CHAPTER TWO

Redania, 1209

The morning light beamed through my bedroom window along with its warmth and I couldn't help but relax at its gentle touch along the skin of my arm. After last night, I found it hard to close my eyes and fall sleep. All I could think about was what had been said between us and I wondered if I should have said anything at all. Maybe I should have kept the truth hidden, if only to keep the peace a little while longer.

Sitting up, my hands and feet ached from yesterday's work of climbing the trees. Redish bruises and blisters speckled my palms and fingers and I winced at the pain. However, my attention was drawn toward the familiar footsteps coming from the main living room. Bartha is already awake and no doubt ready to leave. Apart of me dreaded seeing her face or having to trade words, but there's no avoiding the inevitable.

Getting up from my bed, I quickly tucked the blanket to neaten its appearance. Stepping over to the small square mirror hanging on the wall, the blurred reflection offered a vague image of myself; white hair and pale skin. Bartha always told me vanity never did anybody good and that it's best not to worry about things like appearance; there's scarier things in the woods than me.

Pouring a small amount of water from the jug into a wash bowel, I cleaned my face before plaiting my hair and tucking it up into my white cap. Tying the string just under my chin, I changed into an appropriate dress. Nothing pretty or of hefty value ever made it into my wardrobe. There wasn't any point when it would just get covered in dirt or destroyed.

I paused with my hand grasping the door handle firmly. My heart quickened beneath my chest and I took a moment to calm myself, knowing there isn't anything to be afraid of. Turning the handle, I walked into the main living room where Bartha sat with breakfast; an egg, slice of bread and a few cubes of cheese.

"Eat" she said whilst gesturing to the chair and food.

Her voice was gentle but I could tell the subtle difference. There's still tension. Taking a seat, I ate what was there and got up to get my backpack secured for the walk ahead of us. It takes twenty to thirty minutes to reach the town gates and then a few more blocks to the centre.

"Are you ready?" she asked.

"Ready as I'll ever be"

Stepping outside, the new day graced us with good weather. With only a handful of clouds, there's no sign of impending storms or rain. I'm thankful. It's always horrible having to trek back amidst the mud and sludge of the dirt roads with pellets of rain drenching you from above. If the weather would hold I'd rather not have anything else spoilt.

Making our way to the main road just by our cottage, Bartha held her walking stick and an additional satchel. She stopped in her tracks just as we reached the wide dirt path and turned to me "Do you remember the rules?"

"Yes, I remember them"

The rules are simple; keep away from certain strangers, never wander off and never expose my hair for others to see. Having locks as white as mine makes people feel uncomfortable, as the stark colour isn't all that common outside of old age. The people and even passer-by's in town have their suspicions about me. They say I have an affliction or a curse. We've found it's just best to keep it out of site and out of mind.

"Let's be on our way then"

Finally starting our journey, I decided it would be best to put aside what had happened last night and try and continue this day as normal as possible. Having this silent barrier between us would only make the day stretch longer, and all I want is to get it over with.

Making our way along the sandy dirt road, the view of the trees and hills were interesting at first; the way they seemed to stretch for miles. However, the scenery passed too slowly to keep my attention. Before long I was bored and I'd begun to count my own steps; watching as one foot moved to step in front of the other. It went on like that for quite some time.

"We're almost there" spoke Bartha and I looked up to see the familiar stone walls of the town. Several chimneys pumped trails of smoke into the air and the place swarmed with more people than anywhere else for miles.

As we reached the gates and waited to file inward, the smell was the next think to take my notice. The stench was something rotten mixed in with the sludge that trailed down the side of the streets. Its visits like these that make me thankful we live further out and not crammed in with the rest of them. Although it would be convenient to live so close, I couldn't handle the bustle along with its constant noise and odour.

"Stay close Veraylia" Bartha's voice deepened with caution as she took my hand in hers.

Guiding us along the alley ways and main road, we made our way to the village centre; passing many stores and establishments along the way. The racket in the air began to rise as we reached the crowded centre, where tents and stalls had already been pitched; the market well underway. Several voices shouted across from one point to another and we found ourselves trying to find a spot for ourselves.

