Chapter 35
The rain stopped before dawn.
Washed clean by the rain, the cathedral’s round columns gleamed. The crisp, clear winter morning felt refreshing rather than merely cold.
Priest Dephanis, who had received a jar of sugar as a gift, narrowed his eyes instead of looking pleased.
“It’s only been a day since we said goodbye.”
“I didn’t say goodbye for good, Priest. Isn’t it nice to see you again?”
Enya gave him a genial smile.
She tried to laugh off her embarrassment, but Dephanis looked at her as if she were something disgusting.
He narrowed his eyes and stared at her for a long moment before sighing and speaking.
“Nice, my foot. You didn’t come to pay your respects, so I bet you’re here because of the young lady behind you, aren’t you?”
“That’s half the reason.”
Sigona stepped up beside Enya.
She gave a cautious bow, looking nervous.
“Hello.”
“And hello to you.”
Unlike the way he’d greeted Enya, the old priest returned Sigona’s bow and smiled warmly.
Sigona wasn’t wearing her usual waitress uniform, but a black dress that reached down to her feet.
Her neat outfit made her look almost like a nun.
She’d dressed appropriately in her own way when she heard they were going to the cathedral, but she couldn’t hide her nerves at visiting a place she’d never been before.
“...W-Wait.”
Dephanis studied the girl fidgeting nervously, then suddenly widened his eyes in surprise.
Enya saw his reaction and nodded.
She had lost her ability to sense it herself, but there was no way someone of the priest’s standing couldn’t sense the power he wielded.
Dephanis spoke in a trembling voice.
“Who is this young lady?”
“I was hoping you could take a look at her. Her name is Sigona.”
“Could she be a Saint?”
“...There’s a lot I need to explain.”
Enya went with the priest to a secluded corner of the building and told him what had happened.
Dephanis listened in silence, troubled by Sigona’s unfortunate circumstances, but flew into a rage over the reckless solution they’d used.
Perhaps it was rare to see a priest pointing and raising his voice at a young woman, because passersby and visitors glanced over and whispered among themselves.
“We didn’t have time.”
“You fool, that doesn’t mean you can swing that at a person!”
"There isn’t a temple of Elinol here, either. I had no choice."
“You could have burned the child alive.”
Sigona looked at Enya, her face gone pale.
Enya briefly looked away, then gave her a bright, carefree smile.
“Sis?”
“I was sure I could handle it, Sigona. Trust me.”
“…”
As Enya sweated under Sigona’s resentful gaze, the priest scolded her in a low voice.
“Besides, girl, your own condition is a problem too.”
At the old priest’s grave expression, Enya’s face turned serious as well.
“You said you wanted to try a little longer, didn’t you? Don’t ever wield the holy sword like that again.”
“Yes. I’ll be careful.”
“Sis?”
Unmistakable anxiety showed in Sigona’s voice.
Enya gave her startled little sister a faint smile.
**
Around noon, Enya met Tarmin at their agreed meeting place.
Tarmin was carrying a huge backpack with both his belongings and hers inside.
“Where’s Sigona?”
“I asked someone I know to look after her.”
Enya and Tarmin were standing in the courtyard of a spacious inn where merchants stayed.
A few other people were gathered there, waiting to board a carriage.
The merchants’ inn had no separate stable, and was distinguished by its enormous entrance, wide enough for carriages and horses to pass through.
In the spacious courtyard, large enough to hold ten carriages, a middle-aged man who seemed to be in charge stepped forward and cleared his throat.
“Ahem. Pleased to meet you. My name is Danis. Call me captain or whatever you like.”
The man who introduced himself as Danis wore a voluminous robe.
He looked as though he’d wrapped himself in a blanket in preparation for sleeping outdoors, with only his head sticking out.
It wasn’t the first time Tarmin had seen a robe, but its elaborate embroidery clearly showed how much work had gone into it.
“Well, to put it simply, four of our six carriages are carrying trade goods, and you’ll be riding in the other two. As long as you keep your hands off the cargo, your safety is guaranteed. We’ve defended our goods against everything from demons of the steppe to bands of robbers.”
Tarmin looked at the line of carriages behind him.
Built for long journeys, the carriages looked so large and sturdy they could have been houses on wheels.
Each carriage was hitched to two horses, while the largest had four.
“In the spirit of camaraderie between travelers, let’s make sure nothing unpleasant happens between us.”
He pointed out the weapons, such as spears and crossbows, secured to racks beside the drivers’ seats.
The drivers’ seats were protected by screens and awnings, offering some shelter at the cost of a narrower view.
After finishing his explanation, he returned to the group of merchants dressed much like him.
Tarmin braced himself and took a deep breath.
A caravan was the collective name for the merchants who transported goods across the eastern steppes to other countries, or for the carriages they traveled in.
Caravans that risked their lives crossing borders could amass great wealth in return for the dangers they faced.
Joining them was one of the safest ways to cross the steppes.
The caravaners were so bent on protecting their cargo that they’d be alert to all sorts of threats on Tarmin’s behalf.
It was a wiser choice than buying a horse or camel when he barely knew what he was doing.
Tarmin was preparing to head east.
He’d decided to run away.
But this time, he was taking Enya with him.
Enya’s cheeks were flushed, and she looked both nervous and excited.
