the crowd broke from the arena, no doubt some squire performed a great trick or move. Or perhaps someone favored won the round. Would sure be nice for all the people to come dashing to the market as a distraction right now.
“Yeah, they look like…like poop too.” Damn it! All she had on her mind was poop this, poop that. Hayley bounced her knuckles against her forehead, hoping that might wake up her brain.
All but telling Finn he could be as big an ass as he wanted, the boy’s smile stretched clean across his face. Forgetting his job to sell off the horse, he stepped closer to Hayley who didn’t back down either. “Haven’t seen you in a while,” Finn began, which caused her to spin around and glare.
“We talked not four days ago in the stables,” she exclaimed, her hand slapping through the air towards the rest of the mass of horses. “Or did ya forget cause you were suckered around some girl?”
“I sure noticed how you grew right friendly with that squire kid. Shouldn’t you be back there, cheering him on? Giving him back pats and whatever else you squires do together after matches?”
Hayley snickered at the thought of her trying to cool down Abed, or anyone else for that matter. Most squires who didn’t have a sword shard dug into their thigh would end the match by pulling off their armor, checking their weapons, then sitting in the shade for a while. Maybe get a drink of water, lemon or honey in it if you won.
Finn must have read her reaction differently as the vein along his giant forehead drew out further. “Ain’t ya gonna tell me? Or is it some big secret? Fancy knight thing you don’t blab to others about. Bet it’s dirty anyway. Heard the Order was crammed full of rutting sex-fiends.”
“Sex-fiends?” Hayley spattered with a laugh, “What in the nine hells are you talking about?”
“It ain’t fair.”
“Fair, fair?!” Hayley seethed, her spine lifting, “You want to talk about fair. Fair is you clearly smashing your lips all over some other girl, then shouting at me for not rushing back to your side. Fair is you expecting me to pine over you like some love-sick hound that lost its master while you slobber over someone else. Is that your idea of fair, Finn? I want to get that clear here.”
“That isn’t…” He stumbled as if she hauled off and smacked him. “That wasn’t what I…It ain’t like that. She’s a friend, of the family. We didn’t even, I haven’t…uh.” The lies were catching up quick, Finn’s entire face turning red while he tugged on the ruffles as if they began to constrict around his neck.
Scratching at her nose, Hayley laughed. “Hope you had something better to tell Nell, or that she’s much dumber than a street rat dropped into livery.”
Suddenly, Finn’s hand snapped out, the fingers wrapping around Hayley’s wrist. Her eyes flared at that move, but she didn’t shake him off. “It ain’t like that,” he repeated as if that would somehow save him. “You don’t understand, you ain’t got the same responsibilities.”
God, she wanted to smack him in the head. She had no responsibilities? She was a squire for shit’s sake! All she had was responsibilities, often with more than two or three people barking at her to do it right or people died. What was Finn’s greatest worry, that a horse might chew apart both posts in the stable?
“I…” The boy once again holding her against her will softened. His shoulders slumped and the fingers digging into Hayley’s skin lessened. His eyes drifted down to her thigh, which bulged from the twin bandages hidden below her hose.
“Your leg!” Finn gasped as if it came out of nowhere. “How, how is it? It must hurt?”
“Not as bad as it did before. Why do you care? What, got some bet on me? Or bet against me?” Hayley’s voice faded at the thought. It made the most sense, no way anyone expected her to get far.
She’d caught quite a few glimpses of the wooden beads strung up on a crisscross of rope damn near every spectator carried. They were a way for the serious gambler to keep track of their golden geese in the fights. Gavin pointed out his symbol, a bead in a pale blue with a G carved on it. Those were on damn near everyone’s, but Hayley hadn’t found one for her yet.
She doubted she ever would.
“I didn’t,” Finn spat at her, “I don’t care about that… You think my da would give me a copper to blow on the fights?”
