Balance by Inghild Økland

Author:Inghild Økland [Økland, Inghild]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Dragonsong Publishing
Published: 2022-02-04T16:00:00+00:00

I didn’t dwell or waste any time. Spoke to nobody, kept to the shadows while sneaking from one alley to the next. My eyes trailed the ground as a good nobody, while each step landed on a new shade. Despite being a small but dense city seething with life and activity, I hoped a lone girl could be invisible like one sheep among many. Even one with lighter wool.

It took me ages—halfway through town I dragged my feet along, and by the end my head hurt. Dayburn had set in. And Sirion was still in the desert, exposed to the sun. You could marry me. My chest lurched, sharp and heavy thumps. Poor Sirion. Even if he meant it, surely, he understood it was impossible.

I reached the pier. The sailor sitting by the splendor of the Disandri, presumably to guard the ship, snored in the sun. My mind throbbed with a nightmare, a memory of rejection. Perhaps I could sneak past him. But we were not alone on this harbor and even if he didn’t wake, a lone girl going onboard would seem extremely suspicious. Yet I knew six days was too much. I didn’t even have one.

The next ship harbored dark men with blinding white grins. They seemed friendly enough, but the ship was headed further south. Completely wrong direction. It was a pity, for they looked like splendid company too, three of them even singing as they clinked their mugs together, with brew frothing over the edges. It reminded me of Father, of feasts. I was a little thirsty, but had no time to linger. I had to find a ship.

Of course, everything had been easier with Sir Sigve as a companion. As a young woman traveling alone, people eyed me with upturned noses and furrowed brows. The next three ships refused me. Phrases like “this is not a place for a little girl” or “I could not guarantee your safety, miss” followed me, and while the voices were full of pity, their gazes were condescending. They trailed down my worn appearance, lingering on my stomach. “We have no room for someone like you,” one sailor even said. As if I was that kind of fugitive.

After walking the pier up and down, I had no choice but to trail back to the street. People were dangerous. Inns were dangerous. Sir Sigve was gone and only one other person had helped me in this cursed land, but he was gone because I made this choice.

Still . . . wasn’t there a friendly girl in the market? Someone . . . or was it just the fragrance and savor of cake? She had been warm and caring, like Madalyn. Maybe she could help a poor, lost merchant’s daughter.

I would have to find her. Walking through the market square in plain sight was beyond foolish perhaps, but I had no other brilliant idea swooping down to save me. I snuck through the streets, looked at no one and didn’t linger, finally stepping out into the lion’s den.

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