Book 1 - Chapter 4 -Alone

April 20, 1000

  It had began raining hours ago. Mud appeared after half an hour. My slippers, not made for hiking, rubbed against my heel and big toe.
 I made it to town in late afternoon.  Homes and shops lined up in tight rows. Each appeared to be competing for space. The rain must have driven everyone indoors. Only one little beggar boy roamed the many streets.
Ahead a single sign creaked in the wind. From a nearby building the smell roasting chicken poured out.
The lad stared. I blushed and looked down on my dress. It hung limp with rain. A rip went up one side of the dress to my kneecap.
"Are you a aureate?
the boy asks.
Am I? My eyes go to the dress, again. The boy did not stare because of its condition. He stared for it's loveliness.  The fabric, even now, could still be seen as fine. The colors bright. It was the type of thing a aureate, rich girl, would wear. What must the boy think?
"No, I am not. Someone just let me... borrow this dress. I must go buy a new one that... fits me best."
 He stares at me even more. His eyes huge. I put my head down and almost ran to the swinging sign.

 Stepping out of the rain felt, oh, so wonderful! To no longer feel my hair and dress getting weighed down by water. Mud turns to gray stone. Water drips from me to the floor. On the roof the pit pat of rain can be heard.
Inside it smells of strong herbs and onions. Most things had a thin layer of dust over them. The keeper appears not to notice me.
"Good afternoon, sir,"
I say.
He glances at me. His head bobs up like a deer's when it hears a sudden sound.
"Miss?"
he asks.
His eyes turn straight to my dress. My cheeks feel hot. Realizing I blush makes them even hotter.
"I... I borrowed this dress from my mistress. I... I lost my old clothes. Could I buy a plain dress?"
I ask.
The man gasps. Eyes bulge out he says,
"That ain't something I usually stock."
He looks me over from head to toe.
"Most girls ask their Mamas to make them dresses.. or make it themselves."
My heart thunders as if it is a herd of horses.
What will I do.. if he does not have anything for me to wear? Dressed as I am my parents are sure to find me before the day is out! Inside the berries I ate on the way flopped. Tanri, God, help me! Give me Your wisdom!
I step around the counter.

"Please? I have coins and can pay you right this moment,"
I say.
The man puts a finger to his chin.
My chest has become so tight no air came in or out.
"I have two, that I can sell."

 I grin. My hands go together so hard they clap.
"Thank you so much, I didn't know what I was to do if you would not sell me-"
His hand goes up.
"It's fine. Glad to help a pretty young lady in distress."
 My fingers dig into the hidden pocket of my gown.
Five silver pennies. Slightly wet but since they were made from true silver, pristine.
"How much will the two cost?"
His head is down again, as it had been when I first entered.
"Two silver?"
I hand him the money.
"I thank you, again."
 He chuckles. His hands enter into the basket of clothes on the counter.
Out come the two ugliest dresses I had seen in my life. Both have not a speck of dye in their fabric. The fabric itself looks and feels itchy.
"Could I... get changed here?"
I ask.
he points to a staircase in the corner.
"Go ahead."
I step up the stairs. There lay a plain bedroom. I scurry to switch from the wet to the dry.
Going over my head it is worse than I had thought. The itch appears instantly. My skin, used to silks, screeches at me,
"Save us!"
(or at least, that's what if felt like)
I almost sprinted from the shop.
"Tanri bless you,"
the man whispers just as I exit the shop.

 Outside the rain has stopped slapping into the ground. I spread my arms out. Not a single drop!
Itch! (why did I buy this dress again?)
My hand strays to the dress then back to a natural position. What would that man think if he saw me itching my way down the street?
Sudden thought strikes my heart. Where to now? Home no longer offered any comfort. Nobody would take in a young girl in shabby dress. Up the street and down I searched. After a full hour of  sludging through ankle deep mud I found what it was I had hoped for. An inn.

 Indoors an older lady greeted me.
"What can I do for you, missy?"
she asked.
Years of manners training took over.
"I was wondering if I could possibly have a room? I am not positive how long I will be staying.."
Her smile grew larger. Her front teeth were over-large. Like a guinea pigs... only larger.
"Great! It's one third a silver penny per night. Stay as long or as short as you like! Tig! Show this lady to her room,"
she said.
I glanced over.

