68 Back Again (2/2)
”Of course, Az,” said Jeanne. ”You need not even ask me for permission. Your health matters more to me than any little old medal.”
”Are you sure you don't want us to carry you to the temple?” Sylvie stayed by Li's side, but she cast a concerned look to Azhar.
”Don't need em'.” Azhar shrugged. ”Ain't got any physical wounds or nothin'. Just needa' rest my mind a bit.”
Old Thane went to Azhar's side and patted his shoulder. ”Take whatever you wish from the house. Any food or water. I cannot thank you enough for bringing Li back to me.”
”Don't mention it,” said Azhar, almost in a whisper as he looked away from Old Thane, unable to meet the aged farmer's eyes. He shook his head roughly just once before looking to everyone else with an impatient stare. ”You all got somewhere to be. Common folk are probably gettin' real upset that their local Rivieran hero ain't showin' up to her own ceremony, so get movin' already.”
Li stood up to get everyone moving. He did not want them to worry about him any longer or more than they should. He could appreciate their concern for him, but all of it was misplaced and better used elsewhere.
”He's got a point,” said Li. He looked at the sun through the cottage window. From living here for almost two months now and spending so many hours outside, he could tell by the intensity of light what time of day it was. He would get up at around five or six, and right now it was nine or ten. He had been noticeably out for only a few hours, thankfully.
He had spent almost half a day at Valhul battling Chi-You and waiting for Zahaka to set her rituals up. It seemed that time passed similarly here, as if he counted the time he took to 'sleep', then it roughly added up to the amount of time he passed in the other realm.
”I wouldn't want me to be the reason any of you miss anything, so get ready and let's go.”
Outside, Li shook his head once in minor surprise before he remembered.
Today was also the day that Alexei had arranged to put his transport company in action and get the farm's harvest to the city.
There was a procession of three huge horse-drawn storage units, and they looked in many ways incredibly similar to the armored cars of the modern world. They were rectangular, armor-plated storage boxes standing atop sturdy metal and rubber wheels. The boxes were chained to a sturdy and armored carriage pulled by a duo of what Li recognized as Arions, magical horses almost at level 30 and capable of travelling across water just as well as land.
The pale blue horses neighed, fins flapping where their manes should have been. The carriage was roofed, but the driver's seat opened up to allow reigns to tie to the arions.
”When did this get here?” said Li.
”Two hours ago,” said Old Thane. ”Gods, lad, I did not know you had hired the best company in all Soleil to move our humble wheat.”
”Woah,” said Jeanne, open-mouthed as she craned her neck closer to get a better look. ”That's Elven armor, the finest there is, and the Arion are only bred in Duvine, many leagues south of here. I have only ever seen the richest of nobles use Black Securities, but never would I have dreamt that they would come for this farm.”
”Well, I do have to say I'm good at networking,” said Li with a casual shrug.
One of the carriages opened up and the driver emerged, clad in shining black formalwear. He came up to Li, and Li could recognize him. He was one of Alexei's vampire knights, except he had obviously taken time to shift his presence to fit in, altering his pale skin to a more normal shade and changing his crimson red eyes to a nondescript brown.
”Master Li,” said the knight with a bow. ”We have already loaded your cargo and are ready for transportation. The Count will handle distribution with your preferences in mind.” He straightened up, standing just a little shorter than Li, and steadied the bow of his black tuxedo. ”Now then, I hear that you are all in quite the rush?”
”I talked to him,” explained Sylvie. ”In the case that Azhar's spiritual healing worked, I thought that we would need their aid.”
”My, Sylv, thinking ahead as always!” said Jeanne as she hugged Sylvie's arm.
Li could tell that though the hero would never admit it, she was still proud of herself and cared much for this award ceremony.
”That would help,” said Li to the knight. ”I remember hearing that Arions can run as fast as a raging river. We'll need that kind of speed.”
”I can guarantee that,” said the knight proudly. He motioned to his carriage which stood at the very front of the procession. ”Come, I shall show why Black Securities knows no match under the sun or moon. Oh, and my name is Valery, should you wish to address me as such. The Count has assigned me to your weekly transport, so it may be more comfortable for you to pin a name to my face.”