49

TRAITOR

"But I wan to marry you now, Henry!" Felicitas stamped stubbornly several times and repeated I want like a mantra.

"But I won't marry before the war."

"Doch!"

"Nein."

"Doch!"

"Nein."

Felicitas sat stubbornly on the ground and crossed his arms. "YET!!"

"What the... No!"

Suddenly she started whining and crying. Rounded his legs wildly and thumped his fists. "But I want to!"

Henry eyed her angrily. He was still utterly ashamed for beating up Elizabeth when he thought she was a boy. But with Felicitas he almost felt the unending urge to put her over his knee. "How old are you!?"

She looked at him defiantly and just shrieked. "Lord God!" It was almost comical. "Forget it!"

Now she bounced up and down on her bum angrily. "I want abeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!"

"I see why Theo wants to pin it on you." Henry spun around. Raven! "Well, cousin? Your eyes are shining."

Naturally. Here was his lifeboat in front of him! "Damn it, what are you doing here?"

"War. That's why I'm here." So he had heard that Theo was coming. God protect him. "Madame Felicitas. A lasting impression you leave here."

She screamed like a fury, got up and stomped wriggling to the window to continue escalating hysterically there. Henry looked desperately at his tall cousin. Raven grinned confidently.

When Felicitas reached a new octave, Raven still growled quietly. "Shut up right now." When she just yelled at him, he roared in the voice of the general that he was. So loud it hurt Henry's ear. "Shut up now or I'll forget myself!"

The whole damn castle went quiet. suddenly. Felicitas whimpered and sought help from Henry, but he ignored her. Raven was just great. He grinned charmingly. "Don't you dare yell this castle together like that again. Madame."

When the cousins closed the door behind them, she heard angry crying, but it wasn't nearly as loud as before. "I'm not marrying that woman."

"Then you have problems with the king."

"Be there." Henry led Raven into the hall and called for food and beer. "I'm taking Nash with me."

"To Calais? Have you gone mad?"

"Raven..." they broke off as the maid brought two bowls of stew and the two mugs. "Raven, I know the risk. And more importantly, she knows it too. We know she's gambling with her life when she does it."

"And you too, by the way. Do I honestly have to remind you idiots what a traitor's death means!?"

Henry shook his head. "Before anyone gets suspicious, I'll get them back to England."

Raven ran a hand through his black hair. "You are not normal."

"Not really, no. But if I die in the war I want to have spent my last days with her. Not with Father or Felicitas."

Raven stared at him with round eyes. "Resounded suspiciously 'til death do us part."

Even when heat waves rolled over Henry, he still nodded. "I guess it sounded like that..."

It became oppressively quiet. Raven must have had something on his mind that Henry wouldn't like. So he wobbled. "Come on, get out with it..."

"She would never play your concubine."

"She would only need that if I were to marry Felicitas."

"And you will."

Henry felt a childish urge to freak out just like his fiancée had earlier. But Raven would break his neck before he could really take a breath. "So you're not on my side?" Nothing worse could have happened to him.

Raven swallowed his beer and shrugged. "How should I? You would be officially rebelling against the king if you didn't accept his election. And you're gambling with your lives enough with Nash."

"Are you going to sabor me?"

"As best I can." Although his tone indicated that he would make no more promises, his look was regretful. Although Henry understood warmly, he became tired and angry at the same time. The anger that was constantly bubbling inside him was always a potential for outbursts of anger anyway. But right now he was feeling a lot worse. Raven was on Theo's side.

He recognized Henry's thoughts like no other. "Stop it, man. You know I won't betray you."

"You do that." He was surprised at how rough and calm his voice sounded at the same time.

"I'm not doing that. I..."

"It's good, Raven. Excuse me." He had to leave before he would refuse like a spoiled brat to talk to him. Henry was incredibly offended. Because if Raven wasn't on his side, it was almost impossible to succeed.

I took Raven's decision much more calmly than Henry. I was shocked too, but I understood. When I left Henry in our little room, he indulged in wine. I knocked on Henry's main room and entered.

Theo stood in front of the window and went over a few things on a piece of parchment. He had the same attitude as his son. How he bowed his head, held his hands and frowned slightly in life. And raised an eyebrow slightly as he looked up. "I don't need anything, thanks."

