Shinji cracked the door open of Tetsu’s house and both of them stormed in the cold living room, screaming the sorcerer’s name.
“Come here you cheat!” Fujimoto had faith he could slice Tetsu’s body parts in a single swing.
He went on searching inside rooms, while being careful at the same time. Fujimoto had no desire to be in his fun house again.
Everywhere he went he saw empty rooms. Doubting the sorcerer would be somewhere in a safe place, he moved to the warehouse.
Breaking his way in, he saw hundreds of cups inside. The entire room was filled with such cups. Fujimoto picked it up to realize it was copper. The furious man climbed down, throwing the useless cup where he met Shinji.
“You didn’t find anyone?” Fujimoto asked.
Shinji shook his head sideways.
“Where did they go?” Fujimoto muttered, seeing a black crystal ball in corner of the room.
“Today is the festival. He must have gone to the coliseum.” Shinji said his thought.
“Then he won’t be returning till the crowing ends. What do you think, should we go to the coliseum and whack him right there?” Fujimoto questioned.
“How sure are you he will be there?”
“We have to take chances anyways.”
“No! There will be city guards. We might have escaped the trial clean but the intention of guards doesn’t have anything to do with the law. If we kill anyone in Pryeg then it’s over for us.”
“Guards?”
“Yes guards.” Shinji slid his sword back in the sheath.
“Tetsu has got guards too.”
“I loathe them.” Shinji was light years away from forgetting the throw.
“Why don’t we go for Tetsu’s guards? They will be able to tell something about where he is.”
_
Wheel of the carriage rolled over a rock.
Mrs. Tetsu couldn’t bear the strong jolt and groaned in lower back pain.
She squinted at her husband who was sitting quiet beside her. She was relieved her husband didn’t take a dig on her for the small noise she had made.
“Avoid big rocks!” Tetsu yelled at the guard who was taking them through the woods.
The metal bedded guard kept silence and whipped the anxious horse.
“Where are we going?” she asked for the tenth time.
“Don’t tell me I married a woman who can’t keep quiet for an hour.” Tetsu snapped at her.
“If you don’t intend to tell me then stop this carriage. I will get out and you can enjoy silence all the time.” Her eyes had turned red.
Carriage hit another jolt. This time their vehicle stopped.
“I didn’t tell you to stop!” Tetsu loaded his wrath on his guard.
Guard didn’t use his whip to keep horses kicking the forest trails.
“Keep moving!” Tetsu slid the small window open to shout at him.
The guard turned his head towards him. Five seconds of staredown and Tetsu closed the window.
“What’s wrong?” Mrs. Tetsu mumbled and unlocked the door to exit.
“No.” Tetsu held her arm.
Their hearts were drumming on their rib cages in silence.
What is happening? Sweat dripped from Tetsu’s forehead.
Whip hit the horse’s back again and wheels rolled on from there. Tetsu sighed in relief as the carriage shook by stepping on rocks.
“Where are you taking me to?” she caught his cloak.
“To safety.” Tetsu couldn’t hide it anymore.
“Those cut-throats are dangerous?”
“Not at all.”
“So why leave the city? You can appeal to court and cancel their freedom.” She didn’t want to leave the city’s comfort.
“Anyone who knows where Chosokabes are might be in danger.” Tetsu started at her.
“Why?”
“Because Wernh’An has arrived. His men would be searching for us in the city. We must stay low.”
“Do you trust this guard to take us there?” her breath had turned heavy.
“I don’t know.” said Tetsu.
