I didn't know how long I laid there on the bed, drifting in and out of sleep. It felt like days had passed. If I knew what to do and where to go next, I would get up. A shiver raced up my spine, and goosebumps speckled my skin. What if the people who had stolen my brother and killed my new family came back for me? I could already imagine someone watching my back, ready to pounce on me the moment I moved; but I had to get up. I had to flee the horrid place. Sitting up, I dragged myself off my brother's bed. I fingered the jagged words in the wood, Ring of Fire, one last time before stumbling from the room.
A heavy urgency pressed
upon me as I sneaked through the house, gathering up a few meager
belongings. The entire time it felt as if someone's eyeballs were
boring holes into back. My heart began to pound in my chest. I
quickened my pace and dashed out the door. A bag slung over one
shoulder and a loaf of bread tucked under my arm, I sprinted for the
main road that would eventually lead me to town. I didn't really want
to go back to Airamas, where my brother and I had spent countless
weeks begging; but I thought someone there could have heard of the
Ring of Fire. Then I could find a way to rescue my brother if,
of course, they hadn't killed him.
Even when I knew I was
miles away from the cabin, it still felt like someone was drilling my
back with their cold stare. I told myself I was just paranoid, for it
seemed unlikely that my brother's captors would just follow me if
they wanted me dead. But maybe they weren't people. Or perhaps they
were one. I had no clue. That's why I had to flee to Airamas. Being
the crowded capital of Learsi, surely someone there had to know
something.
As the moon cast a silvery
sheen over the forested hills, I dragged my heavy feet onward toward
the intimidating walls of Airamas. A glow of light spilled forth from
the top of the outer walls, and the towering castle turrets announced
that this city was indeed the greatest in all of Learsi. The music
and laughter floating from the city could be heard even at my
distance. I still wandered the main road, passing bleating sheep and
their watchful shepherds. As I passed, I could feel their gazes peel
from their sheep and onto my lone figure. It didn't make much sense
that a young girl would travel alone, especially during the darkness
of night. I sucked in a quick breath. How could I be such an idiot! I
should have disguised myself in Viho's extra set of clothes. Oh well,
it was too late now. The sooner I could get into that city and find a
safe place to stay, the better.
As if to reinforce my
mistake, a calloused hand grabbed my arm. I shrieked and frantically
tried to jerk away, but the man's grip was firm.
“What are you doing out
alone in the middle of the night, young lady?” he spoke.
I froze at the soft yet
stressed words. They were full of concern, warming my cold, exhausted
form; yet they fell like rain, cooling my seared heart. I looked up
into the face of the source that had spoken such magical words.
Weary, yet twinkling eyes met mine.
“The gates are closed,
miss. You won't be able to get in.”
“Oh,” was all I could
manage. I was so stupid! Of course the gates would be closed this
late. I examined the stranger more closely. His face was shadowed by
night, but I could make out a ruddy face framed in a mop of dark hair
and a shaggy beard. He reeked like he hadn't had a bath in weeks, but
his kind countenance made up for the smell. Could I trust him?
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