I was downright shocked at how friendly he sounded. "I'm not a maid, sir. I'm a friend of Henry's and wanted to say goodbye."

Theo immediately gave me his full attention. "Forgive me, my lady. We weren't introduced. Which doesn't surprise me about my son, does it?"

I raised my hands in defense. "Do me a favor and don't talk about him like that."

He immediately looked at me with more interest. "So a girlfriend?"

"Yes sir. Quite right."

Theo wrote something on a small piece of parchment and handed it to me. "If it's a boy, you can stay with me. Otherwise you can get everything you need from there."

Stunned, I had to think about what he meant and almost blushed. Then I was surprised that he would welcome his hated son's bastard. "You misunderstand me. I only say goodbye because it is proper. Not because I want to scam you."

The commander nodded, but did not take the parchment back. "Keep it. If it should be so." Then he smiled, disarmed. "What is your name?"

"Elizabeth." He waited for a surname, but in vain.

"You are not of status?"

"No."

Theo smiled. "And since you let yourself be Siezen?" He laughed surprisingly charmingly. "But why not, right? Nice that you say goodbye to me."

I bowed my head a little mockingly and turned away, and Theo laughed sympathetically. "Farewell, Lady Elizabeth. Say hello to my son for me when you say goodbye to him. You will probably never see each other again."

Make no mistake, my lord...

FEAR AND DESPAIR

Cailais was as ever. The French unfriendly as always. And the commander used to be so charming.

Henry sat in the tent with a beer mug and got to know the new tent mate. He was from Suffolk and his name was Norbert. He was blond, wore the typical English short beard and was otherwise very reserved. But he treated his squire no worse than was usual. Nevertheless, the rascal would secretly spit it into the cup or deliberately let his food fall on the ground before the knight could get it. Henry stayed out of it. He laughed occasionally.

Elizabeth, that is Nash, sharpened the daggers, the swords and polished Henry's armor. But because she was a lady and Henry's lady at that, he actually didn't let her do everything on her own and polled himself. Norbert shook his head at this fact, because miners only had to twiddle their thumbs when war came. Assuming they stayed in camp. They should at least participate a little beforehand.

After Norbert had taught his second beer - spit mug, he disappeared with his villains. Instead, Elizabeth sat down next to him, laughing. "Did you see what he did with the beer?"

"And the cheese before?"

Elizabeth leaned into him with her deep laughter. "I never did that."

"No, just toasted my belt." He kissed her forehead and again felt that relief that she was here. "Let's go astray..."

The typical glint in her eyes appeared. And the smile she always wore when she wanted Henry. "More astray, sir?"

"A lot more. And if you would be so kind, don't pretend to be an eleven-year-old boy, will you?"

Laughing, she was about to sit down on Henry when the tarpaulin was torn open. Henry was shocked, but Elizabeth had the presence of mind to immediately throw herself to the ground, the armor rattling around her. She raised her arms around her head.

"Please sir! I'm sorry, the scratch wasn't intentional!"

Felicitas burst into the tent and eyed Nash like a maggot. As was her habit when she saw people beneath her dignity. "Pull yourself together."

Henry opened your eyes. She had to say that!? But Nash nodded, whimpering. But murmured another protestation. Henry sighed in mock annoyance. "All right. But that was the last time!"

Felicitas had forgotten the squire again and damn fast snuggled up to Henry with her Vespen waist. "Oh, my gracious general..."

He took her hands that were on his chest and pushed them away. "I'm not a general." But she pushed him further and further to the bed and purred to himself. Henry didn't even consciously notice. "What do you want here?"

She tripped him and shoved him onto his cot with a bang. Faster than a human should be able to, she sat on top of him and pressed his paw to her barely there chest and her mouth to his. Henry didn't hear or see it, but he felt Elizabeth seething with anger and threatened to jump at Felicitas' neck. But then their cover would be ruined. And her life forfeits...

At the thought, he yanked Felicitas away by the arms, pushed her back onto her feet and put some distance between them. "Madam!"

"Henry, I wan you!" The stubborn childish look came into her eyes. Raven! He wanted Raven here immediately! Raven!

