I frowned.
- This morning? - said trying to sit down again. - How long have we been here?
- Two days. - she answered evasively and pushed me against the pillow again. - Now be quiet.
I didn't like the tone of Aila. She seemed to be very angry and it bothered me, because I needed to find out why. Would she be upset that we had to lengthen the trip to Dunhill, staying longer than necessary in that place? I knew very well that there was urgency in our plan, that we had a deadline that should be met as soon as possible, but it was not my fault that we were in that situation. How could I imagine that mercenaries would follow us? I'm sure I've taken every care on the way.
- Is that my impression or are you mad? - I asked, making a face when she touched a point on my forehead that hurt a lot.
Aila answered nothing, just sighed and continued what she was doing. She ignored me for a moment and, before she went to another wound, I held her wrist tightly.
- If you don't let go of my wrist, I'll let your face get worse than it already is. - she said between her teeth.
Aila tried to pull her wrist, and even though I was in pain, I kept squeezing him.
- Alec, I'm not kidding! - she threatened again by closing her eyes. - Let me go now or I'll chop your fingers.
Aila was clearly without patience and acted cold as if I was the enemy.
- You know I'm not afraid of your threats. - I said coldly. - Now, tell me what's going on. Why are you being so harsh with me, speaking evasively and without patience? What did I do to him?
Aila closed her eyes. She seemed to count to ten. She pulled her hand, releasing her wrist with a sudden movement.
- What do you remember about that night? - she asked, throwing the cloth into the basin and standing up.
I got on the bed, leaning on the pillows.
- Well... - I made a face by passing my hand over my sore ribs. I realized I had a naked torso, and I took a look at Aila.
- No complaints. - she said ironically. - At least you're dressed, unlike me, who woke up naked.
- Your dress was wet because of the fine rain we got in the way. What was I supposed to do? Let her get cold in that wet suit?
- You could have woken me up and told me we'd arrived. - she returned it. - I wish I'd changed myself.
- I didn't take off your dress, if that's what you're implying.
- No?
- No. - said ironically. - I figured I'd wake up while I was doing this and how wild I'd be, so I asked one of the girls helping out at the inn to change her clothes. The problem is that there was only that dress, so I went out to buy another one, but I was sleeping so deeply that I was sorry to wake her up.
Aila took me by surprise. My patience, when I wished for a woman, was infinite. I had made a promise to her, and although I looked forward to that day, I would never take advantage of a situation. I needed Aila's trust and I wanted to win her over, even if it took years.
- So you left me asleep and went to the tavern? - she went on.
- Yes. - I took a deep breath before continuing and felt as if thousands of needles were going through my lungs. - I asked the innkeeper to tell me where I'd be.
- What else do you remember? - she asked.
The tone in her voice said she knew something I couldn't remember. Maybe that's why she got mad, so I tried to concentrate.
- When we arrived, I was exhausted from the ride. - I started. - All I needed was a nice cup of beer to relax. I remember sitting at a faraway table, but from where I could observe everything and everyone. I was wearing my hood so no one would bother me. People don't usually go near men dressed in a tavern in a cape and hood. They usually leave them alone for obvious reasons. Because they don't know who the subject might be, they'd rather leave him anonymous.
- Well, go on.
I rolled my eyes. I was enjoying your expression less and less.
- After some time sitting and having finished my second glass, a girl approached me offering me a drink.
- Olivia.
- What'd you say?
- Olivia is the girl's name, but maybe you don't know, because you were too drunk to remember to ask.
- I wasn't drunk! - ...I've stirred up. - It takes more than three cups of beer to knock me down.
- I'm sure you will! - she said in an ironic tone.
- I don't understand your irony, Aila.
Aila let out a laugh and got serious again.
- I'm not being ironic. - she returned it. - He is so accustomed to flirting with anyone who comes near him that he has barely noticed that he has been
