"Here." Dorl's hands trembled as he extended the paper to Jorel, who snatched it and immediately tucked it back into his satchel.
"Ohhh, look, snakes on the stranger's body!" Tina piped up, pointing at Jorel's purple shirt.
"So the stranger is going to get bitten and die?!" She asked, tears welling in her eyes as she tried to approach Jorel.
Jorel's face twisted, not in fear, but from the suddenness of Tina's pronouncement. Dorl gently grabbed her hand, shaking his head from side to side.
Weird kid…
Jorel huffed at Tina.
"Well then, that's done…" Jorel turned, his cape swishing, and moved towards the door, a warm sense of accomplishment glowing in his chest.
"Wait…" Dorl forced his old bones to rise from the chair.
"At least let me escort you back and send you off… as the town's Kumigara." He smiled, moving closer.
…I don't see the harm in it.
Jorel thought, looking over his shoulder.
"Whatever," Jorel replied, opening the door.
"Daddy, can I follow?" Tina asked, licking her own mucus.
"Hmm…" Dorl dropped his hands, relaxing his muscles as his smile returned.
"I don't see why not."
Tina's face slowly glowed with a warm, fuzzy light, her incomplete teeth showing. Then, they all walked away from the house, Jorel following right behind Dorl and Tina.
Dorl made funny faces and gestures at Tina, and each time she smiled and playfully slapped his face. Jorel, however, paid them no heed. He looked off to the side, lost in thought.
If I remember the way correctly back to my horse…
Wait…! I didn't even tie the reins to something!
Hope it hasn't wandered off----the dumb animal!
They walked past the run-down buildings, the moldy stalls, and people whose eyes, once again, locked onto Jorel. Sweat began to build beneath his skin.
But this isn't as much as before… I can manage this…
Jorel breathed out slightly, continuing his stride.
"I can't believe that you're going so soon." Dorl turned his head back to Jorel.
"You won't even rest for a day?" He shook his head.
"The journey to get here must have been long and hard," he continued, while Tina played with his beard.
"No, thank you." Jorel's voice was soft as he trudged through the thick mud he still hadn't grown accustomed to.
"Tsk… Tskk," someone muttered from where he leaned on the rotten wooden pillar of a shop. His gaze was as sharp as ever, his hollow smirk still prominent. Tina noticed the man, her body tingling lightly.
"Uncle Isan!" Tina shouted, jumping down from Dorl's arms and darting through the mud towards Isan. Isan opened his arms wide, lifting her into the air.
"Aw, how are you, Tina?" He asked, his voice surprisingly compassionate.
"I'm fine, I just saw snakes," she smiled, her eyes closed, head slightly tilted.
Isan's face slightly wrinkled. "Where?"
Tina pointed directly at Jorel, picking her nostrils.
"Oh, him, he's a snake, that's why." Isan's warm smile widened slightly at the edges, and his head bent.
"A disgusting one at that." He returned to his warm smile, directing it at Tina, but his eyes cursed at Jorel.
Excuse me?
A slight breeze filled the gap in Jorel's thoughts as his hair and cape danced.
Him! He made me touch the freaking mud!
And now insulting me? In front of a child?!
Jorel quickly grabbed the hilt of his sword, ready to plunge it into Isan's head, but Dorl placed a firm hand on Jorel's chest, stopping him.
"No," Dorl said, walking ahead instead.
Jorel's heart raced heavily. He couldn't help but watch Dorl from behind as he closed in on Isan and Tina.
"Isan, that's no way to speak to our guest---especially him!" Dorl placed a firm hand on Isan's shoulder and then carried Tina away from him.
"Hrmph!" Isan grunted, spitting into the mud, his eyes burning with a desire to glare at Jorel. Jorel then removed his hand from the hilt of his sword, his muscles relaxing.
Not worth my time engaging with him…
Don't want anything hindering me from leaving this place.
He continued walking forward and finally reached the area where he had last seen his horse.
Whew… going to return home at long last. Jorel sighed, his face relaxed.
But suddenly, Jorel's face twisted, his eyes widening, and his mouth gaping. His horse was gone, nowhere to be found, not even a single strand of hair.
"..." Jorel's brain was at a loss for words as he turned around, scanning his immediate surroundings.
The mud was covered in too many horse tracks and footprints, making it impossible to track his own. The people around them remained quiet, their eyes sunken.
Ughn, where could it have gone off to?
All my gear…
Jorel scratched his hair as he squatted down, looking at the mud. He then stood up and looked towards the sky, pacing around.
Where is it?!
Who could've possibly done---
His eyes swept over all the peasants there, some with their faces down, while others looked at his feet.
"Hey, where is my horse?!" Jorel walked forward, his voice deepening.
Them from the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of Isan, head tilted downwards, chuckling.
Why would he…?
…!
Jorel's eyes widened in realization.
---The end of chapter 16---