Elizabeth snorted sarcastically and looked at Henry in disbelief. She didn't want to believe him like Felicitas could be. She took a vigorous step towards her. "Henry! Do you finally want to throw this boy out?"

"I don't know why. Have a nice day, Felicitas. But I still have a lot to do."

The beautiful French woman frowned and looked menacing. "You will be mine, Henry. It doesn't matter if you stand up or submit."

Elizabeth put something in Felicita's face and got dead serious. "You'll be amazed at how little I actually belong to you. As far as I'm concerned, we're not even engaged."

With a resigned look, Felicitas lifted her chin, looked at him silently for a moment and walked bolt upright out of the tent.

When she was gone you could almost hear the grass growing. "I don't think this will go away easily or painlessly..."

Henry agreed with her. "No, I know."

But she wasn't reassured. "Henry, you have to stay alert. She's working with your father, who has the king at his back. You've upset her. Now it's time to be extremely careful."

Again Henry agreed with her. "Yes, I understand. Don't worry."

"I think you underestimate this childish whore!"

Only now did Henry see alertness and fear in Elizabeth's blue eyes. And despair. He walked up to her and innocently placed his hands on her shoulders. After all, she was still Nash.

"I swear to you, I take your warning seriously."

"I...."

He played with the short ends of her hair on the back of her neck. He was so curious as to how one could pin hair so long that ellen too short. "Don't worry, darling. I know my father and his way of acting. And also that he has no inhibitions with his son. Believe me, I'm not taking any chances."

Such a vulnerable and hurt expression overshadowed those bright blue eyes that Henry felt his throat tighten. She herself had to swallow. "You can't leave me alone..."

"Never." He didn't even hesitate. "Not if I can help it."

When her eyes began to shine betrayingly and she looked down, she sniffed softly. But it was enough to finish Henry off. He couldn't imagine anything as bad as seeing his love cry. Just to blame.

So he took her forearm, led her to the horses and rode so far away from the camp that it could be dangerous. But he wanted to comfort her without worrying that someone might see Nash with his hair loose.

It was a burnt, abandoned village that had been shut down during the war. Not even strays came by here. Henry moved Elizabeth into an old cottage, the roof of which was already punctured and blackened by a burn. There they were undisturbed and he was able to banish Elizabeth's fears.

MAKE POSITION

I pulled straws out of my hair while Henry stretched comfortably. He had struck me as a little cautious this time. Like he's scared, I'd burst into tears if he were a little more assertive. But it felt good. Like he worships every inch of me.

His fingertips stroked up and down my spine. "Are you getting cold?"

"No." I gave him a smile over my shoulder.

"I can make a fire." He sat up and kissed my shoulder, wrapped an arm around my stomach and played with my hair. "Do you want to stay here tonight?"

"How do you explain that to your commanders?"

He dug his teeth lightly into my shoulder blade. "I beg you, don't mention him when you're naked. Otherwise I'll see him every time you undress."

I leaned into him laughing. "Then let's stay here."

Henry purred contentedly and pulled me down so my head rested on his thigh. "Very good. I miss our nights."

"Yes, me too. Especially that we can talk without worrying that someone will unmask me." Because whether you wanted to or not, when you loved each other, you talked to each other differently. The whole posture, the facial expressions and also the tone of voice. All of this had to be checked constantly.

His hand slid, quite accidentally of course, from my shoulder to my chest. "Do you regret coming?"

"No." The relieved smile made me so happy that my chest tightened. But the thought that maybe he could no longer own that smile threw me into the abyss. "Don't marry her, Henry..."

"Never..." He ran a hand through my hair and knelt over me. "Nothing and nobody makes me leave you."

I wriggled a little on our straw bed. I wanted to believe him. So I pushed my worries aside and wrapped my legs around his hips.

When we woke up the next morning, the hot stone had disappeared into my stomach. The birds were singing somewhere in the distance, Henry's hand scratched my scalp, and all the nonsense about Felicity and Theo was forgotten for a moment.

"Good morning..." Henry whispered in his deep sleepy voice with his eyes still closed.

"Morning." I eyed the slight shadow of his beard. "When should we go back?"

