She had been waiting for this moment all her life, to reach Tortall, but she felt a sudden gust of longing for her mother and brothers. They were, after all, the ones who had found this opportunity for her; they'd known how much she'd wanted to leave.
Home in Carthak, Abeni was the girl who was clumsy, shy, and scorned. But she could create a new identity for herself here. She tossed her braided brown hair over her shoulder. The days she had spent there were over.
She squinted. She thought that she had seen the Lioness, but the Lioness wouldn't be in Corus. She would be somewhere else, in the palace, perhaps. She wouldn't be among commoners. But those purple eyes that she had seen…those definitely were the Lioness's.
Abeni rubbed her chin thoughtfully. The man at the Lioness's side wasn't who she'd expect. He certainly was George Cooper, but Abeni had imagined him to be more serious. This man's face was creased by lines of laughter. She had always imagined the pair of them to be deeply in love, and extremely serious.
There were gorgeous things for sale. She wanted to buy a beautiful emerald ring, but she knew that she needed her money for somewhere to stay. She had planned on becoming a maid, but she wasn't sure if that was the path that she would choose.
Her light brown skin burnt too easily, something that her mother deeply regretted, as it made Abeni burn when she would work outside. Abeni looked up at the gleaming sun and winced.
She trudged along, wondering what her best friend, Jacinda, would think of this. She had been so envious of her friend's opportunity that Abeni had avoided her, not wanting to leave on bad terms with her friend.
She shook the thought out of her head. She was good at sewing and such. She could work on that, but she didn't know how to go about doing it.
If she had some acquaintances, it would be different, but she didn't. She was all alone in a new country, poor, with nothing going her way. She started to run.
She knew this didn't solve anything, but there was nothing else for her to do. She wished she was back in Carthak, with people who loved her. She couldn't remember why she had come to Tortall in the first place.
Corus was too big for her to escape. The sun was starting to set now. She had to find a place to rest.
She needed to be brave, for the first time in her life. She had always been timid, and today was no exception. But unless she was destined to starve, she had to be brave.
She saw the Lioness coming her way. Goddess, don't make her talk to me, she thought desperately.
"Do you have somewhere to sleep?" the Lioness asked her.
"I don't," she replied quietly. "But surely you have seen street children before."
The Lioness smiled a sad smile. "I have. But you're not from Tortall, are you?"
"No, Lady, I'm not."
"Are you looking for a job?" the Lioness asked, a little bluntly. Abeni felt a rush of hope.
"Are you offering one to me, Lady?"
"I am, if you'll take it." The Lioness looked like she was going to say more, but stopped herself.
"Do you need a seamstress or a maid? If you do, I could help," Abeni said, after a moment's hesitation, not wanting to interrupt the Lioness.
The Lioness looked thoughtful. "I do need a seamstress. If I hire you, I'll give you a place to sleep, and, well, we can figure out how much you earn. Does that sound all right to you?"
Abeni hadn't realized how knotted up her stomach was. "Yes, Lady, that sounds wonderful." She could hardly restrain herself from hugging the Lioness.
The Lioness smiled. She summoned her carriage over. "Get in," she said to Abeni gently. Abeni helped herself up.
"So," the Lioness said, smiling. "What's your name?"
"Abeni," the girl said, feeling shy again.
"It's a beautiful name," the Lioness said, sensing the girl's shyness.
Abeni smiled. Her life was definitely going to change.
