บท 45: Chapter (45): Gore

The carts were staggering on the road, the road cleaners had shoveled the snow, and the edges of the road were outlined by the mountains of hardened snow.

Charles wrapped himself inside his thick dear coat, riding his Lord's cart and Jason was behind them, bringing Barbara and Margaret.

The sky kept being elegant but the breeze still was crafty, caressing the snow and it became colder and playful, slyly blowing around, injecting chill to the bones.

Trees had gone heavy, some branches were broken and made Miguel shake his head. It could reveal that many roads had been obstructed by the last night's storm.

"I hope the road is safe and they succeed back on time before the next storm."

Miguel still kept his eyes on the outside and saw Charles that halted. He had to light up the lanterns on foursquare of the cart.

Luna already drowned in her thoughts. She was thinking about Elizabeth. She never rode a long way on the horse and this was a huge challenge especially that she was afraid of wolves. Four hours of riding on the road were not easy. The long hour they ever ran wild in the meadows and rode their horses was two hours and after that their legs were aching madly.

Miguel went outside as the old man halted. He took out his lighter to hand the old man.

Getting outside of the cart, he waved a hand for Jason, "You have a good son, Charles."

He noted, he rarely complimented but Jason was a true man that merited this honor.

"Thank you, master! I wish he was a bit smarter."

Miguel lit up the wick and the steam on the glass of the lantern melted, light splashed out.

"He is smart! By the way, I will hire a gardener to trim the trees, have some rest and let him prepare for the matrimony."

The old man walked to the second lantern on the left front angle and replied, "You are so generous master but I could do it on my own."

Miguel finished lighting up the fourth one and got back to the door, "don't ever mention that again, you are a member of my family, your son is just like my own son."

He didn't wait for more as the old man was already done. Charles sat on his seat, picking the lariat and hitting the air, he hooted.

Your devotion is my hope, master James! Charles told himself. He had hoped that Miguel could keep everything calm with his Nobel temperament.

"Uncle, was it rational to send my sister after a cure while I knew that winter was always rebellious for the trip?"

Luna asked, her complexion was pessimistic.

"Stop blaming yourself!"

Lisa grabbed her hand and replied calmly.

"Yes, stop putting obligation in your decision. I was disagreed to send her but we know her very well, standing against her will means persuading her to trouble herself."

Luna bit her lower lip.

"Have too much fun and tell her about the feast. She will be happy to hear you enjoyed it."

Lisa remarked.

Luna nodded and held her hand, smiling at her, she remembered that her own thoughts distracted her about Lisa.

"How do you feel, Lisa?"

"Ah, why is everyone worrying about me? I am truly fine. That was just a simple faint."

Luna shook her head, that wasn't simple nor regular. She must be comprehensive about her health, now she carried a baby that was at the start of shaping.

"No, Lisa, please don't let things hidden within you, let them out! Elizabeth and I are ready to hear you anytime, anywhere."

Miguel smiled bitterly, these girls had the heart of golds, the compassion that he could scarcely say existed nowadays. At least, he couldn't declare that about the courtier Ladies nor those he met among Nobels and urban folk.

"Master, there is something in the road," Charles announced, the sky was now dark. The road was passing through the forest, obviously, the wildings were sauntering around to hunt.

Charles's eyes fixed on the antlers that were broken and dropped near the deer. He had no choice and was supposed to stop the cart. The horses were anxious too so without taking the deer which was old and big they had no way to pass.

He hooted and pulled the lariat. The cartwheels stopped and horses neighed, stumped feet on the road.

Miguel's eyes glinted, and ran dim, he wished that wasn't a tree because taking it away from the path was tough enough to take an hour.

"Stay inside, the cold is strict."

He sighed and sneaked out again.

"Jason!"

Jason was near their cart, drawing his path to Charles.

"Master, that's a deer."

Miguel followed his sight and saw the antlers that were spread to either side of the road and the scuffed body that was in the middle. They rushed ahead where Charles was sitting above the head of the deer.

Miguel's heartbeat paced, he was praying that wasn't a faerie. He sat and hurriedly put the eyelids of deer up, the eyes were glowing in green, like gems. He sneaked back, looking at it in terror. His prayers were not accepted by the gods.

"My lord! Is it a faerie?"

Charles asked, seemingly, he was frightened of the same matter.

Miguel's eyes drifted on him, yet holding the shaking terror. The old man achieved his answer from that look.

"Father, what are these fangs mark?"

Jason who was scanning the body carefully asked. He never saw a faerie but with this, he could say that they were three times bigger than animals.

Miguel checked the part that was concealed under gore blood.

"A vampire!" Charles asked.

Miguel wasn't sure, the fangs had left bigger marks.

"I doubt!" He pointed to the scratches on the Faeries body.

"I thought they hold magic! Why couldn't he survive?"

Jason asked, checking where his master pointed. Everything was there except the heart and the sucked blood. Whatever that demon was, it had devoured until the last drop of blood.

Miguel found it more necessary to meet the mayor. The creature that killed this deer faerie could menace humans' life too.

"Not all of them hold magic, they have various races. Help me, we must take it to Barson. I will send a messenger to faeries Wood clan."

Jason peered at his master, so the rumors were true, he knew the faeries.