Chapter 2: New Beginnings

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Thanks to:

alanna9631 and the 3 guests

Kel woke up with a groan. She meant to be up by now. She had to keep moving or her plan would fail before it even began. As she slowly wakes up she checks that the mare is still there at wasn't stolen overnight, it was still there, looking at her with bright green eyes that made her calm down.

She gets up and starts to unpack the army rations and pan she grabbed. Taking it down from its place on plain leather saddle she stole. As she starts to prepare breakfast she says

"You need a name" the mare snorts as if agreeing with her. Kel starts thinking and continues opening a rice and bean meal. "I got it! I dub you Kiah, I had a friend back on the islands with that name and she said it meant new beginnings. I'm starting over and this is my new beginning. Kel finishes her meal quickly and saddles the newly named mount. Kel starts thinking about her future.

They would have figured out by now that she was gone by now, it was past the noon bell, as she could remember it ringing from far away as she woke. Search parties would be sent out as she was a noble. Not for the first time Kel wished she wasn't a noble. She needed to keep going if she wanted to stay ahead of them. Lightly jumping on Kiah they make their way on to the game trail they were following.

Around an hour later, Kel decides to start strengthening her body. She jumps of Kiah and starts jogging alongside her mare. 30 minutes later she is out of breath and can barely take a step. She grabs her water skin and takes a swig, then struggles to mount Kiah. Once she can breathe normally and her legs can hold her weight, she jumps off and starts to run again. Kel and Kiah keep this up until late at night when both are exhausted.

As she unsaddles Kiah she decides to flee the country, the search parties couldn't cross the border and she wouldn't be recognized. Her easiest choice was to go to Scanra to the north, but there were rumors of a war with Tortall, and wouldn't want to be caught in the crossfire. Tusaine was still on rocky ground with Tortall after the Tusaine war. As for Galla, Kel had heard of the interactions between the commoners and nobles, and never wanted to be a part of that ever. From what she had heard about Maren, which wasn't a lot, it wasn't much different from Tortall. The only major difference was that they allowed slaves, but there where laws to protect slaves for mistreatment.

It was decided she would go to Maren.

Thanks for reading, I will try to update as much as possible, but bear in mind I'm still in school and play sports.