Along the Open Road

“Glad she thinks I smell good. Guess I can check that insecurity off the list.”

It was looking to be a pleasant day weather wise; the sun was rising into a crystal blue sky and there were only a few wispy clouds that streaked along with the wind. Lucius guided them forward along the manicured highway at a steady pace, though the horse was doing most of the work. Which was a good thing, because Lucius certainly wasn’t focused on the road much at all. There were simply too many stimuli assaulting his brain at once.

Hana brought him back to reality with a well-timed question, “So, where are we going? For someone who proclaimed to be aimless, you seem to have a good sense of direction.”

He cleared his throat, “Ah, yes. Well, I thought we would head to Atin. It’s a big city on the coast, and it isn’t too far away at this point. I figured a place like that is probably the best when trying to figure out what to do.”

She cocked her head, implying curiosity, “A city? What is that?”

An exasperated sigh escaped him, “You don’t know what a city is? Where are you from that doesn’t… ah, forget about it. A city is basically a really big place filled with lots of different people. Its full of buildings; shops, homes, temples, government, you name it. You’ll get to experience everything that the Empire has to offer, and then some.”

“Empire?”

“…Yeah. That’s where we are right now, the Boscarii Empire. One of the largest polities on the world, it stretches from the Drakos Sea in the west to the Spine of Talzaq, which is a really big mountain range, in the east and all the way from the Sea of Despair in the north to the Shaltis Free Alliance in the south. It is an expansive, stable country that is run by a group of…well, we’ll call them elected senators. They run the basic operations, but they all serve the emperor. Or at least, they’re supposed to. I heard rumors that there might be a succession crisis, but that’s none of my business.”

Her eyes and ears remained fixated as he rambled, drinking in the knowledge that he provided. It was strange to have someone hanging off his every word, especially when the words he said really weren’t all that impressive.

“You are quite knowledgeable about these things.”

He tried to handwave the compliment away, “Nah, I was just born here is all. Besides, having grown up in a political house, I had to learn a lot of that stuff. But it’s really boring, especially the political nonsense. You’ve got plenty of ways to spend your time better.”

She shook her head slowly, “I know nothing of this place you call home. I would like to learn of it.”

“Well, alright. But don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

He then proceeded to launch into a long digression about the varied political institutions that comprised his homeland. He started by outlining the relationship between the Senate and the Imperial House, then broke down the major noble clans and their various roles within society. He explained that imperial society was hierarchical, and most people who were born into a certain family typically took up that family’s role. From there he went into clan relationships; how they viewed and interacted with each other and their perceived ambitions. He cautioned Hana against taking that part literally, as nobles always had hidden agendas.

Most of the morning was spent this way, his ramblings occasionally interrupted by the odd question from Hana. When they stopped around midday to ease their bodies and give the horse a rest, Lucius felt an odd sense of accomplishment. For the first time in his life, he was glad that he had paid attention to his tutors. They rested in the shade of a small group of trees that grew around a well from which they could draw water.

“There are lots of these scattered along the roads,” Lucius explained, “Typically they collect rainwater and are available for anyone travelling along the roads. It’s great in times of plenty, but some say that the cost to maintain them is too high.”

She took a long pull from their shared water skin, “You speak of this land as if there are many people, and yet we have seen nobody. Are they hiding for some reason?”

Lucius chuckled, “No, nothing like that. We just haven’t been near any places where people want to be yet, but the signs are there. Have you been noticing some of the side paths? Or that some of the fields are enclosed by stone? Those lead to nearby villas. A villa is basically a really big house where someone of importance lives. They own and control the surrounding land, where they have people set up farms, tend livestock, raise horses, that sort of thing.”

“Do you have one of those?”

“What, a villa? Well, yeah, technically.”

“So, are you one of these persons of importance?”

He barked a sarcastic laugh, “Me? Important? Not really, no. My brother and father, they’re the important ones. I’m just…an extra. I’m by no stretch of the imagination important, exemplary or particularly interesting.”

Hana regarded him carefully through scrutinizing eyes, but remained silent. Hoping to avoid things getting more awkward, he turned back from the well and whistled to the horse,

“Come on, we still have a way to go before sunset.”

They rode on in silence, which was fine for Lucius, seeing as he had spent most of the day talking. By the time dusk approached, Lucius managed to spot what he had been looking for; a large roadside inn with two stories and a sizeable stable. He breathed out a sigh of relief, which was drowned out by the sound of his stomach rumbling. His face grew hot as his body trembled from his stomach’s protests, knowing that Hana certainly felt it too. But what was he to be embarrassed about? It had been nearly a full day since he had eaten a square meal, after all. he pointed at the building,

“See that? That’s a place where we can get some food and rest. We’ll have to pay though; lucky I still have some coins on me.” He then noticed that familiar blank expression, “Ah, right. I forgot to tell you how currency works. Well, it’s really easy, I’ll show you once we’re inside.”

It wasn’t long before they reached the rugged exterior. Made of brick and with a tiled roof, it was a sturdy beacon of rest for weary travelers. Lucius noticed that there were a few other carts and horses already settled outside. A thought jolted him,

“Hana, be sure to keep your ears and tail covered.”

Her eyes narrowed a bit, “Oh? And why should I do that?”

He flinched slightly at the sudden intensity of her gaze, “Well, because you’re, uhh…very unique.” Seeing her eyes narrow even further, he realized that beating around the bush wasn’t getting him anywhere.

“Alright, alright. Look, I’ve never seen or heard of anyone, or anything for that matter, that looks like you. If that wasn’t strange enough, you’re adept at magic. Exactly what kind or how much you realize, I have no idea. But suffice to say, others might get suspicious if they discover your unique qualities. At best they might be friendly or just curious, at worse…things could get really bad, really quickly. So, just for now, please, lay low.”

He hoped that his pleading look was good enough, and it seemed that it worked as she relented,

“Oh, very well. I will heed your request for now, but I would prefer not to remain hidden away forever.”

“Wouldn’t dream of it.”

He guided the horse to the stable, where a young boy was tending to the two other horses within. Seeing a new customer, the boy ran forward and raised a hand in greeting,

“Ho there! Lookin’ to stay the night?”

Lucius called back, “Aye. What’s the rate?”

“A silver for the horse, the missus will help you and your lady inside.”

Lucius sputtered as if he had gotten punched in the face, “Wha – no, no, she isn’t my –”

He felt a sudden tightening around his waist as Hana squeezed him, “Yes, that is correct. He is mine and I am his. Certainly that is the most ordinary thing, yes?”

Another hit, this one straight to the gut as he rounded on Hana with his mouth agape, eyes burning with betrayal. She gave him a sly wink and whispered, “What? You asked me to blend in. Surely, this is the best way to avoid suspicion?”

Lucius regretted ever opening his mouth. She had backed him into a corner, and he didn’t see a way out of it. Instead, he simply slid off the horse and handed the boy the reins, then flicked him two silvers.

“Keep the change, and don’t say anything about what you just heard. Got it?”

He didn’t even wait for Hana to follow him, his face burning red hot as he stalked off towards the inn. The next time she asked for a lesson, he resolved to teach her about boundaries. Not that it would probably do any good, but it was the effort that counted.

Well, probably not, but it made him feel better to think so anyways.