26 The Queens Journey, pt. 6 (1/2)

Jin rubbed along his pants, just a day after one of the weirdest, but greatest experiences he'd ever had.

Theresa was flashing him a knowing smile the whole time, while Decena kept one eyebrow firmly up during this silent exchange.

Though, with just a day left till they reached Nova, the atmosphere in the cart had turned strange.

Anxious, but desperate.

Ker'Tallen wouldn't stop tapping a finger against his thigh. Mariana had her head leaned almost falling out the vehicle entirely, as if she was waiting for the first sign of civilization to appear.

Even Theresa looked somewhat relieved.

This long journey was finally coming to an end.

”What will you do when you arrive?” Ker'Tallen asked Decena, who sat next to him in front of Jin.

”… There are some people I want to see. But I don't know that they feel the same.” Decena sighed.

”Well, in the event that they don't, I'll be there with a cup full of black whiskey to help you out.” Theresa added from Decena's left.

”Where will we go?” A shy voice spoke up beside Jin, one he wasn't used to hearing.

”Hm? It's hard to say.” Theresa replied, rubbing her chin. ”If what the queen has in mind is what I predict, then I imagine Jin's living arrangements will be settled quickly. So will Ker'Tallen's, but yours and Decena's… I cannot say.”

The cinnamon-skinned girl hunched over slightly, when she heard those words.

”But,” Theresa continued, ”I wouldn't mind letting you stay with me for a time.”

Mariana propped her head up with the widest smile Jin had seen on her face.

”Es verdad?” She asked, in her native tongue.

”Si, no te miento.” Theresa replied, albeit with a forced accent. Mariana looked like she was close to crying. ”What about you though, Decena?”

”If all goes well… I don't think I'll need a place to stay.” Decena left it at that.

Outside, the climate grew warmer by the second.

We're almost there. Jin thought. He held back the urge to laugh. I can't believe it. We survived. The Griffins, those, what was it? Necromancers. The monster Decena fought. We actually made it out.

Tightening his arm, he felt how his body had changed over time. He'd gotten stronger.

Not just physically, but the last time he trained, Ker'Tallen had noted that it was harder to keep up with him.

He was improving.

If Elizabeth were here, she'd be breaking my ribs with a hug right now. He laughed internally.

”Once we go through this mountain pass, it's a straight shot to Nova.” Theresa said.

Jin looked outside and saw how the road elevated into a cliff-like mountain side. In fact, it looked pretty dangerous. For a split second, he wondered whether the two carts were even small enough to fit.

But the view in front of the cliff took all his attention away from the precarious road.

There were structures in the distance, much larger than any he'd seen, grey and regal in a manner he couldn't have dreamed of with small bundles of mist-like clouds hugging its edges.

”Wow…” He couldn't stop himself. Mariana, noting his surprise, looked out as well. Her eyes went wide with a clear glimmer of amazement.

”Ah, yes.” Theresa said, as Ker'Tallen went to share the same sight. ”That, my friends, is Nova. The capital of Nova Kingdom. The end of our journey.” She brushed her silky blonde hair off her shoulders and smiled at her allies.

Just as Jin was beginning to relax into his seat, almost wanting to close his eyes as to allow the remainder of their trip to float by, something hit the cart.

The cart only shook slightly, not terribly affected by the sudden projectile, but it was enough to silence everyone inside.

Another impact, but this time, an arrowhead found itself inches away from Jin's head.

With everyone's eyes fixed on the intruding object, Theresa quickly got off her bench and hung by her right hand, leaning outside, only to pull back instantly as an arrow flew by her head.

”You're kidding.” Decena muttered, as she went to do the same. ”Griffins!” She called out.

It was like being woken up from a pleasant dream. Jin's hands shook as they had so many times over the past several weeks, and he went to lean outside as well, but Decena held them back.

”What are we going to do?” Jin asked.

”How many of them are there?” Ker'Tallen asked.

”Que está pasando?” Mariana whispered.

Not answering any of their questions, Theresa grabbed the cart's side, and hung out once more.

”I'm going to go warn the queen!” Jin tilted his head in confusion.

Looking outside, Jin noticed how the road grew thinner, and thinner, until eventually, the carts wheels were just a few feet away from falling off the edge and onto a forest beneath the road.

How are you going to do that? We're moving! He wanted to ask, but Theresa didn't give him the chance.

She lifted herself into a twirl, landing above the cart with a thud.

Disregarding his own safety, Jin walked out and leaned to see her.

She was crouched above the carriage, her eyes set on the queen's cart ahead, connected to their own cart by a few combinations of rope and metal.

Arrows were flying in their direction, but with the caravan beginning to curve as it drove along the mountainside, they started to miss.

Taking that opportunity, Theresa started to walk on top the carriage, in the queen's direction.

Every step she took made Jin clench his jaw.

Eventually, she ended up at the edge of their cart, and just a few feet away from the queen's.

She jumped.

Jin wanted to yell out, to tell her to stop, but she was in midair.

And, with a calm fluidity, she landed on the queen's side.

Relief swept Jin like a cold wind as he saw her knock on the queen's cart.

Decena pulled him back in before he saw her enter though.

”We have to do something.”

”W-What!? How?” Jin asked.

”Your bow, where is it?” Decena asked.