The pounding of her own heart thundered in Arilez’s ears, threatening to burst her eardrums at any given moment. The air struggled to fill her lungs, her breaths scattered and shallow as she ran through the bustling city. The streets were packed with people, the noise and chatter and footsteps echoing from every direction. Arilez pushed her way through the crowd; her heart racing, her mind numb with panic. The adrenaline rushed through her body as she fought her way through the masses, the guards’ pursuit growing closer with every step. Her mind struggled to think straight as she turned the corner, left, right, she didn’t know. The pain in her feet was all she could think of as her they hit the hard stone over and over again, her shoes ditched long ago in favor of moving quietly. The guards were closing in, she could hear their voices and their footsteps, their heavy metal armor echoing around her. Arilez stumbled, barely catching her balance as she continued to run. The crowds became denser, and she was forced to slow down, the adrenaline leaving her as the guards grew closer still.“That Way!”Arilez’s limbs burned with fatigue as she ran on, her chest heaving as she struggled to catch her breath. The sounds of her pursuers’ heavy armor and their growing chants echoed in the air as she pushed through the teeming crowds. She had been smart to have chosen a port day.. But daft enough to have been caught. Still, she gripped the stolen faecrafted dagger, feeling its weight in her palm, and slipped it into her sachet. Arilez slid around another corner, her feet dragged against the ground, her blistered skin bleeding as she ran, but she continued on. This street was much narrower than the last, with buildings tied together by fabrics hanging from building to building, signs connected overhead. Must’ve turned into a narrow neighborhood.. Her eyes landed immediately on a line of drying clothes hanging above the street, right after a decline of steps. Yes. She pushed herself to run faster, her legs kicking up at the dirt and debris as she didn’t give it a second thought before reaching her arm up, coming to a running jump at the edge of the top step, her fingertips wrapping around the very edge a shawl and pulling it down. The heavy shawl came crashing down on top of her. She stumbled as she dashed around the first corner right after the clothesline, wrapping it around her neck and forming a hood over her head as she pushed through the crowd, the fabric flying behind her like a tail or battered wings, She couldn’t hear the clacking of metal anymore, but she could hear their shouts. Clear, but distant. Arilez burst through the dense crowd and onto the busy docks, her heart racing as she fought her way through the sea of strangers. She had never seen a port so busy, but she was thankful for the bustling crowds that provided her with the perfect cover. She slipped into a shaded corner and pressed her back against it, catching her heavy breaths. She knew that she wasn’t off the hook yet. It was all too much. Arilez knew she had to leave again, but she didn’t have enough coin to pay a traveler’s fee on even the crudest of passenger vessels. She couldn’t go the land route as she would get caught before she could exit the town. No, she had to take advantage of the port. She knew she had to be smart; she could trade in the amethyst she had plucked from around a woman’s neck the previous day, but she’d likely get caught before she could make it across town to Harvey’s. He was the only man Arilez had found in town who would buy obviously stolen goods - and for a good price. He was quite pleasant.As desperate as she was, it was incredibly unlikely that she would make it to his shop without getting caught. She was already winded, her feet blistered, bloodied, and her muscles begging for rest. She had run as far and as fast as she could, but the relentless search had taken its toll on her. Her lungs were burning from the strain of running so hard and so long, and every step felt like a thousand tiny knives stabbing into her soles.  But as much as she wanted to make it to Harvey’s, she knew that it was impossible. The distance was too great, the town too crowded, and the guards too numerous. She’d done so good for so long. Even if she managed to slip past them and make it to the shop, she would have to face the same dangers all over again on her way back. The risks were just not worth it. Moreover, the thought of facing Harvey in her weakened state made her shudder. The fat little frog was a shrewd negotiator, and she was willing to bet she’d be taken advantage of if he sensed her desperation. No, risking Harvey’s was simply not an option. She had to come up with another plan. She crept into a dark alleyway, pressing herself against the damp brick wall. The shadows provided a small refuge from the heat of the midday sun, and the musty air provided a small amount of relief from the muggy heat. She closed her eyes, trying to catch her breath and gather herself.