Aldwyn's head was pounding softly by the time he reached the wagon. They had tucked it carefully among a thick stand of young sapling trees, and it was well hidden from the Road. The darkness of night was still heavy, and he heard Aelfnod stirring before he saw him.
"Where the bloody hell have you been?" Aelfnod grunted, stumbling down from atop the wagon. His boots hit the forest floor with a heavy thud.
Aldwyn grunted as well. "I could ask you the same thing, you bratty pup. I looked for you all night long in town. Figured you'd be bedded down at the inn with some local girl. So, where were you?" He rubbed a gloved hand over his eyes. "Urgh, I do not recommend the local ale if we pass through here again, my friend. My head is splitting. And I only had two tankards."
Aelfnod snorted in the darkness as his hands fiddled with one of the packs in the bed of the wagon. He withdrew a loaf of bread, tearing it in two, handing one piece to his friend. "Who says I wasn't bedded down with a sweet wench, hmm?" He barked out a harsh laugh. "No, I wasn't, in all honesty. I was doing what you should have been doing. Poking about, looking for information, possible contacts. Maybe asking some questions about that girl." He shoved some bread into his mouth.
Aldwyn stuffed a hunk of bread between his teeth, crumbs going everywhere. "The Rohir, you mean?"
"Mmhmm," Aelfnod replied. "I'll catch you up on that subject in a moment. First, I want to hear about your wild evening among the Breelanders. Rumor has it they're a crude bunch of peasants."
"I can't argue with that," said Aldwyn, turning to lean his backside against the wagon with a grunting sigh of weariness. "Simple little folk, I'd call them. They can't help that they're from here, after all. Other than wasting my time looking for your wayward arse, I enjoyed some pleasant conversation and company, in spite of it all."
"Ah ha!" Aelfnod cried, pointing a finger. "You did bed someone! You sly dog."
Aldwyn growled low. His usual, cheerful demeanor nowhere to be seen. "Don't be daft, you young prig. You aren't funny with such jokes. When I say conversation and company, that is what I mean. A very nice lass she was, too. And you'll not be smearing her name if you don't want your ears boxed."
Aelfnod laughed heartily, unaffected by the threat. "I don't know her name, so I can't very well be smearing it, can I?"
"And I won't be tellin' it to you, either. Or next time we're passing through, you'll be running into town looking for her so you can tell her all your jokes about your weathered old friend, Aldwyn."
Aelfnod smacked his lips as he downed the last of the bread. His brown eyes puckered as he looked at the lightening sky to the east. "Day is coming on. We'd best be getting on our way. One night here is all the luxury we're allowed, and we shouldn't even have stayed this long. Only did it to give the mare a chance to rest her leg."
"What about the other lass? Aren't we waiting for her decision?" Aldwyn turned to take the reins, hoisting himself into the seat of the wagon with a low groan.
Aelfnod turned and peered out at the Road. "I'll give her till sunup. She knows where the wagon is hidden. If she's interested, she'll come."
"Right you are, boss."
