#6: The Payment of Being Genuine
Cargo Ship- Headed to Free Land of Rowan
The people are gathered in the dining area. "There are rumors going around the capital. It seems that the myth about the beasts of Andor is true. One of the soldiers who survived the battle in Andor said that there was a huge bear double the size of a normal one", one ship servant narrated to his fellow servant while taking a rest on the deck.
Three individuals in the hood quietly listened and waited for some news about what is happening in Eragon. Their teeth are still gritting for the suffering their people had gone through. "We're almost in the dock", the shipowner announced. Another ship arrived at the same time. "We paid as what we promised", Nymeria dropped precious gems at the owner's hand. "Where are you headed, young lady? There's nothing in this place but a bunch of free men and horses", the owner asked. "We're just passing through", Nymeria gave a smile.
On the other side, three individuals also went down the ship. "We're here, my lady. I hope it doesn't discomfort you to be called as such", Dillon assisted Zefania to step down the ship. "He is really tame when it comes to you, my lady", Reinys noticed. They arrived at the docks and saw merchants selling different things. "It changed a lot", Zefania noticed. Dillon saw three people in the hood. "My lady, I need to safeguard our path. Please give me time to clean the pathway", Dillon bowed. Reinys felt disgusted with how Dillon acted. She preferred the straight-faced and ruthless lad.
Zefania and Reinys walked next to each other. "Forgive me for my ignorance. You are from Riverdell? Am I mistaken?", Zefania peeked into her golden hair. "You are not mistaken, my lady", Reinys addressed her imitating Dillon. "What are you doing outside Riverdell? Is Dillon helping you find a place to stay?", Zefania asked. "I am looking for someone", Reinys answered right away. "That person must have been so important to you. I heard Riverdellian are forbidden to step outside the boundaries", Zefania recalled his father's stories. "I wasn't trying to be rude", the lady caught herself. "That person will be the savior of this rotten world, my lady. For these people to be spared from the things, you've been through. I need to search for him and give whatever aid I could give", Reinys gave friendly smile.
Tavern
"This place is so different. No one is suspicious. There's no guard anywhere", Nymeria removed her hood. "We shouldn't be careless", Gilbert kept his hood on. "What will we do next?", Hick opened. "My brother is in Leurona. He married the Pharaoh's daughter which makes him one of the most powerful people in the place. I'll take the risk to speak with him. We'll conquer back Oneison. Gilbert will become the new Pirate King and we'd take back Bithen from the Ravens", Nymeria explained the plan. Gilbert remained silent. "How sure are we that your brother will lend us help? This man right here is the one who separated his father's head from his body", Hick sighed and leaned on the table. He saw Dillon enter the tavern. He was searching for someone. Hick's and Dillon's eyes met. "I think we need to go somewhere else to discuss this", Hick suggested. "Then there would be more blood", Gilbert finally spoke. Dillon heard it and went to sit next to them. "Travelers?", Dillon asked. Hick plastered a fake smile. "We're just passing by", Hick answered and waved his hand. "It doesn't seem to sound as if you are", Dillon looked at Gilbert wearing a hood. "Forgive me for my rudeness. I am Dillon, a soldier of the House of Rowan. We are extremely cautious of the foreigners passing by the lands", Dillon sounded doubtful of the three.
Hick prepared his spear. Dillon saw it and drew his sword. "We don't want to cause any commotion here, young soldier", Hick tried to raise his free hand. "Then why are you holding your spear?", Dillon asked. Some Rowan soldier drinking in the Tavern was alarmed and surrounded the table. Gilbert removed his hood. "We'll prove our innocence. Hick, drop your weapon", Gilbert commanded. Dillon was startled to see pair of emerald eyes and brown hair.
The door of the tavern opened. "I know you are overreacting again", Reinys sighed and saw Dillon with his sword raised. "Drop your weapons. We don't want to scare the people", Zefania commanded. Gilbert was intrigued by the voice and so he turned around. Hick threw the spear to create a distraction while doing their escape. Nymeria also threw a smoke bomb that she learned to create from the pirates. "Cover your mouths. We have no idea what it is", Dillon ordered.
Village
The three were able to escape and found another village as they walk further from the docks. "It is such a carefree place, isn't it?", Nymeria commented. "Maybe we should refrain from using cloaks. We look suspicious on it", Hick suggested. They all removed their cloaks. Children raced and headed to the village."It's Sir Rowan", a child pointed at Gilbert who was puzzled by the way he was addressed. One adult woman came and bowed low. She was petite and had pair of gentle blue eyes. "My apologies, Sir. She wasn't taught of right manners. Is there something we can do for you?", she cowered in fear. "We need a place to stay and also food to eat", Hick stepped forward. Nymeria kicked the man and looked at Gilbert. She was never sure who the man was. "And they are your traveling comrades?", the woman looked at an obvious foreigner and a lady who dresses like a man. "She is his lover", Hick introduced. Nymeria snapped out and punched the man's back. "I'm not a Rowan. Forgive my friend for demanding such. If you could spare us a few spaces to lay our heads. We'd be leaving for tomorrow. Your kindness will be repaid with whatever we can pay", Gilbert bowed his head. The young child whined. "Unfortunately, today is not the day I'll see Sir Rowan", she ran away with the other children.
