3.
Preparing for the Journey
After Nami had snuck breakfast for Goneck into the barn she ran into her room. Helena was sitting on her bed anxiously waiting for her. When she appeared at the door her maid’s lines of worry vanished and she ran towards her gripping her shoulders and pulling her into a tight hug which surprised her.
“Nami! Where have you been? I have been so worried! Your father is in a rage, he thought you had gone to that boy again. Did you? Please say you didn’t!” She cried out.
“Don’t worry!” Nami soothed to calm down the hysterical maid. “I was doing nothing of the sort. Is father at home?”
“Yes, yes!” She said as she regained her posture and smoothed her smock. “I convinced him to wait before he sends anybody out to search. He told me that if you return before he searches, I should report you to him immediately. He’s waiting for you to return in his study. You should go and meet him.” Her old grey eyes looked up at me through wrinkled skin of age, conveying a different feeling than that which her cheery voice suggested,
“I’ll go right now.” Nami said smiling at her but heeding those eyes.
This was not the first time in which she had been called to her father in such a manner. The first had been when she ruined her friend’s tea party at the age of ten by inviting a handful of peasent children which ended in showers of tears for her friend and a paddling for her. She recalled that memory with a slight grin for although at the time it was not, thinking ofher rebellious young life still made her laugh.
Her father was a man with much pride, bitter, but proud nonetheless. He did not condone anything disrespectful or improper. Nam grew up knowing these things very clearly. But as all children, when limits are put on rebelling becomes a way of life. This was true for her as well. She did, in many
occasions, do things just for the sake of displeasing her father, but as she got older instead of doing them for the sake of it, she did it because she felt that if she did not, she would end up like all the other faceless girls who call them her friends.
They seemed to have no meaning in life other than to spend their father’s money, marry, and then to groom their own daughters (if any) to do the same. It seemed a disgusting and revolting thing to her and she considered herself lucky to be able to look past all of this and go beyond what she was expected to do.
When she reached the door to the study she changed her face expression with much practiced skill, gave a reluctant sigh and knocked on the door.
“Come in!” A voice called. She heard the click of metal hitting metal as her hand pushed open the wooden door. She found her father sitting on a comfortable wooden chair while reading a rich leatherback book. He looked up as she closed the door behind her and his expression quickly changed from calm to anger and his eyebrows formed dark furrows on his forehead at the sight of her.
He stood up and advanced towards her, slamming the book which he had been reading onto the table beside his chair. “Nami! Where in heaven’s name have you been?! I have been searching for you all morning. You left only a frustratingly, unspecific note to tell us where you had gone!” he shouted.
“My apologies Father.” Nami said softly.
“You should be more than sorry. You should be ashamed for causing your father so much worry.” The ends of his dark brown hair quivered in silent rage. His usually handsome face was contorted with resisted anger. Nami looked up at him with a collected expression, but in reality she couldn’t believe that her father had said that she should be ‘ashamed’ for causing him so much worry.
She knew her father enough to know that his standards of her were so high that things like this could be considered shameful, but she couldn’t believe how childish he was acting. Only immature children ask for apologies in such a manner and a show of shame, but Nami showed neither sorrow nor anger, just a blank expression from which he could interpret anything he wanted. Truth was though, Nami’s insides were starting to boil like hot water with all the things which she had kept inside her for so many years.
“I’m sorry.” She repeated, her large blue-green eyes stared up at him. Her father sighed in exasperation.
“Is that all you can say?! Why have you got to be so difficult? Why can’t you be like Dr. Shady’s daughter or even Mr. McGowan’s daughter? They all act appropriate, listen to their father, and they all end up arranged to marry rich young gentlemen. But you! You go running around in the house, being unpunctual for dinner, dressing like a man, and meeting common men out of your home and ‘sorry’ is all you can say?”
Nami’s stayed silent but her shoulder’s shook from anger and at the same time trying to control herself from pouring out the hot water. Her fists were clenched tightly and she refused to look up at her father again so instead she kept her eyes locked on a knot in the wood which boarded the floor.
