They continued through the plains, meeting with small clans as they did. The presence of a Spear and a few warriors helped in keeping everyone safe, and made going into the small tent villages easier, even though Asha would have made it a simple affair anyway.
“Will we meet with Clan Tigervale?” Ken eventually asked as they continued along one morning.
“No. Clan Tigervale does not receive visitors. If we go, we will be driven out, including me.” Asha didn’t speak harshly, just matter of factly.
“Including you? Why is that?” He didn’t expect that Asha would be driven away as well.
“We of Clan Tigervale prefer to remain hidden away, cultivating in peace. We’re the last line of defence for the clans within the plains. We remain neutral in all conflicts unless all the clans are threatened, and that’s when we’ll come to assist.”
“So Clan Tigervale won’t try to run for the Great Chief title?” Ken asked. Did such a clan exist? One which did not care for worldly matters, not unless their fellow tribesfolk where in danger?
“A title like that isn’t needed. Everyone understands our role. If we try to aim for the title, the trust we’ve built for centuries will be ruined. Every clan knows that Tigervale is a clan which will always work for the betterment of the clans, even at the expense of their own prestige.”
“What a worthy cause…”
“It’s a mutual understanding. They treat those of Clan Tigervale well when there are visits, and we will always be polite in return. It’s only thanks to my ancestors that so many of the clans can exist today.”
“What did they do?” Ken hadn’t heard about the lore of this plain before. He knew it was dangerous, but that was it. He didn’t know of its histories or peoples.
Asha smiled. “There were more than twenty Great Beasts in the past.” She sat up taller on her horse.
“I see…”
“Now we have another role to play.”
"Including being a guide?"
"Including being the best guide," she corrected, holding a wider smile on her face.
"Yes, and you have done the best job as well. It’s a shame things are moving so smoo-“
Asha slapped the side of the carriage. “Don’t say any more, otherwise you’ll call the beasts to us.” It was a playful joke, but Ken could see something more serious within her eyes.
Considering his luck, Ken decided against trying his luck. “I understand…”
The various clans were polite to Ken, who made sure to leave a few low grade earth pills and arrays with them, just to be polite. He had so many, that it wasn’t much of an issue to give them these items, especially since it meant they would treat him better.
The week passed by without much issue, and Ken continued to speak and lightly flirt with Asha, only as much as Emerald allowed. Nana, Yue, and Chandi didn’t seem to mind, though sometimes he’d catch them looking over at him.
There was a small issue near the last days of their journey, where a few wild beasts could be seen tracking them.
“I don’t like the fact that they’re tracking us, but I don’t think it’s a big deal…” Asha wasn’t entirely confident in her words.
“What’s the matter?”
“If they’re tracking for one of the Great Beasts…”
“We’ll be fine,” First Spear said. “If a Great Beast comes, we will open a path for you,” she assured them, nodding her head.
Luckily for them, Dragon Hill Town was now within sight. It was such a large town, comparable to Little River, but it was split into several layers. The top layer was the smallest, and where most of the major families lived. Then there was the second layer, with the merchants and the lower nobility, and the lowest layer, the layer of the commonfolk.
“It’s a shame that I didn’t get to spend more time with you,” Ken said, looking to Asha.
“Next time you need to travel the plains, make sure you hire me.”
“I heard that you’d marry a man with a thousand gold?” Ken asked.
“I might. It depends on how charming he is.”
“So if I had a thousand gold, you woul-“ Ken stopped, feeling Emerald place her head on his shoulder. He looked down to see the pouting in her eyes, and he sighed. He leaned in to kiss her forehead. “I don’t have a thousand gold.”
“It’s easy for master to make so much gold…”
“Do you really think I would marry someone else before I properly tend to you?” Ken turned slightly red at his words. “I won’t marry anyone unless you accept them.”
Emerald sat up straight and then smiled down at him, her eyes far too bright and sweet for him.
Though Ken wanted to come back and experience the life of the plainsfolk properly, to live with them and hunt with them, he decided against it for now. He didn't have too long until his family's items would be auctioned, which was still many months away, but knowing his luck, it would probably be brought back another year.
Finally, the walls of Dragon Hill Town were now within reach. The guards were about to stop him, but then they saw Asha.
“Young Miss Asha, good evening. How do you fare?” a guard asked, tipping his coolie hat slightly.
“Hungry, so let us through.” As always, her words weren’t ladylike at all.
The guards expected as much, tipping their hats again and then allowing them inside.
[Asha seems popular.]
They finally arrived within an inn, where Asha dropped down on a table and embraced it. “Ah! Sweet civilization!”
“I didn’t expect you to want civilization,” Ken said, being wheeled in nearby to another table.
The innkeeper looked at Ken, frowning at him, until Ken started to place down a few silver coins. The innkeeper quickly sent a worker a look in order to take care of them.
“Pay up,” Asha said, reaching out with her hand. Her eyes dared him not to pay up.
Ken wondered if he should remind her he paid the gold upfront, but she did say that she expected payment on arrival too. He handed over two gold coins, one as a tip. "Thank you for your hard work."
