The sun beat down on them like a hammer.
Alex wiped sweat from his forehead, squinting against the glare. They'd been walking for nearly an hour through York's winding streets, and every tavern or inn they'd passed had been packed with people. Too many eyes. Too many questions they couldn't answer.
Beside him, Lisa's steps had slowed. Her face was flushed, hair sticking to her neck with sweat.
"We need to find somewhere soon," she said, her voice tight. "I'm fucking starving."
"I know."
They turned down another narrow street, this one quieter. Older buildings with worn stone walls. The smell of animals and unwashed bodies hung in the air.
'Jesus, medieval hygiene is no joke,' Alex thought, trying not to breathe through his nose.
Lisa stopped walking and leaned against a wall, closing her eyes. "I need a minute."
"Hey, you okay?" Alex asked.
Lisa didn't lift her head. "What does it look like?"
"I'm just asking."
"Well, stop asking. I'm fine."
Alex waited, watching her. She kept her forehead pressed against her knees, breathing slowly.
"You don't look fine."
"Then don't look at me." Her voice was sharp, irritated. "Just... give me a minute."
She slid down to sit on the ground, her back against the stone wall. She drew her knees up, resting her forehead against them.
Alex looked around. The street was mostly empty, a few people hurrying past, heads down. No one paid them any attention.
Further down the street, maybe thirty feet away, a girl emerged from a doorway carrying a bucket. Maybe eleven or twelve years old, wearing a worn brown dress that had been patched so many times it was hard to tell what the original fabric looked like. Thin arms. Dirt smudged on her cheek.
And a scar. A pale line running from her left eye down to her jaw.
The girl set the bucket down and started scrubbing the stone steps with a rag. Her movements were quick, practiced. Like she'd done this a thousand times before.
She glanced up and saw Lisa sitting against the wall. The girl froze, staring.
Then she dropped the rag, picked up the bucket, and hurried back inside.
Alex frowned. 'What was that about?'
A moment later, the girl reappeared. This time she was carrying a wooden cup and something wrapped in cloth. She looked left and right down the street, then walked toward them, her steps quick but hesitant.
She stopped a few feet away, nervous.
"Miss?" Her voice was soft. Young. "Are you unwell?"
Lisa lifted her head, blinking at the girl.
The girl held out the cup. "I brought water. From the well. It's clean, I promise."
Lisa stared at her, then at the cup. Her eyes narrowed slightly. "Why?"
"You looked..." The girl shifted on her feet. "You looked like you needed it."
"I don't know you."
"I know, miss. But..." The girl took a small step forward, still holding out the cup. "It's just water. That's all."
Lisa looked at Alex. He shrugged.
After a long moment, Lisa reached out and took the cup. She sniffed it first, Alex saw that, then took a cautious sip.
"It's good," Lisa said, surprised. She drank more, then handed the cup back. "Thank you."
The girl's face brightened. "I have bread too! If you want it!" She unwrapped the cloth, revealing a small dark loaf. "I was going to take it home, but you can have it. It's okay."
"We can't take your food," Alex said.
"No, no, it's fine! Really!" The girl broke the loaf in half and thrust it toward them. "Please. You both look like you've been walking forever. My mum won't mind. I can get more later."
There was something almost desperate in the way she said it. Like she needed them to take it.
Lisa accepted her half and bit into it. Alex did the same.
The bread was hard and plain, but after walking in the heat for an hour, it was perfect.
"Thank you," Lisa said, softer now. "We've been trying to find somewhere to eat, but everywhere's packed."
The girl's eyes lit up. "Oh! I know a place! The Sign of the Swan! It's not far!"
"Where is it?"
"Um..." The girl bit her lip, thinking. "You go that way," she pointed down the street, "past the place where they make the leather. It smells really bad. Then you keep going until you see the old well with the cracked stones. And there's a big tree, it's all twisted and funny-looking, and the fence next to it is broken. The Swan is right there! It has a blue door!"
Alex looked at Lisa. "Did you follow any of that?"
"The smelly leather place and the twisted tree. Sure."
The girl bounced slightly on her feet. "I can show you! I know the way really good!"
"You don't have to..."
"I want to!" The words came out fast. "I mean... I was going that way anyway. To... to get something."
She was already moving, gesturing for them to follow.
Lisa pushed herself to her feet. "Alright. Lead the way."
The girl smiled, a real smile this time, bright and young, and started walking.
They followed her through a maze of narrow streets. The girl moved quickly, her bare feet slapping against the dirt and stone. She kept looking back every few seconds to make sure they were still behind her.
"What's your name?" Lisa asked.
The girl glanced back but didn't slow down. "Mary, miss."
"I'm Lisa. This is Alex."
"Those are strange names," Mary said matter-of-factly. "Are you from far away?"
"Very far," Alex said.
"I thought so. You talk funny." She said it without meanness, just observation. "And your clothes are strange too."
They passed the tanner's shop, the smell hit them like a wall, and Mary wrinkled her nose. "Told you it smells bad."
A few more turns, and they emerged near an old stone well. Beyond it, a gnarled oak tree twisted up toward the sky, its trunk bent at an unnatural angle. Next to it, a wooden fence sagged, several slats broken and missing.
And there, just past the fence, stood a building with a faded blue door. A wooden sign hung above it, painted with a white swan.
"There!" Mary pointed. "The Sign of the Swan!"
"You were right," Lisa said. "Thank you, Mary."
The girl beamed. "The stew is good there. And the bread is better than mine." She started to back away. "I have to go now. I'll get in trouble if I'm gone too long."
"Wait," Alex started, but Mary was already running back the way they'd come, disappearing around a corner.
"She was sweet," Lisa said, watching her go.
"Yeah."
They pushed open the blue door and stepped inside.
