The Lord of the Lake (2)

A serialized dark romantic fantasy novella

Previously...Chapter 1

Chapter 2: In he wilderness of Autumna

When Thymia opened her eyes, the cloaked stranger had stopped his cart by a large bush near the path. The sun was low; Thymia must’ve dozed off.  He let the black horse graze, then took long poles and pieces of thick fabric from the cart. 

“Get out! Help me with the tent! It’s not going to make itself.”

Thymia held the poles helping the man put up a small tent. Afterward he made her pick firewood along with him, then he made a fire, found a small kettle in the cart, filled it with water from a pool, added some lingonberry branches and hung it above the fire.

“Here! Cook the dinner!” he threw a sack of food toward the girl.

“I can’t cook.”

“What a haughty whore you are!” he scolded the girl, “let’s hope you’re good at other things.” Judging by the movement of his hood, the man looked Thymia up and down. He kept hiding his face.

“Alright! Watch! Tomorrow you’ll cook.” He took back the sack. 

The stranger found a bowl, filled it with flour, added some oil from a glass vessel, sprinkled in a bit of salt and herbs. Then he kneaded all of it into a dough. He took an old heavy iron pan from the cart, placed it onto the fire, poured in some oil, formed the dough in four even scones and put them on the hot pan. He left them frying, meanwhile took out a dagger and sliced thin pieces of smoked meat unto the scones. The freshly made meal smelled excellent, Thymia remembered she hadn’t eaten anything since breakfast. The man gave her one of the scones, then poured the lingonberry tea into tin cups. All the while Thymia watched his hands: dark-skinned, strong hands of an Autumnian, with slender, long fingers and several tarnished silver rings on them.

She ate the scone - it was very good, and the fresh evening air made it even better. Gratitude along with despair and fear poured out her eyes. Thymia wept loudly and uncontrollably like a child.

“I just want to go home! I want my mother and father! I’ll never misbehave again! I want all of this to end! Let it be just a bad dream!” she cried. Startled by the noise, the dog began howling along with her, the horse neighed.

“Shut up, you bunch of animals! What’s with you? How long have you been a whore?” he yelled at Thymia.

“I’m not a whore! I haven’t even got a fiancé yet!” she yelled back.

“You haven’t?”

“No!”

“Calm down! Here! Have a drink!” The man gave her a bottle of booze. Thymia drank a mouthful shaking with disgust. 

“A wise whore once told me - the first time’s the hardest,” he said. Poor Thymia resumed weeping.

The man ordered her to shut up, get in the tent and wait for him. He would join her in a minute.

She covered herself with a blanket right up to her chin and waited with her feet shaking. The minute seemed to have stretched awfully long. Judging by the sounds and smells, he had taken out a pipe and began smoking Snakegrass right next to the tent. After a while, Thymia leaned out to have a look; the man was laying on the ground in front of the tent’s entrance, stretching his feet, his head resting on the shaggy back of the dog. He still held the smoking pipe in his hand, but otherwise the man appeared to be fast asleep. Good! She could smell nasty fumes of Snakegrass mixed with the stench of booze and sweat coming from his body. A stubble covered chin glared from underneath the hood.

“Phew!” Thymia concluded, crawling back into the darkness of the tent. She didn’t have the courage or the strength to step over the man. Besides, they were still tied together by the rope. Let him sleep. Maybe tomorrow she’ll figure out how to escape.

Thymia woke up still intact; judging by the light, the sun was high. She peeped out of the tent - the kettle was bubbling above the fire. The man had turned his back to the tent; he stood looking into a small shard of a mirror placed inside the cart. The stranger used his dagger to shave and had taken off his hooded cloak. Thymia couldn’t believe her eyes; long, black hair fell below his shoulders. Only wealthy or young men kept their hair long in Autumna. This one obviously wasn’t rich, so he must be young. Thymia felt shocked by the revelation - how could a young man have a soul so corrupted to buy another person, not to mention attending whorehouses?! He noticed her staring in the reflection.

“By the time you woke up, sleepyhead! Had to make breakfast myself!” he said, turning toward the girl. Thymia could swear, she had seen this face before! She just couldn’t remember where. The stranger was nearly too handsome for an Autumnian, too tall and slender as well. His dark-skinned face remained emotionless, although it could be easily mistaken for arrogance, his eyes had a sharp expression. 

“Eat up! It’s late! We gotta get moving!”

The man had left her a scone with freshly made marsh berry and honey jam. He poured some lingonberry tea in her cup. Thymia wondered - how early did he get up to cook? The food smelled excellent.

“Tasty!” Thymia mumbled, thinking out loud, with her mouth full. Although spoiled with exquisite delicacies in the castle, she noted the simple, well-cooked meal in the fresh air was the best breakfast she ever had. 

“Thank you!” The princess remembered her manners.

The man didn’t answer, he turned his back on her, taking down the tent. He had untied his wrist from the rope but tied it back as they approached the cart to leave. 

The dog jumped inside, this time the man was more gentle when putting Thymia into the cart. 

As they journeyed forward, the sun burned scorching hot, although it was still morning. The man yet again wore his cloak and hood on, despite the heat. Thymia had loads of time to think, sitting in the shaky back of the cart, and her thoughts weren’t sunny at all; what had happened to her? She was not a coward! No! Thymia always deemed herself brave and strong! Not the pathetic little trembling creature she was now!  The old Thymia wouldn’t let some scoundrel drive her around calling the girl his whore! 

She is not a possession of a man! And she will not serve a man! Not as a maid, nor a cook or a slut! Something had to be done! Thymia didn’t have a sword, but the rope seemed to be long enough to throw around the man’s neck and choke him! Slowly the girl clutched the rope with both hands and began to rise closer to the stranger. Nobody was riding toward them on the path, no one could stop her!

“You want water?” he suddenly asked, without looking back.

“What?” she sat down blinking, startled by the question.

“It’s damn hot! Do you want water?” Without waiting for a reply, he threw his leather water flask at her. 

Thymia drank the flask empty.

“Thank you!” she muttered. Now what was she supposed to do? How can one kill somebody, who had just quenched one’s thirst? Thymia cursed him for the kindness but could not attempt to kill him. 

It was too late because a couple of Autumnian soldiers on lizardons rode past them. The man pulled the hood down, hiding his face. “Having trouble with the law, aren’t you?!” Thymia thought, but suddenly realized - the law was there to help her! The soldiers were almost gone behind the thick bush.