“Then why even ask?” Hayley finally wrenched her hand free of him. As it cut through the air she was tempted to slap it back against his fat forehead, but Finn stared at the ground in a strange defeat. She let her errant hand thud to her side while glaring at him.
“Cause, I…I was worried about you. Okay.”
“I’m fine.” She shook her head at his stupidity. “Walking around and everything.”
“Not then!” the stupid boy yelled at her. “Not just then, but when you went away, to fight. And didn’t even send me a letter or nothing.”
“What was I supposed to say? The lakeside is cold, the cliffs are rocky, and I’m still mad as a wet hen at you for trying to…!” Hayley’s shout dampened as she realized what she was about to yell in a semi-crowded market. “You know why. Don’t blame me for you suddenly caring.”
It would have been poetic if she stormed away, left a wailing Finn crumpled to his knees, but Hayley paused and she gave him a chance to blubber out another sort-of apology.
“I didn’t mean to, it was never meant to. You were all…and I just wanted to.”
“You think I’m ugly,” Hayley said with a hard shrug, tears building in her eyes.
“What?”
“Got a face like gravel and all, now I get it. I get it all. Fully understand why…”
“Hayseed.” He reached forward and, instead of grabbing her hand, cupped his palm to her cheek. “You ain’t ugly,” Finn said with a pig-like snort as if it was so obvious she was a moron for wondering. He tugged her face closer to his, and she let him do it. She pursed her lips to match his, wanting to kiss the bastard.
“Finny?!”
“Crap,” Finn cursed, his hand falling off of Hayley’s cheek as he spun to find Nell waving her hand and dashing towards him. She had to have seen that he was about to kiss Hayley; she wasn’t that far away.
But as Nell crossed the distance, both of her arms wrapping around the boy, she was all smiles at him. “Here you are,” she giggled as if they were the funniest three words ever crafted in human history.
“Yup, selling the horses, like I was told.” Finn jerked a thumb back at the lone bay who was kind enough to remain in its spot and not glare at the teenage drama.
“You’re so sweet,” Nell purred. She leaned forward and pecked her lips to the tip of Finn’s nose. Equal parts rage and disgust rose in Hayley’s gut, to the point she wasn’t certain when she opened her mouth if curses or vomit would fly out. Maybe both.
“I see your friend found you again. Funny, you’d think squires would be too busy.”
“I’d say the same of those in charge of watching all those horses. But I guess the really rich types don’t mind if their thoroughbred gets colic on your watch,” Hayley spat out with a bright smile on her face. She’d been learn
ing well from Ania how to keep her tone nice, her fists from swinging, and the words just barbed enough to sink deep.
“Well, aren’t you just a…delight,” Nell threw out, her hand slicing apart the air before it thudded right against Finn’s chest. His arms remained loose, flapping in the wind like a rag doll’s, but he didn’t slide away from Nell either.
“Finny…” God that was grating even to Hayley. Finn looked like he was swallowing glass each time she said it. “My father wanted to know if you’d sit with us for evening meal. He’s been toying around with the idea of selling off the southern stretches of his business again. Just doesn’t have the time for so many clients wanting fresh steeds. You might have a few ideas.”
With each word out of Nell’s mouth, Hayley merged deeper into the crowd away from the pair. It felt as if she was fading from the world, the two talking business about shit she couldn’t even stand. For a moment, Finn’s stormy eyes cut through the bustling shoppers straight to Hayley. She froze in place, watching the boy shift his head in grief as if he was walking the wooden steps to the gallows.
Turning away from Hayley, from all that crap he spouted about caring, about being mad that she left him, Finn swept an arm over Nell’s shoulders and pulled her closer. “I’d love to,” he said so sincerely Hayley almost believed it. But from her view she could see Finn’s left palm, hidden behind his back, clenched into a fist.
