Part 6: Accidental etings and Discreet Requests
The next morning, Luisen opened his eyes quite early. The sun had just begun its dim rise; both lord and rcenary prepared to leave, half-awake.
Luisen wore a robe over the clothes he had worn yesterday. The robe had full coverit was as if sleeves were attached to a giant sack with a hole for the head. The young lord drew the robes hood over his head and wore another hood he had taken from the village for good asure. The hoods hem ca down to his nose and completely covered the young lords features. After tying the baggy midsection with a thick roperather than a beltLuisens physical stature was disguised.
If he could shrug his shoulders and hunch his back, Luisen would be able to disguise even his height; he could seem like a completely different person. Next, the young lord attached a wooden cross, his holy relic, to the rope. From a surface glance, he undeniably looked like a pilgrim.
Carlton and Luisen followed the road straight and headed towards the far gate. Even at dawn, the streets of Confosse were crowded with departing people. Since those gathered were used to traveling long distances, the crowd was even more lively and noisy than in the dayti.
At first, Luisen was nervous. However, it seed like no passersby were concerned with them, so his heart quickly relaxed. There were even people who greeted Luisen with clasped hands when they saw the pilgrims pass hanging around his neck. Each ti, Luisen politely and demurely bowed his head, copying the one-ard pilgrim.
I wonder if I resemble the saint a little? Luisen was excited to think that he may look similar to the man he admired. Joy automatically rose within him as he tried to rember the one-ard saint and copy his walking style. When he tried to reproduce that unsteady gait with his stiff body, his joints creaked like pieces of wood. It was strangehe looked like a startled cat.
Carlton, who couldnt endure that sight anymore, patted Luisen on the back. Please walk properly.
I wanted to walk like a pilgrim.
You look constipated.
Constipated?
It seed that he couldnt emulate the saints coolness. Luisen released the tension from his body and returned to his usual light steps.
Despite his criticism, Carlton wasnt worried about Luisens ability to pose as a pilgrim. After all, pilgrims ca from a variety of backgrounds, so Luisens carefree attitudeas if he were a bird swishing its tail feathers as he walkedwasnt out of place.
Its alright to be a little aristocratic in your body language. Instead, please watch what you say. There are no pilgrims that speak condescendingly.
I know.
Have you ever used honorifics before?
Of course. Many tis. The first thing Luisen did to survive as a nomad was to break his conversational habits. I have more experience than Sir rcenary expects. Please, dont worry. Rather, you should be careful in how you address .
Luisen spoke gently and formally; Carlton was satisfiedit wasnt easy to give off an air of modest courtesy. Though its good to call Sir rcenary, you may also address as Carl, my new identity. I shall call you Revered Pilgrim from now on. 1
Yes, be my guest.
The two passed through the gate as they easily conversed. Because Carltons n were captured in Confosse, those who left the castle were examined as thoroughly as those entering. The two had little baggage; they passed easily with the help of the pilgrims pass.
After leaving the gate, the two headed near the secret entrance to see if the donkey they had left there was still around. However, unexpectedly, there were people theretwo n clad in ordinary tunicsrelatively young security guards. The n were waging tug-of-war over a black horse.
The n were jointly pulling at the horses reins, but the horse would not budge. Instead, when the horse stepped back, the two n were dragged along.
Carlton and Luisen stopped without getting any closer.
They look like security guards right? What are they doing here? And my donkey is over there! Luisen wanted to just turn around, but right behind the black horse was Luisens donkey. The doneky, paying no heed to the bedlam happening before it, munched on grass. What a carefree fellow.
What should we do about it? Luisen turned towards the rcenary.
Carlton, though, was staring at the black horse and not the donkey. Zephys
Zephys? That was a familiar na.
Luisen imdiately rembered that Carltons beloved horse was nad Zephys. Your horse? That black horse is yours?
Carlton nodded. Startled, Luisen looked back at the black horse. On closer inspection, its fur looked rough and thin, but its head-to-tail black luster and handso face seed familiar. Its body was balanced well; its legs were taut and long. It was a rare, excellent military horse with muscles to match. After close observation, it looked exactly like Carltons horse. Why is your horse here, though? We parted ways in the mountains. Couldnt it be a similar-looking horse?
Luisen asked just to cover his bases, but the black horses reaction was answer enough. Zephys noticed its masters voice with its keen senses and turned to look at them.
Whinny!
In an instant, Zephys bit the guards arm and pushed him away with its body. After knocking over the two adult n, it ran to Carlton.