“Stop! Please help me! I’m the daughter of the High Queen! I’m princess Thymiani! Help! I’m being kidnaped” she shouted leaning out of the cart. The soldiers looked back in surprise.

“Never mind! She just had a drink! Carry on, gents!” the man said loudly. The soldiers laughed and rode ahead.

“You lied! I did not drink!” she said in despair.

“You did drink! Water! You’re the liar - I didn’t kidnap you, I bought you fairly! Now I understand why Pigeye sold you so easily - you’re mad! Should’ve known better; Pigeye never sells good merchandise!” he yelled in her face. Thymia could feel his anger in the air; it seemed almost tangible.

“You saw Pigeye’s women? Another outburst like that, and you’ll have it even worse than they did!” he said with utmost hatred. The poor girl curled up in a ball in the back of the cart and wished to disappear. 

It was noon, the man turned his horse off the path, they rode on until they reached a lake. The swamp evaporated its hot, steamy breath making the air unbearably moist and heavy. Thymia was sweaty, her dress felt unpleasantly damp.

The man got out; his dog followed. Without explanations he untied the rope from his wrist, to tie it to the dog. Then to Thymia’s shock, he shamelessly took off all his clothes and dived headfirst into the lake. The dog didn’t follow its master, it waited laying on the shore.

He swam for a long while, obviously enjoying the water immensely. Meanwhile Thymia sat in the cart feeling like an egg on a frying pan. The man leisurely swam on his back, then stopped laying and staring at the cloudless sky.

He got out, walked toward her, still without a sign of shame about his naked body, although Thymia had to admit - he had no reason to feel ashamed of his strong and handsome figure. The girl blushed and stared down at the bottom of the cart. 

“You want to go for a swim?” he asked innocently. After the bathing, his mood seemed to have improved.

Thymia silently shook her head. She will not swim with a pervert like him being around! 

“Suit yourself! High King doesn’t like the water either!” he shrugged.

“Why is the dog called High King?” Thymia asked. The name seemed inappropriate - her father was the High King!

“Full name: High King Damian the First! Why? Because he was a bitch, that’s why!” he burst out laughing at his own joke. Thymia frowned, she didn’t find that amusing.

He got dressed, the cart resumed its journey on the lonesome path. Soon enough Thymia noticed - her “master” couldn’t ride past a lake without taking a dip, at least on a hot day like this one. They reached another village by sunset. The man stopped at a tavern.

“Stay! Guard!” he commanded the dog, then untied the rope from both of their wrists, took Thymia’s hand and went inside the tavern. Thymia noticed it was a half decent place, a tavern with rooms for rent.

“Oh, hello Erko! The usual?” The barkeeper seemed to be an acquaintance of his. He gave the man a key.

“Silver’s a bit tight, I’ll pay with the ‘Grass, alright?”

“No worries! Pay on your way back!” The barkeeper suggested.

“I’m not coming back to Old Autumn!”

“Sure! You say it every time!” The barkeeper laughed, “alright, come round the back with the ‘Grass later!”

The man nodded, took the key, and went to a hallway at the back of the tavern hall, leading to the rooms. The barkeeper stared at Thymia’s backside as the pair passed.

“You’re selling her?”

“I’m selling her in Hebeny.”

“Go easy on her! Hebenians like their women neat! You’ll get decent gold for her,” the barkeeper said.

“Sure thing!”

Thymia didn’t understand; how could these men talk about her as if she was a cow or a horse! Sadly, she knew - her appearance clearly stated her being a whore; short hair and the sheer petticoat dress was nothing a decent Autumnian girl would wear in public!

The man, named Erko, took her to a sad little room; it had no windows, only a table, a chair and a narrow bed. He lit a half-burned candle on the table and went away, locking the door. Thymia sat down by the table, but stood up swiftly, as he came back. Without saying a word, he left his water flask and a mince pie on the table and went away, locking her inside the room alone. “This must be dinner!” she thought. The candle burned out soon enough, leaving her in complete darkness. No, she will not wait for this Erko person in bed! Tonight, he can sleep with himself! Tymia took the thin blanket from the bed, wrapped her filthy, sweaty body in it and cried herself to sleep in the cobweb covered corner of the room.

After a couple of hours, she woke up from the sound of Erko trying to unlock the door. It took him quite a while. After entering the dark room, he spent equally long time locking it. The man stumbled his way across the room, fell into bed and began to snore loudly. The room filled with a smelly mixture of booze and Snakegrass fumes from his breath. Thymia checked the door - unfortunately, he had taken the key with him. Maybe she could steal the dagger hanging by his belt and kill him? Thymia couldn’t find the courage to do it. Yet again she decided to let him sleep - surely tomorrow she’ll escape! 

Somebody knocked on the door. Thymia woke up. The room was still pitch black but judging by the sound of people leaving the tavern rooms, she guessed the morning had come. She heard Erko trying to lift his body up several times, but each attempt he failed - falling back overpowered by the hangover. When he finally managed to pick himself up, Erko went out without paying any attention to the girl. Not knowing what else to do, she followed. 

“Come here! Have one on the house!” The barkeeper shouted his way, seeing the pathetic state he’s in. Erko shook his head and stumbled toward the door. 

“Get in!” He growled.

As Thymia climbed into the cart, she accidentally touched him.

“Don’t touch me! Don’t talk to me! Don’t look at me!” Erko requested furiously.

“Alright, alright!”

After a short ride, they stopped on the shore of yet another lake. As usual, Erko took off his clothes and dived into the depths of the lake. He didn’t appear for quite a long while, Thymia wholeheartedly hoped he had drowned, but - alas! - Erko swam up gasping for air. After spending a long time in water, he came out - naked and revived. 

“High King, you old mutt! Why don’t you take a swim, you stink like a dog!” Erko said happily, patting the dog’s head. 

“You should too!” He added, smelling the air near Thymia. She once again shook her head. The girl knew she stunk; it was days when she had a bath! But she would not bathe in front of Erko!

“You’ll bathe tonight! I hate smelly whores!” He said sternly.

They had breakfast - some more mince pies from the tavern, then continued the journey. 

At lunchtime Erko made her cook, while he, of course, went swimming in the next roadside lake. Never in her life had she cooked before! Thymia tried her best, but the scones came out salty and quite tough. The girl knew it, sadly chewing on the unpleasant bite, but to her surprise Erko said nothing, although he didn’t ask her to cook again. 

