"We've arrived, my lord,"
the deep and respectful voice outside the carriage gently woke Annan from his dozing state.
There was only him inside the carriage, Kafney and the cat were not there.
So we've arrived, huh...
Annan hadn't expected the journey to be so swift, cutting a whole day off the anticipated travel time.
It wasn't that the horses were exceptionally fast, or that there were any secret passageways unknown to others... The main reason was that there had been no stops at all.
From one city to another, from one station to the next, fresh horses and coachmen were always ready. Only the man who guarded Annan, donning the Crow mask and squatting outside the door, remained unchanged.
He took care of all needs, from eating and drinking to other necessities, and Annan had not once left the carriage—departing from a "carriage shrouded in black cloth" was not permitted.
The black cloth resembled the soft yet heavy texture of coral fleece.