Grinding her teeth with every step, Hayley marched away from Finn cooing over the pretty girl suckered to his arm. Why didn’t he come clean with her? She wasn’t going to hit him for it. Gavin was very strict on her not starting fights even if a bugger deserved it. Why did that stupid boy act like he cared about her? Worried about her dumb wound?
Called her pretty.
Every boy who said that either wound up dead or trading tongues with another girl. It wasn’t fair.
She should have hit him, Gavin’s wrath be damned. Just flat out punched Finn right in his jaw, then left him and Nell to hunt for any missing teeth.
Hayley pounded on her head rattling her brains and nearly causing the blue cap to slip free. A few shafts of blonde hair poked out from below, Hayley often having to rewind it up into a knot before hiding it away. Maybe she should cut it all off to save herself from dealing with that mess. Not like anyone would care. Certainly, no boy would glance her way even if she grew her hair to her butt. Even if there were plaits, and perfumes, and pretty combs stuck inside. Even if…
Her toe bashed into a bucket of sand, causing her to suck in a breath and whip out a continual spray of profanity. Quite a few heads twisted in a huff, trying to suss out the fifteen-year-old girl who shattered their pleasant day with all the curses in her repertoire. Hayley didn’t care. Let them come for her. Let them tsk their tongues, roll their eyes, and pinch their raised noses. She’d take them all on!
A flash of metal broke through the crowd, causing Hayley to scamper back between stalls. She tipped her head down, watching the stomp of armored boots which were…heading towards a brooch and pin stand. They weren’t guards, they weren’t soldiers. It was only some knight getting a gift before or after a round.
But the manic heartbeat wouldn’t slow. Her breath kept puffing out fast as if she were about to keel over in a faint. Even knowing she should be safe, even with that ink mark hiding away her past, Hayley couldn’t stop clawing at her thigh.
She had to find Gavin. He’d…he’d protect her. Give her deniability, at least. Shake off anyone who was looking for the cursing girl.
It didn’t take her long to scour the crowds, most people happy to point in the direction of wherever the most talented knight in all of history wandered off to. Hayley had to work through a few of the tents behind the marketplace, which seemed to be the ones the merchants themselves slept or kept their merchandise in. Heads would tip up at her, eyes narrowing before she’d point to the symbol on her chest and ask for Gavin.
That was enough. Knowing she belonged to him and she was accounted for, all the people would smile and point her onward. Everyone remembered the great hero, everyone adored him.
Everyone abandoned Hayley first chance they had.
The people thinned to nothing more than a few dogs gnawing on a pilfered loaf of bread, Hayley twisting this way and that around a mass of tan canvas. She was about to turn back to run and ask the friendly man whittling when a familiar laugh broke from the tent on her left.
“I never wish to stop.” Gavin, her brave, imposing knight, was giggling. It almost sounded like drunk giggling when the squires were nearing the bottom of a cask. Wide-eyed, Hayley inched comically towards the tent she heard the noise from. She was about to peer in when she caught two shadows dancing between the canvas walls.
Dipping her head quickly, Hayley watched as Gavin’s face removed itself from a woman’s. She was smiling serenely, her fingers curling up his cheek when Hayley’s memory caught up. It was his mystery blonde! She hadn’t seen her in months, which probably meant Gavin hadn’t as well. They sure seemed to be making up for it though, her knight’s hands wrapped very unchastely around the lady’s hips.
The mystery blonde frowned as her palm rifled up and down Gavin’s shaggy cheek. “Another cut?”
“It’s nothing,” he assured her, pulling her hand away in order to plant a kiss to her palm.
She didn’t seem to be soothed by that, her eyes narrowing. “I know we need the coin, but…”
“I will be fine, I assure you. This is safer than any of the trials by combat, and every one I walked away from back to you.”
