22. Questions
She helped him up, placed his left hand around her neck, supporting him as they gradually returned back to the coach. He was muttering nonsense, his brain still fogged up. "Whats wrong with him" the mother asked when Emma reached the carriage site. She gasped loudly at the sight of his blood stained shirt, and made space on the floor for him "you should lay him down here" she said pointing at the place she had cleared up. "Thank you" Emma told the woman laying him down there. They all waited eagerly for the sky to brighten up and all of them fell asleep in the process except Emma.
Yue stirred up as dawn knocked, and heard birds singing out their morning chorus. He smiled foolishly as he hung between sleep and reality. He saw a shadow clothed in black point at him, and found himself on a podium, surrounded by a large crowd of people as a crown was placed on his head. He saw the side profile of the lady beside him, and knew it wasn't Emma or anyone he knew. He sat up quickly wondering what it had all been about, when Emma walked up to him "you're finally up" she said stretching out her hand to him. He took it and stood to his feet, and went on a walk with her into the bushes as everyone was fast asleep. They got to the spot where she had found him last night, and she pointed at the floor where the blood traces had dried up. "What happened last night, did you stab anyone?" He shook his head in the negative, "I don't remember anything". he held un to his head, feeling a headache coming on as be tried to remember what had occurred. She tapped him on the shoulder in understanding "its okay, let's get back to the carriage"
They found everyone awake and preparing for departure when they got back and handed the stolen property of the others back to them " I was ready to go looking for you both, you know, I thought something bad had happened" the snoring man said excitedly as he counted his money. "Thank you" the mother said nodding her head before she entered the carriage, the snoring man nodded his head also in appreciation and got into the carriage. Emma looked at the quiet girl wondering if she would speak again when she nodded her head in thanks and got in. They looked at each other and shook their heads simultaneously before they entered.
The carriages wheel broke down in the middle of the road, at an intersection. They all came down the carriage to find alternative rides when the driver announced that it would take half a day to fix it, and that he needed his half payment for it. Yue looked about, watching carts, old carriages, and fancy carriages pass by with various types of goods, and people of different degrees.
They got a cart that was headed to a major junction where they could board another carriage and got into the back. Emma squeezed her nose at the smell of manure and kept her head above the back covering so she could receive fresh air. She saw Yue looking at many things with awe disregarding the stench "why do you look at everything like that?" She asked watching his expression, he looked her in the eye a gentle smile on his face. "They all seem new to me" she nodded in understanding and watched as he bit his lips in contemplation "ask" she said. "Who are you really, and where are you from?" She smiled looking at him with surprise " I was wondering if you were never going to ask" she gulped softly and began "I am a silver moon witch, and I am from this realm" his adam's apple bobbed up and down " why were you with us, and how did we end up there" "the gods are bored, its what they say. They pick the ones considered as the bravest and strip them of everything, for them to build it up again and face the final trial" they sat in silence for some time until Emma spoke up. "I'll leave you at the capital" she said handing him a bag of coins "you'll be safe there, and you can start a new life with no one to trouble you as long as you lay low" he knew not to ask, knew it was the same reason why she skipped one of his questions. He nodded his head and sat in silence waiting for them to reach the junction.