It has been a day since the journey began. The cows were never used to drag the carts, or as mounts by the villagers. They had nowhere to mount them to. They were sturdier and faster than they expected them to be. Soon enough the estimated time of arrival was shorted from 10 days to 7. Moreover, now all the men were riding the cart.

In one cart, one man sat behind the saddle to direct the cows, behind him a man was standing up with his arms raised stopping the stacks from falling forward. To each side of the car from the right and left, another man was latching on and making sure the stacks don’t fall.

On top of the cart, Ward was sitting like he was the king of the world. The other cart was following them, and Ellanour was laying down with her hands spread trying to make sure the seed doesn’t fly up.

“Elly, the sacks don’t fly up, you can sit normally” suggested Ward, but while she did not retort him, she didn’t change her position.

‘Sitting on sacks of seeds is really comfortable, maybe she is enjoying laying down on it.’

Soon after, they decided to take a rest, to not exhaust the cows.

“I was thinking, but we should’ve stayed behind a bit and pressed the seed, the value of flour would’ve been more,” Zakki said

“True, but we are going to need to show that we came with utmost urgency and explain how this is all that we have. We must avoid an inspection at all costs. So, that wouldn’t have worked.” Responded Ellanour

To which Ward responded to “If you wanted to show you came with urgency, and to stress this is all we have, you shouldn’t have brought eight strong men.”

Zakki looked at Ward thinking he was joking and continued the joke “we should’ve bought you instead of all of us?”

“No, I mean, we should’ve gone with our weakest and most frail and cried our eyes out as we begged for an extension - me a child can only help with this image, not eight strong men who at worst case scenario can find other work to do other than farming.”

Suddenly, Ellanour immediately understood what Ward meant, and realized how her logic had failed her.

“Well, I will be the one to speak to the official, so when he makes the decision he won’t see them, it should be fine.”

Ellanour ruffled up Ward’s hair. “If you have suggestions on how to make this journey more comfortable though, this would be a great time to say it.”

“The cards I bought include many entertaining games - should I teach you how to play?"

Zakki’s sigh could be heard, but Ellanour continued to smile as she affirmed she wanted to play.

“Well, this is a standard 52 card deck, there are many games we can play with them, I will first explain…”

It took half an hour for the first game to complete. Tam stood up, raised his fists in the air, and started flexing his muscles and said in a dramatic tone “I WIN!”

Breaking his previously, quiet and shy demeanor.

Everyone had listened to the explanation tentatively; some wanted to enjoy the games, others wanted to see if there is a second meaning to it. In the end, five people played, while the others watched. However, all of them enjoyed it.

They then all returned to their positions and continued on their way.

At night, they would prepare campfire and then they would eat the food they brought with them.

On the 3rd night, they were able to catch two hares. Finally, they ate their fill before going to sleep.

The nights weren’t cold, and the breeze was perfect for sleeping outside. It was decided that each night someone would keep watch, and then in the day, that person got to sleep on the seed bags in the cart.

Dejj and Raz were keeping watch that night.

Ellanour was holding Ward in her hands as they slept. The first night, Nabih wanted Ward to sleep next to him so that he could keep him safe, but Ward instead attached himself to Ellanour and proclaimed that they would sleep on the seed bags on top of the cart, while others can use them as pillows.

Everyone was amused and laughed, but later Ellanour divide who slept when in a rotation instead.

That night they were sleeping on the ground when they heard Dejj and Raz screaming.

They quickly stood up, and the other men also woke up while trying not to doze off. A black bear was walking toward them. And Dejj kept waving the fire trying to scare it off. While Raz was preparing his bow in case the wild bear kept moving forward.

Ellanour was shaking, but she immediately hugged Ward and whispered “Don’t worry, no matter what, we will keep you safe, I promise” reassuring and calming him. She then immediately put him on top of the seed sacks and took our a small knife she brought for fearless self-protection. Ward looked down, and he felt concerned for her safety more than he did himself, he felt concern for every one of them after bonding with them firmly.

Nabih immediately jumped from the second cart where he was sleeping and ran toward Ellanour “Ride the cart and don’t bother with that toothpick. I’ll protect you if the bear got closer!” He withdrew his arrow and was ready to see if to shoot.

They did not want to aggravate the bear if they could instead drive it away.

Luckily their plan worked. Ward had a tear in his eyes that he removed before anyone noticed.

They were unable to go back to sleep. Even the cows were aggravated. They decided to try and walk through the night, to find another area without bears to stay in.

On the 4th day, they were tired earlier than usual due to the excitement of the previous night. It was decided that Ward and Ellanour will sleep on the cart, regardless of when the rotation was supposed to be.

Ward was still very wary and was unable to sleep. She tried to hug him, but it didn’t work, so she honestly asked.

“What’s wrong?”

“I was wondering if dad faced something like that?”

Ellanour gave a sad smile, trying to reassure Ward, but not knowing what to say. Surely, if the merchants were safe, they would’ve returned to the village already.

She then checked the bag she had brought with her, and from it took out the map they used on their journey.

“This is a copy of the map, I believe was made by your father. It doesn’t show all the locations he’s been to, just a copy of the East of the East.

Spoiler: Spoiler

“See our home is in the middle of the map. We are going to the capital in the north.

You see those mountains to the left in the south-west. I heard that mystical creatures could be found there.”

Ward excitedly responded, “My dad told me the story, he saw it all with his own eyes!” he opened his hands wide and continued, “he told me he found the skeleton of a dragon as big as this”

From underneath the Cart, Nabih’s voice could be heard as he asked “you are still a pipsqueak! Are you sure it is not as big as his hands were? In fact, what I heard was that the skeleton they saw was big enough to eat you whole! So if the dragons ever came back, you will need to dig a hole and hide in it!”

More laughter from all the men was heard, showing that no one was able to sleep yet.

They were only able to sleep, after relaxing thanks to the laughter.

Only until the morning of the 7th day, did their journey go according to plan.

Which was when they finally arrived at the capital.