Bright colours of the sunset mirrored in the swampland as they approached another lake to spend the night on its shore. Thymia knew the routine - they would build the tent, find firewood, make a fire, boil the tea, cook dinner, Erko would go swimming and then… she didn’t want to think about what was to happen later at night. 

Usually, Erko dived head first into the water, but tonight he sat naked on the shore watching the sunset reflecting on the perfectly still surface of the lake. Colours changed from red to purple. This time he stepped into the lake slowly, not wanting to disturb the peaceful waters.

After the swim, he laid down, with his head on High King’s shaggy back, and smoked his pipe of Snakegrass. Thymia was washing the dishes in the lake. This is pathetic, she thought! She must end her unfortunate slavery tonight! 

When returned, Thymia saw Erko asleep. Good! Frantically she looked around - a rock would be enough to kill him. But was he really fast asleep? She decided to wait and use the time to take a dip in the lake. No, not because he said so! She hated the stench of her sweaty body, and it had begun to itch as well. 

Thymia took off her dress and stepped into the lake - it was ice cold! How could’ve he enjoyed the swim?! Nevertheless, she was pleasantly refreshed after getting out of the lake. She also felt gutted - Erko was not asleep! Or was he?  His eyes were opened looking at her, but he seemed unnaturally oblivious. Quickly Thymia got dressed and approached him. Indeed, he was obviously heavily intoxicated by the Snakegrass. He smiled looking at her. Thymia picked up a rock; she’ll wipe the silly smirk off his face! One good hit and she’ll be free! 

“Tell me; what’s your name, prettiest girl of them all?” Erko said with a dreamy smile.

“Thymia,” she replied, still holding the rock above his head.

“Thymia… suits you well because it’s beautiful. I was too shy to ask your name, you know? First, I forgot, and then it felt silly to ask…” he chuckled, “what a fool am I, right?!” yet again he stared into her eyes with a childish sense of wonder. How was she supposed to crack his skull, when he’s looking at her like that? No man, besides her father and grandfather, had ever called her pretty…

Thymia sat beside him and put the rock down.

“Why did you buy me?” She asked.

“I like beautiful things. And the road to Hebeny is long and lonesome, and I hate the whorehouses of Old Autumn. Disgusting, dirty whores! Have you ever been to a whorehouse in Old Autumn? Of course, you haven’t. You’re different. You’re clean. Who are you?” He asked, frowning.

“Thymia, the daughter of High Queen Eliani.”

“Nice to meet you! I’m Erko, the son of High Ki…” he closed his eyes murmuring something about the prettiest girl of them all.

Thymia could not kill him tonight. For a minute, she thought of taking the horse and running away. But it wouldn’t be wise - the swamp was too dangerous to ride through at night! Besides - maybe she could use her misfortune to start a new life, Thymia didn’t want to become a boring wife for a rich prince! If only she could somehow get Erko to get her to Hebeny, without being his whore… Thymia crawled into the tent, taking the rock with her, just in case Erko would want to pay a late night’s visit.

Thymia heard raindrops tapping on the tent. She woke up hugging the rock, grey light of a cloudy dawn crept inside. Something splashed outside the tent; Erko obviously was having his morning swim. The girl got out of the tent shaking, it was cold. She began to look for sticks for the fire; she’ll have to learn to take care of herself, if Thymia plans not to live the life of a princess.

“What are you doing?” Erko approached her. Thymia couldn’t get used to him being naked. 

“Gathering firewood,” she replied, looking at her feet. 

“Wait! I have to make a covering for the fire, the rain is too heavy.” 

He didn’t seem to remember yesterday’s conversation because he refused to call Thymia by her name. After he got dressed and made the covering, Thymia asked if he could teach her to make a fire.

“Every child in Autumna knows how to make a fire! Where did you live? In a hole?” He replied rudely.

“No, in the High King’s castle!” She retorted.

“Be careful, whore! Another outburst like that and…”

“I know, I know! I’ll end up worse than Pigeye’s women!” She rolled her eyes.

“Exactly!”

Erko wouldn’t teach her but didn’t mind her watching either. After making the fire, he fileted a fish he had probably caught earlier. Cooked with salt and herbs on an open fire, the fish was excellent. 

As they took down the tent, Erko worriedly watched the dark clouds approaching. The rain got heavier, as they drove off. He covered the cart, and everything inside it with the thick waterproof fabric from the tent.

Thymia was bored to death; she couldn’t see anything outside the cart, and honestly there wasn’t much to see either - the landscape of the rainy swamplands remained unchanged. 

At noon they rode into a large village. Thymia peeped outside - she saw dirty, wet streets, unpleasant people, and small houses. Erko stopped the horse near a market square. People were scarce because of the rain. He tied Thymia’s rope to the dog, commanding it to stay and guard as usual. Then he went away without an explanation. Thymia tried to untie the rope, or move the dog, but nothing worked. She wiggled her wrist, but before she had any luck, Erko returned soaking wet, and silently placed a large package on her lap, releasing her from the dog. The cart moved, Thymia sat there wondering, what was she supposed to do with the package? Open it or just hold it? She put it aside.

The boring journey resumed. Thymia thought of her parents - she will miss them! But the princess grew more determined to use this opportunity to escape her royal life. If only prince Ulrich would have loved her! She could’ve become the queen of Hebeny one day. But now all was lost - the prince’s bride had to be a virgin. Who would believe Thymia was still a virgin after she’s been living in the wilderness of Autumna unguarded?

No, Thymia will live alone! She just has to get rid of Erko! Yes! Tonight, she’ll kill him, take his horse and run off. Thymia could even snitch the silver rings from his dead fingers to use instead of money. The thought was disgusting! Besides, Erko had beautiful hands, with strong, slender fingers, and the tarnished silver rings became them very well. “It doesn’t matter, he has nice hands! Your freedom is more important!” Thymia thought to herself. The girl shivered.

“Open it!” Erko said suddenly.

“What?”

“The package. Open it!”

Obviously, he had been waiting patiently for her to do so.

Thymia unwrapped the paper; she saw a new, pale-green linen dress, well-made and decent. Also, a pair of pretty leather shoes and a grey wool shawl to wear on the cool Autumnian evenings. 

“It’s cold today. Put it on!” He suggested.

