13 The British Empire

Jill strode, till she was just a mile away from reaching the gate, when a stone tripped her, she fell, it chucked off the nail on her big right foot toe.

Jill curled herself on the ground, smite with a physical injury on her toes that sent piercing pains all over her body, she cried and sizzled.

Grendel saw what had happened, he scampered to where she was, Jill made efforts to get up on her own she didn't want grendel coming close to her, but the pain on her toes wouldn't let her, she couldn't heave herself up.

When grendel came around her he crouched before her toes and held onto her big toe where she had a wound.

"Argghhh.!" Jill exclaimed with a smokie tone as if in terribly pains, she flinched her right leg in response to the piercing pain on her leg.

"Does it hurt.?" Grendel asked.

"Just a little." Jill replied him whilst keeping clear from the coming together of her eyes with his.

it seemed to have a futile effect at not feeling amative towards Grendel with just keeping clear of an eye contact, while having a body contact with him.

Jill kept her head sideways, seeming unintrested in the man before her, inward she was choking, breathing became less kind to her, it was a sign she felt an affection, but has a little disbelief about it.

"I was thinking, what kind of man would want his fiancee go to a deadly journey." Grendel said while ripping out his shirt to use as bandage.

"A brave one." Jill replied, with a little intense. Which startled Grendel

He glanced at Jill to regard her mien, to find her head kept sideways,

"Brave?.,

That's what you call him." Grendel thrusted out her lips, in wonder, whilst staring at Jill, but she persisted on not looking at Grendel.

"Stay out of my private life, and never you judge my man." Jill said, she wiped her nose using her molded fists.

"I wasn't judging your man." Grendel denied.

He strapped the red piece of clothing over Jill's toe, it cut the bleeding on it.

Just after that, the castle gates sled open, Breton and a couple of soldiers showed up, Jill had a tuition, lautner might have brought him the news i was in trouble,

She heaved herself up Grendel was barely done about fixing her toes he still had to double the bandage, but Jill didn't mind about the bleeding anymore, Breton had seen her with another man, quickly she treaded unsteadily to him, she knew the more seconds she spends beside Grendel causes her punishment to appreciate, seeing her with another man is one amongst many that annoys Breton the most.

As Jill was approaching Breton, a fierce impact on her cheek drove her to the ground.

It was a slap from Breton

Grendel made as if to go help her up, but squelched after some carful observations, he better not involve himself in their relationship.

"Haven't I warned you never to speak to another man than me!."

Breton yelled at her.

Jill covered her face, with the intent to guard her cheek from more slaps, she was laying on the ground.

"It wasn't her fault, Grendel said. Breton looked to hear him out.

it was mine, I was the one who came to her." He added.

To grendel, an ill treatment became an expectancy from Breton, given he made an advance towards her fiance,

"Then why didn't she runaway from you.?"

Grendel frowned, it was expressive of wonder about Bowens abnormal question, it seemed to Grendel breti wanted the blame be put on Jill and be given enough reason to punish her.

"Actually, she was attacked by bandits, and I helped her out,

Who knows what they might have done to her.

Grendel said, he wanted to disprove Jill had any contribution to their coming together, to save the poor lady from possible harm.

"Sleep with her, take turns for it,

She might as well enjoy it. Grendel said.

Jill wept while she laid on the ground, she had her reasons for weeping.

her life is shrouded by misery, which she felt would be perpetual considering she would be marrying the man bringing forth the misery in her life.

"Let's just be Happy she is alive" Grendel said, forcing a smile on his face.

Seeing how Jill was maltreated diminished her reputation in his eyes.

Yes women who aren't Nobel barely has a powerful reputation, most worked in agriculture, brewing ale that men drink, but a knights wife treated like a Cottier seemed bizare to grendel.

Breton grabbed Jill by her arm, and treaded away from Grendel, he drove Jill recklessly behind him, Jill scuttled to keep up or she would trip.

Grendel stayed back, watching the misery about the young lady life.

in his mind, he cursed the patriarchal society where the lives of women are influenced by stereotypical beliefs about gender and authority, surbodinate to their opposite sex in virtually all aspect.

A belief driven down to their world today by the antediluvian patriarchs.

Breton squelched after treading for a while, he turned towards Grendel.

"And where are the bandits you said, attacked her!?."

"I took them out on my own!." Grendel replied.

Breton left Jill , he took a few steps towards Grendel.

"Who goes you, young man?." He asked, appearing awed to know he took out bandits all by himself.

