I Will Always Find You {Archived}

Chapter 1

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Okay, finally gotten Chapter 1 finished :D Sorry for the long wait.

Anyway enjoy ♥

P.S. This is set five years after the prologue, just to let you know early on.

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{Chapter 1}

A shiver runs up my spine as I dismount my horse and tie him to the frozen railing outside of the inn. I loosen his girth and remove my satchel from the saddle, counting my coins to double check I packed enough.

Taking caution as I climb the icy steps to the front door I grip the railing for support. Hesitating by the door for a moment I pull my coat tighter around me, hoping no one notices the blood splatters on my pants. The target I had been sent to kill had proved to be a little more difficult than expected.

The inn is a little off route from home, but the desire to be numbed by alcohol, a familiar and stupid habit is too overwhelming.

The smell of dry meat and honeyed mead overwhelms me as I enter. Taking a deep whiff of the sweet scents I take a seat at the bar, making sure it's the closest one to the hearth. Removing my riding gloves I savour the warmth from the fire, letting my aching muscles relax.

A tall man smelling of horse sits beside me, a drink already in his gloved hand. I turn my back to him and gesture for someone to serve me, not feeling social enough to play nice.

"What can I get you Ma'am?" asks the scrawny innkeeper, scratching his balding head.

"What's your strongest drink?" I sigh.

"It's a home made concoction. The lady who makes it calls it 'Draught of the Giddy' because one glass is guaranteed to make you quite the drunkard, I must say though it's not all that popular."

"I'll take it," I say, sliding a silver piece across the bar.

"I wouldn't recommend that. I've had quite a few dark nights drinking that brew, and I can tell you they never end well," chuckles the man beside me. I ignore him and watch as the innkeeper fills up half a glass of the strange, brown liquor and hands it back to me along with a few coppers for change.

"Here you are," I eye the glass suspiciously. My lungs burn as I inhale the strong fumes and I crinkle my nose in disgust at the awful stench emanating from it.

"I told you it was foul," grins the nosy man beside me. In attempt to show him I'm ignoring him I down the whole glass and immediately regret it. The moment the burning liquid has passed down my throat a wave of dizziness washes over me and I grit my teeth to stop myself from vomiting.

"I'm betting you wish you hadn't done that now," I send him a warning look to let him know not to mess with me right now and nearly choke at the sight of him.

I've seen this man somewhere before. I'm sure of it...only my mind is too foggy to think of where. I clutch my now pounding head and gawk at the man trying to rearrange my thoughts and remember who he is. Realisation flashes in his eyes and he abruptly rises from his seat, placing three coppers on the bar and striding out the door.

"Wait!" I call after him, climbing off my seat. Before I even realise what's happened my face collides with the hard, cobble stoned floor and I hear a round of laughter. Shit! I heave myself up with shaky arms and stumble out of the inn after the mysterious man.

But as I burst outside into the freezing nights air, I find only the silent, sleeping town. Nothing remains of his presence, not even footprints in the light cover of snow. Another wave of dizziness washes over me and I hold onto a nearby pole for support.