“Goin’ in, Lass?”Arilez’s eyes shot open at the sound, but she was only met with a broad chest. Her eyes having to travel upwards to meet the voice’s source. There she locked eyes with a tall, tanned man, his blonde hair short and stuck to his forehead. He gestured past her, and she glanced back, becoming aware of the door just past her. It was a tavern; it looked like temporary hiding. Without a word, she turned and entered the propped-open doorway she had been blocking. Inside, the tavern was dark and cool, a welcome relief from the heat outside. The noise of a dozen different conversations filled the air, creating a strange sort of harmony. She took a deep breath, trying to calm her nerves. She had to rest; she couldn’t run anymore, at least not for now. She found a table in the corner, away from the main crowd, and sat down. She leaned back in the chair, grateful for the chance to rest. The air was musty, but she didn’t mind. For now, that was all she needed. Arilez adjusted the Shawl around her neck, pulling the back up over her head and pulling the front up to act as a mask over her mouth and nose. It smelled strongly of soap, pleasant against the smells of the seaside tavern. Arilez slipped her hands beneath the wooden table, pulling her sachet into her lap and reaching into its contents, feeling the familiar shape of the amethyst as she leaned her head down in thought. Perhaps she could offer it in place of a passenger ticket? Would that even work? Shit. No, the gaurds are positioned upon boarding, it was suicide. Arilez sat in thought for a long while, Bringing her wrist up to lean her head against..“FaeCrafted. Can you believe it?” A voice from the bar caught her attention.“T’was a chase, I heard.” One patron declared, his tone hushed with excitement. “Lost her in the south residential district.”“She’s likely on the docks by now.”“On a Vessel, Perhaps.”By the gods did word travel fast. They were talking about her, no doubt. The weight of the FaeCrafted dagger nestled within her sachet suddenly felt heavier, its significance magnified by the hushed conversations that surrounded her. If word had spread this quickly, she must have been in the tavern longer than she realized, lost in the labyrinth of her own thoughts. Perhaps she’d nodded off for a bit. She was definitely tired enough. Arilez glanced to the bar now, praying she wouldn’t spot a guard amongst the drunkards. She didn’t. “Faecrafted..” one of the voices repeated with a laugh. “What I’d pay to get my hands on a weapon of fae.” “Lass.” Arilez’s eyes met those of the blonde man again, who was now towering over her table. “Missing a voice box, are you?”“Leave her be, Mciver.” Another persisted..Arilez cocked a brow up at the man, grateful that the fabric over her lower face hid her scowl. The man leaned down a fraction, eyeing the fabric which she used to hide herself in curiosity. A smirk slowly tugged at the corner of his chapped lips. ’Mciver’, as his friend called him, Leaned in closer, his gaze fixated on the fabric that obscured her features. A smirk played on his lips. Ignoring the protests of his companion, Mciver folded his arms, his weight causing the rickety table to creak beneath him. “Now, lass,” he began, his voice tinged with a mischievous chuckle. “Why are ya’ hidin’? Saw that pretty little face outside. Why cover it now?” Arilez scoffed. He, however, only smirked more. “Perhaps we-”“Piss off.”“Pardon, Lass?”“Piss. Off.”His posse back at the bar seemed entertained by this, as a few exhales and whistles erupted from them. The man stood again, and returned to the bar, raising his hands in defeat. Arilez sighed and tapped her fingertips against the wooden table, her breathing evening itself out. The heat that had consumed her only minutes ago was now but a distant memory, and she was almost grateful for the sweat cooling uncomfortably on her skin. She had to find a way onto a passenger ship. She couldn’t afford to wait any longer, not with the guards searching for her. With a small grunt of effort, she secured her long copper braid in the back of her shawl properly.. As quietly as she could, she made her way out of the bustling tavern, keeping her eyes low as she tried to blend in with the crowd.The mainland had been a vast expanse of rolling hills and sprawling forests. She had once hopped onto the back of a carriage and had ridden it until she’d spotted train tracks. She walked the tracks, forging for medicinal herbs to add to her wares. Then she had stowed away in an open boxcar. She had ridden like that for days. From there, she had made her journey mostly on foot to the seaside town. She had walked through the rolling hills, past the sprawling forests, and across the rocky plains, all the while building up her inventory. When passing camps, she would trade.. She had been travening like that for the past few years. Stopping in cities and towns for weeks to months at a time in the trade was fair.. She wandered without a clear destination in mind, her quest guided only by the elusive yearning for a sense of belonging—a longing that whispered of home but offered no map to its shores. To make up for the future that she had been promised years ago.She could stow away again, this time on a ship rather than a boxcar, but it was a lot more risky. She had heard stories of people stowing away on ships, though, they werent typically pleasent. The thought chilled her to her bones as she once again stepped out into the vast of bodies on the docks. Arilez walked and weaved her way through the sea of people by market stalls and people selling crates of fish. Arilez managed to nick a large washcloth off of the edge of a market stall that a woman had been selling veggies at. She then found a spot to sit near the piers, on top of a few crates. Arilez straightened out the washcloth and reached into her bag. Shit. She couldn’t use the dagger to cut the cloth, someone would definitely see the green and purple metal, no doubt. She looked around where she sat and sighed in relief when she caught sight of a nail sticking out the edge of the crate. She lowered the washcloth to it and tugged the edge around the nail, sawing the fabric back and forth until the nail ripped the fabric, where she was able to raise it and rip it the rest of the way with her hands. She repeated this a few more times until she now had strips of cloth. She tied the strips around her feet..  1234 copyright protection2ＰＥＮＡＮＡvbb3wiKjAY 尼

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