Chapter Eight: The Importance of Destiny

The carriage-train soon hitched off from Oakal without any more delays. The carriage-train, now five carriages in total, made way for the capital city of the Raugan Territory, Caipal. The trip, however, was still a month away, and a month away from Brenda's 18th birthday and destiny arrangement.

The carriage-train, again, now consisted of the five different wood-covered carriages, and each of them had a special purpose and design to them. The first carriage, which was an illustrious two-door royal purple carriage car with golden ornamented vines decorating the outside, is set aside for the Master and Madame of Harenhart Manor with Reau leading the horses from his seat in front of this carriage. This followed by the second carriage, another royal purple carriage like the first, where all of the luggage for the family is stored and readily accessible by the maids brought along, and the third carriage, matching the appearance of the first and second in the train, is set aside for Miss Brenda of the Harenhart family.

The fourth carriage in the train, however, mismatches the rest of the train as this carriage's paint was well faded and looked worse for wear, as the royal purple that once decorated this carriage was almost stripped, revealing the faded and rotting wood. The wheel's rims were chipped away from years of rock and travel, and holes were bored into the wood, making it look more like a cage than a carriage. This carriage contains the two maids, the three guards, and the new chef that was purchased at the Oakal trading center, along with the minimal sleeping arrangements made for them.

There was a new wagon added onto the carriage-train at the town of Oakal, and this wagon contained various foods and provisions for the trip. This wagon also looked different than the rest, as it was a dark shade of red with the words, "Oakal Provisions", written on the side, and it was also coated in a thin layer of magic to keep the provisions cold. This magic, of course, was cast by Sir Reginald himself.

The first day of travel was certainly growing harsh on Brenda. While she was very excited about seeing the forest outside of Oakal for the first time, the excitement lasted roughly for an hour before she grew tired of the repetitive sight. The trees' shade grew thicker and thicker until the light of the sun intermittently shined against the curtain of her carriage window, and while it was still light enough out to see, Brenda fathomed that the darkness of night would be a dangerous place for travelers, and a perfect place for the various beasts of the woods and others lurking in the dark underbrush.

Brenda often thought of Seran in the trodden-down carriage behind her, and what he meant by things being "sad". She knew the common treatment of the elves in her home, and now she has gotten the chance to know the treatment outside of it too. For her, it was thought-provoking and indeed sad to see.

"I wonder if they are treated like this in Capial, too." Brenda wondered aloud before releasing a deep sigh, "Probably. They might even be treated worse."

The hours passed grudgingly slow, and as she looked around her, the sun was setting lower and lower beyond the tree line, bringing the azure atmosphere to mesh with the blazon golden hue. She watched slowly as the shimmering light faded between the trees until only the crispness of the autumnal night was upon her. She shivered as the wind stung her face, causing her to release her curtain for temporary comfort.

It was then that the sounds of the horses filled the air, and the wheels of the carriage-train skidded across the ground until they came to an instant halt, jostling Brenda a little as she felt the carriages and wagon form a circle formation. A few loud thuds and the clattering of metal came from the carriage behind her, causing her to frown as she looked behind her as she knew what happened. The parchment and stick of graphite fell to the ground to the side of her, and in a hustle, she worriedly gathered up the materials and stacked them neatly beside her.

After minutes of silence, a knock came on Brenda's carriage door, and she prompted leaned over to open it. Standing outside was Reau with his hand reached out to her, bringing Brenda to smile as she took his hand and disembarked from her carriage. As her feet touched the ground, she could feel the crisp, autumnal night air brush past her cheeks, and she immediately felt something draped over her shoulders.

"A blanket from your father, miss." A familiar voice said as she turned around to see Seran.

"Thank you." Brenda smiled before a cough came from in front of her.

"You are supposed to ask if she needs a blanket first, guard." Reau said sternly, "Do not press your opinions over the needs of your masters."

Seran went into an immediate salute before Brenda held up her hand innocently, "Reau, it's fine." Brenda brought the blanket around her chin, nuzzling it for a second, "It was a nice surprise. How can I reprimand my retainer for taking care of me, and what would my father think if I was shivering in front of him? Poor Seran would lose his head in an instant."

Reau took a step back as he bowed slowly, "Of course, Miss Brenda. My apologies."

Brenda looked past Reau to see her father and mother standing before a small lit fire, and her mother was wrapped in a similar blanket to her. Her father nodded in her direction as he revealed a long smoking pipe hanging from his lips, and as the smoke rose into the air, Brenda could barely make out the scent of cooking food mixed within the smoke of the fire and pipe. Quickly, Brenda rushed over to her parents, who looked at the running girl with smiling faces; however, her mother's face tensed when she saw Seran and Reau approaching slowly behind her.

"Not another step, you two," Claire said sternly as her eyes angrily fell on Seran. Brenda walked over and put her arm on her mother's shoulder, looking at her with curious eyes, causing Claire to sigh. She then pointed at the food wagon before turning back to the fire, "Go make yourselves useful elsewhere."

Seran and Reau stopped immediately in their tracks and turned around towards the food wagon. As the two began walking away, Brenda and Reginald looked towards Claire, who turned continued to look at the fire with a huff of air. The fire actively grew with the huff of air as though the two were connected in some way, and the fire began to cackle ferociously against the wood.

"Mother." Brenda asked softly, "Are you still angry with Seran?"

"Of course!" Claire scoffed. "The manner of disrespect in that one."

"You didn't even allow him to speak, mother!" Brenda retorted quickly, which shocked her mother into a quick gasp.

