The uneven rocking of the worn ship arose me from my sleep. I opened my eyes squinting from the little light that delicately shoved its way through the minuscule holes in the ship's dull wood.
I heard shouting and chatter above the cramped space I stowed away in. I could barely make out the chatter, only catching bits and pieces. 'six minutes' and 'almost there' were the words that struck me the hardest. I had been in this creaky ship basement for over 3 weeks.
I had ran out of food just shy of a week ago, but the hunger stopped on the fourth day. I ran out of water at the beginning of the second week.
I was bored beyond belief and my head was pounding with the lack of hydration. The ship was bumpy, often making me sick, and the empty pit in my stomach hurts more than a rose thorn.
I heard distant voices and singing bells. my heart swelled realizing that we had finally made it to our destination,
The Northern Kingdom.
Kingdom of cold, harsh winters and soft honeysuckle springs.
Their kings were rarely seen and matters dealt with privately. The kingdom is known for its harsh warriors and bountiful trade. I've heard stories of their bustling markets and how they're bursting with spices from every corner of the world.
My mother would've loved it here.
She and the rest of my family were back in the Southern Continent. They owned a bakery that my younger sister Alaya was going to inherit. I was sent away with hopes that I could get a job to support my family back in the south.
A good friend of ours, Alae, was going to safely pass the money i earned from the north to the south. He's a merchant. He travels to both continents every two months.
The only obstacle standing in my way now?
Finding a job that pays enough to support myself and my family.
The ship came to a stop as i was tossed away from my worries. I waited a few minuets, letting everyone exit the ship before i made my presence known to the crew. As soon as i was out of the ships basement, i would have to make a run for it. Stowaways are not taken lightly on journeys like this.
I pushed open the latch covering my housing for the past 3 weeks, and heaved myself out of the tiny box. When my eyes met with one of the crew, he opened his mouth. His shouts rang out yelling of a stowaway on the ship.
That was my que to leave.
I abruptly stood up making my head spin. I didn't have time for passing out. I darted for the worn wooden plank connecting the ship to the dock. As soon as my feet hit the dock, I took off. I ran for at least ten minutes before I reached the heart of town. There were women dressed in extravagant dresses and men in the finest tailored suits.