She accepted the coins, smiling as she did. She flipped them between her fingers. “Please do hire me again!”
"I definitely will,” Ken promised. “Let’s celebrate?” Ken said, placing down a large silver coin. “Drinks for everyone!”
There had been a few people around, minding their own business, but hearing that there were free drinks, suddenly they turned and greeted the cripple, thanking him with a tip of the hat, or a few kind words.
[I wasn’t meant to cause a scene…]
Ken had gotten swept up, but that was a minor issue. As long as he didn’t continue drawing attention to himself, his plan wouldn’t fall apart.
“Order whatever you like,” he said to his party of escorts, including the Spear and the extra warriors who had come along, who thanked him.
They had left Ken mostly to himself, scouting around and returning to inform him and Asha of any issues, but didn’t overstep their boundaries.
Ken was excited about finally being in the inn. He was so close to not being a cripple any longer, but there were still a few things to do.
“After tonight, we’ll be parting ways,” Ken said.
“You want to part ways now?” Lan asked.
“It’s best to do so. I feel as though we will all meet again, but until then, we should part ways.”
Lan nodded, reaching out with the sword which Ken had bought him.
“Take the weapons as my gift to you,” Ken said, refusing the return of the weapons.
The others looked at him in surprise, but Ken quickly brought another drink to stop them refusing his refusal.
“Escort Lan, you wanted to be a Guest Elder, is that correct?”
"That's right."
"Being a Guest Elder is only a dream for us, especially me!" Gin laughed, and then he drunk some more. “Do you think we’d be so lucky to get such a cushy job?”
“A cushy job?” Lan asked.
“Compared to being an escort.”
Lan raised his eyebrow and then nodded. “Unless we find one of those families.”
Gin raised his eyebrow and then nodded.
"I could give each of you a recommendation to a family I know, though I believe they won’t be looking for a couple of years." He had already planted some seed inside of them, but it would be best to plant a few more.
"Even us?" Lily and Ash asked.
"If you're still free at the time, I'll sort it out once my business is nearing completion." Ken offered.
"Me too?" Gin asked, looking at Ken with narrowed eyes.
"You too."
"Since it's you saying it, I'll have to believe it! Three cheers for the Young Master!" Gin had been careful not to call Ken an Arrayist or anything of the sort.
"Cheers!"
Ken smiled and drank a little, but he gave Yue a look. Not a look, but the look. She understood what it meant. It was time for the start of the plan.
Announcement I have finally caught up with the chapters that I owe! No more two chapters per day!
They continued through the plains, meeting with small clans as they did. The presence of a Spear and a few warriors helped in keeping everyone safe, and made going into the small tent villages easier, even though Asha would have made it a simple affair anyway.
“Will we meet with Clan Tigervale?” Ken eventually asked as they continued along one morning.
“No. Clan Tigervale does not receive visitors. If we go, we will be driven out, including me.” Asha didn’t speak harshly, just matter of factly.
“Including you? Why is that?” He didn’t expect that Asha would be driven away as well.
“We of Clan Tigervale prefer to remain hidden away, cultivating in peace. We’re the last line of defence for the clans within the plains. We remain neutral in all conflicts unless all the clans are threatened, and that’s when we’ll come to assist.”
“So Clan Tigervale won’t try to run for the Great Chief title?” Ken asked. Did such a clan exist? One which did not care for worldly matters, not unless their fellow tribesfolk where in danger?
“A title like that isn’t needed. Everyone understands our role. If we try to aim for the title, the trust we’ve built for centuries will be ruined. Every clan knows that Tigervale is a clan which will always work for the betterment of the clans, even at the expense of their own prestige.”
“What a worthy cause…”
“It’s a mutual understanding. They treat those of Clan Tigervale well when there are visits, and we will always be polite in return. It’s only thanks to my ancestors that so many of the clans can exist today.”
“What did they do?” Ken hadn’t heard about the lore of this plain before. He knew it was dangerous, but that was it. He didn’t know of its histories or peoples.
Asha smiled. “There were more than twenty Great Beasts in the past.” She sat up taller on her horse.
“I see…”
“Now we have another role to play.”
"Including being a guide?"
"Including being the best guide," she corrected, holding a wider smile on her face.
"Yes, and you have done the best job as well. It’s a shame things are moving so smoo-“
Asha slapped the side of the carriage. “Don’t say any more, otherwise you’ll call the beasts to us.” It was a playful joke, but Ken could see something more serious within her eyes.
Considering his luck, Ken decided against trying his luck. “I understand…”
The various clans were polite to Ken, who made sure to leave a few low grade earth pills and arrays with them, just to be polite. He had so many, that it wasn’t much of an issue to give them these items, especially since it meant they would treat him better.
The week passed by without much issue, and Ken continued to speak and lightly flirt with Asha, only as much as Emerald allowed. Nana, Yue, and Chandi didn’t seem to mind, though sometimes he’d catch them looking over at him.
There was a small issue near the last days of their journey, where a few wild beasts could be seen tracking them.