“Are you not pleased with the men I introduce you to? They are fine men are they not? They come from rich families and are educated. Are they not handsome enough for you? Or interesting enough? So is that why you choose instead to meet a man from the village. A dirty poor boy who can’t give you anything! Can’t put a roof over your head, can’t feed you, and can’t even give you the proper service. You are sixteen! Sixteen is the age in which you should already have found a man to marry. All your friends have! Why have you got to be so damn stubborn!”
Finally Nami couldn’t take it anymore and she boiled over. She shot her head up and stared at her father with an icy cold stare before shouting.
“So maybe I am different! Maybe I don’t want to be like the other girls! Maybe I don’t want to get married yet! Maybe I’m not ready or haven’t found the right man! Have you ever thought about that? About how I might like dressing like a boy? And how I perhaps don’t like your guest dinners with your important business men? And how I just might like meeting people who are outside your circle of proper gentlemen? Have you ever thought about what I want? What you think is not always the best for me!” Her eyes turned into an icy blue which seemed like it could penetrate even the darkest of nights.
“I know what’s best for you! I am your father and you will treat me with the respect that you owe me!” Nami’s eyes were burning from glaring so hard but she persisted. Her father was glaring with equal intense, but he was breathing heavily as well from shouting.
“You know nothing of me.” Nami muttered with narrowed eyes. “So how can you possibly know whats best for me.”
“I know enough. And what I know humiliates me.”
“Well that’s one thing to be glad for, for now I know that sixteen years of works has yet to go to waste.” Nami scoffed, crossing her arms. At that her father’s face turned a dark shade of maroon and a vein bulged on his forehead.
“It is with the utmost regret which by I address you as my own daughter.” He growled.
“Fine then.” She said almost a bit too quickly as she turned to leave, but he caught her arm.
“I’m not through!” he yelled.
“Well I am.” She grunted as she struggled to break free. She twisted her arm and his grasp slipped.
“Nami!” Her father yelled, but she ignored him as she shoved open the door and ran out through the dreary stone tiled hallway. Her father had not always been this way. He had been a calm and sincere man, but that had been before her mother had gone missing. Ever since than he had been consuming wine by barrels every month and he indulged himself around rich and glorified men with nothing but money in their hands, but even through all this he maintained his pride. Pride was what made him handle his own daughter in such a way. Pride was what made him believe that if he could perhapos control his daughter, he could control his life. It was a sad story, a story which Nami knew to the very last sentence. She pitied her father, but that didn’t help with the resentment which she held for him.
She ran up the dirt path and into the barn and headed into the stall in which her stallion was kept. Gewald eyed her in curiosity when she came in and sat in the corner without greeting or even giving him a snack. He gave his head a toss before returning to his meal.
Nami’s hands trembled violently from her dispute with her father. She leaned against the stall door and sighed to calm herself down. After a minute or two of deep breaths she finally stood up, she brushed straws off her clothes with sweeps of her hands and then pushed her long but, at the moment, scraggly hair from her eyes. Wasn’t this what I wanted? To be indifferent to my father and make him realise it? Nami contemplated. It was, but what she had expected to feel was far different from the feeling which she was experiencing now. What now? Her thoughts were interrupted by a snort and hot breath on her hands.
Gewald had finished his meal and now was searching for treats. Nami smiled and rubbed him affectionately behind the ears. Finding none, Gewald lifted his head, out of Nami’s reach, and refused to be pet because she had nothing for him.
“Greedy ol’ boy.” Nami laughed. “You’re as ornery as ever.” Suddenly a head came into view from on the other side of the door. Nami’s heart skipped a beat, but when she realized that it was only a groom, she settled down.
“Ma’am. I’m sorry to disturb you but I hear your father calling for you.” The groom un-latched the door and walked in. The stallion watched her before heaving his large body onto his legs.
“I see.” Nami absentmindedly stroked Gewald’s back before replying. “Jeff, it would be nice if you didn’t tell him I was here.”
“Sure,” he replied and he knew better than to press matters for it was none of his business. “but Gewald here,” he said indicating to the horse. “must be put out for Mr. McGowan has brought one of his mares here to be bred.” Just then Nami saw another groom hamdling a pure white mare outside the barn. She was beautiful with flowing white hair and her nose had a small snip of pink on it. Her neck was curved in the most attractive way and she held her tail up high.
