Fall, Day 10, 513 AV
Must...sleep...so...tired...
Vanari was stumbling through the narrow streets now, vaguely aware of crossing onto a small bridge. Dark water sloshed softly against the canal walls, mesmerizing her as its rippling, depth-less surface shattered reflections of moonlight. The glimmers of white reminded her of drifting snow from days long past. Days of endless, winter cold.
Under the cover of night, it was impossible to tell whether the waters were truly as pitch black as they seemed, but it was foreboding nonetheless. The thought of being mugged and having her throat slit in some alleyway suddenly jolted her awake and she picked up her pace. She had never arrived in a new city by moonlight; always, the Vantha made sure to enter during the day, asking for directions and securing a proper place of shelter and safety before venturing out into the night. This time, however, she was rather short on luxuries like time. And choice.
The only luck she had managed to salvage was that she had arrived sooner and not later. Most shop owners were only barely beginning to close for the evening, and more of the less wealthy seemed to be coming out into the streets. The latter part was not a terribly soothing reality, but at least it meant she wouldn't stick out like a sore thumb in her dusty, drab clothing.
In fact, Vanari was pretty confident she could pass as a gangly beggar boy in her current state. Her face was covered with dust and soot from sleeping so many nights in the back of a caravan, her hair had gone uncombed for the past forty days, and her shoes...The Vantha watched her dirty toes peep out from various holes as she wiggled them. Yep, definitely time for new ones.
Shopping was, of course, out of the question. Not that she was poor--far from it, in fact. It was more a matter of basic survival; she was in an alien city, with no friends to call her own, and she was a woman. Plus, Ravok had a certain reputation she didn't quite care to test tonight.
Up ahead, a warm light streamed through the open door of a bakery. A portly woman waddled out to dump some water in the canal and turned back to flip the sign on the door.
"Excuse me!" Vanari waved as she walked quickly up to the woman, trying not to look too much like a crazed, homeless person. "Sorry to bother you at this hour, but could you kindly tell me where I might find lodging for the night?"
At first, it seemed like the shopkeeper would turn back and slam the door in the girl's face, but something about the civility of the Vantha's words must have proven her to be something other than a desperate beggar. Her gaze softened, and she pointed down the street.
"Yes, just down there to your left, lass. The Silver Sliver be the place yer lookin' for. I would hurry though, if I were you."
Vanari nodded her thanks, then rushed as instructed down the street. Perhaps it was the dimming light; perhaps it was her own fatigue. But, when she finally stopped where she assumed The Silver Sliver would be, she found that the building before her was clearly not a tavern. There were no signs to lend her aid, and she began to panic.
The Vantha peeked into a window. There were many men and women, all beautifully dressed as they chatted, sipped drinks, and ate little things on platters. Looks good enough to me, Vanari concluded. She knew she looked like a street urchin, but she had the coin to pay for a night's stay, and at the very least they might let her sleep in the kitchen or stable. Anywhere was better than out here.
Not caring to think anymore on the subject with her tired, hunger-addled brain, she knocked vigorously on the door and waited.
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