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Chapter Four: Follow The Path
After two hours of walking, Temperance began to doubt the directions that her friend had given her.
"Just keep on the path, Sweetie, and you'll be there before you know it!" Angela had said.
Well now she had been following the same path for miles, and still there was no village in sight. She thought a million times about stopping to ask for directions but was at a loss as to who she would even ask. There was nobody around for miles. Or so she assumed. It was hard to be sure, when she didn't even know where she was going.
Feeling a small strain on her calve from walking so long, Temperance limped over to a boulder on the side of the path and sat down, groaning. She put her head down, on her palms, and tried to relax.
That is, until she felt something whiz right past her head. Her head snapped in that direction, in time to see an arrow make contact with the tree right behind her. She looked in the direction the arrow must've come from and saw nothing. Quickly, she got to her feet and pulled out her own bow and arrow.
"Who shot that?" she called, in the deepest voice she could manage. "Reveal yourself!"
The bushes a few yards in front of her moved a little and she jumped. "Who goes there?" she said, in a slightly panicked voice.
A young man emerged from the bushes, with his hands held up in surrender. He wore all blue, and a messenger bag with a couple of packages peaking out from it. He was also quite handsome, in Temperance's opinion, with his messy black hair, under his cap, and his broad shoulders, chocolate brown eyes, and slightly tanned skin. He must have been out there for a while. She found herself lowering her weapon, but that changed when he took a step closer.
"State your name." She said, threateningly, still using her "male" voice.
The boy bowed. "The name is sir Booth, milady." She saw a glint in his eyes and knew at once that he was lying.
"State your real name!" she demanded.
Booth sighed. "I'm sorry, sir, but I cannot. My grandfather forbids me from using my real name. But I have given you my given last name."
Temperance seemed content with this answer. She lowered her weapon but didn't step closer to him.
"What is your name?" he asked.
"Te-" Temperance started, but remembered that nobody could know her true identity, "-rrance." She finished lamely. "Terrance Brent."
Booth stuck out his hand. "Nice to meet you, sir."
Temperance took his hand, not knowing what to do with it, never having been permitted to shake a man's hand, being that she was a lady. Booth seemed to notice this, and began shaking it, letting her catch on.
They quickly let go when they realized how awkward it was. "Don't worry," Booth said, "you'll get the hang of it, soon enough. Now, where are you headed?"
Temperance pulled a note out of her bag and read: "Jefferson. The Capital City overlooks it. Do you know how to get there."
Booth nodded. "Ahh. I know that village well. Lived there all my life. I'm heading there now, actually, to deliver these," He motioned towards the packages, "To the bookshop where I work."
"You work at the bookshop?" Temperance asked, not able to see this young man selling books of any kind.
Booth smiled. "Yes, sir. I'm their messenger. Usually I just deliver books, but on some days, I sell them. I'm in very good company with the owner, Lady Camille."
"Honest?" Temperance asked, fighting it much harder to maintain her manly voice, "Do you think you could help me find work there?"
Booth nodded, and smiled. "Of course. Now, let's begin walking. It should be another hour before we arrive, and it looks as if the sun will be saying goodbye soon."
Temperance nodded and followed him down the path, asking questions about the bookshop and life in Jefferson.
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