At the sight of the mare Gewald went into frenzy and forgot all about Nami. He jittered in his stall and called out loudly to the mare and when he caught her attention he bobbed his head up and down and stomped his feet to impress her. Nami knew that it was dangerous to be around a stallion when he sensed a mare in heat and therefore exited the stall and ran out after looking back at the two horses as she watched Jeff clip a halter on Gewald and lead him out to meet the mare who had seemed to accept him gladly.
She finally turned away and went towards Goneck where he was in hiding. She found him chewing on a clean bone which he tossed away to the side as she neared him.
“Are you ready yet?” Nami shook her head.
“Not yet. I got into an argument with my dad… and…” She looked reluctant to tell him and he understood.
“It’s okay. You can take your time but we must leave today.”
“Don’t worry. We will. I can’t stay here any longer.” She leaned against a tree and she knew at that moment that she wanted, needed, yo leave more than ever. She kicked a pile of dirt in anger before dropping to the ground. “Well,” She changed the subject. “What do I need to bring exactly again?”
Goneck was chewing on his bone again but tossed it away to reply. “Clothes and probably some of that stuff that you guys call ‘money’. You might need to buy supplies on our way.”
“Where are we going exactly?”
“To Rovenhold. The rest will be explained later.” He sneaked into the shadow of a tree. Nami wondered what had caused him to hide so she looked around and saw the reason. She saw her father coming towards her. He was incredibly mad and was gaining ground fast. Nami gulped and stood up. She held her ground as he came closer. In a matter of seconds he had reached her. His ears were red with anger. Breathing hard and sweat beading his forehead he grabbed her wrist and pulled her towards the direction of the house without a word.
Nami knew that arguing would only make things worse so she followed without resisting him. All the house servants quickly turned away as he pulled her up to the house, through the living room, up the stairs, through the hallways and into her room. He released his grip and threw her into the room before slamming the wooden door shut.
Nami stared at the shut door while massaging her sore wrist. She turned around and went to her bed. She sat down and pondered her options. If she packed her things together she could make a run for the door, but it could be possible that her father was keeping a clse watch on the door in case she tried anything again. Her other option was going through the kitchen for there was a back door there, but her father might’ve already thought of that. Another option would be to go to the basement for there was a hatch which she could escape through.
She doubted her father knew about it for it was hardly ever used and was covered with vines and leaves. The basement was where all the wine was kept and so only maids went down there to retrieve them. It was probable but not exactly possible, even if she did make it to the basement, trying to open the hatch would be nearly impossible besides the fact that it would be incredibly loud.
Nami pulled her hair in frustration. Her options were near impossible.
“Might as well pack first.” She muttered incoherently. She got up and went to her wardrobe and dug for a bag which was large enough to hold a couple clothes articles and when she found it she pulled it out, and at the same time unearthed lots of rubbish which came to carpet the stone floor. Nami saw with surprise many things which she had completely forgotten about, old cards which she had received as a child, worn out small shoes, a couple books, an unused writing diary, a box of empty glass vials which she had had asked for when the contents of what they contained were used so she could use it to contain some of her own small things.
Other things included a small leather pouch and an old, but usable, belt whch she had bought from a passing merchant. She had been young and the belt had been too large for her but she had bought it anyways because the merchany had boasted that the belt had once belonged to a noble knight. She was fascinated by it and had eagerly bought the merchants story like a fly to honey. As she grew more knowledgeable she came to doubt the merchant’s story and the belt had become one with rubbish pile in her closet.
Nami smiled at the memories which came back to her just by holding this belt, a worn out belt, full of loose threads of leather and tarnished metal beads which dotted it like freckles. It even had a slip where a sword had supposedly been carried. Oh well, Nami thought as she tossed that into a bag along with the glass vials. She didn’t know whether the glass vials would ever come in handy but she brought it just incase for the glass was light and thin and would not become a burden. She also added the unused diary. Then after shoving all the things back unto the floor of her wardrobe she sifted through her clothes to see which ones she should bring. She grabbed a couple of simple blouses and a plain looking chemise along with a couple of warm and simple leggings. Along with those she managed to shove in a light blanket which she was reluctant to leave behind.