Thymia looked at her white petticoat dress - all dirty, she had worn it for days! Although she wasn’t eager to change clothes with Erko being around, maybe better now than later, when they stop. Uncomfortable as it was, she changed. Erko never looked back. The dress was a perfect fit, so were the shoes. The shawl covered her shoulders in a warm embrace. Erko turned for a quick glance after a long while - his face remained emotionless, still Thymia noticed a slight glimpse of a smile in his eyes.  

It was late afternoon, when Erko stopped the horse by a lake, of course. “A bit early for camping,” Thymia thought. The weather was a bit rainy, thick fog covered the moors. Erko was terribly distracted when putting up the tent. He acted differently than his usual grumpy self. After making the tea, he treated Thymia with wheat bread and honey, which he also had bought in the village. Then he shaved - most suspicious, because Thymia had seen him shave only in the mornings. The girl comprehended what he was getting ready for. She braced herself - tonight she must gather all her strength and courage to get rid of him! Erko raced to the lake for a swim. Thymia found a handy rock to take with her to the tent. Obviously, he will not sleep outside tonight. She drank her tea, got into the tent, and listened.

The dog seemed to be nervous as well, it howled and whined all evening, but Erko kept ignoring it. 

After the swim, Erko got dressed, then smoked his Snakegrass, but only for a couple of minutes, pacing anxiously near the tent.

“Not tonight, High King!”  He shoved the dog aside, as it attempted to crawl into the tent, before its master.

The tent was nearly too small for a couple. Thymia was laying with her clothes on, covered with the blanket, pretending to be asleep. She felt the rock in her hand - not long now! Erko laid completely still beside her, but she could clearly feel him being restless. He sat up again watching her. Gently brushed a lock of hair from her forehead. He took a deep breath, held it, then slowly exhaled leaning above her body. But before he got to do anything, High King began to bark loudly, the horse neighed, they heard heavy footsteps running quickly towards the tent. Something grabbed the tent with enormous strength, shaking and grabbling them with a pair of giant, hairy hands. Erko pulled out his dagger and fought back, he managed to wiggle out of the crushed tent, while the monster grabbed the girl tangled in the remains of their shelter. It ran off, with her shrieking.

“Thymia! Thymia!” Erko yelled, chasing after the beast. 

The monster stopped before running into a muddy pool, Erko caught up with it, jumped on its back and stabbed the beast, until it dropped Thymia. She crawled aside and watched Erko and the monster tumbling in a fight, then finally Erko stabbed it to death, the monster made a terrifying howl before dropping dead. Erko stumbled towards the girl, cursing.

“Damn it! The damn son of a bitch!”

“Was that a wolverine?” She asked, shaking.

“An old one. They banish the old ones. It thought us to be easy prey!” Erko replied, breathing rapidly. He patted the dog.

“Good girl, High King! You tried to warn me all evening, but I wouldn’t listen.” 

Erko whistled, the horse galloped back; luckily it had escaped the monster.

As they went back to the glaring embers of the fire, Thymia recalled - she had seen a wolverine before, at least its furry skin. Snakelings hunted them for fur, they were common around the wetlands of the village. An Autumnian wolverine was a large beast, taller than a grown man, it could run on two legs like a human, but otherwise it very much resembled a wolf. Vile, merciless creatures, bloodthirsty and always hungry. They tended to live in packs, that’s why Thymia was surprised of it attacking them alone. 

“Never seen them around here before! The damn bastard!” Erko kept cursing at the wolverine.

He put more wood into the fire and the flame came back to life. 

“You’re bleeding!” Thymia exclaimed after seeing his face in the firelight. A wolverine kills its prey by biting the throat; Erko’s neck and the left side of his face was covered in bite marks and blood. 

“Damn it! The stupid bastard!” Erko found the mirror shard, placed it against the trunks in the cart and tried to clean the wounds with a cloth soaked in booze. The shard fell into the darkness of the cart, Erko couldn’t find it.

“I’ll help! Come closer to the light!” Thymia said reluctantly. She wasn’t eager to do it, but he had just saved her life.

Erko sat down by the fire, while she wiped off all the blood and cleaned his wounds. Then he gave her a jar of healing ointment from the cart, to treat the injuries. As her fingers delicately touched Erko’s face, Thymia looked into his eyes. So far, the men she had met in Autumnian wilderness looked at her with blatant lust, but in his eyes Thymia saw a scourging flame eager to devour everything in its way. She very much felt the same when looking at a lightning flash or a burning candle - fingers would reach out to touch it, despite the notion of pain it would cost.

“Where have I seen you before?” Thymia thought out loud.

“Nowhere!” Erko retorted, swiftly getting up to put more wood into the fire. 

They didn’t bother to put the tent up in the darkness, Erko brought all the tent fabric and the blankets near the fire, to set up a place for Thymia to sleep. She snugged into the blankets and watched Erko smoking his Snakegrass pipe in the firelight, leaning his back against the sleeping dog.

Thymia woke up in the middle of the night from a terrible nightmare; two hairy hands wanted to grab her! Erko was laying still, staring at her with his dark eyes wide open. Yet again, he had been smoking too much.

“Beautiful, you have green eyes,” he said.

“I’ve got them from my father.”

“Your father? Mine was a villain. A pervert, a murderer, a Snakegrass smoker, a booze drinker. And I’m just like him. Funny, isn’t it?” He laughed. “I tried to run. I couldn’t. You can’t escape yourself. But I’ll try, one last time.”

Thymia listened to his quiet voice merging with the roaring fire and fell asleep. 

She opened her eyes to a grey dawn. The silver ball of the sun shone through the pale fog. Erko was still fast asleep. This was her chance to escape! Frantically she looked for a rock, but there was none at hand. She noticed Erko’s dagger in the moss, near him. Slowly Thymia picked it up, drew the blade towards his neck, and hesitated. “Last night he saved your life,” her conscience objected. “He saved his own property,” Thymia replied. Besides, he was a murderer, he admitted it himself. The land of Autumna will not miss a scoundrel like Erko! 

The light of the dawning day revealed last night’s scars. Deep bite marks covered Erko’s handsome face and neck. Blood oozed from the worst ones. Was Thymia willing to have Erko’s blood on her hands? Maybe he was a murderer, but she was not! Thymia made an agreement with her conscience - she will only kill him, if Erko attempts to hurt her! 

She put the dagger back where it was, then sat for a while, watching the fog slowly drifting away with the morning wind. 

