Straight ahead

At this point you are not sure who would be worse for you to meet, the inhabitants of the house or the 'saviors' of the invading armies. It is possible that the armed men who are looting the city would believe that you were indeed the daughter of the High Priestess of Helios, but dressed as you are in the stolen tunic of a youth, you are as likely to be slain or stripped and used as yet more captured plunder from the city.

Best to stick to the quiet hallway ahead until you have a better understanding of what is happening. Moving down the open hallway you pass several windowless wooden doors. Checking as you go reveal them all to be locked, the doors are small sturdy and plain maybe storage rooms of some kind, but what lies behind the heavy frames can be no concern to you. Moving forward about thirty more paces you see a large set of swinging doors and the smell of old smoke and food sugests you've reached the estate kitchens. Your mouth waters in anticipation as you creep closer to the doors. Crouching close to the rough floor you look under the doors through the gap. You can see a large central hearth and the legs of several tables. There is no sign of anybody in the kitchen, but you realise that at best you can see a third of the kitchen. Any one waiting for the swinging doors to open would immediately spot you.

You hear the sounds of metal striking metal from your rear, that makes your descision easier. In the kitchen you are likely to find a real knife to replace the silly spoon that you clutch in your hand, also you haven't eaten in almost twelve hours and hunger is speaking as loudly as any logic. Slipping through the swinging doors trying to move them as little as possible you slide into the dimly lit kitchen. Your eyes flash through the room looking for anything usefull. Several heavy pans hang from the ceiling, a large basin is nearly completely full of water and best of all on the far side of the room is a pile of flatbreads and fruit. The person responsible for cutting the food left the pile as well as a large knife on the table. Moving quickly to the knife you clutch it in your hand while the other hand scoops the pieces of bread into the gap of the tunic. A few oranges join the bread inside your tunic and you have more food with you than you have eaten in three days.

There are a lot more places to look in the kitchen - cupboards, shelves, barrels, casks that might hold spices or dried fruits as well as many large amphora that probably hold wines, vinegars, and oils. More knives and tools hang from the wall but maybe it's time to get moving and find someplace to hide until the chaos settles.

Keep looking or head for one of the exits?