The Kingdom of Secrets and Ruin
Chapter 22

Dalliah

The clanking of the wooden boxes knocking against each other was more relaxing than you’d think. With my plan in action, I actually managed to catch a few hours of sleep on the journey which has helped my mind to become clearer. Now that the wagon is slowly coming to a stop, I have a refreshed sense of energy making me feel like this isn’t as crazy as it is.

I’m here. I’m at the coast! I have no plan, no money but I’m as free as a bird.

Through the gap in the tarp near my head I can see that the sky’s still blue enough to hint at an early twilight, and I use the remaining light to dodge my way around the goods to sneak out of the back before the farmers have the chance to spot me.

The second my feet reach the ground, Nameless jumps from the confines of my dress and frees himself, running off towards the back of some buildings. I have to stop myself from shouting after him as neither of us has been here before and I don’t want to draw attention to us, but the worry fades quickly as I take in my new surroundings.

After all, he’s always had a knack for finding me before too long. So for now I should be free to get acquainted with somewhere new without having to chase after him, right? Either way, it’s surreal.

Rather than one big building standing intimidatingly over me, there are rows of several smaller structures. They’re cute in a way when I compare them to what I know and if it weren’t for the fact people were living in them, I’d be dying to take a step inside.

Through the windows I can see fires roaring, cosy sitting rooms and cramped kitchens. There’s something so warm and comforting about them that makes me want to have one as well. But it’s no use getting caught up in what I want just yet, my journey is far from over and the next step is to take it to the sea.

The floor beneath my shoes is cobbled and uneven and I have to keep looking down to make sure I don’t trip over my own feet, but still, I’m smiling. Through the gaps in the buildings, the wind sneaks through and brushes past my face and through my hair. It smells fresh and salty and I don’t know how else to describe it other than it feels good for me, like it’s healthy somehow.

Cold stings my cheeks, but again in a good way and I keep taking deep breaths in as if I can savour it and make up for all the time locked away not experiencing this feeling. I pass several people in the street that don’t even bother to look up at me as they go which I love and it’s not until I come to the end of this row, entering into a busier area that I realise how far I’ve come already.

This is perhaps the furthest I’ve ever walked before and I can barely feel it compared to the aching in my legs the first day at work gave me.

Here in this more open part, there’s some sort of market that has a bunch of food laid out on stalls ready to be bought even though the daylight is fading quickly now. There’s also some music playing amongst the echoes of laughter and there’s a lot of lanterns hung around, both on the displays and hung on washing lines too.

It makes this place feel all the more magical for me and I have a feeling the coins in my pocket won’t last long if the food continues to smell so good. I mean, I’ve not eaten since early yesterday after all.

Knowing that I’ll need to limit my spending, I force myself to walk through them all first before committing to which bite I’ll buy. Most of it is fish, which is to be expected I suppose but there’s also a lot of roast veg, slow-cooked pork and even a few sweet treats to tempt me.

My stomach growls the longer I hold out and in the end, I cave for a hot bowl of stew filled with fish and potatoes. It’s salty, hearty and I could swear here and now that I’ve never tasted anything this good. Maybe it’s the added sense of freedom or the intense hunger but all I care about is inhaling it all so that my tongue can savour the seasonings mixed in.

As I regrettably take in the last spoonful, wondering if I can afford more, I look out into the distance and my heart almost stops. It’s like staring at the edge of the world.

I didn’t realise what it would look like or how close I was with the darkness drawing in, but now my eyes widen as I take in the sea and the sand crashing together. My feet take me towards it without my mind having to say anything and in a matter of minutes, I feel the soft feeling of sand beneath my shoes.

It’s almost like dirt, only sturdier and now that I’m right next to it, the water sprays my face as it dances along with the wind. Birds that I assume to be seagulls call down at me as they fly through the air. They’re much larger than the robins or bluebirds that I’ve seen out in the gardens and braver too I realise, as one swoops down and steals a mouthful from a stranger’s meal.

I’m glad I ate my stew quickly if there are airborne thieves around like this, and it’s quite funny when you’re not on the receiving end, as horrible as that is to admit when someone’s hard-earned money has gone to waste.

Turning back to the sea with a smile, I squint my eyes to try and make out the end, as there has to be one somewhere, or at least sight of the other continents waiting for me but there’s nothing. Just a line separating water from sky and I don’t know why but I have this overwhelming urge to follow it.

To my right, I can see a small pier made of wood that carries a path over the tide with a group of small boats tethered to it. They must be the way of getting further out to where the larger ships lie, the ones I’m after that will take me further and far away from here.

I’m tempted to walk across it now, but it’s cold and the sensible side of me makes it known that I need to find somewhere to spend the night.

The first person I ask informs me that there is an inn a half mile to my left and it’s easy enough to find once I see the windows from a distance. They’re all steamed from the cold air out here meeting the warm atmosphere inside, showing me that it has the comforts of a fire that I desperately need.

I eagerly go to open the front door, my icy fingers barely able to move as I grip the rusted handle and push forward with all my strength. It’s heavier than I expected, and once it finally gives in I practically fall into the room and into the arms of a stranger just about to leave.

Only it isn’t a stranger, I realise as I look up, it’s Ruairi.

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