Release That Witch

Winter was not a harvesting season for most people in the Northern Region, especially in the town around Hermes highlands. The Months of Demons did not only bring the non-stop rain and snow but also severe cold, hunger, and death. However, it was different for "False Leg" White. The emissary of the church would look for him every winter and get him to drive up to the Kingdom of Wolfheart for a trip to fetch the suffering orphans to Holy City with his carriage.     

It was a good deal for him, for he could make around 20 silver royals per trip and it was a good deed. The Months of Demons this year was almost ending and this trip should be his last one for the year.     

"My lord, why don't you stay in the carriage? The snow out here will continue for a while. We're accustomed to the wind and the snow, but you'll be freezing."     

"This is nothing to me." The emissary took a gulp of wine from his flagon and said, "It's much colder in New Holy City than here. The leather clothing and armor won't keep out the cold on the highlands. They're like a pervasive demon, piercing through each part of the body. Normal human beings may not survive that place without the Cold Expelling Pill."     

"That's true." White continuously nodded. He had not been to New Holy City, nor did he want to. [Why should I go such a place where there's only frozen ice and demonic beasts?] However, as an experienced cart driver, he could always find a new topic to talk about. Plus, the current emissary was friendlier than the previous emissary. "Your gloves are specially made with the wolf skin from the Kingdom of Graycastle in the Western Region, I suppose?"     

"Oh? How do you know that?"     

"Hey, I've been working as a cart driver for almost 30 years, my lord," White proudly said, "I started driving for the Baron, followed by the countess, and even the little princess of Kingdom of Wolfheart. If I did not break my leg in an accident, I would probably still be staying in the house of the earl. They have nothing more than the gold royals. The leather and silverware of the Kingdom of Graycastle, the jewelry of the Kingdom of Everwinter, the artwork of the Fjords were the topics they couldn't stop talking about once they were aboard, and I almost get sick of them."     

"I see," the emissary nodded and said, "Was that where your nickname came from? What kind of accident was it?"     

"Aye, it was the riot of refugees. The bullies would do anything for a living," White spat and said, "They had surrounded the carriage at that time, and I had to urge the horse to escape in order to protect the countess. As a result, the startled horse threw me off and the carriage was overturned."     

"So, you broke your leg?" the emissary curiously asked, "What about the countess?"     

"She was much better than I was. There were cushions and thick quilts in the carriage, so she was just badly bruised," White angrily said, "She climbed out from the carriage and ran away, leaving me alone on the road. I crawled home with my broken leg and spent all my savings on a fake leg," he knocked on the copper stick that was sticking out of one of his trousers and said, "However the house of the earl kicked me out with the excuse that I wouldn't be able to drive a cart anymore. The damn nobles!"     

"What a pity," the emissary paused and said, "However, Gods didn't abandon you, and you're now driving for the church. Praise God."     

"Indeed, my lord. Praise God." While saying so, White thought to himself, [No. If God is really kind, I shouldn't have experienced such a tragedy. God didn't save me when I needed him the most.]     

Right then, they heard a girl crying inside the carriage.     

"Stop for a moment," the emissary ordered.     

White pulled the rein tightly to make both of the horses stopped gradually. The emissary hopped off the carriage and walked around to the back of the carriage. Soon, the sound of whipping was heard from the carriage.     

"Poor child." He sighed. "Just bear it, he's your savior. You won't even survive the winter and probably become an unattended dead body along the street without Lord Emissary."     

The emissary returned and climbed back up to the shafts after a while and said, "Let's go"     

"Sit tight. Drive!" White shook the reins and the cart started moving again. "They're all from the Kingdom of Wolfheart?"     

"More or less. The churches from each of the town in the kingdom would take in some orphans. The number of people we take in will increase by a few times especially during the winter when there's a shortage of food and clothing. It would not be sufficient depending only the friars from the churches, so they have entrusted the cart dealer to hire some trust-worthy driver to assist in delivery. You've done a very good job, White. My previous colleague has highly recommended you."     

"It's my pleasure to be able to participate in such good deeds," White said with a grin, "My lord, are they all being sent to the cloister? Forgive me, although they're all orphans, they have very different characteristics. Even though some of them are still young, they would have done almost anything. Won't they stain Holy Land?"     

"God will judge them, although they're guilty, they'll be given a chance to redeem themselves."     

"Is that so? That's a good thing." White looked up to the sky. "It's late, my lord. Do we need to spend the night in the next town? If the weather is good tomorrow, we'll arrive the old Holy City by noon."     

The emissary yawned and said, "Let's find a hotel with a yard to park the carriage. You may go to prepare food for them."     

"Okay!" White answered.     

The town was the only way to the old Holy City from the Kingdom of Wolfheart, and it was not his first time here. He was so familiar with the places here that he quickly found the hotel which he used to stay. After he parked the horse cart at the yard, he went to buy some food for the orphans with the money the emissary had handed to him. As usual, sweet potato porridge was the most suitable choice as it was cheap and delicious. After he watched them distributing the porridge, he limped back to the hotel, ordered himself a loaf of butter bun, and started eating while sitting at the bar. As for the emissary, he must have gone to a better place.     

If it was 10 years ago when his leg was good, he would have gone to the tavern to drink some wine and find someone to play a few dices with—he was pretty lucky back then. As for now... he thought it was better for him to go back to his room and have an early rest when he touched his purse in his clothes.     

In the evening, he heard some noises in the yard. He woke up and opened the curtain to take a look, White saw the drunk emissary unlocked the carriage and went in. After a while, he came out with two orphans, and there were two men standing behind him, who looked like the nobles from the way they dressed.     

White drew the curtain and went back to his warm bed.     

This was not the first time he witnessed it, and the previous emissary always did the same. [Surviving is the greatest luck,] he thought, [Comparing to the temporary pain, tolerating is the only way. When you arrive in Holy City, you'll have a brand new life. At least, there won't be worries of starvation and cold in the cloister.] White yawned and fell asleep.     

As soon as the sun rose, he was moving forward with the emissary. It was a smooth journey and they had reached the old Holy City an hour earlier than the time they predicted. There was already a church carriage waiting for them, and it looked like the poor kids still had a long journey to go. But it had nothing to do with White.     

"This is your payment." The emissary threw him a sack.     

White poured the money out onto his palm after he caught the sack and counted them twice, and it was indeed 20 silver royals. He nodded and said while bowing, "I'll see you next year."     

The emissary did not answer but waved him away.     

White noticed that there were a few other carriages that did the same job. [Perhaps they're coming from another kingdom?] He thought, [However, something is strange. They're all little girls who came out from the carriage. The church only adopts girls?]     

He shook his head and left behind these questions, and drove back home.