Isolde could have wept with relief. She had been desperate when she reached out to the hardbitten soldier. That he had been willing to play along had been a stroke of fortune almost beyond belief. She reached across and clasped his hand fervently.

“A female pistolier?” Isolde asked in genuine surprise. What strange coincidence had led the soldier and his friend here?

“Is she special to you?” the question was framed to sound slightly jealous for the benefit of the guards but she was genuinely curious. It sounded like something out of a melodrama.

------------------------

Hilde came to the end of the account of her first meeting with Captain Hollerman. Gilbrecht laughed at the slightly off colour punchline of the tale as he poured the both of the more wine. The pitcher was nearly empty already. It was just possible that he was trying to get her drunk to get information out of her but she had so far been able to hold her tongue. It didn’t seem like that was the gold though. Sir Gilbrecht seemed to have alot on his mind, he was eager to be distracted from whatever worries weighed on his mind.

“I must confess you are a delightful companion frau.. Hilde,” he commented, remembering at the last to drop the title as they had agreed earlier in the evening. Hilde smiled and took another bite of the excellent pork. Rather than picking at her food she ate with a real gusto which seemed to perplex the knight. Hilde had learned early on in her career that food and particularly meat were luxuries to be consumed where possible. She correspondingly ate with more enthusiasm than might be expected in polite company. 

Gilbrecht reached across the table and stroked her face with one hand, his calloused fingertips rough against her smooth skin. She came to her feet abruptly and her head swam with a wave of nausea. Apparently she had drank quite a bit more than she had planned. She swooned and was saved by collapse by Gilbrecht’s arms.

“Sorry…” she murmured, “I think I need to get to bed.” 

Gilbrecht smiled down at her.

“Of course, I’ll escort you there at once.”

[@POOHEAD189]