The morning started as always when on a trip. A breakfast consisting of the re-cooked dinner from the night before and packing up the camp. Despite the passion of their nights they both worked diligently at breaking camp and resuming the journey. The day promised to be a fine and warm, perfect weather to travel. Regaining the main road they set a good pace with the outside hope of reaching the small town of North Stratford by nightfall. Typical of the smaller towns that lay out side the main city it boasted a well known inn, the Royal Dragon it was favored by travelers, since it was an easy days ride fro the city proper.
During their brief mid day stop she brought up the topic of when they reached the inn she would be lodging in her own room, and that they would have to observe the proper distance. His eyes said disappointment as his mouth voiced the proper response. To soften the blow she did say that one never knew what could happen in the coming and going of a busy inn at night, she added a wink to further explain herself. And she received a smile and nod for her efforts.
It was on their afternoon ride they met fellow travelers also on their way to the fair. Mostly they were merchants that were going to sell their products. Some of their wares were useful or even necessary but most were of the cheap frivolous kind that people loved once a year. Also there were the food venders and the toothsome smell of baked bread and the other delicacies excited the taste buds. Seeing that she was of high birth the various hawkers circled her, forcing him to ride knee to knee with her and keep them at a respectable distance from her horse.
The sun was setting as they road into North Stratford and made their way to the Royal Dragon. The inn bustled with the various travelers all going in the same direction. Handing their horses off to a young stable boy they entered the inn. It was little problem for her to obtain a room for the night, her name and breeding were enough, as well as dinner for her and her escort. He retrieved her bags from the pack horse in the stable and retuned to her bower. She was waiting for him, and with proper voice and tense she directed him where to place her luggage. Until the door closed, then she hugged him and kissed him full on the lips and fondled him through his clothes. Between kisses she kept up a chatter of orders to him, all the while making suggestive movements and gestures. He smiled from ear to ear at her playfulness as he stowed her luggage in the room. He stopped and extended his hand to her. She took it and pressed herself against him, feeling him through his clothes as she laid her head against his shoulder.
They would meet again that night at dinner; a noisy common room in a well traveled inn could be a dangerous place, and he insisted that he be there. The sun was well down when she arrived to dine. He was already there leaning against the fireplace with a tankard of ale in one hand while in conversation with another knight. He saw her come in the room, made his excuses and went to escort her to her meal. They sat at a corner table not too far from the fire place which felt rather cozy in the damp night air.
"Good evening Lady."
"And to you, good Sir." She said as he held the chair out for her to sit down on, leaning down to her ear he whispered. "I find myself envious of that chair bottom, right now." She blushed at that and glanced around to see if anyone caught her reaction. Seating himself across from her they sat in silence, he surveyed the room looking for any threat to her safety. The people in the commons room were a mix of men-at-arms, richer merchants and a few landed nobles with retainers. Serving girls circulated around the room dispensing drink and taking money, as the host brought out platters of meat and cheese for the supper patrons.
Presently the host came to their table to ask their food request. She chose a platter of chicken and ham with some hard cheese and a loaf of bread and a bottle of wine. He simple asked for another ale.
"You will not dine with me, Sir?"
"It would be unseemly for you to share food with a man servant Lady"
"You are NOT a man servant Sir, but a valued knight at arms as well as my escort and protector."
"Many thanks for you words my Lady, but it would be better this way, I will take your leftover food back to the pavilion with me when I see you safe to your room."
"Will you also see me to bed?" She smiled at him coyly.
"Tis a tempting offer, to be sure. Mayhapes I might have to check on you in the middle night...just to be sure you are safe and whole."
"That would be well good Sir, since it is well within your duties as my escort and protector."
The food arrived and she ate and drank mostly in silence. She watched his eyes as he looked about him, and marveled that the military in him was never far from the surface. In his mind he weighed every person he saw as a possible threat or opponent. Some he dismissed out of hand. The young and old his glance barely lingered on, the women only if she was comely. One in particular seemed to be staring holes in him and she commented on it to him.
"Sir, it seems that the lass in the sky blue dress is desiring your attention."
"Her? Lady she is barely old enough to be my daughter."
"My Lord many a young girl desires a...ah...seasoned partner."
"You jest with me lady, what would she want with this old man?" In response she slid a slippered foot up the inside of his leg, and her toes nudged his crotch and lingered there a moment. He looked at her and smiled at her actions.
The host made his rounds and he asked for her left over meats and cheese to be wrapped for him to take back to his tent. She also gave him coin and added another bottle of wine to bring to her room. Leaving the commons area they ascended the stairs to the second floor and her room. It seemed that half the people in the inn were gathered in the hall to her room. She unlocked the door and entered, he stood in the doorway.
"Lady be sure you lock this door when I leave, put the wood across the door as well, when I return I will knock thusly." He knocked three time quickly, paused and then twice more. "As you wish my Lord, I will await for that signal to unbar the door, although, I don't think it is necessary." "Please lady, trust me in this...there are many...questionable people about and you are not in the safe keeping of the kings protectors in the city...yet."
"Even if I was Sir, I couldn't be any safer then when under your care."
She watched him leave the doorway and go down the hall. Closing the door she locked it and place the wood and iron beam across the back of the door in the iron holders. Having secured her safety she went to the window and watch for his leaving, truth be told, she wondered if he would leave alone or with the lass in the sky blue dress. Soon he came out alone and cast a look at her window; she moved her hand to her brow and watched his return salute. With that he moved off into the dark to retire to his pavilion.
The room was comfortable enough after two days on the road, she kindled a fire in the place and it drove the chill out of the air. The wine she purchased sat on the table unopened, she hoped that he would interrupt her sleep and help her to drink it as well as her other needs. Heating the washing water that was left, she washed herself and dabbed herself with pretty smells. Changing into a sleeping shift she retired to the bed, and slipped into the twilight between sleep and dreams.
Having left his charge, he returned to his tent in the field just outside the town proper. Since this afternoon many tents had been set up, most had shields outside of them and he recognized many of them from his long military service. His own shield identified his tent and he entered it. The camp bed was set up but it looked lonely without her in it. He had brought back a leather flagon of ale as well as the rest of the cold chicken and ham. He settled down on the bed, propped up on his travel cloak and began to eat his supper. He was half way through his ale when a rustle at the door carpet disturbed his thoughts, he sprang to the ready drawing the dirk he had at his side and moved to the doorway. Pulling aside the carpet he saw the young girl in the blue dress standing unsure before him.
"Lady...can I help you in some way?" He asked in a confused voice, his mind went to what she had said at dinner about young women wanting older men.
"Sir knight, I sought you out because the host forgot to send the half loaf of bread that was your due before you left the inn" She said this with down cast eyes that fluttered up to his eyes and back down.
"My thanks My Lady, but he shouldn't have sent you so far out of range for a half a loaf of bread."
"It was my pleasure Sir." She stood looking lost and needing something else.
He asked her to come in to the tent and she ducked under the door curtain, the smell of sandalwood, and leather assailed her nostrils and it started a vibration in her body that she was unused to. "Please Lady be seated, and relax... tis a longish walk to here from the inn, would you like a drink?"
"My thanks kind sir, I would." He passed her the flagon of ale and she took a tentative sip.
He looked at her; she was all of 20 years, maybe younger, but certainly well built. Not beautiful but young and nubile, she was an honest working girl from the low lands, and he thought how easy it might be to seduce her. This thought came and went as fast as a winter's gale off the North Sea.
