Inheritance: Threads of Fate

Chapter Nine - An Hour or Two

The sound of voices and seagulls screeching emerged to the front of your consciousness, and for a moment you thought you were back at home, safe in your bed. You began to wake, those were seagulls... and you were in a bed... where were you? You panicked and opened your eyes, at least you tried to. It took all your effort, and everything was bright...and loud...and miserable. You squinted, you were in a room with a few other beds. Some had men in them...others it seemed like they should have had a man in them, but their occupants ended up on the floor. You looked down and saw Caspian dead asleep, flat on his back. But his robe was missing...you looked down and noticed that you were using it as a blanket... ok so where was the blanket from the bed? You scanned the room again and there was Raxe on the floor at the foot of your bed, bundled up in the blanket.
Where in Aslan's name were you? You began to panic as you realized you weren't wearing your veil. You reached down and shook Caspian. Nothing. You whispered his name. Still nothing. You crawled out of bed and sat next to him on the floor, then you got an idea. You leaned forward and kissed him, and he stirred, mumbling something incoherent. He covered his eyes with his hand as he tried to open them, but clearly felt the same level of annoyance at the sunlight.
"Caspian," you whispered again, "where are we?"
He looked around, then sat up in panic. He felt his naked torso. "Where's my... " he began but you handed him his robe.
"Oh. You used your shirt as a pillow." You pointed out once he sat up.
"....So much for keeping the drinking to a minimum." He rubbed his face "Where's Raxe?"
You pointed to the foot of the bed.
"Where are we?" He asked you once he was fully awake.
"I just asked you that... I have no idea." You responded.
"Your veil." He pointed to your face.
"I know." You sighed, realizing he didn't have any more knowledge of your situation than you did. "Last I remember, we were in the tavern drinking with Cale and his men..."
He scrunched up his face as he tried to think. "I can't remember anything past... something about... Cale propositioning you? Or am I imagining things?"
"No... I remember that too... and Raxe stepped in..."

The door to the room flew open, and Cale stood there, wide awake and smiling.
"Alrgh' ye mangy dogs! Up and at'em! Ye sorry bunch'a fish guts!" He shouted, making your head pound. All the men started awake grumbling and moaning.
Raxe thrashed violently at the sudden outburst, tangling himself in the blanket. "What the hell!" He sat up against the foot of the bed.
"Ah...My Lady, here ye be." Cale noticed you. "I was hopin' ye didn'a wander off las' night."
"Cale, where are we?" You asked, rubbing your temples.
"In 'r room o'bove tha inn." He chuckled. "Ya don' remember?"
You shook your head.
"Yer firs' mate takes good care o' ye. I offer'd ya me room for tha night bu' ye were fightin' ta leave. He wouldn'a let ye...ye even drew yer blade at 'im!" He laughed.
"Oh Caspian...I'm so sorry..." You looked at him, he was shaking his head, trying to remember. "Did I hurt you?"
"Nah... he gave ye one look an' it disarmed ye...na I know why ye spurned me advances..." Cale winked at you.
"Aslan's mane..." Caspian groaned, massaging the back of his head.
"Cale...It's not what you think..." You began.
"Lass. Many 'o pirate takes a lover they shouldna' Ye be lucky. He be a good one. Pretty too..." He chuckled. "If  ye didn't lay claim ta him, I mighta' myself."
You didn't have the willpower to argue, you groaned and led your head rest against the bed. The rest of his men were getting up, putting on their boots and making their way out the door. How many people have you let on about how you and Caspian feel about each other now? The whole country of Calormen knows at this point...
"When ye get yerself up, come d'nstairs aye? Get some food in ye." Cale excused himself and closed the door behind the last of his men. Raxe had fallen back asleep, laying with his head against the bed, mouth open, snoring.
"Did you...tell Raxe about us?" Caspian finally asked.
You blushed. "Yea... back in the desert. But he kind of guessed on his own first....he knows me too well."
"Apparently I can't play coy at all." He shook his head...good thing Cale thinks I'm just your first mate.
You giggled. "It's hard for me to pretend not to have feelings for you." You looked down. "The things you make my body do involuntarily..."
He chuckled. "Yea...trust me...I know the feeling..."
You gazed into each others eyes, he pulled you towards him by the back of your neck and kissed you. Then resting his forehead against yours, exhaled forcefully though his nose. "Come on...let's get Raxe up."