Chapter One

Lemarra took her time returning to the inn. She'd been asked by Nella to pick up a few herbs from the market, a task she gladly excepted. Every time she had those precious moments outside of the inn, she cherished them like warmth on a winter's night. She'd lived at the inn since she was six years old. Yet the longer she stayed, the more she hated it. The innkeeper, Nella, was a cruel woman who would often beat her for not doing her tasks fast enough. And after putting up with it for 11 long years, she decided it was time to get out. Why she had stayed so long was beyond her. Lemarra's heart raced in excitement at the thought of leaving. She only wished she would be able to see the look on Nella's face when she found out she was gone.

Lemarra stopped short in her tracks in front of the gate to the inn and sighed. The walk from the market to the inn seemed so much shorter on the return trip. As she neared the door to the inn, Marra could hear Nella shouting out orders to the inn's other workers. She winced inwardly knowing what was coming and not looking forward to it. Putting on her bravest face, she walked into the inn. The scent of fresh bread overwhelmed her. That meant it was nearing suppertime.

As Marra walked through the hallways of the inn, she spotted Nella coming out of the kitchen. She beckoned Marra with her plump hands to follow her. Marra's grip tightened on the basket handle as she followed Nella silently into the kitchen.

"What took you so long, girl?" demanded Nella slapping Marra in the face with a stinging pop. Marra's anger flared but she checked it and remained calm remembering her nearing plan to escape. She would try her best to keep her employer in a good mood. Nella raised her hand ready to strike again if she didn't hear a reply.

"I went to get your herbs and I've returned with them. I'm sorry if it took longer than you expected." Marra replied coolly. But deep down she wanted more than anything to turn and slap the heartless woman right back.

Nella snatched the basket from Marra causing a few of the herbs to spill out. "I'll deal with you later." She hissed, her cold gray eyes filling with hate. Nella spun around on her heel and began talking with one of the kitchen maids.

Marra wandered to her room blinded by her tears of frustration. She knew all too well what that meant. Anytime Nella said she would deal with her later meant that day would end in a few lashes. Marra wiped the tears from her cheeks with her sleeve. She couldn't wait until nightfall. She had to leave now. Marra walked up the stairs to her room. It was only a dank musty attic filled with cobwebs and a few other creatures that lurked in the shadows. Many nights, she would climb those attic stairs only to cry herself to sleep at night. As soon as she shut the door behind her, Marra fell to her knees and searched the space under her bed for her belongings. She didn't have much, only a locket with a picture of her mother in it, some old skirts and tunics she'd managed to snatch from the rag bag. Marra shoved her clothes into her pack. Then, carefully, she put on the locket. It was the only thing she owned that reminded her of her family. A sharp pain throbbed in her chest at the thought of her past. She pushed it all aside. There was no time for self pity. She had to move fast. Marra took one last look at her shabby room and turned away from it, hopefully never to see it again.

Lemarra quietly made her way to the kitchen. She figured she should take at least a day's amount of food with her. Just until she found another inn to stock up on supplies. To Marra's relief, Nella was nowhere in sight. Rummaging through the kitchen, she put some stale bread and cheese into her pack before slipping unnoticed out the back kitchen door of the inn. Marra broke into a brisk walk only to stop dead at the shrill sound of Nella's voice behind her. Regaining all the composure she had left, Marra slowly turned around to face the red-faced woman.

"And where do you think you're going?" Nella asked sharply with her hands on her hips, her grayish white hair tumbling out its usual tight bun.

"I'm leaving." Marra said calmly, refusing to let Nella get to her one last time.

Nella let out a snort. "Oh, really? And exactly how far do you intend to go? You have no money for food or board. And you're pretty looks can only take you so far." She laughed mockingly. Certainly there wasn't a woman on earth as venomous as she, thought Marra observing the malice in Nella voice.

"I said, I'm leaving! I may not know where I'm going; but I do know I'm not staying one more day here with you." Marra snapped. It felt good to give Nella what she deserved.

"And after all I've done for you! I've given you a roof over your head, food and a place to sleep. So this is how you repay me? To think I let you, a worthless orphan, stay in my inn for even one night..." Nella turned up her nose in disgust.

Marra glared at the woman. "You've done nothing for me!" Marra's voice lowered with anger, "But if treating me no better than a dog and tearing into my back with a horse whip whenever you please are what you call doing something, then yes, you've done a lot. I hope I never see your face ever again. And as far as an orphan sleeping in your precious inn...why I'm surprised a rat would even sleep within its walls. Now, if you'll excuse me, I would like to cover some ground before it gets too late."

Marra could feel Nella's eyes burning into the back of her head as she hurried away. She couldn't help but smirk as she thought of how enraged Nella was at her leaving. Marra's heart eased. She would never have to see those cold gray eyes ever again.

Following a footpath, Marra walked to the edge of Stalderel Forest, which was said to be inhabited by many bandits and outlaws. None of which would keep her from entering it. Her hate for what she was leaving behind and the joy she felt from leaving it kept her going at a steady pace. She could feel the weight of Nella and the inn being lifted from her shoulders with every step she took.

A/N: Well, hoped you all liked this chapter. It's kind of short in my opinion. But it is the first chapter. This is my first fanfic so constructive criticism is extremely welcome. So with that being said, click the pretty purple button at the bottom of the page and tell me what you think.