Leaving Alventyr

"No, no! Your Excellency ain't need to pay none. We'll get you the best for free!" Selmer says.

"Really? That'd be great, then," I say.

"Yeah, just be sure to check back on good old Alventyr in a few years to see what your gold coin has done for us, Your Excellency."

"I will."

"That's great. Keavan, go get His Excellency the fastest horse we got."

"On it, boss," Keavan says and hops over the fence of the pen to the calmly grazing horses.

"Can I go play with the horses?" Astra asks.

"You want to pl- why not. Go ahead."

"Yea!" Astra shouts. She spooks the animals as she ducks under the fence.

Selmer turns back to us with a smile and says, "Alright, Your Excellency. Come pick a carriage."

"Sure."

Lohikaarmi and I follow him to the lot of carriages. They all look the same, built with light-colored wood, presumably from the pine around the village. There is a coach seat at the front behind where the horses would be, and the cabin has a little roof over it. A window connects the cabin to the driver. The cabin itself looks to be able to hold four people, six if they really cram it.

There is no back door, so I can see right into the cabin. Some cloth and cushions cover the seats, so it doesn't look too uncomfortable, but of course, it can't compare to my authentic crocodile leather seats with warming and massaging features in my car back on Earth.

"Which one, Your Excellency?" Selmer asks.

"Any one will do," I say.

"This first one, then," Selmer says and climbs onto the coach seat of the carriage to untie some ropes.

"Does Your Excellency need a driver?" He asks from up there.

"No need. I can drive."

Horseback riding is one of the staple sport of the high society on Earth. I'd say I am rather skilled, or as the press called it, "masterful". One of the few times they get something right. Carriage driving can't be much different.

"Of course. I should have known," Selmer says.

I hear clanking sounds as Selmer sets up the straps and buckles for the horse to be tied to.

I turn to the dragon girl and say, "Lohikaarmi, you can get on now. We will be leaving soon."

"Yes, Master."

Lohikaarmi walks to the rear and climbs into the cabin. At the same time, Keavan comes over, leading a black horse, and Astra is sitting on top of it with a wide grin on her face.

"Astra, what are you doing?" I ask.

"Riding a horse, what else? I am a cowgirl now!" She exclaims and shoots her fists up in the air, causing her to lose balance and almost fall off.

Keavan chuckles and says, "Yes, she is."

"The harness is all ready to go now! Bring the horse over, will ya?" Selmer calls out from the carriage.

"Coming, boss!" Keavan calls back. He turns to Astra. "Little Miss, you may come down and get on the carriage now." He extends out a hand for Astra to grab onto.

"Ooh, fancy. You are like my valet," Astra says and takes his hand. She leaps off the horse.

Keavan brings the horse over to Selmer. With the help of Lohikaarmi, Astra climbs into the cabin through the back.

A few jingles later, Selmer steps down from the carriage.

"It's all set, Your Excellency. There's some food in the seats if you lift the tops up. They should keep you three fed on the way," Selmer says.

"Alright, thanks."

I walk up to the carriage and climb into the driver's seat.

"Your Excellency is the one to thank. Have a safe trip!"

"Have a safe trip!" Keavan adds.

I nod and give the horse's back a light tap. The horse lets out a breath through its nose and begins trotting forward. I hear the sound of something banging against wood behind me.

"Hey! Warn us before you move!" Astra complains from inside the cabin.

"Should have paid more attention."

I bring the horse onto the dirt trail. I wonder if the verbal commands work the same here.

"Canter!" I call out.

The horse continues walking.

"Run?"

No reaction.

"Are you sure you know how to drive?" Astra sticks her head out the window and asks. There is a red mark on her forehead.

"Shut up. I got it. Faster?"

The horse snorts and picks up speed.

"There we go," I say.

Selmer and Keavan wave goodbye as I leave the village of Alventyr behind.

The weather is absolutely stunning, as usual. The blue sky puts a blanket over the world. There aren't many trees on the north side of the village. Endless plains of green with a few colored dots mixed in here and there surround me on either side of the winding dirt road.

A soothing breeze blows on my face. My hair flutters in the wind and tangles with Astra's. I can barely tell which strand is mine or hers. The sound of grass waving, hooves trotting, and wheels turning are all that I can hear. This is not an experience that comes cheap back on Earth, if at all.

"Cisca," I call for her name, wanting to show her this sight.

About half a minute later, the video feed appears in my view. There she is, in her lab. Cisca has a pair of protective goggles on, and in her hand is a soldering iron. She is working on some sort of device laid on the table in front of her.

"What is it, Kris?" Cisca lifts her goggles and asks.

"Look at this view," I say.

Cisca gives the screen a glance, her expression not as delighted as I had expected.

"That's it?" She asks.

"Yeah? What's wrong?"

"Kris, I am busy," she says and puts her goggles back on, "There is still a bunch of stuff I have to get done on this side before we can move on to the next step of the project."

"Like what?" I ask.

"Well, let's see. I currently only have a portal capable of transporting one person at a time, even if we have enough element 119. That's not going to cut it if we want the entire population of Earth to migrate to Eden."

"Ah, I see."

"I mean, you can call during break time. I don't mind watching your fantasy adventure, but when I am working, only call me if you have questions or something important, alright?" Cisca says.

"Yeah, I got it."

"Thanks. Cisca signing off."

She turns the camera off, and the video disappears again.

Oh well, I guess I will just have to enjoy nature's beauty by myself, then.

"Look! More horses!" Astra shouts and points to the field beside us. I look over, and there is a herd of wild stallions roaming in the grass in the distance.

At least I got this spud with me.