Chapter Two - Beginning A New Life
Rowan wasted little time in getting away from the lord's estate where she suffered through her first decade of life. It didn't take her long to reach her destination of La Rivage, the hot spot for trade in the country. She was only in Gallica for two more months before she gained passage on a trading ship, the Écumoire, headed to the country of Araluen across the Narrow Sea. She paid what little money she had saved and squandered away over the years, offering her services to make up for the rest of the cost. The sailors didn't work her all that hard; they were actually very kind. The only service they required was cooking. Rowan made their meals morning, noon, and night, taking special care and doing her best to please her sailor friends. She told her story more than once to entertain them on the chilly nights at sea, so they knew what she'd been through. They respected her for it.
Had someone asked her whether or not she enjoyed those weeks at sea with the sailors of the Écumoire, Rowan would have answered with the words "I had freedom for the very first time in my life."
Unfortunately, her fun ended three weeks later, all too soon, as the crew readied the ship for their trip back to Gallica. Rowan was going to be on her own again, but, while onboard, the sailors had done her a great favor: they'd taught her all they could of the Araluen language. Garrin, the first mate and Rowan's favorite of all the sailors, had said "It's the least we could do, mon ami, considering how well your cooking was. Vous allez nous manquer." Then, with wishes of good luck, the sailors of the Écumoire left Rowan in the port town of Reddle on the edges of Caraway Fief.
As she watched the ship sail over the horizon, Rowan whispered "I'm free. I may be alone, but at least I'm free." Then, with all the dignity that the ten year old girl had, she turned and walked calmly down the pier and into town, absorbing everything she could of her first hours in Araluen.
Reddle was a nice place, Rowan decided, and as good as any to practice her grip of the Araluen language. She'd pass men and women on the street and exchange a friendly greeting, or comment on the crisp sea air, or ask about this inn or that shop. All in all, she understood everything being said. Her confidence soared.
Of course, when faced with the option of trying to bum her way into an inn or someone's home versus sleeping out in the woods in her tent, she chose the latter option. There wasn't anyone Rowan knew here and she wasn't ready to trust anyone just yet. Thanks to her mother, she was sure she'd never be all that easy to get along with.
She vowed to change that. No way would she let her mother keep any sort of hold on her anymore.
With morning came a new sense of self power for Rowan, as she made her way through the port town in search of a job. Reddle was in no way large, more so busy. Ships came in to unload cargo, load new cargo, then go back to wherever it was they'd come from. Men and women alike roamed the docks as they worked, rushing between warehouses and ships through a sea of people. Children ran to and fro, calling out to one another as they were taught the way of the sea. It was a friendly town, where everyone seemed to know everyone else. That in mind, it would seem logical that Rowan stood out.
The girl listened to whispers and hushed exchanges as she walked by shops and taverns. "Who's this now?" one woman would say. "Has she ever been here?" a sailor whispered to a comrade. "Looks like we've new blood." a tavern keeper remarked to his wife.
Rowan took notice of it all, but she refused to acknowledge it, preferring to keep her head high and her eyes searching windows for any sign of a place she could find work. She was making her second round of a street when a woman's voice came from her left. "You lookin' for a job, missy?"
Rowan turned immediately to be faced with an older woman poking her head out of an inn's stable yard. "That I am, madame. Might you be offering?" The girl answered, trying to be as polite as she could.
The woman's face showed her surprise at the title "madame". "Gallican, eh?" she asked, not waiting for an answer. "You're a good ways from home then. Where's your mamma?"
Rowan's fists closed. "I have no mother." she said through clenched teeth. "I'm here on my own."
The woman nodded. "I see. So you ran away from her, eh child? I take it she wasn't the nicest person."
"No." Rowan sighed. "She wasn't. That's why I left." The girl closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "You mentioned a job?"
The woman smiled. "Aye, I did." She came around to the gate of the stable yard. "We're short one stable hand to manage horses for the masters whilst they're away. Think you could handle that, missy?"
Rowan couldn't believe her luck. She'd taken care of the horses back on the estate she'd grown up on plenty of times; she knew what to do. She nodded enthusiastically. "Oui, madame, I can. I've experience with horses." she told her. "My name's Rowan. Rowan Peris." she added.
"A fine name, dear." The woman said. "I'm called Della Monroe. My husband owns this inn here." she paused, giving Rowan a quick up-and-down look. "I think you and I will get along just fine. You've got the job."
Rowan gave a squeal of happiness, then quickly covered her mouth, embarrassed. Della just smiled at her. "When do you want me to start?" the girl asked.
"Now would be wonderful." Della said, putting her hands on her back and giving a long stretch to work out the kinks. "I'm in need of a rest. D'you think you can handle yourself for an hour or so?"
Rowan nodded quickly as the woman ushered her into the stable yard. "I'll be fine, madame." She said politely.
"Holler if you find yourself in any trouble, dear." Della called as she walked through the inn's side door. Rowan called back that she would as the door shut.
So the girl had a job and a person she could trust. Rowan's new life in Araluen had begun.
And that's chapter two of this R.A. fanfic. Tell me whatcha think, be it good or bad. I love feedback, people! It's my drug. But you can't smoke it. I've tried.
Also, to answer a review from chapter one: No, this is not a romance with Crowley, though he is to be a very important character later.
And, this is not yet in perfect allignment to the end of Halt's Peril, but we're getting there. I'll tell you when.
Neo out. PEACE.
~N~
