Chapter 32: Respite and Rest

  Julien

  After the events that had just transpired the eagerness to explore had died out. He really couldn't blame the others though. They weren't supposed to explore the rest of the refuge but had been stopped by Petra's transformation and his father, partial change? So, he wasn't even sure what had happened to his father. Normally that would worry him a lot more but right now so much had happened, he felt numb. The only good thing to come out of all of this was the new attitude Hellgarth seemed to have.

  The knight was nothing if not practical. He seemed to accept his father's words and his identity. Like there was any other choice. He now followed him like a shadow, a development that had him more than a little suspicious.

  Olena had moved to help Petra as had Altaya and Katrina both of which were trying to offer the logical woman with emotional support. None of which she seemed to need. She seemed far more fascinated than worried about the development. If one could call the changing of your entire biology, a development.

  Marith and Barith had stayed by his father's side as he recovered. But from what theybahd no idea. His left arm was forever changed it seemed and his father seemed to keep staring at it clenching and unclenching his hand as if he could quite believe it was there.

  That left him, Aramin m, and Carlouse just standing around awkwardly waiting for whatever happened next.

  "Go, get some rest," his father ordered as he slowly climbed to his feet. His legs were clearly unstable and he could only guess as to what was happening in his father's body. His eyes however were stern. And for a moment he thought he saw a soft golden glow deep within them.

  He blinked and it was a simple gone however. "Honestly I was a fool to start this exploration after a full march through a whole day and night. The men are exhausted and maybe if Petra was more awake she wouldn't have missed that puddle," his father commented.

  It hit him then, just how tired he was. The. He was shocked once again by how little he actually felt it. It wasn't even like he was pushing through the tiredness, it was like his body was ignoring it. He couldn't even feel the exhaustion until he paid purpose attention to it. Then it dragged at his bones making him feel heavy.

  His father studied him with a critical eye.

  "You didn't even know you were tired did you?" He accused. Julien couldn't only smile ruefully.

  "I guess its just another thing my new body is doing that I don't know about." He didn't want to think on it anymore so he changed the subject.

  "What about you, what are you going to do?" He asked. His father shrugged.

  "I'll check on the encampment and get a runner to go and warn the supply chain following in out wake about the direwolves." Then he shifted balancing all his weight on his right foot so he could stand better.

  Based on the grimace on his face he could tell his father was in pain. His father noticed his expression and shook his head.

  "Its too early for you to be worried about me," he stated flatly. "The encampment should be mostly set up and that means the camp kitchens should be starting up. You'll go with the others and Ser Hellgarth to get some food and rest." His tone was commanding and he knew better to argue when his father used that voice. As he turned away his father had some parting words for Hellgarth.

  "Ser Hellgarth, you will be serving my son directly from now on. Since you have such a problem with him, perhaps spending some time with him will change your mind." Hellgarth stiffened for a moment. Then clapped his fist to his chest in salute without saying a word.

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  He didn't have time to be worried now nor the mental capacity. He wanted a bed. Aramin and Carlouse fell in behind him and Hellgarth as they made their way back outside the Refuge, he didn't even stare at the massive stone doors as he passed between them.

  He stopped just after passing the doors as he stared out at the sea of tents before him. They couldn't have been in the refuge for more than two or three glasses of time. But in that time a nice and neat sea of dark blue tents had sprang up in a crescent moon facing inwards towards the mountain. Guardsmen spears held aloft patrolled the edge of the woods in the morning light.

  The sounds and smells of a camp carried on the wind to him. Grunts of effort, peels of raucous laughter, and most importantly the smell of stew boiling in cook pots. He quickly made his way toward the smell of food. His stomach rumbled so loudly that he didn't even pay attention to the looks he was getting from the guardsmen until he was well into the camp. When he did look around men in tabards over mail backed leather all in blue and gold were everywhere to be seen. Some stared openly, but most averted their eyes like one would a man afflicted with a plague. He tried not to let it bother him. He understood the apprehension, but it still stung regardless. He dispelled the negative thoughts with a shake of his head and instead chose to focus on the one thing that was sure to bring joy to his life right now... Food.

  Ten marks. That's how long it took for him to arrives at the tent that was clearly serving as the cooks residence. Three massive pots sat over blazing fires. all three were nearly have as tall as he and from each came an amazing aroma. He arrived and saw a soldier in a leather apron and thin cloth gloves chopping vegetables on a small wooden table. The man was certainly well fed but his forearms were well muscled from work. He was so focused on his task that it took the cook a moment to notice their presence. When he did he jerked in surprise before a flash of fear sprang across his face. He hid the emotion quickly but Julien had already noticed it.

  "Your Highness?" the man asked tentatively. "What can I do for you?" He ignored the man's worried expression and put on a smile. "We would like some food goodman." the man's expression brightened considerably. "Oh, of course." he pointed to a stack of wooden bowls then thumbed over his shoulder to the first of the three pots. "First one, should be ready. Help yer self." With that he turned away as if fleeing from a bon fire. Julien scooped up a bowl and made for the pot but got nearly thrown to the side as Aramin rushed passed him to the pot. he didn't bother with the ladle but dipped his bowl in directly into the steam pot. He couldn't help but smile at the antic of his usually more reserved friend. Then again if he had a body of that size perhaps he would be more hungry as well.

  He served himself a generous helping, trying not to salivate over the smell. Carlouse followed and soon they found themselves sprawled in front of the tent onto he churned grass. They ate in silence. The broth was watery but had good flavor and the vegetables were soft and sweet. The meat however little cubed pieces of beef were far too salty.

  Still the meal was filling and allowed them fill their bellies. With food solved he was looking forward to a bed. A deep tiredness infused his bones nd suddenly he found the propect of standing up again to be apauling. A beltch rang out from Aramin as he finished his second helping.

  "Well, where are we to sleep?" Aramin asked from where he lay arms splaid to either side in the grass. His hood had fallen off which caused his golden hair to spill out. It was almost to.hard to look in his friends direction as the suns rays were reflected by his long hair.

  Next to him he felt rather than saw Carlouses shrug. "No idea." For his part he leaned back where he was sitting facing the sun as it was now directly overhead. The wind chose that exact time to blow gently across his cheek. He took a deep breath. For one blissful moment he was able to push all the thoughts that had been jumbling his thoughts away. He was completely unaware of the busling camp around them, and he was able to let some, not all, but some tension out of his shoulders.

  Then Hellgath's armored finger tapped him on the shoulder and he jumped. The man quickly hid a smirk as he stood back up. Julien didn't even try to hide the glare he leveled at the knight. Truth be told he'd already forgotten about his presence.

  "What?" He asked gruffly. "I was finally..."

  " I believe I can lead you to where your tents were supposed to be set up," Hellgarth stated cutting him off. They all perked up at that.

  Not more than five marks later, they were standing in front of two massive tents of blue and gold. One was obviously his father's. He could tell by the two royal knight standing outside the entrance. The other was oblong shape, with a peaked roof.

  They wasted no time going inside. As they entered he saw that Hellgarth had taken up station right outside. He wanted to tell the man to go rest but then refused. The knight probably wouldn't listen to him regardless as he was on orders from his father.

  Inside the tent had been partitioned into two sides separated by thick wooden blankets that had been hung for that purpose. Five cots three one side two on the other sat with blanket sat atop folded neatly. It wasn't hard to see which side was theirs. They spoke little as the undressed down to their underclothes. He slipped into the cot long before the other two, and he fell asleep before either.if the other two even got off their boots.