Vow Of Silence

CHAPTER SIXTY-ONE

1st PERSON: Pelomina Lorenzo-Capiz

“This is an unusually crummy way of traveling,” I began, my legs swaying off the edge of the wagon we rode after minutes of negotiation with the farmer who’s on his way to Khanliwa to trade for his products, the cow walked along like they had no interest getting to their destination, the wagon moved along painfully slow and our bodies swayed as if being rocked in a cradle.

In return, we three had more hours to leisure about at the back, along with the nauseating scent of milk, meat, leather, and wool. Which tells us this benevolent farmer of ours is quite the entrepreneur.

Seth hummed, barely conscious as the feeling of sleep washed over him, further influenced by the fatigue catching up to us after the long journey. We crossed seas to get here, countries even, and while I think they’re doing too much for my sake, I couldn’t help but feel eternally grateful for them, going to lengths to accompany me.

It’s just… being with them for a long time made me adopt certain things and behaviors, and our roundabout way of saying ‘thank you’ was by inadvertently complaining about things.

I won’t worry though, it’s a language we all speak and I know they know what I mean, and what I mean is thank you. Seth knows this. Klaus maybe not so much, but only because he’s already sound asleep. Goodness, look at this man. So carefree as if he isn’t wanted in four countries.

Eventually, sleep also dawned on me and the next we knew, we were awoken with a nudge from the farmer who so hesitantly gave us a ride.

“Wake up ye' freeloaders,” he grumbled,

I groaned, and stretched my hands upwards as I sat up, Seth was already crawling out of the wagon and Klaus was out of the wagon entirely, looking around with a satisfied grin, yawning as he rested his knuckles at his hips, pursing his lips with a nod, “Alright then, thank you very much, good sir,” he praised, walking to the farmer and forcefully shaking his hand with both of his.

The farmer’s upper lips rose and curved down with visible distaste, wiping his hand on his shirt as he shook his head, throwing one final grimace our way. I hummed with a smile, “What a tenderhearted man,” I whispered with a smirk. The sarcasm dripped down my tone like venom and Seth chuckled,

“Just endearing isn’t he,” he added on, dusting himself off the

Klaus huffed, nodding along, “I wouldn't have asked for a better ride on our way here,” he agreed, and we’re just snickering to each other as we saw his wagon trudge on further down the market after leaving us to fend for yourself right at the town's arch, their blatant flaunting of the money and power they have was duly observed in the intricate carvings on the city’s arch gate.

I can’t remember if Temog had the same. I feel like it would just because Lykus thinks with his pride and not his head.

Klaus rested his hand on the back of his head as we walked along, we’ve tried our best not to gather attention, but Seth’s whole face being wrapped up in bandages was somewhat hard to ignore, as a result, we gathered a few stares, which is fine, I can’t blame them. At least he has a shirt on.

Klaus hummed a tune as we walked the bustling roads. This is the city’s entrance, so of course, it’d be the busiest part of town. Carriages trotted about and the sounds of whinnying horses were distinct even over the loud calls of voices over each other, perhaps because they were tired from spending too much time under the sun. Chauven would’ve kicked their owners to kingdom come. Vendors were both calling and arguing with customers and children ran about, probably running errands for their parents.

Drapes of beige color hung from different stalls, their tables adorned with what you’d see on your next biggest grocery shopping. I pursed my lips with a nod as I looked around; the place looked flourishing and seeing as this is a neighboring region to Temog, that place wouldn’t be as bad as those old men made it sound like.

Right?

“So where do we go from here?” Klaus asked,

I turned to him, confused, “What do you mean, we catch another wagon until we arrive at Okuzal, the castle is close to the west-side border, we walk through the forest and—”

“That’s not what I mean, Mina,” he interrupted before frowning at me, “And did I just hear that right—-you’re planning to head on straight to the castle? With the knights? And the devil himself?” he listed,

I sighed, “We’re not going too close, I just… it’s just a peek,” I reason before rubbing my forehead with my palm. “Either way, what were you talking about?” I asked, and he shrugged with a knowing smile as he looked around,

“Well,” he began, a smile already playing on his lips as we walked along and arrived at an area more riddled with buildings, not just any buildings either, “I was thinking maybe we could take a short break… perhaps?” he trailed off, on the corner of my eye I could see him softly nudge at Seth who was already exchanging smiles with a woman we walked past.

I groaned, “Oh my… you don’t have to word it out to appear reasonable Klaus, if you want to play around you're free to do so,” I said, shaking my head as I walked ahead, trying to look around for anything—anyone that could help me get to Okuzal. But he did not take that positively,

“Wha—hey–hey–hey! I didn’t mean for us to split up,” he spat, catching up to me and picking up his pace along with Seth,

“Who said anything about splitting up?” Seth raised, tilting his head at me and Klaus, perhaps he was too charmed by the women that he couldn't pay close attention to the discussion, either way, I don’t really care, if you ask me, I prefer if they don’t accompany me to Temog.

I’ve thought about it, but if things take a turn for the worse and I get caught, I wouldn’t want them to be captured, on the other hand, if the search was over and I wasn’t to be caught, they really have no business in Temog. They look like they’re enjoying their time here, after all. I should really let them have some downtime. They’ve accompanied me this far. The rest of the journey should be easy as pie.

“Hey, we’re not splitting up, but maybe we should take a brea—”

I gave him a deadpan stare, “No one is splitting up, I’m just saying you could do what you want, and as we told the others,” I trailed off, roaming my eyes around the buildings, “I will find a library to coddle into, sound good, yeah?” I bargained, and Seth clenched his jaw.

“You better be sure you’re not planning to sneak off while we’re drunk out of our minds,” he warned,

I snorted, waving his off with a cringe, “Look, I’m flattered you think I’m that ballsy, but I know where I stand,” I assured, just lying through and through, luckily though I’m a better liar than Klaus, although seeing the new circumstances, that is up for debate and reconsideration, and Seth took my word for it.

Because not even a few seconds after I said that he beamed, “Alright, as long as we reach an agreement, let’s plan our rendezvous and…” what Seth said after that, and what Klaus added to it blurred out in the background while the sensation of being so close to Lykus for the first in years while still not being in his territory. Temog is still some hefty miles away from here, but it’s here… I’m here.

A lot would’ve changed after six months, what more in four years?

But whatever those changes are, I can’t dabble in them–in fact, I shouldn’t even worry about that. It’s not like I’m here to rekindle the spark of our love or anything along those cringe lines, no. This is closure on my part. I could at least wave at him while he’s not looking, clearing the severed ties between us, a stance that I should've already established before I ran away from here.

Yet I couldn’t shake off this feeling of eagerness. I want to see him soon. So once Seth and Klaus retreated to their brothels of choice, I got to work. Tugging the hood of my cloak over my head as I walked over to the market, there I trusted my gut and tested my luck. We arrived rather early at Khanliwa, so I had time to ask around which merchant imported goods from Temog.

It was easy enough to navigate through the other customer's help and soon enough; I was faced with a family who looked like they'd been through hell trying to get here, selling what looks like jewelry.

I pulled my cloak further as I approached who I would've guessed as the mother as she lifelessly set down a long string of pearls, a necklace.

I gulped, lowering my head, offering a kind smile as I spoke, "Excuse me, I'm a servant from the castle Vaustero, can I trouble you by asking for a lift back home?" They exchanged glances. For a second I thought I would have to look for other Temog merchants, but later on that night I was at the back of their wagon, on the way 'home'.