Lining Up

As the carriage moved through the Song Manor, the sights were many and varied. The only constant was the mob of Song people that was lining up along the road.

The manor was structured in an inner and outer ring. The upper echelon of the Song Family lived in the inner ring with their descendants and servants, while the majority of the family resided in the outer ring.

The Third Manager's residence was located near the very center of the inner ring. This meant that for the first stretch, the carriage was passing through the most luxurious part of the manor. 

Looking outside the window, past the lines of people, Mo Seris could see residences with exquisite courtyards, and intricate, well-maintained gardens. In the distance, it appeared that there were many people moving around, but most of the bustle only looked impressive at a glance.

The huge training yards were mostly empty. Whether it was due to the number of people who lived in the inner ring, or because those who would usually practice were lining up by the road, it was difficult to tell.

Mo Seris was inclined to believe that the wealthy second-generation Song scions did not train diligently.

The Song workers were congregated in a disorganized crowd. It was only when the carriage came close that they formed a line on either side of the road, giving the impression that the carriage was parting a sea of people.

Much of the crowd was actually milling around impatiently while they waited for their turn to line up.

"How much longer until we get into place?"

"You see what's happening ahead. We have to wait until everyone before us forms the line, how else could it make sense."

"How long will we be forced to stand afterward?"

"At least until the carriage is out of sight!"

"But why is it still taking so long? I feel we are slowing the carriage down."

"Why ask all these questions? Are you really so anxious to go back to tending the garden, or are you afraid you haven't been punished enough?"

The overseer happened to walk by and hear some of the words being exchanged. She paused, unsure if there was any seriousness to the banter. However, she remembered the exact wording of the command that had been sent down, and her eyes hardened.

"Stop talking!"

The two workers were startled. They immediately bowed their heads down.

"Yes, overseer!"

Seeing how meek the workers were, the overseer's eyes softened again. It was only right to give an explanation. 

"We need to wait until the carriage is in clear view. Those ahead will slide into place first, and all you have to do is follow when appropriate. The direct orders were to wait to line up until we can see the honorable representative through the window - or the eyes of the coachmen, if the carriage is directly ahead."

She paused. "The orders are coming straight from the top, and you're being paid as normal, so I don't want to hear any grumbling."

"Just who is in the carriage?" one of the workers could not help but ask.

She gave him a look.

"I don't know, nor do I want to know. All I asked was where we needed to stand, at what time, and at what angle. It's a lesson you should also learn."

A few minutes later, the carriage had come much closer. The road was not straight, giving them a broadside angle on the side window above the massive Mo insignia, the two-headed wolf. 

"Look at those horses drawing the carriages!"

"It is like a horse ate another horse."

"Demonbeasts. And meaner than the Song Demonbeasts. Look at the groomed coat, look at the muscles on its neck. It's clear that they are at least a cut above ours."

"They are at least twice the size of normal horses."

"So that is a Demonbeast in the flesh!"

The three men at the box came into clear view. Shortly after, a face was faintly detectable at the window. 

The 'parting of the sea' reached their little section of the crowd. Ahead of them, the lines were just finishing their arrangement. The Song workers who were talking immediately quieted, as they rushed to join the lines, remembering the instructions that had been given.