Worried, he asked her,
“Are you okay? Tell me if you don’t want to go.”
“Huh? Oh, no.”
Enya took a deep breath before speaking.
“Whew. It’s just that I was thinking about the first day of our adventure.”
“Yeah?”
At that, Tarmin too drifted back into their memories.
That day, when they’d left the city on a whim with little more than enough money for the trip.
It had taken them years to return to their hometown.
But things were very different now.
The witch and prince who’d guided them were gone, the Hero had grown weaker, and instead of seeking danger, danger was coming after them.
Enya hesitated, then called to him.
“Taal.”
“What?”
“If I said I didn’t want to go, what would you do? Would you go alone?”
“No? I’d listen if you told me. Then, once I’d heard you out, I’d take you with me even if I had to tie you up.”
She gave him a prim sidelong glare, and he couldn’t help laughing.
There was no way he could leave her alone in the city.
“Enya. You still haven’t told me, have you? Since you won’t explain anything, if some unknown threat comes after you, running away is the right call. Are you prepared for that?”
Enya’s eyes widened.
“Prepared for what?”
“I’ll keep you with me until you tell me. Think the carriage ride is the end of it? You might’ve grown up seeing nothing but castles and forests, but do you know what you do when you need to use the bathroom on a plain where the horizon stretches in every direction? You’d better come clean before you end up in an embarrassing situation.”
Despite his terrifying threat, delivered with a snicker, Enya merely turned her head away.
Enya’s ear, visible through her blond hair, was bright red.
What part of that conversation was embarrassing?
Her bashful reaction made him feel awkward, and he couldn’t tease her any further.
“Uh, ahem. I may be saying all this, but don’t push yourself if you’re hurt. Tell me.”
“Mhm.”
He ended the conversation with an awkward remark.
Once the merchants had finished talking among themselves, Danis called the travelers over to an empty carriage.
They hurried over to take a look. Long wooden benches had been installed along both walls of the carriage bed.
He grabbed a corner, climbed aboard, then reached down to her.
“Let’s go.”
Enya took his hand.
Once all the passengers were seated, the carriage set off.
Because he’d boarded first, Tarmin was able to claim a spot at the very back.
To endure a journey of about a week, it was best to find the most comfortable position possible.
Some of the travelers sat on the floor and stretched out their legs instead of using the benches.
He took off his bow and quiver and put them in the space beneath the bench.
He took several blankets from his backpack, covered himself with them, then leaned his shoulder and head comfortably against the corner.
He opened the window and looked out at Quaalid.
The carriage seemed to be heading east along the main road from the square.
When he turned away from the view, he saw Enya sitting bolt upright.
It was a good habit, but not a posture she could maintain for days in a carriage.
“Enya.”
“Yeah, what?”
“You’ll get tired if you sit like that for days. Look at the others and learn.”
He gestured toward the people shamelessly sprawled out or taking off their shoes.
Enya frowned at the sight and whispered,
“That’s a bit much, though.”
“I’m not telling you to go that far. Just make yourself comfortable.”
Enya looked around at the passengers in the carriage bed, drooped her shoulders, and sighed.
“Whew, now I understand what you meant. We’ll have to spend days this close to strangers.”
After that, Enya kept watching the other passengers,
as if she disliked letting her guard down in front of people she didn’t know.
Tarmin closed his eyes, figuring she’d manage on her own.
It had been worth bringing so many blankets, even if it meant carrying the extra weight.
Feeling drowsy in the cozy warmth, he felt Enya tug at one side of the blanket.
He spoke without opening his eyes.
“What?”
“I want to use it, too.”
Without waiting for permission, Enya was wriggling her way under the blanket.
The cold air seeping through the gap was miserable.
He lifted the edge of the blanket to let her in faster, and Enya slipped right inside.
“Hey, cover yourself properly. I’m cold.”
“Okay.”
As the two of them wriggled under the blanket like caterpillars, laughter came from across the carriage.
“Hehe. Are you two married?”
When Tarmin opened his eyes, he saw a woman around their age sitting across from them.
He thought it was a little unusual for a woman to travel alone, but there was no need to say so aloud.
“Uh, no. I’m the owner of the blanket, and she’s a blanket thief.”
“I have my own blanket, you know?”
“Ah, stop pulling! You’re leaving a gap on this side!”
Whatever had happened to the Enya who cared what other people thought? The Enya now was brazenly claiming her share of the blanket.
Tarmin finally reached out, unable to bear the irritating chill.
He grabbed the shoulder of Enya, who was tugging at the blanket, and pulled her toward him.
“Eek!”
Enya let out a shrill squeak and fell into Tarmin’s arms.
She stiffened and looked up at Tarmin, whispering.
“Taal, are you crazy? Everyone’s watching…”
“What’s wrong? This way you won’t be cold, and there’s plenty of blanket.”
The woman across from them was still watching with a smile.
Tarmin apologized without a fuss.
“Uh, sorry for making a commotion.”
“Not at all. I don’t mind.”
“I’m Tarmin, and this one is Enya.”
The woman with vermilion hair laid a hand over her chest and bowed.
“My name is Lise.”
Despite being on a long journey, Lise wore ordinary clothes and a light skirt, without even a blanket.
*****