We travel none stop for two weeks through rough mountainous areas for the first half and thick forest through the second. The tough terrain was taking its toll on the horses so when arrive at the first big city we came across we rent a room at an inn for a couple of days to allow the horses to regain their strength.
Falynn is enormous, the walls tower as far as you can see in every direction. The streets are crowded with merchants and people going about their daily business. The raucous noise seems to grow and rattle, trapped, between the houses that line the flagstone streets. Colours of every shade flash vibrantly from cloth sellers’ hands and stalls as they hawked their goods, all trying to win the shouting competition that ensues between neighbouring merchants. The smell of cooking wafts from food shops, enticing you to taste the exquisite delights they have to offer. Bewildered and panicking, due to the sensory overload I carve my way through the mass of people until I reach a quiet alleyway. It is narrow and dim due to the tops of the houses leaning over as if they are trying to block out the light. I let a long breathe escape my lips as I close my eyes to calm myself.
Soon I’m ready to rejoin the crush and cacophony that still rages on the busy high street. I push my body off the wall I’m leaning against and brace myself to step out. SMACK! Someone crashes into me and we both end up in a tangled heap on the floor. I rapidly disentangle myself and pin them on the floor so quickly they did have the chance to move. Now I finally take a good look at them. A boy that looked about my age, eighteen, with black hair and wearing a black tunic and trousers lies beneath my knee. Muffled noises come from him so I release of his head so he can speak.
“Let go of me!” he grouses.
“You shouldn’t have run into me then,” I reply with annoyance distinct in my voice.
“Okay I’m sorry but to be honest I do think this is a bit overboard,” he reasons.
“Yeah, well you haven’t seen half the things I’ve seen, you can’t be too careful.” I reply darkly as I let him back up.
“True but if you don’t mind me asking may I ask who you are?” he says.
“Depends on who’s asking,” I counter.
“Talib” he replies promptly.
“Kyra” I slowly respond.
“Where are you from? You don’t look like you’re from around here.” he probes questioningly.
“No,” I respond, hoping he can tell I do not want to elaborate any further.
Footsteps echo around the alley followed by a red faced guard pelting towards us. Talib grabs my hand and drags me with him into the milling masses, we quickly lose ourselves in the maze of streets and people until we can run no further.
“Why was he after you?” I ask panting.
“He thinks I stole his purse but actually it was the street urchin behind him, it’s his own fault really, he shouldn’t have been sleeping on the job.” he explains.
“I have to go.” I toss over my shoulder as I walk away.
“Do you know the way back from here? I’ll show you back to your room, which inn are you staying at?” Talib offers.
“I can find my own way home.” I respond as I disappear into the sea of people.
After wondering aimlessly around for a couple of hours, searching for a familiar land mark, I realize that I am lost. Slowly the streets empty as the last beams of light disappear beyond the horizon and the moon rises high above the walls, casting a silver glow across the city.
I hear the shouts of late night revellers echo down the street as I carry on walking. A couple of drunken guards make cat calls after me as I pass, ignoring them I stride on. Finally I reach the main road that runs through the centre of the entire city, I stop a moment knowing I will be back in a few minutes because the Inn is a only a few roads away.
Suddenly I’m grabbed from behind as a hand clamps itself over my mouth. They haul me into a nearby alley where I can vaguely see an accomplice in the shadows. He brings his face close to mine, I scrunch my nose at the strong smell of beer that saturates his breathe.
“Look at what we have here. What’s a girl like you doing out after dark, especially all alone.” he sneers with a dark grin decorating his features.
“Let me go first. I found this one.” a gruff voice whines behind me which did not sound quite right on him.
I feel tired and they’re pissing me off. The man in front of me takes a step back, seeming slightly unsure. Big mistake, it’s all the space I need, I kick my feet up and feel them connect solidly with his face. Surprised the man behind let go and I immediately swing into a roundhouse kick into his stomach. Out of the corner of my eye I see the other man struggle to his feet whilst clutching his nose, from which blood flowed freely, and staggers away. The other man is not as smart. He straightens up and his fist flies through the air towards me. I step to the side, grabbing his fist as it sails past my face and viciously yank it into an arm hold behind his back while shoving him against the wall. He yelps with pain so I release him and he sinks to the floor, nursing his arm.
During the entire incident I had felt completely calm and in control, no fear as you would expect, just a sense of control while calm blanketed my other emotions as if it was just another regular everyday occurrence. I lost that part of me long ago, the part that feels it only trickles through sometimes.
YOU ARE READING
Discovering Freedom
Fantasy12 year Tamarack has conquered and ruled the country with an iron fist. For 12 years Kyra has hidden. Now she's had enough of his terrible reign. She leaves the stone hallways within the mountains and embarks on her fight for freedom for her country...
