aesthyr.

chapter five

The next day, the three girls retrieved their horses from the stables and started on their journey to Kalnar. The great city of one of the largest cities in Aesthyr, which could mean a lot of things, including danger. They traveled all day until dusk when they spotted a camp. In the center of the camp was a great fire, and there were about ten women in colorful dresses dancing around it. Rhia picked out one of the dancers, a beautiful girl with flaming hair. It's Ivale She thought as she recognized the young girl dancing gracefully around the great fire, her long hair flying around matching the roaring flames. Charlie ran over to the camp and Ivale called out to her to join their dance. Ivale then took Charlie's hands and danced her gracefully around the bonfire. Rhiannon and Stella sat down and studied each of the dancers, all of them looked different except for one. An older woman with cinnamon-colored hair danced peacefully around the fire. That must be Ivale's mother? Rhia thought as she watched the woman dance. Ivale called them all her family, maybe she just refers to all of them as family. She then spotted Charlie and Ivale coming around the corner of the huge fire and heading back over to Stella and Rhia. The two of them sat down on the cool ground next to Stella. Rhia noticed their hands, still intertwined with each other.

They woke up the next morning, having slept on the cold grass next to the now ding flamed of the once great fire. Ivale and Charlie were already up talking. "Goodmorning, Rhia," Ivale said as she handed Rhiannon a small glass plate of eggs and fresh fruit. "Thank you, Ivale." She took the plate and started eating. Stella then woke up and started sniffing the air. "Is that food? Where is it I'm starving!" She exclaimed, and Ivale gave her a plate. The food was delicious. The territory of Masanah was famous for its recipes, though Rhia and the others had never tasted it. Masanah was on the other side of Aesthyr, which was East. Kalnar was on the Western side in the land of Malsar, which is where they were, but they weren't near the city yet. Rhia and Stella decided to travel to Kalnar with the band of gypsies after Charlie begged them to go with Ivale, and they traded their horses in for 400 coppers, including the saddles. The journey to Kalnar wasn't that long, they reached the city just before nightfall. Ivale had joined the group when they arrived at the city, breaking off from her gypsy family. Rhia and the others walked along the smooth cobblestone path of the city and scanned the streets. There was a pub nearby, and a bookstore and a tea shop. An Inn was across the street from the pub, and a vibrant night market filled the end of the street. Rhia heard the beautiful music that flowed down the road from the marketplace, and there were countless stands and stores that lined the city's streets. Kalnar was set at the base of a mountain, so the city started at ground level and built up the side of the mountains, rock roads were carved so you could make your way to the top of the city. Charlie and Ivale asked if they could browse the marketplace, and Stella agreed and told them to meet them at the Inn at the end of the night. The two young women made their way into the pub and sat down at a bar table. "One round of Rye, please," Stella called over, making a hand motion in between her and Rhia to signal that they were together. The bartender slid over two glasses of rye down the table and the two of them caught the glasses in their hands.

It was getting late, and Rhiannon's vision was fuzzy, and she couldn't think straight. Stella wasn't very different. They both stumbled out of the pub, holding each other's sides, singing an old sea shanty; "The wind it blows from the east nor' east... Our ship will scud ten knots at least, the purser would want our supply, so while with life we'll never say dieeee" they almost yelled in unison, filling the streets with their song. Rhiannon noticed a boy watching them from an alleyway, and she smiled wide and giggled as she waved at him. He started to walk towards them, and she barely even noticed Charlie and Ivale beside him. The boy took both Stella and Rhia by their arms and walked them towards the Inn.

