Annan wore a thick, warm coat, his hands tucked into its sleeves as he held the Carriage reins.
Just as Deepwinter's cold had failed to freeze Annan's enthusiasm, the dull journey had done nothing to dampen his anticipation.
He thought back over his traveling companions: Gray Wolf, a somewhat withdrawn middle-aged Merchant traveling with a boy about Martin's age who could not speak; Astolfo, a girl who idolized Knights and wanted to become a squire in Betar City; and a young Merchant woman whose skin had been weathered by sun and wind.
Annan was playing a young man torn between becoming a merchant and a Bard. The feathered outfit he had borrowed from Andrew Luna was packed in his suitcase. No one would see through him.
This time, he would not have Aunt Susan's family looking after him as they had in Pinglin Town. He would not be caught in a whirlpool of intrigue as he had been in Breeze City, or feel the same unease he had felt returning to Ossulund Territory. He had even taken off his Mage Robe. This trip to Betar City would be a real adventure in another world.
An adventure of Annan's own!
On an ordinary afternoon, a little earlier.
After an excited Annan left the City Lord's Mansion, Olmedo waved over a Servants in the distance. "Francois and the others are here too, right? Have Dina find them and tell them..."
"Annan is planning to leave you behind."
That was what Dina told Francois, Della, and Rona when she found them. Annan was going to Betar City and had made up an excuse to fool them.
No wonder Annan had suddenly come back earlier, saying he had some business to handle in Breeze City and telling them to return to Star-Moon Bay