The preparations took another hour or so. We finally got on the road with almost sixty people in total—five wagons, including ours, and sixteen on horseback... and one woman who rode in the very front.
I forgot how much fun this is. Riding around, enjoying the scenery. I felt my heart flutter. Leaning back against a steady and familiar chest, I felt quite comfortable.
Our pace was decent considering the much larger party. They managed to put everything and almost everyone on the wagons, but some were walking at a slow pace. Behind us were the Emils, and two more of our own. The others were placed around the party and two at the rearguard.
"You seem relaxed..." His voice vibrated through his chest as he adjusted his hands around my waist.
"I am. I wish we could spend most of our days like this."
"Me too."
I rested my arms on his. It felt like I was sitting in a hopping chair. I felt his breath on my neck and closed my eyes. The sun was shining brightly, my mind wandered about home. I hoped everyone was okay. I wondered if anyone else had arrived yet, seeking his help. Soon, the October rain would arrive, and with that, the season of sacrifices would end. I couldn't wait.
He assured me that those former residents of Tori agreed to keep the monster's death under wraps. Although nothing like that can be hidden forever, and if Emet's death was a shock, just imagine when they hear that another one has fallen by his hands.
I saw the strapped fangs he brought back home on the top of a wagon.
"What are you going to do with those teeth? Olaf is at his wit's end..." I referenced the way Olaf treated Emet's body parts. "I doubt he can take these on."
He sighed deeply. "I honestly don't know... I took them because it was literally the only thing that could be taken from her corpse."
That was true, I guess. A body that large... and yet it was gone by the time the men arrived to claim it. Where did the bodies go? And why did the parts he took remain?
"We can store it... until we decide what to do with it." He sounded unsure that it would ever happen.
"Hmm."
I loved how he included me in these decisions. Always using the word 'we'... when he could just as easily decide on his own; after all, they were his trophies. But no... he wanted us to be a WE.
We stopped after a few hours to eat and rest the people. I felt grateful. I wanted to stretch my legs and was very hungry. We stopped near the Momba trees, and Zephyr picked enough for everyone. Some seemed almost scared when they saw them up close.
The children looked suspicious, but when seeing Ilianna crack one open and tear into it, they had a lot of fun eating them. They ate some and threw some, horrifying their mothers and all adults who witnessed it. I guess all children act the same.
Soon, we all settled down under the trees and enjoyed the filling juices from the fruit. I reached behind me and shared some juice with Zephyr. Once we parted lips, I remembered something.
"We should surprise the others back home. I want Mother and Granny to make some desserts with this. Uhh, uhh... let's plant some!!" I felt it was my best idea yet.
He chuckled at my excitement and gave me a little peck on the lips. "That's a great idea." He looked at the tops of the trees, hundreds of those fruits still hanging there. "We'll plant some around the houses too... our kids will enjoy eating them."
"...hehe. Hmm..."
"What?"
"Just glad to hear you talk about our future kids. I thought with Ilianna so small..." I was fine with waiting but did have my hope. "You might want to wait for the second?"
He shook his head, and his hair hit my face, tickling it. "No... I want to have them close... the first at least." He looked in Anna's direction, playing with the other kids. "It would be nice seeing her as a big sister. And you fat!"
I bit his chest a few times in retaliation for those words. I felt delighted—a little boy with blue hair... I prayed he would look exactly like her father. Or a little girl like me... but with his hair for sure. I grabbed my frizzy hair and once more lamented it.
"What are you doing? Stop..."
He stopped me from grasping at it. He knew more than most how much I disliked it. How I wished for nice straight locks like my mother and sisters... or his.
"I know you think you have problems, which is fine." His bright smile slowly turned into a concerned one. "It's great. My love... it is challenging... but, anyway. It's your most distinguished feature... I could pick you out from a hundred with just a single look."
He didn't convince me. He lowered his voice.
"I also like to grab it... When I do you from behind..." He patted it and burrowed his fingers in it with an excited expression.
He actually seemed to like it. Bastard... I guess it's fine as is.
We spent some more time thanks to my idea of replanting exotic fruits in Emet. Alexander ripped out some saplings after talking to the locals, and Zephyr gathered too much. We had nowhere to put them and still be comfortable traveling.
We had to leave some behind and even filled to the brim some bags of fruit the Tori people decided to carry. Under their arms, on their backs, any way they could. Unloading their clothes then and there and filling those sacks with fruit. I guess I would have done the same six weeks ago. Ten bronze coins per fruit meant they could sell it in Malai for a fortune. Throwing some rags out in exchange was nothing.
Some came over and thanked Zephyr, who redirected their gratitude to me. "It was my fiancée, Lylly's idea."
Surrounded by people thanking me with tears in their eyes felt satisfying. I might need to get used to this; after all, simply being his wife meant being surrounded by those who will seek him out. Those numbers had already grown in just a few weeks. He is chosen, and I either get with the program or go crazy pretending to be just a normal couple.
I kissed him and told him I was going to get some rest in our wagon. Riding a horse was great but hurt my butt.
Inside with my daughter, Eli, and Demelza, I lazed around and let Anna play with my hair. Demelza opened some wine, and we drank it straight out of the bottle... it was typical farmer girl behavior, which I needed to curb in the future.
We ended up making plans for the city and laughing when the wagon suddenly stopped, and I heard some shouting. Maybe Lucian's? And then battle cries of unfamiliar men.
{SLICE, THUD, SLICE...}
I saw the wind moving the cloth of the wagon and blood stains on it.
I held back Ilianna, who wanted to run, and covered her ears the best I could, turning her head. I heard the terrible sounds of bones crunching and the cries of dying men. Demelza and Eli sought safety in the furthest corner inside the wagon door, looking frightened.
I should panic with them, but a strange calm came over me. Zephyr was out there.
The commotion lasted less than one minute total.
We heard footsteps and heard a familiar voice. "It's fine now, ladies. You can come out. N-oouch... God!!" Alexander suddenly got hurt.
"Are you kidding me??... Princess!? Y-you stay with your aunt for now, understand!!?"
She didn't hear him all that well, considering her ears being smothered by my hands.
"Are you alright, sweetheart?" I let her go and checked her emotions.
She looked more confused than scared but nodded anyway, and I handed her to Eli and got out carefully after Demelza.
The sight?
I never considered myself having a weak stomach, but the scene outside would be enough to turn anyone squeamish.
People... I can't even tell how many lay in pieces. Arms, legs, heads, and the torsos they came from... and entrails everywhere. Demelza looked as sick as I felt. The smell of blood was overwhelming.
Zephyr knelt next to one almost... whole corpse. Except, his chest had a hole in it. He was checking the body, looking at the clothes for something. He looked bloodied all over. Obviously, none of his. We walked closer to them, and I wanted to hug him.
He put his hands up. "No, no..." He looked at himself. "I mean, not like this, love."
I put my arms down and awaited his point of view.