Tamed #4
The journey from Jeil's domain all the way to the lands of the Yo clan had taken a very long time.
Even now, the fatigue of that long voyage left his head foggy and dull. Had they not stopped at other territories along the way and instead driven the horses straight through, he would have been thoroughly exhausted.
"Master. We've arrived."
The coachman carefully broke the silence. He was a man who knew the geography of many places, the kingdom included.
At last! As they crossed the gentle mountain range that stretched long, dividing east from west, Jeil's eyes lit up. He had been sitting beside the coachman. Properly speaking, he ought to have remained inside the carriage with elegant composure—but only for a day or two. Spending months shut in there had grown far too stifling. Sitting out in the open like this, to take the wind, was for that very reason.
"So from here on, it's the land of the Yo clan, is that right?"
When Jeil asked, the coachman nodded, keeping his eyes fixed ahead. Looking aside and causing an accident would not do.
"Yes. It would be best if you prepared yourself, Master. As you well know…"
"The Yo clan dislikes humans."
After all, history held that humans had been the first to regard the Yo as repulsive. When Jeil answered as though he already knew everything, the coachman fell quiet as well. He had no desire to grate on Jeil's nerves with needless chatter.
In the silence that settled over Jeil and everyone who followed him, only the sound of hoofbeats and the rumble of carriage wheels carried down the gentle road. Even a gentle slope made climbing a mountain by carriage nearly impossible, yet they were using a path that had already been cleared—a road prepared so that the Yo clan's official merchant company could cross the mountains without trouble.
"What business do humans have coming this far!"
Before they could even finish descending the path, Yo warriors burst out from every side and surrounded them. Every one of them held weapons in their hands. Among them, more than a few were drawing up mana to cast spells.
"M-Master…"
The coachman and the others muttered, stricken with fear. The sheer otherness of the horned Yo, whom they were meeting for the first time, and the open hostility those people made no effort to hide, had cowed them completely.
Fair enough, Jeil thought. Any ordinary person would react just the same. He climbed down from the carriage slowly, his expression calm even with a blade leveled at his throat.
"Allow me to introduce myself first. My name is Jeil."
This was the land of the Yo, not the land of humans. He had long since understood that his authority was worthless here. That was why he simply gave his name, without fuss, just as he was doing now.
"What brings you here?"
The man pressing the tip of his sword to Jeil's throat asked the question. He was an ordinary Yo man, and of a fairly composed temperament.
"I've come hoping to trade for silk."
"…Silk?"
The man eyed him askance, unconvinced. The other Yo surrounding Jeil's carriage and the baggage wagons looked much the same. It was hard to take at face value a story that someone had suddenly come all this way to trade for silk. Still, if by some chance Jeil's words were true, it was not a matter they could judge on their own. Selling silk to humans fell under the authority of the official merchant company, and that company was managed by the princess of the Yo clan.
"Village chief. What should we do? This doesn't seem like something we can decide as we please."
When the man with the sword asked, a sturdy middle-aged man standing right behind him nodded.
"You're right. For now, lock them up and send word to Her Highness. We'll follow her judgment."
"True enough."
The man with the sword agreed, then turned to Jeil.
"As you heard, this is how things stand. If you really did come to trade for silk, you'll have to come along."
"I could ask for nothing better. I'll be in your care."
When Jeil accepted the proposal with such ease, the Yo who had been surrounding the carriage took their cue and stepped back a pace. And so began a confinement that would prove both rather long and rather short.
"Ugh…! I yield."
In the First Training Ground of the Yo clan's palace, one of the men standing on the floor bowed his head with a low sound of resignation. He was one of the officers charged with guarding the palace where the clan's high officials lived.
"Thank you."
In front of that man, another man in a blue robe offered his thanks with formal courtesy. There was no mockery in it—only genuine sincerity. The man had pure white hair and none of the horns peculiar to the Yo. An ordinary human: Edgar.
Once the officer had withdrawn, a woman with soft pink hair who had been watching from a distance approached Edgar's side. Her eyes were extremely gentle, and a soft curve played at her lips.
"You're getting better and better. Well done."
"It's all thanks to you, Princess."
Edgar smiled softly as he looked at the woman before him—Freesia. Perhaps it was because they had spent nearly every hour of every day together these past few months. Anyone looking on would have taken them for a thoroughly intimate couple.
"Go wash up. We'll have lunch together."
"Yes. Of course."