Well, better get the fire burning! If Thymia wants to live alone in the wilderness, she must learn to take care of herself. She picked some wood for the fire. The damp sticks would not burn, so she poured some booze on the firewood, just like Erko did in wet weather. Soon enough the tea kettle was bubbling cheerfully above the fire, Thymia took Erko’s dagger to slice the leftovers of the wheat bread, then spread some honey on it. Sitting by the fire she had made herself, with food in her mouth, suddenly Thymia felt like she belonged. This was home. 

Erko woke up with a loud snore. Still intoxicated he smiled at Thymia, but soon enough remembered to be his grumpy old self again.

“What’s that smell?” He sat up and looked at the tea kettle.

“That’s not lingonberry!” Erko said looking inside it smirking. “Did you drink any already?”

“No.”

“Good! It would make your stomach ache for hours.”

Erko went aside to pour out the foul tea.

“Lingonberry!” He plucked a branch of a plant with small, round, green leaves and red berries, and waved it near Thymia’s nose, before making the proper tea. While the tea was getting ready, Erko went swimming. He dived into the water, Thymia watched worriedly as he did not come up for too long. Finally, he swam up to inhale. Was he doing it on purpose? Again, he bathed for a while with great pleasure. 

“Did you take my dagger?” He asked, standing naked in front of her. Thymia looked away.

“I had to slice the bread.”

“Alright, just wash it!”

She went to wash the dagger in the lake thinking. Wasn’t he at least a bit concerned she might kill him in his sleep?!

“Don’t you want to go for a swim? The water is great today!” Erko said, sitting wrapped up in a blanket. He poured the tea into the tin cups.

“The water is ice-cold.” Thymia’s hands were freezing after washing the dagger.

“You’re a touchy little girl, aren’t you?” Erko teased her. 

“No, I’m not!” Thymia exclaimed, “my father is a Snakeling, the cold is deadly for them!”

“Where did you get a Snakeling for a father? They say those folks are nearly gone!” Erko wondered.

“Don’t you know, who’s the High King?! A Snakeling! That’s my father!”

“Oh, I completely forgot - you’re mad! What a shame!”

“Why don’t you believe me?”

“Because the chance of me running into the High King’s daughter in a stinky old tavern is impossible!” He yelled at her and went silent for the rest of the morning. He dressed, treated his wounds with the ointment, looking into the mirror shard, then packed their things without even saying a word. 

How could he not believe her? Surely, he must have noticed she looks different than a common Autumnian girl; her skin was paler, she was tall and her eyes were green, not dark, and somewhat resembling snake’s eyes. She’s half Snakeling!

The cart rolled on. Once again, the day turned out to be hot, after the wind chased away the fog. 

Thymia noticed Erko turning his horse onto a small, narrow path, heading more towards the south. Last time her brothers did the same and got her into this trouble.

“Where are we going?” She asked, frowning.

“You heard me! To Hebeny!”

“Why did you take this path?”

“Why do you care?! Must I remind you, that I hate whores who talk too much?” He barked at her.

“Do it!”

“I hate whores who talk too much! Now shut up!”

“I won’t shut up because I’m not a whore! Stop calling me that!” finally Thymia sounded more like her old self.

“What should I call you then?” Erko seemed amused by her sudden spunk.

“You know my name! Heard you shouting it loudly just last night!”

Erko had nothing to reply.

Thymia once again had a boring time sitting in the cart. The landscape was the same old mossy, heather covered swamp, refreshed by bright blue pools and puddles, with patches of thick bushes here and there.

She looked at Erko’s belongings. There’s the trunk with his clean clothes - he kept them neat and folded. “Not too hard, if you spend half your time swimming naked!” She thought. A sack with Erko’s dirty clothes - with her petticoat dress on top of it. How strange to see their clothes together! Then there’s the sack and a wooden box with food. Another trunk with fragile things in it - bottles of booze, the mirror shard, his Snakegrass pipe, ointment, and such… another sack with Snakegrass in it, nearly empty. But one trunk Erko kept closed ever since he bought Thymia. It had a lock in front of it. Thymia reached out and pulled the lock.

“Must I remind you not to touch my things?” Erko grunted.

Thymia touched the lock one more time just to irk him. 

“What’s in the trunk?” She asked.

Erko paused.

“My deepest, darkest secret!” He replied with a smirk.

“Rubbish!” Thymia retorted.

“You’re much too rude for a High King’s daughter,” Erko concluded. This time Thymia had nothing to reply. He was right! She wasn’t much of a princess. Thymia wore simple, light, silk dresses, she couldn’t stand any jewellery, and hardly let the maids braid her hair properly. 

Immersed in her thoughts the girl fell asleep. 

She woke up late in the afternoon, obviously Erko had not stopped for lunch. The dog was growling, peeping outside the cart. Thymia heard hoarse voices talking and laughing and coming nearer. She sat up. Some ten Autumnian soldiers were riding their way. 

“Damn bastards! I’ve never seen them on this path before!” Erko cursed, pulling his hood lower. 

Those were common Autumnian men: dark-skinned, black bearded, broad-shouldered, and hefty. Crude, treacherous and greedy. Royal uniforms didn’t make them any better.

“ ‘Afternoon lad! Where’s the hurry?” Their sergeant asked, while Erko attempted to get past them as quickly as possible. 

“Just making my way to a new place to live. Hope to get there by sunset, so if you’d be so kind…” Erko couldn’t drive past them, the soldiers blocked his way, staring into the cart. The dog kept growling; it stood in front of Thymia. 

“I’ve never seen soldiers on this path. Are you here for a special reason?” Erko asked, just to draw their attention away from the cart.

“Sure thing! The High Queen and King lost a gal of theirs. Sending men to sniff out every damn path ‘round here. But folks say she drowned.”

Thymia suddenly realized - she’s that gal! 

“I’m the missing daughter! I’m princess Thymiani! I didn’t drown! The Water Glutton pulled me into another lake. I got lost! I’m the High Queen’s daughter!” She exclaimed. Erko looked at her with silent despair.

“No, you’re not! That gal had hair down to her bum. Yours is short,” one of the soldiers argued.

“I cut it off!” She yelled back.

“Maybe the young lass here is right! Yes, yes, I reckon she could just be the one. We might have to take a closer look!” The sergeant smiled and winked at his soldiers.

“Of course! I have green eyes, like my father, the High King!”

“Sure! Sure!” The sergeant nodded, “and this here? Giving the Highness any trouble? Should we finish him off for you, me’ lady?” He pointed at Erko.

