One Hundred Tears In The Sunset

Chapter Fifteen

I have never known the warmth of hands,

That truly take your breath away,

Or been the center of a smile,

That brightens up each day,

Family was just a myth before,

You came along,

And opened the door.

*

The shouts of the guards followed them as they weaved deeper into the forest,

"Where we be going then?" Clarence muttered as he clung to Fey. Brooke glanced at the boy. On the large horse he looked so small and young. I am responsible for them. He thought about the dead guard, the guard he had killed, and I will do anything to protect them,

"There's camps deeper in the forest." Brooke spoke softly. Teyha's hands were slipping from his waist. She was falling asleep. They couldn't stop though, the sound of guards had followed them for the last few hours. Every time the shouts disappeared relief would spread in Brooke and then they would call out into the air. It reminded him that this wouldn't stop, there would always be people looking for them now,

"Ya. I know 'bout the camps. There's a stripping good fella in one of 'em. 'E's a bit old for me though and..."

"Clarence. Please. You're thirteen for god sake! I don't need to know about what men you fancy." Brooke sighed softly,

"I thought ya didn't mind who I fancied." The boy grinned. Brooke shook his head, To him this is one big adventure...

"I may be more opened minded about the world, but others are not the same. There is a time and place for such words. Now shush I'm trying to listen." Brooke strained his ears into the darkness. It had been quiet for the last hour but now he heard the distant calling of voices,

"Ya think it's the guards again?" Clarence asked loudly, "It donna sound like guards ta me."

"It sounds like singing." Teyha whispered from behind Brooke. He turned to look at her. The Princess's grey eyes were tired, her face was pale and dull. He ignored the doubt. She would be ok.

You have no money, no food, no real plan. What the hell are you doing? He pushed the thoughts down in the pit of guts.

"Ya know Brooke. I think she's right. It sounds like singing. Ya think the guards are having a midnight song?" Clarence laughed and with a kick of his small legs Fey sprang ahead,

"No! God damn it Clarence get back here!" But the boy was already sprinting inside the shadows of the trees. Brooke closed his eyes and took a breath. His arm was paining beyond measure. It was still bleeding. Have to get the damn bullet out before it gets an infection.

Brooke?" Teyha whispered, "Don't worry. What ever the noise is I don't think it's bad."

"I'm just worried about..."

"Hey guys! Hurry up!" Clarence's happy voice rang out. Brooke pushed his complaints away and pressed Gem forwards into the shadows. In the distance an orange glow rippled through the dark,

"Fire". He muttered and felt Teyha nod behind him,

“Look. Someone’s coming.” She said. The dark figure of a man emerged from the trees, behind him Clarence stood grinning,

"So you know those camps? Looks like there’s one right ‘ere!" The boy smiled but Brooke didn't return it. This was dangerous, not all of the camps in the forest were safe. There was tales of crazed groups of people who sliced off all the hands of anyone who walked on their territory, or the stories about the campers who had got lost in the trees and gorged out wanders eyes in hope of finding a way home. Perhaps the worst myth that people spoke of was the tree top climbers. It was said they lived in the trees and grabbed you twisting your throat before you could even look up,

"You get lost then?" The man walked up to Gem and stared at Brooke. He was a tall man, with a mop of ginger hair and a long beard to match. His eyes looked black in the darkness,

"No sir. We're just riding through." Brooke eyed Clarence but the boy only smiled,

"It's late to wander through the woods." The man grunted, "You can join us if you wish,"

"I think it's best if we..."

"Brooke. I'm tired." Teyha muttered behind him,

"Ah now see? You look hurt as well and the girl looks weak and the boy needs to sleep." The man smirked and ran his fingers through his beard. Brooke stared at him. What if it's a trap?

"Why would you help us? What would be in it for you?" He asked with a frown. The man shrugged,

"I've learnt in life if you help someone they usually help you back."

"What do you need with my help?" Brooke asked,

"Come down, eat, rest and then we'll talk." When Brooke didn't get off the horse, the man sighed, "Listen just come into camp, you'll end up being attacked by the bandits if you go further tonight." At the mention of bandits Teyha stiffed behind him. Brooke ran his hand through his hair,

"Ok. I'm trusting you. It's not like I have a choice anyway." The ginger man chuckled at that,

"Ah now lad there's always a choice. I'm Sims."

"Well OK, Sims. I'm Brooke and this is..."

"The Princess. Yeah I know who she is." The man's eyes fell on Teyha. Brooke stopped himself from sliding of Gem. He eyed Sims with a shocked expression,

"Now lad don't you worry. I'm not gonna trade you off." Sims walked back into the clearing of trees,

"Ya coming or what? Ya 'eard 'im 'e's not gonna do anything." Clarence stared at Brooke,

"What do you think Teyha?" He asked the Princess softly,

"I say we trust him." She muttered softly.

****

Teyha climbed off Gem slowly. Her head swam with a fresh wave of dizziness as she landed heavily on her feet. Brooke clutched her arm gently steadying her swaying legs,

"OK?" He asked when she raised her grey eyes around,

"Yeah." Her mouth was dry and her whole body was freezing. She frowned when her eyes landed on Brooke, "Why are you wet?"