The two of them left the training ground and walked through the palace grounds, talking of ordinary things—what lunch might be today, what they might do for dinner. Edgar found these hours simply comfortable; Freesia held them precious. Watching the man who had borne fruit under her devoted guidance filled her with a quiet pride as well—pride that came from seeing him grow in stature, both as a sorcerer and as a man.
"Princess!"
Just as Freesia was looking with a touch of regret at Edgar's pavilion drawing nearer, a Yo maid hurried toward them from a few paces away. She knew full well that Freesia hated being interrupted when she was with Edgar these days—and still she came.
Still, it can't be helped.
Even meeting Freesia's frosty gaze, the maid did not slow her steps. The news she had to deliver was that important.
"What is it?"
Freesia asked, looking at the maid who bowed her head right in front of her. She was perfectly aware of her own feelings, and that only made the chill twice as sharp.
"I'm sorry. But there is news I absolutely had to bring Your Highness, so I took the liberty."
"For me?"
When the maid spoke in a thoroughly serious voice, Freesia let the cold look ease. She realized afresh that the girl had come even knowing exactly how she would react. That meant something urgent—or important—enough to risk spoiling her mood.
"What is it?"
"The details are written here, in this letter."
The maid drew a letter from her robes and offered it respectfully. Freesia took the plainly folded paper and opened it. Beside her, Edgar leaned in curiously, wondering what it was about.
"I suppose the time was about right."
Having finished the letter, Freesia muttered with a short laugh. The news that a human had come all the way to Yo lands in person to buy silk stirred her curiosity. Edgar played along, saying he hadn't expected anyone to be quite this proactive either.
"It was only a fancy of mine, but it really turned out this way."
"A fancy, nothing. Anyway, we'll eat and leave right away. If it's the southern lands, it'll take four or five days."
"Yes. I'll get ready too."
"Good. See you in a bit."
They each turned toward where they needed to go, to prepare in haste for departure. First, Freesia made her way not to her own rooms but to the Great Chief's office—to show her the letter she had received, and to state her intention to leave at once.
"All right. Travel safely. Don't get hurt. And that includes the boy."
Iris fretted over her daughter as she always did, but she did not stop there. She also mentioned the well-being of Edgar, whom Freesia held especially dear. Edgar's safety was, after all, bound very closely to Freesia's mood.
"As if anything would happen. Anyway, I'll be careful."
Perhaps because of that, Freesia's expression brightened as she answered—as if her mother were giving her blessing to a deeper bond with Edgar.
Once they had each finished what they needed to do, they set out in a carriage prepared by the palace. Four or five days. Just as Freesia had expected—roughly four days and a few hours—the carriage finally rolled into the village that had sent the letter. It was a village that could, in its way, be called a borderland.
"Princess!"
As Freesia stepped down from the carriage drawn up before the village, a sturdy middle-aged man came running. He was the village chief, and he had already known her carriage was on its way.
"It's good to see you. You've been well?"
Even in her haste, Freesia greeted him with an easy smile. In the chief's eyes, one could see a thoroughly overwhelmed emotion.
"A fellow like me is fine so long as the body holds out."
The chief kept bowing and scraping, then dipped his head to Edgar as well. Human or not, he regarded him as higher in status—and worthy of respect. The way Edgar freely offered a hand to the Yo people; the rumors that the princess doted on him especially; and his rank besides. There were any number of reasons to show courtesy.
"Yes. I'm truly glad you look healthy."
"It may be thanks to that deodeok wine the Appraiser taught us about."
When the chief joked and laughed heartily, Edgar's mouth curved up in turn. This village was ringed with mountains, so deodeok was easy to find—and they were even cultivating it. That made it an excellent place for brewing deodeok wine, and why they could make it so readily. The liquor used as a base still had to be obtained separately, but the villagers took care of that themselves.
"Ah. This is no time for that. We've isolated those humans in an empty house on their own… What will you do?"
Would they rest if they were tired, or go straight there? When the chief asked, Freesia answered with a decisiveness that needed no thought at all.
"We go at once. Lead the way."
"Yes. This way."
The chief hurried ahead, and Freesia and Edgar followed. They returned the greetings of villagers who came out of their houses to welcome them, but never slowed their steps. Before long, they stood before the house where the chief had confined the humans.
"They're inside."
At the chief's words, Freesia gave a small nod.
"Thank you. From here, we'll handle it ourselves—so go on about your work."
"Yes. If you need anything, put anyone you like to work as you please."
Once the chief had said his piece and withdrawn, Freesia's hand went to the door handle. The closed door opened, and the humans sitting in a neat row came into view. All of them had their backs to the wall, staring at Freesia as she stepped through the door.
Watching that scene, Jeil's eyes flashed.