{23}
Another Life,
Another BurdenSantha stood, bewildered, before the Dancing Maiden inn. How had she come so far so quickly? It had taken hours to traverse the market district this morning. Yet here she was, safe and sound, and the sun still up. It seemed her body was a better navigator than she was. Dazed, her heart still pulsing in her throat, she took a deep breath and let it go. Oh, gods. It’s happening again.
Padruig—the little snake. He’d almost fooled her, could have taken her down a dark alley, had his way with her, beaten her, robbed her. And yet he had seemed so genuine, so kind-hearted. She cursed herself thoroughly. The signs had been there: his over-friendliness, his willingness to help and please, the flirting. She was just as blind and gullible as she had been a year ag