"I'm not." His brows wrinkled in confusion,

"Your arm, oh my, it's blood." She whispered and stared at the deep red stain that puddled on his arm,

"It's nothing." He muttered and took her hand leading Teyha into the clearing of trees,

"What happened? Where you, oh god, you were shot." She stated as they stepped into the orange warm glow of the camp. It was big for a woodland camp, more than two dozen mix-matched tents filled the clearing. A huge fire burned in the middle and around it people sat singing softly. Clothes hung from the branches of trees, dogs sat lazing around and even at this late hour a few kids jumped around the camp laughing and playing. In the far corner, a group of men sat on stones huddled around a wooden tree stump, a pack of old cards played in front of them. A few ladies wearing short leather skirts and tiny V neck tops huddled near them, giggling and flicking their hair. The men turned around to grin at them and wink. One of the ladies walked passed the Princess and smiled widely when she saw Brooke. She was wearing a low cut short dress which bore bare flesh in the orange fire glow. Sims smiled when he saw Teyha flush and look away,

"We get travellers here quite a lot, so a few of the ladies make a bit of spare cash." He shrugged, "If you're interested?" He smirked at Brooke,

"Is there a spare tent? I don't have much money but I could sell you a horse?" Brooke asked with a chuckle. Sims laughed as the man changed the subject with ease,

"You can stay in one of the tents we use for travellers. Free of charge, if you wanna sell a horse go and speak to Bale, he'll give you a fair price. He's over there." Sims pointed to one of the men sat around the card table, "But for now, will you have some food and perhaps a drink?"

"And then will we speak about this help you want?" Brooke asked,

"Yes. Then we will."

***

Teyha closed her eyes and let the warmth spread into her. She felt her body relaxing as the heat filled her skin. Brooke had gone to tie up the three horses. It turned out Sapphire had followed them through the trees. She sipped the burning drink that Sims had gave her,

"That'll clear your sickness for awhile, but it won't clear your head." He had chuckled when she had taken a sip and almost chocked. It was a mixture of blue bell nectar, honey and whiskey he had told her with a smile,

"I heard you were looking to sell a horse?" A man smiled behind Teyha breaking into her thoughts. She jumped slightly and turned to stare at him. The man peered down at her with soft green eyes and almost blond hair, "Do you mind if I sit?" He gestured at the space beside Teyha and she nodded. He took a seat and stared at the fire,

""You must be Bale?" She guessed and he nodded. The man looked a few years older than Teyha, probably twenty or so. He was handsome, she realised when he stared his blue eyes back at her. The Princess flushed and turned her gaze back to the flames,

"And your name is?" He asked with a chuckle,

"Teyha." She smiled softly. He didn't know she was the Princess. For some reason it felt good, this man was being nice even though he didn't know who she was,

"Well Teyha. I could give you a fair price. Where are you sleeping tonight? I'm sure we could come to an agreement.” He smirked and Teyha smiled back. He is awfully friendl

"I'm not sure you'll have to speak to..."

"Me." Brooke stood behind Teyha and glared at Bale with a fierce expression,

"You're together?" Bale stood up quickly and stared at Brooke,

"Yes." He said tightly, "And now she is tired so we'll talk in the morning."

"It's alright Brooke I really am not that tired any..."

"Come on. I have a tent." He cut into her and held his hand out. With a slight hesitation she took it and got to her feet,

"We'll talk tomorrow, Teyha." Bale winked. The Princess smiled, and Brooke swore under his breath,

"Come on." He said louder and pulled her away from the fire,

“What’s wrong?” She asked, he shook his head, and pulled her inside a small low roofed tent. There was three blankets laid on the ground but apart from that the room was bare. Teyha watched as Brooke picked up a blanket and dumped it on top of the second,

“You sleep there and we’ll get out of here tomorrow.”

“Brooke stop. I’m hungry, I never got chance to eat.” She muttered,

“I’ll bring something back.” He grunted coldly,

“Is this about Bale?” She frowned and sat down on the covers he had pulled up. Her whole body was aching and paining. Brooke shook his head and chuckled,

“I’ll be back in a bit.”

“Where are you going?” She blinked in confusion. What was wrong with him?

“To sort out my arm. I can’t risk getting an infection.” He muttered, “Stay in here, OK? I have enough to worry about without thinking about you getting lost.” And then he was outside leaving her with a frown of confusion.

****

Brooke took a breath once he was away from her. He had to calm down. She wouldn’t know about this sort of stuff. He reminded himself. She had been stuck inside a castle all her life. How could she know how everyone stared at her as she walked into the camp? She probably thought Bale had been being nice!

"Sims told me you needed a hand.” The lady with the mini dress had walked up to him. On closer inspection Brooke realised she was younger than Teyha. In her hands she held bandages, a green glass bowl, a pair of wooden tweezers and a bottle of clear vodka,

“Thank you.” He took the things,

“You want me to help?” She twirled a finger through her hair and smiled,

“I've got this. Thanks.” He smiled and a look of disappointment filled her face,

“If you change your mind…”

“I’ll be sure to go to you.” He cut in softly. The girl nodded and walked back to the card table. Brooke shook his head and spotted Sims beside the fire,

“Everything OK Lad?” The ginger man grinned, “If I was you I’d sort out that wound as soon as possible. We can talk in the morning, but for now go and rest.” Brooke frowned but nodded. Why don’t I trust this man? He thought softly. Perhaps it was the fact that no one ever helped for nothing,

“Thank you.” He muttered again and headed back into the tent. Clarence was curled up inside next to Teyha. They were both asleep, snoring softly. Brooke chuckled softly and sat at the edge of the door. There would be no sleep for him tonight. He would have to keep watch for the guards, and he would have to get that damned bullet out!

*