A harsh knock pulled Vanya from sleep. She froze in terror momentarily until she fully registered that she was no longer in the cave. She got to her feet and made her way to the door, pulling it open just enough to see Drovas' scowling face.

"Yes?" she answered, her voice groggy.

"I'm here to collect the water bucket I brought to you yesterday."

She stared at him, the veil of sleep dissipating in an instant. She had really hoped to have a minute to think about how to deal with the bucket situation, but here he was first thing as if he knew what she'd done.

"Uhh..I'm not...done with it," she stammered.

He opened his mouth to reply but then closed it, narrowing his eyes at her.

"I mean, I am...but..well, listen..." She opened the door further.

He waited, his expression not changing.

"I came out last night to ask where I might go to, uh, you know." She gave him a meaningful look, waving her hand in small circles. It only took a moment for Drovas to catch on. He closed his eyes and lowered his chin, his head giving a nearly imperceptible shake.

Vanya continued, "I couldn't find anyone..."

"Just hand it over," he cut her off, his hand reaching up so abruptly it made her jump.

She complied, handing over the bucket with the used rags draped over the edges. He took it without a word and stalked away. "Sorry," Vanya called to his retreating figure.

She closed the door and leaned up against it. That actually had gone a bit better than she had expected. Though she was mortified, at least he hadn't yelled at her. She set about getting ready to go out to the shops and see what kind of clothing she might be able to buy. She was picking through her satchel of food, trying to determine what might still be edible when there was another knock at the door.

A much friendlier- and slightly amused- man was now standing in front of her. "Hi, Geldis," she said, wincing in embarrassment.

"Vanya." He tilted his head in greeting. "I thought I might check in on you. That maybe you could use a tour?"

Her wince transformed into a full-on grimace. "I'm sorry about the bucket. It was really nice of you to send me the water, I didn't mean to disrespect that."

He shrugged. "It's quite alright. Believe me when I say I've seen much worse. And don't mind Drovas, he's a good lad- if not a little ill-tempered."

Geldis "tour" consisted of leading her straight to the toilets, which he referred to as the privy. "Although most would probably just say 'shithole'," he added with a grin. It was indeed a hole, though it thankfully had a seat. The smell was managed by throwing on handfuls of ash from a bucket kept nearby, which seemed to work surprisingly well.

She thanked Geldis for being so understanding and made her way back to her room to finish preparing to go out. She stepped out of the inn, feeling rather self-conscious wearing only a loose dress and no shoes. She was glad for the satchel she'd picked up in the cave, having it draped across her body provided some comfort as well as a safe place for her bag of gold. Teldryn's gold, you mean. She pushed the thought to the ever crowding back of her mind. Right now she needed to focus on the task at hand. Geldis had mentioned the blacksmith, Glover. She'd met him the previous day and he'd been the first person in this world to ask her name.

She walked across the marketplace toward the forge where the man was working. He seemed to be about average height, his skin tanned from being outside all day, and if she had to guess she'd say he was in his forties. Looking at him immediately put her at ease as he seemed like he could have almost stepped into this world from her own. He was turned away from her, so absorbed in his work he had not noticed her approach. She walked around the forge and waved, catching his attention. He smiled and set down his tools. "Well, Good Day! Vanya, right?"

"Yes, and you're Glover?"

"Glover Mallory. If you haven't guessed, I'm not originally from around here," he said with a wink.

She smiled wryly. "I find that hard to believe."

He chuckled as he cleaned his hands on his apron. "What can I help you with, Vanya? I don't suppose you're here for a set of bonemold armor?"

"No. Uh...no armor. Just regular clothes and shoes," she said, glancing down at her bare feet.

"Ahh, well I do have some clothes but they are made for wearing under armor so they aren't exactly fashionable."

"I'm not looking for fashionable, I'm looking for cheap."

Glover smiled. "I believe I can help you then."

He led Vanya inside to a chest and pulled out a few stacks of shirts and pants. She expected him to leave her to sift through them but was surprised as he helped, pulling out things that he thought would fit. The options were sparse but she ended up finding a pair of green pants and a plain colored tunic. He even allowed her a room to change into her new outfit. Unfortunately, he did not have any shoes that would fit so she'd have to try Fethis' stand, which Glover was so kind to point out across the marketplace. She stashed her borrowed dress into her bag and pulled out the gold to pay Glover. She thanked him one more time and headed toward Fethis, who was sitting on a barrel looking rather bored.

