Page 30 of Bloom
Aleric sat in a chair by the mouth of the tent to be out of the sun. “No. Other people hunt in this area too since the game isplentiful, although it’s mostly rabbits. Someone took an arrow to the eye a few years ago by accident.”
Jaime winced.
“Hunting can be dangerous.” Aleric shrugged.
Lord Gautier would love it if Aleric accidentally took an arrow or several and fell over dead. One down, one to go. Aleric was more concerned with poison. About a month ago, they’d had a party after dinner in the Hall one evening, and he hadn’t been watching his drink. Thank Elira for Father coming along at the right time.
He’d suspected the truth when Gautier and Zacharie got together. He’d already taken steps to be careful such as locking his doors, and he was careful about his food. After last month’s incident, he’d known it was only a matter of time before Gautier tried again.
He held back a sigh as he watched servants cook eggs over an open fire without really seeing them. Again and again, he wanted to share every single concern with Father and have him listen without hearing that he was lying and needed to stop being jealous of his little brother. He wasn’t fucking jealous, and he wouldn’t make up a lie like that either.
He was in a corner, and he wasn’t sure how to get out.
“Aleric?” asked Jaime.
He narrowed his eyes at the casual use of his first name. Jaime certainly didn’t care about titles, and he dressed so neatly, one would almost think he imagined himself a lord too. “What?” Jaime must have said something already, and he hadn’t been paying attention.
“Am I allowed to hunt?”
“We have extra bows. Are you good at archery?”
“Not really, but I’ll give it a try with a spear since it’s rabbits. I wouldn’t if we were hunting boar. Those are mean bastards.”Jaime gave him a quick look up and down, and Aleric’s face burned.
It didn’t help that his aid looked damn good in his basic linen shirt and vest. He’d left off a coat like Aleric and some of the other men. The vest, perfectly laced down the sides, was snug in all of the right places, and he could picture Jaime’s broad, muscled chest under it which threatened further thoughts. He was never going to forget what Jaime looked like naked with his erect cock sticking out. And how it had felt to be fucked by him. Damn it. “Well? What?”
Jaime hesitated. “Um, are you sure you’re okay? No lasting effects from, er, yesterday?”
“I’m fine,” Aleric snapped before looking away.
“I’m just checking,” Jaime mumbled.
Like he cared that much. Why did he have to bring it up? If they weren’t in a camp surrounded by others…suddenly, all he could think about was Jaime bending him over the nearby table. How could he have gotten off yesterday and still crave to be fucked again so badly?
Father was a welcome distraction since he came to the tent and complained about his knees. It wasn’t long before the servants gave them breakfast. Aleric ate lightly since he never liked a full stomach before hunting. Thankfully, Gautier didn’t join them and was sitting with Zacharie and a few of the other courtiers outside even though it was quite warm for May.
When he came out, Zacharie was practically in Gautier’s lap. He was surprised they didn’t ride the same horse too.
When they finally were ready to go, a few groups split off. Others made bets on who’d get the biggest rabbit. A lady said bigger isn’t always better which earned laughter and a few ribald remarks. Gautier went with Father, Zacharie, and a few others. Aleric watched them go as Mighty was led to him by the stableboy.
It’d be smart to get rid of the oldest son first and save the lord for much later, and Gautier was clearly willing to bide his time. That’s why he hadn’t killed Aleric that one night years ago, and he’d waited years to do anything despite Aleric growing suspicious long before.
He still hated seeing Father ride off with Gautier while being so damn clueless. Jaime got a courtier talking and followed him into the woods after Lord Monet and his group. Aleric lagged behind with a few others.
“I wish we were hunting something more interesting,” said an older man who was a distant cousin by marriage. “Rabbits are so boring. It’s hardly a challenge.”
“Then it should be easier to catch more than me. Maybe today is the day you’ll finally win against me.” His wife nudged her horse into a trot. “Try to keep up, dearie. I’m planning to kill at least a dozen.”
“But I like letting you win, honey.”
“Pfft.”
Aleric had never liked those two. They probably thought Aleric had beaten his wife and made her run away. The few nasty looks he’d caught from them said enough. He’d also heard his name once when he entered a sitting room, and they’d both hastily hushed. Damn gossipers.
He broke away to head west, and nobody said anything. He often went off alone to hunt for a while before rejoining the others. Not this time. Once he was out of sight of everyone, and he couldn’t hear anything except birds and the occasional breeze filtering through the branches above, he shifted Mighty to arc back toward the clearing. He’d go back to camp where it was only servants now. They’d likely ask if anything was wrong, and he’d say he wasn’t feeling well.
They’d fuss and apologize, thinking breakfast wasn’t agreeing with him, and he’d tell them not to worry. His stomach had beena little off before leaving this morning, so it wasn’t their fault. If he said he wanted to sit in peace, they’d leave him be.
In a group with many eyes, it was less likely he’d have an “accident.” Accidents aren’t always easy to set up, and they might not turn out as intended. Still, he wasn’t taking chances. He didn’t fully trust servants either, but it was a little less likely any of them would physically attempt to harm him. Most were women, and while a woman can certainly fight, Aleric was pretty sure he was better-trained with a sword than any of them.
