Vow Of Silence

CHAPTER FIFTY-THREE

1st PERSON: Pelomina Lorenzo-Capiz

Maybe I’ve been swept away by how long I’ve already spent in this world, maybe Lykus’ overconfidence rubbed off on me because this traveling and escape plan of mine isn’t working out exactly how I pictured it. We were doing pretty well until a couple of hours passed and by noon, with the sun directly hitting us from above, the heat itself is insane that we had to make a stop-over to a town that's so small it’s hardly indicated on the map.

The town was visible from the path but they did have this fence around their borders, seeing as how much we move towards the north, baked on the map anyway, we’ve come a pretty long way.

“Jak-Horne… how… unique,” I said to myself as I read the signage before entering the wide-open gates. I’m not the only one too, other travelers were coming from all directions walking right to this gate, and they must’ve been here before, or who knows they might actually live here, seeing as they were warmly welcomed by the villagers.

The people of this village were more than welcoming, perhaps because they know that their village will always be a place for weary travelers to get some refuge, considering this was still an area that's really abundant in trees and greenery, the whole village seems like a big backyard garden.

The people reminded me of the townspeople back at Temog too. They seem nice enough, and it’s almost as if everyone knew everyone, but industrialization was far less developed compared to Temog. This village was the textbook definition of rural. People were more humbly dressed, but it all seemed dainty. As if I was transported to a world where violence is not an option.

The villagers themselves approached oncoming travelers and judging from what I hear, they also offer accommodations and, as if on cue, the moment I set foot on their ground an elderly man approached me with a smile reaching his eyes,

“Ah, a young lady traveling alone… coming home from work, dear?” he asked, gesturing to Chauven’s reins. I guess the normal response would be to give him the reins, so I did.

“Yes… I just finished working,” I replied, and he chuckled,

“You must be tired and famished then,” he noted, nodding onto the biggest cabin as far as the eyes could see, settled in the center of the town.

By the front of the building, was a set of long tables and benches where other people enjoyed their meals, as women carrying pots of food came out of the doors of the cabin, setting it down on one of the tables in front where they serve meals to the oncoming queue.

‘Oh, wow… talk about accommodations,’ All of this looked too good to be true. It won't be wrong for me to say that this is every tired, exhausted, and hungry traveler's dream come true. The people are nice, and the place looks wonderful.

“H-How do I pay for—how much do I–”

“Ah, this is your first time visiting Jak-Horne? Your stay of one day would cost about 3 golds,” he replied, I hummed, golds… well that would mean that it must be on the pricier side of expenses,

“Some might say it’s expensive, but… the people who know how to spend their money well knows it’s just right,” the old man followed. I wouldn’t know, but if he says it so, I’m not one to question their policies. Maybe they have a really good reason for that. I also have some gold. While I don’t want to be loose with my money, looking around, I don’t see anyone else complaining.

“I see, but… I’m planning to leave before nightfall, we’re just trying to take shade from the heat,” I replied, he tilted his head and looked at me up and down before looking at Chauven and shaking his head as he clicked his tongue,

“Dear, I’m afraid I can’t let that happen,” he replied,

‘Hah?’

“I’m sorry?” I paused, and he sighed,

“No matter how new you are to traveling alone—or traveling in that matter, you should know that a woman traveling alone at night is a terrible idea,” he replied, patting Chauven’s shoulders which Chauven didn’t appreciate since she moved away from him after that.

“How come?” I asked,

“Bandits, dear, while you do have this lovely, spirited mare with you, I’m afraid she won’t be able to outrun those barbaric thieves,” he said, Chauven also didn’t take that well and turned to me with a grunt, huffing at the old man making him chuckle, “Although it seems like she doesn’t agree with that,” the old man joked as he finally led us to a stable.

The minute the stables came into full view, Chauven fussed. She reacted pretty badly towards the stables and started pulling away from the elderly man. He tried to take charge of the situation and calm her down, “Whoa, now… calm down, you poor thing, it’s just the stables, look! All your fellow horses are in there—”

But it was useless. Chauven continued to fuss about and back away. “U-Uh—No, I guess she’ll just stay with me,” I interrupted and the old man chuckled, shaking his head at me,

“What? Dear me, we can’t have that…" he trailed off, looking at Chauven again, "Hmm, maybe I’ll bring her to the grass yard instead,” he replied, I looked over to Chauven and she just huffed, I guess she’s okay with that, then. He led her in a different direction and waved at me to head to the cabin that was giving out food. “I’ll take care of her, just go and get some food,” he instructed.

Nodding, I headed to the building and followed after the queue, I can see that they were all preparing their payments so I did the same, fishing out three gold coins from the pouch the queen gave me I have strapped to my waist on the same belt that came with the dagger I got from Yulsey.

From this line, I could hear how other people chat and talk about things I have no idea about, I could hear laughing and some cheering, but I kept my head down, I’m not socially awkward… or so I like to think, but I figured it’s better to keep a low profile for now.

“Hey, you!” A voice called out. It was a woman with a red-orangey hair color—a redhead, she’s a redhead, a few people ahead of me in the line, calling over someone behind me. I glanced behind me to see no one so I looked back in her direction again.

