|
"Journey to Home " (South Window) The next morning Freed was in Lord Granmeyer's office. His head was lightly bandaged. "I am terribly sorry, Lord Granmeyer for not bringing you back your lunch and being fifteen minutes late. I will take any punishment you require..." "Freed," Granmeyer started. "You're a hero Freed, relax." "Yes, sir. Thank you sir," Freed said while staying at attention. Granmeyer sighed. "Freed, remember that lad who came in wanting that letter from me about traveling with that Radat trader, Shu?" Freed nodded and said, "Yes sir, I do." He did remember Schtoltelheim Reinbach IV. Now, who did he resemble? Freed couldn't put his finger on it. "Well, I want you to go to Radat! I want you to investigate this Shu. But stay at your home for many hours. Make it look like I'm giving you time off. Spend lots of time with your wife. Sleep decent hours. Be there for about a week. Find out what you can about why Shu sent this man." Freed was happy, he could work and spend some time with Yoshino! "Yes, sir. Thank you, sir. Thank you!" Freed bowed and left the room. Lord Granmeyer sighed a breath of relief once Freed left. He was mildly interested in this Shu but; mostly he wanted to give Freed a vacation. Freed usually refused them. Oh, well...he didn't need Freed too bad. The vacation would do him good. Freed had gathered a bag of supplies and left South Window. The fresh air was invigorating. Freed felt good. He was making good time too. He knew the way from South Window to Radat very well. He had to commute quite often. He really missed his wife, it would be SO good to see her. More importantly what was with this Shu guy? Freed had pretty much ignored the successful trader. Perhaps Richmond would know the dirt. Freed took a rest near a rock. Everything was peaceful. Of course then some disaster occurred to disrupt him he heard moaning. Freed ran over to see what it was. It was a samurai. He was on the ground moaning. "Excuse me, sir are you okay?" Freed asked. "I'm SO hungry!" the samurai replied. "Well, I do have some rations..." "Please, kind sir..." the samurai moaned. Freed shrugged. He had to help someone in need. He opened his pack and gave the samurai some food. "More! I'm still SO hungry. Sorry, I'm starving!" Freed shrugged. He opened his back and fed some more food to the samurai. "More..." Later Freed and the samurai were sitting around a fire. "I'm Rikimaru," the samurai said. "I am Freed, sir," Freed said is his usual polite manner. "Do you call everyone sir?" "Pretty much," Freed replied. Rikimaru leaned back and rubbed his stomach. "Boy, do I owe you a favor. Where are you headed?" "I am headed to Radat," Freed responded. Rikimaru smiled. "Oh, I'd like to visit there. Why don't I travel with you till we get there?" "Sounds good," Freed said. Well it looked like he had found a traveling companion for a bit. Rikimaru would be a good, but hungry companion. Tomorrow they would reach Radat and then he could begin his mission.
| ||||