"Brenda." Reginald said strictly, "Watch your tone with your mother." Reginald then turned to Claire, "And you, forget this foolishness. I find him adequate for the role he has been given. Do you mistrust my judgment?"

"Never, my dear." Claire said softly as she slowly walked over to Reginald, "I do not stand for disrespectful slaves, that's all."

"Perhaps then, a refresher for him," Reginald glared over towards his daughter, "You can remind yourself of manners and then reteach them to your retainer for the time being." Reginald sighed and looked into his wife's eyes, "Will that satisfy you?"

Claire smiled, "I believe so." Claire then looked back at Brenda as well, "Let's not fight, sweetheart. I will leave your retainer to you from now on, alright?"

"Yes, Father. Yes, Mother." Brenda sighed deeply before she felt an arm on her shoulder.

"I understand," Reginald said looking into Brenda's eyes, "The travel has made you weary, and it is something that you are not used to doing. I can see that excitement has faded from your eyes."

"It wasn't the trip itself, but it was Oakal that bothered me so much." Brenda said with sadness in her eyes, "So much trouble was brought on because Seran was ordered to stand guard. He didn't do—"

"It doesn't matter, Brenda." Reginald said strongly, "It's the fact he is an elf that makes him a target. It's no different anywhere else."

"There is nowhere else that treats them fairly?!" Brenda exclaimed in shock.

"I'd like to think our household is better than in most places." Reginald said with an insulted gaze, "Many other places would be quicker to punish for less, even de--."

"Let's not talk of that now," Claire said rashly, as she motioned her hand to alert her family of the oncoming food.

The family quickly hushed their conversation as the maids and Reau brought over the food on pristine silver platters, as Seran rushed over with a large blanket under his arm. From a glance, Brenda saw the two maids, biting their lips harshly as their faces became redder and redder carrying one massive platter of food together, while Reau balanced a smaller platter that consisted of two bottles of wine, a pitcher of water, and water glasses perfectly with his hand. With a quick motion, Seran set down the blanket a short way away from the fire, allowing the family to rest comfortably on the covered ground.

The maids slowly lowered the steaming hot platter into the center of the large blanket, and as the maids released the platter, they instantly hid their hands behind their back. Brenda frowned as she could see on their faces that there was a short look of relief from the pain of the tray as they bowed before the family. Reau, on the other hand, slowly served the wine and water glasses to the family, bowing with each glass passed.

"Thank you, Reau." Reginald said as he drank from his glass, and then he turned to the maids and Seran, "The maids are dismissed to eat, and the guards are to protect the encampment. They can eat at their post. Return to us when we are done eating and not a second later."

Seran saluted as the maids bowed before walking back to the food wagon. Reau stayed by the family's side, waiting to serve drinks as commanded while the family began eating from the platter. The platter of the food itself consisted of finely sliced fruits, cooked vegetables, and various meats that were coarsely cut and roasted to provide crispness on the edges of the meat while tender on the inside.

Brenda continued to watch the maids and Seran walk over to the food wagon, where they received a minuscule portion of bread and a few thin slices of the meat. Soon after they got their portions, the other two guards, slightly taller than Seran, appeared to get their portions. Brenda looked at these men dressed in similar armor to Seran with matching helmets with the only difference was a purple plume sticking out of the other's helmets.

"Quit gawking, Brenda." Reginald said as he took a piece of meat from the platter, "Is the food not to your liking?"

"No, Father." Brenda snapped around with an embarrassed look, "I--It's nothing."

"Sweetheart, please worry about yourself." Claire said before taking a sip of her wine, "You are about to know your destiny, and your destiny will be one of the great proportions!"

"There is no way of knowing what my future holds, mother," Brenda said solemnly.

"Nonsense." Reginald laughed, "You are my daughter! You have my vitality running through your veins and your mother's capability for magic. Anything less than a first-rate mage, and I'd disown my title!"

"Honey, you shouldn't say things like that." Claire said with a small giggle, "She will make a fine wife yet."

"Is that all my life will account for?" Brenda stood up with visible anger, "Is being a wife or having my destiny told to me the defining point that will make everything good for me?"

"That's how the world works, sweetheart." Claire said frowning, "When my destiny was shown to me, I was told that I'd go on to become a first-rate mage. I'd also fight in a great battle, and when it was all over, my life would be blessed with a husband and wealth until its end."

"I've never heard you speak of any battles?" Brenda asked with curious eyes.

Claire smiled, "It was during the Raugan Escapade twenty-two years ago."

"I've heard father mention the Raugan Escapade, but I've never heard anything about it directly. We don't have any books on it either." Brenda said sitting back down with a sigh.

"It was a bloody battle." Reginald said stonily as he took up his pipe again, "One that is best left behind us. The things we have now are because of that battle, and that's all that you need to know, Brenda."

"Oh, come now, dear." Claire said nudging her husband, "Are you sure you do not want to tell her how we fought side by side, allowing the empire to—"

"Enough, Claire." Reginald said brashly, "I do not want to talk about that battle after eating."

"As you wish, dear." Claire said as she laid her hands on her lap, turning her eyes back to Brenda, "Another time then, but destiny will always play out as the visions say they will."

"Of course, mother," Brenda said with a nod. "It is just frightening to be told your future."

"It's even scarier if you go against it." Reginald said, standing up and brushing off the ash on his lap, "And trust me, you'd be much better and safer sticking with a sad fate."

"What could happen if you go against the visions?" Brenda said with worried eyes, "Could someone die?"

"That would be the best outcome for them," Reginald said as he turned to walk away towards the food wagon.

Brenda was left shaking from the thoughts that came and lingered for minutes afterward as she stared into the flickering flames of the fire.