Abigail had managed to accidentally fall asleep on the wagon. By force really, as the man had poured something into her drink a few hours before.
He didn't do anything to her, though it did make her extremely drowsy and forced her to fall asleep. The entire ride there— he did have thoughts about leaving her behind.
However, he didn't want her to die out there— after he shouted and cursed himself aloud. Annoyed by her demeanor but still in a small way feeling understandable at times.
He however was just extremely uncomfortable with her now, and wanted this trip to be silent and over. Thus, he had finally arrived at the long stretch straight to the city.
It wasn't long before Abigail came too— upon hearing the last thing from her nightmare.
' Come on baby girl~ daddy's here, daddy's gotcha... '
A flash of her father's face would appear before her, stretching his hand out towards her— trying to comfort her, as his face becomes blurry and fades away…
Her orbs shot open, as she rose up on a bright and sunny morning. The immediate sun rays beaming down on them. She slowly grunting herself awake, as she blinked a few times.
She wasn't sitting up by the man anymore, as he had seemed to have tossed her into the wagon part. The man heard her come too— as he turned back to look at her while driving.
" Good morning, and before you ask me— no. I never touched you or did anything to you. " He reassured her.
Abigail giving a blank and cold expression, as the bumpy ride on the trail as they made their way to the city. Abby looking around noticed the sensory was much more lively and green.
The trees have blossoms on them, in a pink and colorful nature. The trail filled with the little leaves, as the bushes looked neat and trimmed. Abigail looked back up at the male as they rode.
" .... Then why am I in the wagon part? ... " She questioned.
The man without hesitation told her.
" Because you make me uncomfortable... and I would rather not have my— 'neck cut until you feel bone. ' " He reiterated towards her.
Abigail listened towards him silently as he mocked her remark about what felt like days ago. She didn't bother to comment on it— as she would simply move on.
" .... How long have I been out? "
" Only for about several hours. I needed to concentrate on the way here— and I felt much safer with you fast asleep rather than beside me. " He explained.
The man looked back at her expression, as it gave a cold and lifeless appeal. The man turned his head back around as he shook it.
" You're going to have to lose the manly death stare lady, otherwise Mr. Lingo won't take you in. "
Hearing him, Abigail's face soften only a little, as she had questioned him.
" Mr. Lingo? "
" He's the man you will be staying with and working for... he's good at his job, as he's a crafter and builds things for the castle at times or— use too. So he's well known. "
" ..... Does he always take strangers in? " Abigail asked him, as they got closer and closer towards the city. Abigail could see other riders, as they would pass them by on the trails.
" Not all the time, unless he felt there was something in it for him.... But he's a nice old man... I heard he also had a daughter— so... maybe that's why he— " The man would tell her before looking back at Abby.
Abby still kept a distant and nonchalant expression, as the man shook his head.
" Nevermind. "
The bells to the castle on top of the towers rang loudly, as Abby eventually climbed and stood up on the wagon. Walking past items on the wagon, as she made her way to the front again.
Catching her eye instantly, was the sensation before her. She had never been this close to the city before, as it was massive and large. Looking up and noticing the black and gold castle that she assumed held the king.
The man took notice of Abigail's expression, as she seemed to be in awe of her surroundings. He would grin a bit as he continued on their way.
" May I welcome you to Scaleton City. " The man told Abigail. Abigail hearing the name glanced over at him confused a bit.
" ..... Scaleton city? " She remarked a bit surprised and also somewhat upset.
However, the man didn't know why she sounded the way she did, as he shrugged it off.
" Yeah! Home to the land of the dragons. " He would say proudly.
He motioned with his head a little, shifting his fix on the castle, as they were riding over the city bridge making their way to the entrance of the city.
" And that there is DragonFlame Castle - home of the Dragon King. "
Abby continued to listen to the man, as she looked down briefly and towards him.
" ..... Seriously? Their entire civilization is named after beasts who wreak havoc on our society? " She said, sounding offended.
The man chuckled a bit as Abigail squinted her orbs down in a puzzled expression.
" That's just a rumor. A myth. It was once believed that the royal family known as the Minamoto family, once were rulers who tamed dragons. " The man explained to her.
" Tamed dragons... ? " Abigail asked.
" Yes. Although, there have been spotting of wild dragons terrorizing towns and other nations. Scaleton city has never been struck with such bad luck, ever— in history. " The man told her.
Arriving finally at the entrance, as royal guards stood in their way. Immediately the guards looked at the two. The man pulled the horses still, as he nodded to the guards.
" Morning my good men, we are just heading inside for the festival coming tomorrow, as well as I have a few deliveries I need to bring today. "
" Why haven't you checked in, at the docks first before coming through the city's gates. " A guard asked him.
Abigail came a bit nervous all of a sudden, as she didn't know you couldn't walk inside the city without reason. The man however, didn't seem nervous at all as he smiled at them.
" Well, I have my sister here with me— and she's had quite the journey sir, she's also not feeling well either. I wanted to make sure I got her here in time for our family— it may be the last time she'll be able to see them. " He explained.
Abigail looked dumbfounded as she couldn't believe she was being used to be his sister. The guard slowly shifted his face towards Abby, as Abby looked down at them, and gaze a shifting look.
The guards looked at one another, before they heard the sounds of loud bangs. Immediately all of them turned to the noise that was inside the city walls.
One of the guards sighing, as he was annoyed, but didn't seem all that surprised. Waving the man and Abigail through the gates, as they started to open on their own.
" Very well, come through, we have more important matters to attend to at this time. " The guard said.
