Of the Sea (Travels Of Kerriya)

in which mae learns to walk

"Hayun offered to lend you some of her clothes," said Perrin, offering what he was holding to Mae.

"Thank you," she said, accepting them.

He stepped out of the room, pulling the door half-way closed. "I'll let your friend help you change." Then, to Aelsiq— "You know how to get back to the tavern on your own?"

"Yup!" she replied. "Go and eat something, we'll be there in no time." She waved him out the door. With a hesitant glance at Aelsiq, then Mae, he left them.

"Alrighty," exclaimed Aelsiq. "Let's get you dressed!"

The clothes were simple and practical—a shirt and pants similar to what she already wore, but in rose and scarlet and burgundy hues, alongside white socks and a pair of nearly unused shoes. Mae took off what she now presumed were sleeping clothes (something she'd only read about in books) and dressed herself, Aelsiq helping with the socks. Now that she was dressed, the next step was... standing.

"You think you can manage it?"

"We'll... just have to find out. Give me a hand?"

Aelsiq stood in front of her and gave her both her hands to hold, which Mae took. With her feet firmly pressed to the ground, she pulled herself up with relative ease.

"I... I did it!" She smiled excitedly at Aelsiq, who grinned even wider back.

"Nice! Do you think you can try walking?"

Mae nodded. Aelsiq slowly walked backwards, giving space for Mae to step forwards—but she only slid forward on her socks, her feet still stuck together.

"You have to move your feet, you know," remarked Aelsiq.

"I know!" retorted Mae, frustrated. "I just—give me a second," and she forcibly lifted one of her feet. And started tilting backwards. Her eyes widened, and her mouth opened, but she was too panicked to say a word.

Aelsiq's grip tightened, and she tried to pull Mae's body towards her.

"Put your foot down—behind you, behind you!" she shouted in vain, for Mae had already put her foot back right next to her other foot. The two of them slid in a sort of controlled fall to the ground with a muffled thump.

"Ow..." Aelsiq groaned. She got up and rubbed her sore elbows. With a pointed look at Mae, she said, "This time, you practice using the wall."

It took a few tries for Mae to successfully take a step on her own. She fell so many times that a woman from the neighbouring room banged on the wall, shouting for them to "Shut up already! Don't you know how late it is?" But finally, finally, she learned to ignore the instinct to keep her legs glued together. It was a much more difficult task than she thought—walking was like letting yourself fall and catching yourself just before you lost control. But at least now she could make a step, and she probably wouldn't fall on Aelsiq again.

"Almost ready?" asked Aelsiq. She'd been leaning on the opposite wall, watching Mae.

Mae nodded.

"Alright. Do you want me to carry your bag for you? Everything else should be fine—I don't really have anything valuable in my bags without my sealskin."

"No, I can carry it." Given Aelsiq's previous track record with keeping valuable items safe... she wanted to keep the bag safe on her terms.

Aelsiq shrugged. "Suit yourself."

The two travelled down the narrow, smokey corridors of the inn to the entrance, where Aelsiq explained she could put on her shoes. It was still confusing to Mae where shoes were necessary and not—Aelsiq was usually barefoot, after all. But she put the shoes on over her borrowed socks and let Aelsiq lead her out to the tavern across the road.