*Clank* *Clank*
Days have passed since Jorel's departure from Slov, the carriage still holding firm as the horses still push forward through a forest.
*Clop* *Clop* *Clop*
The horses' hooves planting into the dirt as the sun above shines on their mane.
"...How much longer till we reach the Jonke region?" The stagecoach on the left asks, his face looking exhausted.
"I'd say…" The stagecoach on the right reaching for a map on the right.
"All together it's been seven days since we left Slov." His finger pointing on a symbol of Slov on the map.
"After a while we stopped at Kosh for a break." The left stagecoach points at the map.
"Yeah and then after moving on we stopped at Yona to restock for supplies." The right stagecoach's finger on the symbol of Yona.
"So since we left Yona two days ago…" He puts his hand on his chin.
"We should be just like three days away from entering the Jonke region if we continue along this path." He smiles as he points upward, straight at the road.
"Three days?!" The left stagecoach coughs, beating his chest to stabilise himself.
"That's still too much time!" He frowns as he grips the reins.
"I can't even spend just another day with you know who." He whispers as his thumb points behind him at the carriage.
"Hmmm…I know… me neither." The right stagecoach mumbles as he closes his eyes.
"There's gotta be some way to reduce that time—A shortcut?" The left stretches his neck trying to get a closer glimpse at the map.
"Wow…Careful man." The right moves the map a little farther away from the left.
"Urghhnn!" The left grunts as he slants more to the right and collects the paper forcefully, almost slipping off his own horse.
"Haha." He laughs as he stabilises himself.
"You gotta be more careful!" The right scolds the left as he frowns.
"What if you fell?" He raises his stretches his fingers with his shoulders slightly up.
"But I didn't." He nods his head and looks at the right.
"Now let's see here…" He flaps the map and stares at its contents.
On the map, there was a red mark on it, that signified where they are at the moment and there was also red line traced from Slov in the Idan region downwards to the south—signifying their destination.
"Hmm…It seems there is a shortcut!" The left grins as he grips the map harder.
"What? Are you sure?" The right's eyebrows raised as he leans towards the left.
"Here see, If we take this path, it's definitely shorter." He shows the right as he traces with his finger.
"I see…But how sure are you that it's safe?" The right just looks at the left.
"It is! Because if it wasn't we would've been attacked by bandits or beasts way before now."
"And if its not, we ditch the kid and run."
"Because Charitas knows that I'm not dying cause of a kid." He nudges his head down and shines a part of his teeth.
"..." The right stagecoach bowing his head down, looking at the reins in his hands.
Joining his hands together as he shuts his eyes, he says a prayer in his head.
Please let nothing happen to us.
Oh great Zesch, please protect us on this journey and guide us.
The right breathes out and looks back up and relaxes his muscles.
"Fine, let's go." His words feeling held back by a rope as he flicks his reins in the air.
"Yeah!" The left stagecoach smiles as he flicks his.
*Nneiighhh*
The horses increase their pace, their muscles bulging as they brush past the air.
Meanwhile in the carriage, Jorel sits as he reads a newspaper, the creaking of the wood and the clanking of the wheels drowning out the outside world.
He daps his finger on his tongue and turns the page. He's immediately greeted by advertisements of businesses and products.
There's also a tiny message from what seems to be from people—probably pilgrims of a religion because of its contents.
It reads,
×Join us, the children of smarin, where you would see the greatness and superiority of the all knowing smarinten as she shares her power and wisdom×
×If interested, meet our start up at Port Salar in the Henoko region×
"Huh…Never heard of this one before." Jorel adjusts his back on the itchy chair and turns the page again.
His eyes widen as he sees the headline for this page, his grip on the paper crease the edges.
×Tensions rise as the lord of the bandan lands, marches into the high court and murders seven people×
So that means that uncle…
His eyes continue the piece.
×From witness reports, he declared a full separation from the government and added that "he's withdrawing the garrison defence from the king's forces."×
×Declares war on the king, what a futile attempt if you ask me, but it seems that this alone sparked something in bandits all over, as it has been reported that there's been a recent hike in bandit attacks.×
×There's yet to be any word from the king and his high court, everyone's in confusion, what's going to happen now to Marlour and her people?×
×Everyone awaits×
×Written by J.R Silo bringing you the latest scoop×
Jorel's breath heavy as he lowers the newspaper, his mind completely still, the creaks and clanks filling up his brain.
If what I read is true…that means…
The king…
"I'll have to meet father." He shakes his head as he slams the newspaper on the floor.
"Wonder how much longer it is…" He gazes at the corroded ceiling.
He taps his fingers on the edges of the seat and huffs a single bust of air.
I'm bored…
Standing up and reaching his hand for the door, he tries to open it but…
THUD! THUD!
"Huh…" He relaxes as his face wears a confused look.
Well, what can I expect from this hump of junk.
He grabs the doorknob tightly, his body straining more effort, banging the door once more.
THUD! —THUD!
VVWHOOF!
—The end of chapter 12—