Standing side by side amidst the crowd, Bartha lifted her chin and stood on her tip toes trying to find us a place to camp. It was then that an awfully familiar person made his appearance. Of course it was none other than the smug and blistered face of the Mayor's right-hand man, Merit.

He's a man who's just as slimy in his schemes as his appearance. With shaggy wet hair atop his head, he resembled that of a brown rat with yellowed teeth and light arch in his back. Thin and lanky, Merit is quite harmless on his own. However, his little trio of equally disturbing goons were always at his back; willing to do the dirty work for him.

"It's a fine day, such a shame it's so busy" spoke Merit with a calm but twisted voice "You know how I love having a good bite out of that fresh fruit of yours Bartha. Always so ripe and juicy"

His muddled brown eyes darted toward me with his last words and my stomach churned as they began to wander. Bartha's grip on my hand tightened and the stern glare she bore into Merit never faltered. I know she wouldn't let anyone harm me, but that didn't take away the unease. Merit may be a grubby little man, but he holds a higher position here in the town. There's no telling what he would do to anyone.

"Well, there won't be any fruit if we don't have somewhere to sell it" Bartha's voice was bitter as she held out a small purse of coin "This should be more than enough"

Merits eyes moved from me to the coins he'd been offered and he took it without hesitation "Very well" he said whilst putting his hands behind his back "My men will with show you the way"

His trio of goons stood from the crowd and with that we were quickly walking away, but I found it hard to ignore Merits lingering gaze. Following the men, we were placed in a fairly decent spot between two other stalls along a winding row. Taking off our backpacks, we grabbed the support poles and tarp and started to assemble a small covering. It would be our shelter from the sun and a place to sell our goods.

"I'll need to leave for the auction" said Bartha once we were settled. My brows drew together in objection and she sensed it "As long as you stay here Merit won't touch you. There's too many people and he isn't that stupid. Take this" she said whilst holding out a small dagger "Use it if you have to, otherwise stay here and don't leave the tent. I'll try not to be gone for long, I promise"

I would have argued but there's no point. One of us has to stay here and I'd be of no use at the auction. I realise that daunting things will always come along at some point in life and I just have to deal with it, Merit included. But I know I can protect myself if I need to, and I'll need to start doing it more often; knowing Bartha won't always be here to protect me.

"Okay" I agreed whilst taking the dagger.

Bartha gave me a smile and a gentle squeeze of my shoulder "You'll be alright"

"I know"

Nodding her head, Bartha gave me a final glance before heading off in direction of the auction. Taking a quick glance of my surroundings, I seated myself on the small wooden stool and waited for potential customers. It wasn't long until they started to come by the tent, making purchases for our fresh fruit amongst other things.

The unease from earlier had since dissipated as I kept the dagger close and myself tucked safely inside the confines of the tent walls. There's been no sign of Merit or his men and therefor nothing to be worried about. Sitting on the stool, I was humming old tunes to myself when a shadow casted over the baskets of fruit.

A rather deep and husky voice spoke out "How much for the satchel?"

My eyes slowly blinked upwards to settle upon the tall and broad figure of a stranger. He stood dressed in a black cloak whilst holding the reigns of a brown horse close by. It took me a moment to reply to the strangers request as I quickly glanced at what he wanted.

"Thirty crowns" I announced.

"That's steep for a satchel"

"I made it myself. It'll last you"

The stranger stood silent before agreeing to my terms and holding out the bargained price. Standing up I grabbed the satchel to hand over to him but just as I reached for the golden coins, Bartha appeared by the tent; her arms full with parcels of meat. Her green eyes flickered from me to narrow in on the stranger. She looked rather displeased by his presence.

"Move along Witcher"

"I intend to" he grunted in reply and we finished our exchange. Tugging on the reigns of his horse, the stranger left without another word and I wondered why Bartha had treated him so cruelly when he'd done nothing evidently wrong.