"I am Grendel Gardner son of Gregory." Replied Grendel.

"Gregory, the famous blacksmith?." Breton asked.

The progeny of the gregories were known to be brave men in Britian, possessing a middle class status.

"Yes sire." Grendel said.

"Impressive!. Breton exclaimed.

The people of your Calibre are the kind needed for my journey.

Brave, skillful, you will be going to the journey with me.

Breton tossed a coin to him,

Show that to the shipmen, they'd Grant you passage."

Breton said, he left with Jill.

**********************(Later at night - that day).

Usually, Grendel is the last who goes to sleep in the castle, verily it would be a culture in him given his job is, regulating castle activities.

It was lights out eleven o'clock, Grendel was making his way to the servant quarters after ringing the tower bells for lights out.

The castle buildings are usually locked after lights out, but Grendel's room had an outlet which allows him exit and move into the castle whenever he wills. Grendel took a route leading to the back of the castle for that's where his outlet was.

Feeling easy, he whistled whilst proceeding hurriedly to his room,

As he was treading, a light object tipped him around his neck, that region of his body was bare causing him to feel a Sensation.

Grendel slapped his neck, thinking it was an insect, he regarded his palm afterwards, hoping to find an insect squashed in it, he found nothing but splodge of sweat in it,

Instincts then drove him to the look around the floor, he found a needle right before his sandals,

Grendel crouched and picked it up,

"Where did this come from." He whispered to himself.

He looked around, in search of stalkers, nobody stalked, he then glanced upwards, and found the accomplice Jill.

She stood the window, slacking her lips wide at Grendel.

"You threw a needle at me?" Grendel asked.

"It was me." She cackled,

Grendel gave a low mow , he found the situation a little perplexing following her first attitude when they met for the first time during the day.

"Maybe she has mellowed down" Grendel thought.

While in his perplexing thought, Jill put her right leg across the window.

"Are you trying to climb down?" Grendel asked.

"Am about to jump, catch me." Jill said.

To Grendel he was forced to do what was against his will.

He never wanted to see Jill again after she posed a rude attitude towards him, but she is being nice, he couldn't turn away from a nice attitude.

Neither does he want to meddle in matters about relationships,

Nor go near a knights lady, but Jill was the one making advances.

Jill put her second leg across, she was now able to make a clean jump, she looked back at Breton laying and snoring on the bed, she scowled.

"What's she looking at." Grendel said in his mind.

He'd probably runaway, if he sees what Jill was looking at.

Jill repaired her appearance, before turning to Grendel, it came with a smiling face as though everything was alright.

"Are you ready.?" She asked, signaling she was about to jump.

"Yes I am."

She jumped sideways, giving Grendel the opportunity to catch her comfortably,

Grendel curled his hands, Jill fell into them comfortably,

"Uh!" Grendel exclaimed due to the impact on his arm.

Jill was in his arms, looking direct into his eyes,

All she avoided at first, she has now enough confidence to them. -grendel thought-

They both dilated at staring at eachother, whilst Grendel lugged Jill in his arms like a sack of grains.

Grendel put her down suddenly, he wiped his face with his Pam, he felt nervous, amorous feeling had began hovering in him, for the first time in his lifetime, he felt an inclination for love.

Jill stood before him casting furtive looks at him, she was aware what she had done to him, that which he does to most men she's had affair with.

Acts , and behaviours that tend to entice men and lead them astray from their right mind, one one knavish.

"I-i thought you were mad at me, for insulting your man?."

Grendel started a conversation.

"I needed somebody I could have a nice conversation with."

"And not a person who doesn't allow you speak your mind." Said Grendel.

Those words moved Jill to tears she advance and fell into Grendel's arms, out of pity, grendel embraced her calmly in his arms with a deep hug, she gained pity from Grendel with the way Breton treats her, a weapon in drawing a desired man nearer to herself.

"Don't cry, it will be alright." Grendel promised.

But jill kept weeping and shivering in his arms.

Grendel grasped her head using his two hands,

"Look at me" said Grendel , Jill looked to his face, he cleared treads of hairs obstructing her face with his hands.

"It shall be alright, okay, be strong."

Jill gave him a nod, as a sign she believed it would be alright one day.

"Come lady" Grendel gave her a hand.

"Call me Jill, Jill van bommel" she said, Grendel took her by the arm, " let me take you to my best spot in the castle" he said.

They both scurried to one of the towers.

To be continued.