“Oh… no! He helped me. I command you to spare him!”

“Alright then! Better be on your way, lad! Go on!” The sergeant beckoned him.

“Bye, High King!” Thymia cuddled the dog. “Goodbye, Erko!” She said, but Erko never answered. He looked into her eyes frightened, as she got off the cart. Then Erko drove ahead. Thymia couldn’t understand - why was he not happy for her? She was found! A week from now she’ll probably be standing in the High tower room with her parents, laughing about this whole thing, as if it was nothing but a joke!

“I will need a horse!” Thymia requested in a truly royal manner.

“Sure! Sure!” The sergeant spoke, watching Erko’s cart disappear behind the bushes further down the path.

Then he grabbed the girl’s hand, shaking her like a rag doll.

“We’re getting lucky tonight, gents!”

“Let me go! What are you doing?!” Thymia screamed, struggling.

“Let’s see what we have ‘ere!” The sergeant held her, while the soldiers standing closer tore her dress open, exposing the girl’s half naked body to the rest of them. She tried to fight back, but in vain.

“You go first, right?” They asked the sergeant casually.

“As usual!” He replied, then carried the struggling girl behind the nearest bushes, holding her mouth shut with his large palm. A noise began to rise amongst the soldiers, but the sergeant reckoned the boys were just arguing about who gets to have fun with the gal next.

The bastard slapped her face a couple of times, but she still would not give in, then he punched her head and dropped the girl on the ground stunned, while he unbuttoned the front of his pants. Thymia’s mind was clouded, she observed the next minutes like a nightmare. First a barking dog attacked the sergeant out of nowhere, then a giant fiery explosion rose behind the bushes. Soldiers squealed as if burned alive! A man on a black horse appeared behind the sergeant. He fought the sergeant with a sword, the dog bit the sergeant’s leg, distracting the scoundrel, and Erko stabbed him to death. Just before the bushes caught fire, Erko pulled Thymia up his horse and they rode away. Thymia saw burning soldiers - some still rolling on the ground, some laying black and dead. Most of their horses galloped down the path. 

Erko rode to the bushes, where Thymia last saw him. There he put her gently inside the cart, covered with his cloak, tied the horse back in front of the cart and they flew onward.

Erko didn’t stop for an hour or so, until they reached a small lake. He let the horse drink and also gave Thymia his flask. She drank it empty, then grabbed hold of the dog sitting next to her and cried loudly. This time Erko didn’t tell her to shut up. 

One of the soldiers’ horses was grazing nearby. Erko caught it and tied it behind his cart. They drove on with Thymia crying all the time, holding tightly to High King.

Erko turned the cart off the path, into a thick bush near another lake. 

“This will do for tonight.” He said. Thymia lingered in the cart, numb from crying, until the dog jumped out for dinner. She followed, Erko had already set up the tent, and cooked dinner.

He offered her a bottle of booze. 

“Drink as much as you want.”

Thymia drank, the booze burned her mouth and throat. 

“You want dinner?”

Thymia shook her head.

Erko cleared his throat, and said, “Well, I’m staying by the fire tonight. Have to sit on guard.”

Thymia nodded and crawled inside the tent. She listened to the mosquitos buzzing, the frogs croaking, the water splashing (Erko went for his evening swim) and fell asleep soothed by the swamp’s lullaby.

The girl woke up in the dark of the night, shaking in cold sweat, and couldn’t fall asleep anymore. 

She got out of the tent; the vast skyline was filled with thousands of tiny sparkling stars and all the lakes, pools and puddles reflected the magnificent sight. Thymia stared up with her mouth opened in awe. She had never seen anything so grand. The girl realized - no other way could she have gotten to this moment in time, as through the hardships she endured. Thymia silently thanked the Foreverold for being alive. 

Erko was still sitting by the fire, but tonight he had put the Snakegrass pipe aside. 

“You want a drink?” He gave Thymia the bottle of booze. She drank some. An unpleasant stench filled the night air.

“The swamp turf is burning.” Erko guessed her thoughts, “the swamplands are dry from the heat. The fire won’t be easy to put out.”

“How did you make that explosion?” Thymia wondered, because it would take a lot of booze to do so, Erko clearly didn’t have that much. 

“Don’t ask! The less you know, the better for you. I’ve gotten myself into big trouble.” He stared into the flames.

Thymia looked at the starlit sky until the back of her neck began to hurt, then she laid down, still wrapped in Erko’s cloak and fell asleep. 

Another foggy morning rose from the dark. Thymia woke up from the sound of water splashing; Erko had just dived into the lake. She wasn’t cold at all. Somebody had covered her with every blanket they had. The dog slept next to her back, keeping the girl warm and safe. Thymia felt something she hadn’t before. Strange touching feeling made tears gather in her eyes. She guessed it was gratitude. Never had the girl felt so grateful for somebody taking care of her, although shehad been lovingly cared for all her life. Whether it was her parents, or the servants, or Snakeling Grandfather. Even her brothers! She had always taken their care for granted, never thanking them. Erko wasn’t obliged to care for her. He could’ve just left her to the soldiers and moved on without a worry. Of course, he would’ve spent his five pieces of silver and two pieces of gold for nothing, but at least gotten away with no trouble at all! He didn’t have to turn back and save her. Why did he?

The kettle was boiling above the fire. Erko finished his swim, got out, but this time didn’t prance around naked. He got dressed immediately by the water. 

“Thank you,” Thymia said quietly, looking at the fire. 

“Well, there’s no way back for me now!” He replied looking at a dark wall of smoke rising at the horizon.

“Why not?”

“As a High King’s daughter, you should know the laws of Autumna. What’s the punishment for starting the Great Fire in the swampland?”

Thymia tried to remember. She hated studying the law, but this one she knew.

“Death sentence.”

The days of the Great Fire hadn’t been seen for twenty years now! A terrible magical flame was started by the vengeful people of the kingdom of Avem, every summer for sixteen years they set the turf on fire, making the Old Autumn burn until the autumn showers drowned it down. Nothing else could end them - whole Autumnian villages burnt to the ground with everybody, who could not escape, in them. The High Queen’s mother and sister, and nearly herself too, had died in the Great Fire. In the last years of his reign the late High King Damian was mad enough to cooperate with the people of Avem or Birdlings, to cause the Great Fire. He wanted to get rid of all the poor, old and sick Autumnians, and the fire made it quick and easy. Thymia hoped this would not make the old feuds resume between the neighbouring kingdoms.

