Rhythmic sway and creak of wood on metal on wood is a mesmerizing combination. It wasn't too many years ago that I would've balked at the experience, forcing my mother to dole out several capsules of her herbal remedy for the common cold which, miraculously, cured carriage sickness as well. Whether those little green monsters amounted to little more than a placebo, or if they really did cure all ills, I couldn't say. I'd like to think it's my own natural adaptability that allowed me to lean out of an open quarter light with a slight smile instead of a milky grimace.

Two days. That, and maybe an hour or two to spare on a lazy weekend spanned a one-way trip from the Caxie family estate to the capitol by carriage. Double that and a little extra netted a full trip, including a gradual uphill return. Perhaps not as far as the trip to and from Atleos Academy, where it sat at the northern fringe of the Township of Erisan, but a considerable trek nonetheless.

I've travelled between the two once before, twice actually. Before enrollment and right after graduating. All told, that veritable epic could stretch on for days should the unwary fall victim to the merchant's quarter of Erisan stationed tantalizingly in between, whose alluring fashion boutiques could easily turn a single day into four in very short order. Admittedly... it was the food that kept me for two. How could anyone resist the crème filled wonders those industrious bakeries churn out on the daily? I still don't regret it, as I eyed the two neatly pressed and bound linen bags next to me, one with it's bow hastily untied... no regrets, just so long as the other survives the night...

It's about twelve hours to the estate now if Axel, my usual driver, made good time. Lately the old lycanthrope's rheumy wrists have been bothering him, meaning we'd most likely stop at an inn before we clear Erisan and merge onto the main highway. If his stubbornness mellowed like his graying hair, then maybe the ointment I spent two weeks preparing could do the old fogey some good. Wary of medicine, huh? He should be more concerned about how angry I am instead!

Ahh. At any rate, we would be on schedule. Fairly accurate in fact, if we weren't pointed in the wrong direction.

"...we'll stop at Tanovit station, stay for the night, and be off by morning, Ms. Caxie. If all goes well, we'll arrive at Callestoe Basin in the late afternoon. It's possible to see its peak from the Eastern side."

A lengthy ride like this I could tolerate to some degree. I've seen most of the countryside out here. Yes, and it's remarkable how it takes a second time to notice an evening sunset never meets the ground here, no matter how far you look for the horizon. Beautiful, really...

"As for your accommodations at the tower, I have them already prepared."

Mhm, the sunset's gorgeous out there... I can see Erisan's silhouette outside the back port.

"If there's anything you need Ms. Caxie, rest assured I will do my utmost to procure it."

"Would you shut up already?"

Some men never pick up on hints do they?

Despite my best efforts, pretending he didn't exist faltered against an unstoppable blather train. A flagrance of any semblance of privacy or peace of mind. From the tips of his crested moccasins to the unsightly mole on a nose cocked slightly toward his left cheek, as though an invisible finger kept it pushed there... the twin-tail hairs growing out of that mole forces a shudder out of me every time my eyes inevitably stray towards him. I thought the hormone-soaked 'gentlemen' of the academy dragged the bottom of the barrel. As of now, I retract that ungrateful, narrow-minded sentiment.

If Verold Stainteman's abhorrent appearance didn't live up to one's expectations, then his mealy demeanor might serve to taste. Certainly not mine. Having said that, he is an official sent from the White Tower, which demands some kind of respect -the kind best observed another carriage length or ten away.

While I did enjoy my underclassmen's praises, maybe a little too much at times, the mindless, selfish bloodsuckers who only sought others' talent rather than cultivating their own... needless to say I loathed parasites. And I immediately sensed that this man was just like them.

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

"Mr. 'taintman, I think the miss isn't looking good."

The young boy beside him, a darkly tanned Nuvarian who barely looked to be in his teens, clearly interpreted my disgust as some kind of ailment and kindly intercepted the official's next ingratiating deluge. So young to be so observant. I fanned myself, before taking the boy up on his innocent offer, "Yes, I feel a little tired after all this travelling. Tell me, when do you expect our arrival in Tanovit?"

"Just before dusk I imagine, if your filt-faithful servant abides by the schedule. Which should be..." He paused to heave a gaudy piece of clockwork wedged between his silk-lined jacket and onerous fat roll, "Within the hour. I've already sent a letter to the inn's owner there in advance, so you needn't worry about the luggage and rest in your room."

