Chapter Fourteen

Enjooyyy, happy 1000 reads :D

~~~~~~~

Albus leant against the cool stone wall; he’d woken up some time ago to find himself alone in the room with a fire burning down in the grate. The wound on his stomach was painful and still very tender when he moved, how long had he been here?

“Finally.” A voice stated from the doorway, causing him to snap his attention from the wound across his abdomen to the figure standing in the doorway. “About time you woke up.”

“How long?” He asked Blandus who smirked and shrugged.

“Well I’ve not seen my wife in three days, so about seven?”

“Esma was here?” He asked keeping his emotions well and truly hidden.

“Refused to leave, I think she thinks you’re her pet.” He shrugged. “The centurions are taking a Mile castle each, you’ll have to stay here; you’re not strong enough to go.”

“I’m fine.” Albus stated shaking his head and pushing himself up to his feet.

“Really?” Blandus asked walking over and pushing his shoulder, making him crumple in an effort to stay on his feet. “Point taken.”

“Fine.” He snapped as footsteps headed towards the room.

“Blandus, why are you?” Esma started trailing off as she saw Albus sitting on the edge of the pallet. “You’re awake!”

Albus laughed as she jumped up and launched herself at him, wrapping her arms tightly around his neck. “Good to see you too.”

“I knew I didn’t kill you.” She grinned stepping back as Blandus put a hand on her shoulder, indicating his territory.  “See I told you.”

“Congratulations, you stitched him back together.” He deadpanned rolling his eyes. “We’re setting off in a few hours, can you make sure I’ve got everything?”

Esma nodded as he walked out of the room, Albus watched her carefully as she grinned to herself. He smirked and waited for her to notice him watching.

“Thank you for looking after me.” He stated holding his hand out, his ego swelling as she stepped forwards and put her hand gently in his.

“Thank you for saving me.” She shrugged stepping between his knees as he leant back against the wall. “I’m so glad your awake, I was starting to panic.”

“Miss me?” he winked moving his hands to her waist as he watched her lips as she spoke.

“Really badly, you’re my best friend.” She smirked.

“Am I more than that?” he whispered, yearning to hear his sentiments returned from her perfectly pink lips.

“Not yet.” She grinned running a hand through his hair. “As for now I’ve got to make sure the other centurions are all together and know what they’re doing . . . Come with me, I’ll take you to your room.”

“My room?” he asked standing slowly as the skin pulled tenderly.

“Well, my room but no one has to know that.” She grinned biting her lip as she looked up at him from beneath her eyelashes.

“No one.” He agreed allowing her to settle beneath his arm in case of a pain.

---

Esma almost danced around the kitchens later that night after the cooks had finished dinner, she was peckish and full of nervous energy. She knew why but it didn’t help at all, if anything it made it worse, knowing that Al was lying in her bed pretty much incapacitated.

“Lock down my lady, get to your quarters.” A guard stated as he walked past and saw her chewing at a bit of liquorice root. “Are there any more?”

“Here, I’m done.” She smiled passing him the barely chewed root, “I’m not dying, it’s safe.”

“Wouldn’t get in my way of this stuff.” He smirked winking as they left the kitchens and went in opposite directions.

She paused at the door to her rooms, wondering whether she should knock or not, her decision was made for her as footsteps echoed further down the hallway so with a quick knock she pushed the door open, keeping her eyes down in case she saw something . . . male.

“Did everyone get off safely?” his deep voice asked from the direction of her pallet.

“Yes.” She smiled looking over at him, his tunic had been removed during the heat of the day and now, he was wrapped in furs from the cool air of the night. “How are you?”

“Bored.” He smirked his eyes running the length of her. “But now I’ve got company.”

“Al, there’s something I should tell you.” Esma sighed kneeling on the pallet beside him. “But you should know, you were forefront in my thoughts when this was occurring.”

“You’ve slept with your husband, properly.” He stated and she nodded, her lips caught within her teeth. “It’s fine Esma, he is your husband.”

“I know but I wanted it to be you, but then I was thinking if I wasn’t with Blandus at the same time and you got me pregnant then it’d be really bad.”

“Planning on being an adulteress?” he teased catching her wrist in his hand, “Planning on using my body before I’d even suggested such a thing.”

“Please we knew it was coming.” She laughed before blushing red at her forwardness.

“Esma, it’s getting late.” He purred pulling her into his arms.