Chapter 34: Aftermath

I had been hoping to return to our tent and rest. I should have, given how exhausted I was. But I was also starving—only eating one meal around the fire wouldn’t cut it.

I rushed to Slowbend with the other soldiers, passing the heap of old armour Maurifus had been gathering, and passing civilians in the streets. They were cheering for us. I glanced back as we entered the village, because I noticed Sir Aldhelm sending a pair of messengers away on horseback. Even if it felt like it was done, our troubles were far from over.

Maybe more orcs were coming, but I pushed those thoughts to the back of my mind. A few Dupes volunteered as lookouts, and we hadn’t seen any sign of orcs all afternoon. For now, I just needed to relax after the battle.

I was still coming off my adrenaline high, but the cheers of the civilians brought it back. This time, however, it was a more whole feeling adrenaline. Not just the rush of survival, but the rush of joy.

We ran to the town plaza, where fiddlers and lute-strummers gathered around a brazier, and the tavern owners hauled barrels of ale and mead out into the street. A barmaid hopped on a table and began singing, and all around, the Dupes drank and ate. I stuffed my face with broiled pheasant and sausage and bread. Yeah, the tavern owners would probably charge the army for this, but it wasn’t coming off my wage, and I couldn’t deny the morale boost.

After an hour, the fiddlers synced up, and a middle-aged woman with a low-flute organized the musicians properly. There was plenty of dancing, and at first, I hung back, until I heard Romance call, “There he is! The man of the day!” he motioned toward me.

It was then that I noticed he’d brought Hild’s apprentice with him. She beamed. “I’m told your name is Levi,” she said.

I nodded. “That’s correct.”

“And that you were responsible for luring the orcs around to fight on a single front. That you were the one to skewer the orc shaman.”

I scratched the back of my head. “Perhaps.”

“Would the perhaps-hero care to dance with me?”

“I didn’t catch your name, ma’am,” I replied.

Her face flushed red. “Ma’am?” She put her hands on her hips.

Romance leaned over and whispered, “Madame is the proper address for the wives of thegns and Ealdormen. But usually, ma’am is a term we use to refer to…uh, let’s say female brothel owners.”

I gasped and my face heated up as well. “Shit. I mean—”

“He’s not from around here,” Romance said, rushing to the apprentice. “He’s—”

I knelt in front of the apprentice and said, “I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean it like that. Would you tell me your name, miss?”

“Fleda.” She giggled. “You didn’t give me an answer. Would you care to dance with me?”

“Of course, Fleda,” I replied, then joined her in the center of the square. I didn’t really know how to dance, but Romance helped out, quietly whispering instructions to me. After an hour, we were both exhausted.

For a moment, we split apart, but in a moment, I returned to the edge of the plaza to find Fleda downing a mug of ale. She wiped the foam off her lips. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

“Not just here, but all you’ve done.” She paused. “Did you hear that Scar died?”

“N—no. I hadn’t heard.”

“Ms. Hild told me.” Fleda stood up, burped, went beet-red again, then covered her mouth. “It has been a pleasure, Sir Levi.”

“Sir—now, I’m pretty sure I’m not supposed to be called that.” I swallowed.

“It has a nice ring to it,” Romance said. “Sir Levi…”

“Don’t get used to it,” Elf interjected. “There’s never been a Dupe who somehow became a thegn.”

“I won’t,” I replied. They’d insisted that thegnage was impossible for a Dupe, and maybe they were right. It wouldn’t stop me from trying.

If I wanted to really change things, I’d need real power. I might need to become a thegn or higher.

Fleda gave a quick bow and said, “See you later after the party?” then darted off into the crowd. I bowed my head to her, something between a nod and a gesture of respect.

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“Nice lass,” Romance said. “Lucky for you.”

I raised my eyebrows. “It was just a dance. And thank you for the help with that.”

“Yeah, yeah, you two,” Elf said. “Don’t get too comfortable. You stay up too late, and the Commander will have our heads.”

“You sound like my mother,” I muttered.

“Wouldn’t know,” Elf replied. “Never had a mum.”

I winced. “Sorry.”

“Besides, tomorrow, we’ll be getting our Presences from the battle. I’m sure you earned yourself quite a few.”

“Let’s hope.”