Part XXXI

Joel, for the first time in his life, was speechless. Those two halfwits have outsmarted him. Just like that. At least they left him his horse. What a couple of idiots. That porky Brian and dense Francine somehow behind his back came to an agreement and left him. Joel felt how his first shock turned into pure rage.

"Just wait till I get you." He almost screamed.

Within a blink of an eye he was back in his saddle and on his way looking for left tracks. It wasn't his first time looking for someone. He was a good tracker, they have made a huge mistake. Furious Joel was riding slowly but he was sure to ride in the right direction. He was watching the ground, they were both sitting on one horse, so the tracks were deeper. They had made a little detour, but finally returned to the main road. Fuck, there was a possibility that, if duke's men were to follow them, they might come across the guards on the main track. That was something Joel wanted to avoid at all costs.

In the distance he saw an inn. It was a solid wooden building with stoned underpinning and a small orchard with apples. Could it be that they were stupid enough to enter it? Joel came closer, there weren't many horses, actually there was one and a cart. Joel decided to step inside. He let the horse outside and went in.

It was a simple inn with white walls and wooden floor. There were four windows letting enough light to see every corner clearly. Despite the simple interior it seemed to be tidy and neat. There was a fireplace and a counter where the innkeeper was standing and a few long tables with benches. In one corner he noticed two men eating some stew and in the middle part he saw his lost couple.

"Miss me?" Joel came closer smiling as sweetly as he could, having hard time controlling his rage.

They seemed to be a bit surprised but nothing more, no feeling of guilt appeared on their faces. Joel sat down and asked the innkeeper for some hot stew and some beer. Why not, he was hungry too.

"Can you enlighten me and explain why I was left alone?" He asked while digging into a bowl full of hot thick stew like soup.

"I was hungry and wanted to rest in a decent place. I'm a fine lady after all." Joel almost choked with a piece of meat when he heard Francine saying that bullshit.

"That does not answer my question." Joel barely controlled his growing anger.

"We wanted to be alone." Brian added with a smirk showing his yellowish teeth. Joel had his beer in one go and decided to take a piss before he will commit a double murder. He stepped outside and went behind the stable to relieve himself. He noticed the sound of horses too late. It was a bigger group. They stopped in front of the inn and some of them went in. Joel peeped at them hiding at the back of the stable. Soon they went out. Without Francine and Brian. They started looking around, then it hit Joel. They weren't looking for them, they were looking for him. Duke hasn't forgotten him and he won't be forgiven for escaping without a single word of explanation. Shit. Were they looking for a man or a woman, that was the question.

"That's a bad hideout." He heard from behind. Joel turned around. He knew that man. It was Mat, the one who was sitting opposite to him in the wagon to Blackwoodcastle.

"Who said I'm hiding?" Joel replied, trying to cover the anxiety of this very moment.

"Then what are you doing here Joy?" Mat smiled again.

So he knew Joel was only wondering since when. Before he managed to open his mouth Mat continued.

"I knew from the beginning, when I saw you. I must admit you looked perfect. It was really hard to believe you were a man. But I knew. Everything got confirmed when I saw you talking with Gerd, dressed like a man." Mat reached for Joel's hair and touched his curls.

"I was thinking about you, very often. I was imagining what we could do together, and how much ... joy we could give to each other."

There are just days when you feel that everything will go right but then one thing after another starts falling apart. Today was just one of those days. Joel reached his limit, nothing more could surprise him anymore. Even if the duke would pop out of Mat's pocket, Joel would probably only say 'Hi'. Since Joel wasn't talking, Mat decided to fill the silence.

"You must be really good, the duke sent about sixty men looking for you. Many people were questioned, including Gerd and the gate house guards. He was pissed and wanted you alive and well. Nobody should touch his precious lover. Is that so?" Mat's hand slid down his hair and touched Joel's chest.

"What do you want? Money?" Joel asked straightforwardly however he believed money wasn't the issue.

"There are a lot of things I want, but money is not one of them. I would like to see your naked body right under me. I admit that I'd like to tie you up and leave love marks all over your pale skin." He was now very close and Joel could feel the heat radiating from Mat's body.

That was quite a shocking confession, Mat didn't look like a total pervert. On the other hand do perverts have that information written on their foreheads?

"Not here, it's impossible." Joel managed to keep a calm composure and decided to win some time.

"I know where you are heading, Rowsbury right? That ugly girl in the inn is the daughter of Mr Headford." The smile on his face was still there but there was no warmth in it, Mat's eyes were cold.