" Come through the docks next time— or I'll make sure to fine you and your —- sister... " The other guard remarked.
" Of course! Thank you sirs. " The man said with a smile as he rode into the city as the gates became fully opened. Abigail watching and eyeing the guards and their full armored attires.
" Those guards...." Abigail started to say.
" Work for His majesty himself. They even have the dragon pendant on the left side of their armors. Indicating the kingdom they work for— and their positions. "
" ...Yeah... I've noticed..." Abigail said lost in thought, as her orbs looked around astonished by what she saw.
The city was massive, tons of busy streets, a bunch more markets, tall towers, with tons of guards patrolling the roads. Alley ways, homes that were on the far back in the city.
The city flags that held the dragon symbol, children and women who walked the markets with their husbands. Seeing from afar another bridge that connected the city towards the castle.
Although there was an outer gate and an inner gate that locked both from the outside and inside. Guards on both sides of those gates. Looking up, Abigail could see how huge, and gigantic the castle was.
Noticing balconies that were beautifully designed and one in particular that looked like it had something sitting on the floor of it. Her mind was pondering on what it could be— when she heard the man speak to her.
" Hey? Did you hear me? "
" ... Huh? ... What? " She asked him, confused.
" I said, how do you like it so far? Too busy for you or what? " He would remark, as he rode through the city, heading towards Mr. Lingo's home.
" It's.... All so.... " Abigail tried to say, seeing children playing with others and running through the streets. However, those same children got stopped by a guard.
" No running! Walk! " He commanded, as the children turned and walked off with each other.
" .... Lovely? " He finished her sentence by asking.
" .... Overwhelming... " She would finally say.
" Yeah, you'll feel like that for a little while— but you'll get used to it. After all, you now will be living in the city, and I'm not sure if you believe that towns are run the same way as the city is, but it's not. "
" .... What do you mean? " She asked him.
" ... The city always has a curfew, so no one is allowed on the streets after midnight. If you are caught you are thrown directly into the city jail which is not somewhere you wanna go.. trust me..."
" I see... " Abigail said briefly while still looking at everything. The beautiful flowers in the city, and the light post that had decorations hanging from them.
Indicating that the city was decorating for the festival that was tomorrow.
" Also, do not under any circumstances— go near the castle. People who get too close are thrown into the prison rather than the city jail. The prison is within the castle... and I've heard they torture you down there. "
Abigail didn't know if the man was simply trying to scare her or warn her, but it would seem he was attempting to do both. Either way, it was working.
Abigail would simply nod at him, as they had finally moved away from the crowds and went over a small bridge that led to small homes in the city. After some time— they had finally arrived at a small little cottage on the edge of the city.
" Wait here. " The man remarked, as he climbed off the wagon and parked the horses, as Abigail sat there still.
The man would slowly walk up towards Mr. Lingo's home and knock on the entrance before kissing the door and walking inside.
Abigail continued to eye everything around her, until her eyes locked on a young woman washing her clothes in a small little bucket. That brought back memories, as Abby had done the same for her and her father's clothing.
It wasn't until she saw a man come out and smile at her indicating that it must've been her daughter.
" Haha— good job sweetheart. Make sure to get the dirt off as much as possible. " He would say towards her.
" Sure thing daddy! " The sweet little girl would say back towards her father.
Abigail watched in silence, as the wind blew loudly as if she was watching a distant memory. Seeing how her father would bend down and assist her with washing, as he would guide her hands how to wash.
Abby could feel a small tear leave her right eye, as she watched the little girl get helped by her father. Then, lifting his daughter up and swinging her around playful as she giggled.
Abigail wanted to die right then and there. It wasn't long before the man came back out along with Mr. Lingo, an old bald headed man— with a hunchback and walking stick.
" This is her. " The man would say.
Mr. Lingo, having a long white beard, as he would slowly approach Abigail. Abby not paying attention, as she took no notice in that Mr. Lingo and the man came back outside.
" .... She will do... " Mr. Lingo in an old shaggy deep voice would speak.
Abigail hearing the distant sounds of someone talking finally managed to turn and look at them both. To her surprise she didn't know Mr. Lingo would look like this.
He looked like someone's grandfather, someone who should've passed away by now. Perhaps, he was getting there soon, which she didn't know why he would be taking her in if that was the case.
Abigail would look back at the daughter and father who were already gone, as she would then look back at the men.
" ..... Um.. I'm — "
" I know who you are.... " Mr. Lingo would tell Abigail to cut her off.
" Can you cook? " He asked her directly.
Abigail feeling a bit flustered would clear her throat a bit and nod.
" ... Speak girly. " Mr. Lingo would command.
Abby, a bit overwhelmed by his directness, would fumble a bit and nod. " I — Yes. I can... "
" It is— yes sir. To you, girly. "
Abby would exhale out of annoyance but would comply.
".... Yessir.. "
Mr. Lingo would use his walking cane and point inside his home.
" ... Get inside— clean yourself— I can smell you from here. A young girl should not be walking around smelling of such an odor like yourself... " He commanded.
Abigail, still somewhat baffled at his approach, looked over at the man. The man grinning a bit as he shrugged indicating the ' I told you so ' expression.
Abby walked past as Mr. Lingo spoke again but didn't bother turning around to look at her.
" ..... And take those clothes off and burn them... you will wear dresses here.... Nothing else. You are a lady. Dress like a lady. " He would tell her as Abigail turned heel and said nothing.
Feeling like she couldn't say nothing else, she would simply head inside and do as he told her.