Chapter 2 – Breakfast

Erick emerged from his tent, stretching his arms above his head. The morning sun cast a warm glow on his bronze skin and played off his neatly kept mustache. His light grey wool pants and maroon shirt were slightly wrinkled from sleep.

"Morning, Harek, Princess."

He greeted them with a hint of playfulness in his tone.

"Morning, grab the bowls, will you?"

Harek asked, pointing towards a pile near the tent. With a dismissive wave and a yawn, Erick fetched the wooden bowls and brought them over to the fire where Agnes was checking the egg's firmness.

"Aren't you freezing?"

Agnes asked as she noticed Erick's shivering. Erick sat down on the log next to Harek.

"Oh, I am."

He said with a shaking voice before steadying himself.

"But nothing wakes you up like fresh cold. So, what's the occasion? Has something finally happened?"

Harek grabbed one of the bowls and handed it to Agnes. It was slightly wet from the morning freeze that was covering it, which made the dried layers of fat and grease extra slippery and slightly disgusting. "Will have to boil some water and wash these finally today." Agnes thought. Harek began to answer Erick.

"The trebuchets are doing their work, but exploding or not, they are still only lugging cannonballs so it will most likely take a while. But as you can see some of the machicolations already broke down from the walls. So, I'd say we'll be good to go soon enough. I'd have preferred if the assault on the walls would be a genuine attempt while we try to slip in instead of just a distraction, but I imagine Frederick must be running out of patience and supplies by now. So, one way or another it will be our time soon enough.""I'm sorry matihaco what?"

Erick asked while raising an eyebrow.

"Those small wall extensions with holes at the bottom for shooting. Apparently, that's what they are called."

Harek explained, referring to a recent conversation with an engineer.

"Ah, got it. And who do we have to thank for the feast?""Harek robbed some guy."

Agnes said while she lifted over two eggs to Harek's bowl.

Harek looked at Erick.

"I didn't rob anyone!" -He clarified with a sigh, tearing a piece of bread.- "It was given to me.""Good job boss." – Erick approved.

Harek turned around to grab the basket, lift it over the log, and tore a piece of bread from one of the loaves. Agnes looked at Erick with a worried expression.

"Are you sure you don't want a coat or anything? I feel cold just looking at you.""Nah I'm fine, it's quite cozy here actually. But thanks for worrying about me."

She rolled her eyes.

"I wouldn't be playing your mother if you could take care of yourself on your own, believe me. I swear if not for me, the only bathing anyone here would be doing is walking in the rain."

Erick chuckled and made a half nod while raising his eyebrows that said: "Probably."

"Still surprised you're not sweating your balls off Harek." -He continued."It's cold." -Harek answered while dunking a piece of bread in the half-liquid egg yellow."Can't argue with that."

Erick abandoned the topic, then took the bowl Agnes was handing him.

"Thank you, love."

Finally, Agnes put the last 2 eggs into her bowl and stood up to lift the pan from the hanger and set it aside with the sizzling piece of bacon still inside.

"Ah, let me."

Erick stood and took out a piece of rag from his belt, wrapped it around his hand to handle the hot pan safely, and set it aside.

"Thanks.""Of course." - He smiled.

A few minutes of bacon slicing and silent eating later Harek broke the silence.

"Do you know where Robert went by any chance?""Uhh, I think he said he's going to take a walk in the morning to talk with...someone. Not sure who anymore."

Erick turned his head.

"Ah! Speak of the warden, and he shall appear! Where have you been, you old goat? Almost missed breakfast."

A short and stout man walked into camp with a short white beard and a long braided grey and black ponytail on his back, with one giant sheep hide covering his body.

"Talked with some of the folk in camp. The Quartermaster of that Frederick fellow is quite a nice chat. Looks like supplies are starting to run thin indeed."

His expression softened like hard snow melting in a summer sun as the smell of cooked bacon tickled his thick nostrils.

"Mmmmh. Get me some of that sweetheart, will you?" He picked up a larger rock with ease and with a glint in his eye he placed it near the pan with the bacon."Serve yourself, you can use my knife there."

She pointed while munching on a slice of bacon which Robert only just noticed.

"Ah of course, apologies didn't see you eating already."

With that he got some slices into his bowl and took a piece of bread and cheese handed to him by Erick.

"Where did you get this?"

Robert asked between muffled moans of satisfaction.

"Harek beat up some men and took it along with everything else.""Good going son! Hope you made sure they haven't seen your face!" –Robert nodded with approval."Oh yeah, he was real careful gramps we're good." –Agnes held an ok sign with her free hand.

Harek rolled his eyes and sliced a piece of cheese for himself as well.

"Have you seen Adrian or Patrick?" –He asked."I haven't but George did. The chatty fellow I mentioned. He said Adrian was getting into trouble with some people at the whore tent.""Good on him."

Erick raised his canteen to a one-man toast and drank.

"Why am I not surprised? Well, it's his money." –Harek shrugged."More like the lack of his money I bet." –Agnes chuckled."Hear, hear!" –Erick laughed.

Robert started nodding his head while chewing then after swallowing he started:

"It was something about money according to George but he didn't know any details, heard it secondhand too."

Harek pointed up a finger.

"We are not bailing him out this time alright. A day or two in a cell would do him good."

The others shrugged but made no comment.

"Patrick must have gone with him, that poo"r stupid boy." –He continued.– "Agnes, after breakfast you'll go find out what that kid got himself into and help him out."What why me?" – Agnes piped up annoyed."He's your stray you take care of him.""Oh, because you would have left him there. He would have been either hanged or frozen to death if we didn't let him come back with us."

Harek thought back on the day they found him in an outpost on the way to Flumevar as part of the vanguard. After clearing out the encampment they found the boy, barely 15 years old hiding in the cellar, shaking.

"Sure, but there was no need to keep him around after we rejoined the main force. He could have enlisted like every other sad peasant.""He would not survive a week in the army, and you know that." – Agnes retorted."Of course, he would. Kids like him get sent there all the time. They get toughened up and gain skills and confidence. Learn how to take care of themselves. You were just like him when I found you, and look at you now, couldn't be prouder."

Agnes got caught off guard by Harek's sudden compliment and with a confusing mesh of anger and fluster all she could manage to say was:

"Fine!" –And stormed away.

Harek motioned "What did I say?". To which Erick looked at him with eyebrows and eye movements that conveyed a whole lecture. "Go after her." The eyebrows were saying.

He sighed and said:

"Fine."

With that, he got up with a grunt and walked after Agnes who was making her way down to the rest of the siege camp.

After a minute Robert asked:

"How old is the little lady again?""Old enough to drive the poor man crazy."–He chuckled."Oh I'm sure of that."