Eros and Adris rushed to Agnes' aid.
They stopped when the bastard toppled over holding his crotch.
"Fucking bastard. Exsanguinated farm mouse." She kicked him.
"Don't you ever come near me with your small cock."
She kicked him in the stomach and grabbed a jug of wine on her with a satisfied grin.

The man slowly got back up,
"You wait and see you whore!"

Eros hooked an arm around the weasel's shoulder,
"Have some dignity, sir."

"She attacked me." He whined to them.

"Sir, we saw the whole thing." Adris cocked his head daring the man to lie again.
He hated men like him who forced himself on women. They were spineless cowards who did not deserve to be apart of the community.

"He's right. We saw the whole thing and I'm sure you wouldn't want the officials dragging you into prison, correct." Eros said.

The man left the premises with his prick tucked between thighs.

"It's a good thing you sensed something was wrong." Eros patted him on the back.
"That's why you were searching all over the place for her, right?" His wide-eyed expression didn't fool Adris that Eros wasn't teasing.

"Of course." Adris said as though there could be no other plausible explanation because there couldn't be another.
Why would he be curious about a woman who was a far cry from the standard of Grecian beauty? She was a strong boned woman, with skin like rain-soaked olive tree and thick thighs and a large ass that lifted be her kolpos in the back.

She might not have been a beauty but it was wicked to call her ugly as the other fellow had. Women took those things to heart.
She could be crying in a corner with the jug to drown her sorrows.

Which wouldn't be any of his business.

Eros returned to their room at the inn pleased Agnes was well enough to go home on her own.
Adris wouldn't return too soon as he'd only gotten into town. He should pay visits to some of his old flames.

His thoughts were collected away from his fiery lovers to a sound of laughter coming from a large tree.
The light from the moon alone couldn't him help him identify the body stretched on the grass several yards before him.
The body would suddenly laugh and mutter something then fall silent. By the second time, Adris dismissed it as a mentally challenged individual.
Until he reached nearer, saw the discarded ceramic and the female.
Adris hoped the path was less traveled. He hadn't seen anyone so far, but that might not be the case.
Poor woman, so depressed by the insult she'd gotten stinking drunk, he sighed at her pathetic state.
He knelt by her side and shook her, "Maiden, you can't sleep here."

She groaned when he helped her into a sitting position. She squinted through one eyes.
"Lord, it's you! What are you doing here? Or did you follow me?"

"I'm not one to stalk women."

She nodded.
"Perfectly understandable."

"You shouldn't be here. It's not safe for a young woman to be on a path alone. Worse, drunk."

"I'm drunk not stupid. I can fight them off." She threw a fist at his shoulder.
"See. Like how I beat that worm who tried to it."

"I see." He rubbed the spot. "Still. Tell me where you live so I can help you home."

She laughed. "My grandmother locked me out so I can't go home."
She stretched herself on the ground again and Adris was pulling her back.
His conscience won't feel right if he left her a sleeping lamb for wolves.

                                     ***

Eros gaze steadily grew annoying Adris noted.
"If you have something, say it."

Eros tore the loaf and dipped it in the olive oil.
"Why would you think I have something to say?"

"If you don't-"

"But since you wanted me to speak, how did this Agnes find her way in Deedee's room?"

Eros watched Adris shrug.
Agnes joined them in a change of clothes they'd provided.
"Thank you for letting me stay."

"You're welcome." Eros said. "Can we ask about what happened last night?"

"I don't attend a lot of parties."

Poor girl. She was avoiding the truth, Adris could tell.

"You shouldn't listen to people who call you ugly."

"I didn't care. He was stating something I was already aware of since my childhood."

Her tone was light and calm. She believed her words and bore no ill resentment towards the man but Adris knew deep down she suffered.

"No one is truly ugly. They just lack confidence." Adris pulled her seat closer. "What better way than to boast to the world that you shared a bed with someone like me."
He dared her to deny her emotions any longer. If it was his attention she wanted by pretending to be aloof he was giving her a chance now. He caressed the side of her face and bore his desire in his eyes.

"No thank you."
The rejecting snuffing the wind in his gut.
She shifted her seat away from him and continued eating as though she hadn't just rejected him. Him.
He'd given her a chance with him. Clearly she wasn't chasing after him because she already knew he was beyond her reach. But here was the opportunity.
The heat rising in his chest was novel emotion and Eros' smirk only made it hotter.

"Understandable. It seems you prefer women. We could also have it arranged."

"I prefer men,"

Adris coughed, choking on his piece of bread.

Eros fell out of his chair holding his belly as the laughter ripped from him.

"Then you must be married." Adris said.

"I'm not."

"You have a lover."

"Not yet."
Eros got louder with each response from Agnes.

"So why reject my offer."
So why would she refuse him. She was taking her charade to greater heights.

"Because I don't want to."

Eros screamed on the floor.
"Did I say something wrong?" She blinked innocently at the spectacle before her.

"Not at all, love." Eros sobbed.
"You are perfect."

She smiled at him.
"I have to get going before my absence is noticed. I'll take some of these." She gathered the fruits, meats and loaves in a cloth before dashing out.

Eros propped his arms on the table wiping away tears.
"Let it be Adris. There's a woman on earth who doesn't want to have you."

But why? He just needed to know. For his own sake.