The group chatted for a while, then Falko came back in his wagon and drove past them.

"I'm off now." Violet stubbed out her cigarette on the ashtray. "I hope the weather stays like this."

"It'll rain for another three days at most and not before tonight."

"Have you become a weatherman recently?"

"It's never been longer and for today you can see it in the clouds."

Falko stopped next to the covered wagon.

"If you say so..." Violet patted the masked woman on the head. "Take care."

The masked woman nodded. Nothing more came from her.

Violet started walking. It didn't seem like she thought anything of it.

"Visit your parents. Maybe there's something for you."

"Fufu, I will."

Violet waved and then the group could no longer see her as she walked next to the carriage.

The two city guards carried on talking right away. The masked woman stood quietly by, as if she didn't belong to them.

Meia continued to watch Violet. She didn't go up to Falko, but disappeared behind the carriage.

Meia listened and heard the voices of her colleagues. The city guards were too loud, so Meia didn't know what exactly they were saying, but it sounded like they were sucking up to her.

After a minute, Violet was visible again and had a string on her wrist. The string went upwards, as if it was from a balloon. That was also what Meia was expecting, but instead it was something else. Meia was amazed when she saw it. At the end of the string was the fairy. She seemed to be in deep sleep. Yet she was floating. The string was around her waist, like a belt. Because Violet was walking forwards, her upper body had fallen backwards. Despite this, she was asleep. That was probably what Violet had meant by carrying her, and she was proven right.

Violet noticed Meia looking at her and waved with a smile before getting onto Falko's wagon. Immediately thereafter, the wagon drove off.

Meia had noticed something else in the meantime. Violet had had a green pendant between her breasts. Although Meia had only recognized the color in a flash, she knew immediately that it was a jade herb leaf, because that pendant belonged to Innes. It was undoubtedly hers. She always wore it. That she gave it away like that...

Two minutes later, the wagon was barely visible, but the city guards didn't care. They continued their chatting.

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Maybe there was a schedule that Meia didn't know about? She'd really like to get going.

Bored, Meia looked up. There were several holes in the stone ceiling. You could let buckets through, that's how big they were in diameter. Such holes were called murder holes. If attackers made it through the outer gate, they could be attacked through these holes. For example, burning liquids could be poured into the passageway and then they would all burn to death. However, it didn't really work with this gatehouse because there was no inner gate. Usually you wanted the attackers to be trapped or at least kept busy. There probably used to be an inner gate, but it was removed at some point. Nowadays it was simply no longer necessary to have such things.

Suddenly Meia heard a bell and her gaze went from the ceiling to the street. Something came into her field of vision and her gaze traveled further, to the corner of the wall behind her.

Inside the wall, on either side, were paths that probably followed the wall. The paths were piled and plowed with light-colored earth. What Meia saw was someone coming into the passage on a bicycle. The person was a young man from the city guard. The bicycle was a woman's bike. Perhaps so that the sword on his belt wouldn't get in the way when he dismounted? The young man was stout but short. If you wanted to, you could certainly call him a lad. Meia would argue that he was younger than her.

The young man cycled to just below Meia, then hastily got off the bike and leaned it against the wagon.

Upon his arrival, the tall man pulled up his sleeve and looked at a wristwatch.

"Another half minute, then you could have stayed at home."

"I-" The young man was out of breath. "I apologize. It won't happen again." He then quickly straightened his belt before being admonished for that as well.

The apology had been addressed to both city guards. It sounded sincere and seemed like something the young man wouldn't be expected to say based on his appearance.

Meia concluded that there was indeed a fixed schedule. Unfortunately, she didn't have a watch, so she didn't know what time it was. Actually, she already had a watch, but it was an alarm clock and it was in one of her suitcases in the covered wagon. Maybe she should buy a wristwatch. She could certainly afford a cheap one...

The commander told the masked woman that they were about to set off. The masked woman confirmed with a nod, then went to the carriage and climbed onto the coachman's seat.

"Throw your bike on the back," said the tall man, then without further ado he went to sit on the front of the transport wagon.

The young man stood alone with Meia. He looked at her and she looked at him. He obviously wanted something from her.

"You're ..."

He obviously didn't know the rest of the sentence. Meia also didn't know whether she was allowed to finish the sentence for him. It wasn't as if she had signed anything like that, but everything else was so secret after all. Meanwhile, the commander approached the young man from behind. Klong - he hit his underling on the head.

"None of your business. Do it properly."

The commander left him standing there. He got onto the wagon and sat down on the bench opposite Meia.

The young man looked at Meia again, then tapped his chest with his right fist and stood still. "Recruit Tom Reinfeld of the Aoka city guard! I will protect you with my life if I have to! My heart for Jena!" He explained all this with his chest swelling with pride, then he became smaller. "Can you please make room for my bike?"

"Not if I have to, but if it's my order. Besides, you can keep that part for yourself."

"I will remember it, commander."

Meia slid forward obediently. She was used to such promises of protection. Nevertheless, it was a little unusual for someone younger than her to say something like that.

Meia had heard the name Reinfeld somewhere before, but she couldn't pinpoint where. It was probably some noble family from the area.

With a jerk, the young man hoisted his bike onto the wagon, then joined his colleague at the front.

Now that everyone was on board, the convoy set off.

.../ End Part