“I don’t like the fact that they’re tracking us, but I don’t think it’s a big deal…” Asha wasn’t entirely confident in her words.
“What’s the matter?”
“If they’re tracking for one of the Great Beasts…”
“We’ll be fine,” First Spear said. “If a Great Beast comes, we will open a path for you,” she assured them, nodding her head.
Luckily for them, Dragon Hill Town was now within sight. It was such a large town, comparable to Little River, but it was split into several layers. The top layer was the smallest, and where most of the major families lived. Then there was the second layer, with the merchants and the lower nobility, and the lowest layer, the layer of the commonfolk.
“It’s a shame that I didn’t get to spend more time with you,” Ken said, looking to Asha.
“Next time you need to travel the plains, make sure you hire me.”
“I heard that you’d marry a man with a thousand gold?” Ken asked.
“I might. It depends on how charming he is.”
“So if I had a thousand gold, you woul-“ Ken stopped, feeling Emerald place her head on his shoulder. He looked down to see the pouting in her eyes, and he sighed. He leaned in to kiss her forehead. “I don’t have a thousand gold.”
“It’s easy for master to make so much gold…”
“Do you really think I would marry someone else before I properly tend to you?” Ken turned slightly red at his words. “I won’t marry anyone unless you accept them.”
Emerald sat up straight and then smiled down at him, her eyes far too bright and sweet for him.
Though Ken wanted to come back and experience the life of the plainsfolk properly, to live with them and hunt with them, he decided against it for now. He didn't have too long until his family's items would be auctioned, which was still many months away, but knowing his luck, it would probably be brought back another year.
Finally, the walls of Dragon Hill Town were now within reach. The guards were about to stop him, but then they saw Asha.
“Young Miss Asha, good evening. How do you fare?” a guard asked, tipping his coolie hat slightly.
“Hungry, so let us through.” As always, her words weren’t ladylike at all.
The guards expected as much, tipping their hats again and then allowing them inside.
[Asha seems popular.]
They finally arrived within an inn, where Asha dropped down on a table and embraced it. “Ah! Sweet civilization!”
“I didn’t expect you to want civilization,” Ken said, being wheeled in nearby to another table.
The innkeeper looked at Ken, frowning at him, until Ken started to place down a few silver coins. The innkeeper quickly sent a worker a look in order to take care of them.
“Pay up,” Asha said, reaching out with her hand. Her eyes dared him not to pay up.
Ken wondered if he should remind her he paid the gold upfront, but she did say that she expected payment on arrival too. He handed over two gold coins, one as a tip. "Thank you for your hard work."
She accepted the coins, smiling as she did. She flipped them between her fingers. “Please do hire me again!”
"I definitely will,” Ken promised. “Let’s celebrate?” Ken said, placing down a large silver coin. “Drinks for everyone!”
There had been a few people around, minding their own business, but hearing that there were free drinks, suddenly they turned and greeted the cripple, thanking him with a tip of the hat, or a few kind words.
[I wasn’t meant to cause a scene…]
Ken had gotten swept up, but that was a minor issue. As long as he didn’t continue drawing attention to himself, his plan wouldn’t fall apart.
“Order whatever you like,” he said to his party of escorts, including the Spear and the extra warriors who had come along, who thanked him.
They had left Ken mostly to himself, scouting around and returning to inform him and Asha of any issues, but didn’t overstep their boundaries.
Ken was excited about finally being in the inn. He was so close to not being a cripple any longer, but there were still a few things to do.
“After tonight, we’ll be parting ways,” Ken said.
“You want to part ways now?” Lan asked.
“It’s best to do so. I feel as though we will all meet again, but until then, we should part ways.”
Lan nodded, reaching out with the sword which Ken had bought him.
“Take the weapons as my gift to you,” Ken said, refusing the return of the weapons.
The others looked at him in surprise, but Ken quickly brought another drink to stop them refusing his refusal.
“Escort Lan, you wanted to be a Guest Elder, is that correct?”
"That's right."
"Being a Guest Elder is only a dream for us, especially me!" Gin laughed, and then he drunk some more. “Do you think we’d be so lucky to get such a cushy job?”
“A cushy job?” Lan asked.
“Compared to being an escort.”
Lan raised his eyebrow and then nodded. “Unless we find one of those families.”
Gin raised his eyebrow and then nodded.
"I could give each of you a recommendation to a family I know, though I believe they won’t be looking for a couple of years." He had already planted some seed inside of them, but it would be best to plant a few more.
"Even us?" Lily and Ash asked.
"If you're still free at the time, I'll sort it out once my business is nearing completion." Ken offered.
"Me too?" Gin asked, looking at Ken with narrowed eyes.
"You too."
"Since it's you saying it, I'll have to believe it! Three cheers for the Young Master!" Gin had been careful not to call Ken an Arrayist or anything of the sort.
"Cheers!"
Ken smiled and drank a little, but he gave Yue a look. Not a look, but the look. She understood what it meant. It was time for the start of the plan.
Announcement I have finally caught up with the chapters that I owe! No more two chapters per day!