Her New Life

Chapter 3: Haven

Flinching away, she nervously turned to see who it was. She came face to face with a freckled, orange-haired girl with bright green eyes and a warm smile. She looked about her age or maybe younger. After gaping at her like a fish, the girl opened her mouth.

"Hi! Oops..." 

She noticed she had been talking louder than expected. She leaned in. 

"I noticed you seemed a little lost." She paused. "If you are not used to seclusion, you are more than welcome to enjoy my troupe's company for a while." She smiled and pointed at the table in the front of the room.

 It was surrounded by jolly customers listening to a group of performers play merry tunes. No wonder the place was so loud and chaotic; she had completely overlooked the performers in the inn. The drunken customers were swaying back and forth, singing off-key and messing up the lyrics. She cringed at the sight. Before she could reject the offer, she spoke again.

"You hungry? Is it money you lack? I have a few coins I can lend to you if you are short." Maxi lifted her hands and waved the girl off at her generous proposals.

"N-N-No...I.... n-needed," she hesitated. Should she be talking to this girl? Would she be of any help? But no one else could help her, and she had taken enough risks already. She slowly opened her mouth. "I-I'm l-look-king f-for J-Jane. From t-the inn."

"Oh! Jane, is who you want? Not to worry, I will ask around." 

The girl bolted upright and maneuvered through the throng of people, heading directly to the temperamental servant she had encountered. She watched as she spoke animatedly to the girl, clearly unfazed by her attitude. After about a minute, she came back with a dejected look.

 "Sorry, love. Jane stepped out to run a few errands, but she'll be back. She said you are more than welcome to wait, albeit she can not guarantee a short wait period." This frightened Maxi. She didn't know how long it would take for her father to figure out she was missing. It wouldn't take long, considering that even Joana had known she was planning to leave. The girl saw Maximillian's face blanch and quickly reassured her. 

"No need to fret, love. Come, sit with my group. We will keep you entertained until she comes back... If that is agreeable to you?" 

She glanced at Maxi nervously. Maximillian stared at the girl and then at the door. While she hated loud gatherings, sitting in a large group would make it harder for her to be spotted. Nodding, she followed the cheerful girl to the table.

She felt immediately overwhelmed.

After what felt like hours of listening to the melodic tunes drowned out by drunken voices, she felt a familiar hand on her shoulder.

"Look, there she is."

 She looked in the direction of where the girl was pointing. Sure enough, a stout woman with ash brown hair lumbered in, hands full of packages. The annoyed server trudged over to her. Maxi felt both hopeful and apprehensive. Noting the server's previous attitude, she was worried this Jane woman would be no different. Before she could decide whether to approach her or not, she was pulled up and led directly to the woman. She caught part of their conversation.

"Oy! Some girl's looking for ya. Looks like another one of your strays."

"Give me a damn minute, will ya! I just got in."

Their interactions did not quell her fears. The orange-haired girl skipped up behind the woman.

 "Hello, Janey!"

The woman slowly turned around with a scowl but quickly softened her face. "Well, if it isn't my favorite little pest. What 'cha want from me today girly?" 

She said in a sarcastic but slightly amused voice.

"Not me...my new friend..." She pushed Maximillian towards the woman. She kept her head down and mumbled a hello. No one said anything and an awkward silence fell upon them. She heard a low groan from one of the women.

"Lift your head, child. I won't bite. You came to me for a reason now, speak. I've got things to do." Jane said in a solemn tone.

Maxi flinched at the reprimand. She slowly lifted her gaze. Her shaky silver eyes met the woman. Her deep brown eyes were full of confusion and then replaced with shock. She stared at her, for a moment, before thrusting the rest of the packages at the server girl.

"Get a room prepared, and make sure no one disturbs us. Send up some ale or soup while you're at it."

The server grunted before storming off into the back area and returned with a key in hand, followed by another girl. They made their way upstairs. Jane and the young girl stared at her in silence for a moment. Maxi shifted under their gazes.

"What's your..."

 Jane started before flicking her eyes to the young girl and stopping. "Let us speak in private now." She swiftly grabbed Maxi's arm and led her upstairs. As the orange-haired girl began to follow, she was stopped by Jane and told to wait downstairs. Maxi gave her a nervous glance before being brought into the room being cleaned by the two servants.

"I'm not done with the room yet!" She shouted. 

Jane waved the girl off before telling them to leave it as is. Grumbling under her breath, she left the room with the other servant trailing behind her. Jane went to lock the door and took a deep breath before sitting on the bed. She motioned for Maxi to follow. Hesitantly, she sat next to the woman who stared at her like she was an unknown beast. There was an awkward moment of silence.

"What is your name, child? Tell me everything so I can find the best way to help ya." Maxi remained silent.

 "Joana sent you right?" Maxi nodded. "Well go on then, loosen your lips."

 Maxi began to mumble everything before she suddenly broke down into sobs.

Everything had happened so fast, and she didn't have time to collect herself. Unwittingly, she began telling her about her forced marriage and how she was afraid for her life. How she had only known this man, her husband for a day. Although she did not reveal what house she came from, Jane must have known she was from the nobility. After getting out all she could, Maxi quietly sniffled. Jane took a deep breath and clasped her hands around Maxi's hands.

"I thought I recognized you. I thought I saw a ghost." Maxi stiffened and felt her breath hitch. Was she caught? What was this woman going to do to her?

"I used to work for Croyso, the sorry bastard. I was one of your mother's maids." Maxi looked at the woman in shock. She continued with a glazed look as if remembering a painful memory. "I watched her slowly die. The poor thing barely got to hold you." 

She went on to tell her how she quit just a few years after she was born and came to work here. Many of the people who stopped by were often victims of the duke's schemes, and she felt obligated to help them. After all, she used to work for the man, and couldn't do much for her mother. It was an unspoken, well-kept secret that the inn's allegiance to the duke was practically non-existent. Maxi sat stunned for a while, trying to contemplate the information she was given.

 Could she trust this woman? Or was this a complex trap to sow out the traitors in the duchy? However, the way the woman spat out her father's name and looked at her with pity made her rethink her previous thoughts. Before she could say anything, she spoke again.

"You're certainly a brave little thing, I'll tell ya that. You can stay here for the night, but I'm afraid no more. The duchy will be on high alert when they notice you are gone." This caused Maxi to panic. Her father would certainly notice she was gone in a few hours, and he would most likely close off the exits to the duchy by morning.

"B-b-but...I-I h-have to h-hurry!" Maxi pleaded. The woman gave her a sympathetic look and sighed. A moment later, a soft knock came at the door.