Breakfast

As they both walk out Bell goes over to a table with a couple pots on food. She grabs some stuff and walks back. "Breakfast," Bell announced, pressing a tin plate of bread and cheese into Alice's hands. The shorter woman's brown hair stuck up at odd angles, her clothes still rumpled and dirty from days on the road. Her plump figure strained against her tunic in ways that made Alice's mouth go dry when she let herself look too long. "Found a good spot."

Bell led her to a fallen log near the camp's edge where several brigands already sat chewing their morning rations. Alice settled onto the mossy bark, and Bell dropped beside her close enough that their thighs touched. The warmth of Bell's hip against hers sent a familiar hum through Alice's body.

As Alice ate she looked over to the other brigands on the log. Some she didn't know, but some she recognized. The sorcerer who had withstood her assault and led to her capture was there. Beside her sat the elf leader, pointed ears twitching, her silver hair pulled back in a war braid. Both stared at Alice with the kind of surprise that came from seeing someone you thought would be broken.

Alice held their stares for a long, charged moment. The sorcerer's jaw tightened. The elf leader's eyes flicked between Alice and Bell, something like confusion tightening her features.

Alice turned away and took another calm bite of her breakfast.

They finished eating without another word about the observers. Alice could feel those stares boring into her back, but the weight of Bell's palm on her leg made them matter less with each passing second.

Bell stood abruptly and stretched, her tunic riding up to reveal the soft curve of her stomach. She caught Alice looking again and her mouth curved into something dangerous.

"Tent needs cleaning," Bell said, too casually.

Alice raised an eyebrow. They both knew the tent was fine. Bell had organized it as they got dressed. "Does it?"

"Terrible state. Can't possibly leave it." Bell extended her hand, her brown eyes dark with promise. "Coming?"