5
She opened her eyes to a proper ceiling and the feel of a real mattress.
‘Right, I made it to a village yesterday…’ The old bed sagged, but it was so blissfully comfortable she had no desire to get up.
Two months.
She had wandered the mountain range for two months.
Her search had taken her across a vast, remote wilderness.
With no villages in sight, she had been reduced to the state of a beggar, sleeping on the cold ground and surviving on whatever she could forage.
‘And somehow, I crossed the entire range and ended up in the neighboring kingdom.’
She had endured every hardship imaginable.
After a hot wash and a night in a real bed, she felt like she owned the world.
As much as she wanted to keep sleeping, her stomach demanded attention.
“Did you sleep well?” the innkeeper greeted her as she came downstairs.
“Yes, thank you.
I was exhausted, but I rested comfortably.
Is breakfast available?”
“Of course.
Have a seat.
But for the morning menu, we only have the one special.”
“I’m not picky.
The faster, the better,” Elena replied with a smile.
The woman disappeared into the kitchen.
Elena gazed out the window.
This village was larger than her own, and situated at the foot of the mountains, it saw a fair amount of traffic.
The inn itself was bustling with travelers.
‘How am I ever going to find their trail here?’
As she had searched, Elena had found more clues her parents had left behind, like a trail of breadcrumbs.
‘They’re luring someone.’ The evidence had only strengthened her conviction.
The last clue had been at the edge of the mountain range connected to this village, which was how she’d found her way here.
But she couldn’t be sure her parents had actually entered the village.
If they were on the run, they would have certainly avoided the first settlement they came across.
Still, after months of hardship, she couldn’t help but think that they, too, would have found it difficult to simply pass by.
“Here you are.”
“Ah, thank you.” The innkeeper set down a bowl of stew and a chunk of bread.
It was a simple meal, but to Elena, it was a feast after two long months.
“You must have been starving,” the woman remarked, watching her devour the food.
“It’s just so delicious,” Elena said between bites.
“Would you like some more?”
“If you’re offering, I’d be grateful.”
Remembering the bedraggled state of her guest upon arrival, the innkeeper brought another bowl of stew.
“Thank you,” Elena said again, and polished that one off, too.
As if on cue, the woman returned with a cup of warm tea.
“I made an extra while getting one for myself, so don’t be shy.” The innkeeper was a genuinely kind soul.
“I’ll enjoy it, thank you.” Sitting in the warm sunlight, sipping tea—it was a moment of peace she hadn’t felt in ages.
She wanted to savor it, to think of nothing at all.
“You’re from beyond the mountains, aren’t you, miss?”
“Pardon?
Oh, yes.” Elena was slightly taken aback by the woman’s certainty.
The innkeeper offered a warm smile.
“Because I didn’t see you come up the road.
The arrival of someone like you tends to get noticed.”
Though larger than her own, this was still a small village.
News of an outsider’s arrival, and from which direction, would spread quickly.
‘Could she remember my parents if they came through here?’
Just as she was about to ask, the woman spoke again.
“I wonder, does everyone from beyond that mountain range happen to be a great beauty?”
“Pardon?”
“It’s just, a few years back, a couple came over the mountains, and they were so stunning I’ve never forgotten them.
And you’re no less a beauty yourself, miss.
It just makes one wonder.”
A couple who came over the mountains and were incredibly beautiful…
Come to think of it, her parents’ appearances were rather striking; they would have drawn attention anywhere.
Elena’s heart began to pound with anticipation.
“A few years ago… when was that, exactly?”
“Let’s see… Hmm, about three years ago, I believe.”
It had been nine months since Mister Paul had given her the cloth.
At that point, her parents had already been missing for two years.
People’s memories of dates were often approximate; the timeline fit.
“Do you remember what they looked like?
Can you describe them?”
“It was a while ago.
My memory is hazy.”
“It’s not for any strange reason.
I think they might be my family,” Elena pressed.
The innkeeper, who had been about to turn away, paused.
“Please.
I lost contact with them suddenly and came looking.”
The woman sighed.
“Well, I only remember they were both very beautiful.
The woman had red hair, and the man had blue hair.
I’m sorry, that’s not much help.”
“No, that’s more than enough!” She had been at a dead end; this was an incredible help.
A couple with such distinct features couldn’t be common.
‘But…’ “You wouldn’t happen to know where they went, would you?”
“Of course not… oh!
Wait.
I think they said something about taking a ship.” The innkeeper looked as surprised as Elena, as if she couldn’t believe she’d remembered that detail.
“Thank you!” Elena’s mind raced back to her father’s map.
If they took a ship, there was only one likely destination: the nearby port city of Etin.
Her next destination was set.