The next morning, Rhia and Stella woke up in their room at the Inn. Ugh, my head is pounding Rhia thought to herself as she got out of bed to get dressed. She put on her brown corset, black blouse, and leather pants. She didn't even bother to do her hair, so it stayed down. She slipped on her boots and walked out of their room. She held onto the wooden railing as she walked down the narrow staircase to get to the small cafe that was attached to the Inn. She spotted Charlie and Ivale sitting at a circular table drinking tea, and she noticed the boy from last night. He looked to be about 17 or 18, he had slightly curly black hair and emerald green eyes, his tan skin glistened as the morning sun shone through the large windows next to their table. He probably felt her gaze piercing on him, and he turned around to look at her. He waved at her to come to sit down with them. "Morning, Rhia. This is Voidin, Voidin Black." Ivale said motioning towards the boy. Rhia sat down next to Charlie. "Your welcome," Voidin said with a sly grin. "For what?" She asked, confused. "For escorting you home before the rye washed you up on the streets." He studied her face with a gleam in his eyes. Rhia rolled her eyes. She noticed Stella coming down the stairs and towards the table. She sat down next to Rhia and Ivale told the story of how Voidin brought them back to the Inn the previous night. Stella thanked him. "So what now?" Charlie asked Stella. "We're only in Kalnar for a week to rest, and then make our way to the Janak Grasslands." She replied. "Hey, that's where I live! My little sister and I are in Kalnar for... Errands." Voidin said, listening in to their conversation. "Little sister?" Ivale asked him with a smile. "Yeah, she's about 14, which I think is your age, yes?" "Yep! Can we meet her?" Charlie butted in, clearly excited at the thought of a new friend. "Maybe, she's at the marketplace running the flower stand if you want to ask her to come to the Inn Cafe-" "Ok! C'mon, Ivale." Charlie said, grabbing Ivale's hand and leading her away from the table and out the door towards the marketplace. "So you guys are heading to Janak?" Voidin asked Rhia. "Yes, why?" She replied, raising her eyebrow. "Just curious, where you from?" "Cedan. It's part of the Boho Villages." Stella said, munching on a piece of fresh-baked bread. "I'm gonna go check on the girls, ok?" Stella got up from the table and left Voidin and Rhiannon sitting across from each other, walking out of the door to go find Charlie and Ivale. "So why are you really here, Voidin?" Rhia asked out of curiosity. "Erm- Family errands, I guess." He said quietly, looking down at the table. "Hmm. And why'd you bring your little sister halfway across the land for 'errands'?" She questioned without even thinking. "That's none of your business." He said quickly. "Ok, ok." Rhia then noticed Stella, Ivale, and Charlie walk through the door with another girl she's never seen before. "Hi! I'm Maria, nice to meet you." The girl said, holding her hand out towards Maria with a small smile. Rhia took her hand and Maria sat down next to Voidin. "This is my little sister." He announced. Obviously. Rhia thought to herself, almost saying it aloud. She motioned for Charlie to sit next to her, and Ivale sat next to Charlie, whilst Stella took the seat next to Maria. "Ivale was telling me about your guy's crazy journey from Cedan to Kalnar, and how Ivale joined you guy's from a band of gypsies," Maria said, stealing a bit of toast from her brother's plate. They talked for a few hours before Voidin announced that he and Maria had to leave. They said their goodbyes and Rhiannon watched them until they disappeared out the door and down the cobblestone road of the city.

When nightfall came, the stringed jars of Stardust Flowers started glowing and illuminated the streets of Kalnar. Charlie and Ivale said that they were going to meet with Maria, and walked down the road, holding each other's hand. Stella and Rhia walked into the crowded marketplace and split off as they browsed at different stands. Rhia found herself walking down a dark alleyway browsing at a stand full of vibrant clothing. She looked into the darkness and noticed a man. He was wearing a black cloak. Smiling at her from the shadows. Oh, gods, please don't let it be him. She walked the opposite direction from him, walking deeper into the shadows of the ally, waiting for him to follow her. He's probably pissed about his eye, too. I can take him once, and I can do it again. She waited for him to creep up behind her, and she reached for her knife that was in a small pocket of her corset. She quickly turned around and swung the knife out towards his face, and the man dodged the swing, ducked underneath her arm, and knocked her off of her feet. She got up as fast as she could before he could do anything else and kicked him in his gut, slamming him against the wall of the alleyway. She elbowed him in the face, smashing his head against the cold brick that lined the walls, and he started bleeding. She cursed at him under her breath, just loud enough so that he could hear her. "You idiot." She took her knife and sliced his throat. The man drew his last breath. Finally. "What the hell do you think you're doing, Rhia." She spun around quickly and saw Voidin standing there, a strange look on his face. "Nothing, you shouldn't be here." She replied as she tried to walk away without another word. "If I were you, I would get out of here until someone finds out that you just killed him." How is he acting so calm, after seeing what I just did? "How much did you see." She questioned him, not looking at his face. "Enough to know that his death was deserved." He motioned for her to follow him, and he led her to a short alleyway that came out onto a crowded street. She followed him up the road, and he stopped when they ended up in front of the doorway of the Inn. "Get some rest." He told her, and he walked down the road and turned down the same alleyway they just came out of. Is he getting rid of the body? Rhia thought, but she was too tired to follow him, so she walked into the Inn and went up the stairs towards the room. When she walked through the door, Stella, Charlie, and Ivale were already waiting for her. "Where were you? I turn around for one second at the market and you're already gone!" Stella told her, a serious expression on her face. "Just got caught up in the stands, I guess." Rhia lied. "Well get some sleep, we're going to explore the upper half of Kalnar tomorrow with Maria," Charlie said. They all crawled into their beds and fell into a deep sleep.