An Ember's Tale

Chapter One

Ember's heartbeat was like a loud, tedious drum in her ear. Her steps quickened with every shallow breath she drew in. Her head hummed an annoying tune, one that blocked out all the hectic noises around her. She tried her best not to look around and to stay focused on what was ahead of her, but she found her will weakening with every step, every hum... every breath.

But this was it.

This was her one chance.

Snow relentlessly blew against her face until the annoying hum stilled in her head. Her eyes blinked rapidly while she pushed against the howling wind around her. The street lights flickered and dimmed until she used only her memory to guide her through the empty streets. Ember's eyes shut, and her mind became awake. It knew every path, every curve she needed to take until the bright lights, and loud laughter drew her eyes to slowly open against the wind.

Her pace slowed when she looked over to the door she had been dreading. The door that would either lead to her future or her doom. Neither sounded pleasant, but the consequences of not going inside would have been far too great to bear.

Ember clutched her cloak around herself tightly as she gripped the frayed edges. While the cloak concealed her face and body, she still felt far too bare and exposed before the door as if it knew every dark and sinful tale that clung to her like a shadow.

She inhaled sharply, letting the cold air filter through her before she gathered all the courage she possessed and set her hand on the cool handle. She took one last look at the empty street being consumed by the ravenous snow that blew furiously over the dimly lit cobblestones. Ember pursed her lips as she turned back to the door in front of her. "It's too late now," she muttered as she tried to convince herself further.

She took another deep breath and opened the door.

The smell of beer, lack of hygiene, and blood greeted Ember as she entered the tavern. Ember had hated the tavern ever since she was young; it was where most of the scoundrels and the more unpleasant individuals were. It seemed to attract many different types of people, even ones Ember thought to be decent, but it also drew more dangerous figures that she wanted to avoid at all costs.

Her breath grew shaky as she gripped her hood tighter around her face. Every part of her screamed for her to run and never return, but Ember knew that if she turned back now, everything she cared about would be lost. And she couldn't risk that, no matter how afraid she was. She almost expected everyone to stop and look at her dramatically as if she were this strange figure from a distant land, but hardly anyone looked toward her as she entered the establishment. They all continued to drink beer and make passes at waitresses who just giggled and winked at them. They laughed and spat tobacco everywhere as they told wildly exaggerated stories of their lives.

She ignored them and searched the room for any sailors, of which she saw an abundance, but none seemed like they would be able to give her what she wanted. She continued to look around before deciding that this had been an awful idea. True, Ember had come up with her plan rather impulsively, but her impulses had always seemed to serve her well. Still, in this case, it seemed like she had been terribly wrong.

Even in the pale, orange lighting, she saw the faces of ruthless individuals. Just waiting to cut her throat and spill her blood just for a few coins. The hairs on her neck stuck up as she drew several shaky breaths in. She looked into the faces of every sailor she could find, but all looked as if they could snap her neck as soon as they realized who she really was.

Ember decided to see if the bartender knew anything before giving up and sulk home in defeat.

She had met the bartender a couple of times before, and he was pleasant enough. At least, he didn't seem to mind who she was, even if everyone else did. He had a rough appearance and could knock a man out in a single blow, but he seemed to have a soft spot for her and her family. Even though Ember's face was concealed, the bartender recognized her immediately. He rushed out from behind the bar and approached Ember with wide eyes.