Lien le Storm

I stepped off the gangplank of the ship looking like any other traveller. Well, almost. I’m sure none looked quite as good as I did. Nothing I wore marked me as Nobility. Gentry at best, my clothes were fine. But not too fine. No sparkling diamonds. No glittering rubies. Even my pearls were hidden away from sight. Instead, I had more skin on display than I’ve had in months, but still, by Tubori standards? This was prudish. Certainly I wore a much more revealing dress on my sixteenth birthday.

Today, the pure white gown cut at an angle across my legs, one side reaching to mid thigh, the other hanging down almost to my knees. Small glossy white shell decorations adorning the hem, it had been purchased from Sartez from a traveller having recently docked from Tubor and hit by the cooler weather, only happy to sell off her Tubor attire for a few handfuls of silver. My scarred stomach hidden, I felt self consious of the concealment.

Gods, the warmth, the heat of the sun on my face, how good does the Tubori sun feel?!

The luck of the sea was with us the whole way to Tubor, and we sailed fast. Which is just as well, or I was never going to make it on time. As it is, I’ve cut things just a little fine, and the wedding is this evening. Just enough time to.. grab a horse and ride there.

Ride.

It’s been a couple of years. Not since the accident. But I’ve little choice if I want to make it to Strongjaw in time. Riding, it’s not one of those things you forget right? At least she looks docile.

My first time leaving Orban House by the shuttered window from my darkly appointed bedroom rather than the front door. But there are servants and well, I did not want them to notice and possibly alert my brother ahead of my departure. Not that he sleeps in his bed tonight, or at least, he had not yet come home when I last checked and left a few things for him to find later. And so, that saw me hanging onto the balcony precariously with one hand and my suitcase slung over my shoulder with the other. Eyeing the ground below, there really was nothing for it but to jump. Without both hands, navigating down the guttering wasn’t going to be possible.

Normally I’d of been able to with ease, but since the injuries acquired during the flood, such sharp movements still caused me some pain and I was loathe to put myself purposefully through any of that again. Still, there was nothing for it, and I leaped, landing with a grunt in a crouch, the suitcase set before me on the grass.

I stood and looked back at the house, and as always, I was not able to control the tears that started to fall. When I left, it was at a run, fearful if I slowed down, just for a second, I’d change my mind.

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My timing was perfect. Well, perhaps I was a little on the late side, but the carriage hadn’t left without me so that is the main thing. I passed my now worn black suitcase to one of the grooms who strapped it to the top and with the aid of one of the attendants I stepped up and inside the small ornate room. I had paid extra, and would be travelling alone and for that I was grateful. There was no one to see my tears as I watched Lithmore City grow smaller and smaller through the window as we headed off Northwards. Soon, I got used to the slow rocking of the carriage and I curled up and slept.