The meal was surprisingly of great quality considering the place the camps were set in. Roast pheasant, gingerbread, cured fish and sweet porridge. And Iona ate it all without a care in the world that she looked absolutely barbaric while devouring it. As for Rolfe—he just watched her with satisfaction that she had it all so lovingly. This was nothing compared to the food in the palace, but he had grown to like it over the past five years he had been forced to live a life of a nomad. 

To Iona's sheer embarrassment, she burped after finishing her meal. Her cheeks singed and she thought for a moment as to what would Rolfe think about her, but seeing that he only gave her a sweet smile, she bit her lip. "The food was very delicious." 

He got up from his place, lifted the food tray from the bed and placed it outside the tent. She heard one of the men coming and taking the tray away. He returned to sit against a small writing desk nestled in a corner of the tent to sit on the chair. His hands were smudged with ink, which meant he was writing letters. "How are you feeling now, Iona?" he asked. 

"I am better," she replied immediately, wondering what he would do next. Oh, those damned lips of his were so extremely distracting. She averted her gaze from them. 

After an awkward stretch of silence, she said, "I believe this is not where I should be sleeping. Can you tell me where to go? I really don't want to be a botheration any more than I am." She pulled the blanket away and set her feet on the ground. 

Those lips curved into yet another smile and she forgot to breathe. "You will be staying with the women in the tents on the opposite side, though I am not sure how much of your eyes would be able to bear." 

When she frowned, he laughed. "The men and women in my unit are soldiers and they are away from their families for five years. Don't blame them for being liberal in their ways. We have all experienced too many tussles with king's men to have any chastity left in us. And I won't let you judge us."

She licked her dry lips and understood what he meant immediately. A pale blush rose on her cheeks and she looked away. Did she have a choice? "I will remain guarded, m'lord," she replied. 

"Good," he said. "In two days, we will be traveling down further south. One of my men has discovered an abandoned fortress where we would like to station until my father finds out about us. So eat well and be ready." 

Iona gave a tight nod and began to get up when dizziness caught her and she sat down on the bed with a thud. "Damn it!" she muttered, holding her forehead. 

Instantly Rolfe rushed to her side and held her. He sat right beside her. "You shouldn't rush," he said. "Wait for a while over here. You are getting up after two days. It is not going to be easy. Stay here until you are steady." Sweet mother of demons, her smell was going to drive him crazy. And it was mixed with her sweat. He found himself hardening like a randy teenager against her. He got up swiftly and turned to go back to sit on the chair, hoping to hide his growing erection. He turned his back towards her and started writing something fervently on the paper. He was acutely aware of the girl watching him with surprise. His heart was racing like a wild horse. He stopped the quill and placed it in the holder. When he looked at the paper, his eyes flared wide at what he had written in his language.

Iona, Iona, Iona, Iona, Iona, Iona, Iona, Iona, Iona, Iona, Iona, Iona, Iona, Iona, Iona, Iona, Iona, Iona, Iona, Iona, Iona, Iona, Iona, Iona, Iona, Iona, Iona, Iona, Iona, Iona. 

He tore the paper from the notepad and crushed it in his hand. 

--- 

They started the steep uphill hike after having a good meal. Ileus was on the edge that Anastasia was walking. He stayed behind her and used his sword to cut every damn thing that came in her path to make way for her. In the process he sliced every damn sapling with his sword that was as much as touched her skin. He hated that she was talking to Kaizan but not him. 

"How far up is the fortress?" she asked, as she slanted her hand over her forehead to see up. The trees jutted against the red and gray stones, rolling up the slope like sentinels and then merging with moss and lichen covered rocks, which eventually turned into snow covered peaks. Frozen winds ruffled the hair in her braid. 

"It is going to take the whole day," replied Kaizan. "Better hurry up!" 

She pulled the fur around her tightly and then staggered after him. 

Suddenly Kaizan turned and asked, "Are you tired, Anastasia?"

She was breathless and Ileus was fighting the urge to shift and make her ride him. "I am not," she replied. 

Kaizan walked to her. "I know that you are tired, Anastasia." He pulled her arm over his and started walking uphill. "Whenever you feel like it, just let me know and I will carry you up on my back. And if you are starving, let me know at that instant. I have brought a lot of roasted meat," he said, patting his bag. 

Ileus strode after them, while barely listening to the conversation. He scowled at the sight of his wife's arm tucked into Kaizan's. Who the hell was he to even touch her when he was there? And why was she allowing it? Jealousy flared, and it coiled like a poisonous snake in his chest. 

"… I hope the fortress has some good equipment," Anastasia said. 

"Don't worry," Kaizan interrupted in a soothing voice. "Even if there isn't, I will make sure to make more. I promise." 

"Yes, I know Kaizan," she replied tenderly, much to Ileus' discomfort. 

"For all you know, it might be a dangerous trap!" Ileus interjected. 

Anastasia glanced over her shoulder and narrowed her eyes. "You don't know a thing. You just arrived today and you are speaking as if you know everything?" 

"I prefer to speak about the dangers. And speaking of dangers, you shouldn't be traveling on foot," he said in a low ominous voice, his eyes still focused on their interlocked arms. 

"That is right," said Kaizan. "I would shift and you can sit on me." 

"What?" Ileus stood on the ground, frozen to his spot. "In the morning you told me that you have a bloody stiff back. How can you let her sit on you when your back is so sore?" The sneaky, sneaky wolf. 

Kaizan glanced at him over his shoulder and frowned. When the hell did he tell him that? "I don't—" 

Ileus cut him off. "I won't allow you to further burden yourself because we are going up a steep incline. If anyone would shift, that would be me. I can carry Anastasia on my back. Yes, I can sacrifice for you Kaizan!" 

'Gods, cut the dramatics', Kaizan communicated to him mentally. 

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