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Chapter 4: Follow the Yellow Dirt Road

The servants load my many cases of luggage onto the backing the carriage as General Taire prepares his mount. Delsair lingers away from me sometimes, either conversing with an associate or whispering to someone in an officer's uniform. Most of the time, I just ignore it. It's his business.

"Is everything ready?" I ask the general.

"Not yet. We're waiting on someone," Taire replies as he mounts his horse with grace.

"Who?"

He nods his head towards the distance behind me. "Look for yourself."

Coming up the road is a small woman carrying two suitcases at her sides, all the while mumbling something to herself as she marched towards us. She gratefully hands her bags to the servants and walks over to us.

"Princess Penelope, General Taire, I am sorry to have kept you waiting," Josephine says politely.

"You came back," I murmur in disbelief.

"Yes, I am here, and yes, I am going to be going with you," she tells me.

"After all that I said-"

"Look, you may be the most intolerable and unlikable person I have ever met, but you are my intolerable, unlikable person," Josephine interrupts me. "Get in the carriage."

I can't help but smile despite the offensive comment. "Yes, ma'am."

"It is good to see you back, Miss Josephine," General Taire says kindly.

"Let us just hope this wasn't a mistake, shall we?" she says with a sigh.

"Are you sure you want to go though?" the general slowly asks.

"Why wouldn't I?"

"Um-"

"This is strictly business, general. Personal relations can be put behind us," Rafael says as he trots up to us with his horse.

"Ah, right. I forgot you've been hired to protect the princess. Damn," Josephine spits bitterly. "Even more of an incentive to get this over with, I suppose."

"Indeed it is," Rafael sticky agrees.

General Taire gives an awkward cough before saying, "So, are we ready to move out?"

"As ready as we will ever be," Josephine replies.

"Good. We will be headed to Montefort, which, as you all should know, is a good day's ride. Rafael and I will be escorting you so ensure nothing... unfortunate... happens." He seems to cringe slightly at his own words. "Our main objective is to reach the outskirts of Klestia."

"Then shouldn't the prince come with us?" I point out.

"He isn't leaving here quite yet, milady," the general says. "Frankly, I don't trust him one bit around the king, but I am not a good judge of character."

"Watch your tongue!" I snap.

Taire purses his lips. "Yes, princess. Forgive me for speaking too freely."

"Hey, he's right," Rafael says nonchalantly.

"Rafael," Josephine warns.

"Who do you think you are?" I yell at him.

"A mercenary," he replies almost sarcastically. 

"And I am a princess. You don't talk back to your princess," I snap.

"You're no princess," he retorts. "All I see is a future tyrant. Now then, let's get you from point A to point B, shall we?"

All I can do is stare after the mercenary in utter shock as he trots away. Taire glares after him, but says nothing. Josephine grabs my upper arm and leads me into the carriage, holding my hand to help steady me as I step up. I can't believe a lowlife like him just humiliated me in front of my subordinates!