Page 17 of A Broken Promise (the Freckled Fate #1)

17

W e had been traveling almost two weeks now, only stopping occasionally to switch carriages until we arrived at the Port City, waiting to board the steamboat to take us to Svitar. Our travel was uneventful, and I appreciated that. Often, we stopped for the night in a tavern or a hotel, sometimes staying for a day or two. During those days, I diligently cleaned and washed all the laundry, eager to prove myself. I needed this job, but even more so, I needed this opportunity to make it to Svitar. The rest of the time I spent absorbing the picturesque views through the carriage windows, admiring the beauty of nature.

It was easy to get along with Priya. The small jabs, the never-ending sarcasm and the constant rolling of her eyes, was growing on me; becoming a new norm. In the long carriage rides and slow evenings, we spent our days talking about everything and nothing at the same time. I learned fast that Priya seemed to have a strong opinion about everything. She also would rather murder me than let me win in tic-tac-toe. Luckily, I didn’t mind throwing the games for her; it made me content knowing that she was happy. I knew her favorite color and that she loved to eat desserts, and that she got stung by a bee in her right butt cheek a couple of years back .

Priya already told me that if I was smart, I’d save my wages for a Svitar surgeon, who she knows very well, to get new boobs. At my raised brows, she replied, “What? It’s not like you have any.” I genuinely laughed at that because truthfully, I couldn’t argue with that.

In our short time, I had also learned that Priya loved nudity. There was no privacy with her. She walked around naked anytime she felt like it. Even after two weeks, I was still in awe of her perfect figure and full hourglass shape, but I’d gotten better with my staring.

Occasionally, she’d disappear in her leathers only to come back hours and hours later. Even though curiosity was killing me, I pretended to ignore that part of her life. Whatever it was. She never asked any questions about mine and I respected that. A fair trade. But one thing was certain: Priya spared no expense for her own comfort.

We finally arrived at the large port town on the banks of the Kinderby River. Small lanterns on the streets were being lit up, shining as if little fireflies lit the mist. The sky was now stretched with gray clouds, hiding the lovely sunset. The Kinderby River was large and voluminous. A thin line of another shore on the horizon served as the only reminder that this wasn’t, in fact, a never-ending sea.

I climbed out of the carriage last. My bruises were faded but my bones still occasionally reminded me of the damage, though now pain was more of a ghost; nothing more than a memory, one that I tried to forget. I could feel my body getting stronger each day, my mind blossoming at the access to food and rest, and just eagerness of life.

Excited.

I was very excited.

It was a beautiful afternoon, and the pier was crowded with different vendors trying to win each customer’s last coin. I inhaled full lungs of the misty river air. Green moss covered snugly-fit, gray stone buildings; the same little dabs of stone were on the long cobble streets along the riverbank. All kinds of steam ships, sail ships, and even regular fishing boats were peacefully anchored for the day .

“Ugh, gods, I hate this town!” Priya’s voice sounded right next to me.

“You do?” I asked, surprised.

“Yes, it smells like rotten fish and disease.” She huffed, walking up the steps to an antique-looking townhome. “Are you going to stand there and stare?” she snarked.

“Um, sorry, coming.” I pulled my eyes away from the beautiful pier, the rushing crowds and the ever-still water. We walked in a poorly lit room. A skinny young man, barely fourteen years old at most, approached us to take in our luggage.

“Welcome, miss Priya.” He slightly bowed.

“Ronald, you talk too much, you ugly shit,” she jabbed but still smiled, walking to the counter. By now, I was used to Priya bossing everyone around and by the looks of it, Ronald was too. He just beamed and nodded.

“Where is that old hag? Hello?” Priya banged on the dark cherry counter.

An old sweet lady walked out from the curtained door. “Oh, miss Priya, so glad to see you back so soon.” She bowed as well.

