Chapter 3: Love Life

Getting off of the castle grounds proved to be more of a challenge than getting onto them. The thought of climbing to the other side of the castle to leave through the garden did not particularly appeal to her; even less so considering that she could guess that there would be a change of guard soon. So, she climbed as low as she dared and clung to the wall above a guard as she waited.

 

To Zerlinda, if felt as if hours had passed while she waited but, in reality, it had been less than half an hour. Her fingers and toes had started to ache with the effort of keeping her body from falling directly on top of the guard below and keeping absolutely still. The temptation to relieve them was growing stronger by the minute, but she knew that she couldn't risk drawing attention to herself and so she ignored the urge and kept her eyes on the figure below.

 

Finally, the guard sighed and walked away, grumbling and complaining about how his replacement never showed up on time. Zerlinda mentally breathed a sigh of relief at being able to reprieve her toes and fingers without the worry of being caught. She relinquished her hold of the castle wall and allowed herself to fall on to the grass, landing on her toes and with bent knees to spring back up and run to the surrounding wall. She scrambled up and over the stone wall before the next round of guards could return.

 

By the time Zerlinda made it back to the safety of the forest, the dark sky was transforming into a lighter shade of blue. Her eyelids started to feel heavy and her actual eyes felt like they just had sand rubbed into them. She was exhausted and was taken by the overwhelming urge to sleep, but she knew that she had to get back and so walked on, yawning so many times that her eyes watered.

 

The sun had risen well above the treetops when Zerlinda eventually returned to the cabin. The scent of Saya's cooking reached Zerlinda's nose and her stomach growled in response, reminding her that she had neglected to eat lunch and dinner the previous day. Simultaneously, a huge yawn made its way pass her lips, reminding her that she had also neglected to sleep in the pass twenty-four hours. It was one of the worst feelings to be equally tired and hungry at the same time.

 

"There you are!" Saya exclaimed from the kitchen as Zerlinda walked in. "We were just debating if you had gotten yourself caught and needed rescuing."

 

"Ha, ha," Zerlinda replied, dropping into one of the chairs at the table and rolling her eyes.

 

Agmund looked up from his seat across the table from her and took in Zerlinda's messy hair, tired eyes and overly exhausted appearance.

 

"You look terrible," he said.

 

"Thanks," Zerlinda grimaced, knowing it was true.

 

"I'm guessing Adalric declined our offer," Saya said, putting three plates of bacon, eggs, and toast on the table in front of them.

 

Zerlinda gave her a grateful smile and swallowed several bites before answering.

 

"He said that he needed time to think about it."

 

"So you're going back?" Agmund asked through a mouthful of breakfast.

 

"You really shouldn't talk with your mouthful, Agmund," Zerlinda chided. "It isn't very proper."

 

Agmund glared at her and swallowed before replying.

 

"Since when do you care about what's proper?"

 

"Touche," Zerlinda admitted with a shrug.

 

"So when are you going back?" Saya asked, returning the conversation to its previous topic.

 

"Tomorrow night," Zerlinda confirmed with a nod.

 

"Do you think he'll join our merry band?"

 

"Maybe," Zerlinda shrugged. "He acted like he thought I was going to kill him when he first saw me; got all scared, saying that he tried to convince his father of our innocence and such ..."

 

"But?" Saya prompted.

 

"But he didn't call his guards in. He just begged."

 

"Maybe he still fancies you," Agmund suggested.

 

"Oh, he basically told me that he does before I left."

 

"What did you tell him?" Saya asked.

 

"I told him that it would never work."

 

"That was cold," she said, shaking her head.

 

"It was true," Zerlinda countered.

 

"I doubt he'll let it be, Z. He's persistent, that one," Agmund said.

 

"And I'm stubborn," Zerlinda replied. "Can we please get off the topic of my love life?" She finished her breakfast. "I'm going to sleep."

 

Her two friends nodded as she walked into her room. She hung her cloak up on her bed post and removed her daggers from her belt, hanging them up in their places on the wall above her bed next to her bow, quiver of arrows, and sword. Zerlinda could fight exceptionally well with all of these weapons, but she was most comfortable with hand-to-hand and her daggers.

 

After changing into more comfortable clothes, Zerlinda crawled into bed. Her eyes her closed before her head even had the chance to hit the pillow.