I washed up, got dressed and french braided my hair into two braids on both sides of my head. Checking myself in the mirror I had to admit that I didn’t look half bad. Gone were the stiff neck and the hunched over shoulders, and for a moment, I felt like I was looking at my old self again. A strange sense of longing settled in my chest, an ache for the person I used to be, before…No!I slammed my mental walls down. I wasn’t going to go down this road right now, not when I was finally starting to believe that something good might come of my heka at last. With one last glance in the mirror, I left my room and headed out the door of the Lodge.I had shopping to do.
* * *
There was only one road leading into Lumoria, the town atop the mountain, so it wasn’t hard for me to find my way. Just to be sure, Enbergin had drawn a simple map of the surrounding area on a napkin for me. The Lodge was surrounded by thick woods, a mixture of evergreen and deciduous trees. Walking underneath the canopy of leaves, the air felt crisp this morning, a harbinger for the colder days soon to come. Coming around a bend in the road, the forest was thinning out, with little houses now appearing right and left of the road. Smoke was rising from the chimneys, the smell of freshly baked bread in the air and faeries milling about in their gardens. It was like someone had transported me right into the fairy tale books my mother used to read to me. I wouldn’t have been surprised if a witch had shown up to sell me an enchanted apple.
I could feel the beings’ eyes on me, some of them peeking out behind closed curtains, others openly staring or pointing in my direction. I kept a friendly smile plastered on my face, gaining me a small nod or even a little wave from the locals. The farther I walked, the more the trees retreated, until there were only open fields to both sides of the road. In the distance, the taller buildings of the city came into view, the roofs shining red in the sunlight. There were people working on the fields, happily chatting away while harvesting whatever was growing here.
I walked past and waved at a group of kids who were playing catch while their parents were loading big woodencrates onto a waiting carriage. The kids gave me a small wave and returned to their games. It was already noon when I finally made it to the city. To my relief, there were plenty of women working in the shops, the taverns and the workshops I spotted along the high road. It seemed like the rules of male-only staff was not a general rule in this area, but was reserved for the Lodge and the temple.
The town wasn’t as big as my hometown Rivermond, but there was a bustle of activity going on. Like in the kitchen at the lodge, it seemed like everyone here had their place in the running of this town. There were shop owners, a chimney sweep, a horse-drawn carriage full of laughing kids and a street musician.
The architecture here was different as well. The houses in Richmond were narrow, the only way to build was upwards. It wasn’t unusual for the buildings in my town to have three or even four floors. Here, the buildings were wider and only had one additional floor above the ground floor. The shops all had floor to ceiling windows in the front, displaying their goods to the passersby. The doors of the shops were open, like a friendly invitation to come inside and discover handcrafted plates and cutlery, delicious smelling foods or toiletries wrapped up in tiny silken bags. I resisted the urge to step into each and every one of these shops, deciding that before I did any other kinds of shopping, I first had to find a seamstress or dress shop. There would be plenty of time later to look for a present for my mother at home.
“May I help you, my lady?” A young woman approached me, carrying a basket filled with groceries. Her arms were covered in scars, and her eyes were completely white. It was rude to stare, but she was so different from anyone I hadever met that I couldn’t help but drink in her appearance.
“That is so kind of you to ask, thank you. I am actually looking for a dress shop or a seamstress. I had to leave my home quite unexpectedly, so I had to leave my wardrobe behind.”
The woman smiled at me.
“I have heard of your arrival, wordsmith. Welcome to Aerethia. We are grateful to you for wanting to help our Lord. There is a seamstress down the road; she has dresses in store but will also be able to fashion anything you desire.”
Her words made me pause. How much of the prophecy did the locals know?
“Most people have heard of the prophecy, but very few thought it would ever come to pass. Life here was peaceful until a few years ago. My friends work at the temple—that’s how I heard of your arrival, my lady.”
I stared at her, realizing I might have voiced my question out loud. Or could this woman read my thoughts?
The woman chuckled. “Don’t worry, I am not a mind reader, although my eyes must seem unusual to you.” She winked. “The question was written all over your face. It must be a lot to take in, coming from the mortal realm.”
Well, that was a relief. I sighed and looked around the street.
“I used to travel the human continent when I was younger. I always loved exploring and experiencing new things. I haven’t been able to do that in a long time, and I forgot how happy it truly made me to try out new things.” My tone had taken a wistful note and the faerie must have noticed it too. “Why did you stop traveling?” she asked softly.
Unbidden pictures of a time I’d rather forget slipped intomy mind, the blur of cities I never stayed in long enough to remember, nights spent drunk on magic and laughter, chasing the next thrill to keep from feeling empty. Faces, music, light, all swirling together in a haze of recklessness. I’d told myself I was free back then, but looking back, it was running in circles. I quickly pushed the memories aside, forcing a smile.
“Life got in the way, I guess. My mother got sick and had no one to take care of her. So I moved back to my hometown and became her caregiver. I don’t regret it, my mother is a true blessing. But…”
The Faerie nodded. “But deep down you know that there is more for you out there. It’s normal to feel this way, it does not mean that you care any less about your family.”
I smiled. “You are right, and I am here now, so I am going to make the most of this experience.”
And hopefully we would be able to save the world, or something like that.
Chapter 9
The visit to the seamstress was the kind of experience past-me would’ve written odes about in her journal. Dresses, tunics, trousers… Every stitch in every shade, arranged like the rainbow had thrown up in the most elegant way imaginable. I had no notion of what kind of provisions I was allowed, so I played it safe: a few flowing dresses suitable for formal occasions here, and enough undergarments and stockings that I might manage without endless washing by hand, as well as a stack of trousers and blouses I could mix and match. I only took what I truly needed—I didn’t want to spend more than necessary or give the impression that I was taking advantage of their generosity.
I also picked out a ridiculously soft coat, gloves, and a scarf for the colder days to come. The clothes were luxurious in their texture, practical in their cut, and entirely without pretense. As with the Lodge’s furniture, they reflected a philosophy I had scarcely known: that life itself could be fashioned to be comfortable, elegant, and wholly effortless.
The seamstress promised to have everything sent up to the Lodge, leaving me to drift toward the door in a warm haze of satisfaction.
I stopped in my tracks.
The most beautiful earrings I had ever seen. Two tiny, feathered deities forged from a single thread of golden wire, their eyes blazing with faceted violet stones that shimmered like they knew all my secrets.
“They’re one of a kind,” came the voice of the shopkeeper, suddenly beside me like she’d appeared from thin air. “The goldsmith says the designs come to him in dreams. These arrived today.”
Of course they did. They had prophecy written all over them.