"Why did you do that?" I asked Bartha as she placed the parcels in our backpacks.

"People like him only mean one thing and it's never anything good"

"People like him? A Witcher you mean"

"Yes" replied Bartha "That's what he is and all Witcher's know how to do is take money and kill monsters"

"There's plenty of those here" I mumbled more to myself than her, but she heard me anyway.

"I'd keep those thoughts to yourself"

Her scolding was light but meaningful. She's right, there's too many ears roaming around the town and the people here don't take lightly to insults. Besides, there's no need for anymore unwanted attention. Sitting back on my stool, I waited once again for this day to pass although my thoughts occasionally drifted back to the so called Witcher. It's a name I'd never heard of until now and it made me curious as to what exactly it meant.

Sighing, I got up from my seat and stretched as the sky above began to turn various shades of colour. Flocks of birds had begun to chirp in the sky as they flew overhead, ready to settle for the day. I wondered if it would be time for us to do the same. Looking over to Bartha, she sat on a stool of her own with a garment in hand sowing closed the hole that'd been torn.

"Shouldn't we be leaving soon?"

"Yes, we should" agreed Bartha "As soon as I've taken this back"

"I can do it" I offered quickly. Bartha went to protest but I quickly interjected "I can manage on my own. If I take it then you can pack away the tent and we can leave a lot sooner. I'll even meet you by the gate"

"There's rules for a reason"

"And I'm not breaking any them. I can do this" I reassured "I was on my own earlier and nothing happened"

"Because I knew you would be okay here, but not out there in the alleys. It's too dangerous"

Pinching the garment from her hands, I straightened my back in determination "You'll have to let me go one day. So why not start now?"

Bartha sighed before crossing her arms. She knows deep down that she isn't going to win the argument. Besides the longer we stay here bickering back and forth, the less chance we have of getting home before nightfall and I'd rather not walk home in the dark.

"Fine, you're to go to the smithy's hut by the stable" she finally conceived "He's already paid. All you need to do is hand it over and then head straight for the gate"

I nodded "I'll meet you soon then"

"The smithy is the only place you'll go. Straight there and then straight to the gate. Do you understand? Don't follow anyone and don't talk to anyone. I mean it Veraylia"

"I know and I understand"

"Good, then I'll be waiting for you. Now off you go" she shewed.

Tightening the garment in my grip a smile graced my lips and I took off along the dirt path. Passing closing stalls and empty spaces, the market had gone awful quiet as the people and their tents had dissipated with the lowering of the sun.

Heading toward the back of the town where the stables are kept, I came upon an open cobble court yard with a single tree centred in the middle. The smithy was just on the opposite side and I could already make out the distinct clang of his hammer against metal. Slowly approaching, I stopped just in front of the store but the old man hadn't seen me yet.

Clearing my throat, I spoke loudly "I have a garment of yours"

Stopping mid swing of his hammer, he turned to me with a worn and sweaty face. It is rather hot back here, especially with the large furnace burning brightly nearby "Leave it on the table" he gestured with the hammer "And tell Bartha I'll be there early morning" he grumbled with a withered voice before returning to his previous duties; the hammer striking the glowing metal just as I too was struck with confusion.

What was the smithy talking about?

Not bothering to question him myself, I did as he instructed and left the garment on the table. Making my way back over the court yard, I headed toward the direction of the gate. Walking down several alleys, the streets held many houses; seemingly piled right on top of one another. After seeing it all like this, I wondered how anyone managed to live their lives so condensed into one place.

Walking along the pathway, a voice in the distance caught my attention. Merits men stood just outside of one of the stores by the end of the street. Quickly stopping, I ducked to the side and watched as Merit came out with a large purse of coins. The laugh he let out echoed down the street to make my skin crawl.

Glancing around, I saw a narrow alley way just behind me which seemed to lead toward the town gates. Tossing between the odds, I found them favouring the alley way rather than crossing paths with Merit. Inching backwards, I turned to follow into the side alley when a voice bellowed out from behind me.

"Oi!"