Tired of Waiting

Chapter 3

The sun had gone down when I called Sylvia and Nadine for supper. They came down and I served their food. They were sitting in the dining room all sophisticated-like when I got there. Sometimes they act like we are rich. I mean, we're not poor, but we aren't rolling in gold either. At least my father left quite a bit of money for us when he left.

I set down their bowls and silverware and went back into the kitchen. I had my own table in the kitchen that Sylvia insisted that I sit at. I ate my food and went upstairs to assist Nadine with getting ready.

She was mostly done by the time I got upstairs. I pinned her hair up in a bun and put on her new necklace. She looked nice. Her dress complimented her eyes, and the necklace added just the right touch to her outfit.

I walked her downstairs and Sylvia was waiting there for us. She took Nadine's arm and led her outside to the carriage we borrowed for the night.

"We should be home by midnight," Sylvia said before they left.

After they were long gone, I went to get the potato sack with the food I had put it in it. I went to my bedroom to gather the things I would need or want.

I crept up the long staircase and opened the door to my small bedroom. I didn't have much, but the things I did have were special to me.

Most of the things I had owned were taken by Nadine and Sylvia. But, there were a few things of which I had the hindsight to place somewhere safe. I opened the secret hatch that was in the floor of my room. In it was a few things I kept safe. A necklace that belonged to my mother before she was lost at sea, a silver ring from my father, and a collection of coins I had slowly snuck and collected from Sylvia from under her nose. I grabbed all my things and put them in the sack too. Before I blew out my candle on my nightstand for the last time, I shoved my journal in the sack.

I planned to leave as soon as Sylvia and Nadine fell asleep. I knew it would not take very long for them to start snoring and dreaming of their night, for the ball lasted for four hours. I checked the time on the sundial outside before I crawled into bed and pretended to sleep.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Like Sylvia said, she and Nadine got home a few minutes before I heard the clock in the center of the city ring out twelve times.

Sylvia tromped up the stairwell not caring that I could have been asleep. She abruptly opened the door and I tried my hardest to look like I was really sleeping. She slammed the door shut and clomped down the stairs again. That was a close call. At least it worked.

A half hour or so of staying still later, I didn't hear anymore noises from downstairs and couldn't see any more lights under the door, so I figured Sylvia and Nadine were asleep. I sat up and tiptoed over to my sack and sat down to pull on my boots. I grabbed my things and went to my door. Here we go. I thought as I opened the door.

I crept down the stairs and into the pantry. I grabbed all the extra food I bought and had stashed behind the butter churn. I won't be missing that. I walked out of the pantry and down the hall. As I passed Nadine's door I felt a twinge of pity for how she would be forced to do all the chores now. Then I remembered how Nadine had inflicted extra chores upon me for no reason at all. There goes that pity.

I scowled my way past Sylvia's room reminiscing all the torturous things she did to me in the past. I shrugged it off and went straight towards my main goal, the front door. I turned the knob and smiled. I was finally getting away.

I made my way towards the stables where my father's horse was waiting. I always loved that horse. He was the only thing I could depend on anymore. I saddled him up and tied my bags to the saddle. I opened up the gate and walked him out. Judging from when Sylvia got home and how long it took to leave, I guessed it was about one thirty in the morning. We walked through the gardens and out the front gate. After we had been walking for a minute the house was a ways away and I decided to get on the horse and start to run. The wind was rushing past my face and through my hair.

We galloped into the night and when the first signs of light started to peek through the mountains, the borders of the kingdom were just after this next village. I decided to stop and give Chestnut, the horse, a break. The first little bits of people were waking now and I made my way to the blacksmith.

He was just barely setting up shop and I was the first customer of the day. I walked up and asked how much he was asking for swords.

He looked at me sideways and broke into a mocking laughter. "You? A girl wants to purchase a sword? For whom? Your dear hubby?" He chuckled.

I glared at him, and replied, "No. I am here to purchase a sword for myself, and I don't have a 'hubby'."

He frowned. "Well I'm not just going to sell a sword to a random street girl so she can get herself killed," he folded his arms, signifying he was done with the banter.

"Fine," I said, "I guess you won't get my money." I tossed my pouch between my hands, the coins inside tinkling around.

A moment later, just as I was walking to the door, he said, "Fine, but you need the proper lessons before you can just romp around the town unsure how to handle the tool."

I turned and smiled. "I knew you'd come through eventually. So how much for lessons and a fine sword?"

He thought for a moment then said, "Twenty three silvers. No less, but I wouldn't complain about any extra."

"Done."

An hour or two later I was adequately trained with a sword, which I found was rather easy and entertaining, and had a sword that was weighed perfect for me. I headed out of the blacksmith and saddled up Chestnut and we headed off.

We had been riding for a half hour or so when we got to the forests at border of the village. I stopped.

"Well," I said to myself, "here's to a new life."

A twig snapped behind me and I whipped my head around in time to see five, large men bearing swords circling around me.