 The beggar boy! He stared at the lady a moment before obeying.
"Right this way, miss,"
he said.
I nodded.
"Got any bags?"
 I gasped. Bags? No, I hadn't brought a single thing. The dress lay over one of my arms. Other than that I had nothing but my silver pennies and a pin in my hair.
"No, just me and my dress,"
I said.
He frowned then shrugged. Up the staircase and down the hall. Second to last door proved to be mine. I tried to breathe through my mouth. Mustiness and a hint of mold tainted the air.
"Here you go, miss."
 I waved him goodbye and entered.

My head hung. Back against the door. I sighed out all the air in my lungs.
I was truly alone.
A tear fell down my cheek. I brushed it away with my hand.
"Stop this, Mila. You've been dreaming of being alone ever since you were a toddler!"
I sank on to the bed. Its blankets felt the same as my dress, scratchy and rough.

 Dinner would be soon. I can smell it burn below me.
What am I doing here? How can I possibly help the people by hiding out in town?
Doubt nags. Fear cripples. I curl up in a ball upon the bed.
In the hallway a set of heavy boots step away.
 Bells ring out over town declaring the hour.
Dinner time. I pull myself from the bed and slink down the stairs and into the dining chamber.

 Once there I see that there are few at table. The man from the store, the beggar boy, the inn keeper, and a man I have not seen before.
I wait a moment by an empty chair.
Heat rises to my cheeks as I realize, nobody is going to pull it out for me.
I pull it myself. Will I ever get used to be a poor girl?

"So glad you made it here on time, miss. I do so hate warming up food."
I blush even more.
"Look, you're embarrassing her! Leave her be. This is the lady I sold dresses to, earlier,"
the store man says.
I smile, jsut a bit.
"Good evening. May I ask your name?"
I ask.
He glances at me.
"I'm Lich. You sure do talk awfully fancy."
Lich frowns. He picks up his over-done pasty and takes a large bite.
"I must have picked  it up from my mistress. I'm... Sari."

"I am Losi,"
the man I have not yet met said.
He wears a hood and traveling clothes. He must have just now come in for he has not unwrapped himself.
"Where is your mistress now?"
he asks.
 Losi's face is large. Eyes expressive.
"She has fled and left me to fend for myself. I'm an orphan,"
I say.
Losi shakes his head. Pain flashes through his eyes.
"I am so sorry for that. Being on your own must be a shock."
I nod and take a bite of food.
It is hard and crunchy. It takes multiple chews just to get it slightly swallowable. It tastes a bit like the mud pies the aureate boys used to make me eat as a child.

"Do you know about Losi? He's a rebelli- rebellion leader!"
the lad says.

 I turn to Losi. He has not heard what the boy said. He  is too occupied talking to Lich.
Is it true? If it is... this could be my chance. If anyone could help it would be him.
"Young Tig!"
The innkeeper says.
The boy stares at me.

 His mouth falls open. One hand clutches the table.
"Oh!"
Losi glances up from his discussion.
"Something wrong?"
he asks.
"I spilled it,"
the boy whispers.
The man glances at me.
"Spilled what?"
he asks.
"That you're a leader."
The man laughs. Yet I detect an edge of fear. Years of spending time with people has taught me to read people well. Losi does not think that the 'spill' is amusing.
"You have been listening to boys who have nothing to speak about but rumors."
I swallow another bite of 'dinner'.
It sticks and I choke.
"Excuse me,"
I cough out.

 The inn keeper nods affirming I have been excused from table.
In the hall I come to an instant stop.
A leader. One who is a secret to all newcomers. Smart, if nothing else. Wary, I would guess, from many years of being an undercover sort. The bricks catch on my dress as I lean against the wall. I stare out the window.

 

 I will have to meet the man.

Outside evening is falling. Birds quiet their singing and the bugs have all gone to sleep.

Not a soul can be seen out the back. This  inn, at its back, opens to a grassy plain. 

Can I handle being alone, depending on none but myself?

Then my mind turned to Tanri.

The shopkeeper, Lich, had reminded me of Him.

Tanri never turns His back on His people. He is always there with a plan for our lives. Even when it feels like He has gone forever, He is there.