Author's note: I realise this is a short chapter but it covers what it needs to and unfortunately the next part of the story does require a a new chapter.
She's nobody's girl,
She walks this road alone
She calls her soul her own
She knows she's on her own in this world
She's nobody's girl
~Michelle Wright, Nobody's Girl
Reaching the hills that overlooked Castle Cousland, Lorelai stopped to catch her breath, she hadn't stopped running for what felt like hours and her muscles ached terribly. I'll never be able to stop running, not until Howe lays dead at my feet. Her gaze was drawn to the castle, black smoke rose from the fires that consumed her home and there distant cries. Her thoughts began to wonder to her mother and father, whether they still lived and what of Rory and Nan? Part of her wanted to cling to hope that they had somewhow survived or were at least still alive. She knew that such hope was folly, but the truth was too much to comprehend. She was now completely alone in the world, everything she had known and loved had been destroyed in a single night. She refused to grieve and wouldn't let the tears come, she didn't want to feel anything. She was stronger than that, she would have to be to make Howe pay for his treachery. Vengeance would keep her going. Drawing the Cousland family blade, she dragged it's sharp edge across the palm of hand, wincing at the pain. Clenching her fist, she allowed the blood to trickle through, "I will not rest until my family is avenged, Orienna, Oren, Mother, Father Fergus. I swear it by own blood, the blood of the Couslands. I will do my duty."
Lorelai marched on through the wilderness, she didn't know where was safe, or who she could trust. Arl Howe was sworn to Highever, but he had betrayed that oath, she wondered how many more Lords and Banns sworn to her father's service had now switched their allegiance. If she turned up on their land would they welcome her and offer her aid or would they turn her over to Arl Howe? No doubt news of her flight would reach Howe and he wouldn't put it past him to put a bounty on her head. It seemed that nowhere in Fereldon was safe for her, but she had a promise to keep. She knew that Howe needed to be brought to justice and there was only man in Fereldon who could help her. Calian. He always had a soft spot for her, despite her rebuffing his advances and always listened to her father's counsel. She just hoped she could make him listen to her.
She would need to reach Ostagar and fast, but she didn't want to risk the Imperial Highway, but any other route would be slower. Maybe just maybe there would be other travellers on the road, soldiers and merchants she could blend in with, she could cover the family shield with her cloak and travelling in a band would arouse less suspicion than a woman travelling alone during a blight. Her mind made up she headed for the imperial highway and hoped that she would reach Ostagar unscathed.