Last chapter for volume I.
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My uncle who hears there's a messenger from the castle arrived at the camp also coming from the clearing site.
"Henry, what happens? I hear there's a messenger arrive here"
"Uncle, it seems it's time for me to return to the castle. Our honored guests will arrive a few days later"
"Oh, that soon?"
"Wait, I haven't ask you how many people your excellency Earl Stamford bring in his visit this time"
I ask this question to the messenger from the castle
"Reply to young master, His Excellency Earl Stamford arrived at northern border fort with a hundred people including the guards. After that, the guard's duty shifted to our soldier and remaining party member from His Excellency Earl Stamford consist of thirty people. They ride five carriages and bring two supply carts. The rest members ride the horse to the destination."
"Okay, thanks for the news. Is there anything else you have to inform me?"
"That's all young master. Your highness Baron Harvard only ask you to be careful on the way back"
"I understand. You can get rest in our camp, you must be tired after ride horse for so long right?"
"Thank you, young master"
After making salute bow, the messenger retreat from my side to take a rest. This news actually already in my prediction will come, I just not expecting this news come this fast. The convoy of Earl Stamford using the carriage to reach our castle, which means their journey, will be slower than if they ride the horse. With our road condition, I estimated they will arrive around 3-4 days later after leaving the northern border fort. If I return now, I will have enough time to prepare everything I need there.
"Uncle, if I return now maybe I can arrive at the castle before dusk, so I think I should leave now"
"Ah, but how with the guards? Are you not taking any guards to protect you on your way back to the castle? And how with this salt project?"
"Hmm, I think I'm just fine going alone uncle. I can pretend to be the messenger that returns after delivering the news. Besides more people will slow me down. About the salt project….after the second batch finish, can uncle deliver it to the castle along with other stuff? This dried seaweed is too much to carry on the horseback. Also, the maple syrup that I trusted Claude to make I also need that do deliver to the castle. And the lobster that I keep in the barrel too, as for my belonging, I just leave here because after my business in the castle over I will visit here again"
"Alright, I deliver all together with the second batch of salt. The maple syrup, the seaweed, and the lobster"
"If uncle can send some live sea fishes that will be good"
"Okay, I try to get sea fishes to send along with the goods. Anything else?"
"That's all uncle. I just return with some jars of salt as proof for my father that this mission is going well"
"Sure…err…Henry, can you leave me with some money? I need to pay the crew wages, you know"
"Haha…of course uncle, they're not a slave, they should get paid for their hard work here. How much you need?"
"Around 60 silver coins, for our current crews and next batch crews"
"Okay, I'll give the money when I about to leave. I should prepare to return first"
"Hmm, I'll get your horse prepared, then"
I'm back to my tent and change clothes for returning to the castle. It's the light armor that I use when I leave the castle before. I also withdraw some silver coins from my inventory for my uncle and a little for my journey back to the castle. Well, this time I ride alone and I don't know if I will need something or not, but have some money in the pocket, not a bad idea I guess. After making sure nothing important is left behind and all I left here is put in my trunk, I left the tent to get ready to return.
In front of our camp, my uncle already prepares the horse for my ride. The bag contains the salt jars also already put in the horse saddle. The crews also already gathered there to deliver me return to the castle.
"Uncle, this is the money you need. Please deliver the goods as the schedule okay"
"Don't worry Henry, your goods will arrive in the castle in time. Are you going to leave now? Not take lunch first before leaving?"
"I can eat in the road while taking rest uncle. I need to return to the castle as soon as possible"
Craig step forward from the crowd and handed me a bag
"Master Henry here's some tortilla that ready to eat, please take this with you for the provision along the way"
"Oh, thanks, Craig. A right, just a reminder for you, when you make ramen, don't cook it too long or the ramen will become too soft and not too short either or the ramen will still hard"
"Thanks for your reminder, master Henry"
After receiving my ration bag and things I need to bring back to the castle, I climb the horseback and ready to leave the camp.
"Uncle, I'm leaving now"
"Okay, be careful in the way back, Henry"
"I will uncle. Guys! I leaving now but I promise I will come again later. So keep working hard until we meet again, okay"
"Yes, young master Henry!"
The crews reply on unison for my goodbye words. I start to ride my horse leaving the campsite. Without me and crew realize, from the top of the cliff where master Durnham resting, there's a shadow watching me leaving the beach. That shadow vanished when I'm no longer seen from the campsite.