- All right, three times then! - he agreed by nodding his head as if to disapprove, but then he smiled.
- Thank you!
- Not for that, but now eat!
Agreeing with him, I was silent while eating. I took the teapot and filled the cup with tea. Bruce ate again with the same satisfaction. He was needed even when it was time to cut a piece of cake. When I sipped the tea, I recognized the taste.
- What's going on? - he asked seeing my face by surprise.
- That tea...
- What's going on? It's cranberry tea. - he fired. - Say it's not bad, because it took a lot of work to find a mulberry tree to make the tea.
- Did you pick it up?
- Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
- Why is that?
- Because it's your favorite!
- How do you know that?
- Boy, you ask a lot of questions, you know? - he laughed, shaking his head from side to side. - Aideen said it was her favorite tea and you always shared it. You didn't have to be a genius to know you liked the tea too.
Surprise, I was staring at Bruce. There were no mulberry trees nearby. He must have ridden for hours to get a mulberry tree.
- Thank you, for your kindness! - I whispered grabbing the cup and sipping a little more of the liquid.
- Like I said, I might be nice once in a while. - he smiled at me and continued to eat.
We were silent for a few moments, but I needed to know something. I was still intrigued by the dresses and the things I found in the room.
- Can I ask you a question?
- You've done so many, one more minus one won't make any difference.
- The dresses were your idea too?
- Yes. - He answered without letting go another slice of bread. - There's a little shop in this village and I got some parts. I figured you'd feel more comfortable with some female items too. Abby helped me choose and organized them, but I think it's for a short time.
- Yeah, I guess so. - I breathed deeply, because I'd miss Abby as soon as I left. - I believe you want to leave as soon as possible, now that the soldiers are here. After all, you have a prisoner to escort.
- Your mistake! - he said getting serious. - My commitment is to you. I promised I'd take her safely, and I will. So I sent Morvan up front with the other part of the guards.
I looked at him in amazement and sighed.
- All right! All right! When are we leaving?
- If you don't mind, tomorrow morning. - he answers. - I promised we'd stay for some kind of party they're throwing. I'm even helping to cut the wood for the fire.
- Yeah, I saw him from the window. - said raising his eyebrow. - I didn't know you had that ability. I always thought they did it for you.
- Now you're the one who's judging me. - he fired him with disdain and crossed his arms leaning back. - I didn't grow up to be a spoiled boy, and neither did my cousins. My uncle taught us how to cut the wood, just as his father had done to him and my father as children.
- I'm sorry! I'm sorry! - I said it almost in a whisper and I put my head down. - I didn't mean to offend.
Bruce stretched his arm and with the tip of his index finger he made me raise my chin.
- No offense! - he said softly. - Never look away when you're talking to me. You're the only one who's allowed to do that.
He took up his hand and sighed by passing his fingers between the strands of his black hair.
- If you wish, we can leave today.
- No. Abby had told me about this party. It will be very nice to stay and participate.
Bruce made a face leading his hand to the wound on his abdomen.
- Speaking of helping, do you really think you're in a position to make such an effort? That fight against Morvan is enough, and I don't even know how it didn't end with open points.
- Thank you very much for your concern, but I'm fine! - ...he answered honestly. - It hurts a little. It bothers me sometimes, but I can tell you that I'm fine.
- Well! If you say so...
We were silent for a few more moments. Suddenly I found myself watching the way Bruce ate. He was very polite, different from many men of the clans, who had the habit of eating as ogres and only needed to use their feet for that. Bruce was methodical, organized even at the time of putting food on the plate or simply passing some butter on a slice of bread. He ate with such satisfaction that it was impossible not to be impressed.
- Why are you staring at me so hard? - he asked, scaring me.
- Nothing! The way he eats, with so much satisfaction... - I answered smiling. - To this day I've only seen children eat like this.
- You mean I'm a child?
- No! Far from it! - I took a break. - I have always followed several banquets offered by my mother and the way men eat made me sick. Even my father.
