Blood of Water and Light

𝕊𝕚𝕩: ℂ𝕪𝕣𝕒

I waited in the maids sleeping quarters for Sam. They were all at dinner or their shifts. Plus there was a back door. He arrived in fresh clothes with a bag and a weapon on his back. A small sword based on it's shape and hilt. I wondered where he'd gotten such items because I wanted one.

"About time" I said quietly.

"I got mildly lost" he said innocently.

I reached for the door as I heard shuffling behind us. Before I could turn to look at the source Sam pulled me close and was kissing me. I happened to see one of the other maids in the room.

"Oh dear pardon me" she said before running off out the door.

Sam let go and pulled away leaving me mildly stunned. I opened the door letting the darkness of night inside and walked out. I heard growls and other strange noises fill the air. 

We went along the side of the castle against the wall so patrols did not see us. Once we got to the front of the building we used the tall grass along the road to hide in. Trees loomed above after a few dozen yards and we were safe to walk as normal. I heard sounds coming from the palace and suddenly torches were being lit up.

"Thats never good" I whispered and grabbed Sam's arm to start running.

Wearing a dress was dragging me down and I was already a slow runner. That and wooded terrain was not my best friend. I sprinted through hoping the town was not far off from here. 

"Stupid gossiping maids" I muttered already out of breath.

Horses feet thumping against the ground became in earshot and it seemed to speed the both of us up. Sam pulled me down into a ditch as a few men ran by again their torches lighting the way. Once they were gone we started up again. I ripped my skirts and we walked quietly.

After about a mile of walking we found the village again. It was still bustling with drunks mostly at this time. At the tavern we were to meet at I saw the guards horses. We walked towards it and ducked back by an ally. 

"What do we do?" Sam asked.

I tried to think of a plan to get us unnoticed, but it seemed useless. Going inside we'd be spotted and staying out here we might also get caught. 

"Luckily I am smarter then the common guard" Achelios voice rang out in the small space.

Again he stood like a shadow with a big coat in black the flowed around him. Behind him was a carriage with horses of the deepest black. They were not normal though, they had long curved horns like rhinos and their manes were a vivid orange and yellow. They were like the ones from before in the prairie. I nearly forgot about them. 

"They are beautiful" I mused.

"Yes lovely now come along" Achelios stated.

I nodded and walked behind him. He opened the door and waited for me to climb inside. The seats were gold velvet and there were small windows on each side with the smallest bits of thin fabric for curtains. In the top there were shelves with bags, no doubt with supplies hidden in them. I took a seat facing forward.

Achelios climbed in taking the seat next to me making my heart skip a beat. Sam sat opposite of me. Once the door was shut the carriage started to pull ahead quickly. 

"I get nauseous backwards" Achelios said at last.

I looked away having no interest in the matter. The kiss from Sam had meant nothing to me. Besides I had more issues now then that. It was just a way of escape I hoped he felt the same. He had always been more of a brother figure. 

* * *

I didn't recall falling asleep, but at some point I did. My face had been smashed into the window the entire time and my neck throbbed. Troubles with the old age of nineteen. The carriage was stopped and I was alone.

I climbed down the step and nearly fell onto my face from the dress I still wore. They gave me one option and well even in my world I refused to wear such things. Dresses made me uncomfortable in most cases. I did like how some looked on me, but this one made me look horrendous. White and black layers that made me look like an odd and disfigured marshmallow. 

"Here change into these and dispose of the dress" Achelios said handing me a small bundle.

I looked around seeing the guards chatting and sitting. Horses had been tied to trees. The carriage man was munching on an apple.

"Thank you" I replied before going to hide in the trees.

I went to a place no one else was hiding out in. I stripped the dress off feeling utterly vulnerable. Inside the bundle was some black trousers and red long sleeved shirt that had a V-neck. I kept the maid undergarments on and threw the other clothes on top. I walked back tying back a corset belt that had been wrapped inside. It had straps all along it perfect for weapons if I ever found one.

I saw Sam at last he was mingling with the other guards. My own feet wandered back towards the carriage because I had no interest in people. I climbed back inside to find Achelios fiddling with a knife. 

"Cyra did you rest well?" he asked looking more interested in the outside world.

"I am a bit stiff but I am alright" I said sitting across from him.

"I figured these clothes would be more suitable and also one other thing is this" he said glancing once at me.

He put his knife away before digging into his pocket and pulling out small leather cloth with his free hand. His gloved hands unwrapped it and there gleamed another small knife with a blue stone in the end.

"Thank you" I said.

He handed me the small blade and I turned it over in my hands. On the hilt it had vines engraved. It was a lovely thing and equally deadly if I could learn how to use it. 

"You'll get more, but I figure one is a good start" he said.

He then reached out with another small bundle. This time it was something more interesting, food.

I chomped down into the hard bread when he said, "It's best to strike at the low torso with that or the neck and sometimes the back of the thigh most of those areas are fatal" He added as a last thought.