The Oreans

Chapter 16

Chapter 16
A Detour

That year's was the worst winter in Florea's history. The snowfall was the thickest in decades. Many towns in the northern regions of Arce, Houx, Citrouille and Roble had been in danger of being buried through many layers of snow for weeks. If not for the preparations during the summer, many would have died from the chill and starvation earlier. The county warehouses had been kept open to meet the needs of the people for fuel and food. However, towards the middle of the eleventh month, Misonze, this fact was no longer a consolation as the goods threatened to run out. Alarmed at the situation, the governors of these provinces had appealed to the court for assistance.

Without delay, Archduke Guilem ordered the opening of the royal depot, and for an entire fortnight, the Oreans were busy facilitating the transport of goods from Rosienne to the affected regions. Adrien was at the forefront of the operations at Houx, and, as Rafim had become his closest friend, he had made the younger master his companion. Being Rafim's apprentice now, Alen was allowed to go with them. Together, the three of them traveled from Rosienne to Houx's affected provinces to ensure the delivery of the goods.

For Alen, the experience was invigorating. Besides being his very first mission, it gave him the opportunity to relive the life he had led with Divan. He had never been out of Rosienne since he arrived there more than three months ago. Notwithstanding the biting weather and difficult, quite impassable roads, it was a welcome break from the strenuous training he had been having in the camp.

Rafim seemed to appreciate the change as much as his pupil did. He was not his usual taciturn self during the journey. As Adrien, being the leader of the mission was often away on one call or another, Alen spent most times with his young master alone. This arrangement had not bothered Alen even at the onset, for he had already got used to Rafim's silence. Alen had not known Rafim could be as companionable as Adrien, but he welcomed the transformation without question. During their limited times off and when Adrien was out somewhere, Rafim and he would take a walk and talk. Alen told him his story, for which Rafim looked really interested and somewhat moved. Rafim had also shared snippets about his own training, which Alen hoped was the start of the flow of confidences.

Alen had great respect for his master, and the bond that was developing further between them was something he cherished. He promised himself not to spoil it by forcing himself on Rafim. Adrien, whose insightful eyes had seen the evolution, complimented Alen for his discretion and advised him to go on enjoying Rafim's sociability while it lasted.

It did last. It was on their way back to Rosienne when Rafim began to don his habit of silence again. Since Adrien did not show any inclination to speak as well, they had been a quiet group when they crossed the Bridge of Rosnear.

They were only four miles from the city when Alen noticed his master's restlessness. Despite Rafim's thick cloak, the boy could tell by the way he gripped his horse's reins that something was troubling him. Alen also observed that beneath his hood, he was throwing occasional glances from one side of the road to another as if he was expecting an ambush.

Alen looked at Adrien. The latter did not seem in the least troubled. Alen himself could not understand why they should be. He peered about him to see anything that might have caused Rafim's behavior. There was none as far as he could see. The road was deserted except for them, which was not unusual in these parts, since it was just an hour past midday. The tall, thin trunks of evergreen along the road, on the other hand, could not possibly hide a full-grown person from view while the bushes were still leafless due to the frost.

He would have asked Rafim about the cause of his agitation if not for the sound of approaching hooves from the bend ahead of them. He heard the two masters shouted his name as he pulled his horse's reins in time to avoid a carriage being driven in breakneck speed.