Lost in the mountains of mist

[zemiorco]

 

Sha'halea was scared. When she had escaped her maid and the guards protecting her, she had never imagined things would go this way. She had never thought it possible that she would sink this low. Surely, her dove grey riding dress of silk still made her look every bit the noble she had been born as, but that was no more than a hollow shell with numerous invisible cracks. Somehow she had managed to uphold the dignity she no longer felt.

 

She might make the impression of a noble, but if challenged, she would no longer be able to stand up to the expectations. Since leaving the security of her cared for world she had been robbed. She had been lied to and deceived. She had been stupid enough to let herself be seduced by sweet lies, only to find the man gone the next morning, and with him the last gold she owned, the pitiful remainder of what the robbers had not stolen. But even before she had been robbed, people had been horrid to her. Merchants had charged her hideous prices, inn keepers had feigned interest, only to rip her off. Why? Because they knew she was just a girl and she had no clue. Why? Why was this world so mean to her? Where was the honesty and respect? Why was everyone so nasty? All she expected was the respect due to her station and title. All she expected was that people bowed or curtsied as it was proper, and that they would address her with the required deference. She had been mild. She had been patient, going as far as to point out how ill mannered people were behaving. But all she got in return was barely concealed hostility.

 

In the mean time the message had reached her, that her father had disinherited her. Of course, that man was not her real father. Her real father was an Altaran prince, that she was convinced of. But it still hurt. She had believed him to be her father, until she had learned the truth. And now, he was just casting her away. Worse, that step made it clear that her family was no longer ready to accept. There would be no open arms. Now she really was on her own. And no banker would be willing to lend her money on her families name.

 

First she had been forced to sell her favourite ball gown. Then nearly all the other silken dresses. Again, the money people were offering her for those had nearly provoked tears. But she had been left with no choice unless she intended to sleep rough and starve. With her belongings dwindling rapidly she had recently also sold her pack horse.

 

Lastly, her search was not going as well as expected. How could someone be the prince of Altara, and disappear so well? Six months she had been searching for him, but she had not been able to find one valid trail. No one!

 

Grimacing she stopped her horse. The gelding was of the finest Tairen livestock and his ancestors could be traced back to Hawkwing’s days. His heritage matched hers. But fine steed or not, he had hardly been a help in her quest. It rode where she guided, and she was lost. Worse, it was well past midday, and in a few hours the night would fall. She had been told there was a path north east away from the mountains of mist, but every step of her mount seemed to bring her closer to this intimidating wall of ice topped peaks. By the light, she did not even know which direction north was.

 

She was worried about mountains. But nothing scarred her as much as forests, and she had been riding through a forest since she had left the tavern this morning. Had the road been at first wide enough to allow two wagons to pass, it was now no more then a dirt track and she was not even certain that it was used by humans. In fact, the last human she had seen had been calling something after her around lunch. Maybe she should have listened to his words. Maybe it had been a warning? She brushed it off. Peasants had not right to talk to her. Peasants were dirty things. And even if he had said the dark one lived this direction, she would have ridden on. Where would this world come to if lowly-born riff-raff was to tell nobility what to do, where to go, and where not?

 

Just then a wolf howled. Sunlight was still filtering through the dense forest, but if anything the hills this wood sprawled over grew taller, and to her it seemed the peaks came closer. Staring back she contemplated to turn back. But it was too late to make it back to the inn before the night fell. It was too late to reach its safety. She knew that. And besides, she would never turn around and return to the inn to admit to the men there she had gotten lost. Never!

 

There was just one way she could see. Forwards. Swallowing hard and gripping the hilt of the slender dagger dangling from her waist firmer she rode on, right in the direction from where the wolves howled.

 

“Dirty beasts.” She snarled. “I hate the wild. I hate the woods. I hate wolves.” Were they watching her? Were they thirsting for her blood? Trying to make her soft features appear as grim as she could she searched the undergrowth. She tried to transform her fear into anger. She hoped the pretence of anger in her voice would scare any of the beasts near enough to hear away. “When I have found my father, when I am the rightful princess of Altara, I will set a reward for every wolf fur handed in. Yes. I will have all wolves hunted down. Ugly beasts. Go away!”

 

[silhouette]

“That’s rather ungrateful, considering the fact that they have been watching your back ever since you entered these woods.” Sohvi knew her voice would startle the young noblewoman, especially considering the fact that she herself remained unseen. She knew it, and relished in the fact. Dirty beasts? She would have them hunted down? There was no chance of that. No chance at all, if what she had seen in her dreams of late was true. With a sigh she decided to give up her game. A wanderer was a wanderer, and Sohvi was not equipped to deal with those. The sooner she convinced the woman to come with her and see Timewalker or Anton, the better it was.

 

The girl was giving her a wide-eyed stare, as if she couldn’t believe she found a woman in the woods, and even more so, that she found a woman in the woods who would speak at her in such a manner. Sohvi crossed her arms in front of her chest, letting the girl take her in. Much had changed since she first arrived at the stedding. She had been very shy back then. So shy that she had barely been willing to reveal herself to Anton when he found her. Now, a year later, she had been drawn out of her shell by the other wolfkin. She still didn’t like being around people as much as some, but she was no longer afraid of them either.

 

She gave the girl a small smile to indicate she was harmless. Compared to some of the other wolfkin she was. Her modest height, slender build and pale skin betrayed her as someone who would never be able to intimidate anyone physically. Not in an overpowering way, at least. She shyly tucked a strand of her dark hair behind her ear when she noticed the girl was taking all of her in. If only she’d decided to wear a dress today. She was still uncomfortable in the pants that came with her hunting outfit, even if she did like the added range of movement she got from them.

 

“Besides, the wolves won’t attack you unless you attack them. They don’t like to eat people.” She smiled again and  pinched her own arm softly. “We’re too tough. They prefer deer, and there are plenty of those out here.” She stepped out onto the path, allowing the girl to see her fully. Again there was something in her eyes that Sohvi couldn’t quite place. Perhaps the girl noticed her golden eyes, or the way she didn’t quite seem as if she belonged in the woods. If Anton was right about her heritage then that was no small surprise either. Mayene had very few woods, after all. “Are you lost?” she finally asked, hoping to get some sort of response from the girl.

 

~Sohvi Darwin

Shimmer