Seeing Red

Chapter Ninteen

This is the final chapter.. thank you all so much for reading. This has been an amazing experience. please, Enjoy.

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Chapter 19

          I tried to avoid stopping in any other cities, but the road from Sarathis to Jutara went straight through Aiden, and there were no other routes.  I slipped into the newly freed city silently.  People didn’t even look at me as I walked past, leading Zevvarian.  My hood was up, and they couldn’t see my crown.  Children were laughing and dancing through the streets, while parents laughed and drank and celebrated.  I bumped into a rather happy looking red headed woman who gave me a drink and said, “Rejoice stranger! The Red Maven has saved us all!” Just as quickly she was gone, handing out drinks to other passersby. 

          I swept into an inn and went up to the innkeeper. “I’ll take any room you have for the night,” I said quietly. 

          The man; bearded and middle aged, with rosy cheeks and a bumpy nose looked down at me with a smile.  “You should smile little lady! We are free people once more, just like we were intended to be!” he rejoiced in a deep booming voice.

          I smiled lightly and pulled out my money.  “How much for a room?” I asked.

          He laughed “It’s free! We have no taxes without a ruler! And that means I don’t have to pay much!”

          I wiped the fair out of my eyes and keeping my head down. “Do you think the country would be better without a ruler?” I asked him quietly.

          He chuckled, shaking his head at me.  “Goddess no! Little lady, I think another day with no taxes or laws would be great, but without a ruler we would be chaos. No... We need a ruler, just not tonight, or you’ll have to pay for your room” he said with a laugh.

          I smiled and asked around if anyone knew the prices of rooms here. Once I found out I went to sleep. And when I woke up in the morning, I slipped the money under the innkeeper’s pillow. I didn’t have my hood on, but people were sleeping and so it didn’t really matter.  I slipped out of the city and began the second half of my ride to Jutara.

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           I was close. I could feel it.  I knew that Jutara was just around the tree scattered corner and my thoughts were filled with what would be waiting for me at the gates. I  brushed my knee length, wavy, honey hair out of my face, and looked into a silver mirror that I was given by a woman that was very grateful for my efforts towards the war.  I smiled at the sight. The woman in the mirror had beautiful dark green eyes that glittered in the memory of tears and the reminder of a smile.  She had pale pink lips that were full and healthy and high cheekbones that were rosy from the wind.  She wore a long red cloak that flowed around her gracefully and a golden crown on her head that had a huge ruby in the centre, glittering in the sunlight.  Over her slim shoulders was a staff, the same staff she always used.  And tucked beneath her cloak, around her waist was a sword, heavy and sharp, that was prepared for use.  I blinked and looked at this person, this woman who was at once a stranger and yet achingly familiar. This is me.  This is who I am and who I was always meant to be.  I put the mirror away and headed to the gates of Jutara, where my destiny was waiting for me.

          I approached the man at the gates. He stood with his back to me and I took him in; he wore a sword around his waist, and blackish pants that were tucked into black boots with rips, exposing the rabbit fur inside. He had a black cape over his shoulder, which had a silver moon near the bottom, and one spiked shoulder pad holding it in place. His dark hair was spiky and messy, and his broad shoulders were held in a way that said ‘I know who I am, and who I want to be, and you won’t get in my way.’ I silently drew my sword, stepping off my horse with the stealth of a cat. It took me three steps until I had my sword pointed to the middle of his back.  He jumped and raised his hands into the air.