"Yeah that is the crest…So you are of clan Ujochi." The old man took a step back as his hand hid behind his back as Isan's body crumbled with sweat where he stood
"Then why in the mud?" His soft voice melting into something more cold.
"..." The boy's eyes darkened and remained silent.
"Ask Isan right over here." He fully stood up, the mud drooped to the ground as the boy rose.
"Isan! What did you do…?"The old man with his eyes closed for a second as he shouted.
"Kumigara Dorl…I… I…" Isan muttered, still quaked in his boots like a cat out in the rain.
Wait, Kumigara? So that means...
Tch, Isan!
Jorel scoffed as he thought.
"Do you know who he is? Or maybe why he's here?!" Dorl shook his hands as a thick weight developed in his voice.
"So many times…"
"...So many times that you've proved to me that you're an absolute moron!" He widened his mouth as spit flew out.
"...." Isan's large mouth seemed to shrink at that exact moment. The boy tried to hide his smile, but can't help it and let it out.
Oh who actually cares.
The boy thought.
"Hahahahaha." He bursted out in laughter with his hand still clenching the sword.
"Told you that you don't compare to me." The boy smirked as he pointed his blade towards Isan.
"I'm deeply sorry sir for his incompetence."
Dorl bows down towards the boy.
"Hey! Isan bow!" He loudly hushed and faced a bent but still standing Isan—not being able to put his face on the same level as the boy.
"Yeah Isan, bow." The boy smiled as he pointed his finger downwards. But Isan murmurs and refused to bow.
"I said bow!" The boy's voice became more cold as the crowd watched in disbelief.
"Nnhmm…" Isan grunted as he bowed, but was still rather restricted and sluggish. The boy stepped in and pressed his palm against Isan's drenched back and forced him lower.
Curse this boy!
Isan swears in his head as his teeth grind against each other.
"Now this is how they bow!" Jorel's grip tightly clenched Isan's sweat soaked shirt.
Ahh… This is it… This is what you get Isan for going against someone like me!
You're also not entirely useless—For you make a perfect scapegoat to the others.
The boy had a smug look on his face.
"Such an insolent person you have here," The boy muttered as he pinched Isan's back with more force.
"Yes please forgive us for our wrong doing sir…?" Dorl slightly looks up but his body still bent.
"What should we address you as sir?" He raised his jaw and hands up slightly.
Now this is respect!
The boy smirked.
"It's sir Jorel…Jorel Ujochi the second." The sun's slight embraced on his back with his cape blowing in the slight wind.
"Jorel…Sir Jorel?!" Dorl fully raised his body up with his eyes wide open.
"Are you related to another Jorel Ujochi by any chance?" He clasped his hands together as he looked directly at Jorel's eyes.
"Yeah… I am." Jorel dusted the mud off his shoulders and his hands.
"He's my father." He shook his coat trying to remove any residual mud.
*Sniff* *Sniff*
Ughhhh.
Jorel's nose picked up on a fowl odour—Feces as his last lunch wanted to escape his stomach and throat.
Dorl's face, his hands still grasped together—rubbing them.
"Well then, Just from the Ujochi clan alone, I'm sorry again for the lack of hospitality." He smiled, his teeth actually revealed which are more white than Isan's teeth.
"I personally knew your father my young lord." He puts his shriveled hand on his chest and bows slightly.
Knew my father?
He must be delusional…
But… How and why on earth would someone like him personally know my father?
"To what do I owe the pleasure of this meeting?" Dorl held Jorel's hand tightly. Jorel then quickly released his hand from his grip and moved back.
This man...Father has some explaining to do when I get back.
But least he knows common courtesy.
I'll humour him for a while.
"...I have things to discuss."
Jorel, cleared his throat.
"Well things my father wants to discuss." As he reached his hand into the satchel on his waist.
The sound of coins clunking together escaped the bag as his hand finally got what he's looking for----A paper, as creased all over.
"Here." Jorel's hand it over to Dorl.
"What could it…" He collects it with his two hands carefully---Not too fast but also not too slow.
Never knew you could collect something in such a way… especially paper.
Jorel wondered.
Dorl rolled it out and squinted his eyes as he reads them while Isan glares at Jorel, so thick and hot that it could leave a mark.
Jorel saw Isan's glare, but chose to ignore it as he focused on Dorl.
I mean he should just get glasses.
He is a Kumigara…
Dorl read the paper as he mouth moved and his eyes scanned each line.
I'm already far too versed in the contents of that paper.
The journey on the road alone can become…such a boring one.
The offer is generous if he reads it well…
Then abruptly Dorl's mouth stopped moving as his eyes froze.
Is he done?
He lowered the paper slowly.
Yeah he's done.
Ican finally go back home…go back to Zara and away from Isan's eyeline—he should just give up.
Jorel scrunched his nose at the thought alone.
"But… I don't quite understand…" Dorl stammered.
What?
What's there not to understand?
Jorel's right eyebrow raised.
Jorel, moved closer to Dorl to check the paper. His eyes and brows flattened as he looked at the paper.
---The end of chapter 12---