Suddenly she heard the doorknob turn. Nami was startled with fright thinking that it would be her father but let out a sigh of relief when she saw Helena walk in with a tray of food. Nami had forgotten all about food but the sight of it caused her stomach to growl. Helena looked at Nami, curious about what she was doing. She soundlessly closed the door and put the tray on her table.
“What are you doing?” She whispered to Nami as she turned towards her. She came towards her and sat down next to her. “We must whisper for your father is keeping almost every eye and ear on this door!” She said pointing to the door. “So what are you doing?” She asked again in a whisper.
“Helena. You mustn’t be worried but I am going to go away for awhile. In truth I don’t know how long.” A look of shock spread over Helena’s face.
“Where?!”
“It’s complicated. I can’t exactly tell you and I don’t know how long it will be.”
“Oh Nami!” She cried out, for the first time saying her name. “You mustn’t leave because of your father. I understand he can be harsh but you must know he--.”
“It isn’t because of him.” She said in part truth. “There are larger reasons here.”
“How will you be going?”
“On foot.” Nami said as she tightly closed the bag.
“How far?”
“I don’t know, but it will be far.” She went over to the closet and pulled out a pair of buskin boots which she put on.
“Why don’t you take one of the ponies from the barn?”
“Oh I wish I could. But I can’t take care of it and I’m afraid it could just get in the way.”
“Are you sure?” Helena asked in worry.
“Quite positive.” She finally stood up after tying the last of the laces on her boots. Helena looked at the bag.
“What are you taking in there?”
“Some clothes, a diary, a few glass vials, a belt, and a light blanket.”
“This isn’t a dangerous journey, is it?” She asked worriedly. Nami bit her lip.
“Truthfully, I have no idea. It could be and it could not be. I am not sure of it, but I am not going alone.” Although I don’t know how better off I am with a wolf puppy, she thought.
“Who with?”
“Oh, um just some old friend.” She muttered. Helena raised an eyebrow. “Ok, it’s not, but…”
“I understand.” She said biting her lip. “Oh!” she piped. “Wait here, I will be right back.” Helena shot out the door. Nami went over to the table and shoved as much food as she could manage into her mouth. Soon the door re-opened and Helena came inside holding some things.
“Here. I’ve brought you a leather flask, some dry food from the kitchen, candles, and this,” She said taking a chain from her pocket and placing it in Nami’s hand. “Its something your mother left for you. She told me not to give it to you until it was time and I think that this is the moment that she was talking about.” Nami looked in amazement at the small object in her hands. It was a chain necklace with a square thin metal object hanging on it. She looked closely and saw small inscriptions on it which were inscribed in such a way that the writing started from the edge and slowly circled into the center, they were not in a language which she knew, but she guessed that her mother had, and then right in the center was the picture of an eagle.
“What language is this?”
“I have no idea.” Helena said not even looking at it. She had probably seen it so many times. Maybe someone I meet on the way will know. Nami smiled and squeezed the necklace tightly. She thought that if she squeezed it tightly enough she would be able to feel her mother touch, but she felt nothing except a small tingle at her fingers, but that was probably from squeezing so hard.
“Here.” Helena took the necklace from her and unclipped it so she could put it around Nami’s neck. She lifted Nami’s hair and clipped it on. Nami smiled and gave Helena a hug.
“Thanks.” The rest of the stuff she shoved into her already full bag and pulled the laces hard to close the bag. She then went under her bed and pulled out a small chest. She unlocked it with a key she had placed under the duck feather mattress and opened it. Inside was a mountainous amount of coins. There had to be more than enough money to buy ten stallions along with a luxury carriage. She dug out almost half of it and put it into the leather pouch. She shoved the pouch into the very bottom of the bag and then handed the chest over to Helena.
“This is for you. I don’t know what will happen to you after I leave so if you get kicked out which I hope to the heavens wont happen, this will ensure you. And if you don’t, be sure to hide it in the safest of safest places.” Helena looked astounded at the monstrous amount of money bestowed upon her by the child she had reared since she was just a baby.
“Oh my… This is…” She was speechless and all she could do was pull Nami into the tightest hug she had ever received. Nami shouldered the bag and finally faced Helena, ready to leave.