“Yeah-yeah, here is the thing.” Priya dismissed her and started spitting out her demands. “I want you to draw a big bubble bath, none of that lavender grass shit, an actual nice bubble bath.” She paused, glaring at the nice lady as if to see if she understood. The lady nodded in agreement. Satisfied, Priya continued. “I also want a chocolate cheesecake and you know full well how I feel if anyone cooks or so much brings a fish to this house.”

“Yes, my lady.” The old woman bowed again as Priya handed her a small copper key.

We walked up the large, wide staircase leading up to the second floor, passing a few rooms that seemed to be empty.

“What is this place?” I asked.

“Think of it as my personal bed and breakfast,” Priya casually said, as if it was nothing.

It seemed a little odd that we were the only ones here considering the perfect location of this place. As if reading my thoughts, she spat, “ I’d be damned if after all the travels, I have to share a room with one of them.” Her face grimaced with disgust and her chin jerked to the large windows in the atrium, pointing at the pier full of people.

“This is yours for the night.” She pointed to one of the rooms on my left. “I’ll be right there,” Priya continued, pointing to the large double doors across the hall. “Our ship departs late night tomorrow, don’t sleep in,” she teased, showing her tongue and marching on to her room.

Right before entering her room, she turned and threw me a small bag filled with coins.

“Here are your wages, Freckles. Don’t spend it all in one night and for the love of all holy, save some for the boobs, I am begging you.” She winked at me and before I could say a word, she shut the door.

I quickly poured out the contents on the floor. I counted them once, then twice, then thrice.

There were too many coins.

Gold coins.

Priya never mentioned the amount she was going to pay, and I was desperate enough to accept work even just for food and shelter, so I never bothered to ask.

This, however, was the most amount of money I had ever had. No, I had ever seen!

This was too much. With this money I could easily feed and shelter a family of ten for at least two months. Maybe it was a mistake. No servant would ever get paid this much for two weeks’ worth of work.

I thought for a minute and still felt uneasy. I didn’t need this much, much less deserved it.

I knocked on Priya’s door. She didn’t reply.

“Priya?” I said, opening the door.

“Better be important, Freckles.” Priya was already naked, sitting on the edge of the quickly filling up bath, pouring a glass of wine.

“You’ve paid me too much.” I didn’t beat around the bush, holding the money in my hand.

“No, I paid you correctly,” she replied, climbing into her bath.

Doubt crept in. Gods, she wasn’t illiterate, right ?

Or was she?

It would explain the never-ending money throwing. I never paid attention if she was good with math, and I had not seen her read or write anything either.

She sighed and as if reading my mind and blurted out.

“Oh gods, I know how to count, and I’ve paid you correctly. I will pay you again in two weeks the same sum.” Priya took another sip from her glass. I wasn’t sure what to say but she continued. “Unless you insist on interrupting my relaxing time, then I’ll take it all.” She growled, lowering her body into the water.

“This is very generous of you, Priya. Thank you!” I genuinely beamed with gratitude.

She waved me off.

“Go buy yourself something nice and leave me alone.”

I nodded and quickly left the room, right before her fingers slipped between her legs.

It was already too dark to venture out to the pier. All the street vendors packed up their carts and by now there was nothing but quiet docks lit up by the full bright moon. I laid still on my bed pondering. My thoughts swirled with Viyak, the tall walls of Rock Quarries suffocating me. Was he still alive? Was he holding on to the pointless promise of mine? Viyak’s kindred glance shifted in my tired mind into a faceless hood covered figure. Kahors. Anger rose in my mind at the memory, hate simmered within me, though I wouldn’t let it boil.

No, my hate was saved for him . As if on command, the General's figure appeared behind my closed lids. Standing so still on that bridge, his black cape wavering in the wind. Chills went through my body. My rage was begging to let loose.

Not yet, I reminded it.

Not yet.

I rolled to my other side, pinching the ends of my blankets until they were wrapped tight around my shoulders. Laying still amidst the darkness, I whispered the same words I said each night since the day on that cursed bridge; that I, Finnleah, Daughter of the Dead, was free.