Chapter 72 - Timid

It was a peaceful day, the sun shining brightly in the sky and the birds chirping merrily in the trees. The village seemed almost untouched by the recent harpy attacks as if they had never been under siege.Aden was bored. It was a slow day. He had been standing his ground watching the sky and not a single harpy was seen. It was a blissful day after what happened in the Wailing Widow Pass. He turned his head to the right and saw Hjalmar already fall asleep hugging his sledgehammer with a shield as his pillow. He might've still got fatigued from yesterday's foraging mission.They barely escape from the Wailing Widow pass. Everyone was asking why Aden had not seen a sign of fatigue with all of their near-death experience escape yesterday.How could Aden tell them. That he got spirited up because he had been plowing someone's wife since two nights before.Plowing someone's wife was his guilty pleasure. There was nothing compared to filling a married woman's inside with his seeds. Just thinking of it, excited him. He didn't know the punishment for having sex with another man's wife in this land of Andal, Wessen continent. Maybe stoned to death, Rule of Sword trial by combat, or executioner's axe.Whichever one Aden wouldn't want to know.Some said the men in the Wessen couldn't have any power over their wives if their wives opened themselves to other men.And now he slowly got back to his old life and old habits. He didn't want to find out about the punishment because overthinking got him nowhere. He had to take a leap of faith.Aden couldn't wait for Martin to ring the bell of lunch so he could slip out to the stable and have another round with Indry.This morning, Aden had another quick round with Indry before a stretching session with Captain Willem. She was less submissive and even applied perfume to her breasts. Aden could never guess where she got the perfume in this difficult time.They intended to meet again at lunchtime. Aden looked into the sky. It was full of glooming clouds and harpies were nowhere to be seen. Half of the men were not present in the front yard. They were mingling and chilling around, seeking shelter from the cold sun rays and the freezing breeze of incoming winter.Aden decided to take advantage of the calm. He asked permission from Corporal Knightly and made his way to the courthouse backyard to get warm. The Corporal gave his permission. He didn't need to do that but he had to respect the chain of command. He was a soldier after all and that attitude is what differs between a soldier and a brute.Aden walked through the main hall inside the courthouse, it was crowded with villagers who warmed themselves near the hearth. Indry was nowhere to be seen only little Jasmine playing with Agnes. She must have left for the stable before Aden got inside.As Aden approached the backyard, he noticed young Oliver waving a curved wooden stick around like a makeshift shamshir. The sight brought a chuckle to Aden's lips, and he couldn't help but feel impressed by the boy's enthusiasm. Stepping closer, he greeted Oliver with a warm, friendly smile, eager to share his knowledge of swordsmanship."Hey there, Oliver," Aden called out, his voice welcoming and inviting.The boy's head whipped around, startled by the unexpected visitor. "Oh, Aden. I didn't see you there.""I see you're practicing your shamshir skills," Aden remarked, his eyes twinkling with amusement.Oliver's expression turned somber as he nodded. "Yes. Everyone fought bravely, but I was just behind them, throwing rocks with my stone slinger."Aden could relate to the young boy's sentiment, recognizing the feeling of being left out or deemed unimportant during the heat of battle. It was a familiar ache, one he had experienced in his own youth."Let me give you some pointers," Aden offered, extending his hand in a gesture that wordlessly requested the boy to hand over his wooden training blade.Oliver's eyes lit up with excitement, and he eagerly nodded his head, his earlier melancholy replaced by a renewed enthusiasm. "Yes, please!" he exclaimed, carefully placing the curved wooden shamshir into Aden's waiting palm.Aden took a step closer, examining the wooden stick in Oliver's hand. "First things first, let's work on your grip," he said, his voice firm but gentle. "You're holding the stick too close to the end, which makes it harder to control. Try holding it a little closer to the middle, like this."He demonstrated the proper grip, showing Oliver how to hold the stick with a firm but relaxed grip. "This will give you more control over your swings and make it easier to maneuver the stick," he explained.Oliver nodded, his eyes focused on Aden's movements. "Got it," he said, adjusting his grip on the