"You won't really chop a limb off with a rapier, but you can inflict some deep wounds." Gary explains. "Not if you draw through like that, though."
Siv is starting to get used to him popping out of nowhere. He has been helping her with her training for the past week. There is still no news about Brandt or Erling, or when they will be back. It has been nice to have Gary around to make her, otherwise lonely days a bit more lively.
She still doesn't know anything about the man. He is a closed book, more like a locked book. He doesn't let anything slip about himself. So all she knows so far is his name, and that he is the leader of those thugs who tried to kill them. In addition to the fact that he is not trying to kill her, or at least not at the moment. She still keeps her guard up at all times.
After training, they both sit under the shade of a tree and enjoy some snacks that Veda brought them.
"Do you want to get out of here?" Gary asks before he takes another bite of the crimson apple.
"Out of the palace?" Siv exclaims.
"Yes, where else?"
"The last time I did, I killed a man. Plus, nobody can leave the palace without permission."
"I have my ways." Gary wiggles his eyebrows. He pushes to his feet with a smirk and motions to Siv to follow him. Intrigued, she does, but she holds her sheathe in her left hand for easy access.
He guides her to an area of the palace she has never visited before. They walk through the deserted hallways until they reach a door. It doesn't look any different from the many doors they have passed, but Gary opens this one.
It is a simple sitting room with two settees and two armchairs. Siv doesn't understand how they can get outside the place from this setting room. She opens her mouth to complain but stops when she sees Gary tilt one of the paintings on the wall which makes an opening appear.
'Neat! A secret passage. But who the hell is this guy?'
"After you, my lady." Gary bows dramatically pointing to the endless flight of stairs.
"Why thank you, Sir Gary." Siv mimics his gesture with a very low curtsey.
They take the stairs down, Gary picks up one of the four torches hung on the wall before walking through a labyrinth of tunnels. They finally reach a door, Siv can tell that it is the exit because a few rays of sun are sneaking into the dark tunnel.
Gary places the torch on the wall next to another lit one and grabs a couple of cloaks that are hanging. There are probably about eight or ten of them. He throws one to Siv and wears the other one putting the hood on. Siv does the same without questioning it.
When they come out of the tunnels they both have to squint a little until they get used to the bright sun. Siv finds herself in the middle of thick trees.
"So where are we going?"
"To town of course. It is a twenty minute walk from here, though. I hope you don't mind." Gary explains.
"I have been running for an hour and a half every day, I think a twenty minute walk will be fine." Siv responds with sarcasm.
"My apologies, my lady. I did not mean to belittle your capabilities."
Siv ignores him and just walks behind him in silence. The town comes into view a little less than twenty minutes later. As usual, it is bustling with people, very energetic. But as Siv follows Gary through the smaller alleys, the streets get less and less animated.
"Sir Gary, where are we going?" Siv halts and places her hand on the hilt of her sword. The situation has become way too suspicious.
"We're almost there. I am sure it is a part of town that you have never visited." He stares at her for a moment. "Would you trust me, Lady Siv?"
'Of course I can't trust you.'
Siv doesn't respond, though. She just resumes walking behind Gary while ready to use her weapon.
Gary was right, Siv has never been to these gloomy and dark parts of the city. Poverty is visible in every corner, the air stinks, and even the people look different.
"Obviously, a noble lady like yourself has nothing to do in these slums, so why would you visit this poor place?" Gary takes a right turn reaching a small store. He holds the door for Siv before following her in.
His words annoy her for a reason. She might look like a noble lady but she is not. She has struggled financially for years, sometimes she had to go for days surviving on one meal a day because they didn't have enough money left after paying the bills. So Gary's assumptions bother her.
"Gustaf." Her companion greets.
"Gary, you're late."
"Yes, I have company today." He points at Siv who nods at the shopkeeper. "Is everything ready?"
"Of course, it's all loaded into the cart."
"Here." Gary tossed the man a topaz, he places it in his copper bracelet then returns it to Gary after it radiates, indicating that payment has been made.
'What is this man doing?'
Siv follows Gary to the back of the store, as instructed. They take the back door and find a strong Suffolk horse ready to pull the big cart that is full of bags and cases of some sort.
'Is this illegal stuff that will get me in trouble? Ugh, I hope not.'
Despite her worries, Siv gets in the front passenger seat and sits next to Gary. She doesn't ask any more questions, but just keeps her eyes open for any suspicious movement.
Gary pulls the reins to bring the horse to a halt. They stop in the middle of a small open area where dry fountain stands, or at least half of it. It only takes seconds for people to start pouring from every direction. Siv panics and unsheathes her sword.
"Behave yourself, Lady Siv." The words shock Siv. "These poor people are just hungry." He winks at her before opening one of the bags in the cart and pulling a few loaves of bread.
Siv just watches with bulged eyes and parted lips.
'Is this thug really helping these poor people?'
She looks around and sees the smiling and grateful faces of everyone. They all want to shake hands with Gary and thank him. The thing that surprises Siv the most is his reaction. He smiles back and pats people on the shoulder or the back as if they were all his friends.
"You could help, you know." Gary's voice brings Siv back from her state of shock. She puts her sword back and joins him in the back.
"What should I do?"
"Just hand food until we run out."
"Alright." Siv grabs a few sacs of potatoes and starts giving them away.
"I bet you never did this with your prince." Gary says with a smirk.
"Does he come to help too?"
"No he doesn't. He has other priorities."
"Like what?"
"My lady, I doubt it is the right time or place for that conversation."
'Fair enough.'
Siv makes a mental note to ask Gary later.