Letting Someone New In

JP with Redsword and Cindy

Islana had taken third watch. It was difficult to try to keep her mind on the task at hand and not on the numerous things running through her head.

The old woman and all the questions with that, was one thing. Lord Vasant was another. The young woman had a thought regarding the latter.

Hearing a noise coming from the camping area, Islana turned. She figured it was Boyce as he had last watch.

Seeing the man approach, the redhead gave him a friendly smile.

"Good morning."

"Good morning Islana. I see nothing happened during your watch." Boyce said, adjusting his sword. Boyce did not wear it much only if he thought it was needed with Lugers around he did not want to take one at all but a sword would help in a fight. "You looked good last night with your hair braided. It made me appreciate your beauty," Boyce said with a smile.

"It was a quiet shift." Nothing had happened which was a good thing.

She smiled at his compliment, "Thank you. I should probably have Gonyaul do my hair more often."

"Feel free to sit," There was plenty of room if Boyce wanted to sit on the skin with her.

"So, how was your night?"

The young woman had noticed him around last night talking to some of the tribe members but hadn't really spoken to him all night.

Boyce sat next to her on the skin. "I learned some new words and traded some. But not as much fun as Alexis I hear they had quite an auction going to see who could marry her." said Boyce with humor in his voice. "Here, try this deer jerky, it's good." Holding out a piece

"I heard about Alexis's evening,". Islana remarked. "It sounds like you had a good evening though.

The redhead took a piece of the jerky, taking a small bite, "Thank you. It is good."

Boyce looked out across the grass. Boyce knew what was out there and sometimes the grass would move oddly. The sun was rising and morning light was coming from the background. It was just bright enough to see shapes of shadows. They were out there waiting for them to make the mistake of wandering too far off. Boyce's tone changed to a darker one, not normal for him. "Stay close to camp until we get moving. I can't see them but the Lugers are out there not too far off," advised Boyce.

Then Boyce smiled, seeming to go back to his normal self. "I think I could stay with these people for years and not regret it. I am happy I am not making this trip alone and have good companions to travel with."

Islana thought better about saying she could sense the Lugers all around them. Instead she nodded, "I'll be hunting a little after first light but I won't go far "

There was still time though before it would be light enough to go hunting.

She smiled at his words. "Traveling alone is much harder."

Rather than explaining that, Islana switched subjects.

"I heard a word used tonight, Erewhon. Do you happen to know what it means?"

Boyce thought and answered, "A Deity of Odsier. The One God. Roughly translated as Wonderland. It is believed to be the spirit of the world by the plains' tribes. That's what I know of it so far." Boyce said, taking another bite of the jerky.

Well that cleared up - nothing, Islana thought to herself but at least she knew what the word meant now. Maybe, it was a start?

"Interesting."

The young woman figured she couldn't ask much more without an explanation that she couldn't give the man.

Instead, Islana reversed, back to another topic. "How long have you been traveling on your own?"

It probably seemed like she wasn't her normally focused self but this was leading somewhere, Islana just needed to find the courage to speak about what she hated talking about.

Boyce thought about it. "The first time, really alone, 15 years old. Then on and off until I was 18 then well other than expectations with workers. Most of my work has been alone" answered Boyce.

In Islana's mind that seemed like a long time but Boyce also appeared to really enjoy his work. Maybe, it was a trade off.

"I traveled alone for over three years. It's not easy."

Islana suddenly realized she had already mentioned that it was difficult.

The young huntress had told Alexis, Gonyaul, and Jiyn. Trying to convince herself she could do this but the words failed her.

Boyce looked surprised. "Three years on your own? You seem to handle yourself well." Boyce paused "I know your past must have been hard, the times everyone talked about their past you avoided the subject. " Inquired Boyce.

"My past is difficult to talk about."

Islana thought for a moment took a deep breath and said.

"Alexis and Gonyaul know but not anyone else. I'll tell you. My mother died in childbirth with me..."

Islana started talking. She told Boyce about her father's consistent drinking, about her brother and sister raising her. She spoke about her brother's death, about her teaching herself to use a bow and arrow. Then came the really important part of the story. The part about how her sister was sold off and Lord Vasant was waiting in their kitchen. Then her voice grew quiet as it always did when speaking the next part.

"I was sold off to Lord Vasant. He was very cruel. Used to carry around a whip just to wait for some excuse to beat me with it. He had a wife who was ill. He told me that, once his wife died, he wanted me to take her place. To give him the children she couldn't. Lady Vasant passed not long after I turned 16. I knew if I didn't get away..."

Islana's voice drifted off, clearly not wanting to finish that statement.

"I ran away. I was desperate and needed to survive so I took a very small amount of money his wife had hidden away and a really not well made bow and arrow set that he never used. I'm not particularly proud of that."

The young woman's gaze turned to the field in front of her, as she wiped a tear from her eye. No, still couldn't do this without crying. Islana didn't know if there would ever come a day when she could.

"Lord Vasant sent his own private guard after me. I just kept running, living in the woods for three years, until I reached the water and a ship that would bring me here. As far as I know he's still after me."