Huge Ajax's Arc

Chapter 94 of 619

By the second night, they were camped in a stand of oak with the horses hobbled and Elara asleep under her cloak. The ring lay wrapped in Chalam's satchel, chalk and lodestone around it, quiet. Ajax could feel the difference. No pull at the edge of his thoughts. No small hum when Tucker walked past. One working accounted for. Two names left on the list. Tucker sat close to the fire with his boots off. He rolled his shoulder and winced. He had taken the front position all day and the ride had been long over broken ground. He rubbed at the side of his neck with one hand, then the other, and gave up. "Ajax rode you hard," Chalam said. "He did." Tucker did not look up. "Front's honest work. I'm not complaining." Chalam sat across the fire with the satchel between his knees, one hand resting on the flap. He had not moved it since sundown. His eyes went to Tucker's shoulder, then to Ajax who was sleeping, then back to the flap. He laid the satchel aside. "Sit forward," Chalam said. He came around behind Tucker and knelt on the pine needles. "I'll work it out." Tucker turned his head. "You offering." "I'm offering." "Then I'm taking," Tucker said as he removed his shirt. Chalam set his hands on Tucker's shoulders. The muscle was knotted along the top of the trapezius and down into the blade. He pressed with the heels of his palms, slow, then found the knot with his thumbs and leaned his weight into it. Tucker let out a breath. "That's the spot," Tucker said. Chalam worked his hands down Tucker’s hard shoulders and biceps. Tucker let out a low sound of relief as Chalam rubbed the tension from his shoulders and chest. They were both enjoying the quiet moment. The others slept soundly while the massage went unnoticed. "Better," Tucker said as Chalam retreated to go to sleep. Ajax slept soundly through the night on his own bedroll and with the ledger under his head. The camp settled. No one reached for anything they should not. The fire cracked once and went low. Two names. One clean night. Everyone was oblivious to the encounter between Tucker and Chalam.