The Head Lord and the Rat Thief {Kamisato Ayato FanFiction}

Chapter 24 ~ The Shuumatsuban Guards and the Ramad aleizam

Chapter 24 ~ The Shuumatsuban Guards and the Ramad aleizam

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       When they approached the Konda village, Ayato gave an order to bypass it. Caiome didn't ask questions because she wasn't particularly curious, but she could see Mizuki's house from a distance. Uta and her mother were in the backyard, gathering weeds that grew among the vegetables, while the girl's father stood in the wooden prism of the house, holding something handmade in his arms, but Caiome couldn't see what it was.

       They all seemed to be smiling, and Mizuki's father seemed to be no longer in pain, but sadness could be read on his face. She lingered her gaze on them, then turned back to their path. Her horse had been doing well so far. It had not hesitated to start the journey or to descend the mountain or to pass through the forest, so she didn't understand why Toshirou and the other guards had called it crazy. She stroked its strong neck and mane, letting herself get lost in thoughts.

        She hadn't been able to talk to Mizuki even once since the discussion between him and Ayato where she had hidden behind a screen to avoid being seen and to hear everything, from words to tone of voice and hesitations in Mizuki's answears. She had opportunities to approach him, but she tried to occupy her mind with something else, and maybe leaving the estate with Ayato was a better option as for now.

       "Usually, I tend to avoid villages leading to the city," Ayato suddenly spoke.

       "Hm?" Caiome raised her gaze to him, looking as if she hadn't heard him. "What?" she asked again.

       "I said that villagers get very agitated when it comes to a company passing through their village, so I prefer to bypass," he repeated.

        Caiome gently spurred her horse, reaching Ayato's side, as if she could hide from him that way.

        "I see," was all she said, passing by him.

       When they got near the city, Ayato gave the same order to bypass it and enter on horseback a shorter route that wasn't accessible to as many civilians, so the guards promptly nodded in agreement with a "yes, my lord", being led by Lord Kamisato himself. They climbed a side hill and, entering a somewhat lonely but very elegantly paved stone path, Caiome soon found herself in front of immense walls rising above them, and behind them was the mansion. Slowly but surely, they reached the gates of the front courtyard, a gate on which Caiome recognized a symbol belonging to a clan that was part of the Kanjou Commission and one of the sub-clans that answered to the Hiiragi family, the clan that led the Commission.

       Well, Caiome expected this whole visit to be about business. In fact, she didn't think there would be another motive involved, but she didn't expect it to be about the Kanjou Commission either.

       One of the residence guards greeted them just before they reached the gates entirely, nodding his head, holding his spear close. He had harsh features and an oddly fixed expression.

       "Welcome, my lord," he said, as Ayato dismounted from Hakumai, followed by his guards. Caiome followed them and dismounted, while other employees approached and took hold of the horses' harnesses to lead them to the stables during the visit. "Lord and Lady Kashiro await for you in the backyard garden."

       "Of course," Ayato said with a very approachable smile. "My guards will stay nearby, while Miss Caiome here will accompany me during the meeting," he added, gesturing towards Caiome, and the guard nodded again just as a rather young employee suddenly grabbed the reins of her horse.

       The stallion took a few steps back, pulling its head up and neighing, at which point Caiome pulled back on them, and everyone quickly turned their gaze towards them.