I nodded, and returned my wistful stare outside. An hour? It's hard to believe that in another day's time I'll have finally caught up to him.

Somewhere amidst my dozy daydreams and the still bright sun, I felt the carriage grind to a halt.

"Remarkable. To think we'd arrive half an hour early." Verold remarked blithely. I've been overlooking it up till now for the sake of his position, but his attitude is really repulsive-

"Miss Caxie, Mister Stainteman," A surly baritone caught my hand from opening the carriage door, "stay h'inside for a bit if you please."

"What, is there something wrong Axel?" I asked cautiously.

There was a pause, an awfully long one before he replied, "Nothin' at t'all. Just needin' a stretch of the legs."

The carriage swayed as Axel lifted himself from the pilot's seat. Two heavy boots clunked against the stone road. I peeked around the window frame, hoping to catch a glimpse of what stopped us. We weren't in Tanovit, not for awhile yet, though I could see the walls of the town in the distance.

Axel stood not far off. A shaggy mane of gray-black hair, olive-green coat buttoned over linen trousers. His usual, even during the summer, although in colder weather he'd sport a pair of leather gloves. His back was turned to me, broad shoulders bristled. It was something he'd always do whenever I tried forcing remedies down his throat back at home.

He was conversing with a troupe of cavalrymen, armor and lances dazzling in the waning sun. They bore the imperial crest, emblazoned on the saddles of their horses and the banner their flag bearer carried. At the fore, what I assumed was their captain based on the Swallow's insignia on his chest plate, held his helmet under an arm. An austere looking man, entirely bald and suffering darkened burn scars from the crown of his head to his left cheek.

Verold grunted, shifting his weight to another ham-sized hip, "What is that beast doing out there?"

"Shh!"

I couldn't hear what they were saying. From what I could tell, the captain was questioning Axel. His gaze alternated between the carriage and the old lycanthrope. Not extracting what he wanted from him, the captain meandered towards us, dismounting beside my door.

"I understand you are Madam Caxie, daughter of the esteemed Count Nyls Caxie?" He inquired, bowing his head respectfully upon looking inside.

'"Yes, I am. Is there something you need, Captain?"

He lifted his head, benign smile disappearing behind a grave seriousness, "It is not a need, rather, a warning Madam. There have been reports of unidentifiable assailants. Highwaymen to be exact, along the road linking the White Tower to Tanovit Station. They were neglected by the lord of this province and allowed to run rampant, and as of last month nearly a dozen travelers were mercilessly robbed and slaughtered. We, the Knights of the Imperial Court, were dispatched to seek out any suspicious persons in the area and to investigate the provincial lord. We were intending to search your carriage, however..." He bowed his head again, "Apologies."

"Oh my, that's dreadful to hear. I hope you find them." I assured him, and glanced nervously at Verold, who scratched his nose thoughtfully.

"I've heard rumors that a band of Demihuman renegades were running amok, but didn't think much of them at the time... if that would be of use?"

Verold seemed to notice the former's dubious stare drilling through his forehead, and muttered to himself as the captain rebutted, "We do not deal in rumors sir, only in absolute truth."

"Ahh, if only they did too." The swine quipped.

I wasn't expecting the tense bout between the two, and didn't have the time to fully process it before the captain swiftly remounted his horse, "Since we're retiring for the night in Tanovit, my men and I will escort you."

Thankfully, our carriage didn't fall victim to bandits that night, and we arrived safely under the care of twenty knights. I never expected that we would arrive with an entourage into such a small town. It was quite the sight for the residents, I'm sure.

"I'll be turning in for the night, Ms. Caxie. If you need anything, just ask the inn-keeper, spare no expense." Stink-man called from his room across the hall, Nuvarian boy in tow. Axel, on the other hand, preferred to sleep in the carriage. Better on the joints, or so he claims.

I fell into the dense inn mattress, thoroughly exhausted from listening to that pig's tripe all day. Every ounce of me wanted to bury my fist into his greasy face after all that bigotry, but I knew that wouldn't end well. There's only one more day... after that I'll be free of him.

Surely...