From the Ashes

Chapter 7 ~ The Path Forward

Morana passed the night more peacefully than she had expected. She'd sat up thinking over everything for several hours while taking a much needed bath and eating the hearty meal someone had provided for her. She supposed it would've been difficult for anyone not to relax when they were presented with such homey comforts after experiencing what she had in the past week.

The bathtub had been a large, round copper tub, deep enough that she could fill the water up to her neck. As the tub had been supplied with running water through a tap, she had done just that. She'd only seen such luxuries a few times in her stays with other families. Perhaps it was something that had once been common, but now was a rare commodity, as so many things became.

Morana had taken an ample amount of time scrubbing herself clean, even going so far as to pick the dirt out from beneath her nails, and cleaning her hair until her scalp felt raw. After all, who knew when her next opportunity to bathe would be?

Then she'd donned the soft shirt and pair of short, breezy pants that had been left out for her, likely by the same person who'd brought her meal. The meal itself was nothing extravagant, but it was delicious and filling.

There was hot fire-roasted meat and charred potatoes, as well as a leafy salad, two slices of freshly baked bread, and a small chunk of cheese. Morana had seen a decanter of wine left out too, but opted to drink water instead. She'd always tended to get ahead of herself when it came to wine, and she had no desire to face a hangover while traveling to Arcan the following day.

In the end, it had been a wise choice. Morana slept soundly through the night and woke just before noon. It was the noise of two people, a Human and a Fae, that drew her from sleep. They were clearing away her supper dishes and replacing them with fresh ones when she sat up.

"Lonan and Arlon will be coming for you soon," the Human woman said. She drew a neatly folded tunic from her basket and placed it on a chair next to a pair of pants and the boots Morana had already been wearing. "You'll want to take these instead of your dress. The terrain grows rough around Arcan."

"Thank you," Morana replied, swinging her feet off the side of the bed. The pair bowed their heads and left the room. Morana ate while she dressed. She found that the ivy green tunic fit her perfectly. As did the pants, which were a deep shade of brown.

On the floor next to her boots, she discovered a set of sturdy, yet pliable leather stays and matching vambraces for her arms. They provided her some additional protection without the bulk of armor, but she noticed a few runic markings carved into them, leading her to believe they bore a form of magical reinforcement.

She'd just finished tying her hair back into a braid when there was a knock at the door. Morana answered it and found Lonan waiting. His gray gaze swept over her and he gave an approving nod. "Good. I hoped they would fit." He gestured to the stays and vambraces.

Morana furrowed her brows and examined them herself. "You provided these?"

He turned away, beckoning with two fingers for her to follow. "They belonged to my wife. You looked about the same size as her, and I thought you might find them useful." 

Morana hurried to catch up to him and they fell in step together. "Are they enchanted? I noticed these markings and couldn't think what else they might be for."

"They are," Lonan confirmed. "You'll find them as strong as steel and difficult for any blade to penetrate."

"Thank you, but if they belonged to your wife, I couldn't take them." She glanced up at the male, but anything he felt was carefully masked with an impassive expression.