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That night Macaire can hardly sleep for thinking, replaying the day gone by in his thoughts and dreading the coming of morning. What was he thinking, approaching Eluf in the first place? Then taking him to the tavern, falling prey to his big eyes and awed expression, agreeing to meet him again -- all he can think is that this isn't an army. There's no casual acceptance of shield-brothers in the city, no unspoken understanding that sometimes two men will share a sleeping roll as well as a tent. He isn't certain what they do to anyone caught committing such acts here in Sunderland, but it can't be pleasant. Goal? Manual labor? Whippings? He's no way of knowing, no good way of finding out without incriminating himself. He gets out of bed reluctantly that morning, buys breakfast at the cookshop, and heads to work. Fortunately, since his job is to stand still and look intimidating, even his employer does not notice anything wrong in Macaire's frowning expression, though he does close three sales in the time it usually takes him to complete only one. At the end of his shift, Macaire walks the jewel merchant to his home as is his usual practice, then -- no use in stalling -- it's time. The moment he's been dreading all day.
Even knowing that he could come to grief for it .. and aye, bring Eluf to grief for it as well .. he can't stand the thought of disappointing the lad. By the time the sun has begun to slip from the sky, settling lazily on the horizon, Eluf will be able to make out the broad silhouette of a man approaching, headed straight for him and Axe. He is dressed almost exactly as he was the day before, though some care has apparently been taken to neaten up his appearance; he's smoothed down his tousled hair (to little effect), changed into a fresh linen shirt, and found somewhere to have a good wash, the sort generally reserved for festival days.

He's also carrying something -- a bundle wrapped in canvas, and as he comes closer he carries with him the scent of a fresh dinner, though perhaps not what Eluf would think of as such. It's meatpies he bought in a shop, along with a few other things, and lacking any knowledge whatsoever regarding Guardians .. a small bundle of fesh carrots is sticking out of one pocket, presumably a bribe for Axe. "Hoy, lad. Got dinner, if'n ye know a place as would be good tae sit and eat it."

His heart sinks. He thought it'd be easier today -- he'd made a special trip to the brothels last night to remind his body about rightful desires versus wrongful ones -- but being away from Eluf had made him underestimate the young man's power over him. All it takes is that air of withheld excitement to get his heart constricting, and it only goes downhill from there! When Eluf suggests a private spot in the woods, then looks up at him through his lashes, for a few wild seconds he wonders if the lad is actually experienced enough to come onto him -- and he knows damn well that if Eluf tries it, he won't be able to put the lad off. Oh, small gods mercies! This can only end in tears!

As physically intimidating as he may be, Macaire does not think of himself as a strong man .. in fact, quite the opposite, and he gives himself a mental admonishment for his weakness as he finds himself nodding in agreement. "Aye. T'will do right enough, oi'd say. Lead on, me lad." As they start he'll keep his pace slow, but once they step off of the path and into rougher terrain, he stops. This will never do, what if Eluf trips or falls? So all at once Eluf will find that Macaire has pushed the bag into his hands, leaving him holding their dinner. Several things clunk heavily together; something makes a liquid sound inside. And then Macaire takes him by the waist, lifting him completely off the ground, and setting him down on Axe's back. "There we are, laddie. 'Tis darkening out, 'tis best as tae ride."

What about him? Macaire makes a snort of amusement, sounding very like similar sounds that Axe has made, at the very thought. "Lad, oi weigh more'n his lairdship, and be sae scarred that if oi were tae take a tumble, me own mam wouldnae notice! Nah, nah, oi'll be well enough. B'ain't the first night march oi been on." And that's fair true: the difference is that this night he carries no weapons and no pack, which is something of a relief. And this time, he's headed off to a dangerous location: a private spot alone with a lad who embodies dangerous temptation!

As they come out from underneath the trees into Eluf's little clearing, Macaire pauses: he stands for a moment, head tipping slowly back, and stands in complete silence. He hardly knows what to look at first: the stream, the sky, the sweep of trees .. for a moment he can only marvel at it all, though there's a part of him that aches with longing for the more familiar beauty of Aireland's rolling hills. " .. 'tis as fair as the Small Gods has e'er made. Cain't say as oi've seen the loike in a long time."

