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Authors: Gideon Nieuwoudt
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stables.
While the men were busy moving the bodies, Sarah and Leala sat down at one of the tables. Leala took Sarah's hands and gave it a squeeze.
"Are you alright?" she asked.
Sarah smiled bravely and nodded resolutely.
"I will be. Thank the Lord those two men of yours were here," she answered, and then smiled cheekily as she began to loosen up.
"One seems to have run off though," she added with a wink.
Leala couldn't help smiling at Sarah's spunk. Trust her to find the humour in something like this , she thought.
"I know it's not really funny," Sarah continued, "but I couldn't help noticing the way you rushed into one man’ s arms while the other one disappear ed shortly after."
Leala frowned at Sarah's words. It does explain why Lamech was nowhere to be found , she thought. She closed her eyes and sighed . This day was just getting more complicated by the minute.
Sarah reached over and stroked Leala's hair comfortingly.
"I know," she said. "But, judging by the way Joash threw that sword across the room, at least you know he's not going to disappear," she added with a twinkle in her eyes.
Leala smiled at that and then looked up at Sarah.
"Yes, we were actually talking about that when those scoundrels interrupted us," she answered.
"Talking, huh?" Sarah teased.
Leala laughed out loud, just as Joash and Armand came walking through the back door, having dumped the last body. They walked over and sat down next to the wom e n.
"It sounds positively jolly in this part of the inn," Joash smiled. Armand placed an arm around his wife and kissed her on the forehead. "Glad to see you ladies are back to your usual selves," he joined in. His wife leaned against his shoulder and smiled contently.
"Leala and I have talked..." Joash began, but Armand interrupted him: "...and you're planning to leave."
Joash smiled at him, "Nothing gets by you."
"Where's Gaal?" Leala suddenly asked, looking around.
"Shortly after you two disappeared upstairs, he and his remaining bodyguard went to the stables," Armand replied. "Gaal returned a few minutes later, alone, and then went to his room. He probably sent his bodyguard to fetch help. His most likely destination would be Marseilles, so they won't be long in coming."
"Then we'd better be ready to leave at first light," Joash said firmly.
"But why the hurry?" Sarah asked. "Wouldn't Arles be a good place to be right now, with those soldiers coming? If you head back to Avignon, you might run into more of those bandits - or whoever they were - on the road."
"We might, but... I don't know, I just feel this sense of urgency that staying here would be far more dangerous," Joash replied.
"I feel it too," Leala said. "It's like the Lord is warning us not to stay."
"It feels exactly like that," Joash agreed. "I don't know for what reason He's warning us to go, but I don't like the idea of having all these soldiers around me after my disagreement with Gaal last night. I simply don't trust the Crusader - types."
"It's that kind of talk that will get you into trouble with Gaal," Armand smiled. "Still, I think you're right. Let's get your horses saddled up and ready to leave at dawn. Sarah, please pack them some food for the road."
Sarah got up and immediately began putting together some bread, fruit, and dried sausages in a bundle in the kitchen.
"Thank you. We really appreciate your help," Joash said and then he and Armand left through the back door for the stables.
"He's a good man, that one," Sarah smiled at Leala.
Leala smiled back and watched Joash's retreating back.
"And Joash is not half bad either," Sarah teased.
Leala laughed and aimed a piece of bread at Sarah's head. Sarah joined her in laughter, her eyes sparkling with mirth.
By the time the men returned from the stables, Sarah and Leala had put together two bundles of food.
"Well, let's go
While the men were busy moving the bodies, Sarah and Leala sat down at one of the tables. Leala took Sarah's hands and gave it a squeeze.
"Are you alright?" she asked.
Sarah smiled bravely and nodded resolutely.
"I will be. Thank the Lord those two men of yours were here," she answered, and then smiled cheekily as she began to loosen up.
"One seems to have run off though," she added with a wink.
Leala couldn't help smiling at Sarah's spunk. Trust her to find the humour in something like this , she thought.
"I know it's not really funny," Sarah continued, "but I couldn't help noticing the way you rushed into one man’ s arms while the other one disappear ed shortly after."
Leala frowned at Sarah's words. It does explain why Lamech was nowhere to be found , she thought. She closed her eyes and sighed . This day was just getting more complicated by the minute.
Sarah reached over and stroked Leala's hair comfortingly.
"I know," she said. "But, judging by the way Joash threw that sword across the room, at least you know he's not going to disappear," she added with a twinkle in her eyes.
Leala smiled at that and then looked up at Sarah.
"Yes, we were actually talking about that when those scoundrels interrupted us," she answered.
"Talking, huh?" Sarah teased.
Leala laughed out loud, just as Joash and Armand came walking through the back door, having dumped the last body. They walked over and sat down next to the wom e n.
"It sounds positively jolly in this part of the inn," Joash smiled. Armand placed an arm around his wife and kissed her on the forehead. "Glad to see you ladies are back to your usual selves," he joined in. His wife leaned against his shoulder and smiled contently.
"Leala and I have talked..." Joash began, but Armand interrupted him: "...and you're planning to leave."
Joash smiled at him, "Nothing gets by you."
"Where's Gaal?" Leala suddenly asked, looking around.
"Shortly after you two disappeared upstairs, he and his remaining bodyguard went to the stables," Armand replied. "Gaal returned a few minutes later, alone, and then went to his room. He probably sent his bodyguard to fetch help. His most likely destination would be Marseilles, so they won't be long in coming."
"Then we'd better be ready to leave at first light," Joash said firmly.
"But why the hurry?" Sarah asked. "Wouldn't Arles be a good place to be right now, with those soldiers coming? If you head back to Avignon, you might run into more of those bandits - or whoever they were - on the road."
"We might, but... I don't know, I just feel this sense of urgency that staying here would be far more dangerous," Joash replied.
"I feel it too," Leala said. "It's like the Lord is warning us not to stay."
"It feels exactly like that," Joash agreed. "I don't know for what reason He's warning us to go, but I don't like the idea of having all these soldiers around me after my disagreement with Gaal last night. I simply don't trust the Crusader - types."
"It's that kind of talk that will get you into trouble with Gaal," Armand smiled. "Still, I think you're right. Let's get your horses saddled up and ready to leave at dawn. Sarah, please pack them some food for the road."
Sarah got up and immediately began putting together some bread, fruit, and dried sausages in a bundle in the kitchen.
"Thank you. We really appreciate your help," Joash said and then he and Armand left through the back door for the stables.
"He's a good man, that one," Sarah smiled at Leala.
Leala smiled back and watched Joash's retreating back.
"And Joash is not half bad either," Sarah teased.
Leala laughed and aimed a piece of bread at Sarah's head. Sarah joined her in laughter, her eyes sparkling with mirth.
By the time the men returned from the stables, Sarah and Leala had put together two bundles of food.
"Well, let's go
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