"Are you stressed?"

"If the king gives orders to attack, which always happens very suddenly, and you're not there, you're considered a deserter. And a traitor."

Henry growled softly. "I'm sick of the war, the king and my commander. When I get back to Nashville, I'll turn invisible to that shit."

If only it were that easy... I didn't say anything because he knew it himself. But I sat up, got dressed and combed my hair out with my fingers. So that the straw was definitely not there when we got back to camp.

"Come on, Henry. We have to go."

When Sir Campbell actually got to his feet, we rode unobtrusively back to camp.

Elizabeth had volunteered to get us breakfast as they were both starving. That's why Henry was quite disappointed when the tarpaulin opened and not Elizabeth but Raven was there. "Hey."

A little uncertain, Henry nodded in greeting and began to shave.

"Are you not talking to me?"

"Yet."

Raven sat down on a stool across from Henry and watched him for a moment. "I know you resent me for being against you on this. And I honestly disagree with your fate, but it's better than death, isn't it?"

"Better?" Henry lowered the blade and looked further into the highly polished breast armor part "Be longer Theo's puppet? Only that his power span will reach into my bed? Be even less human and be myself? Lose Elizabeth?"

"You mustn't talk like that, Henry... It's just a Yes. You probably don't even have to be faithful. Felicitas certainly isn't. It's probably just about an heir."

"It's from a woman I despise." Henry kept shaving. "Besides, I'm not a faithless person."

"Like me?"

Henry immediately stopped and shook his head. "Your situation is different."

Raven's expression darkened nonetheless. "You know what, man? I've tried to explain, but I won't beg. I can't bear with my conscience that you're risking your life and hers. Do as you please, but I won't let you get yourself in trouble."

Henry was also losing patience. "You underestimate my abilities."

But the older one got up and shook his head. "You can't win this fight, Henry." And because Raven said that with genuine contrition, Henry knew he was right and swallowed hard. Raven pointed to his jaw. "You forgot a spot..."

Then he was gone.

I ran into Raven as I passed his tent. He looked angry and upset. "Understood?"

He waved him off. "Why not?"

Suddenly Henry was standing behind me like a bolt from the ground. "Why can't you stay out of it? You don't have to help me, but do you have to be against me?"

Oh no, where did I get myself into this?

"I already told you why!"

Henry took an angry step towards him, pushing me slightly aside as he did so. "I'm a grown man and I know what I'm doing! Why can't you just leave it at that and stay out of it!?"

"Because you become blind with anger when you are pushed into something! And become insane in that blind anger! Your decisions cannot be trusted!"

The soldiers around us walked more slowly or stopped, many looked around to see if things were clear in front of the commanders. But none of them got with the two. They were beside themselves and, whether they realized it or not, on the verge of going for each other's throats.

"Henry..." I tried, but by then it was too late.

"You know what?" growled Henry. "Kiss Theo's boots. You think I can't win? Make no mistake, my lord."

Raven grinned sarcastically. "You want to get formal? All right, but I can do better than that. As your employer, I decide to declare you too immature for a squire and send Nash back to England."

It became quiet in the square. I felt nauseous. Henry blinked several times and swallowed hard. He was delivered once again...

"You're playing off your position on me?" Like Theo, I noticed.

Raven nodded. "And one more word on the matter and I'll put you under arrest."

Each of the bystanders had suspected it and now it happened. Henry swung back and punched Raven in the cheekbone. But the older one was faster and hit back immediately.

The two Campbells collided. And as impressive as it was, it was also scary.

AFTERPLAY

In fact, the two wrestled until blood flowed. None of the other soldiers wanted to intervene because everyone had seen what I had seen. Two tall, dark-haired men who saw nothing in their anger. And nobody wanted to take a hit from them.

But when both bled, smashed a rickety table and chairs that had been standing in front of a tent by both flying on it and the commander was said to be on his way, both broke off and disappeared into their tents.

Henry had struggled into his tent without help, but there he sat down, panting and exhausted, on the stool and almost fell over. I quickly put him back up. "For heaven's sake, Henry... Arguing is all well and good, but a fight?"

"He went too far..."

