- Maybe we can do that?
Adi answered. There were eight people here and four rooms. If we lived in twos, then Roy would be the least awkward for her.
- It is forbidden!
Bert shouted it so loudly that both Roy and Adi stared at him in fear. All pale, Bert jabbered: “Uh, exactly, well... that’s out of the question!”
Roy's face showed a lack of understanding of the reasons for Bert's reaction. Adi, in a sense, understood him, but she wanted him to stop, because it was too easy to give away that she was a girl.
- Why don’t Adi take a separate room?
- What?
- No, it’s just that there are small closets. Well, the Night Watchers use them when they come into the forest. When there are a lot of people, they sleep wherever they can, even in closets.
- Bert, with all due respect, there are enough beds, is it too cruel to suggest sleeping in the closet?
Billy said so. Joel, standing nearby, nodded in agreement.
“You only say that because you don’t know anything. How on earth can you put a man and a woman in the same room? Besides, our Duke looks with all his eyes. Doesn’t it seem that his already red eyes are now blazing even more fiercely?”
Then Yuls, who had previously only observed the situation with his arms crossed over his chest, opened his mouth.
- Adi.
The eyes of everyone present focused on Yulse.
- Come here.
He gave the order in a familiar tone. Adi, as always, slowly walked towards him. Looking at Adi as she approached, Yuls raised the corner of his lips. His previously cold gaze instantly became affectionate. Jules put his hand on her shoulder.
- Adi will live in the same room with me.
-...
“Besides, I still need security.”
“Yes, that will be better,” Bert thought. Probably everyone who was privy to the secret thought so. Only Billy, Joel and Roy could not understand this situation.
* * *Dinner was prepared by Joel. There were enough provisions here, so they managed to eat quite decently. Compared to those times when they had to survive on dry rations and dried meat, trying to drive and hide Adi as quickly as possible, this was a real feast.
Although Joel had prepared quite a lot of food, it still seemed a little lacking. He said that he must have made a mistake in his calculations while cooking, because feeding eight grown men, including knights, was not an easy task.
Undoubtedly, everyone present here had a hearty meal. Even Adi.
Bert had already seen this several times and knew, but Gavin and Ivan looked at Adi with undisguised curiosity. It was obvious that her appetite was not at all like a woman's. Gavin even watched with some envy at Adi, who ate more than he did.
After finishing their meal, everyone went to their rooms. Billy, who said that with four rooms and eight beds they could sleep in relative comfort, gave everyone clothes for the next day.
As a result, Adi ended up in the same room with the Duke.
There were two single beds in the room, pushed close to each other. Thinking about why they needed to be connected at all, Adi tried to push them apart.
The beds were harder than expected. They appear to have been made from solid logs. Giving up attempts to move the stubborn furniture, Adi turned to Yuls and said: “I’ll sleep on the floor.” “Juls looked at her with obvious bewilderment.
- Sir.
Yuls said.
- Do you think I'm going to do something to you?
- No way.
“Then maybe you’re going to do something to me yourself?”
- No.
“Then lie still and sleep.”
—…….
When he said that, it was impossible to refuse.
And yet, how can you sleep peacefully when lying in the same bed with the Duke? Adi lay down next to Juls, but sleep did not come.
Where the hand lay was the Sword. It was unlikely that anyone would attack in the middle of this forest, but she felt it was better to keep him to herself. Measured breathing could be heard from the Duke lying on his side.
“How can you sleep when a stranger is nearby?” “Adi couldn’t understand him. Judging by the measured movement of his body, he was indeed asleep. Turning on her side, Adi stared at Yuls’s back.
At first he seemed just a boy, but overnight he grew up, and now this appearance has become much more familiar. Adi extended her hand to Yuls’s back. But she never touched him. And yet she felt warm. Although the weather was not that hot, heat seemed to emanate from his body.
Removing her hand, Adi soon turned away. She didn't think she could fall asleep looking at Yuls. Yuls opened his eyes slightly at the rustle of the blanket and the sound of her moving. The eyelids dropped again onto the red eyes, in which it was impossible to read a single thought.
The Hut was quiet. There was the sound of breathing and snoring, but not loud enough to disturb sleep. At that moment, a rustling sound was heard. The sound was barely perceptible, but Adi opened her eyes.