The taller man follows along behind, dropping down easily to sit, as comfortable here far from any others as he was in the midst of the tavern. There is, though, a thin thread of uncertainty running through him which has nothing to do with their surroundings; it's all the same to Macaire where they stand so long as Eluf is beside him, representing unfair temptation! Why, his mates back home'd mock him, even they as knew about shield brothers and the like! Dancing attendance on a lad with pretty eyes!

Reaching for the sack of food, he unknots it and spreads the bit of canvas out like a cloth, pushing half the food in Eluf's direction: a meat pie that smells heavenly, a cheese made just slightly warm by contact with the pie, fresh apples, and a smaller pie that is presumably a dessert, as it smells just faintly of berries. There's also a dark glass bottle of a wine that Macaire very nearly had to bankrupt himself for: it's actually a good wine, hopefully light enough that it won't get poor Eluf drunk.

Hopefully.

(Then again, being what he is, Macaire does not have much sense for the lighter alcohols; after all, it'd take enough beer to drown a horse to get him knackered!)

"Nae, lad, not in Sunderland. Had a fondness fer a wee little lack back were oi were born, which some as said were hainted. Weren't nae secret, but them as'd go there were few indeed."

Embarrassed at the subject of money, Macaire does his best to ignore it: what Eluf sees as only 'fairness,' Macaire sees as yet another sign of their vastly different positions in life. His pa was right -- he's going to come to grief in Sunderland, because of his own fool mistakes! Something things to occur to him as he stares hopelessly at Eluf, and blinking he pats his breast pocket as if remembering only now the carrots sticking out of it. "Ach! Near forgot," he mumbles, hoping that neither Eluf nor his solemn Guardian realize that he'd forgotten because he was staring at Eluf. Taking the carrots from his pocket, he presents them gravely to Axe, with an earnest hopefulness in his scarred face. " .. oi dain't know what Guardians et, but yon lad in market said he might loike these."

It's Macaire's plan to use the carrots to keep Axe's attention, for the older man currently assumes that Axe is something like a large dog -- clever, but clever only as an animal is clever, associating a certain person with treats and thereafter keeping a careful watch on them to see if they will unexpectedly produce more.

The soldier wears an intent expression, focused on feeding Axe without either getting his fingers nibbled or otherwise upsetting the Guardian. He's got a good little bundle of carrots, and he presents these to the Guardian until the last one is gone, watching Axe closely. What will his own Guardian be like? Should he .. should he stock up on carrots? Apples? It's like feeding a horse: with soft lips and strong teeth, distracted momentarily by the softness of his eyes, until Eluf's words draw him out of his trance.

" .. naught's happened yet," he confesses in almost a mumble, as if embarrassed. " 'Tis jest a pretty charm, is all. But old songs say, 'tis how it begun, with a wee little token." With his free hand he touches his chest, where indeed a small lump indicates that he still wears the token like a necklace, hidden under his shirt. "If'n oi had not seen 'em with me own eyes, oi wouldnae have believed it. Would've thought mayhap oi drank tae much that night, roight? Got meself ill, dreamed it all up." He looks hopelessly at Axe for a moment, for Axe, along with the other Guardians he's met, are why he cannot wholly discount it -- although he'd rather like to.

Macaire can't help himself. At the thought of Axe playfully romping with anyone -- Guardian or no -- he snorts, echoing the Guardian himself. He's met drill sergeants that were more relaxed than Axe is! Not that he can't understand, with a Chosen like little Eluf to take care of, but the idea of Axe having a playmate is just beyond the pale.

"Oi can't see that one playin'. Mayhap would be glad tae have someone as he could order about, but not playin'. Did oi tell ye, oi met once a lad what had a Guardian he used in show? Did tumbling, he did, all in colored clothes, and had ribbons all over his points --" He indicates Axe's antlers to illustrate, with finally a twitch of a smile at the corners of his mouth. "Would look grand on yer lad, oi'd wager."