“Now will you stop telling everybody you’re the High Queen’s daughter? It doesn’t end well, as you see,” said Erko.

“But I am the High Queen’s daughter! She’s searching for me, you heard them!” Thymia looked into Erko’s eyes.

“I don’t believe it! You could’ve heard about it from Pigeye, or on the street!” He looked away, pouring the tea into the cups. “Eat up! We must get moving.”

Erko wanted his cloak back, so he unwillingly granted her one of his shirts and trousers to wear instead of the torn dress. It was all too big, but she tightened the belt and looked at herself in the mirror of the lake. Finally, no stupid dress to get in her feet.

“I still think a dress looks better on you,” Erko said grinning at Thymia.

They rode southward all day long, stopped for a quick lunch, then resumed the journey. The dark wall of smoke behind them rose higher and higher.

Late in the afternoon the wind changed, now it blew softly in their faces, and Thymia sensed a different, yet strangely familiar scent in the air.

“Snakegrass!” She exclaimed.

“Yes! The heat makes Snakegrass fumes intense all around the Green Lake.”

“The Green Lake? But that’s a dangerous place!” Thymia remembered her parents talking about it.

“That’s where we’re going. Every summer I gather Snakegrass near the Green Lake - it’s the strongest one there is. Also, a bit tricky to get, the fumes can make one go mad! Nobody lives near the lake, at least not for long. Usually they go mad and run headfirst into the lake to drown. The lands around the lake are crawling with wild lizzos. I work quickly, harvest the ‘Grass for a week or so, let it dry up in the sun, then sell it in Old Autumn and Hebeny, and have money to spare until the next summer,” Erko explained.

It turns out he really had trouble with the law. A Snakegrass smuggler! No wonder he mostly hid his face in Old Autumn. 

The intoxicating fumes got much stronger as they drove on. Thymia noticed herself feeling slightly light-headed. The fumes from fresh plants were much more intense than the smoke from the dry herbs, when Erko smoked his pipe. 

Later that evening they stopped behind a huge patch of bushes near a lake. Thymia saw the white blooming Snakegrass plants here and there, but Erko explained that further down the path, the whole shore of the Green Lake was covered in Snakegrass. 

The girl felt much more at ease, even more so - the fumes made her almost as confident as she was before getting lost. 

Thymia noticed the saddle bag Erko had taken off the soldier’s horse. In it they found a flask of booze (Erko didn’t intend to drink it, but it could be used to make fire), some untouched food, dirty clothes. A spare sword wrapped in lizardon’s skin was also tied to the bag. Thymia pulled it out, examined with the eye of a true proficient and waved it skilfully. She would rather prefer a Snakeling sword, it was lighter and narrow, slightly curved. 

“Look at that! The little girl can swing the sword,” Erko teased her. 

“Don’t call me that!” She pretended to attack him. Erko grabbed the blade he used yesterday - had taken it from the dead soldiers. He stopped the girl’s attack, with both swords clashing. 

“Where did you learn sword fighting?”.

“In the High King’s castle. And the Snakeling village.” She attacked once more. Erko fought back.

“I don’t believe you! A blacksmith’s daughter could’ve learned it just as well.”

“But I’m not a blacksmith’s daughter! I’m the High King’s daughter!”

“Enough fun and games! Dinner’s not going to cook itself,” Erko retorted irritated.

After his usual evening swim, dinner, and tea, Erko laid on the dry moss, leaning on the dog’s back and smoking. He watched Thymia practise sword fighting in the bright sunset. She moved with strength and grace.

“What is that?”

“Snakeling sword fighting. Helps to beat the enemy without great strength,” she replied, still moving.

“Really?” Erko got up and raised his sword. “Show me!”

“I bet I’ll win!” The Snakegrass fumes made Thymia feel unstoppable.

“Alright! Let’s make a bet,” Erko suggested.

“Let’s do it!” Thymia accepted the challenge.

“If I win, you’ll sleep with me and you’ll pretend you like it!” The same raging fire burned in Erko’s eyes, but it didn’t frighten Thymia. Not tonight!

“But if I win - you won’t touch me, not even with your little finger, and you’ll take me to Hebeny, and grant me freedom.”

“A high price to pay. But I’m a gambler. Show me what you got, little girl!”

The sound of the clashing swords echoed far across the peaceful swamp. Both fought heatedly. Erko had more body strength, but Thymia was faster and more skilful. After a while, both were tired and sweaty, but none of them would give up. Erko got impatient, his attacks became more vicious. The dog had been jumping and barking around them and suddenly it decided to protect Thymia; High King jumped on Erko, distracting him. Thymia nearly touched his throat with the sword.

“Ha! I won!” She exclaimed.

“Not fair! High King got in the way. Didn’t you, treacherous mutt, you?” Erko patted the dog.

“You can’t claim the prize you wanted - you didn’t win fairly!” Erko objected.

“Neither can you!”

“Don’t worry! I’m not like those scumbag solders. I’ve found out - true pleasure requires the desire to be mutual,” he spoke looking at Thymia quite shamelessly. She blushed - decent people didn’t discuss such matters. But the Snakegrass fumes made the minds distracted and tongues loose. 

Thymia couldn’t help but wonder - did the whores Erko visit in brothels feel a mutual desire toward him, or was it the silver he paid them?

“Alright! For my prize I want to know how did you start the Great Fire?” she demanded.

Erko shivered. 

“You did win the bet…” 

He brought the locked trunk from the cart, placed it gently on the moss, then 

took out a tiny little key cleverly hidden in one of his silver rings, and unlocked the trunk.

Thymia got blinded by a bright light coming from the open trunk. The sun had set while both fought, it was dark, but the trunk seemed to contain pure sunlight.

When her eyes got used to the light, she could finally see - the shining object was a frail glass ball filled with a burning liquid substance. Erko picked it up gently, the amber-coloured potion burned with a never-ending flame. 

“My mother stole two of these from my father. They’re called the Live fire vessels. My scumbag father was usually drunk and intoxicated by Snakegrass. He wanted to burn down the castle in his drunken rampage.”

“Castle? You’re a High-born?” Thymia still stared at the glaring light of the fragile glass vessel.

“My parents were both High-born, but I’m a bastard.” Erko put the glass ball back into the trunk, then took a silver coin out of it and held it against the light.

“What do you see?” He asked. 

