My new life could finally begin. The two years on the ship had left lots of time for thinking between serving at the temple, and lots of time for covering up past wounds. While life on the massive floating vessel, a city in its own right, had been bustling, frenzied action seemed to whir by on all sides. I supposed that action must always be that hurried to get everyone off the docks in a timely matter, though that didn't stop my slight terror as I was swept along in a see a people. I held desperately to my bags and the leads on my donkey, fearing that my belongings could be ripped from my grasp at any moment. As the tide of humanity swirled onto the docks, I found myself completely disoriented. This city was incredibly large, stretching out in all directions. I tried to stop several people, asking where a temple or inn might be found, but they all shrugged me off, eager to get back to my own work.
In front of me there seemed to be three main roads heading off into the city. Praying for guidance, I chose the road far to my right. As I set out, I felt a slight tugging in my pocket. I instinctively grabbed the small hand that had managed to find its way around my purse. Turning around, the ebb of people thinning out as the multitude found an entire city to diffuse into, I found that I had the arm of a small boy in my grasp.
"Let me go!" the boy yelled, jerking to get free. Though not very strong, I was still able to hold him in place.
"Hey! What were you doing in my pockets?!" I yelled, not thinking of anything else to say. I obviously knew what he was doing, this city was obviously large enough that urchins and pickpockets must be lurking in every crowd. He tried to tug away again, but I stopped him. Something was odd about this child. It might have been the slightly deeper tone to his voice, or even just the shape of his face, but he seemed older than he looked.
"What's your name?" I asked
He grinned mischievously and asked, "What's your name?"
"Atiyana," I said, shaking off my feeling that something was not quite right about this child, I looked him hard in the eyes and said, "I never want to see you digging around in people's pockets ever again!"
He nodded and I was about to let him go before I thought of something. "I'll give you a copper piece if you help me take my bags to an inn. No running off, just honest work."
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| A concept picture of Atiyana that I drew |
The boy nodded again, starting to smile, and I handed him the large pack on my back. I prayed again to Sarenrae that her redemption might be worked upon this boy, and that he would prove to be more honest than his first impression led me to believe. As we walked down the thoroughfare, I caught a glimpse of an inn named The Drunken Donkey. A soft glow emanated from the windows and people were occasionally moving in and out, so I decided it would be a good place to inquire after a room.
After handing the donkey to a stable hand near the inn's entrance, I gathered up my courage and strode into the inn. It was set up much like any other inn common room, but I was immediately distracted by the huge creature standing behind the bar. I had read books about dwarves, but none had ever been described as this massive. In fact, this was about twice the height of any dwarf I had ever heard of, and three times as wide as a man. I walked up to the bar, trying to hide my timidity.
"Hello." I said, not knowing how else to great this behemoth who could definitely crush me without a second thought. "How much is a room?"
"One silver piece," he grunted without looking up.
"Do you know where the nearest temple of Sarenrae is?" I asked.
At this point the great dwarf-thing looked up at me and seemed to take me in. "There are several small temples around," He said, almost... timidly? "But you probably want to go to the main temple in the old city. It's about a three days walk from here on the same road."
"Thank you." I said, as he resumed wiping down the counter without looking at me. I suddenly remembered that the boy was still beside me, his head not even reaching the counter.
"Where are you spending the night tonight?" I asked the boy, already knowing the probable answer.
"Eh, I don't know. Here or there, wherever I can find a place." He said nonchalantly.
"Here's your copper piece," I said, giving him one out of my purse, "And I'll pay for your room for the night, so you have somewhere to sleep."
I pulled two silver pieces out of my purse and slid them over the counter, asking for two rooms. The massive innkeeper peered over the bar and finally saw the boy, seeming to recognize him.
"Ah, you again." He grunted.
"You know this boy?" I said, rather alarmed.
"Uh, yeah. He's one of my best customers." He said before he took the two coins and gave us each a room key. Obviously something wasn't adding up here, but I decided not to push it, since neither of the two seemed very loquacious. I took my key and went up to my room, wondering where this new life would take me, and if I could ever escape my old one.
