Xinye's view continued

We all had breakfast and headed to Maelgywn's Ute. Already the 30 who were coming were there. Maelgwyn set up a place to hold all their packs and then instructed using Fergus as an interpreter on how to sit in the tray.

As for me, I headed for the shotgun seat, got in and waited for them all to be finished with the door open. Xin seeing my lack of concern was the first to volunteer on what to do with Fergus showing how to sit. The first row was sitting with their backs to the luggage (packs), the second row facing the first, and the third row sat with their backs to the second row. A bucket was given to the middle person in each row to hold.

Fergus was sitting with his back to the luggage and Xin was facing him. Maelgwyn got on to show the third row then hopped off again once a volunteer took over. They sat cross legged like this for the entire journey. Stopping only at each town to get exercise ready for the next stage.

The first town we came to we discovered what had happened in full. For Maelgwn, Fergus and I the speed at which we were travelling was not very fast, but it was double what a horse could gallop at. The roads between each town were well looked after for messengers or the army to go on. Although it was not as good as our super highways, it was still decent enough for us to travel faster than a horse could gallop.

As for the bucket, it turned out that there was at least one person in each row that needed it. When we stopped, we changed the seating to accommodate the car sick people. I also gave them instructions through Fergus on how to avoid car sickness. This was to make sure each of them was facing forward on the edge, to not look at anything close or better yet close their eyes and lean back into the person behind them. We cleaned out the bucket and sat it back in with the middle person.

"You know," one of the men commented, "Looking to the horizon would have helped being told at the start, not when we stopped."

"Fair enough," I agreed, "but we needed to know the people who were going to react the most straight up, and this is best to find out without giving warning on how to travel."

"Why? It seems counter-intuitive," the man argued.

"So that the ones susceptible have more opportunity to be alright at the end of the trip and ready to fight instead of being useless from sickness," I replied, the man thought about what I said and nodded. It finally made sense to him put this way.

When we arrived, we overheard the locals going, "Why can't we go yet? What does the emperor think he is doing? He can't stop trade!" but when they saw the car, they were frightened, "No wonder we were stopped. That would scare the horses. That would scare anyone! Those men must have nerves of steel getting in that thing."

The ones that had been carsick just grimaced.

"What is with those men? They look sick," commented another.

It was true at that first stop. Before they were educated, they were sick - only able to drink water to quench their thirst and ease the sickness. Not everyone drank there as there was still a long way to go, and no one wanted to have any more bathroom break than was necessary they wanted to end this terrifying journey as soon as possible. They did not understand why Fergus was so relaxed about travelling this way, but because he was, they were too.

With stops, we arrived at the Fang family estate/manor by nightfall. We were to stay there one week before heading to the frontlines. Maelgwyn parked the Ute under a livestock shelter nearby, and we had to walk the rest of the way to the entrance on foot. It was not that far, but my legs had forgotten how to walk, so Xin went ahead, leaving me behind to go slowly. Li stayed with me as none of my family, new and old, could stay with me to walk at the speed I was able.
"Sorry Li, for walking so slowly," I said needlessly, as she couldn't understand me. Tears were in my eyes from the pain which made from every bone creaking and muscle twanging like a knife was being dragged up and down.

Li looked at me and nodded as if she understood, taking my arm securely locking it into her waist like she was a human cane and matched her steps to my pace. Tapping my hand with hers she said, "It's ok, we will get there when we get there. It's funny, though. You look so young, but you walk and move like an old fragile woman. What exactly are you?"

I didn't answer as by the ages standards, I was old.

The warriors all went with General Fang to be welcomed and housed by his family. By the time I got to the manor gate the manor guards on duty had quite forgotten that Xin had said his wife and Prince Hong's eunuch would need entry when they arrived.
A pretty,  high class lady happened  to be walking by then, and the guards asked her, "ChungLi, do you know of anyone coming? Is the young master expecting anyone?"

She looked at me, her fan covering jer face, her eyes narrowed, before turning back to the guard and replying, "No, I know of no-one. She seems suspicious, throw her into the guardhouse jail for now. The master can deal with her tomorrow. He will be busy tonight since the young master is home."

And she turned with contempt departing from the entrance.
The guard then grabbed Li and I throwing us unceremoniously into the family's prison for being suspicious people.

Li said it was because I was white and unable to speak Chinese. Her explanation was not considered good enough.

🍀A/N If you enjoyed this chapter please take the time to vote by pressing the star. If you see any errors please let me know as this is unedited. 🍀