Chapter 67 – Safe Travels

Wherein three friends say goodbye.

Early morning fog wove webs through the streets, half obscuring buildings and carriages. 

Rose watched by the fence as Valentina locked the door behind her. She was leaving with more bags than she had come with. One was filled with nothing but gifts for her family, another held part of her book collection. Rose picked up her duffle bag and the lute in its case. 

She should have taken Bosra up on the offer of a handcart, as there were two more instrument cases she needed to take along.

Valentina took them, as she only carried a small tote and a smaller purse.

"I am ready," the princess said in that quiet, lovely voice that had not lost one bit of its noble timbre. 

"Should we stop at Paragon's Cup and have a last brew before we go?" Rose asked. She couldn’t imagine there would be a finer place to have a latte out in the wold.  

"One for the road, so to speak?" Valentina’s eyes alighted in the soft morning light. 

"Exactly," Rose grinned, as she started walking to the tube.

"We could take a cab."

Since Rose was carrying a lot, she agreed.

With their cups in hand, they stopped by Bosra's new home. What had once been Reggie’s Livery Stables, now had a new sign; a horseshoe used as a bow with a golden arrow crossing it. An ornate scrawl decorated the side of the barn, reading: Gold Shot Livery.

"Will be quiet without you two," Bosra said, accepting a travel mug filled with the bitter black stuff. She hugged both young women to her side.

"I will miss you too, Bosra." Valentina reciprocated by wrapping her arms as far around the Highlander’s waist as they would go.  

"Let's hope I can step onto the King's Road without bumping off another Highlander," Rose joked, extricating herself from the group hug.

"Why not go for a Knight?" Bosra grinned.

"Nah, they're too easily affronted." 

They all laughed. 

"Bye, Pupper." Bosra hugged them both tightly again. It would be quiet without the girls, but she would keep busy. She was where she needed to be. Rose and Tina would find their place as well.  

"Bye, Bosra," Rose said. "I'll write."

"Songs!" Bosra finished that sentence. "You'll write songs."

"Those too." Rose would write letters to Bosra. The Highlander would find someone to read them to her. Rose had never quite figured out how Bosra got by without being able to read, but she did.  

"Git." Bosra let go of both of them. 

Tina took a step backwards. "Bye, Bosra." 

"Bye, pretty lady." Bosra's face softened. "You’re brave. Never forget that."

Valentina took in a deep breath, straightening her spine. She had trouble believing Bosra’s words, but she would pretend that she was until she did believe them.

The same cab that had taken them to Paragon’s Cup and from the café to Bosra, now took them to the gates of the city.

Side by side, Valentina and Rose looked at the high walls and double-doored gates. Chained trolls flanked the massive structure, as did guard houses.

For the first time ever, Valentina would leave Splendor. Whatever state of chaos reigned in the city, it was safe. Out there, it was life or death. Venlica had once likened these gates to a hell-portal. For a moment, Valentina couldn’t help but wonder if there was truth in those words.

Rose held out her hand to her friend. She was excited. In six days she would be reunited with her family. She could finally tell them all about her adventures in the city. And come Autumn, after she had helped with the busiest season on the farm, she would set out for parts unknown. 

Valentina placed her hand in Rose's, holding on tightly. She was shaking in her sensible boots. Over her shoulder, she glanced at the organised chaos of the plaza and couldn’t help but think Venlica was wrong.

This was hell. Splendor was a gilded cage, with keepers that would torment the bird until it sang as expected. What did a free bird’s song sound like?

"Ready," she whispered. "I am ready." 

Rose, having had to observe this side of the gate, gently tugged her through a little side passage with an exit sign above it. It was narrow and dark. Tons of stone surrounded her on all sides. What if the wall caved in on them?

Before she could imagine the answer, she was outside again in the shadow of the wall. Behind her, there was no sign of any tunnel.

Green assaulted her. Grass more verdant than she had ever seen, bisected by lines of pavement whiter than any veil Valentina had ever worn. And in the distance, the darker green of the forest; the Wold-Sea.

A guard, in gold-blue livery, his face hidden behind the visor of his helmet, approached. He scared Valentina with his forceful presence. 

"Best leave quickly, or wait an hour. Riders are going out in few minutes. You don’t want to get trampled." His voice sounded tinny on account of his helmet. 

"Okay. We will," Rose replied.

Signs made it easy to find the spoke of King’s Road they needed.

"Don't let go of my hand until you've got your feet. If we split up, it will be tough to find you again."

"Okay," Tina replied timidly. She let Rose guide her to the right path and stepped on the count of three. She felt the road rise up to meet her steps. She stumbled and knew Rose had been right to warn her.  

Supported by the magic of the road, she found an easy stride that she could keep up for a few hours; her luggage seemed to weigh nothing at all.

The landscape moved past them at an incredible rate. Within moments they had left behind the meadows, dense forests took their place. The trees blurred together.

"How long until we are at the farm?" Valentina asked, knowing the answer.

"Six days. Three to Risban, three more to reach the farm." From Risban they would have to travel the normal roads, or they wouldn't be able to get off at the exact right spot. 

A laugh bubbled up in her belly. She was free.

~

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