Chapter 63: The Test
Thump, thump, thump! Intense knocking shook the heavy wooden door.
Inside the wooden house, Sherman, who was sleeping under a tattered quilt, was instantly awakened. Rubbing his eyes, he sleepily called out, "Coming."
Mid-month of the Revival Moon, the weather was still quite chilly.
Sherman put on his worn-out clothes, grabbed the leather coat that served as a second blanket, and opened the door.
Outside, Old Roger leaned against a carriage, holding a whip in one hand and puffing on his pipe with the other.
"Hurry up, it's getting late. If you're late, you'll get scolded."
"Got it."
Sherman closed the wooden door, nimbly climbed onto the carriage, showing no signs of urgency.
Roger glanced at him but said nothing. He cracked the whip sharply, and the old horse snorted as it pulled the carriage slowly forward.
Sherman leaned against the carriage railing, glanced at the dark sky, and closed his eyes for a nap.
Based on past experience, it would take about half an hour to reach the inner fort, and by then, the sky would be light.