Chapter 33: Chapter 6

My arms slid into the grey fur jacket to avoid attention being brought to my bandages. Having my fingers wrapped wasn’t that suspicious.

I hoped.  

The dock seemed like a reasonable place to start, even though I truly didn’t know where to begin.

My goal was to find a ship that would allow me on board, or at least one in which I could stow away. It would need to be large. Sneaking onto a small boat would be dangerous, and I would need lots of space to hide during the day to avoid the crew seeing me… melt. 

From my elevated position on the mountain, I could see many gates around the fortress. 

It would be easier to enter the one closest to the docks. I wanted to minimise my exposure to people. 

My feet were also hurting, and I needed to find a resting place soon so I could take my boots off. I would most likely stay put until the following afternoon and converse with others then.

Ugh. Talking. I hated talking… and at the same time, I couldn’t keep my mouth shut. It was a curse.  

I had nothing to offer either, and most people seemed to lack generosity, at least in my village. Everyone always had an ulterior motive. 

That would be the most challenging part. 

The hike down the mountainside was steep, and I lost my footing many times, grasping the trees with my good hand at the last second. There was barely any foliage on the hillside, so I had to plan my route carefully.

If I had fallen, I would either have tumbled to the bottom a bloody mess or slammed into a tree and died for the third time in a week.

In retrospect, I should have followed the mountains to a less-step location, but I wanted to avoid going out of my way and entering in the middle of the night.

My impatience was a driving factor like always—which did me no favours in life—and I was eager to see the city. 

Not that I expected to enjoy it. Walking around midday would not happen. 

A man had watched me closely from the gate for the latter part of my journey down. He kept his stare focused on me as I arrived at the bottom and trekked across the open field with knee-deep snow. 

I knew there was something suspicious about my appearance and my sudden descent. I understood his keen attention because I wasn’t anywhere near the many roads leading in and out of the fortress. 

Even though I had not yet seen myself yet, I was sure I looked ill, and while I had rinsed my clothes off in that pond, they were still filthy; my white shirt was looking tan now.

As I approached Lockward’s entrance, I realised the fortress was much larger than I had expected. It was incredible how tall the stone wall was around the city, making me feel smaller the closer I got. Despite the irregular sizes of the rocks stacked together, the coursed rubble structure did not appear weak. A large portcullis gate with a latticed grille made of wood sat between the flanking towers. Wagons pulled by horses and filled with supplies entered after conversing with the soldiers manning the gates.  

 I wouldn’t get aggressive if they asked questions. The details would just be left out.  

The guard that had been watching me the whole time wore a scuffed armour breastplate and leather pants.

I stopped in front of him, and he looked down at me. 

He tilted his head, wearing a worn kettle helmet with gold trimming. “Where are you heading, buddy? Should a kid your age be alone?” His hand landed on my head. 

Nevermind. I was about to get mouthy, anyway. 

The vein on my forehead twitched at that statement. “I am sixteen, and that is the age of an adult that can serve in the army. I can travel on my own.”

A subtle smirk crept onto his lips. “Oh, sorry, big man. I gotta ask why you’re drifting into the city,” he asked as another soldier approached.

My eyes glanced down at the swords sheathed in the scabbards hanging on their hips. 

Perhaps I shouldn’t get so hot-tempered with the people who would let me into the city. If I acted too shady, they would deny me entrance or arrest me. Possibly kill me. All these scenarios would be terrible. 

I nervously swallowed. “Looking to trade medicine for my mother.”

Nailed it. That was a valid reason.    

The guard nodded at me a few times before stepping out of the way. “Have fun, and don’t steal shit, or I will kick your ass,” he warned, gesturing to the gate with his gauntlets.

Although he wasn’t certain of my words, he accepted them. 

My innocent appearance would benefit me if I didn’t become a raging nightstalker.  

I gave him a quick nod, making my way under the gate. My eyes glanced up at the grid-like wood with massive spikes on the bottom. I was sure it would split a man if released from its hold. 

The tunnel to the other side of the wall was quite long, adding to the impressiveness of the defence. The city’s lights at the end illuminated the passage, so torches were unnecessary inside. 

I ran my hand across the bumpy stone surface. My sense of touch appeared more elevated than my other senses. With my finger, I felt every small crevice and particle on the rock, each one distinct in its own way. 

This was an interesting sensation. 

A horse galloped by, almost trampling me. The driver paid me no attention from the top of his canopied wagon seat as I leapt over to the side just in time. A line of wheels rolled past me that sounded similar to logs rolling down a hill as their rotation moved across the uneven stone road.   

When I left the tunnel, a wall of chatter and footsteps greeted me. The major streets were thronging with purpose and urgency. Thousands of conversations bounced off the sides of tall brick buildings, reaching for the sky, making the most of their limited space, and echoing noise.