"And you fully accepted it." I wrung out a clean cloth in the bucket of water by the door and washed the blood off his face. His eyebrow and lip were bleeding. Otherwise he had one black eye and apparently countless other bruises on his body.

"I didn't know anything else to do... Should I have tailed and thanked him for his decision?"

"Why not!? Then he would certainly have reversed the decision."

Henry shook his head slowly and wearily. "When he formally gives an order, he stands by it and doesn't overthrow it anymore."

Now my courage left me. "I can't go back to England without you."

"I am sorry..."

"We need an idea..."

But that should be a long time coming. For two soldiers came and escorted Henry to Commander Campbell.

The slap echoed in the tent. When Henry lifted his already aching head, he felt blood spurting from his nose. "A disgrace you are."

Raven stared guiltily at his boots. He blamed himself. If he hadn't gone that far, Henry wouldn't have freaked out and they wouldn't be standing here.

But Henry saw it differently. Theo was looking for a reason to get him the whole time. So it was no one else's fault but himself. "If you say so, sir."

Theo grabbed his collar. "And like I mean that, you rude, disrespectful prat. You have no idea how much you deserve the beating."

As if on cue, soldiers entered and tied Henry and Raven's arms. "I was wondering why you're being so gentle with me today."

Theo patted his cheek roughly. "I'll see you soon my boy."

The sun beat down on the empty space between the tents. Two pillars stood in there with a crossbeam to which the soldiers were chained to discipline them. Traitors, deserters, thieves, rebels, drunkards... that's where they all went.

Henry was tied to one side of the beam, Raven to the other. They both stood almost next to each other, but looked each other straight in the eyes. Raven smiled mirthlessly. "Rather warm today."

"We're about to get really warm. I'll bet on that." At Raven's mute nod, Henry pulled himself together. "I'm sorry, my lord."

"I'm sorry too." He looked up. "All."

Henry swallowed. Shortly thereafter, they were surrounded by soldiers and Nash came rushing in too. Eyes wide with terror, she looked at the two cousins and ran coldly to Henry. But before she could reach him, a soldier grabbed her and forbade her. Nash tried to be calm, but on the third objection, she caught two resounding slaps. Without realizing it, Henry tugged at his bonds.

"He doesn't know she's a woman."

"That does not make it better."

Theo approached, armed with an ox whip. Raven saw him coming and rolled her eyes.

"What is it?"

"Boxwhip."

Henry's stomach heaved. "Have mercy on me..."

Raven swallowed hard. "And my tormentor?"

"The same."

When they both heard the whistle in the air, they looked at each other in silence and then winced. Henry felt his food ringing. His back seemed to burn from just one slash. Immediately, he steeled his muscles as he used to, hoping to hold out long enough without passing out...

The image of the tormented cousins still bothered me as both were dragged into their tent. Both conscious. But no sooner was Henry lying on his stomach on his bunks than he drifted away. I could still see the cousins leaning their shoulders together, their muscles visibly tensing before another blow swept over them, sweat dripping down them and blood flowing.

I fought back tears again at the thought. As soon as I stood in front of them, a few tears escaped me. The soldier's buddy who first hit me reprimanded me roughly. I should become a man.

Now I sat here like a mother, cooked Camillensud and examined the pain-contorted face of my beautiful Henry. I honestly had to force myself to put some cool compresses on his bleeding back.

For a moment his head jerked up, his eyes so reproachful and helpless. Then he was gone again. Norbert, our tent mate, shook his head angrily. "The commander exaggerated."

"I think so too."

"Now don't start crying, brat! Your master is a soldier and knows that discipline is the most important thing in a camp."

It sounded like he was blaming Henry. And that wasn't his place. So I spun grotik to him. "I'm not crying, don't worry! Why should man have feelings too!"

Norbert gave me an angry look. "You can tell that Henry doesn't think much of discipline."

For a moment I was tempted to tell him that he drinks his squire's spit. But then the stupid guy would have to pay for it. So I threw the changed rag into the bucket with a splash and sat down grumpily.

I later sought out Raven's squire and was told that his condition was similar. Out of sheer concern for both of them, I knew which tent I should watch first...

God, what were the Campbells doing to me?