Arminius keenly stared at his pistol when without warning, the door swung open. The brisk air rushed in and broke the spell of the gift that had captured him. He returned the pistol to its box and closed it, having no holster to keep it, before Julien slid it under the couch as if they were both afraid of being found out. Their comrades entered one by one in a file, shivering with snow on their coats and hair. They scrubbed the soles of their boots on the doormat and took them off, a rule set by Julien who had voiced that he did not wish to clean up their mess that they would often leave. But there were only four of his comrades who entered. There was the Rus, the Italer, the Makeder, and the Serber, but when the giant closed the door behind him, sealing the cold away from the heat, Arminius and Julien were sure that two were missing from their usual party.
Having counted their missing numbers, Arminius spun around on his chair. “Just you four?” He searched but no one seemed to be hiding behind Miklós.
“Colt’s been going on about that expedition to the east ever since the mayor told us.” Lev took off his cap and held his hands by the fire, his cheeks red from the cold. “I don’t blame him though…” Disappointed at himself that he could not convince him to do otherwise, the corporal lamented.
“Wha’, aren’t we ‘nough?” Gin punched his own chest and held up his chin.
Although he was surprised that Colt had other plans, the Danner was puzzled to find that one other have not come neither. “Then, where’s Alexandria?”
Lev raised his hand with a smirk. “Do you even need to ask?” Making inappropriate gestures, he reminded him.
Shunning the thought, Julien turned away from the embarrassment of even thinking it, regretting that he had asked. Evident in his comrade’s eyes whose innocence had been ripped away from him, Arber slapped Lev on the head and kicked him in the back of his knee for the gestures he made and he was forced to kneel, holding his leg that had been dealt an irritable pain. As they settled themselves, gathering around the fire, Arminius and Julien made space for their comrades, leaving five seats open in case the lancers and the archer decided that they have had enough of the snow and if Colt and Alexandria ever decided to return. Then, an unexpected knock on the door came. It could not have been the two for one of them would have simply barged in and it would have been too great a coincidence. Nearest the door, Miklós responded to the knock and opened the door to a man who he stood towering over. The giant glared down, his body blocking the currents of the wind, and there beneath his nose, smiling at him, was the mayor. Even before an figure as imposing as Miklós was, he was neither surprised nor did he flinch from being greeted by the giant.
Placing a palm over his heart, the lord commander of many more titles greeted formally, “Haben skœnget dag, jegisk treet Endendæsk. (Good day, my faithful allies.)” Rantzau brought his hands behind his back and inquired. “May I ask, is the lieutenant here?”
They could not ascertain whyever and whatever had brought the mayor to their abode. Mayhaps he wished to see their faces and find company but he did not strike them to be a man needing to socialize too often. Unclear of his intentions, Arminius slowly stood up and peeked over Lev who slumped onto a couch. Upon showing himself, the mayor looked at him intently, as if there was something that he wished to say that was of both their interests but also he did not seem willing to share what it was before the entire squad. Arminius moved away from the fire as the warm air turned cool and the giant stood aside for him to pass by before joining his allies at the hearth.
The lieutenant-elect invited the mayor into the Carlstadt’s abode and once he had entered, he shut the door and bowed. “Jegisk gjælassenget frærer. (My lord.)” Arminius bid him welcome from the few words he had learnt.
“Please, no, it embarrasses me.” Rantzau chuckled from his unexpected greeting.
Judging that he had spoke well enough for the native to understand, Arminius seemed proud of his progress that only added to Rantzau’s self-consciousness.
The mayor let off a slight sigh and returned to the very subject that brought him to their doors. “I have come here with a matter.” Rantzau spoke in severe terms, asudden. “I was hoping we could walk together.”
It was clear to the lieutenant what he had meant as Arminius looked over his shoulder, to his companions who were too busy telling each other of their stories from their encounters, duties, and patrols in the days that they have spent guarding the capital. Only Julien took notice of Arminius’s worried expression that seemed afraid of unintentionally leaving his companions out of the know. But whilst the lieutenant hesitated, his friend let out a soft smile and withdrew away from eavesdropping on their conversation. Julien had urged him to decide on his own what he ought to do but his gesture insinuated that he should accept his offer. Arminius returned to the mayor, decided on his reply, and accepted his invitation with a firm nod.20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUTDRvFXcQL
