The Rising Pheonix

Chapter 34

Jacobe POV

I hate to admit it, but traveling with the caravan was pretty relaxing. Initially, the plan was to separate from them shortly after we crossed the border, but they were able to provide medical treatment for Nico and Emily. I'm not sure Nico would have survived the trip if we left as planned.

After the first night, when we slept separately from the caravan something happened. The next morning we awoke to some travelers checking on us. Some even brought food for us.

At first, we were suspicious of them and their motives. However, I wasn't able to detect any malicious intent from them. I consulted Grant and Nancee and told them to not be openly suspicious of them and to appear gracious. We cannot afford to be deceived.

When the rest of the camp started waking up, they came over to our camp, more out of curiosity since they saw some travelers with us.

After the initial surprise and suspicion, it was great to have additional help. Nico was still unconscious and Emily was taking care of Elnora. She tried to help when she could, but she was still having dizzy spells.

One of the visitors was a doctor who heard of Nico's injury. I invited him into the carriage where Nico was lying. When he mentioned how Nico's were as severe as we described, I had to lie and the blood loss made the wounds appear deeper than they were.

For the whole day, the doctor stayed close to our wagon, so he could monitor Nico. After that, throughout our time together, we had gotten pretty close to the travelers.

At last, we were one day's ride away from the capital of Tarnithia. Even when we passed through towns and villages, we chose to spend the night in the woods with the Caravan.

During our time with them, I spent a considerable amount of time with Madam Merlinia. I felt a connection with her and I could not explain it. It felt like I was with a long-lost aunt. I could tell she felt it too.

There would be times when she called me to her wagon, when she wasn't doing anything, to ask how we were fairing with her Caravan. I could honestly say it wasn't so bad.

However, I did grow more suspicious of Stanley. It seemed that he began avoiding us as the travelers became more familiar with us. I tried seeking him out to see what he was hiding, but he keeps evading my attempts.

Then it came to today, our last day traveling together. I woke up extra early to talk to him. I've walked all around the camp, and Stanley's tent, as well as Mark's and Jermain's tents, we have not found. It looked as if they left in the dead of night.

That was confirmed when I address Madam Merlinia on Stanley's whereabouts. She informed me he had stayed as long as he could, but he had some important business to attend to. This only made me wonder who Stanley was.

For the duration of the day,  I was doing things absentmindedly.  I was so distracted by who Stanley was and his true purpose being on this caravan.

I was so distracted that Nancee had to take over steering the cart. Grant kept trying to get my attention to see what was bothering me, but I was too in my head to tell him my suspicions of Stanley.

Before I knew it, we were on the outskirts of the capital of Tarnithia Yaradel. Only then did I start noticing my surroundings and where it was, and it was due to the fact that there was a festival going on.

There were stalls and booths decorated so extravagantly and so colorful that I just had to pay attention. They were selling food, trinkets, jewelry and anything else you could think of.  The stalls further away from the capital walls held more suspicious looking items.

Looking at my new companions, I could see they were excited to start exploring the festival.  Some had even started walking away towards their friends, I could see that they were chatting excitedly with each other after being away for so long.

It was nice to be in a carefree environment. The people here don't have to worry about war and strife. They don't have to worry about their crops or houses being burned. Or worry about their husband's, sons and brothers as being called upon to protect them from enemies.

As envious as I was, I was also happy that Elnora will not have to grow up in that environment. She will be able to grow up happy, unlike our people back home. However, her happiness is not the  only important thing. She must be knowledgeable and strong if she will take our country back.

With that resolution, I balled my fist and with a determined look, I turned to Nancee. She could sense something had changed and she sat up straighter, more attentive.

I told her we will be separating from the caravan right away. First I need to speak to Madam Merlinia to let her know of our departure and to give farewells to some of the people I grew close to. Nancee is to pull to the front of the caravan, which will be easier now that we are in the middle and not the back.

I told Grant to get Nico and make sure we have all our horses and to meet Nancee in the front. Grant understood right away that we were leaving and that this might be the end of my team.

While I was speaking to Madam Merlinia, I felt as if I was saying goodbye to my last family member, aside from Elnora.  She was also speaking as if she ascertained who we were and what we were running from.  However,  when she did it I did not feel threatened about the fact that she might spread the knowledge to others.

She had even given me an amulet to give to Elnora for when she's older. She said the amulet is told to have charms  that grants the wearer great fortune. However that fortune can not be obtained until the wearer becomes a certain age.  That fortune can also come in different shapes it, it's not always in the form of money.

The amulet itself looked like nothing I've ever seen before. It had two vibrant gemstones I have never seen before.

In the middle was a big bright pink gemstone. It was in an oval cut, and it looked like there was a faint purple light in the center. Surrounding the pink gem were smaller purple gems.

Those gems were a deep purple. They were cut in a circle, and the light made them shine a little brighter. The rest of the necklace had an assortment of diamonds, purple sapphires, and pink topaz going up to the gold clasp.

Naturally, I refused the gift adamantly. However, I underestimated her stubbornness. She informed that when the Caravan Leader presents a gift, that is the same as welcoming that person, or persons, as a permanent member. No matter where that person should go or how long theyre gone, they will always be welcome at the Caravan. To refuse, is the same as stating your intentions to bring harm to the people.

Even I know not to make an enemy of any Caravan. They are all interconnected. If you make an enemy of one, they all become your enemy and they will avoid your town or country entirely.

Not wanting to do that, I accepted the gift and I informed her I had nothing to give her in return. I was advised that if I gave her a gift, it would nullify her action. I thank her once more and took my leave.

Then I made my way to the front where my group was. Once I was with them, we parted and made our way to the castle.