The tavern was dim and cooler than outside, which was a relief. Wooden tables and benches filled the space. Maybe a dozen people sat scattered throughout, laborers, by the look of them, drinking and talking quietly. The air smelled like smoke and old ale and cooking meat.
A woman emerged from the back, wiping her hands on her apron. Mid-twenties, dark hair tied back loosely. She wore a dark green dress with a bodice that was laced tight, pushing her breasts up. The neckline dipped low enough to show plenty of cleavage.
Her eyes found Alex immediately, and she smiled. "Well, hello there. Haven't seen you before."
"We just arrived," Alex said.
"I can tell." She looked him up and down, not bothering to hide it. "You're definitely not from around here." Her gaze flicked briefly to Lisa, then back to Alex. "Sit anywhere you like."
They chose a table in the corner, away from the other patrons.
The woman followed them over, leaning one hand on the table as she spoke. "So what can I get you? We've got lamb stew today. Fresh bread. Ale, wine, or water if you're boring."
"Two stews," Alex said. "Bread. Water for her, ale for me."
The woman's smile widened. "A man who knows what he wants. I like that." She glanced at Lisa. "And what does your lady prefer? Anything special?"
"I'm not his lady," Lisa said flatly.
"Oh?" The woman's eyebrows rose, her smile turning playful. "Just traveling companions then?"
"Something like that."
"How interesting." The woman's eyes lingered on Alex again. "Well, if you need anything, *anything*, just let me know. I'm Bess. I'll take good care of you."
She walked away, hips swaying deliberately.
Lisa stared at Alex. "Are you serious right now?"
"What?"
"You know exactly what."
"I didn't do anything."
"You didn't have to. She practically climbed on your lap."
"She's just being friendly."
"That's not friendly. That's flirting. There's a difference."
Alex shrugged. "Not my problem."
"It's going to be your problem when she tries to follow you upstairs."
"We don't have a room yet."
"Give it five minutes."
The food arrived quickly. Bess set the bowls down, making sure to lean close enough that Alex got another good look down her dress.
"Enjoy," she said, her voice warm. "If you need more of anything..." She let the sentence hang, smiling at Alex before walking away.
Lisa picked up her spoon. "Unbelievable."
They ate in silence.
The stew was thick and greasy, chunks of lamb floating in a dark broth with turnips and something Alex couldn't identify. The bread was dense and heavy, the kind that sat in your stomach like a rock.
'This is what food is here,' Alex thought, chewing. ''No spices. Just meat and vegetables boiled until edible. God, I miss burgers.'
When they finished, Alex stood and walked over to the bar where Bess was wiping down mugs.
She looked up, her smile returning immediately. "Was everything good?"
"It was fine. Do you have rooms here?"
"We do." She set down the mug. "Upstairs. Clean beds, warm blankets. Two silver a night."
"We'll take one."
"Just one?" Her smile turned knowing. "For both of you?"
"Yes."
"Well, well." She leaned closer, lowering her voice. "That's the only one I have left anyway. Lucky you." She reached under the bar and pulled out a heavy iron key. "Last room on the right. If you need anything during the night..." She pressed the key into his hand, her fingers lingering against his. "I'm just downstairs."
"Thanks."
Alex returned to the table. "We have a room."
Lisa looked up. "One room?"
"It's the only one available."
"Of course it is." Lisa stood, grabbing her jacket. "Let me guess. One bed too?"
"Probably."
"Perfect. Just perfect." She headed for the stairs. "You're sleeping on the floor."
"I know."
***
The room was small. One bed with a thin mattress and two blankets. A wooden chest against the wall. A small table with a basin and pitcher. One narrow window that looked out over the street.
Lisa stood in the middle of the room, arms crossed. "This is ridiculous."
"It's one night."
"One night in a room the size of a closet with you."
"I said I'll sleep on the floor."
"Damn right you will."
Alex grabbed one of the blankets and spread it on the floor near the window. The wooden boards were hard and uneven, but he'd slept in worse places.
He lay down, using his jacket as a pillow.
The silence stretched out, thick and uncomfortable.
"Goodnight," Alex said.
Lisa didn't answer.
Alex closed his eyes, listening to the sounds outside. Voices. Footsteps. The distant clatter of a cart on cobblestones.
Eventually, exhaustion pulled him under.
***
Alex woke to gray morning light filtering through the window.
He sat up slowly, his back stiff and aching. He rubbed his neck and looked around.
The bed was empty.
"Lisa?"
No answer.
He stood and checked the room. Her jacket was gone from where she'd hung it on the chest. The basin had been used, water still in it, the rag damp.
On the small table sat a wooden plate with bread and cheese.
One plate.
Alex frowned. 'She went to get breakfast and didn't bother getting me any?'
He walked to the door and opened it, looking down the hallway. Empty.
'Where the hell did she go?'
He went back into the room and checked again. No note. No sign of where she'd gone.
A knot of tension formed in his stomach. 'She wouldn't just leave. Her jacket's gone, but everything else is still here. So she's coming back. Right?'
He grabbed his own jacket and headed for the door.
'Where the hell did she go?'
He took the stairs down quickly, his footsteps loud on the old wood.
When he reached the bottom, he nearly collided with someone.
Bess stumbled back, catching herself against the wall. "Whoa! Careful!"
"Sorry, I..."
"Your lady," Bess said, her face flushed like she'd been running. "The woman you came with. She's in the market square. There's trouble."
Alex's stomach dropped. "What?"
"She's fighting with one of the merchants! Shouting and..." Bess grabbed his arm. "You need to come now. Before someone calls the bailiff!"
Alex didn't wait for more explanation. He pushed past her and out the door.
'What the fuck did she do now?'
◇◇◇◇◇
Another chapter coming in a few hours now.
Sorry for the delay .