Ymiden 80th, 718 - Trial 5 of the Journey to Volta - Midday
Auya leaned back against the wooden panel of the wagon she sat upon, finding it notably uncomfortable. But redheads didn't get a choice in the matter. While most everyone else had laid claim to various seats for the entirety of the journey, Auya had been relegated to the back of the bus. Varlum's presence had at least forced the caravan drivers to let her ride with them, albeit quite reluctantly. At least the view was nice. They were in the farmland between Mistral Wood and Zynyx Market. And it was the height of growing season, with the sun high over head, the second sun peeking out over the horizon.
Soon the horn rang out and the large train of wagons came to a stop. It was time for the midday break, to give the animals a chance to rest and be fed and watered. There was a bend in the river where they stopped. She raised the brim of her straw hat to get a better look at the shallow river. While she wasn't affected by the heat like others were, a cooling dip seemed like a decent time. She slipped off the wagon, looking over as people gathered around the meal cart. She didn't bother, she was always served last, given the smallest portion or the least desirable. She just hoped there wasn't any mold this time like last night's dinner.
Auya hadn't spotted Varlum or Leeson yet, but it was a large load of people. She made her way along the sheep trimmed grass watching as children ran screaming for the river. She made her way there slowly, enjoying stretching out her legs after the long half-trial ride. Someone shoved into the back of her, sending her sprawling forward onto her hands and knees. She cried out in pain as a boot stepped on her hand. She looked up, tears in her blackened eyes, as a rough sort of man, a salt miner, stomped toward the river without even looking back at her. She stood up, clutching her hand to her chest as she got closer to the water, avoiding everyone, being way down on one end.
She began to unlace her sandals, her injured hand shaking, and pulled them off. When all this started, she thought she was strong enough, clever enough to pretend to be the victim, to garner sympathy. But the violence never stopped, and now she truly was that which she was pretending to be. A victim. On her rock, she lowered her hat over her face, clutching her knees, and cried and cried into her linen skirt. She wasn't strong enough to endure this abuse for Faldrun. She never realized how hard this was to just survive another trial, let alone be of use to him. She was weak, useless. A victim. She hated Rharne. She hated Ilaren. She hated her dead husband and her lying father. She hated herself.
She raised her head, looking over the deeper part of the river, thinking how if she were to disappear into the waters, no one would notice, and even less would care. She was alone in this horrible place. She had never been alone before she came to Rharne two arcs ago. At first she enjoyed it, feeling independent, strong, and liked. But these days, it was lonely and painful. She believed in this mission, but she wasn't strong enough for it. Faldrun had picked the wrong woman for the job.
She picked up a fist sized rock and heaved it with a scream into the water, trying to let out some anger. It didn't help, and it did startle some of the nearest children, who were now playing a bit closer to their parents, away from the wicked redhead. Finally, taking a deep breath, she got up. tucked the bottom of her skirt into her waist, and stepped into the shallow water. This was nice. She watched the little fish passing by, and noticed a bunch of rocks in the river. Maybe she could find a souvenir for herself here. Her dead husband had brought her rocks when he was courting her. She always liked them. If she could find something nice perhaps. And so she crept through the shallows, looking for other rocks, her sandals in one hand, dangling over her shoulder alongside her waist lengthed hair.
Auya leaned back against the wooden panel of the wagon she sat upon, finding it notably uncomfortable. But redheads didn't get a choice in the matter. While most everyone else had laid claim to various seats for the entirety of the journey, Auya had been relegated to the back of the bus. Varlum's presence had at least forced the caravan drivers to let her ride with them, albeit quite reluctantly. At least the view was nice. They were in the farmland between Mistral Wood and Zynyx Market. And it was the height of growing season, with the sun high over head, the second sun peeking out over the horizon.
Soon the horn rang out and the large train of wagons came to a stop. It was time for the midday break, to give the animals a chance to rest and be fed and watered. There was a bend in the river where they stopped. She raised the brim of her straw hat to get a better look at the shallow river. While she wasn't affected by the heat like others were, a cooling dip seemed like a decent time. She slipped off the wagon, looking over as people gathered around the meal cart. She didn't bother, she was always served last, given the smallest portion or the least desirable. She just hoped there wasn't any mold this time like last night's dinner.
Auya hadn't spotted Varlum or Leeson yet, but it was a large load of people. She made her way along the sheep trimmed grass watching as children ran screaming for the river. She made her way there slowly, enjoying stretching out her legs after the long half-trial ride. Someone shoved into the back of her, sending her sprawling forward onto her hands and knees. She cried out in pain as a boot stepped on her hand. She looked up, tears in her blackened eyes, as a rough sort of man, a salt miner, stomped toward the river without even looking back at her. She stood up, clutching her hand to her chest as she got closer to the water, avoiding everyone, being way down on one end.
She began to unlace her sandals, her injured hand shaking, and pulled them off. When all this started, she thought she was strong enough, clever enough to pretend to be the victim, to garner sympathy. But the violence never stopped, and now she truly was that which she was pretending to be. A victim. On her rock, she lowered her hat over her face, clutching her knees, and cried and cried into her linen skirt. She wasn't strong enough to endure this abuse for Faldrun. She never realized how hard this was to just survive another trial, let alone be of use to him. She was weak, useless. A victim. She hated Rharne. She hated Ilaren. She hated her dead husband and her lying father. She hated herself.
She raised her head, looking over the deeper part of the river, thinking how if she were to disappear into the waters, no one would notice, and even less would care. She was alone in this horrible place. She had never been alone before she came to Rharne two arcs ago. At first she enjoyed it, feeling independent, strong, and liked. But these days, it was lonely and painful. She believed in this mission, but she wasn't strong enough for it. Faldrun had picked the wrong woman for the job.
She picked up a fist sized rock and heaved it with a scream into the water, trying to let out some anger. It didn't help, and it did startle some of the nearest children, who were now playing a bit closer to their parents, away from the wicked redhead. Finally, taking a deep breath, she got up. tucked the bottom of her skirt into her waist, and stepped into the shallow water. This was nice. She watched the little fish passing by, and noticed a bunch of rocks in the river. Maybe she could find a souvenir for herself here. Her dead husband had brought her rocks when he was courting her. She always liked them. If she could find something nice perhaps. And so she crept through the shallows, looking for other rocks, her sandals in one hand, dangling over her shoulder alongside her waist lengthed hair.
Receipt
Large Water Proof Heavy Duty Canvas Backpack - Bag, Large .4gn + 1.2gn for Waterproof, Heavy Duty Canvas + .2gn for shoulder straps = 1.8gn
Leather Bodice x2 - 8gn
Hat (Women's) - Widebrimmed straw hat x1 - 1gn
Cotton Undergarments (Women) x2- 1.5 gn
Cotton Skirt x2 - 1.92gn
Leather Knee Sandals x1- .8gn
Linen Bed Roll x1- 5gn
Total - 20.02gn
Leather Bodice x2 - 8gn
Hat (Women's) - Widebrimmed straw hat x1 - 1gn
Cotton Undergarments (Women) x2- 1.5 gn
Cotton Skirt x2 - 1.92gn
Leather Knee Sandals x1- .8gn
Linen Bed Roll x1- 5gn
Total - 20.02gn
