Leaving the inn the trio proceeded to the carriage house for coach hire, on arrival the location was crowded as different noble household also intended to go to the royal capital.
Quickly going through the long queue they were finally in front of the Que by the reception desk
A well-rounded middle-aged man who was bald handled the reception desk, with many other female receptionists following his every command.
"I want a three-seater capacity carriage," Lynx said with a smile slightly relieved that he was able to reach the front of the line.
"Those are finished, the carriages remaining are the six-seater capacity and the eight-seater capacity"
"How much is the six-seater capacity?" Lynx asked
"20 gold coins," the middle-aged man responded
"What! You can buy a good quality weapon for twenty gold coins, this is akin to robbery in daylight," Lynx shouted feeling irritated by the thought of being cheated.
"Well you see the price shot up because this is that time of the year when we make little profit from the season, if you have a problem with that you can come back in two weeks time and by then it should be twenty thousand silver pieces," the man said with a cheeky smile.
Due to the incoming military academy exam, the carriage houses spiked the fee, this was not a new development as it was like a tradition that always repeats itself.
Looking at Lynx who was lost in a daze, this middle-aged man said with mockery, "If you don't have the money you can leave the Que, as you can see I have customers to attend to"
Looking up at the middle-aged man with a frown, "I will take it," he said as he tossed a pouch of gold coins.
Quickly catching the pouch and confirming payment, with a broad smile Lynx was handed a talisman and a key.
Coming outside of the carriage house Lynx met with Laston and Razor "Let's go," he said in a slightly annoyed tone.
Going around the carriage house they saw fleets of carriages lined up, heading to the carriage registered in his name, they saw an old man sitting on the chair meant for the coach man.
Coming close enough a pungent smell wafted into their nose as the old man spoke to them, "my name is Rowan, and am going to be your coach man for your jour.…"
"Not a chance in hell, not with you in that condition?!"
"What the hell is going on here, after I have been reaped over, I get a drunk as my coachman no way in hell, turning back to the direction they came from he tended to give the owner of the establishment a piece of his mind but suddenly came to a halt when he heard his voice.
"Stop!!"
"Don't go in there, I will lose my job if you do, please I promise you, you won't regret it lemme clean up, I will be back before you know it, sixty years in the business I no any route there is, I will get you to the royal capital in no time.
He said as he staggeringly stood up, the stench of alcohol and booze exuding from him.
Looking back to Laston giving him a look of 'should we give him a chance?'
seeing this the old man turned to Laston with a deep gaze, which prompted a nod from Laston.
After Rowan got the confirmation he quickly left tho still staggering.
Lynx opened the carriage and they all went in to wait for their wasted coachman, seconds turned to minutes, ten minutes, thirty minutes fifty minutes.
"what the hell is keeping that drunk, Lynx said as his patience had dried up, he exited the carriage only to meet an empty stable, the fleet of carriages previously arranged were all gone, and the last carriage left was already on the verge of leaving.
"what the hell!! He was about to storm into the carriage house when two men stopped him. "Are you the owner of that carriage?" they asked as they approached Lynx.
"Who is asking," Lynx said immediately as he glared at the men who had seemingly appeared from nowhere.
"We are from the Vonsamonz Family," one of the men said as he revealed the family's emblem.
"Hmmmm" Lynx hummed as he looked at the emblem at their grasp, "Never heard of it, how can I help you?"
"How dare you! The Vonsamonz family is one of the two hundred families affiliated with the royal family, and you claim not to know them?"
calming down a little as a thought hit him he continued, "We would like to take possession of your carriage as the young mistress will be enrolling for the military academy and…"
"NO" Lynx quickly said not letting the man continue, "we are heading that way too, and it's important that we reach before the entrance exam begins.
He said as he wanted to go around them, but was blocked again, "Young master what might your name be?"
"That's none of your business"
Lynx being more experienced knew that the only reason they would have asked for his name was to know if he was not worth offending as they can never know if his from a renowned family or not.
Laston who was not far from the spectacle could only smile as he could remember a previous conversation with Lynx, "leave the talking to me any noble interferes with us am gonna show them who is boss he said with a cheeky smile.
"It's quite funny that we play this dangerous game almost every day with no care in the world for what might be the repercussion." Laston thought inwardly.
As Lynx proceeded to move around them he saw Rowan who they had been waiting for, in the distance.
Ah! so sorry it took time to bring these old bones back to working condition," he shouted from the distance as he approached.
Behind him was a middle-aged and a woman with a young lady in between them, and behind them were two men who was putting on the same robe as the one that had spoken to Lynx.
"Victoria, why don't you see reason with us? You don't have to be a fighter. You can manage our businesses, hell, you can create your own and live as you see fit." The middle-aged man who was her father said in a last-ditch attempt to discourage his beloved daughter from taking this path she had chosen.
"Dad, we have been over this. This is my decision to make, and I have made it," the young lady named Victoria said with a resolute look.
"Dear? Isn't there anything we can do to change your mind?" the middle-aged woman who was her mother said with a worried and perplexed expression.
"No mom, if I am ever in a situation where I feel threaten I will run like my life depends on it, don't worry besides nobles are given special treatment in the royal academy so it should be a walk in the park.
"I am ready to take off, once again am so sorry for the wait," Rowan said with an apologetic smile.
Master Kiel! The two men who previously had a confrontation with Lynx said simultaneously with a bow
"Hendrick, they didn't accept our terms?" Master Kiel asked.
"No he refused, out-rightly, never giving me the chance to put out the offer, he seems to be a young master from some renowned family.
Turning to Victoria he said, "That carriage is already occupied and the occupant has refused to give us the carriage, why don't we go home and you apply next year eh"
Father!! Victoria shouted as she could not believe what she had just heard. Running to the carriage, she quickly knocked at the window. Laston opened the window, as it was his side of the carriage that was knocked on. "How can I help you?" he said slowly, as the face in sight seemed to have caught him off guard.
Please I have an exam in four days time and all the carriages have been sent out, can I have yours my family will pay you handsomely, this exam is very important to me.
"I am sorry but the military academy exam starts in four days, my friends and I intend to enroll it's really out of my hands," Laston spoke as he had no idea of the content of Lynx's conversation.
Hearing Laston's destination, her face blossomed with a smile, I am also heading to the military academy can I tag along? please please please, I won't bother you I promise.
Master Kiel held a profound frown as he couldn't bear to watch his beloved daughter beg, pretty much a young master like Laston.
Turning to Lynx who quickly shrugged, "its your call, the moment she steps in here we cant talk freely anymore, not like there's much to talk about anyway."
"Yes you can join us."