It was called the Traders Road, and for several reasons. The long path spread across the entirety of the province, crossing several cities and towns without any troublesome places or obstruction, often through the pleasant meadows which made the long stretch to be titled a pleasure for all the traders and travelers. Multitude of goods and products came through this very road and cities located closer to them had, in abundance, goods which either came from the neighboring kingdoms or the other provinces. Notis was known for importing countless things from outside the land, and sellers merrily gave much for a good profit; due to all these reasons the Trader Road was heavily valued by Zion and was guarded equally to ensure nothing out of the law was given out and in the kingdom.
Luth knew that if Cassovin ever had to take a path to reach the Province Head, he would sensibly take this route; besides, Luth knew no other route than this as he came with Shari in this way as well. He reined Mehir and decided to move further into the road to find the Tribunal Member, for he could not help but worry after the previous attempt of assassin towards the noble figure.
Even at this time of the evening, there was a fairly good amount of carriages and carts passing by him. They held multiple vegetables and fruits, some other goods in the heavy looking horse-carts but Luth could not tell what they were as they rode in the cart covered by a thick sheet of a white cloth.
Luth did not known much about the importance of the figures that are the Tribunal members, but he knew that they were important enough to be not chased down by assassins, unless the two he and Shari encountered were bold ones. If he was ever to be assassinated for any personal reason, it would not happen in Atsura, the central province since Tribunal Members are greatly guarded by the knights and soldiers there, but Cassovin was not in Atsura for the time-being and it would be an ideal time to kill him if there ever was a will to do so. Yet it sounds too coincidental for him to come to Notis at the time there was a grudge against him. It could also be to empty the seats of the Tribunal but that possibility was far off since the seats were held on merit anyways.
Wind grazed Luth's hair as he closed his eyes to consider all of this for a minute. Cassovin looked enough old for a noble to not be working in such a demanding position, he was a age where he could retire easily and have his children carry on his work. From the prejudice that Cassovin held, it seemed clear that he would not spend much time at the Tribunal even if he willed to continue. Perhaps he was soon to retire inevitably, in short time he could tell. That defuses any suspicions of him being sought after for any private issues.
"Why, of all," questioned Luth, "was an old man sent out of the rest of the Tribunal Members?" he sat there with a laden sigh when a thought came back, "Why? Why did he come here in the first place? He says it is a confidential reason..."
He did not know the reason for the Tribunal Member to step out of Atsura when someone else could be sent. Perhaps, just perhaps the reason was something for which he was sent. If assassins are after nobility, there must be something else in the situation. He did not know who sent the assassins, so he could not guess about that for now, but if Cassovin was targeted for assassination, then anyone else who came for the same reason would have become a target as well, that is without doubt.
Luth's eyes opened just then when the realization came rushing towards him like a stream of raging water. "The Tribunal is really cruel," he muttered to himself, "are they not?" that explained everything. The Tribunal had considered him an liability and likely knew that this task would attract unpleasant attention, even leading to assassination attempts, that is why they decided to send Cassovin out of everybody, because they simply did not care. They wanted the information but were too timid to take any risk sending someone important. But that was not Cassovin. He was a sure noble, and was of pure blood, but that did not mean that people could not hate him; and he was likely hindering the work of the Tribunal with his own prejudicial decisions. For that reason the Tribunal likely sent him since it was the least costly to their own needs; since the Tribunal is more concerned with the information—and he could predict that Cassovin was good with gathering information—they sent him.
If he had died or took any casuality on his body, or even get out completely safe, he was to retire from the Tribunal anyways. This made the most sense. But for what reasons was Cassovin here, he was yet to figure.
The voices broke through his thoughts as he came back to his senses, within the distance then did he see the chariot. Cassovin seemed to be well inside it, and there was a silence in the road finally. A sigh left his mouth after he had found the chariot. It seemed that those were the only assassins that were sent with the objective to eliminate the Tribunal Member, and he would not blame them the least. One assassin could cause so much trouble for him, even after being discovered before their attempt; only if their plans had gone the correct ways.
Mehir strode ahead and took to the pace of the chariot, and then finally kept his pace when he came to the level of the horse-drawn chariot. Cassovin quickly took notice of him and his forehead—involuntarily—creased downward while he stared him down from the high level of his seat.
"I believed that you left your own way alongside your companion." he said, scrutinizing his current state, which was quite bad. "Are you persistent on chasing me?"
Luth gave no answer for a moment, instead he focused on the chariot, "What is a Tribunal Member doing outside of Atsura with minimal safety than one of such stature would be attributed to?" he finally said, and with very bold words. To question his motives when he had continuously told about the situation being a covert matter, and with such tone.
"Speak no words to the man who is far above you," warned Cassovin, a great scar in his temper. "The reasons are far less concerning to a commoner with a quick tongue."
"Do not tell me where I belong, Lord Cassovin." said Luth, not backing down now, "I know myself where I belong. But as a knight, it is my work to know why there are assassins behind your head." he spoke with finality, knowing that this would worry him enough. He just had to hold the commanding façade a bit longer till he figures everything out.
The Tribunal Member moved in his seat as the word 'assassin' left Luth's throat. He froze for a second then decided to speak again, this time with more caution. "Assassins?" he let out a heavy breath, "They are after me?"
"Only two for now, but who knows how many more there are to come."
Cassovin took some time to assert the knight in front of them and the nodded, a bead of sweat crawling down from his temple to his chin. Perhaps it was from the heat, but the winter was likely not going to let that happen; Luth knew fear better than anyone else, he knew that Cassovin feared. Every noble had a fear, fear of losing everything mortal, everyone detested the fragility of life and he would use that. Luth did not even recognize when he became such a craver in his own curiosity but he had stepped over his bounds already. He know that the commander would be glad to not sit in a room interrogating Cassovin; so he felt no bad committing the act, he was jus helping the commander in his mind.
After some thinking, Cassovin nodded, "These matters are not to be talked about here. I must discuss them with Armon and you inside the Province Head. Tomorrow morning, understood?"
Luth was satisfied enough at the answer. It made no sense to discuss such matters on the midst of the Traders Road. He reined his horse forth and went away ahead of Cassovin's chariot.
"To handle their assassin on his own?" said Cassovin to himself and then motioned the driver to continue. He though for another second and then shook his head, "Only time many tell."
Luth reached back into Tardia, and found an inn where he could rest for a bit. He used the last bit of his coins that he had to book a room for his stay. He then went to the back of the stable and rested Mehir in one of the spots. He gave the horse some hay that was available in the inn; he could only imagine how famished Mehir was for a full day. After Mehir got full he placed a bucket of water of the horse to quench his thirst. After such, he left and walked into his own room inside the inn.
The door shut with a soft noise and then silence followed. There was no voice nearby, and not many people were in the inn as he had expected. He sighed and took off his cloak and dropped the fabric on the table, he looked more tike a beggar beneath it with his torn shirt and worn body. He removed the shirt and did the same with it. His body was bandaged all over, after defeating the assassins he had his wounds stitched and bandaged in Flocia as some kind knights took him to a medical clinic there. The wounds were still sore from the battle but he would not even feel it due to his tiredness.
He only found of his own fatigue when he laid his head on the bed, causing his body to practically shut down. He would not feel anything and sleep quickly took over him. His breathing calmed and he did not care to even fully lay his body on the mattress. It felt so good to rest after the events of the day.