Episode 8: In the Woods

"Thank you!" Lexa said. "I will gladly share your supper. I brought a brace of rabbits to help fill your larder." She held her trophies out to Marcelle, who took them with exclamations of delight and scurried off to find another bowl for their guest.

"Just the thing!" Petros exclaimed. "We can roast one on the way to market, and barter the other."

And what am I going to eat, I'd like to know, while they are off gallivanting? Gundar thought rebelliously. But he curbed his tongue.

Lexa dragged a chair to the end of the table and sat comfortably, as one in her own home. She was not wearing her skintight leathers today, but a plain outfit such as any peasant hunter might use. She did not look as vibrantly full of life as she did the first time Gundar saw her. Her face was pasty, and there were shadows under her eyes.

"So," Petros said, "Been hunting, have you? I heard tell that you were confined to bed."

"Indeed," Lexa said. "This is my first time away from my chamber. I didn't go far, but my legs are shaking nonetheless."

"The iccubata's venom?" Gundar asked.

"Yes. I heaped one error onto another, and leaped to the fray without Stasi's magical protection." Lexa shook her head. "I thought too highly of myself, and it almost cost me my life." She looked down at the table, tears gathering in her eyes. "All that training and practice, and I still let my thoughts scatter to the winds."

"Here," Marcelle said, putting the steaming bowl in front of her guest, "eat. It will strengthen you."

Lexa collected herself and smiled. "Thank you. I have been away too long."
The rest of the meal was taken with small talk about the pigs. Gundar was full of questions about what had happened after he lost consciousness, and looked for an opening to turn the conversation in the direction of the great battle in the sky. But the subject of heroic struggles seemed to hold no interest for Petros or Marcelle.

"The Lili -- my boat," Gundar blurted out at last, after the bowls had been cleared. "What has become of her?"

Lexa looked at him with mild surprise. "Scuttled."

Gundar's heart sank. "Scuttled? She was damaged, I know, but surely not beyond repair!"

"The stench would remain forever," Lexa said. "There was nothing else to be done."

"And how will I leave this place without a boat?" Gundar asked.

"You could not crew her alone," Lexa said. "In any case, you are pledged to Stasi."

"But not forever!"

Lexa looked at him sharply. "You seem to be in a great hurry to be free of him."

"And why not?" Gundar shouted, unable to contain himself any longer. "He has no regard for me!"

"He has every regard for you," Lexa said in a steely tone with more than a hint of warning in it, "as he does for everyone under his care. You would be well-advised not to spurn his wisdom."

"I am going out a walk," Gundar said abruptly. His head was hot, and he knew his temper would soon run out of control. Challenging Lexa to a duel in her weakened state would disgrace his honour and remedy nothing. He stood up and bowed formally to his host. "I will leave you to your own devices. I am sure you have much to talk about."

"Take a look at Rosie while yer out there," Petros said. "She's likely to drop any minute."

Gundar stormed out into the cool of the evening, through the pig yard, down the well-trod path leading into the woods. Before he had gone far, he stumbled over an exposed root and fell headlong. When his breath returned, he pounded the ground with his fists, cursing until he could think of nothing more to blaspheme. His rage swelled, demanding an axe to fell the offending tree, a knife to butcher the squealing swine, an army to lay waste this accursed place which took no heed of his importance. How could Lexa speak so casually of the loss of the Lili? Was there no pity for him anywhere in the universe?

As his temper cooled, he began to shiver. In the heat of the moment, he had not thought to take a cloak. Groaning, he sat up. His shoulder throbbed with pain.

He sat in the gathering darkness, considering his options. He could go deeper into the forest in the hope of being eaten by some nocturnal creature. He could return to the hut. Perhaps, even in her weakened state, Lexa could heal his injuries. But she might take it upon herself to reprimand him again. Best to wait until she was gone and Petros and Marcelle were asleep. Then he could creep into his bed and rise in the morning, pretending there was nothing amiss. The swineherd and his daughter would be thinking of nothing but their precious market. By the time they returned, all would be forgotten, and his disgrace buried forever.

But Lexa would remember. Of all the creatures in the world, it was her good opinion that he craved, and it was unlikely that he could ever redeem himself sufficiently to earn it. Perhaps a speedy death would be preferable after all. Why had he not gone down with the Lili?

There was nothing to do but venture deeper into the forest, where ravenous beasts were sure to lurk. A bear, perhaps, or a pack of wolves to tear him apart. Without weapons, he would be easy prey. Would Lexa regret her words? Or would she shrug her shoulders and turn her attention to future adventures?

Gundar gathered his strength and pushed himself to his feet. Too late, he discovered that his right ankle refused to bear his weight.