Chapter 2 - Should she avoid going there?
1107 Words
The inn was small and she guessed there are only a few rooms. She strode over the counter where a bulky man is sitting.
“I need a room.” Naya stated as she put a stack of little silver coins in front of him. She earned fifteen silvers today and she can use them all.
The man reached for the coins and counted them.
“Three days, including meals. Five days without food. Which would you choose?”
Naya turned to glance around the inn. Various tables, majority of which are currently occupied. She surveyed the food and was convinced they are good. No one seems to be complaining as they eat.
“With the meals. I’ll pay for extension as soon as I earn additional coins.”
He grunted and rang the bell for a helper.
“Would you like to eat in the room or out here?” He pointed his chin at the diner.
“In my room for tonight.” She nodded to him as she stepped sideways to follow the helper towards her room.
The building material seems sturdy. She touched the wall as they continued deeper into the halls. They’re made of ancient wood. Ones that last for centuries. Her father has been a carpenter as well as a blacksmith. She learned a few things.
“This is your room.” The frail-looking old man opened the door and slightly bowed himself to her.
“Thank you.” She might speak haughtily, but she knows to treat people fairly and with respect. She had enough experience being on the receiving end of hate and dislike, being picked on and bullied, disrespected and unwanted. She pursed her lips as she closed the door behind her and surveyed the small room. It’s big enough for one person. She looked at the unlit oil lamp on the table before proceeding to sit on the roughened bed. The linen seems old but it will keep her warm. She laid on it and she stared at the ceiling. Light came from a small open window. The sun hasn’t gone down yet. Her first days on inns are usually spent sleeping early. The last two days that she’d been sleeping in the woods made her tired. She closed her eyes to take a nap.
Naya rarely dreams, but when she does, they are vivid and feel so real. She dreamed of her childhood and others she doesn’t recognize.
Her sisters told her how she’s not their real sister. Their father picked her up from the mountains, when he traveled to visit his parents five towns over. Naya didn’t want to believe it, but their appearances alone are screaming the truth in her face. All her sisters and brothers resemble their parents. She does not. Her skin is much fairer. Her hair curls beyond her shoulders. Her eyes are brown, instead of black. Her nose is shaped like her father’s, though, and that gave her some comfort. When she was little, he would bop her nose when he’s lecturing her and she wasn’t listening attentively.
It would explain their hatred, but it accentuated the love of her father. Their father is a very kind man. Never once did he treat her favorably over his own children, but he makes it a point to treat her like his own.
Tears rolled down Naya’s face as she sleeps. The day their father died is the worst day of her life. She was blamed for it despite having done nothing. Without her father to protect her, her mother would constantly yell at her. Her sisters would pull her hair and make her do all the chores around the house. Her brothers… her brothers are matured enough not to dabble in childish activities. But they were never close to her. They only tolerated her. They’re only half the man their father was. She knew she can’t stay with them. She would be treated badly for the rest of her life. Between such horrible treatment and death, there didn’t seem to be much difference.
A knock on the door woke her up and it took her a few seconds to realize she has been dreaming again. She groaned as she pushed herself into a sitting position. A knock came again and she moved to open the door.
The old man came in with a plate of food and a lit lamp. He set it on her table and lit the one in her room.
“Thank you.” She pulled a coin from her bag and handed it to the old man.
“I will be in your care for a few weeks. Please look after my room well.”
The old man smiled at her, toothlessly. The coin seemed to make him cheery. He bowed to her again as he closed the door.
He didn’t speak and she vaguely recalled that she heard his voice earlier.
She pulled the lone chair and ate her simple meal. She drank half the contents of the mug. She sighed as she remembers that she had to go and wash up. It shouldn’t be too late. She only contemplated for a few minutes before she picked up the lamp and searched for the old man. He was kind and she was reminded of her father.
When she went back to bed, her dreams continued. This time, she dreamed of something she hasn’t seen yet. A palace. Inside the palace were men. Guards. Swords have been drawn out. She could hear the clang of metal against metal. She saw a young man and he was looking down at her. Behind her, someone is posed to strike him down. Or maybe them. When the sword swung down, she was woken up. Her heartbeat is accelerated. Beads of sweat dotted her forehead. She wiped them off with her sleeves, reaching into the table for the mug of water. She gulped the rest of the contents down.
She frowned as she tried to make sense of what she had seen. The place is unfamiliar. The people are unfamiliar. Though she learned to wield the sword, she lacked actual combat experience. She only ever practiced with her father and Penral and by herself. She once tried to work as someone’s guard, but her lack of origin and her decision to keep moving about prevented her from having the credibility and earning people’s trust.
She has heard of the palace, though. Theirs is a kingdom ruled by the royals. A King. The Queen has been dead for years and the heir is a prince. If her knowledge is correct, the palace is near. Two towns over. Should she avoid going there?
She had never minded her dreams, but once or twice… parts of them would happen in real life.
- Writer
