The next morning, in a northern Sanctuary:
Fuyuko nervously started preparing herself for the journey to come. Last night she’d spoken at length with Caretaker Yvonne, and the older woman had agreed with the assessment that the stranger girl had given, and had also been able to verify that the pack and its contents were safe, if strange. Fuyuko stood out too much to be left alone, wasn’t strong enough to stand on her own, and was too old to remain here. She wasn’t an adult, but she wasn’t just a child anymore. The Sanctuary wasn’t going to let her find it anymore.
Which was why she had been lent the privacy she need by being allowed to use Yvonne’s room to get ready. Honestly, the items she’d been sort of given here made her feel a little creeped out. Not that any of the things were themselves creepy, but it was very clear that most of them had been made for her specifically. And they’d come with bloody instructions.
And though she hated to admit it, she could use the instructions. She didn’t really need the wrappings yet, but she’d decided to start wearing them to get used to it, she might want to be able to use them tightly at some point. And the washable monthly supplies were better than anything that she’d been able to find since she had that embarrassing talk with Yvonne a couple of years ago. But she was really glad she didn’t have to ask how to use these particular supplies.
Then there was the leather armor. Leather armor was supposed to be laminated layers of leather that were shaped into semi-rigid forms. She knew that from her mother’s lessons and from seeing people on the streets wearing it. But this dark gray armor was thinner and much more supple, and the way it fit perfectly when she put it on, well, she was glad that it was designed to have clothing worn over it. And the pack had come with extra sets of clothing too, loose shirts and trousers in the same mottled dark shades.
The armor was enchanted of course, and was supposed to help her blend into shadows if she was hiding. But it wasn’t the only thing that was enchanted. Boots that muffled her steps, a ring that would slowly turn any sheathed weapons invisible, a cloak that would protect her from both heat and cold, a hat that could temporarily disguise what her clothes looked like, a toolkit for all sorts of mechanical devices with a small guidance enchantment, and of course, a pair of daggers. Those were nice and long, balanced for fighting and throwing, and enchanted to come back to her if thrown.
Part of her wanted to throw them away and get a great big club to bash people with just because of the presumption. But Fuyuko knew that these were perfect for her. She’d gotten into scrapes before, and had to fight with sticks and stones off the streets, she knew what felt right. And she did have some memories of what her parents had taught her before that night six years ago.
Her mother had been an armorer and blacksmith. Her father had been a machinist and locksmith. The three of them had lived on the floors above their combined storefront and the small forge out back. Those had been better times.
Fuyuko shook her head to clear her thoughts. There was no time to think about it. She’d been eight, and there was nothing she could have done. Even now, she probably couldn’t have helped. Now for the final touch from the bag that held so much more than it should be able to. A belt and a bandoleer holding a few yellow potions and a couple of smoke bombs, with room for more items to be added later. The rest of the gear was stuff that could be taken out when needed, and for now, she left the bow that had been sized to her in there too. It wouldn’t do her any good in the city anyway, and she’d need a lot of practice before she’d be very good with it.
The hunting gear and camping equipment all came with instructions too, and there had been at least three different handwritings in all of those notes. It was clear she was being set up to do something, and that probably meant the gods were involved somehow. That only scared her more, there was only one god who had her absolute trust, and he didn’t work this overtly. But it was also so obvious that it gave her knowledge, which gave her more choices.
It had taken a while, but Fuyuko had decided to try going south, to the kingdom of Kuiccihan, and maybe to that dungeon. All her options were scary, and a lot of what she’d heard about the kingdom told her that it was a land of wanton, open debauchery. But she’d hints of what happened to pretty or exotic girls in the slums. Maybe the debauchery here was just hidden.
Sure, it was clearly what someone was hoping she’d do, but heading north didn’t seem better. There was no clear guide on how to find one of the clans, and maybe her parents were wrong about how welcoming they’d be. And staying here … well, she wasn’t certain about what exactly had happened, but none of her parents' ‘friends’ had tried to help her afterward.
Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.
