Lady Of The Sky

Chapter 3

It took two months for Arlina to make up her mind about running away. She knew Malum would probably kill her if he found out, but she couldn't take the constant beatings. She was treated like a slave, a prisoner in what was supposed to be her own home. 

Once she had decided to leave, it took another two weeks for her to lay out her plans. She would leave on the night of the full moon, as it was sacred to the Lady, and Arlina hoped that She would protect her. She would take a horse from the stables. It was the only way to get away fast enough that she wouldn't be noticed. She couldn't take anything with her, and that was what she regretted most. She had a few things that would help her on her journey if she could only take them. She already knew that she would run to the Great Temple of the Mother, for they often took in runaways. On the night she was to leave, she dressed warmly, but simply. She made sure to keep Malum's glass filled, and behaved the best she could. It wouldn't do for him to suspect her. 

Around ten o'clock, when Malum was very drunk, she whispered in his ear, "I need the restroom. I'll be back soon." He nodded his approval, and she left silently. Instead of taking the stairs to the bathroom, she ran to the courtyard, saddled one of the geldings she had befriended over the past months, swung up on her and galloped out the gate as quietly as she could. She rode northeast as hard as she could, resting the gelding occasionally, and only stopping when the sun began to rise. She was sure Malum had noticed she was gone by now. He would be sending men after her. After letting the gelding, who she had named Beauty, drink from a stream, she remounted and rode deeper into the hills. She rode for most of the day, stopping for a break whenever she began to ache too much. At noon, she stopped to rest for an hour, and laid down to take a nap. She slept for almost three hours however. When she woke, she cursed under her breath before riding further. Beauty was a fine horse, strong but quick, and she could run for hours. Arlina made use of this skill, and rode for most of that night. By the time she stopped at dawn, she was starving. A quick walk found a stream with blackberry bushes. She hungrily ate the berries, then let Beauty drink whole she walked to the top of a small hill. When she reached to top, she sank to her knees in relief. The Temple was in sight, distantly, of course, but still there. Arlina and Beauty were both exhausted, though, so they rested at the stream for most of the day before continuing across the grasslands toward the Temple. 

By the time they made it to the gates, they had been riding for almost all of two days, and both were starving and exhausted. Arlina knocked tentatively on the huge wooden gate, and it swung open almost immediately, revealing a stopped old woman with long gray hair spilling over the shoulders of her pure white habit. Arlina fell to her knees in front of her. 

"Lady, please shelter me. I fled my husband two days ago and have been running since then," she begged. 

"Stand, child. We always shelter those in need, for it is the Mother's will. Come in, water and feed your horse, then sup with us tonight." She led Arlina inside the great temple, to the stables, where Arlina found a stall for Beauty. She removed the saddle and groomed her carefully, then fed her an apple before filling a trough with water and leaving a bale of hay with the gelding. 

"Come, it is time for supper," the old woman said as she watched Arlina finish caring for Beauty.