The next morning, I still felt a little red in the face after remembering him teasing me.
Also, he sent along a dozen of his students as additional security to the wagons. He was worried, and he let know.
Alexander came along with Dilip and Menir and also another man from the council.
We had a rather large party. On route, we meet people from nearby villages heading for Malai.
Some for the same reason we did.
Divine monsters resided near their villages and had to sacrifice a lot each year to keep them docile. We ended up with more than a hundred travellers banded together for safety for a time.
Me, Eleanor, and granny were inside a wagon with about half a dozen other women from our village.
Liz came along, leaving her baby home with the husband, who, along with Zephyr, will head up that mountain in a few days.
I wondered if my face looked as worried as hers lately.
I didn't ask why her husband Norman wanted to go. It was considered rude to question those willing to fight Emet.
Only those in close relationships like family or his wife would know the actual reason.
But unlike her, I was certain my Zephyr would return. Maybe that's why the fear is not so..crippling.
The ride was pleasant. With no fear from bandits after a day of camping, we arrived in record time.
The city guards checked every one for weapons, and after our name and a bronze coin each, they let us in.
The city was home to almost a million people. I couldn't even imagine such a number.
We started with eating all kinds of foods from different stalls, some even from different kingdoms.
We usually could only afford one piece each if that.
But this time not only we had money.. even I did.
Before I left, Zephyr handed me a pouch with a lot of bronze coin. He told me he would throw into the river, Sen, if I kept refusing.
I ended up being so embarrassed. I barely heard it when he told me to buy whatever I wanted.
So this time we bought some for everyone at our own party as a thank you for their protection. It was jam filled buns.
For ourselves we bought so much, I felt sick from overeating. We picked up all sort of things too, like linens,tools for the farm, spices, and a lot of them.
Things like salt, vegetable powders that made soup rich and delicious. Seeds to plants, and I bought a few dresses for myself, those that I liked, and maybe Zephyr will too.
I had more left, so I bought one for each of the women in my family.
It was super hard to find something acceptable for Ilianna. She hated clothes that restricted her movement or left no space for her future daggers.
Yes..Zephyr already decided her future weapon.
I ended up choosing something comfortable she could train in and just needed something for Zephyr.
I soon decided on a necklace. It was a blue stone in the shape of a triangle, almost as beautiful as his eyes.
With this, my pouch felt considerably lighter. Spending money was very easy.. and fun.
" This city is always beautiful and packed with all sorts of characters.. I wish master Zephyr came."
" I know what you mean. He would love these sword works. This winter, we make sure to bring him and everyone else. Enjoy our time here as brothers."
I overheard one Zephyr student and Alexander wishing him here.
Their thoughts mirrored my own except... like he is gonna come with you a lot instead of his family. We gonna have so much fun..the city was even more beautiful when snowed.
I could just imagine ourselves with Ilianna walking around and laughing.
Only three more months.
In a big circle, the middle of town centre there were soldiers in colourful uniforms that, I was sure served, had no practical purpose.
They were shouting about the latest propaganda by the King.
" THE KARTA KINGDOM AGGRESSION ESCALATES. YOUR HOMELAND REQUIRES SOLIDERS TO DEFEND ITS LANDS AND ITS KING. THOSE WHO WISH TO JOIN. HEAR THE LIST OF BENEFITS SUCH AS TRAINING WITH THE FIRST GUARDIAN! BLES.."
" For Ehlite, he is loud.. " - granny reached over and tapped my shoulder. " Let's go back to our wagon. I wanna leave for home as soon as we can."
I agreed with granny and was ready to leave. If Zephyr was here, we might stay at the Joblin, but with no coins left and him hundreds of miles away, let's head home and fast as we can.
We been only a few minutes away when she noticed Alexander was missing.
" That idiot probably just stayed to hear the end of that speech. " - I looked behind us, seeing the crowd now swelling double its size. " Let's wait until he arrives."
Of course, he stayed to listen.
I bet home. He won't stop preaching about joining the army, and how now is theirs chance for blah blah blah...
He will bore anyone willing to listen to defend against the vicious Karta invaders.
Soon enough, he arrived and told us all about how he might join and how the benefits were life changing and all the glory that will await them.
I honestly felt bad for Demelza. She was too good for this uncaring brute so willing to leave his family for uncertainty and the tiniest chance of glory no one even cares about.
He better stay away from Zephyr or even Lucian, who respects him greatly.
After all, if the fight against Emet, in a few days, goes well, it might encourage people in the village to join in on his newest stupidity.
" Alright, people, let's go home. We have a long journey ahead of us. - Granny listened politely with the rest, but I could tell she thought the same.
" Alexander, get your head out of the clouds and gather yourself and Zephyr students."
" Yes, Vistellia. I'm sorry getting carried away here." - he had a fanatical light in his eyes. " Lads, let's push and make it home to our families."
So with that, our visit to Malai came to an end.
---
On our way back, I told my fears to granny, who then did her best alongside Eli to calm them.
" Lylly, he would never just abandon his daughter for something so moronic. " - she patted my hand from her seat. " If not for his friendship with the man, he never even thinks joining the sacrifice."
" Granny is right, sister. " - my sister nodded along with her and added her own thoughts. " You know well enough that no amount or benefits of any kind will ever just make him leave now. He is a father. "
Their words were true, and I knew it.
Our relationship hasn't progressed too far yet. I really wanted to change that after the sacrifice is behind us, but his relationship with Ilianna is that of actually father and daughter.
I personally have never seen a more doting father in my life. And that's a good thing.
He would never just leave her.
Not for money or glory. He has something that will forever tie him to Emet village. Soon, I want him to have more.