"Your horse listens well," she murmured. Her hand was tightly gripping the reins. She had mixed expressions of Anger, sadness, and regret.
"She's a good girl." He told her with pride in his eyes. He slightly rubbed the horse's belly. A bag was hung to the side of the saddle, containing the girl's belongings.
"She's like a daughter to me, I've raised her since she could barely stand," Alicent told her honestly.
After a few minutes, she spoke again. "Thank you. For saving me."
She seemed like a shy girl to Alicent, perhaps it was because she had too many emotions to control right now.
"You're breathing. Don't thank me, thank yourself." He told her with a small smile. She hummed lightly in affirmation.
Her fingers tightened on the reins.
"I am Anastasia, I should have introduced myself earlier."
"Alicent."
She gave him a quick peek; he looked to be from the countryside side, yet he carried himself well. She found the teen to be sophisticated.
Anastasia was intrigued as to how he defeated the two poachers without hurting them badly. He looked like he was in his late teens, someone younger than her.
"Your sword is impr— I-I mean, your swordsmanship! It's... um, impressive." She said with tumbling words, she quickly turned her head to the side, face reddening as she avoided his eyes.
Alicent chuckled.
"Just a stroke of luck."
He thanked the Lord of Luck inwardly.
'Thank the lord that the scrawny guy didn't shoot the gun. The gun still held five of those metals... Cannon balls? ' He recalled Anzer almost soiling his pants because of fear.
It was almost fully dark outside the forest, and they were just getting out of it; they needed to travel for another 30 minutes at this pace.
...
As they travelled on the road through the plains, over a small hill, a distant light flickered; it was a single-storied house with a farm and pens with sheep, goats, and yaks nearby.
"Almost there." He told her as they approached the house.
The wooden gate creaked open as Alicent pushed it gently. The house stood quietly in the dark, smoke trailing from the chimney. The scent of burnt pine lingered.
Antony stood by the door, sharpening a sickle by a candle. He raised his head as the two approached, eyes narrowing as they landed on the girl atop the horse. He set the whetstone down on the plate.
"You're late," Antony muttered, his voice rough like worn leather. "And you brought company."
Alicent gave a nod.
It wasn't uncommon for travellers to rest near the farms near the trails when it got dark outside.
"This is Anastasia. Her companions were killed." Alicent expressed solemnly. Antony nodded sadly. Over the years, the middle-aged man had heard several similar stories in the forests.
"She's been through hell..." He muttered to no one in particular. His gaze shifted to her. "It's cold, please come inside."
"Thank you, Mister." She told him as she entered the small, firelit home, and for the first time since the woods, her shoulders loosened just a little.
"Guest rooms to the right, please make yourself comfortable," Alicnet told the girl, pointing towards a door.
The girl affirmed with a quick nod and opened the door to the guest room.
A few minutes later, Alicent brought her food.
A few pieces of bread and mutton stew.
...
The house had gone still and quiet. Only the sounds of the wind and the cluttered "Baaah" and "meeeh" of the sheep and goat could be heard.
Alicent lay on his cozy woolen bed, staring at the wooden ceiling. He hadn't slept much, and it was past midnight; his body was tired, and his mind was exhausted yet sleep still hadn't drowsed.
He sighed loudly.
'Those poachers... what horrible people...' He recalled the horror still present on the carriage driver's face, the empty and lifeless gaze of Andre. It horrified him, seeing death.
He silently wondered how he, as Aegis, had done such horrible acts as emperor, how he had conquered the continent. He recalled the book, The Tyrants Biography". It was still somewhere in his bag.
'I picked around 150 Ros from those poachers... being a poacher seems quite profitable.'
Besides the Money, he had also taken the gun from Anzer and hid it well amongst his belongings.
"I still need to go to Grunard tomorrow to inform the guards... " He muttered with a sigh.
He closed his eyes and tried to go to sleep.
Knock! Knock! Knock!
Three gentle taps.
He rose and walked to the door. He opened the door.
"I… I'm sorry to bother you," she said, voice barely above a whisper. Her hair was messy, sticking to her forehead with sweat. "I just… I couldn't sleep. I keep seeing them."
Her tumbling words cracked at the end.
Alicent stepped aside and gestured her in. "It's alright."
She walked in hesitantly and sat on the carpet.
"I-I kept seeing their faces, the carriage driver... Andre..." She said with her shaky voice, her sweat-drenched face was looking down at the ground.
"He... He kept questioning me, 'Why? Why did you let me die?'." She repeated her brother's words.
Alicent approached her and gently bent his knees; he put a hand on her shoulder.
"It's alright, you went through a lot." He poured water from a copper jug into a glass and handed it to her. "Just stay strong for now, it will get better."
"I wasn't able to save him, I wasn't brave enough..."
"You were brave enough to live," he said, gently. "That counts for something."
He gave her a small smile.
"You lose many things in life... yet it goes on, does it not?" Alicent said as he stood up. The girl gently nodded, her fingers gently wrapped around the glass.
"I used to think that when I get older and eventually die of old age, my brother would still be there, caring for the ones I cherished..." She muttered sadly in a low voice.
"Now, it's the other way around..."
Alicent sat across her and stayed silent. Sometimes, silent reassurance was the best option.
"Perhaps he's still with you, in the memories you cherished... " He told her after a few seconds.
She raised her head quietly, her eyes still looking down. She muttered in a barely audible voice.
"Thank you..."
A moment passed.
"You're welcome."
Some time passed, and Anastasia stood up and left Alicent's room after bidding him goodnight.