Her finger drew across his forehead, wicking away sweat or just playing with the hair — Hayley couldn’t tell. After a moment, the mystery blonde sighed. “There’s quite a bit I’ve got saved up. Hidden away where he can’t find it. It’d be enough for…”
“Trust me,” Gavin interrupted, “with this purse, we needn’t worry anymore. We needn’t hide. And I,” his lips pressed to hers, then began to travel across her jaw. Just before nuzzling into her neck, Gavin said, “I can’t wait to tell the world you’re my wife.”
“Wife?!”
Oh shit. Hayley slapped a hand to her mouth and spun back just as her knight and the mystery blonde yanked apart at the noise. She slammed her eyes tight, trying to will her pounding heartbeat to be quiet.
It took a moment before Gavin said, “Squire?”
Don’t say anything. Don’t breathe anything. Maybe take off running? Through the tents and he’d…would he see that? Oh god, was he coming closer?
“Hayley.” The unbreakable hand landed on her shoulder and she gulped deep in her throat.
“I-I didn’t mean to. I just wanted to find you, because I didn’t know what to, and you were. Uh…” Her eyes swept the ground, terrified to look up into what had to be a level 5 scowl. She’d been eavesdropping on something heaven-shattering.
“Gavin,” the mystery woman said, causing both Hayley and him to look over at her. She had a comforting arm around her shoulder but an amused smile on her cheeks. “It’s probably time to tell her.”
He looked about to argue, but as his eyes darted to the scrappy teenager in his mitts and the grown woman ahead, he sighed. “Hayley, this is Myra.”
“Your wife!” Hayley spat out again, having trouble coming to grips with this sudden situation.
“Yes,” Gavin pursed his lips, “she is…” the stern glare melted as he looked over at the woman, both of them gazing into each other’s eyes, “my wife.”
He was married. How was he married? She’d never even…would a squire be involved if her knight got married? Hayley realized she’d never even seen a wedding before, but people talked about them. They were usually big affairs and involved lots of people. Ania never said anything, nor Finn. Or even Frederick. What was going on?
“You look confused,” the mystery lady, no — his wife — said.
“I just,” Hayley jabbed her hands this way and that, her brain stalling, “given all the women fawning over him, neve
r thought that he was hitched.”
“Women fawning…?” Myra glared, her arms folding tight as she turned on Gavin. His eyes opened wide, the man dashing to her side, but it was Hayley who spoke.
“Not that he does anything, would do anything to, um, encourage it. Answer it? Just…how can you be married and no one know? How does that work?”
The pair took in a deep breath, their eyes locking before Gavin began, “Myra is the daughter of a well established and very wealthy merchant.”
“Okay…?”
His wife took over, “And he thinks I should be married off to the son of another wealthy merchant in order to consolidate even more wealth, instead of giving two farts in winter about what I would want!”
Hayley asked, “But, Gavin’s a big, fancy knight? All the people here are cheering for him.”
“Big and fancy,” Myra smiled at him, her lips drawing closer to his ear, “I shall have to remember that for later.”
Gavin snorted at the contact before sliding away a step. “My family name means nothing to someone as connected as her father. And my interest in his only daughter ruins decades worth of planning.”
“So we eloped,” Myra said with a shrug. “Climbed out my window right into this fool’s arms and ran off to a church. Back of a church, kinda near the cemetery. Which is a bit foreboding if you think about it too long.”
“What’s the money for?” Hayley asked, causing both of them to stare at each other. “I-I may have overheard you talking about it. Is all.”
“The original plan was for the two of us to save up enough coin that we could buy a small place of our own, then wed,” Gavin explained. “But the thought of her, of you being lost to me.” He picked up both of Myra’s hands in his. “I couldn’t bear the pain of it.”
Myra leaned forward to kiss his lips softly before she smiled, “How do you say no to that?”
“It’s why we’ve been in hiding, why we haven’t told a soul about us. Can’t until we’re certain that there’s enough for both of us to live upon. If he were to hurt you…” Gavin cupped his palm to Myra’s cheek, the tips of his fingers dancing over her pretty freckles.