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Chapter 16: The Troupe
Mira revealed herself from behind the stall and Eldion stood behind her. "Rentha! Why am I not surprised? And you have your back-up dancers with you," Mira said.
"Thunka told us to follow you if we see you leaving the palace. It seems she could smell a deserter," said Rentha."
"I saw you following us a long distance. Perhaps you need to practice your covert tailing skills some more," said Mira.
"Enough of this!" said Rentha, clicking her heels and revealing pointed nails attached to her shoes. "You will come with us and return to Thunka."
"Or what?" asked Mira, taking a defensive stance. Casser, upon seeing Mira's pose, decided to follow her and stepped a foot forward while lifting his fists awkwardly. Eldion planted his feet firmly on the ground and waited.
"Maresha! Do it!" said Rentha and Maresha started swinging her ball of yarn.
"Watch out for her ball!" cried Mira, but was too late. Maresha released her ball and it hurtled through the
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"This is hopeless!" remarked Wen, expressing her impatience as the carabao plodded on slowly. "We're never going to reach the north gate in time.""Don't speak that way at Noha. You'll hurt her feelings," said Casser, his own feelings hurt over Wen's nervous remark."We would have made it to the north gate already had we walked." Wen heard Mira's voice and Wen could only agree."Patience, Wen," said Eldion. "Noha's pulling a heavy load. She walks slow, but she's steady and dependable."Noha bawled as if in protest at Wen's impatient remarks. The carabao turned her head sideways as if to look at Wen and flicked her ears to drive off the flies.After what seemed to be an interminable wait for Wen, the north gate came into view. Like the south gate, it was heavily guarded and people who were on the way out of the city had lined up as the guards interviewed each person and examined their belongings. It was unusual that the queue of people and carts goi
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Soon, Wen saw that it was their turn to be interviewed at the gate and she quickly covered her head and the lower half of her face, as was the custom for some women travellers. Noha stopped obediently when Casser clicked his tongue and pulled the reins."Casser, my friend!" said the guard, recognizing Casser. "Where are you off to? The caravan had passed by early this morning.""I woke up late. We'll just catch up with the caravan on the next stop," said Casser coolly."Who do you have here?" The guard asked as he looked at Wen and Eldion while another guard lifted the cover off the cart to examine Casser's goods."You're not bringing out any magical artifacts with you, are you?" said the guard looking at the cart."No magical artifacts on board. Those are illegal. I know." Casser chuckled. "This is Wen, by the way and her brother." Casser pointed a thumb at Eldion.The guard peered at Wen and instructed her to uncover her face. He also look
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Journey Through the Shadow Realms Chapter 20: The Mankora
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Journey Through the Shadow Realms Chapter 21: Eldion Learns the Truth
After travelling some distance from Alnoc's north gate, Casser flicked Noha's reins and the carabao turned left from the main road. They followed a dirt road leading downwards until they reached a pond under the canopy of trees. Casser got off the cart and removed Noha's yoke. He then led Noha down to the pond where she could cool off and eat the reeds that grew plentifully in the water.Eldion watched as Noha flicked her ears, enjoying the water, "Carabaos really like the water, don't they?" asked Eldion."Noha needs to cool off every now and then or she might collapse from the heat and the exertion," Wen explained. "I guess there are no carabaos where you're from," she commented."No carabaos? Where did you come from?" asked Casser, overhearing Wen and Eldion's conversation.Eldion did not know what to say and looked at Wen for help."Dagos," said Wen abruptly.Casser whistled. "Whew! That's quite a long way from here. I can't imagine why
Journey Through the Shadow Realms Chapter 22: Alnoc Forest
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Journey Through the Shadow Realms Chapter 23: The Traveler's Inn
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Journey Through the Shadow Realms Chapter 24: Neto and Leita
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