“Wait.” The maid said with worry. “How are you going to leave the house?” Nami’s face fell.
“I forgot about that.” She muttered. “In truth I have no idea.” She sighed completely dispirited. Helena watched her and a smile grew on her face.
“That’s not a very good start to running away.” Helena said grinning.
“Helena,” Nami said almost cautiously. “What are you thinking?” She asked, indicating the mischevious look on her face.
“Follow me.” Helena walked into the center of the room and stopped at the edge of a carpet which covered a small section of the room. She bent over and flipped the carpet and lying underneath was a trapdoor as plain as day.
Nami’s mouth gaped open. “How? Wha… How come I never saw this? How come you never bothered to tell me?!” She scurried over to the ground and ran her hand over the metal handle and wooden board.
“Well you never asked.” She stated still smiling.
“I had no idea that that was even there. How was I supposed to ask? And you knew about this all along?”
“Yes. I’m the one who cleans this room aren’t I?”
“How is it here? Who would create a trapdoor in the middle of a room?” Nami asked flustered.
“This house was once owned by people other than you. Who knew what their purposes were. I am but a maid and know nothing of things like this.” Helena shrugged. “All I know is that your father wanted to keep this a secret from you and forbade me from telling you.
“So father knows that this is here?”
“Yes he does but I’m quite sure he has forgotten. It’s always covered and I don’t mention it.”
“Well does it work?” Nami asked as she looked at it contemplatedly. She still couldn’t believe that this was here. A trapdoor in her very own room, and she never knew!
“What do you mean ‘does it work?’ Of course it does.” She leaned over and gave the handle a pull. It budged only the slightest bit. “Must be a bit stuck because it’s old and has not been open in sixteen years and perhaps more.” She grunted and gave it another heave. It moved a bit more. Nami’s hand came to the handle and she helped Helena open the stubborn door.
Just when they were about to give it a rest the heavy door broke free. A cloud of dust rose from within the void which the trapdoor opened. Nami and Helena both had landed on their bums when the door had finally given way and they both simultaneously crawled towards the hole. Below they saw a staircase which led into a dark stone walled basement. There was hardly any light except from the opened trapdoor. The room was bare and only bits of straw scattered the room. Not a single scrap of anything which hinted the reason for the room’s existence lie anywhere. For a second Nami was dispirited once again when she saw that there was no other way out, but suddenly she realized that the room went farther.
“Helena.” Nami called.
“Yes I see it too.” She responded without looking at her.
“Where does it go?”
“Shall we find out?” For a women in her fourties she sure doesn’t act like it, Nami thought. She’s more daring and adventurous than most of my friends. Well, all of my friends in fact.
“Are you coming with me?” Nami asked.
“If you’d like.” Helena shrugged, but Nami could tell that she wanted to know where this went.
“Alright. Well lets go then.” Nami shouldered her bag and followed her eager maid into the dark and dusty room.
Nami could hear nothing down there. Not even a scuttle of rat claws, but then again they probably couldn’t survive for Nami doubted that there would’ve been much to eat. She followed Helena deeper into the dark room. Soon it became so dark that they could hardly see their own nose.
“Quick hand me the candle I gave you.” Helena said, groping for Nami’s hand. Nami fumbled with her hand in her bag and she finally wrapped her hand around a thin round stick of wax. She pulled it out and handed it to her maid. Helena took it and did something which Nami couldn’t depict and suddenly a yellow light filled the room. The scenery around them hadn’t changed much but they realized that the room had turned into a tunnel and went much farther than either of them thought.
“Come.” Helena led her farther into the tunnel and suddenly they came to a twist which they dutifully followed. Nothing had been spoken from either of them. Both were still so wholly transfixed by the reality in which they were in that they thought that words would shatter the silence and make them wake up, realizing that all of this was nothing more than a mere dream.
The dark stony walls were covered in layers of dust and bits of grime. The bottoms of them were blackened with soot as if fires had once licked at the stone. The rough stone jutted out in places and some were even taken from their places and removed.
Nami and Helena’s shadows flickered on the wall by the candle light like ghosts and their footsteps echoed with each step.
continued.....
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