Merrymore moved on to dragging Baldervich's unconscious body through the sand. He threw him onto a pile of scavengers that he had gathered. "Hmmm," he said, examining the pile scattered of people.
He took a look behind him to see Hoku a ways back. He decided to approach him. Once he moved closer, Hoku straightened his back.
"Thank you very much for saving me, sir." He said.
Merrymore looked him up and down,
"Are you unharmed."
"Mhm," Hoku nodded.
"Good. Head into the carriage. They should provide you with a change of clothes."
Hoku was wearing Guppp's shirt, which was a size too short, thus exposing a bit of his stomach. Merrymore's gaze wandered lower to the child who was holding onto Hoku's pants.
"Can you believe it? They were holding this little guy hostage; he's safe thanks to you. We're both eternally grateful." Hoku bowed; some of his stomach rolled over.
Merrymore stared at Guppy. The shirt that Guppy put on was big enough to cover most of his pants, hiding the beige colour that the scavengers wore.
The knight's attention was quickly taken away as, from the distance, a group of the defeated rider knights emerged atop their mounts. They had picked up some of the scavengers who fell out of the sled, cuffing them and tying them atop their mounts
Merrymore walked forward, leaving Hoku and Guppy to their own devices. The rider knights approached and addressed Merrymore.
"Good work, sir," one of them said
"As expected of I," Merrymore chuckled.
"We are utterly embarrassed that we couldn't be of more assistance."
"All is good. As long as you help me gather the rest of the stragglers," Merrymore laughed.
Hoku felt Guppy tugging at his leg. He was doing everything he could to avoid the gaze of the rider knight. After all, he helped take one of them out in the chaos on the sled. Guppy looked in the direction of the carriage that had finally come to a stop.
"C'mon, let's go," Guppy demanded.
"Kay," Hoku said.
Hoku strolled towards the carriage, and Guppy awkwardly shuffled behind him
The man at the centre of the rider knights. The captain glanced in their direction before returning to the conversation.
Once Hoku and Guppy got far enough from the knights and closer to the carriage, they both eased up.
"Told you it would work", Hoku said, walking with his eyes closed.
"I'm surprised. Those guys are dumber than they look."
"Well, don't get too comfortable. The real final boss is ahead of us."
Guppy nervously looked at the carriage. The carriage had several cabins with entrances on the sides covered by curtains. A man and a woman with blue soldier uniforms stepped out of one of the cabins and bowed.
Guppy sprang behind Hoku.
"Just act natural", Hoku whispered. "These guys haven't seen you yet."
The knights saluted Hoku. "Sir," holding the curtains open
Hoku's eyes opened wide. "You're too kind," He bowed and blushed as he moved forward.
They shuffled between the soldiers and through the entrance curtains. Guppy briefly met the soldier's gaze. He quickly averted them as his shoulder brushed past the curtain.
"That was intense," Guppy sighed, then looked up as he bumped into Hoku, who stood still by the entrance.
A line of blue clad soldier knights sat in the rows of seats. They stared at Hoku, who looked a little embarrassed considering what he was wearing. Guppy was shaking in terror at all the eyes in his direction. The silence was killing both of them
Then the curtain that led into the carriage just ahead of them opened as a voice escaped.
"Lady Sephora, please, you must rest."
A white-haired woman entered the cabin with a uniformed man following behind her.
"How can I when my colleagues are trying their hardest to save him?"
She stopped at the entryway and gawked at Hoku. He tried pulling his shirt down, to no avail.
She smiled softly. "They did it."
She approached. "Would you be so kind as to tell me your name?"
Hoku looked up.
"Um, my name? It's Hoku."
"Hoku. I can assure you you're in good hands," she said as Hoku looked right at her.
"Thanks, I really owe you guys."
"No, thanks to me, I'm afraid," she said, looking off to the side.
She looked up again. What happened to your clothes?"
"Oh, you know. The whole sled fell apart, and I got caught up in the whole fiasco."
"I see," she sighed.
Sephora curiously looked behind at Guppy.
Her moon-shaped eyes appeared bright in the cabin's dimness. "You..."
"H-hold on," Hoku started, but Sephora moved him out of the way
Guppy jolted. He was starting to sweat. He reeled back as she forward.
Guppy's eyes shot out of his head as they were aligned with her collarbone.
She placed her hands on his goggles and adjusted them to the centre. She stepped back and smiled, clasping her hands together. "There,"
Guppy wobbled back. Guppy looked dazed and flustered.
Hoku gawked, unsure of what to think.
Then she walked away.
As she did, she bumped into one of the uniformed men.
"Lady Sephora, my apologies. " The man saluted.
"No need. I should really look where I'm going," she bowed.
"Merrymore said to tell you to meet him outside."
"I shall be with him in a moment," she said, leaning forward. The man blushed and became unnerved as she tucked his shirt in and fixed his collar, then moved towards the back end of the cab.
"What was that about?" Hoku bemused.
Through the curtains Hoku had entered through earlier, three men in decorated white robes entered. The trio approached Hoku "You seem to be fitting in quite well," one voice said.
Hoku blinked, and Guppy regained his senses and hid behind him as they continued
"Thank you for earlier. Your assistance was greatly appreciated", the middle said.
"Ah, no problem," Hoku answered dismissively.
Sensing his confusion, the robed man manifested a flaming whip in his hand.
"Oh, it's you!" Hoku exclaimed.
The soldier who bumped into Sephora a moment ago approached the group.
"Captain. Her Majesty has requested your presence."
"Understood." He said, the rider captain said, making his flaming whip disappear.
The messenger turned to Hoku. "You too"
Hoku pointed to himself, then muttered, "Her Majesty huh..."
The captain's group and the messenger moved towards the next cabin.
Hoku stepped to move with them until Guppy tugged at his shirt.
"What?" Hoku asked.
"This isn't a good idea," Guppy whispered. "The monarchs are known to be ruthless rulers. If she finds out who I am, who knows what'll happen... T-to the both of us," he stressed.
Hoku gulped.
"I suggest that you don't keep her waiting," The messenger interjected, making the two jump up.
Hoku shook his head. "I'm going. You can stay here if you want."
Hoku moved with the group of knights. Guppy looked around at the surrounding seated knights. He leapt towards them. "Wait!"
The group moved from carriage to carriage. "So what's she like?" Hoku asked the messenger leading the group forward.
"Please show respect to Her Majesty," he responded.
"Respectfully, what's she like?" Hoku groaned.
He glared at him, then returned his eyes forward "We are not permitted to discuss that,"
Hoku pouted.
The captain turned to him. Then moved closer.
"Princess Shari is the third daughter of the esteemed Red King of the desert. Her god-given duty is to oversee and protect the wildlife of these lands."
"That seems like a pretty hard job to do out here."
"Undoubtedly so. Hence why she can be..."
The captain paused as the soldier leading them glared at him.
"At times, she can be quite difficult to impress, but she loves her land and its inhabitants more than anything else."
Hoku exhaled.
'Sounds like Guppy was on the money about her,' he thought.