He took notice of her approach and sat up. "Greetings, Outlander. Are you looking to buy?"

"I'm looking for a pair of shoes."

"Ah, yes. I saw you across the way with Glover." He looked at her new outfit. "Should have come here first, we have a much wider variety."

Vanya did not have a chance to respond before Fethis called out to the girl a few yards away who was sorting through items in a crate. "Dreyla! Come, my dear, and help our new customer. What's your name?"

"Vanya."

"Come and help Vanya."

"Yes, father." The girl smiled warmly as she approached and though Vanya didn't have a keen eye for telling these strange looking people apart, she could actually see a familial resemblance between Dreyla and her father. They both had similar expressions and their hair was the exact same shade of brown. Dreyla helped her pick through many pairs of boots, slippers, and sandals. She chose a pair of sandals, in part because they were the lowest price. She also picked up a comb and a sleeping gown and much to her appreciation, Dreyla offered some feminine necessities she had not even had the time to consider. She might have actually died of embarrassment if she had to ask Drovas or Geldis about that.

"So it comes to twenty septims for the lot," Dreyla said when they were finished. Vanya was happy with her items but loath to lose twenty septims, that was two nights stay at the inn. She handed over the gold and Dreyla neatly packed up her things. Instead of saying goodbye, Dreyla gave her a curious look. "Can I ask you something?"

"Yeah," Vany replied, knowing what her question would be.

"Where are you from?"

She had been waiting for someone to ask that all day, and yet she didn't know what to say. "Where I'm from..." She paused to think before answering. "I can't remember." Perhaps everyone would believe she had amnesia.

Dreyla looked intrigued but Vanya did not wish to entertain any more questions about it. "I should go. Thanks again for all your help."

Vanya made it back to her room sometime after midday and set her purchases on the bed. Her experiences today had greatly lifted her spirits, the people here were kind despite their harsh appearance. She sighed and laid down. Some time ago, in that terrible cave, she'd given up thinking of home. Her mind skirted the abyss of the grief she knew would come for her, but the hot prick of tears in her eyes got her back on her feet. "No," she told herself. Let those thoughts come and I'll lose my will. Rubbing her eyes a little too hard, she put her mind back to matters at hand. She emptied her bag of remaining gold on the small table. In addition to the twenty to Fethis, she'd spent four septims on her outfit. Glover had apparently given her a steal if Fethis' prices were the standard. She would not have allowed him to take so little if she'd known better. She had fifty-six septims left, good for a few nights a little more food. She shook out the dress Geldis had lent her, tossed a few coins in the pocket of her pants, and set out to return the dress and buy lunch.


Vanya had been sitting alone in the corner of the main hall for a while, watching the residents as they ate and drank. She had some fried fish with a side of something called an ash yam. It certainly looked like a yam but the flavor was a little different. It had a spice to it that she could best describe as "gingery". At least the food was not totally strange. She had been a little worried that the prevalence of bugs in this culture would extend into their cuisine. Although she did wonder, what was an ash-hopper? She tensed up at the sight of the newest customer that had walked in. He wasn't nearly as large as the monster- the orc- from the cave but he had the same green skin and protruding teeth. Besides clearing a path for him as he headed toward the bar, the other patrons did not react negatively to his presence. Vanya tried to control her breathing but at the sound of his low gravelly voice, joined by the noise from the rest of the bar, she was yanked against her will back to the dark corner of her torture chamber. She stared with open horror at him until he turned his back and he started moving toward a table against the opposite wall. She took the opportunity to flee to her room, trying not to run but fearing at any moment rough hands would grab her and...

She reached the hallway and broke into a run, nearly crashing into another guest who had just come out of their room. Locking the door behind her, Vanya sank to the floor sucking in ragged breaths. Her mind was racing, the floodgates opened and the fear and doubt she had suppressed came rushing out. What am I doing? I can't survive here, I don't belong here. After a few minutes, her breathing calmed enough that she felt she could get up and move to the bed she could only afford for a few more days. She cried herself to sleep.