“Yeah, you… broody-lady with the cloak, you new here?” she asked. Now I know she’s referring to me. She looked peculiar, there was an air about her that simply said she’s not one to be messed with, I’m not sure if it’s because of the battered and weathered armor on top of thick animal fur resting on her broad frame, big biceps, and thick legs that could kick me into a coma, or the massive ax casually resting on her shoulder.

“Ah, yes… this is the first time I ever came here,” I replied. The rest of the people in line glanced at me before minding their business again. The woman looked at me from head to toe.

“Well, get your food and then come sit with my group, all right?” She instructed, rounding up her index finger to the few women she’s apparently with. Her voice was kind of raspy and a bit bossy, but I think she meant well, or so I hoped because I don't think I have it in me to refuse such an intimidating request.

As the line moved onwards, people also started filing behind me as more travelers took shelter in the town until it was my turn, copying what the people ahead of me did. I placed my payment on the allocated metal box. The server, who was a woman, looked at me weirdly before reluctantly handing me a big plate overflowing with dishes. I guess it is more convenient to put all of it on a single plate.

But what was that starting about? It’s probably because Pelomina Vaustero has a very noticeable, beautiful face. I looked over the rows upon rows of dining tables, looking for the woman who called for me earlier, and just as I roamed my eyes, I saw her flagging me down to the table at the far back.

‘I can’t run away now could I?’ I thought as I took steady steps towards the table, only then did I notice that the other guests didn’t sit much closer to them, not to the point that they were being avoided but you could tell there was a noticeable distance between them and the other travelers.

I gulped.

I set down my plate, followed by some subtle cheers from the other women at the table. In fact... they were all women, dressed pretty much the same as the redhead, like hunters.

The redhead woman turned to me and reached her hand out, palms facing the sky as if she was asking for money, I looked at her and back at the hands as I reached for my purse making her chuckle, “Ah, sheltered this one, eye,” she commented turning to the other women who shook their heads,

“Give me your hand,” she ordered and so I did, placing my palms against hers, she clasped our fingers together before letting go and putting our foreheads together in a soft headbutt, after that the other woman cheered and went on with their meals.

'A... secret handshake? That's pretty cool...'

I'd be lucky if that's all there is to it though, was that even supposed to be? I turned to the redhead in confusion. She didn’t just made me do something weird now, did she? Before I could ask, she lightly nudged me with her elbows and spoke in a hushed voice, “Just play along if you don’t want to have troubles later tonight, also call me 'leader Agatha' from now,” she instructed.

‘Is this a threat? Am I doomed,’

Another woman nodded to me wearing a smile, “Just act normally, do you not see the number of bounty hunters in this place? Would you rather sit next to them and have them ruin you here and now?” she asked, while it was said with a smile. It’s obvious it was a serious warning.

“Wha… what do you mean?” I whispered back,

Groaning, Agatha turned to me, “You looked plenty sheltered, but listen, this place isn’t as f*cking nice as it looks,” she paused, her eyes turning sharper as she looked behind us. Men wearing fancy yet tactical-looking clothes would meet our eyes occasionally and laugh among themselves right after,

“This is just a big whorehouse for passing filthy bounty hunters, they don’t charge ‘working women’ because they keep the hunters entertained, but if a woman does decide to pay, then they’ll be untouched," she paused, taking a swig from what I would assume would be beer, "Still, that doesn’t stop the hunters from trying,” she finished.

‘...oh no–’

“T-Then, what are you—”

“—also bounty hunters, just better in every aspect,” another woman interrupted one with short, locked hair and piercing bright brown eyes.

While I am simply alarmed by the new facts, I just learned I am more than relieved that they caught onto that faster than I did. Compared to the male bounty hunters, these women looked more… worn out. You could tell from their clothes that they’ve been working hard while the men were more nicely dressed, as if they were officials.

Agatha sneered as she peeled her eyes away from them, “Pretentious bastards,” she hissed and the other women laughed along. Now that I look at them closely, they are pretty diverse, and they all look like they could beat those men to a pulp.

“Thank you for helping me… I really appreciate it,” I thanked and Agatha shrugged.

“Well, we do what we can, but I believe I deserve to know your name, and what are you doing here, exactly? You look like a noble,” she noted as she took a bit of her food. I know that I could’ve lied, maybe practiced a bit more discretion, and not tell them anything about me, but they seem like a trustworthy bunch.

“I'm Pelomina… and I’m currently in the process of running away from my husband,” I replied. Despite that not being the whole story, it’s as simple as it gets.

They all looked at me with raised brows, before looking at Agatha who slowly turned her eyes to me, “Want me to kill him for you, I’ll give you a discount,” she offered, her tone more harrowing than when she cursed at the male bounty hunters.

‘This is bad—’

“Ah, n-no, it’s not like that…. It’s what's better for both of us, for now, I just need to get as far from him as I could,” I refused and she hummed. I could never ask anyone to bring harm to him. It’s not my place and what he did isn't worthy of having him killed off, even if I had the right to ask for that.

“If that’s what you say, show me where you’re going and we’ll accompany you as far as we can,” she replied. Beaming, I immediately pulled out my map and showed them the route Yulsey told me to take.

Somewhat thinking that maybe I might just be okay in the long run.