Orsgadts
Towards Alder

Cold air enveloped Ulrych. It was still dark but Emune was already outside the square. The small group that drove him consisted of all members of the Grantea, Mineda and Daniela families. All of Emune's luggage was already inside the carriage.

Ronald, the leader of the group who will be visiting Imperia has advised Emune to bring enough goods. They will stop in the city to fill supplies. Fiona, Ronald's best friend has also prepared a warm blanket for Emune. Emune was very grateful to Mr. Arrand who brought them together yesterday afternoon before he left for Eimersun.

In silence, Aunt Mary's cries did not stop. Many times he hugged Emune, messed around and cried again. He gave Emune a new little bag of his own making that already had a comb and a bag of silver. Although not much, he hoped that he would be able to help Emune on his journey later.

Uncle Henry gave her a little dagger just in case. Emune put it in Aunt Mary's purse. Emune was moved, this was the first time she would leave the Grantea family who had cared for her for so many years. He was saddened at not being able to give anything to Uncle Henry and Aunt Mary.

Thomas hands a butterfly-shaped brooch to Emune. Initially the brooch will be given to Patricia but he thought it better to put Emune first who will go far.

“You will be in good health and inform us, right? Maybe we can visit you later.” Thomas this morning was a nice and pleasant Thomas.

“Of course, Thomas. Thank you.” Emune smiled.

“We don't know what we should give you, Emune. Here, hope you like it,” Clarice said. Emune received the dark blue silk scarf from Clarice with a gobble. He wanted to reject her but Clarice already shook her head in disapproval.

“And this is from me,” Clemence said. Emune hesitated to take out a mirror with a silver engraving that Clemence had given her. Clemence. “May you always be healthy,” Clemence said.

The turn of Mineda and Daniela arrived. Just one little box they gave me. Daniela asked him to open the box on the way later as a surprise.

“You must be patient, Emune.” Mineda wiped her tears.

“Jaga your health yes.” Daniela covered her face with one hand.

“Thank you, you guys are the greatest friends,” Emune said.

Emune, Mineda and Daniela embrace. Sobs are no longer able to be contained.

“Go, Darling. Healthy and happy,” said Aunt Mary accompanied by a hug and kiss on Emune's head. Aunt Mary took Emune's two best friends with her so that Emune could leave in peace.

Emune got on the train and sat down next to Ronald in control. Fiona is resting because she will have to replace Ronald. The chariot-pulling horses started moving. The long journey has begun.

Emune's heart ached from having to part with everything she knew all along. Moreover, he could see the delivery group did not want to move from their place even though the train was going to turn around the corner of the road to Nord, the nearest city.

“Do you want me to take you back there?” Ronald Goda.

“Ah, no. Hahaha, sorry, it's my first time out of Ulrych.” Emune grimacing.

“Sun is coming up soon. If we hurry we can get to Tera this afternoon. Save your energy and enjoy this journey, Emune.” Ronald controlled the horse harness swiftly.

“Thank you, Ronald. Is Arrand coming to Imperia?” ask Emune curiously.

“He will be long in Eimersun. He doesn't like winter so he's always lingering in Eimersun,” Ronald replied.

“I hope one day I can get there. Country bathed in sunlight,” said Emune. The shadow of Eimersun being warmed by the abundance of sunlight made Emune comfortable.

Warm. Comfortable. Elric. “Why should you remember it? No, no!” Emune exclaimed like possessed.

“Emune, what's wrong with you?” Fiona shook Emune's body from behind. Apparently Emune's shout had awakened Fiona who was resting.

“Oh, w-what have I done? Iwake you?” stuttering Emune.

Fiona slammed her body into a small bed with a thick cloth. “Gosh, I think there are robbers attacking us,” he said as he rubbed his disheveled face.

“Sorry, I remembered something. Sorry.” Emune was embarrassed.

Fiona and Ronald laughed out loud. The trip this time will be more exciting, thought the two.

Nord. All the new things Emune saw made him very amazed. Nord is a crowded city. The city road they passed through was crowded by traders and buyers who were busy transacting. Fruits, vegetables and livestock have a special place.

Cheese and fresh milk brought Emune to mind in the Grantea family. This morning they started working. Emune believes he can manage the fields and raise small farms in Alder later because he has been used to doing it since childhood.

Another thing he likes about Nord is his bacon. He bought a few slices for his extra lunch. All must be quick because they do not stop long in the Nord.

Tera. This city is beautiful! The green meadows and blooming flowers are like one of the paintings in the Urndie cottage. The houses are not as big as in Ulrych but each has a well-maintained garden. The magnificent square many times larger than Ulrych welcomes them in the center of the city.don't forget the giant fountain with three fairy statues on its peak that once seized the attention of Emune.

Ronald takes care of some ordered goods and meets his friends so Emune goes around accompanied by Fiona. That was just for a moment. Fiona also had business on the other side of the square so Emune ended up adventuring alone.

Emune's legs won't stop walking. Without realizing it he had arrived at the supermarket which was not too far from the square. Beautifully dressed women accompanied by their messengers.

“They look like haughty peacocks,” murmured Emune. He tried to walk like them but immediately gave up on the fifth step. “This is ridiculous,” hisses.

