Yes, this was the best day here by far.
And they kept getting better.
* * * * *
Achilles
“Oh my God, no!”
Achilles heard Ilsa’s voice as he approached the door to the kitchen, seeing Derrik standing in it leaning against the jamb, his back to Achilles.
He stopped behind Derrik but to his side, looking in and seeing Ilsa sitting on a stool and leaning on her forearms on the battered kitchen table, listening, or more to the point, watching with rapt attention as one of the maids acted something out.
There were a few halting words spoken, as Ilsa was picking up Fleuridian by the day, but mostly it was wild gesticulations, a parody of a mime which was already a parody so he could see within seconds it was amusing.
He watched as all the other maids standing around as well as Ilsa burst out laughing, Ilsa doing it banging her fist on the table and dropping her forehead to it.
She threw her head back suddenly and cried out, “That’s too funny!”
All the maids nodded and smiled at her with big smiles even though they probably didn’t know what she was saying. Or maybe they did, picking up the language of the Vale through Ilsa.
Achilles turned his head to look at Derrik who was watching this, or more likely, watching Ilsa with even more rapt attention than Ilsa had been watching the story mimed out.
“Hans says her seat on a horse is secure,” Achilles noted in a quiet voice.
Derrik started and turned his head to catch Achilles’ eyes.
“He’s reported this to me.”
“We were to be away three weeks ago,” Achilles reminded him.
“She’s enjoying herself,” Derrik replied and Achilles took in a short breath.
Then he got closer and his voice dipped lower. “It’s our charge to get her to safety.”
“She has eight guards and Apollo explained he’s relatively certain the witch from the other world watches over her,” Derrik returned.
“Relatively certain is not certain and his orders are to get her to Ulfr grounds as soon as possible,” Achilles retorted.
Derrik held his eyes.
Then he lifted his chin.
After that, he turned his eyes back to the kitchen and muttered, “We’ll leave the day after tomorrow. Tomorrow we take madam back to Benies one last time. She’s enjoyed her days there.”
He was right. She had. All four of them.
Achilles stifled a sigh but not his misgivings.
He would have to keep a sharp eye.
His gaze moved to the kitchen and he saw Ilsa was looking at them.
She lifted her hand and gave them an enthusiastic wave.
And, damn it all, along with Derrik, he lifted his hand and waved back.
* * * * *