Rahlei of Her Own Destiny
Found
Chapter Eight
The next two weeks went well for Rahlei. She fell into a routine of constant mending, but found she did not mind it so much as she once did. It kept her mind off other things like her father and Ethan. She felt terrible for deceiving her husband and the more she thought about it, the worse she felt. Though, she didn't feel bad enough to return.
Rahlei was busy sewing buttons onto a shirt when Jahmes came into the room, pulled up a stool and sat before her.
"I've some bad news, lass."
Rahlei waited expectantly, knowing from the look on his face she didn't want to hear what he had to say.
"I know it hasn't shown much, an' that's 'cause I try to hide it, but me business is failing. Has been even before me missus took ill. I…" the man coughed and took a breath. "I'm afraid I can't keep you no longer, Miss Rahlei. I'm closing the shop."
Rahlei stared at him, her life flashing once more. She knew she had no right to wonder why she should bear the brunt of all these hardships, but she was beginning to wish she could share the wealth with someone else. It was becoming rather tiring having her life ripped apart time after time.
"I'm sorry, Rahlei," Jahmes said, patting her knee.
She only nodded.
"I'll not be taking any more orders for anyone. How long will it take ye to finish mending what ye've got left here?"
Rahlei looked around the room, feeling dazed.
"Couple days," she said finally.
"I'll close soon as ye've finished then," he said.
Rahlei nodded again.
Rahlei stood on the side of the road, searching for a likely candidate. Spotting one, she hurried forward.
"Sir, sir, excuse me, sir." She plucked at the man's sleeve.
"Don't touch me, street slime!" the man huffed, jerking his arm away.
Rahlei stopped, looking crestfallen, and went dejectedly back to her horse. She patted the animal's nose affectionately. The horse in turn pulled at her sleeve in search of food.
"I know you're hungry," she whispered to the spotted creature. "That's why we're doing this.
She saw another person.
"Sir, excuse me, would you like to buy this horse?"
The man stopped momentarily and glanced at the mare and then at Rahlei. He shook his head and muttered something gruffly.
And so the day continued. Rahlei's stomach grumbling louder as the day wore on, the horse becoming more and more restless. She had just decided to give up for the day and find another alley to sleep in when she heard a voice.
"Excuse me, I heard you have a horse for sale?"
Rahlei looked up to see a man with a wide brimmed hat and a weather stained cloak walking towards her, leading a limping horse.
"Y-yes, I do," she stammered, as the horse gave a sharp whinny and pranced over to the man, dragging Rahlei with her.
"Affectionate, isn't she," he commented, laughing.
"Very," Rahlei agreed.
"How much?" he asked, stroking the mare's nose.
"Oh, um, I don't know…" her voice trailed.
"Twenty nobles enough?" he asked, handing his horse's reins to Rahlei before opening the mare's mouth to examine her teeth.
"Oh, that would be wonderful," Rahlei breathed, her eyes lighting up.
He smiled at her, and brushed a lock of sandy colored hair out of his eyes.
"She looks a mite thin," he commented, lifting one of her legs to look at the underside of her hoof.
Rahlei hung her head.
"I know. That's why I'm selling her."
"I see," the man replied, simply, running a hand over the horse's withers. "Well, she looks good, even if a bit skinny. She'll get me to where I'm going though, after a good supper.
He handed her twenty nobles and took the reins back from Rahlei.
"Good day, miss." He tipped his hat at her and led to two horses down the road.
Rahlei watched him go, still clutching her gold, feeling as though a part of her soul left with that horse.
Now a month later, though Rahlei had counted and horded, the twenty nobles were all but spent. Attempts to find work were fruitless beyond the occasional copper she was paid to sweep a floor or do up the dishes for a busy cook. She used the last three coppers to buy an apple and a small loaf of bread on her way out of the city, and even those were now gone.
I have nothing, she thought, fighting back hot tears of self-pity, and she trudged down the road.
I have me, she reminded herself. I'm the most important thing I have. She would go to Port Caynn and see if any work could be found there.
She spent the night by the side of the road, hungry and cold, sleeping very little. She was up again at first light, her clothes damp from the dew and feeling utterly miserable. The day was hot and humid, and her throat became dry as a desert before the sun had reached its full height. Dusk began to settle but she kept walking. A drop of rain fell on her nose and she gazed despairingly at the stormy grey sky. The girl stopped and glanced around her for any sort of shelter. There was nothing. Wiping away more unbidden tears, she squared her shoulders and walked on. Within a few minutes, the sky had split and drenching Rahlei to the skin. The ground became muddy and slippery and she had to fight to keep her footing.
Oh, what I would give for the sheep shed to sleep in right now, she thought wistfully.
She tripped over a rock and fell on her face in the mud. She whimpered. This was too much. She couldn't take anymore. A pain in her knee told her she had, at best, scraped it. She tried to look at it but there was just too much rain. She sat in the middle of the road and wept.
How long she was there crying, Rahlei had no idea. She had lost all sense of anything and her body had gone numb with the cold long since.