Neigh, neiiighhh.
Zephys eyes were moist as it rubbed its face into the rcenarys shoulders and licked the rcenarys face. It was the first ti Luisen had ever seen a horse cry so sorrowfully. Carlton stroked the fur on Zephys head; his expression looked simultaneously regretful and welcoming. The young lord was moved by that ardent reunion.
But this was no ti to relax and be sentintal. The two n that had been holding Zephys reins approached with spears pointed.
You there! Who are you people? the guards loudly shouted.
How could they threaten people out of the blue? Luisen was incredibly bewildered. Why are they acting like that? Carlton stepped in front of the young lord and placed his hand on his swords hilt.
Were part of Confosses security forces. This man over here is the Guard Captain. Dont even think of rebelling and surrender!
As Luisen had expected, both n were guards. However, it was a little surprising to hear that the guard captain would be in plain clothes. If hes a guard captain, hed be decently high-ranking. Why would he be in this location? Clad in peasant clothing?
Give up your weapons and surrender now!
For what reason are you threatening us with weapons? Luisen asked. However, the guards did not answer and, instead, placed their spears closer to the young lord and rcenary. The guard captain continued to observe and stood by.
Luisens heart pounded. The young lord tried to calm down and held up his pilgrims pass. Im a wanderer following the will of God.
In the light of the rising sun, the bright silver of the pass scattered the rays of light. The captain and the guard were surprised and lowered their spears. Ah So youre a revered pilgrim.
Then, that person is
This man is a rcenary I hired as an escort, Luisen answered.
Is this how Confosse treats pilgrims? Do you all have grudges against the Church? Carlton didnt miss the ti to interject and threaten with the Churchs na.
As he said that, the startled guards began to desperately explain, We have not forsaken the Church! Absolutely not! We did not intend to behave this way. Its just thatthis horses owner was a criminal
A criminal?
This horse belongs to the n led by the bastard that kidnapped the Duke of Anies.
So, Carltons n must have brought Zephys here! Finally, the question regarding Zephys presence was answered. It was fortunate that it joined and followed Carltons n.
After the horse had separated from Carlton, Luisen was worried that it would run into the direwolves or be left stranded in the mountains, struggling and wandering around. What a relief.
If all went according to plan, Luisen and Carlton would have been able to reunite with both Zephys and Carltons n as they continued their journey. However, since the rcenary was blad for kidnapping Luisen, Carltons n had been captured and taken away.
Usually, the criminals personal belongings were disposed according to the will of the guards who caught them; therefore, Zephys was in the guards possession.
You seed familiar with the criminals horse, so We had no choice but to approach with weapons because we thought you were working with the kidnappers. Please understand us, revered pilgrim.
Butthat rcenary. Are you certain you know who he is? Im not doubting you, revered pilgrim, but Carlton and his n are rcenaries as well. By any chance
Absolutely not! This horse was actually happy to see ! Luisen quickly tugged at Zephys reins. One didnt need to shout that Carlton was Zephys owner; the horses friendliness was suspicious enoughthe young lord wouldnt have his companion taken away to be locked with his n.
The guards were reasonable to doubt themafter all, they were speaking the truthso Luisen desperately crafted so excuses. I raised this horse in the monastary ever since it was a foal. I took care of it. Thats why it recognized and rushed towards . It ca to , not him. the pilgrim.
As soon as Luisen spouted his lies, Carlton stepped away from Zephys and pretended to be nonchalant. Zephys didnt particularly understand the full situation, but it was a clever horse. It read its owners expression and calmly nuzzled Luisen.
I see. I understand your circumstances, but thats a criminals horse. Its under security jurisdiction now.
When Luisen hesitated, Carlton caught the young lords arm.
Why of all peopleguards
It would have been far easier if a rchant or another rcenary had Zephys. The opponents currently before them could not be swayed through intimidation or force. If they touched the guards, the owner of Confosseand, beyond that, the lord of this territorywould not stand still.
Send it back, Carlton whispered. Luisen was forced to release the reins.
TL: My PR: Why does the horse have a cooler na than the humans?
Also Im so proud of my dorky babe Luisen. Hes trying T_T
Lets talk nas and identities. First things first, Carl, while shorthand for Carlton, is also a homonym for sword. Nice word play~ Second, is (pilgrim) (a suffix to show respect. For a setting like this, I felt like Pilgrim-nim would sound out of place, so revered pilgrim it is!
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