Chapter 21

Someone put a pot in her arms, and when Ayla opened her eye,s she found herself face to face with King Rhobart.

"Fill this with snow. And make sure it's not yellow."

Ayla wanted to throw the damn pot at him, but the King had already left, moving around the camp.

"I know what clean snow looks like!"

In the middle of the camp was a fireplace that Gorn had already filled with logs. Milton took out a rune and started a fire.

Tizgar was taking care of the horses while the King took out blankets. Kerra disappeared into the forest.

"Ayla, the pot. Now!" the King said in a loud voice, not looking at her.

"You can shove the pot up your – "

The King spun around and looked straight at her, "What did you say?"

"Nothing!"

Her muscles screamed with pain when Ayla tried to stand. The King was still looking at her, and she was determined not to let him see how much everything hurt.

The pot, made of copper, felt heavy in her hands, and she had to half drag half carry the damn thing. Once she found a place with clean snow, she filled the pot and took it back to camp.

"If you are done with the pot, fill the kettle next. You will find it is next to the fireplace," the King said once she put the pot next to him. "And put the pot next to the fire."

"You are welcome," Ayla muttered before going for the kettle.

When Ayla returned with the kettle, Tizgar had already put the pot over the fire, and the snow had melted. He added some dried meat and vegetables to the water.

Ayla looked at the King to see if he would give her more stuff to fill with snow, but when she saw that the King was busy cleaning the snow from some wood platforms and not paying attention to her, she sat on a log in front of the fire, and looked at the camp, trying to distract herself from her aching muscles. Kerra, who returned, probably from hunting, sat next to Ayla and started purring.

The camp was a place where hunters and travelers from Nordmar used to spend the night or only rest. Wood was stored in a shed t keep it dry. In baskets hanged inside the woodshed or a foodshed, provisions were kept – smoked or salted meat, dried vegetables, roots, and plants to treat basic wounds or sicknesses. Wood platforms were built close to the firepit to be used as a sleeping place. In some camps, instead of platforms, there were small shelters or cabins if it was a big camp.

Ayla was trying to massage her thighs. Milton sat next to her.

"It will get better in time."

"What will?" Ayla asked.

"Riding. Your muscles will be sore for a few days."

Ayla wanted to tell Milton that she felt like her muscles felt like they were about to fall off her bones.

"In a pocket with a triangle that is crossed by an arrow, you will find gotu balm. Do you know for what it is used?"

Ayla nodded, "Aching muscles and pain in general."

"Drink an infusion with gotu balm, and tomorrow morning you will feel better," Milton told her.

Gorn and King Rhobart finished setting the camp for the night at the same time Tizgar finished making the stew.

The men sat around the fire and talked while Tizgar filled bowls with food. Once the bowls were full, Tizgar put them on a log next to the spices so that the food would cool down a little. After that, Tizgar joined the discussion.

Ayla was half asleep when she heard King Rhobart talking to her, "Can you pass me a bowl of food?"

She was tired and aching and just wanted to be left alone. So Ayla took a bowl, made sure no one was paying attention to her, added a big spoon of pepper, and stirred the food well.

With a sweet smile on her lips, she put the bowl in the King's hands, "Enjoy."

Ayla sat back on her log, picked up a bowl, and started eating while looking at the King. When he took his first spoon of the stew, Ayla grinned at him.

The King ate everything while he kept staring at her.

He put the bowl on the snow, smiled, and said, "And now you will clean the dishes. After that, you will pack them in their satchels."

"No!"

His gaze darkened, "You are begging to be spanked."

Ayla paled, "You would hurt me?"

"I would never harm you, t'xoria. But you need to learn discipline."

"I will not be spanked! I am not a child!"

"Then stop acting like one and do as you are told!"

Ayla looked at the other men, hoping that they would say anything to the King. But when even Milton was looking at her with a disappointed face, Ayla stood and did what the King instructed her to do.

When she was done, she snuggled in her blankets and fell asleep the moment she closed her eyes.

If Ayla dreamed something that night, she could not remember.