~The Unexpected Fire~
I had never felt such a freedom! At that moment everything in the world seemed to be all within reach. I stood just outside of the main castle wall, and began to follow the scenic roads rather than the larger ones that passed right through the center of the capital. I took care to make my footsteps soft as there was still a horrible chance that I could be caught. It was a chance I was not willing to take. If my father were to ever hear of this while I was near, I would surely be confined to the palace walls for the rest of my life, I thought wryly. It was not a pleasant picture.
Roads of brick houses lead me towards the beginning of the temple district. They all seemed so peaceful and quaint, yet comfortably lively at the same time. For a moment I found myself wishing that I, too, could reside in a house of sturdy brick and have nothing more to worry about than the cost of the drop spindles or cloth I planned to buy that day. I would have no business with the affairs of nobles and would have no reason to take worry over sillyt hings as betrothals and gowns. But that was not the way. I sighed,inwardly, but then returned to my brisk pace. I had no reason to fret. The palace was then behind me and a quest just beyond the horizon. I was ready.
After two more hours of silent walking I found myself near the southern border between Antequetine and the next fief to the south, Trebond. The members of the King's Own set for border patrol paid me little attention as I entered the neighboring fief with the dawn. I could not stay long, but I knew I would be safe until mid morning.
Slowly, the sleeping town began to awaken. Merchants readied the day's merchandise, guards took their posts, and families began the daily chores. It was like any other morning in Tortall. I was here, away from my home,on a puzzling mission, alone…and yet time went on.
Though I had packed enough food to last a fortnight or so, the tangy smells of the town's morning meals tempted me to take my breakfast at a road side café. Who was I to question hunger? I stopped at the small restaurant. A young man, perhaps a little older than myself, stood near the entrance to the small stone building.
"Good morning." I said to him. I had reached the side of the road. "I was wondering if you could spare a morning meal."
Of course, my fine lady." He teased,grinning. "I'm sure my uncle wouldn't mind. This is his café, you see, but he usually doesn't get many customers in the morning." He offered me a chair near the balcony and motioned for me to sit. "You enjoy the view for a bit and I'll go ransack the garbage bin for something we can eat." He smiled again and I felt a fluttering feeling in the pit of my stomach. He turned and blew a strand of chestnut hair from his face. My eyes followed his back until he had entered what must have been the kitchen. He seemed so different, perhaps even...special.
What was I thinking, I couldn't waste this time on romance…the back of my mind then answered, not all of it anyway. Why did he do this to me? I couldn't go all feminine now! Mentally, I shouted at myself for letting such thoughts come to mind, but in my heart I knew that maybe this quest wasn't just to put out fires. Maybe it was time to start one too…
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Kind of short, I know. But I thought it was a good place to end. (It's my muses again) Anyway, I've been pumping out a chapter or more a day, so check back soon for chapter 4. Do you like it so far? I have big plans for Marquerite and this certain young man, both in the adventurous part of the story and the romantic part. He he he...more to come!
