Owe You My Sins [GxG]

Chapter 3

The sun was never really out in Windermere, but the sullen murk they called daybreak was upon them as Maeven set off into the courtyard. The clouds above were more like an angry sea, the glimpses of sky between their rumbling crests like the whitewash which rode the ocean waves. She couldn't remember a time that there weren't clouds above Stonehearth, but the monochrome colours of her home would forever be beautiful in her mind; like the canvas that started white, she found the muted tones striking in a way that only true visionaries could appreciate. The cobble below was covered only in a fine layer of snow, a sign that the commoners had already shovelled as much of last night's blizzard off the pathways as they could.

Her thick boots still quickly became damp, the tip of her nose colouring against the fresh morning air that brought only the promise that worse was to come. It happened every year, whereas the rest of the continent underwent a winter which brought light snows and chilly winds, Windermere became practically uninhabitable. Barely a soul dared face the wrath of a true northern winter, many fleeing south to escape the blizzards. Not her family, though. They were stubborn enough to remain through thick and thin.

All around her people were beginning their day, bundled in layers upon layers of thick clothes and animal fur cloaks. She looked much the same, wearing a dense woollen tunic and a dark leather corset which pulled the material tight, sealing her body warmth inside. Over her shoulders was the thick winter coat of a bear, one she'd slain herself the year before last. Every day she braved the cold, she sent a silent thankyou to that bear - the sigil of her family - for its protection.

For the first half of the day, she stopped by as many homes as she could and offered a helping hand in whatever they needed. Whether it be packing up their rations to deliver to the keep or doing minor repairs for their homes to fortify them for the cold season, she was more than happy to oblige. She prided herself on being amongst her people, even more so than her father was. While he preferred hunting to build camaraderie, she liked to build her reputation in more personal affairs. She enjoyed spending her days in the village and being with the people she would one day lead into the future.

She'd just finished hauling timber planks from the mill to an older woman's home whose lame leg prevented her from doing it herself when two carpenters intercepted her and urged her to take a break. Her protests were met with hearty laugher and slaps on the back, and she found herself quickly left in the dust. Huffing, she decided to do as they'd suggested.

Her feet carried her to the markets, which were positioned in a large circle in the village courtyard, centred around a stone statue of a knight on a horse. It was a depiction of one of the first Constantines, a man who fought tooth and nail to settle the north and build a home for his family; both blood, and those who'd followed him along the way. Horses in Windermere were quite unlike those of the warmer regions of Acuador, they were stocky and thickly muscled with long coats and billowing sails for manes and tails. They had wide snouts and large ears, with long eyelashes to blink away the flurries from their humble eyes. If there was ever a creature she trusted more than herself to carry her through the snow forests, it was Windermere's own Izenluf.

The smells of the market hit her next, rich and saturated with flavour, despite no doubt pertaining mostly to dried or smoked meat. With such limited options, the people had turned to spices and different assortments of wild herbs to liven up their daily meals. The stall she approached was held up by thick timber poles, a canvas cover covering the stall from three sides and leaving the front open. With the heavy winds, it wasn't exactly pleasurable to be in the stalls without protection, so over time the people adapted.

"Fresh Riysha? Clearly, I've arrived at the right time," she flashed a kind smile to the woman behind the stall.

"Ah, my Lady! I was wondering when you would stop by today," she threw her arms out to Maeven with a wide grin. "Come, come, I saved my best just for you."