"Goblins coming from the basement just as you said," Sir Gunnar realized in disbelief. "Dozens... at minimum. I don’t believe a bit of what I’m seeing."
Irene unsheathed her sword, minding the crowded room.
She had a determined expression on her face, and she started moving towards the door between the people.
"Don’t you dare open that door," Gunnar ordered immediately.
For once, Irene didn’t immediately listen or bend to her knight’s will.
"What if there are others out there?" she asked, disbelief etched into her face. "We must do something to save them."
However, she realized she was speaking for Felix, who had gone silent from the moment they arrived at the Duke’s Tower, which was devoid of others except for monsters. There was no doubt he was wondering about Agnes. Irene was, too.
Their reasoning was different, but the care was all the same.
"I am not foolish enough to know when we are outnumbered," the knight snapped. "Unless we see people we can save, we will be staying in the barracks until we have more help. Sir Phillip said that there will be knights returning for us. This is all we can do for the time being."
Those bearing witness to the event unfolding before them were shocked to see Irene’s hand tighten on the doorknob that she still threatened to open. She didn’t put her sword away yet and stared at Gunnar with determination.
"Best control yourself, Iro," Gunnar warned. "Now is not the time."
Her lips pressed together in contemplation before she suddenly bowed her head and sheathed her sword.
"Yes, sir," she responded. "I will listen. I’m sorry."
Rather than standing any longer, the girl decided to sit down and cool off. The best she could do was calm herself down so she didn’t get accused of insubordination.
Seeing goblins that she had been beating down all summer act as if the Duke’s Tower was theirs made her insides churn with anger, but she wouldn’t die in this life by a goblin. It was smart to sit it out even if it was difficult.
There was silence for a long time before Gunnar looked to the other knights and nodded.
"Let us break off in groups," he suggested. "Knights with squires. Apprentices with apprentices. Go to the rooms facing the Duke’s Tower and keep watch. If something changes, knock on the doors so we may all be alerted. From there, we can formulate a plan. If you have anything in your old rooms that resembles useful supplies, go and get them. We will be here for quite a long time, it seems."
"Yes, sir," everyone agreed.
As they went their separate ways, Irene and Leif decided to partner up. They went to his room first for food, wood, and blankets. She did the same in her room. There were bags of jerky and stale bread, but it would have to do for the time being. She already had he waterskin from when they put their horses in the stables, which were, luckily, all in one piece.
Leif and Irene chose a room that was across from Irene’s but facing the Duke’s Tower. It would be perfect for them to keep watch.
They placed their things on the table, including their weapons and extra supplies, so that they would be easy to access in case they were urgently needed.
"I’ll stand by the window first," Irene volunteered.
"Sure," Leif responded, relenting more easily than he might usually.
He sat down on the bed, pretending he might clean his sword or do something useful.
The room went silent, and Irene’s head filled with stormy thoughts about what the next little while would have in store for them.
"How long do you think—"
However, she cut herself off. When she turned her head to look at Leif, she saw his head leaning heavily against the wall, and his eyes were shut.
That’s right, she finally remembered. None of them had been sleeping the past couple of days because they had been in such a rush to get to the Duke’s Tower.
As she gazed at the older apprentice, something came over Irene, and she reasoned that she could get away with a quick nap as well.
It would just be for a short time, she convinced herself.
Carefully and quietly as she could, the girl climbed onto the bed as well and leaned into the wall, the heavier her body felt. Sleep came to her embarrassingly fast and as she was nodding off, she realized her head was touching Leif’s shoulder.
That much was alright, she reasoned.
Not long after, she felt his head lean against hers, but the pace of his breathing didn’t change. Surprisingly, she didn’t mind it that much, and sleep took her for a little while. It was too comfortable to resist.
Warmth she didn’t know was possible in a situation like that enveloped her like a soft blanket.
A couple of hours later, consciousness returned to Leif, but his eyes didn’t quite open yet.
He felt unbelievably comfortable, even if his neck was a bit stiff.
However, he felt awful that he left the guarding to Irene. When his eyes finally opened, he looked to the window and didn’t see her peering out as she did before. Read complete version only at novel~fire~net
It was then that he realized the comfortable pillow he had been hurting his neck to lean against was the very person he was looking for.
Since her head was pressed against his shoulder, he didn’t dare move except for his heart. It was rushing beyond his control, and he found that very inconvenient.
He closed his eyes for a moment more as he pressed the back of his head into the wall.
Rather than sleeping, he remained there in disbelief that people who spent time with her wouldn’t see her as a girl. He dared look down at her face.
The long eyelashes and small nose. Even her pointy chin made her look so feminine.
His heart did what it wasn’t supposed to again, and only got worse when there was a sudden knock on the door.