“It’s the old silver, my parents ordered to make new money a few years ago. See? It still has the late High King’s face on it.”

Erko shook his head and held the face on the coin next to his.

“That’s where I’ve seen you!” She exclaimed, “we have a big painting of High King Damian in the castle library. I always thought - how could a man this handsome be so cruel?” Thymia suddenly went silent. Erko looked gutted.

“Are you really the High Queen’s daughter?”

“I’ve been saying it all the time!”

“No, it can’t be! Maybe you were a maid in the castle,” Erko stubbornly rejected the thought.

“Maybe you’re not the High King Damian’s son!”

“I wish I wasn’t. But I am. His dirty blood runs through my veins. Along with his vile nature I’ve inherited all his weaknesses, all his traits. I’m rotten right to the core, from the moment of my conception, which, as you may very well imagine, was not voluntary. My mother was a lady of the court in High King’s castle. She could not refuse her king.” Erko hung his head.

“But I thought Damian couldn’t produce an heir.”

“When one sleeps with each and every woman around him, one just might get lucky. I’m not the only one. But I might be the only bastard still alive,” Erko explained.

“I thought, he wanted an heir.”

“An heir, but not a bastard. He hated his own bastards, killed all his pregnant mistresses. My mother was a wise woman, she managed to escape the castle, when Damian was distracted. We lived in New Autumna town, after his death. Mother earned as she could, I grew up among the simple folk, listening to the tales of the terrible deeds of my father. What else could the drunks talk about?! The freshly made High Queen and her husband were pure as snow.”

“I don’t know about that; I do have three brothers and two sisters. But life in the castle has changed since my mother came to reign.”

Thymia looked inside the trunk.

“Books?!” She exclaimed surprised.

“Some were mother’s, some I’ve both myself. Usually I buy the pretty ones - I like beautiful things, as you may have noticed.”

Thymia saw two rings. Erko picked the golden one with a pale-red gem.

“My mother’s,” he said lovingly. 

“Why don’t you wear this one?” Thymia picked up the other ring - a skilfully made silver ring.

“Didn’t want to lose it. It’s the best one I’ve ever made,” Erko replied.

“You made it?”

“I was a blacksmith’s apprentice. Wanted to make an honest living. What a fool! My face became more like Damian’s every year. People kept staring at me. Then my mother got killed by one of the drunks in the whorehouse she worked in. I took revenge. Couldn’t stay in New Autumna, not with my face. Selling Snakegrass was easy money, so I began my little gathering and trading business, and I have lived happily ever after,” Erko finished, walking away for another swim; the fighting had made him sweaty. 

Thymia lingered by the fire. The Snakegrass fumes had a strange effect on her, she wasn’t sleepy at all. The girl also felt awkwardly sympathetic towards Erko; living with a face of a notorious villain must not be easy. 

Erko joined her by the fire, drinking booze. Yet again the starlit sky shone above their heads, cheerfully sparkling, but Erko sat there sad and pathetic. Smoking Snakegrass usually made him appear more friendly and relaxed, but the booze did the opposite - he got grumpier by the minute. 

“Damned fate has been making fun of me my whole life. Gave me a handsome face that belongs to a monster. Then took away the only one, who saw a son in my face, and not the monster. It seems that the Foreverold himself is driving me deeper into the darkness, making me embrace my father’s malice. I even caused the Great Fire, just like he did. There’ll be burned souls on my conscience.”

Thymia realized - on her conscience as well! If it hadn’t been for her, Erko wouldn’t have to save her by burning the soldiers. But how very grateful she was for it!

“Why did I have to meet you?! Damn fate must’ve thought it a great joke! What a lousy year this has been. Just when things began to look better. Why couldn’t I just hold my tongue when I heard Pigeye bragging about you?! I shouldn’t care less about his whores!” Erko yelled in her face.

“I think I like you better when you smoke Snakegrass,” she retorted and went to the tent.

Thymia woke up early, the damned Snakegrass fumes wouldn’t let her rest. The dawning day had barely begun, she crept through the foggy dusk to find Erko lying face down in the moss. Poor drunk had fallen asleep where he sat. She rolled him to his back, covered him with blankets, brushed the long, wet strands of hair from his face. Was he even breathing? Parents had told Thymia and her brothers - Snakegrass smokers do not live long, because the herb damages the smoker’s heart. They say, late High King Damian died from his heart stopping… Thymia put her ear to Erko’s chest. Luckily, the heart was still beating, slowly but steadily. How strange it was to lay at the dawn of day, listening to someone else’s heartbeat! 

Thymia blushed and got up to make tea. Erko woke, hungover made him even more pathetic.

“I know, I know! I can’t look or speak, or touch you,” Thymia recited, before he groaned at her. The man stumbled his way to the lake and dived with his clothes on. Thymia impatiently waited for him to come up. Luckily, he did. 

Erko was a different man as he got out of the lake. He took the wet clothes off, wrapped into a blanket and sat down beside the girl.

“It’ll be sunny today. The best time to harvest Snakegrass. Wild lizardons don’t come out of the bushes when it’s hot. We’ll be safe. I reckon this time I’ll get twice as much ‘Grass as usual. I’ll need it to start a new life in Hebeny. There’s a man, pays good gold,” Erko thought out loud while cooking breakfast; Thymia was still no good at cooking. 

After eating, both drank their tea, thinking in silence.

Erko never mentioned the whorehouse in Hebeny he was planning to sell her to. Probably comprehended - it would not be wise to sell the High King’s daughter to a brothel. 

“What about me?” She asked straightforwardly.

“What about you? I can’t get you to New Autumna. There’s no way back for me. And you saw how trustworthy your soldiers are.”

“Take me to Hebeny! I want to live on my own,” she stated.

“Alone? It would never work! You’ll end up in a whorehouse. Who will protect you?”

“If I have a sword, I can protect myself.”

“Your strength doesn’t lay in the swing of the sword,” Erko said smiling at her spunk. “Of course, you’ll be more safe living on your own in Hebeny, than Autumna. Alright, I’ll help you get there. But that’s where our paths will part; I don’t want a wife.”

“And I don’t need a husband!” She retorted.

“I’m glad we can agree on something. Now, Your Highness, I might need your assistance to gather our precious Snakegrass. Or would you rather sit here all day, being bored to death?”

He dropped the blanket and went for some clean clothes from the cart, leaving Thymia to stare at his naked behind.