There was a safety in numbers that Lissa couldn't deny, even though she didn't want to travel with this people. Hunger, exhaustion, and the opportunity to sleep next to a warm fire night after until convinced her to stay with them. However, Ella hadn't really helped her. She was thankful, yes, that Ella told her what happened to her father, and she had a few pleasant memories about Ella, true, but Ella had also bound her and kept her captive. Ella had held a knife to her neck. Ella hadn't come back for Lissa and her mother, hand't looked for them, to tell them if anything had happened to her father. She hadn't come back to help them.
There were reasons of course. They were hunted down, they thought her father had come and taken them back. Easy stories to tell.
However, for the moment they were a safe ride to Rawlins. A wagon, pulled by an old mule. No more walking at least. No more starving, no more freezing. Lissa felt safe, at least for the moment.
As the day grew longer, the trees began to thin. The sky grew overhead, bright and blue above them. The cracks that the bare branches seemed to create int he sky receded, allowing the sky to become full and whole again as the sun began to dive down into the horizon. The trees grew smaller, and soon the forest fell away entirely, leaving a colour streaked sky above them, and the red inferno that was the setting sun hung in the distance. Int he fading light, Lissa could see the sharp, black outline of a city in the distance, with buildings creating a man-made hill, the peaks the sharp towers of the castle, reaching up, fruitlessly, into the sky.
From here, it looked so small. But Lissa had heard stories about Rawlins, a dense, massive city, where at best houses are separated by narrow alleys, and tower over the narrow streets. Breathing room is granted only to the rich. All she could think about was how big the city was going to get. How it would swallow her. In part, that was what she wanted.
“We're going to keep traveling tonight.” Ella said. She had been leading the group, but had fallen back to talk to Lissa. “ If we keep going, we should get there before it's too late. AT least, before dawn.
“Isn't it dangerous to travel at night?” Lissa asked.
“Of course it is.” Ella said as she gave a sudden, wide grin, “There's all kinds of thieves and bandits out on these roads at night.”
Lissa forced a smile. She didn't feel comforted by Ella's jest. Weren't' there still people on the roads, looking for thieves and bandits?
“It's easier this way.” Ella said, seeming to catch onto Lissa's concern. “We can't just walk into the main gates. We're thieves, we'd be killed... or, they would try to kill us. The gates would probably only have a few guards... but then again.. well, anyway.” Ella shrugged. “That's not important. What is important is that we have an alternate way into the city.”
“Ok.”
“Now.. here's what I need you to do.. You won't be recognized by the guards. So, you can bring the wagon and the mule... and our stuff, into the city.”
Lissa stared at Ella for a long moment, waiting for her to say something else. When she didn't, Lissa finally said, “You mean... into the main gates?”
“Yes.”
“But.. wouldn't the alternative-”
“ The alternative entrance involves a lot of swimming. It's cold, it's dangerous, and not something we can pull off with a wagon load of stuff. We normally choose someone to disguise themselves to bring the wagon in, but today, you can do it.”
To Lissa, it suddenly seemed to make sense. Maybe Ella just wanted to use her. Perhaps Ella just wanted Lissa to do this, bring the wagon into the city, get caught, and get thrown into prison to rot.
“OF course,” Ella said, just a moment before Lissa was about to refuse, “We'll compensate you for helping us?”
“You... You will?”
Ella nodded. “Look. I won't lie. You might get caught. It's not likely, but if the guards are in a foul mood, and want to poke through the wagon... Honestly, we've been doing this for years. And if you just relax, and... I suppose really feel as though you have every right to be riding through that gate, the guards will believe that you do, and leave you alone.” She eyes Lissa carefully, “And the other way... well, unless you can swim well, you'll drown.”
“And... you'll pay me to do this?”
Ella laughed, “Of course! Look, if you're working for me, you get paid. It won't be all that much, but you'll be able to afford food, and a room if you wanted, for a few days in the city.” She grinned, “OF course, you can save a lot by forgoing the room and just staying with us.”
Lissa gave a weak smile. She didn't trust any of the thieves, and certainty didn't want to live with them for any amount of time. How long could she hide the face that she was Lissa, not Luc, that she was a female, not a male.
“Ok.” Lissa said
“Now... We've covered our goods with fabric, so if anyone asks, you're selling... well, you're selling fabric. That way, if they look, they'll see fabric.”
Lissa nodded. Ella smiled at her. She ran to catch up to Adex, who was now standing before all the other thieves. Lissa yawned, and wrapped an edge of the canvas that was covered the fabric, which covered Ella's stolen goods, over her. She though of a nice bed in the city, next to a nice fireplace, with warm drinks and food nearby. As they rode on, she wondered how she could ever had wished for more than just that. Just some basic comforts, the guarantee of food and shelter. She thought about Luc, and for a moment, felt bad for having forgotten about him.
I was hungry. She thought, and I had nothing...no food, no shelter. I almost froze to death. Isn't that reason enough to forget, even for a little about Luc?
Her stomach turned, and she wrapped the canvas tighter around her, and quietly dozed off before she could realize that she felt bad about forgetting about Luc, not about losing him.
I wonder what's going to happen now that they're in the city. I hope she doesn't get caught, though I have a feeling that's why Ella is sending her and not anyone else. What's Ella's deal any way? It seems like she doesn't like Lissa any more. Or did she ever like Lissa?
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