Chapter Four
Without a sound I slid from the comfort of my bed and began to gather my few belongings. Finding the bag I used to carry goods home from the market I stuffed it full of clothes and undergarments and surveyed my surroundings for other items I would need. I picked up the faded cover of Aleena and Ian's tale and stowed it along with the rest of the items, hoping Gregor would forgive me for never returning one of his precious books. I grabbed a few other necessities, a sturdy pair of boots, a comb to keep the annoying tangles out of my hair, my mothers necklace she had given me two years ago.
I lifted my full pack happily feeling its weight on my shoulder, heavy, but bearable, then sat down and sighed at my stupidity. If I was going to go traipsing through the forest I was going to need some nourishment. Hastily I pulled out most of the clothing I had bunched together at the bottom of the sack; there was no need to carry around my pathetic wardrobe. If I needed clean clothes I could always find a stream or river to do washing. I left one plain and comfortable dress waded up in the pile and pulled on a loose woven top and my trousers I had sewn myself last summer. My father had forbidden me from wearing them in public claiming they were not lady like but his preferences didn't really matter now. They were easy to move in and I liked them.
I made my way stealthily to the kitchen area, keeping close attention to the snores coming from where my parents slept. So far so good, they didn't seem to have noticed anything.
Two loaves of bread, a pile of carrots, and all but two of the apples soon accompanied my stash. I eyed the dried and salted meats wearily. I wasn't a fan of pork, or any meat for that manner, but I would need the energy so I grabbed a small portion.
Out the door and into the cool night air, I turned around and said a silent goodbye to Mother and Papa; I hoped they would somehow understand. I promised I would be back as soon as I figured out what to do with myself, and I would help them in anyway that I could. Well, any way that didn't involve being married of against my will of course. I turned my back on my past and set out to make a new future.
I traveled on the only road though town, moving south, my plan was to make it down to the port of Shirland, which I figured would take me about a week on foot. From there I could find my way onto a ship to take me back to the home country. Gathaea was a relatively new settlement, none of the towns had been around for more than five or six generation, and no one had yet ventured east of the mountains. Maybe there would be more opportunities for me in the more populated country we all came from. Maybe there I would find work and better yet maybe I would find love. My mind swam with all the new possibilities that could await.
I walked at a lazy pace; thoroughly enjoying my new found freedom. No more ties, out here on the road I could be whoever I wanted to be. Perhaps a lost young maiden, or maybe a traveling bard, maybe even a street thief. I laughed out loud at the thought of myself ever trying to steal anything from anyone, not even a house cat would be afraid of my frail form.
Just then amid my laughter I heard the sound of a horse coming up the road in the distance. I was already a fair distance from town although it felt as if I had just walked out the door. Could they be looking for me already? Fearing being drug back to face Papa, I left the road and ran deep into the trees crouching behind a growth of shrubs. The sound of hooves beating against the dirt came and went without pause, but I stayed put for a while longer to be sure of my secrecy.
After a moment had passed I felt a sharp stinging sensation on my hands and arms. Great. The plant I was hiding in was covered in thorns. Wiping off the red droplets on the bottom of my trousers I noticed the sound of running water not far from where I sat. I had better wash the cuts and fill up my water skins while I was at it.
The stream wasn't hard to find and the water running was ice cold and pure. It soothed away the stinging and I drank my fill of the sweet taste of the mountain brook. I rested for a while on a moss covered rock on the edge of the water, letting my fingers trail around in the cool and even flow.
Before long it was time to head out again, if I wanted to get to port before I ran out of food then I figured I had better get a move on. Getting up and drying off my hands I suddenly gasped and sat right back down again. Looking around I realized I had no clue where the road was anymore. It was dark and I couldn't see much more than ten feet in front of me and in my carelessness I had completely forgotten which way I had come from.
Trying not to panic I started weighing my options. I was a smart girl, I could figure this out. Running helplessly through the forest in the dark wouldn't help anything, but if I stayed here I was still close enough to the road that I could be easily discovered if they were looking for me. What to do? I was near a stream; streams always flow to the ocean, which is where I wanted to go. If I followed the stream it would most likely lead me in the direction I was headed anyways and there was a good chance it would come close to the road again for water filling spots.
Shaking off my nerves I set out again walking on the stones on the edge of the water. It was slower going. I had to be careful not to twist an ankle on the slippery surface, but all things considered I wasn't that bad off.
Morning came without any more excitement and I rested in the shade and munched on an apple and some bread. The birds were chirping in the leaves, singing the joyous song of the wild and free, a cool breeze ruffled my hair, a perfect start to the first day of my new life.
The rest of the day passed on much like the morning, just me and the occasional bird or rabbit wandering my way south on the stream bank. I walked when I wanted and rested when I felt like it. I continued on like this until finally I grew tired and spotted a large willow, the dry grass around it an inviting place to stay the night. I curled up under its long flowing branches and dug through my pack for Gregor's book. That night I fell asleep reading the tale of an immortals love for a human in the twilight of a forest.
First I dreamed I was fleeing though the dark of night, running from some terrifying danger. My heart pounding and the trees flying past me, but no matter how fast I went the danger always seemed right behind me. Then the dream changed. Instead of running away I was running towards something, to someone. As I came closer I saw him there in the shadows, waiting for me. His build was tall and thin though most of the details were clouded by the darkness. He turned around to face me, his features beautiful and striking, but it was his eyes that kept my full attention. They were a piercing yellow with pupils like that of cats. He smiled as his eyes met mine and drew me into his arms.
I woke with a start and sat straight up in the grass, my heart still beating rapidly. I stared into the surrounding and for one split second I swear I saw a pair of yellow eyes staring back at me. I blinked and they were gone. I rubbed the sleep out of my eyes and moved around trying to get comfortable, my back soar from falling asleep against the tree roots. Before long sleep took me again and I was out for the rest of the night.