"We don't have much but we are willing to share", the woman was captivated by the young man's humility.
They entered the village and saw how peaceful it is. "How long has this village existed?", Nymeria was curious. "Miraculously, my great-grandfather had also lived to build one of the houses here. Forgive me, lady. I am not learned to know about years and days", she apologized. "Nymeria, that's my name", she informed. "Hey, you just gave a stranger your name", Hick scolded her. "She's not a stranger Hick", Gilbert corrected him. "Cedra, that's my name", she gave a friendly smile.
CEDRA's Hut
Cedra's children are looking at Gilbert intently. "I was sure I saw those eyes before. Remember when Sir Oliver visited to fetch brother", Dani, Cedra's youngest daughter hummed. It was the child who pointed at Gilbert as they enter the village. "Dani, enough with that. Go and help your sister fetch some water", Cedra commanded. Gilbert elbowed Hick who was in deep sleep. "What? Are we going to eat now?", Hick woke up. "Go and help the child fetch some water", Gilbert ordered. "It's okay. You don't need-", Cedra was cut off when Hick stood up and stretched. "We should be a good role model to the young or else, they'd grow up to be fooled", Hick followed Dani.
"Where did they bring your son?", Nymeria remembered what Dani said. "In exchange for the protection that we are getting from the soldiers. We also need to give back. All the boys in every village are being recruited by the soldiers and trained in the Moat", Cedra explained. "I don't know but since we drop off the dock. We haven't seen much of soldiers around. Where do they bring them after being trained?", Nymeria loves to question people and situations.
DOCK
"So, how many young soldiers this time?"
"A hundred. We won't be able to ship much. A Riverdellian princess suddenly appeared. Tell the King that the eldest bent his knee for a brat who's claiming to find the rightful King of all the Five Kingdoms".
"Yes Sir. Here goes your gold".
A box of gold bars was dropped in front of him.
"How foolish are you brother. Only if you had listened to me".
The pair of emerald eyes seem to be blinded by the sight of the gold in front of him.
INN
"I already sent a raven to the main house. The carriage might be here the next morning", Dillon entered the lady's room. "Why are we cramped in one room?", Reinys complained. "You spent all of the gems we have along the way. The silvers I had was just enough for us to ride that ship", Dillon sounded irritated. "Have you forgotten that you are accompanying a Princess here?", Reinys pouted. "If you are a princess as you call yourself, why don't you have the wealth that a princess should have?", Dillon fought back. Reinys was about to give her counter-attack when she saw Zefania looking at her from the bed where she sits.
"You are a Princess from Riverdell?", she repeated.
"It was a long story. Sorry, I didn't tell you about it. Also, I didn't have the time to explain", Dillon apologized. "Come, dear, let me tell you a story about my journey", Reinys sat with her and placed her arm around Zefania's shoulder. She knew that the lady was still mourning but never had she shed a tear after they left the Kingdom. Reinys thought that if she opened up, the lady also would. Dillon was pushed out of the room.
The young man sat in front of the door. He was wondering about that man he saw a while ago.
"I heard from Dillon that you lost your father. Sorry about that", Reinys opened. The young lady nodded her head her eyes feeling warm. "Now that I heard about that, I realized how painful it was when I left home. Just like you, I am the only daughter of the High King", Reinys finally introduced. Zefania was about to make the distance to show respect. "Are you going to distance yourself because of that?", Reinys sounded sad. "My apologies. It wasn't like that", Zefania went back on leaning on her. "My father locked me for a long time in my room because he was so scared that I will leave without a note. He was afraid because he knows her daughter well", Reinys chuckled. "He was aware of how foolish I was and impulsive when it comes to decisions. But then, one day, he opened the door for me. Lets me go and never tried to pursue me again. That's why I'm here", Reinys cupped Zefania's face. "But when I found what I've been looking for. I'll come back to him. I will go back to those arms I once knew", Reinys added. Zefania's eyes were filled with tears. She seemed to read between the lines. "Zefy, when we lose some things in our lives, it will somehow come back. That's why we just have to wait- patiently", Reinys hugged the lady as if she was like her younger sister.
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VILLAGE
The sun finally peeked. Nymeria yawned and removed the hay from her hair. Cedra apologized for having only the horse house as an empty space for sleeping. She heard someone chopping wood. She went outside and saw Gilbert chopping wood. "We don't have enough coins to pay them. I hope this would do", the brown-haired man saw her in the corner of his eyes. Nymeria crossed her hand and smiled. "You weren't looking at those children's eyes. Were you scared that they can see your soul?", Nymeria teased.
"She was also around that age", Gilbert stopped chopping. He suddenly remembers the color of blood and even the warmth of the fluid. Nymeria went close to him and held his hand. "Until those blood stains are wiped out from your eyes, I'll constantly remind you that... it was mercy" Nymeria whispered the last three words. "And you tell me that you guys are no lovers?", Hick destroyed the atmosphere. "We're not, idiot", Nymeria threw a log at him. He was able to evade it.