Page 10 of A Siren of Beasts

Lifting a hand, I rubbed my forehead trying to figure out what the hell was happening. “They told me I hit my head so my memory might not be reliable,” I offered. “I still don’t know where I am, though.”

“You’re in the country of Drento and this village is Yrale. I’m sure you’ve heard of it, we’re one of the oldest villages in Drento that’s survived the Turning,” he answered.

“The Turning?” I questioned.

“You really don’t remember anything, do you?” he commented. “Come, let me take you to the village tavern. We can get you some food and maybe I can help you figure out where you came from.”

My stomach rumbled at this idea but I knew it was too risky. If we sat and talked he’d see my face and subsequently my eyes. “I’m not sure I’m up for that just yet. It might be best if I head back to where I was being looked after.”

“If the Doc let you leave, then he must think you’re well enough to have a simple meal. We’ll pick a spot in the corner and take it slow. Besides, you seem so cold that your skin has gone white, that can’t be a good sign.”

What did I have to do to make this man leave me alone?

Frustrated, I determined the fastest way to end this interaction was to just show him what had scared Batima so badly. Lifting my chin my hair fell away from my face and I met his gaze. “I really feel that it’s best if I keep moving along.”

His eyes went wide and he opened his mouth ready to shout as he dropped his spear to grab his sword. Moving as swiftly as I could, I took the cane and hooked his foot as I shoved into him. He tumbled to the ground swearing as I forced my body to move as fast as I could to get away from him.

“Monster!” the man behind me bellowed. “Monster within the wall.”

Fuck. Now how was I going to get out of this mess?

I spotted a barn and ducked inside, plastering myself to the wall and sucked in air trying to come up with a plan. The sweet smell of hay filled my nose helping me to calm down as it grounded me. Horses shifted in their stalls, watching me with curious eyes and flicking ears. On the wall next to me was a cloak made out of thick dark gray material, I grabbed it and pulled over my shoulders. Clasping it around my neck I pulled the hood up so it shrouded my face. It would also hide the fact I was using a cane, which I’m sure they would be looking for as they searched for me.

Outside, shouts carried people’s warnings to each other and they kept carrying on about monsters. Could it be that there really were monsters in this country? Drento wasn’t a place I’d ever heard of in all my reading and I’d poured over so many maps. Just how far off course did that storm put us? More than that, how the hell did I end up lying in front of the village gates? Nothing made sense but I couldn’t do anything about it now, I had to get out of this village alive.

Walking to the opposite end of the barn, I found a basket with straps with a few logs in it. I tugged it on trying to create a look that would make people believe I was supposed to be here. Wearing this though meant I couldn’t use the cane. Letting out a sigh, I took a few steps without it and surprisingly I felt more stable. I’d just take my time, make my way to the wall and follow along it until I found the exit. Surely a woodcutter would be allowed out of the village to do their work.

The flurry of activity around me was a blessing since no one paid me any attention, they were far too worried about the monster with claws, sharp teeth, and silver eyes that would suck out your soul if you weren’t careful. While I probably looked like death, I wasn’t sure I would have gone far enough to call myself a monster. Thankfully, it didn’t take me long to find the gate to get the hell out of this village. When I walked up the guards crossed their spears and gave me a wary look.

“Sorry, no one in or out until the monster is found,” one of them informed me.

“Please, I need to gather firewood for the night,” I pleaded, pitching my voice higher than normal. “It’s getting colder and the sun will start setting soon, making it impossible for me to go.”

The guards looked at each other but one sighed and the two of them pulled back on the thick beam of wood holding the gate closed. When it was opened just enough to let me through I hurried out. “Thank you ever so much,” I said over my shoulder.

“Be back before dark or you’ll be food for the monsters,” they called after me.

I waved a hand letting them know I’d heard them but kept moving towards the grove of trees dead ahead of me.

This was it. I was finally free!

There was no master to return to, people hunting me down, or someone I had to serve in order to pay back a debt. It was just me, for the first time in my life.

six

My whole body started to shake as laughter bubbled up inside that I let free the moment the shadows of the trees fell over me. Dropping to my knees I laughed so hard my stomach hurt and tears fell down my cheeks. When the laughter faded sobs took over and I dropped my face to my hands as I mourned Finn, Barnaby, the sailors, and those I’d left behind in Estya that would no longer be protected by being Barnaby’s whores.

Nothing in my life had been easy, even if there were moments I’d forget what I was, but reality was always standing ready to slap me in the face with the truth. It might seem silly to cry over these things, having been a slave, but it was the life I’d known. Freedom was upon me but I owed it to myself to acknowledge where I’d come from, to start fresh, with the world that was laid out at my feet. A flicker of fear curled in my stomach that I might not find any place that would welcome me if I looked the way I did, but I wasn’t going to feed into that. This was one village, and as the man said, they had been here the longest. Who knew the dangers they faced being a pioneering group of people who’d stumbled upon a new land full of unknown things?

Using the cloak, I dried my tears and got to my feet. I rested a palm on the gnarled wood of a tree as I steadied myself. The first thing I needed to do was find a place to rest before night fell and the temperature dropped. For the first time, I was thankful for having an avid hunter and a military man as someone who sought out my time fairly often. He loved to regale me with all his stories and random facts that had saved his life more than once. Such as finding fresh water and following it to find the best place to camp. Animals always made homes near a water source.

Trudging through the woods they became more dense, the trees became larger and much older. I kept glancing upwards, trying to determine if the sun was setting faster than I thought or if the leaves above were just getting thicker. Finally, I found a swift running stream and knelt, cupping my hands to catch some and gulped it down. It was the best water I’d ever tasted, cold, crisp, and had a rather rejuvenating effect. My body still ached and my hip was screaming at me for pushing so hard, but I didn’t have a choice. I couldn’t have stayed in the village so it was better to just be on my own.

The sound of a raven’s call echoed in the trees making other forest animals scurry away. In Estya, ravens were known as a symbol of change, and when you saw one it was typically at a point you had to choose which way to go. Some took that literally while others took it metaphorically, like I did, as a chance to take stock of your life and make changes if needed. A raven showing up now had me smiling as everything was a choice and I had the power to make those choices as I saw fit.

Sitting back on my heels I saw the raven perched on a boulder across the river from me. He twisted his head from side to side as he examined me. Flicking his wings, he let out another caw and shook his whole body before hopping forward across the boulder to get a closer look at me.

“Are you here to force me to make a choice in my journey or to guide me personally?” I asked as I pushed back the cloak’s hood.