She sighed and double-checked that she had everything together, then left the small room to find Yvonne. The two of them hugged for a long time, and both ignored the other’s tears when they separated. The caretaker spoke first. “I am going to miss you so much. And before you go, I need to do a couple of things.” The woman started taking off the small medallion hanging off a silver chain around her neck. “You are leaving for good, at least, as one of the children. The trouble you’ve had finding the Sanctuary will be worse, you’ll have trouble even remembering that it exists at first. But I have a memory I want you to hold on to.” She reached up to put the chain around Fuyuko’s neck. “You are loved, I love you, and I hope that someday you will be able to come back to show me what a fine woman you’ve become. Keep this with you, and keep the faith, and I will be able to find you should you return to this city. And finally, I have a letter for you to take.”
Yvonne handed Fuyuko a folded, sealed piece of rough paper with a name on it. “He should be selling his produce at the market today. Take this to him, and he’ll get you out of the city. I had been planning this for a while, at the time I thought I was going to need to set you up as a farm girl, but the first part of my idea can at least help you on your journey.” She took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “I am very worried for you. This is a very long journey for a girl your age. But you have some help, my personal blessing, and I will pray for the shadows to guide and protect you. Trust in luck and your ability to make the most of it.”
After that, it was time to say goodbye to everyone else, and there were a lot of tears. Most of the young people who left for good weren’t going far, they could be found, and connections were remade when others left. That wasn’t Fuyuko’s future.
Fuyuko stumbled slightly as she stepped out into the morning light, and blinked as her eyes adjusted again. She felt confused as she tried to remember what she’d just been doing, then looked down at the letter in her hands. Oh, she was leaving the city, that’s right. It wasn’t safe for her anymore. She touched the small medallion on her chain necklace, recalling the tender words of the woman who’d given her this letter. But she couldn’t remember exactly where they’d been.
But she wasn’t supposed to remember. She wasn’t sure why, but she knew that it was true. And she knew that it was time to go forward with her life. She tugged the brim of her hat down and did her best to slouch, then made her way to the market, and the farmer who she was supposed to see.
The farmer smiled after he read the letter, then looked up at her. “So you’re the girl she’d been preparing for, I recognize you from when you’ve helped her shop. And a change of plans as well, eh? Well, that’s not a problem, there are always people that need a job, I can find another hand to hire and it’s not busy again for a little while. We’re going to pretend you are coming to the farm with me though if anyone asks. Now, the letter says you were gifted a magic hat, let’s work on a disguise. You are going to want rougher-looking clothes and a wide-brimmed straw hat.”
It was only now that Fuyuko realized that she wasn’t sure where she’d gotten all the fancy stuff, but she was certain it was very recently. It had to be a gift. But it made her nervous, she was pretty certain that it was worth more than her family’s home had been. “Um, sure, er, what do I do sir? Oh wait, I think I have instructions. Right, okay, tell me if I get it right.”
It took a few tries before the farmer was satisfied. “Great. Now help me finish setting up, and help with the booth. We still have the rest of the day, I’m not leaving a whit earlier than normal unless we manage to sell everything.”
She did as she was told, and found the work not a lot different than she remembered her parents doing, the haggling was just for goods that were ready now instead of arranging for future work or completing previous deals.
Dusk was only a few hours away when the stall was finally empty and they packed everything back onto the farmer’s wagon. The gate guards looked bored and only mildly curious when they left with the rest of the traffic. She’d have stood out walking out alone, but she could be mistaken for a boy right now, and a poor city boy heading out to be a new farmhand wasn’t terribly unusual.
They didn’t talk much until they were alone on the road. “Alright youngin’, seems like you have even more special stuff than your fancy hat there. I ain’t never been an adventurin’ type, but even a farmer needs to know a thing or two to keep safe, never know what is going to come crawling out of some river or woods. When we get to the farm, you can stay for a couple of weeks, and we’ll see what me and a few other old hands can’t teach you before you head on your way. Don’t worry, we’ll get a little work out of you. But keep the hat on until we get to the farm, there’s always a chance we can run into someone until then. And for your first lesson, I am going to teach you how to drive a wagon. Don’t worry, these girls are gentle-tempered. And it’ll let me take a nap, which I normally don’t get on a market day. I’m glad I only have to do this every two weeks. The moons will be well up before we get to the farm, and I started traveling before the sun was up this morning.”
He was quite right about the moons, but the night was comfortable for her, and she enjoyed the sight of all three moons in the sky during the last part of their trip. She was still scared, but she felt less desperate and more hopeful of this chance she’d seized.