Rolling up the last duffel bag into the back of the carriage and patting the case shut. Horo quickly hid the pistol into the front of his hakama, pillowing the front of his sweater over top to keep the weapon concealed. Father is gonna kill me… Horo thought as he finished tying the tarp. Walking around the truck, Dushyanta and Akli looked over the tires and engine.

  “Looks good,” Akli said.

  “Horo, is this really alright? I can’t imagine your father would donate so much,” Dushyanta asked.

  “Don’t worry about it. Just think of me as a chaperone, keeping ya in check.”

  “Like we need your sorry ass to watch us!” Akli shouted from the other end.

  “Though I don’t know how much my patience will hold with that fucker around,” Horo snarled.

  “Don’t take him too seriously,” Dushyanta reassured.

  Haza rested her coat onto the passenger seat before entering and buckling in. Behind her sat Valory, waiting for the others to hurry up. Dushyanta slid in beside her with Akli following, at the helm sat Horo who plugged in the key. The clunky rumble chugged along for the first few minutes. Out on the road they went. In a timely fashion, everyone beside Horo and Dushyanta fell asleep.

  “How do you take it, Horo?” Dushyanta asked as he flipped the next page of his book.

  “I have too many questions. All which I’ll probably never get clear enough answers on. So far, I don’t care enough to demand them. Keeping everyone safe is the main goal, nothing else.”

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  “Always the responsible one…thank you, Horo. You didn’t need to, but you have. So, I thank you from the bottom of my heart.”

  “Dushyanta, you’re a mushy one…” Horo rapidly blinked as he took his chin to the horizon.

  Hours passed and night was slowly setting in. Horo parked by a rocky passage close to the commonly vacant road. Pulling up the tarp he quickly noticed a small rustle, without anyone’s notice he slowly reached towards the bottom of his stomach. Pulling up his sweater, he let the darkness conceal what he held in hand. A peak of blonde poked from a bag, red wool that seemed all too familiar entered Horo’s sight. He stuffed the gun, pushing away the luggage; beneath it all was Ben Krow curled up tight.

  “Ben!” Horo exclaimed.

  “Huh?” Valory voiced.

  “No way that twat is here?” Akli commented where he and Dushyanta were setting up the tents.

  “Why are you here Ben?” Horo asked.

  “What do you mean why? I saw every one of ya scramblin’ like rats by the edge of the city…next thing I know, you guys are ditching us!” Ben shouted back.

  “My…” Horo sighed into his palm.

  Hammering in a nail, Dushyanta asked, “Haza, did you not see him sneaking in?”

  “I did, but I know he’ll be a key piece,” Haza replied as she watched them haul.

  “Hah…” Akli gave a wry smile. I saw nothing…this should prove it. Our arrows are different. “How ‘bout you help ‘em unpack, ey Princess.”

  “…” Haza stared, her golden eyes keeping their glaze on Akli for a small moment. “Sure,” she said, skipping over to the commotion.

  “No need to be snarky, Akli,” Dushyanta said.

  “I wasn’t.”