Brass lanterns swayed in people’s hands as they trotted through the streets. An orange gem sat in the centre of the protective glass, held by its points, which cast a corresponding tint on everything in its vicinity. Their shine was not dim, and the collection of lights certainly kept the city alive into the evening—the moons and stars were no longer needed to illuminate the darkness. 

These extraordinary instruments were incredible, and my eyes jolted around at all the different designs.

Everyone strolled down the street with them like they were common, no matter the wealth. 

Father had talked about them, but they were a bit of a waste for us. Rarely did we stay up late into the night, and by then, we had stopped doing our farm work. They did seem frivolous. That, however, didn’t stop me from wanting to bring one home. 

The gems reminded me of the crystal that almost… or possibly killed me. 

At this point, my return from death had me questioning every event as a revival. Maybe my luck was favourable, and I was running on empty now. Sure, I was turning into a nightstalker, but was I dead? Not really… yet. 

Both the men’s and women’s attire fascinated me. The form-fitting coats and colourful skirts were unique. Colours I had only seen in nature filled the fabric with creativity. Everything worn in my village was white or shades of brown. 

My excitement was embarrassing. I had lived such a simple life in my small village that something of this small degree was awe-inspiring. 

Pairs of horses galloped down the street, pulling carts of sorts with people in them. Only the wealthy seemed to have these gold-trimmed means of transportation because most people walked. They even had glass windows and doors, which I had only previously seen on buildings. It was like a tiny house rolling down the road. 

People glanced at me, but it was out of momentary curiosity rather than concern.

It took almost an hour to walk through the dense city to reach the docks, even though I entered from the gate closest to them. 

Holding my backpack straps, I walked down the giant dock, staring at the enormous wooden ships with sails reaching even higher. I had seen some large boats passing where the shrine was, but being next to them, much like the city walls, was a different experience. 

There was so much going on here. 

Ship bells dinged, and water slapped the pier beams underneath. Chatter and boot striking the wood mix together, saturating the air with sound.  

 The swells crashing farther out to sea were quite audible as well. 

This storm would be bad. 

In wonderment, I clumsily collided with a woman, and we both landed on our asses. She looked at me with a snarl, and I was concerned that she might beat me up. 

The woman hopped to her feet, towering over me as I glanced up at her, and the fear of getting my ass kicked became more likely. 

Why was I always aggravating women? I really didn’t mean it. It just kind of happened.  

The woman bent over, and her curly, caramel-coloured ponytail fell forward as she stared at me intensely. “Watch where you’re heading, cunt.”

I paused, not really expecting that sentence to leave her lips. “Um, sorry… I am from out of town, and I got distracted.”

“What if I had been carrying something, and it fell on me?” she said, sounding like my sister’s judgmental tone.

Were all women naturally aggressive?

Kade, do this, Kade, do that. They all lectured and bossed me around like that was my purpose in life.

This may be my problem. I needed to stop being so submissive. Or angering them... the combination thereof was probable.   

“Ma’am, I am sorry,” I said and saw her jaw clench. 

This woman was planning to kill me. Why was she so angry?

Her glare didn’t let up as her hazel eyes—leaning more towards green—squinted harder. “How old do you think I am?”

I paused, since this felt like a trick question. “Twenty?” I muttered.

It was unsettling to see her face with no emotions. 

The woman tilted her head. “Do I look old?”

I swallowed my nerves. “Is twenty old?”

She paused. “Not really. I don’t know where I was going with that. I just wanted to scare you.”

My head nodded. “Mission accomplished.”

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The woman sighed, straightening her posture. She took her knit gloves off, putting them into the back pocket of her tight-fitting dungaree pants. 

“Sorry. It’s been a bad day, and I overreacted. It was clearly a mistake. I get this unnecessary temper from my father.”

I took hold of her calloused hand, and she pulled me to my feet like I was a feather. “You’re powerful,” I commented, rubbing my hand from her tight grip.

She was pretty. Suppose you were into that intimidating look. Her stature was tall, and her arms looked quite strong from how her sleeves clung to them. This woman’s skin was a shade I had never seen. Calling it tan was not the right word. It held more of a bronze colour that wasn’t the creation of the sun.    

The girl rested her hand on her hips. “I’ve heard. What’s your purpose here? You look like a country bumpkin. I think you should take a bath and eat some fruit. You look like you have the beginning of scurvy.”

Wow, she just laid into me like she was an old friend. 

I should have been offended and called her out for her rudeness, but she seemed like the type that would beat you up for nothing. 

“I’m Kade. What is your name?” I asked, extending my hand.

Killing her with kindness seemed like a sensible idea.

“Why?” she asked, staring at my gesture in the air. 

You are so complicated.

My hand dropped. “I just wanted to be friendly.”

“Be friendly and answer my questions,” she said sternly.

This woman was so bossy.