"Whoa," came a voice from above.
Rahlei almost didn't hear it above the pounding rain, but she looked up and found herself face to face with a horse. She almost screamed with surprise.
"Need a ride?"
She looked up further to the rider. He was clad in a large cloak that covered him entirely and a wide brimmed hat to keep the rain off. She realized it was the same man that bought the horse from her all those weeks before. Although she couldn't actually see his face, the hat and cloak were quite distingishable. Leaning to the side, Rahlei realized that not only was it the same man, but it was also the same paint mare.
She wanted to say no. Oh, how she wanted to tell this man that while she looked to be in a dire situation, she could handle it and he could continue on his way.
I have too much pride, she thought, dully.
"Do you need a ride?" he repeated
She nodded finally, finding her mouth was too cold to speak. She didn't know if he saw her nod or not, but he dismounted and helped her to her feet, catching her when her knees buckled beneath her. He helped her onto the horse and mounted up behind her, wrapping his cloak around the both of them.
"What're you doing out here?" he asked over the din of the falling rain and occasional boom of thunder.
"Going to Port Caynn," she stuttered through frozen lips.
"Ah, I just came from there. Sorry to be taking you back after you already got so far," her rescuer said apologetically.
"S'ok," she mumbled.
"What's your name?"
"Rahlei."
"Well Rahlei, we are going to get us to an inn so we can dry off. We won't be there till morning, but I wasn't expecting this rain, else wise I'd never left."
Rahlei heard nothing after this. She was so overcome with exhaustion that she fell asleep despite her wet clothes and chilled body.
She warm. So nice and cozy warm. Ravenously hungry, but warm. Her eyes fluttered open and she found herself in a bed in what appeared to be a room in an inn.
"Sleep well?" a man asked.
She looked to her right, startled. He was sitting there, a foot crossed over his knee and a book in his hand. His hair was dark blonde with brown running through it, his eyes brown and his skin tanned.
"Y-yes," she finally managed to say.
"Hungry?'
"Very."
The man rose and called out the door for someone to bring food. He returned and sat down once more.
"So tell me, Rahlei. What were you doing in the middle of the road during a thunderstorm?"
"Going to Port Caynn," she said simply.
"Uh-huh," was his only comment.
The maid brought her a tray of food and Rahlei began eating at once.
"I'm sorry, I didn't get your name," she said between bites of scrambled egg.
He stared at her a moment. "Cody. My name's Cody Banks."
"Well Mr. Banks, I am very grateful for you to have brought me here, but I fear it was a mistake."
"And why's that, Miss Rahlei?"
"Because. The reason I was going to Port Caynn was to find work. I was going to find work because I had no money, thus I have no way of repaying you."
"I see. Well, Rahlei, let's just say I'm a generous fellow and I won't hold it against you."
He winked at her and she fought back a scowl. It certainly wouldn't be polite to scowl at someone who had very likely saved your life, she reasoned.
"I'll pay for a couple days room and board for you and that'll help you get back on your feet. And if in the event you do find a job and feel the need to repay me, just leave the money here and I'll pick it up next time I come through. Sound good?"
He didn't wait for her answer. Her rose from his chair, taking his cloak and hat, and left the room, leaving a very speechless Rahlei.
"Good day, Mr. Braymen."
"Oh, Ethan, what brings you here?" the innkeeper asked, wiping his hands on a towel.
"Met up with a friend of mine the other day. He said he picked up a girl on the road to Port Caynn a few days back. Brought her back here."
"Oh, aye. That was a friend of yours?"
"Yes."
"Nice fellow. He paid for and entire week's worth of room and board for her."
"Did he now?" Ethan asked, raising his eyebrows in modest surprise. "Well, that's just like Cody. I'll be sure to repay him."
"But what's she to you, Ethan?"
"She's the daughter of a…friend. I…promised him I'd keep an eye on here and not let her come to harm. Just holding to our agreement, is all."
"I see," the innkeeper said, nodding.
"Actually, Mr. Braymen, I'd be much obliged if you were to give her a job."
"Oh, Ethan, I'd like to say yes, but I've already got more than enough help as it is."
Ethan sighed.
"She's extremely willing."
"I've no doubt."
"For goodness sake, Braymen, set her to scraping paint off the walls if you want and she'll do it, just give the poor girl at least a place to stay," Ethan implored.
The innkeeper sighed wearily and scratched the back of his head.
"I suppose I could give her a place to stay," he agreed at last.
"That would be perfect," Ethan said, grinning broadly.
Braymen shrugged and gave a reluctant smile.
"Only, Braymen?"
"Yes?"
"I'd appreciate it if you didn't mention me. She'd not like it if she knew I was being charitable towards her, but I promised her father before he died so I have to do something."
The innkeeper nodded knowingly.
"She'll not hear it from me, Ethan, that's for sure."
"Thanks very much."
"Aye, any time, lad."
Ethan tipped his hat and left the inn.