Altina the Sword Princess: Volume 7 by Yukiya Murasaki

Author:Yukiya Murasaki [MURASAKI, YUKIYA]
Language: eng
Format: epub, pdf
Publisher: J-Novel Club
Published: 2021-02-27T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 3: Gilbert, the Mercenary King

The horses’ hooves gave rise to a rustling noise as they trampled the undergrowth, the carriage’s wheels clattering along with them. Enzo the blacksmith was seated cross-legged inside, a casket-like wooden crate resting before him. Inside was the most important item he would ever deliver—Princess Argentina’s esteemed sword, the Grand Tonnerre Quatre.

Beside him was his apprentice Lionel, who, despite the rocking and shaking of the moving carriage, was busy at work adding detail to a hinge. After securing it in place, he held the tip of a scratch awl against the flat surface before gently tapping it with a metal hammer. This process left a small mark on the hinge, and it took many, many more strikes before a design started to surface.

The old man who had joined them on their journey was fast asleep, perhaps worn thin by a long voyage.

Enzo moved aside the curtain separating him from the cabman’s perch to see their surroundings. He was met with white. Pure white. A heavy fog had set in.

It was about time for the sun to climb across the eastern sky, and yet their vision was no better than it would have been during the night. He struggled to make out the horses pulling the carriage, let alone the military horseman who was leading the way.

With that thought, their guide looked back in their direction. Enzo imagined that he was most likely regarding them with a modest smile, but despite how close the man was, his expression was hidden beneath the veil of white.

“This fog sure is thick, don’t you think?” the horseman asked.

Enzo replied with a nod. “You took the words right outta my mouth.”

“I can’t tell east from west anymore,” the cabman added, shrugging his shoulders.

“Hah. Don’t you worry—we haven’t left the highway,” the horseman said confidently. “And say what you want about me, but my sense of direction is the one thing that never lets me down.”

They had met with the horseman serving as their guide at the point indicated in Regis’s letter, and he would apparently deliver them to the army’s main camp. If unforeseen circumstances resulted in said camp being moved, then there was supposed to be a second guide waiting for them at its original spot.

“Still...” the horseman muttered. “Did it rain yesterday? I can’t quite recall. Sure, the weak wind makes it easy for fog to settle here, but something like this is pretty rare this time of year, what with all the dry spells.”

Having been listening to the conversation from inside the carriage, Lionel leaned out, somewhat interested. “Some areas are more prone to fog?”

“Of course. These are the highlands, but we’re surrounded by mountains, and there’s hardly any wind. Then there’s the ground—soft with bad drainage. Whenever it rains— Well, even a little rain wouldn’t produce something like this.”

“Do you think it rained during the night, then?”

“Can’t say for sure. There are a few too many spots that aren’t wet, though...”

The sounds heard as the horses

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