“I came into town because I am looking for passage to a large city. I need medicine to… help a family member.” I sighed. 

Her eyes focused on mine with such intensity that I wanted to avert my gaze. 

“Abble,” she said as her word left her mouth monotone. 

“Nice to meet you, Abble.”

“What medicine?” Abble fired back.

Of course, she would dig deeper. 

“I am not sure. They’re losing their minds a bit, and I wondered if there was some remedy to help.”

The nod I got from Abble wasn't an acceptance of my answer. “Your hand was feverish. You, the sick one?” 

Wow. Okay, please stop digging. 

I coughed, clearing my throat before glancing around. “No, not that I know of. My family's illness is more mental in nature. Can you not say that so loudly?”

“Member or members. Your story seems choppy.” Abble squinted her eyes at me. “Or are you simple?”

My eyes slowly blinked. “You speak quite boldly. Do you have many friends?”

Abble shrugged. “Just making sure you don’t murder someone in town. And no, I don’t have any friends. I don’t have time for friends.”

“Not a murderer, I promise.”

Abble’s eyebrows raised. “Sounds like what a killer would say.”

This conversation was not going anywhere. 

“I suppose that is true—do you know somewhere that might help me make my journey, preferably for free?”

She glanced me up and down. “You’re kinda short.”

“Thanks.” 

This woman was too much to handle. I needed to end this exchange. Abble was more difficult than my sister. 

“I mean, you’re cute if you cleaned up. It’s just the height that’s a big bummer.”

Height? I wasn’t that short. Abble was just towering for a woman. 

“Hopefully, I am not done growing.”

Abble gave me a long blank stare. “I’ll ask my father. He has a few boats with men that travel to Endeavor.”

“Is Endeavor a large city?”

She nodded. “It’s big. You could get to the capital city from there, and the College of Guilds might have some healers who know something. They accept school walk-ins, but you’re likely not smart enough.”

That last part was unnecessary. 

“Probably,” I agreed, not wanting to engage in something that might make me feel more inadequate about myself.

“I’ll get you to the college from Endeavor.”

My head tilted. “How?”

“I’ll get us a boat ride there.”

I scratched my head. “What? Why would you take me there?”

“Because I want to enrol in the school, and they allow people in at seventeen.”

“How old are you?”

“I turn seventeen today.”

“Oh, happy birthday.”

Abble nodded. “My dad, an old fashion type, never lets women travel alone, so I’ma needs you to say that you are my boyfriend, and we are travelling to the capital to get educated.”

The pause I took afterwards was well deserved. “So he’s just gonna allow us to travel to Endeavor because I would be your boyfriend?”

“I’ll be allowed to leave because I have a man to protect me. So please turn that masculinity on for display. My father can smell fear.”

I nervously swallowed. “I have no money. When we get to Endeavor, I wouldn’t be able to pay for the boat to the college.”

“That’s fine. You play the part of a wonderful boyfriend, and I’ll even pay for your food.”

What was going on here? Why would she just pick me for this? I did not radiate masculinity. Honestly, I had been made fun of for looking feminine in my village. There was no way I could act like Abble, and I was courting. For that, I needed way more confidence. 

My heart raced when I considered stepping in front of her father. 

Abble was intimating, which meant her father was probably much worst. 

I rubbed my neck. “I don’t know if I can pull this off.”

It was fortunate that Abble would take me all the way to the capital. However, her request was ambitious, and I wasn’t sure my demeanour would be right to meet it. Although not telling the truth was easy for me, lying was much more difficult. 

If I got questioned, this ridiculous farce would be over. 

Suppose I could do it, there was a big problem here, I was turning into a monster. Abble would be in danger. Even though it wasn't my intention to place others in harm's way, I was certain that the rugged sailors walking down the dock could easily kill me if needed. 

Abble would likely want to be buddies during this trip; being close to her was just a bad idea. She didn’t know what she was getting into. I would prefer it if she changed her mind and we continued our separate ways. 

Abble shrugged. “Let me do the talking, and it’ll be fine.”

“You just told me to act manly. It doesn’t seem like you’ll be able to do all the talking. I struggle to understand why your father would feel okay with his daughter taking a dangerous trip to the capital with someone she just met.” 

She sighed, resting her hand on her hip. “I will say that we’ve known each other for a while, and I kept it a secret—can you just try, please?”

“Can’t you just go on your own?”

“No.” 

I clutched the straps of my backpack as the snow started to fall. “Why me, though?” 

“Because no one else is dumb enough to do this, and my father knows everyone here”—Abble tapped her foot on the ground—“It’s getting late. Let’s get this over with.”

I paused. “Why would you say it like that?” This makes it seem like I am going to die.” 

Abble rolled her eyes, grabbed my unbandaged hand from the strap, and pulled me through the crowd.

This was going to be disastrous.

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