When the sun rose the next day, Valeria felt utterly drained. The fire had offered her some warmth, but the early winter chill, worsened by the snow, had sapped whatever comfort it provided. She cursed herself for forgetting to bring a cloak or any provisions, for that matter during her escape. Hunger gnawed at her stomach, and her throat was parched.
Her first priority was to get out of the forest, find the nearest village, and secure a carriage. Her plan was to reach the estate of one of her closest friends, Katherine, the daughter of Lord Lohra. Their fathers territories were beside each other and had traded goods for years, and Katherine had been a steadfast ally throughout Valeria's life. She hoped that Katherine would help her hide until the king gave up searching for her.
"This is such a mess…" she muttered, sighing as she rose. She stomped out the remnants of her fire, scattering the ashes to cover her tracks. If someone was searching for her, she couldn't afford to leave any traces behind.
Stepping out of the cave, she was greeted by a blanket of snow, already ankle-deep. The icy white expanse mocked her, a cruel reminder that the universe and the Lord above seemed to hate her. The moment her foot sank into the snow, her shoes were soaked through, and the cold began biting at her skin. If she didn't find a village soon, she would freeze to death.
At least she had thought to bring gold coins, hidden days before the king had announced her marriage and locked her in her chambers. Those coins would buy her new clothes, food, and a carriage ride. Clutching onto this glimmer of hope, Valeria trudged through the forest, praying no one was following her.
Hours passed, and by afternoon, she was still surrounded by towering trees and an endless sea of snow. Her feet and hands were numb, her body shivering uncontrollably. Hunger clawed at her stomach, and her lips cracked from thirst. The forest seemed endless, and doubt began to creep in. Was she even heading in the right direction?
Just as her hope was about to collapse, a distant sound broke the silence: horses' hooves and the creak of a carriage. Her heart leapt. Stumbling through the snow, branches snapping against her body, she followed the noise until she reached the edge of the forest. A road lay before her, and just as she arrived, a carriage passed by, its wheels crunching over the snow. Relief flooded her. The road had to lead to a village—she just had to follow it.
She began walking along the road, her determination reignited. Whenever a carriage passed, she tried to flag it down, but no one stopped. Looking like a half-dead vagabond in a tattered maid's uniform, she couldn't blame them. Showing her gold was too risky; someone might decide to rob her instead of helping.
Finally, as the sun dipped below the horizon, she saw the warm glow of lights ahead. A village. Letting out a breath of relief, she stumbled toward it, her steps faltering as exhaustion weighed her down.
The village was small and modest, but it had an inn. The building was run-down, with dimly lit windows and a handful of patrons—vagabonds and suspicious-looking men—lounging in the dining area. Valeria ignored their stares as she approached the reception desk, where a plump, stern-faced woman sat, her eyes sharp and appraising.
"I need a room, fresh clothes, and a hot meal," Valeria said through chattering teeth.
The woman eyed her from head to toe, her gaze lingering on Valeria's tattered appearance. "We don't have any rooms left," she said curtly, tilting her head toward the door. "Go beg somewhere else."
Valeria's patience snapped. She reached into her pocket, pulled out a gold coin, and slammed it onto the counter with enough force to make the woman flinch. The room fell silent as the patrons turned to gape at the gleaming coin.
"One room. Clothes. A hot meal. And hot water for a bath," Valeria repeated firmly.
The innkeeper's demeanor shifted in an instant. Her eyes lit up with greed, and a toothy smile spread across her face. "Of course, madam. Follow me. I'll take you to your room. Someone will bring your meal, fresh clothes, and bathwater shortly."
The woman led Valeria to a cramped, dingy room with peeling wallpaper and a sagging bed, but it was enough. Before the innkeeper could leave, Valeria grabbed her arm.
"I expect discretion," she said in a low voice. "If anyone comes asking for me, you haven't seen me. Understood?"
The woman nodded quickly, her greed outweighing any curiosity, and left Valeria alone.
The room was cold, with no fireplace to offer warmth, but at least it was private. A knock on the door interrupted her thoughts, and a young girl entered, carrying a tray of food and a bundle of clothes. The meal was unappealing, a watery stew and stale bread, but it was hot. The girl also brought a small basin of steaming water.
As the girl moved about, Valeria noticed the bruises on her thin arms and the hollow look in her eyes. Her heart ached at the sight. She was sick of seeing people suffer.
"Thank you," Valeria said softly, pressing another gold coin into the girl's hand.
The girl's eyes widened, and she shook her head. "I—I can't take this."
"Yes, you can," Valeria insisted, closing the girl's fingers around the coin. "Don't tell anyone you have it. Use it to build a better life for yourself."
Tears welled up in the girl's eyes as she clutched the coin to her chest. Without another word, she hurried out of the room, disappearing down the hallway.
Valeria closed the door behind her, leaning against it with a weary sigh. At least she had helped someone tonight. She washed herself with the hot water, scrubbed away the grime of the forest, and changed into the clean clothes. The food, while far from delicious, warmed her from the inside.
Exhaustion pulled at her like a heavy weight. With her last ounce of strength, she pushed the room's small desk against the door to bar it, then collapsed onto the uncomfortable bed. Despite the lumpy mattress and the thin blanket, she was asleep in moments.
Another step closer to freedom.