Then there was a rustling sound again. The sound of leaves. It wasn't like the rustle of leaves blowing against each other in the wind. This was not a sign of nature, but of man.
The rustling sound was heard again. The sound of fabric brushing against leaves; the sound was not smooth, as if there was an obstacle in the path of the wind.
Adi stood up, clutching the Sword in her right hand.
In the blink of an eye, many footsteps were heard. Something surrounded the Hut. And someone appeared at the window. Adi, as usual, wanted to grab and throw a dagger. But this dagger was taken away by Count Grimaldi. As a result, Adi jumped over the duke and rushed to the window and plunged her sword into the crack. SOMEONE backed away.
- Bert! Roy!
Adi screamed. Jules just got up.
- Your Grace, outside!
Adi said. Juls grabbed Adi by the hand and led him outside. Adi, who was about to push the Duke out and confront those who were trying to get through the window, froze with a stunned face.
Hearing Adi's scream, Bert and Roy readied their swords and went outside. Gavin and Ivan also seemed ready to attack.
Ivan stood in front of the door. He put his foot down to prevent the door from opening, but soon someone burst through the window. People in black clothes, wearing scarlet capes, pointed their swords. Bert and Ivan also put swords to their throats.
They looked at each other intently.
—…….
—…….
Then the swords dropped.
- Emil.
- Bert.
A colorless voice rang out.
- Oh, it's you. They scared me.
- We are rather surprised. How did you get there already? You were expected only in a week.
- It just so happened.
It looked like they were acquaintances. The tension that made my palms sweat subsided. Adi and Roy also lowered their swords.
Ivan opened the door. Several people walked inside and looked around the Hut, and their eyes were drawn to Yuls. The one they were looking for was not here, but there was someone who looked like him. Besides, he’s matured.
- Your Mightiness?
The voice sounded as if they did not believe their own eyes.
— The curse is broken. Even if not completely,” Bert said.
Although their faces were hidden and their facial expressions could not be seen, it was felt that they were rejoicing.
— Congratulations on your return.
The man, whose name was Emil, spoke. The people who entered after him said in unison: “Congratulations on your return.”
“We will escort Your Lordship safely to the estate.”
Instead of answering, Yuls just grinned. Like a true ruler who has set foot on his lands. Adi sheathed her sword. Roy looked at the people standing in front of them with a stunned look.
- These are the Night Guardians.
Roy said. These were the same Night Guards - Woodpecker's special unit.
* * *The south, which she saw for the first time, turned out to be warmer than she could have imagined, and at the same time drier. There was no feeling of humidity at all. It was hot in the sun, sweat appeared, but as soon as you went into the shade, coolness enveloped you.
The wind here was different from the humid air of Palesa. It was not like the dry, frosty wind of Grimaldi. The colors around seemed much richer. She couldn’t help but think that this is what those southern regions that are talked about as vacation spots must look like.
Apparently, someone had already announced the Duke's arrival, because a crowd of people met him at the entrance to the estate. Just as a king is greeted at the Palais, here the duke was clearly in no way inferior to the monarch.
And the Woodpecker estate itself, which they entered, was closer in size to a palace. Adi even wondered if it was bigger than the palace in Pales.
The servants, having barely reached the estate, immediately went to their places. Since everyone here had their own area of responsibility, no one hesitated.
Adi and Roy, being new here, on the contrary, stood at a loss, not knowing what to do. The Duke, having glanced at them, disappeared into the Main Building.
For some reason, there was a strange feeling of alienation and annoyance in this, but even these thoughts themselves seemed inappropriate.
- Adi, Roy.
Bert called.
- Come here. I'll show you everything.
Bert led them to where the knights were located. Their sector was located north of the Main Building. Above was the Training Ground, and behind it the forest began.
As it turned out, Woodpecker’s battles mainly took place in the forests or at sea, so a lot of time was devoted to training in the thicket. Roy's eyes sparkled. He seemed to like this place.
Bert then showed them where the dining room and the Study were, before heading towards the living quarters. The knight's dormitory was located inside the Main building, on the second floor. This was probably done for the convenience of the knights serving as guards.
Bert explained that there are other residential buildings, and some knights even live outside the estate, so that later they will be able to choose an option to their liking, and the current rooms should be considered temporary. Adi's room was next door to Roy's.