Zaiyoz

Chapter 12

It was the break of dawn and I tested my newly bought double-edged sword. I swung it to the left and right, slashing the air up and down and diagonally. It was not so heavy and was made of the best steel in the empire, so I was sure it would serve me good. It had a curvy but leaf-like jade design as a hand guard. It had a three-inch wide blade, going narrower to the tip. On the other hand, I loved the four-star design near the hilt of the handle like it was customized for me.

When satisfied for the second time that I could handle the sharp weapon well just like I tested it before buying it, I sheathed it in its gold-plated scabbard. I then used a piece of cloth to comfortably put it on my back. It wasn’t a very long sword, so I named it Hirreq; hence, unsheathing it wouldn’t be a problem for me. Meanwhile, the two knives were each placed in my boots.

A note was placed on the tray together with the food and drink that appeared magically after I was getting ready. I read it first, saying, “Pass by the town’s square.” The ugly scrawl’s owner was no other than Shamaro. He must have his ways to have this message sent to me. I shouldn’t be surprised anymore after knowing him so well all these years we’ve been outside the palace. Although we were not actually traveling “together,” it was like we always were.

 I just shook my head and took a fire maker and burned his note. I ate fast and went to the washroom to clean my teeth and check myself before leaving the mikmalon. I had no idea if I’d be able to come back here again. Usually, I never stayed in the same inn and not for long.

I did get a healthy and strong horse from the owner of the inn. I tossed him a piece of odim as a sign of my gratitude.

He caught the piece without a problem. “Um… I-I think someone got your thieves, Y-Your H-Highness,” he said before I urged the horse into a gallop.

I smirked at him for a moment and left him with a threat. “Don’t have your clients robbed again or I’ll have your mikmalon destroyed and your family sent to slavery.”

The fear in his eyes was evident. He slightly bowed to me. “Y-yes, I’ll keep that in mind, Your Highness,” he murmured, stammering in fear.

I was sure Shamaro had no choice but to reveal my identity to the owner to keep me safe.

As I approached the town’s square, I saw the two thieves that robbed me the other night. They were stripped off of their clothes except for their undergarment; the word “thief” was written all over their bodies in an ugly scrawl. Also, a brand with an X form was burned onto their left cheek, which would tell everyone they were criminals punished by the empire. Shamaro sure did his job so well. But the one behind this was not caught. I guess he should enjoy his freedom in the meantime.

I stopped the horse in front of the two thieves and they looked up, crying.

“We’re sorry to rob you the other night,” they said in unison.

“You were not this sorry then. You were even bent on hurting me just to get the stone. Now, tell me who told you I had it. Who’s the magician you’re working for?”

They bowed their heads. “W-we don’t know his name. We were just offered something in return if we took the stone from you,” said the one that showed me a glowing stone before escaping through the window that night.

I narrowed my silver eyes.

“It’s true. But we do know he’s from the west!” added the other. “It’s called Bawahra, near Dunik.”

I gave them a warning look. “The brand and this humiliation will not only be the ones you’ll get the next time I learned you did wrong to the people of the empire. Do you understand?”

They nodded profusely. I then unsheathed my sword, making them step back but I just cut the rope that bound them together and left them. They ran somewhere to get clothes but people evaded them like they had some kind of contagious disease. They will surely be remembered as the thieves caught by the empire from now on.

I left that town called Daromma by mid-day. The sun was already high and it was getting hotter. But the horse was still fresh. Nonetheless, I stopped by a lake by noon, letting the horse eat and drink while I did the same, sitting on a huge root of a giant tree. It was cool under the shade.

My brows came together when I saw a couple coming this way. The lines between my brows went even deeper when I recognized Bihlke and Bavid riding a black horse each. I could see their supplies were packed on the back of the beast for a long journey, just like mine.

“Hey, stranger! We meet again!” Bihlke in her ever easy-going tone. I saw her smoothly jump off the big horse and let it drink some water in the lake and eat grass. The lead rope was taken care of by Bavid, who just glanced my way. I was just finishing up my meat and vegetable sandwich before I drank some water.

“Where are you going?” I asked with a frown.

“Oh, Bavid said we must go to the west town called Bawahra. We might find that someone we’re looking for there,” she shared.

I took note of her clothing, which was the same as we met the first time and the second time. I guess all her clothes were the same. But Bavid wore a different colored one but still from the leather material for his pants and sleeveless shirt, which had a zipper in front. It showed off his well-built body.

“Why are you looking for someone?” I asked conversationally.

“Hmm… Aren’t we friendly now?”

I gave her a lopsided smile but it was already wiped off when I did remember I didn’t want to make friends. I reached out for my pocket and tossed her four pieces of odim.

“That’s what I owe you, I guess.” I got up to get ready to leave. “You’re right. I shouldn’t be friendly.”

She looked at her hands, which made her gray-green eyes shine upon seeing the pieces of odim. “Cool-mazing! These are for me?”

“You helped me with it.” I shrugged. My eyes went round when she suddenly hugged my waist, letting me sniff her dreamy scent. “Hey!” I pushed her away. “No touching!”

She seemed to not mind what I said or did, rejecting her. “Thanks!” she said to me before she turned to Bavid. “I told you he’s not a bad person!”

Bavid just threw me a cold blue-gray glance.

I hopped on to get on to my brown horse and led it to a fast run, not turning my head to look at the couple.

“I’ll give you one, Bavid.” I heard her say, which Karommu carried to my ears though they were supposed to be already out of earshot.

“You keep it. It’s from the one you admire. It doesn’t show but I know you’re one sentimental fool,” he answered quietly.

Her tinkling laugh made my heart jump. I had no idea why I felt like this. But I had to suppress myself because she was already with someone. Still, I wondered who they were looking for. To think we were going to the same town, it wouldn’t be impossible not to meet there again. But I had to finish off my business with that wizard first before he’d prey on another victim just like me. I wondered what he was going to do with the odim stone though. All I knew was that it was supposed to be used for mortal wounds. But for magic? What else could he do with it? Enhance it perhaps and then make more gold out of it? Possibly.

I asked an old woman walking on the road for the direction of Bawahra and Dunik. She said to follow the pathway in the forest, which I did. She said it would be about two days before I reached Bawahra and another two days to Dunik. I was lucky it was on my way, so it wasn’t necessarily a waste of time.

I pushed the horse to half of his limit, didn’t rest until it was around midnight. The beast and I were in the middle of the thick forest. It was quite cold so I made a fire, ignoring the growls of the beasts nearby but I swore if something attacked me, I wouldn’t hesitate to kill it.

Then I saw a pair of angry red eyes from the dark side, ready to pounce on me, before Azajji could even whisper “danger” to me.