stick."Good," Aden said, nodding in approval. "Now, let's work on your stance. You want to have a solid base, with your feet shoulder-width apart and your knees slightly bent. This will give you stability and balance when you swing."Oliver followed Aden's instructions, adjusting his stance to match the proper form. "Like this?" he asked, his voice eager.Aden nodded, a smile playing on his lips. "Perfect. Now, let's work on your swings. Remember to keep your arms loose and relaxed, and use your hips to generate power. Swing from your shoulder, not your elbow."He demonstrated the proper swing, showing Oliver how to use his body to generate power and momentum. "Try it now," he said, gesturing for Oliver to take a swing.Oliver swung the stick, his movements a little awkward at first. But with Aden's guidance, he quickly improved, his swings becoming more fluid and powerful. Aden watched with satisfaction, impressed by the boy's progress."Great job, Oliver," Aden said, his voice filled with pride. "You're a natural. Keep practicing, and you'll be a master swordsman in no time."Oliver beamed with pride, his eyes shining with excitement at Aden's praise. "Thanks, Aden," he said, his voice filled with gratitude for the impromptu lesson. "I can't wait to use these skills against the harpies.""No, you shouldn't," Aden cut the boy's enthusiasm short, his tone firm yet gentle.Oliver's brow furrowed, a hint of defiance creeping into his expression. "Why? Are you going to say I'm better off hiding behind the men, throwing rocks?"Aden couldn't help but be amused by the boy's impatience and eagerness to prove himself. "You should practice more until you really get the hang of it," he explained, his voice even and reassuring."See, you're just like everybody else," Oliver huffed, frustration seeping into his words as he turned away, lips pursed in a pout.Aden paused for a moment, allowing the weight of the situation to settle before continuing. "Who landed a clean hit with a rock to the harpy's temple, the one that got Ser Cedric?" he asked, his voice cutting through the heavy silence."Me," Oliver mumbled, his shoulders hunching ever so slightly."And who hit the harpies while I was being chased by them through the streets?""Me.""Who killed a goblin on the roadblock with a blade?""Me," Oliver repeated, his voice growing stronger, and more confident with each admission."See?" Aden said, his tone warm and reassuring. "You don't give yourself enough credit."He took a deep breath, collecting his thoughts before continuing. "I used to be like you, thinking the shamshir was the epitome of awe-inspiring weapons, straight out of the tales we grew up hearing. But then I learned that the shamshir is merely a secondary weapon. I had to master the spear techniques, for that is the cavalry's main armament."Aden placed a comforting hand on Oliver's shoulder, his gaze level and sincere. "If we could choose, we would all wield our preferred weapon, the one we are most skilled and confident with. But this is a dire situation, where we must fight with whatever we can grab."He gestured towards Maeda, who was practicing his own forms nearby. "Look at him – he quickly grabbed a katana when the opportunity arose, but his true mastery lies with the bow and arrows, the weapon he is most confident with."Aden put his hand on Oliver's shoulder, "But you, you already have your stone slinger right from the beginning. You are skilled with it. Confident in it. You are in the right place, at the right time, with the right weapon. That is more than what a warrior asked for on the battlefield.""Listen, Your stone slinger here is your main weapon," Aden grabbed the boy's stone slinger that hung in the boy's belt. "Only swing your sword or blade when you are incapable of using this stone slinger.""Umm, I think I get it," Oliver lowered his gaze, looking at his wooden shamshir."Good, now keep practicing!" Aden chuckled again and left the boy practicing on his own.He would've made a fine Jinn. Aden thought.At his young age, Oliver already got his first kill from a goblin, threw a clean hit at a harpy, helped Aden escape the harpies, and defended a village under siege.compared to the boy in his age, Aden would still be running around in the streets peeking at his mom plowed by a stranger in the pleasure district tent.