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Aein fired her arrow into the target, pleased as it struck center. If nothing else, these weeks as she waited for Lars to return from the border gave her time to continue her training. She made a half-hearted attempt to hassle the new recruits the way he always seemed to bother her, but she wasn't very good at it. She found herself retreating to the archery green whenever she had time off. The other warriors in the barracks greeted her with stony silence. No one seemed to understand why she was back, what could have caused her to desert her post, what could have made her leave her partner behind.
She lowered her bow as the wave of emotions washed over her.
"Excellent aim," said a voice over her right shoulder. She looked behind her to find a man she had never seen before.
He was tall with a heavy brow and straight, noble nose. Over his chainmail, he wore a shining, silver-colored breastplate. She could not even imagine the expense. It was far finer than anything they had at the stronghold. His hair was closely shorn, but appeared to be some shade of blonde, or at least that is what the hairs on his arms and his eyebrows seemed to suggest. He held out his hand. "Finn. From the Kingdom of Haidra."
She took a deep breath. Of course. The wedding day was coming soon and the princess's father was wise to send out someone to investigate the stronghold for safety.
She gripped his forearm in greeting. "Aein. Of the Arnkell Stronghold."
Finn's thin lips broke into a wide smile, revealing his straight, square teeth. His weather-beaten face crinkled around his merry eyes. "Aein. A pleasure. You have skill," he stated, pointing at where she had shot.
"Thank you," she replied, not sure entirely what to do in this situation.
"Mind if I try?" he asked.
She motioned. "Be my guest." She handed him her bow and pulled an arrow from her quiver. He tested the bow's strength to get a feel for its pull. He notched the arrow carefully and took aim. He drew his breath to prepare for release... and missed the center of the mark widely.
He laughed again and handed the bow back to Aein. "I'm afraid I have not your skill."
She smiled at this gentle stranger. "You should try again."
"No," he said, rubbing his hand over his head. "I would only embarrass myself... again. Come, the least I can do is retrieve your arrows."
"I'll go with you," she replied.
As they walked down the green, he asked, "So, have you lived here long?"
"My parents died in a raid when I was a child," she said. "I have lived here ever since."
He nodded, taking in her words silently. "There have been so many dark times, so many deaths. I hope that this union will bring the end to such days." He bent over and pulled the arrows from the target, handing them back to her. His fingers lingered for a moment longer than necessary to release them. "Is he a good man?" he asked. "This Lord Arnkell?"
"Of course," said Aein. "I have chosen to pledge my own life to protect him."
"Good," said Finn. He blinked in the sun. "I have pledged my own life to Princess Gisla. Even more than peace, though, I want her to be happy. I suppose that seems foolish when so much is at stake."
"No," said Aein. Unthinking, she took his hand. It was rough beneath hers, calloused and muscular from carrying a sword. She released it, embarrassed by her familiarity. "No," she said again. "I feel the same."
Finn shifted his feet, suddenly very interested in something on the ground. He cleared his throat. "Would you mind letting me buy you a cup of ale? I would like to hear more about you... you and your life here."
"Of course," said Aein.
"It is just a drink," he explained, holding up his hands against the protest she did not make. "Nothing more. Just... a drink between fellow soldiers who are soon to find themselves on the same side."
"Of course," she replied again, strangely wishing he had not made the clarification. "In fact," she added, "I might know a secret spot with the best food and ale west of the border."
Finn laughed. "I knew there was something I liked about you from the moment I saw you."
Aein laughed back. There was something she liked about him, too. "Follow me," she said.
The casks of ale were stored down in the stronghold cellar. The drinks flowed freely throughout dinner, and she knew Cook Bolstad would not begrudge her a few tankards outside of regular hours. In fact, when one of the newer members of the kitchen brought Cook Bolstad in to see Aein and Finn seated close to one of the best kegs, he placed his arm around the young man and guided him out, explaining to him how things worked in his kitchen.
Finn chuckled. "You do have connections, don't you," he remarked, raising his tankard to Aein.
She laughed and explained, "I happen to know the cook."
Finn pointed his finger at where Cook Bolstad exited, his voice slurring just a touch. "That, my dear Aein, is the most powerful man in any stronghold. A man who can break the spirit of every man, woman, and child under the roof of any such as Lord Arnkell, and don't you forget it. You treat him right."
"Cook Bolstad raised me after my parents' death," confided Aein, taking another sip.
"Ah..." said Finn. "Even more reason."
She regarded him. "And what of you? Who do you treat kindly there in King Haidra's kingdom?"
"I am close to the royal family," he admitted, running his thick thumb along the lip of his tankard. "My father and mother served as guards under King Haidra. And I serve Princess Gisla."
"No other family?" Aein asked, the beer giving her the bravery to find out if Finn had any deeper attachments.
"No," said Finn. "All gone to the grave and now I find myself betrothed to my career."
"What is she like? The princess?" asked Aein leaning forward. "None of us know anything about her. Only Lord Arnkell has even seen her picture."
"Ah," said Finn. "You would like her. Very similar to you. A warrior. Her coloring is a bit different than yours. Dark where you are light. Light where you are dark. But she leads us well." He once again pointed to where Cook Bolstad disappeared. "She knows how to treat a cook, especially one who takes in stray little orphans and raises them to be women such as yourself." Finn set down his tankard. His eyes seemed blurry and his stance swayed. "Now, if you will excuse me, I am exhausted and it would be best if I found my bed before I fell asleep here in the cellar and had to be rolled out in the morning with all the empty casks."
Aein gave him a friendly nod and watched him as he walked out. She liked him. He was confident and strong beneath his soft-spoken kindness. She felt like she had not gotten to know a whole lot about him, but she liked him.
She reached down to pick up his tankard and realized it was still completely full.
He was a mystery, she thought.