Leaving the noblewoman unconscious and surrounded by ferns, I whistled my way back through the forest, my satchel now satisfyingly heavy with stolen gold. The stars had just begun to prick through the sky, and the air smelled of pine, smoke, and adventure. For the first time, my steps felt light. By tomorrow, I'd be gone from this dung heap of a village gone for good.
Or so I thought.
As I reached the forest's edge, the trees thinned and the familiar muddy road reappeared. That's when I saw them: a cluster of figures in steel armor and navy-blue tabards, the torchlight gleaming off their helmets. Six knights, maybe more, all armed and sweating like they'd been chased by a pack of wolves. I slipped behind a tree, heart pounding. Knights? In this nowhere village? It was like finding a diamond in a dung heap suspicious, rare, and probably a sign of trouble.
They were arguing in frantic whispers, one gesturing wildly. I caught snatches of conversation: "She was right behind us " "The bear's tracks end here " "If we lose her, we're dead men "
Before I could sneak away, one of them spotted me. "Hey! You girl!"
He strode toward me, visor up, sweat streaming down his brow. "Have you seen a noblewoman in the woods? Ridiculous dress, far too many jewels, more makeup than sense?"
I blinked, channeling every ounce of blank innocence I'd ever mustered for my family. "A noblewoman? Here? You're joking, right? This place doesn't even have an inn. No, I haven't seen anyone except rabbits and I'm not sure they're nobles, unless eating grass is a new trend at court."
He gave me a long, suspicious look, then grunted. "If you see her, report to us at once. Her life may be in danger."
"Sure thing," I said, already sidling away. "If I see any noblewomen, or rabbits wearing crowns, you'll be the first to know."
I hurried down the road, picking up the pace in case they thought to question me again or, worse, found Her Ladyship and realized their gold purse was now mine. Sometimes, self-preservation was the best magic of all.
By the time I reached the village, it was late. Lanterns flickered in a few windows. The muddy paths were empty, everyone locked away for the night. I made my way home, only to find of course the front door locked tight. I jiggled the handle, rattled it harder. Nothing.
I pounded on the door. "Open up! I forgot my key!"
Silence.
I raised my voice, "Let me in! Or I'll start listing your secrets to the whole village!"
Still nothing. Not a creak, not a shuffle, not even the sound of my brother snoring.
"Fine," I muttered, stepping back. "You want dramatic? I'll give you dramatic."
I squared my shoulders and kicked the door. It shuddered, wood splintering a little under my foot. I grinned, kicked again, and this time the door broke open with a crash, nearly coming off its hinges.
I stepped inside, dusting off my boots. "Anyone home? You should really invest in better locks."
From the salon, my mother's furious shriek erupted. "ARI-ELLE! What have you done to the door, you ungrateful !"
She appeared in the doorway, hair wild, face redder than ever, and best of all her precious wig teetering at a ridiculous angle. When she threw her hands up to gesticulate, it slid off her head and landed in the ashes of the hearth.
I tried not to laugh. Really, I did.
"You broke my door!" she wailed, grabbing her wig, dusting off the ashes. "How dare you?! I should throw you out right now disgraceful, destructive !"
I shrugged, utterly unfazed. "You should have opened the door when I knocked. Or maybe tried talking to me like a person instead of a badly-written villain."
Her mouth opened and closed like a fish on a dry dock. "I'm warning you, Arielle, one more slip and I'll have you out of this house !"
I just looked at her. Really looked, with all the contempt I'd saved up over two lifetimes. "Do whatever you want, Mother. It's not like you were ever planning to keep me anyway."
She stared, so shocked she nearly dropped her wig again. I didn't bother waiting for more abuse I just turned and marched past her, up the stairs to my tiny room.
I shut the door behind me and leaned against it, heart racing not with fear, but relief. One more night. That was all. Tomorrow, I'd be gone, out of their reach forever.
I looked around at the room my prison and my sanctuary. There wasn't much to pack: a handful of threadbare clothes, a dented comb, a scrap of blanket I actually liked. I rolled everything together, making the saddest travel bundle in history.
Still, I wasn't stupid. I couldn't walk out of this dump looking like myself, not with knights snooping around and a certain noblewoman liable to wake up and start pointing fingers. I needed a disguise.
"System," I whispered, "any advice for sneaking out unnoticed?"
[Recommendation: Disguise yourself. Steal something useful. Remember, all great adventurers begin with a little petty theft.]
I grinned. For once, the system and I were in perfect agreement.
I crept out of my room and into my parents' bedroom. It still smelled like perfume, soap, and bitterness. At the back of the wardrobe, I found what I needed a heavy traveler's cloak, dark and hooded, big enough to hide my hair, my face, maybe even a sack of stolen gold.
I tried it on. It nearly dragged the floor, but with a little adjustment, it fit well enough. I checked the mirror my reflection was a stranger, hooded and anonymous. Good.
I slipped the gold purse into the inner pocket and, after a moment's thought, added my brother's favorite scarf. If he missed it, well he could always blame the laundry.
Back in my room, I bundled up on my cot and stared at the ceiling, nerves fluttering in my stomach. It was really happening. One night left. I'd leave at dawn, before anyone was awake, and by the time the village noticed, I'd be nothing but a rumor.
I'd only come back when I was strong enough to destroy everyone who'd tried to break me. The thought was comforting, almost like a lullaby.
I closed my eyes, clutching the cloak and dreaming of roads, cities, gold, and fire.