⁕⁕⁕A lunch bell rang. Martin rang a trinket all over the place to tell everyone lunch was ready.Aden planned to have another round with Indry at lunchtime when most of the people at the dining hall. Aden brought a mug full of cotton milk. In Median, cotton milk is a very refreshing beverage after hot steamy sex.Aden walked toward the stable from the other side of the courthouse, when reaching it he looked around and found Martin headed inside. The mute signaled he was about to get some lunch and gave Aden a pervy teasing look.Aden assumed Indry was already in the stable.Aden got into the stable, ten horse stalls with two horses, one in each stall. Aden looked around. nobody around. maybe Indry was already in the back of the stable preparing the bed on the haystack.Aden found a woman stacking the hay at the back of the stable. She was shorter than Indry and had honey hair in a simple updo with unblemished skin on her neck. It was dim with little light from the gap of the creak. Aden couldn't grasp who she was. yet she looked familiar with honey hair."Laura?" Aden guessed. The woman turned her head."What? you expect someone else?" asked Laura in a bitter tone."I thought you were—" Aden confused."Indry?" Laura scoffed, "You know it's not proper to walk to someone's wife in a secluded place when no one is around.""People talk," said Laura with a dismissive tone. She carried on her bitter smug act.Aden was familiar with this act. She was acting like a jealous girlfriend. Aden stared deep into her eyes. She tried her best to act smug. She was too adorable to be a smug.Laura wore a low-cut dress, she put her shawl hanging by the wooden pole. She deliberately showed Aden her cleavage when she bent down to get a hay. She wore no bra. Aden could see her rosy nipples. She walked to the horse stall and put the cover on the haystack. She was bent over instead of kneeling like a lady—showing her round ass to Aden.When Laura was about to leave, Aden blocked her path, a firm hand on the door. He closed it and turned the key, the soft click echoing in the heavy silence of the stable. The air was thick with tension as Aden stepped closer, his presence overwhelming. Laura lowered her gaze, a subtle hint of her unspoken consent.Aden cupped her chin, lifting her face to meet his. He kissed her, a gentle confirmation of her willingness. With practiced ease, he guided her to the back of the stable, mirroring the encounter he had with Indry the day before. He grabbed a cloth hanging by the haystack and spread it out, transforming the rough straw into a makeshift bed.The stable was dimly lit, shadows dancing across the walls. Laura let her dress fall to the ground, climbing onto the haystack bed and lying down in front of Aden. She was completely naked, her flawless skin glowing in the faint light. Her body, perfectly proportioned and enticing, seemed almost otherworldly.Aden moved towards her, kissing her deeply, his tongue trailing down her neck. The scent of her hair, like fresh apples, filled his senses. He took in her entire form, from the top of her head to her toes, every detail imprinting itself in his mind. Her rosy lips and delicate features were matched by the softness of her pubic hair, neatly trimmed and inviting.He embraced her, their bodies pressing together, feeling every curve and contour. As he undressed himself, the anticipation built between them. He suckled her breasts, his hands exploring her body, teasing and caressing her most sensitive parts. Laura instinctively spread her legs, a moan escaping her lips, different from any sound Aden had heard before. Her pleasure was genuine, uninhibited.Time pressed on them. Aden knew they had to be quick; the stable was no place for a prolonged affair. He positioned himself between her legs, his erection brushing against her entrance. Laura opened herself wider, her breath hitching as he slid the head of his penis along her wet folds."Sshh," she moaned softly as he pushed forward, entering her inch by inch. Their eyes locked, the unspoken desire clear in her gaze. Aden continued, filling her completely. Her moan was long and deep, echoing the intensity of the moment."Oh, God. You're so tight," Aden whispered, marveling at the snug fit. Her insides were perfect, neither too slippery nor too dry, everything he could desire."Of course, mmh. I'm not that harlot," Laura replied, her voice breathless, referencing her friend Indry with a hint of pride. She was lost in the sensation, her pleasure evident.Aden began to move, his thrusts slow and deliberate, savoring the feel of her. His hands found her breasts again, squeezing them, his mouth on her nipples. Laura's body responded eagerly, her moans growing louder with each thrust.After a while, she pushed him onto his back, taking control. She straddled him, her narrow waist and round hips a perfect fit. As she rode him, her movements were rhythmic and intense, her pussy gripping him tightly.A sudden noise outside the stable jolted them both, the sound of footsteps drawing closer. Aden's heart raced, his eyes darting to the locked door. The danger of discovery loomed, adding a forbidden thrill to their stolen moment.⁕⁕⁕