3 Chapter Three

It had been a rather disgraceful exit. People chanted, happy that I would be leaving, never to come back. Faeries had fluttered their wings, the Lineorite broke off pieces of themselves to toss as me, and more. I fixed my choker so the skull had actually been in the middle, walking forward through the gates of the city. From there, I was transported to the nearest Kingdom in a cart: the Kingdom of Suxaburg. Granted, Stozavia had surrounded it on the two sides that were not ocean. It simply appeared as though they had wanted to get rid of me quickly.

It'd look like I would take refuge here. Suxaburg was an oceanic kingdom, yes, but it was far from war and tropical. Since it neighbored Stozavia, it was cold and probably snowy. Of all places to make me survive on my own… I sighed, hopping out of the cart. It rides, kicking up dust and snow in the distance. It had been hard to contain my anger at such a sight. I wanted to throw rocks at the cart.

There was no use in standing around. I go in the direction opposite of the wagon, deciding to walk. Today was going to be a long day, especially since I was only allowed to bring a dagger. First thing was first, I'd have to gather wood for a fire. I stared at the trees, some of which had branches. Those would have to work. I start by climbing the tree, fingernails digging into the trunk. When I get high enough, I take out the metal dagger, and chop off a branch. One down. I lowered myself after cutting more of the branches, and decided to find a place to stay for the night. An open field did not offer much in the way of protection, but it would be better than nothing. It had trees surrounding a circle, and a few rocks to lean or sit on. It would be best to start the fire now, even if there had been nothing to eat. The thought of killing an animal made me sick. Just because the deaths were accidental, did not mean I wished for that to change. I sit, leaning against a rock, and rubbing two sticks together to start the fire. When it didn't work, I decided to dry off a small stone using my clothes and bang it against the stones. Orange flames started from what was only small sparks. The frost settling around the area around me had started to melt, leaving tiny puddles of water before melting. I watch it rather carefully, gently lifting my hands near the fire to warm them. Ah, that was much better. I was ill-equipped for such a climate. I lean back against the rock as the fire goes on, looking up at the sky. Seeing the stars from straight below had been rare, as I was always angled, looking up at from my windows. The white dots piercing a sky of nothing but black, yet smaller than the moon that outshone them all. I close my eyes.

"Well, aren't you just a sleepy head, hm?" Came a voice. I immediately jump up, fumbling for the dagger I'd managed to bring with me. Someone was already trying to rob me?! I grab onto the steel knife, pointing it towards him.

The man, who appeared to be a middle-aged elf with red hair, and bright green eyes, with a mole under his right eye. He looks at me, offering a smile. "Come now!" He chuckles, sitting down near the pile of twigs that was used to make the fire. He brushes his fluffed hair out of the way of one of his eyes, pointed ears twitching as he lays his head on his hand. "I'm not here to hurt you. I certainly wouldn't do that to a kid." With that, he sits up straight, raising a hand to his chest. "I'm Doctor Vaalyun Errie! It's quite nice to meet you."

"Doctor?" I repeated, lowering the dagger. I still didn't trust this guy enough to sheath it fully. What if Damiano had sent someone to kill me?

"That's right. I'm a travelling doctor. I was going to set up my next, ah, temporary clinic in the town of Appleby! It's actually my hometown." He stands up, his back cracking.

"And you're here, why….?" I ask, raising my eyebrows and slowly standing up as well, eyes narrowing, still holding on to the dagger with a death grip.

"Well, it would be plain rude of me just leaving a kid out here on her own! A kid that might be sick, too. There's a reason why people get sick more often in colder climates, you know." His voice is oddly calm and casual, and he starts walking behind the trees. He looks back, blinking. "Hey, aren't you coming, kid? Or are you just gonna stay here?" At his words, I immediately get up. I still didn't trust him, but walking with someone would have been better than going at it alone. I followed, and behind the trees was a small wagon, that was led by one horse mottled with spots, and in the back there had been crates full of bottles. Perhaps they were potions or medicine? I hopped up onto the back of the wagon and the elf had sat in the front.

"Where are we going, Mi- Doctor?" I caught myself, correcting the title.

"Didn't I tell you?" Doctor Errie asks, looking back with a smile. He blinks for a moment, and then sighs and shakes his head. "Appleby! My home town. It's a rather small place."

"And why are you taking me with you?" I asked, titling my head. "You didn't bring up my appearance but surely you would have noticed it. Is that part of it?"

He shakes his head, using the reins of the horse to guide it. "No, not at all. Like I said, I can't just leave some kid out on the road. Even if that kid has horns." His voice had returned to be more casual. The horse walks over rocks, and I feel the slight bumps. "Besides, you staying out in the wilderness does no good. What if a bear or something got ya?" He muses aloud, humming to himself.

"I see, so what's the town of Appleby like?"

"As I said before, it's small. But it isn't a bad place. Everybody there knows each other, and it doesn't have the problems that many bigger cities have. Unfortunately, it has no wall. Even so, all of the basic needs like an inn, a blacksmith, an apothecary - all are there. One of my former students even runs a clinic there. I'm going to check up on him." Doctor Errie tells me, not looking back. "But, you can see it when you get there, okay? For now, just rest - sleep, read a book, do something, until we get there."

I nod. Sure. That sounded okay, even if we really were going to that place. And if he was planning on kidnapping me or something, I could run away, find some people. I grab a book off one of the crates, starting to read it. Ah, a book on potions and what herbs go well together, trying not to make medicines that would be too bitter. I open the first page.