“Elfien, wake up. It's almost noon and you're still snoring out hard.”

Planks, wood, blanket and my drool that snaked down my hand.

“Come on, son. We'll miss all the free ale if you --”

“I'm up! I'm up...!”

I smacked my lips and rubbed the sleep away from eyes and pulled my body to a sit where I tried to find my shoes

“Well hurry up then! Get dress and if your hungry the captain is waiting for you there.”

*Bum rumudum bum bum bum*

It was followed by a string, a violin, of sort when I saw the band playing on center, palms slapped drums that beat I felt inside my heart and empty stomach, all the while red lips blew hypnotic tunes from flutes and a kind of violin that soothed and complimented the beat of the drum. They wore masks with cartoonish long nose and gay, colorful, dresses with small bells adorned around them.

Just to get here we have to squeeze out way through, it would have been easier if Edmund was wearing his guard armor that way he could have made a path.

I could have swore everyone was cheek to cheeks when squeezing through the once wide main road to see the bards and troubadours playing on a stage.

“No offense, the clothes are good on you, but aren't they look tight.”

I said as we push through. A deep dye of blue and red tunic, a dashing leather trousers, and leather boots shone like it had been polished for days, like he some sort of rich important person. Yet all seemed a bit too short and tight. Like he was walking stiff like a walking stick.

Despite that, people who notice him gave way, in fact everyone would have given way he would be easily mistaken to a son of noble. But all were busy and cheeks to cheeks on the musicians on the stage.

“Don't start it son, one day!”

He raise his finger.

“This is just one day! And I'll be in armour and sword again. I just hope no one...”

“Ey, it's royal Ed!”

“Hahaha! His hair! And clothes!”

“Oy! Shut it you pig farmers he's royalty... Bow down to him!”

“Aye! For royal Ed!!!”

“Royal Ed!”

He didn't even get finish his sentence when some men began jeering with squinting and laughing faces.

“So that's why we went to alley instead of the main street earlier.”

I thought we were taking a shortcut.

“Wipe that smirk and let's go! Move!”

He pulled me away and this time he push through the crowd with red blush across his face and not a care to anyone he bulldozed over and one of them was a child.

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

“Ey! Does shoving a child makes you happy?”

And thus he was repaid. Telling his kid to go with his mother he cracked his fist.

“Just because you're rich doesn't mean you can do what you want!”

The man hit Edmund again staggering him backwards.

“Oh! Bugger it!”

He bellowed out as he was punched hard that I caught his momentum and the crowd caught my back and began to form a circle.

“I think we should just squeeze through the crowd like everyone else.”

I tried to pull him up. He held his nose and then returned with a left, throwing the guy a few pace spitting the ground and squaring up. The crowd picked the guy up and put him back up. A circle was formed and I could hear bets and jeers as the two exchanged fists and kicks. Edmund is a veteran, as I am told, but as he was brawling he was getting hit by obvious strikes and slow yet devastating uppercuts. Then again, he was busy ripping his shirt and tight trousers rather than throwing punches or defending his face.

“Move! Move!”

“Separate them!”

I looked at the voice that commanded the guards.

“Alright, alright, you've had you're fun!”

They took guy away who spat the ground and went away with guards in peace while the child Edmund pushed earlier rushed to that guy.

“I hope lord Magnus spares your sorry face when I dump you on his feet looking like this!”

Grumbled O'Brian as he took Edmund personally by the neck and ordered his men to spread a way out of the sea of townsmen who enjoyed their brief entertainment.

“Wait, where's mom at?”

I followed Edmund as he was stolen away and knew he wasn't going to lead me to May.

“I-I don't know what you're talking about, son.”

He was suddenly stiff and much compliant on O'Brian's hands.

“What? I thought you said M—”

“Ahahahaha!”

A hysterical laughter suddenly bursted out off his mouth that scared more people than the soldiers asking people to move.

“Yes that was a good joke! Ey, old man Brian, Elfien here still knows how to crack a good barrel!”

“Just tell him where the captain is.”

Sighed O'Brian.

“What? I don't know. Probably around dad's hunting grounds. I mean she was recruited father's guard retinue, surely she's on Manor's Hill right now. Arghhh! Tap! Tap! Tap!”

“Tell him or I twist it harder.”

Ouch. His wrist... I could see veins and feels like his hands could come off any moment.

“Agh! Baker street. Go to baker street, Agh!”

“She's going to be late, that's for sure.”

Commented. O'Brian when letting Edmund go.

“By the goddess... Captain O'Brian, do me a favor escort the captain's son will you.”

Said Edmund as he held his reddening wrist.

“Much as I want too. I'm under the orders to get your arse to the Lady herself. Besides, unlike you he's a good boy who won't run off like a certain blonde!”

Cocking his abyssal black eyes at me.

“Aren't you, white haired one?”

“O-of course sir.”

Yeah... I hid my wrist inside my pockets as he knew what I did yesterday.

“Just spare one man, he's a child who forgot everything about this place! He'll get lost in this crowd!”

“No, I've been there once, and I'm not a child anymore!”

I'm one year on reaching eighteen back home and certainly not thirteen in this world.

“You heard him, captain, he went once. Just send one man. I promise to behave, I swear upon my name.”

“Aight then!”

Silencing Edmund and with a bit of a loud tone...

“Where we right now?”

He said to me.

“Pavlon Square.”

“Which way to go?”

“Um... Forwards, then turn right until I reach the foot of the great wall where the butchers are at.”

“Then?”

“Turn left, hold my nose and head forwards trough the repugnant butcher street and march dead straight ahead until the end and then breath, smell the pies and bread then head for the last bakery shop owned by an old baker.”

*Gruuuu!*

Just the mention of pie reminded me of that mouthwatering mutton pie.

“Is that enough for you?”

His mustache shivers as he cock an eye at Edmund.

“Have a safe trip kid.”

Edmund sighed in defeat.