Back to Shairi

Meritheir had put Shairi in quarters near the bottom of the tower, down amongst the **** quarters. It had been an insult, but it would be one her mistress would come to regret. It made it easy for the half elf to slip away. None of the slaves would dare challenge her, so she was out of the tower before anyone new better. Of course, the population of the nearby village was too scared of Meritheir and her magic to be of any use – if they didn’t resist when she summoned their prettiest sons and daughters to the tower for playthings, they certainly wouldn’t protect a fugitive from her.

Thus, Shairi avoided the main roads, and set off into the woods. Queiss draped herself across her shoulders, the small cat’s weight barely noticeable. She wore plain blue traveling clothes, although her decision to wear pants would mark her as an unusual woman in the more conservative areas. A small satchel hung from her shoulder. It contained only a change of clothes – her mistress hadn’t let her have anything useful. She didn’t even have a knife, let alone any coin. She new she’d need to find a way to get more useful items.

She stopped for a moment, and picked up a long, straight branch that had fallen near where she was walking. She tested its weight, and noted its smoothness.

“A sorceress should have a staff,” she murmured.

“Yes,” Queiss pointed out, “But it’s only actually useful if you enchant it.”

“So I’ll have to do that,” Shairi snapped.

Since she’d stopped, she decided it was time to consider where she wanted to go. She could circle round to the road east. That way there were more villages, and eventually the city of Imian, the nation’s capital. It was a bustling port and trading hub – there would be many opportunities there, to make her fortune or to travel to other lands.

To the north and east lay the Great Forest. It was a strange, mysterious place. Ancient magics lurked within, as did bizarre creatures and reclusive civilisations like the wood elves. Beyond it to the west lay another coast and another kingdom, while two the north the trees gave out to icy tundra and barbarian tribes.

To the south, the rule of the law began to fail. Although officially part of the Kingdom of Imian, the local lords tended to rule their lands as their own private property, mistreating the peasants. Eventually, the increasingly rocky lands gave way to hills populated by savages and monsters. Banditry was rife, and the difference between a bandit and a legitimate ruler was often slim. It was said to be easy for someone cunning and powerful to gain territory there.

Each of these offered her something different. The city held wealth, knowledge and the opportunities of civilisation. The forest held deep secrets and wild magic. And the chaotic lands to the south held political opportunity.

If she spent the day laying out her plans, working out every intricate detail, she might be able to come to an informed decision about which was best…

She laughed, and threw her new staff in the air, setting off in the direction it pointed when it landed.