The little boys ran over to Emune. Various items were presented to him. Apples, flowers, hair ornaments and other trinkets. Emune smiled at them and asked what he would get with one piece of silver. Like bees, all are eating them.

One of the older children, he seemed to be their leader, had his friends line up neatly. He picked up a cloth bag and told his friends to put their wares in one by one. After all went into the pouch, he handed it to Emune.

Emune looked at the contents of the pouch and felt satisfied. He handed over a piece of silver that was received with joy. As soon as it came, the children disappeared. Emune laughed amusedly.

A skinny, shabby old man walked into the Orland drinking house. He ignored the waiter who offered him a drink and just walked straight to the table beside Emune's table. His pale face implied anger. He sat in the chair nervously. His hands did not stop shaking.

“Bandits! The party of Regis was slaughtered! Nothing left,” he said quickly.

The three other men who had come first and sat at the table were shocked. One of the heaviest men hit the table. His actions attracted the attention of other visitors.

“Bigger! The robbers are becoming. Slaughtering an entire entourage was like slaughtering a stray dog. Biadab!” roar the man in anger.

The visitors who were mostly traveling swordsmen who crossed the royal boundary started to whisper and eventually became crowded.

“Where did the robber get into action?” ask for a voice. The owner of the voice was a male nearly two meters tall. His long hair and face that was partially covered in a thick beard made him look like a Gallows giant.

“They are everywhere. Regis's entourage was massacred on the Hatqee Cliffs. Comforters from Siujad were finished off in a hilly strip near Alder. Only three days.” The skinny man the news anchor had been struggling to take a breath between his fears.

“If all slaughtered, how could you know?” ask the big man suspiciously.

“Our entourage gathered at Flawk. Before parting ways, we promised to send a carrier pigeon to Tighourt in case something happened that hindered the trip. That was after news of a robbery rife.” The man held his chest and tried to catch his breath.

People were whispering and complaining. Robbers are a disaster for traders and travelers. No one wants to be stuck with them.

“I just arrived from Tighourt. The head of the merchant association there reminded everyone who traveled to be careful. Dozens of couriers have also been sent to all regions of Arsyna to convey this news,” continued the man earlier.

“Does the palace know about this?”

“Is the robber only in Arsyna?”

“King has not been seen for several years. Is Your Majesty sick?”

“Do we have to cancel our group trip?”

Anxious and panicked control the members of the group who want to go to two routes of death. They murmured, sighed, muttered again then finally deserted. Everyone is busy with their own thoughts.

Ronald approached the news anchor. “Old Sir, does anyone send news to the palace?”

“Three bodyguards from the Arsyna Merchant Union have been deployed but there has been no news to date.”

Everyone sighed. Arsyna's territory is not safe. An unsafe government is a bad place to trade.

Emune recalled the old map shown by Urndie a while ago. The Hatqee cliffs and hills near Alder are far apart, taking more than two weeks of travel. He was able to conclude that there were two groups of robbers in action at Arsyna.

“Is there another group that was robbed?” ask Ronald.

“There is one group in Duru and two groups in Yamar.” The man pressed his trembling hand on the table.

“What was everything slaughtered?” asked Fiona who knew already sitting next to Emune.

“All their luggage was snatched but no one was hurt.” Again he caught his breath.

The giant man raised his voice. “We have to do something. If the robbers are rampant, we will not be able to cross the trade route safely.”

The merchants replied with *******. If the women in the company were in Orland, they would have screamed and cried in fear.

“For now it is best to avoid risky paths. Overnight in the village or city to make it safer,” Ronald said.

The merchants one by one came out of Orland. Their faces wry. The journey that they have been doing for decades with joy is now full of anxiety.

“We must hurry if we want to get to Tighourt before night. Fiona, Emune, we need to be more careful.”

Fiona and Emune nodded. The three walked to where their group gathered. Eight trains with large carriages were ready. Their horses had enough rest so they could leave now.

Hardly anyone spoke. Ronald concentrated and kept watch. He does not want to risk feeling safe in areas that are not visited by robbers. After the news earlier, for him all the places were already unsafe. He believes the guards sent to deliver news to the palace must be hampered by something, it could be that the three are dead attacked by robbers.

The horse-drawn carriages were traveling at a higher speed than before. Ronald wants them to arrive in Tighourt soon. The group met with several trains from the opposite direction. From his speed, Ronald believes their thinking is the same, which is to avoid spending the night outside the residential area.

“Don't worry, this is how it goes. You'll get used to.” Fiona offers Emune a piece of bacon.

“Yes. I guess I'm just not used to it,” said Emune. He took the smoked meat and bit it. Emune cleans an apple with her handkerchief and gives it to Fiona. Emune is shocked when Fiona suddenly pulls out a small dagger from her skirt pocket. Does he always carry a dagger? The dagger was very sharp.

Fiona cut the apple casually. “Women should be prepared for all possibilities,” Fiona said with a grin.

Emune grimacing. He knows Fiona likes to tease him, the village girl who never travels. Soon he'll laugh at Emune. Sure enough, Fiona laughed out loud ignoring the sullen Emune.

The sun is rolling, the hot heat is starting to decrease and the wind is getting felt. The trip is still a long way off but there is still time to find an afternoon in Tighourt.