[797] – Y03.097 – Journey to Hope I

[797] – Y03.097 – Journey to Hope I

“Wow, this bow is so nice,” one of the children said, reaching out to touch the bow.

“Gently,” Julia said, watching over the boy.

“It’s made of deadwood,” Brittany said.

The boy gasped, pulling his hand away from it, before staring at his hand, his eyes wide. “Oh no!”

“Don’t worry, it won’t hurt you.” Brittany’s lips formed a wide smile.

“The mister said we weren’t going to get hurt no more,” another child said.

“Is that true?” another child added.

“Am always gettin’ ‘urt, but’s always me own fault, tha’s what Julia always says.”

“We will try to make sure you don’t get hurt,” Brittany replied. “Sometimes we get hurt and it’s a part of life.”

“Yeah but you get hurt because you’re a hero, I’m not a hero.”

“I’m not a hero, I’m a farmer.”

“What?” The child blinked towards the young woman.

“I was born in a small village near Red Oak. We always fought with the undead that rise up, but it was always with stones and sticks.”

“You don’t use sticks and stones, you’ve got a bow!”

“I’ve always been decent with a bow, but now I’m much better,” Brittany said. “I’m an Expert now, but I’ve only been an Expert for a little bit.”

“I’m going to be strong when I grow up,” a child said. “I’m going to be an Expert.”

“I’m going to be a Master!”

“You can’t be a Master, that’s for big people!”

“I’m small now, but I’m going to be big tomorrow!”

“Nu uh!”

“Yes I am.”

“You don’t get big tomorrow, you get big in the future.”

“Tomorrow’s in the future, it is, that’s what Gilbert’s always saying.” The boy looked towards Gilbert, one of the elder siblings, with a look for support.

“Copper’s right, tomorrow is in the future.”

“Then what about yesterday? That’s not in the future.”

“You’re right. Yesterday is in the past.”

“Is soup in the past too?”

“What?”

“You always say to pass the soup.”

“No, that’s another word.”Alll latest novels at novelhall.com

“Why’ve they got two words that mean the same thing?”

“That’s how the academics did it.”

“I fort they was meant to be smart?”

“Sometimes academics are smart, sometimes they aren’t.”

“I’m not gunna to be an academic, I’m gunna to be a sweeper,” Copper said, letting out a huff of annoyance. “I’m gunna be the best sweeper ever. I’m gunna use two brooms.”

“I’m going to be a smart academic,” a boy said.

“I’m going to be a dumb academic so I don’t need to study but I’ll still make lots of money.”

The boy looked towards the girl, realising she was a genius, and too smart to be a dumb academic.

Brittany remained silent, listening to the children’s conversations. Nobby was also listening to the children, who were speaking about this and that.

The children in the other wagon were quite talkative too, each asking about how Charley’s hair was so orange, even though it looked black near the roots. Eventually they started to talk about mud and trolls and hydras and vegetables.

‘If you’re going to make a mess, do it now,’ Adam thought, doing his best not to glance behind himself. He left the task to Nirot, who rode Sky, and Faool, who rode Kit’a. ‘I’ve got a crit in my back pocket so I can take out whichever prick decides to lead your party.’

Unfortunately, they forest around them blocked much of their sight, and though the road was mostly straight, it weaved around the terrain, conforming to the forest’s will.

The caravan stopped at a child’s insistence, who needed to use the bathroom.

“It’s about time we set up for lunch anyhow,” Adam said, recalling the nearby area which had the tiny outposts one could use to make camp. There was another, greater camp, further ahead, about another half journey beyond.

“Are you from an order?”

“I was.”

“How come you’re not no more?”

“I...” Jonn paused for a moment awkwardly. “I left it.”

“Why?”

“They did not want me.”

“Why not?”

“I am a half elf.”

“Is that why you’re so pretty?”

“Yes.”

“Oh,” the girl replied, slowly nodding her head, as though it all made sense. “What can a magic horse do?”

“I can speak to it with my mind.”

“What’s it saying.”

“It is saying nothing right now.”

“Mister horse, are you okay?” the girl stared at the horse. “What’s it say?”

“It did not reply.”

“Oh...” She frowned.

‘How are you?’

‘Fine.’

“It said it’s fine.”

“Is it a boy or girl horse?”

“It’s a magical horse.”

“So it’s not a boy or a girl, it’s magic?”

“Yes.”

“Oh...” The girl nodded slowly, as though that made sense to her. “What’s its name?”

“It does not have a name.”

“Why not?”

“It is a magical steed, it does not need a name.”

The girl squinted towards Jonn. “Even vegetables have names, mister.”

“...” Jonn was stunned by the logic of the child, who was right. “Would you like to name the horse?”

The girl’s eyes widened with shock, her tiny mouth forming a circle. “Can I?”

“Yes.”

“Hmm.” The girl stared at the horse. “Mister Snake.”

“Okay.”

“No, it can’t be a mister, it’s not a boy,” the girl said, thinking deeply again. “Captain Snake.”

“Okay.”

“Captain Snake, do you want some food?” the girl asked.

‘Would you like some food?’

‘Okay.’

“Captain Snake said it would.”

The girl tore off some bread for the horse before stepping closer towards it, holding out her hand fearlessly. The horse gently bit into the flat bread before taking it out of her hand.

“You eat so good, Captain Snake, good boy, good-, um, good magic.” She brushed the horse’s side.

‘We’re moving too slow,’ Adam thought. ‘It’s not like the horses are struggling with the wagons, but we should move a little quicker. Should I have the wolves assist? They probably will have some difficulty too. Damn it, I wish I had...’ Adam’s eyes fell to Vasera’s groups horses, no doubt each magical steeds. ‘I should pay her more.’

Wow. Vasera is there too? What a coincidence.