Tala
Chapter One Part Two
Cecilia took off. Although Tala knew she needed to order the gift quickly, she decided instead to go back to the female slave quarters. It’s not because of him, she told herself. I just want to make sure I get the best price, and everyone knows people judge based on appearances. The room, which looked more like a great hall, contained all of their beds. There was no privacy in these quarters, and the only thing that was theirs was a single old, wooden trunk at the foot of each bed.
Tala went to hers and unlocked it using the key around her neck. She pulled out the dresses, debating over each one. Several needed patches, and the best one was black, only used for funerals. She eventually settled on a dark green dress that only had tears at the bottom of it. She carefully folded the remaining clothes, placed them back inside, and locked the chest.
Walking over to a barrel of water, she rinsed her face using a washcloth. Then she pulled on the green dress and combed her hair into a braid. Looking at her reflection in the basin, she wished, for a brief moment, that she had some of the cosmetics that Lady Eliza possessed. Sighing, she decided her current appearance would do, and she headed out of the room.
The Knights had begun practicing in the yard, and Tala made sure to skirt around the edge, out of reach of their practice combat. Wooden swords clashed, and yells abounded as the soldiers practiced. The use of Neuma was prohibited within the fort walls, so it wasn’t too hard to avoid them. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Captain Cephas giving orders to Cadet Werdna about his sword form. She ignored it and left through the open gates of the fort.
She walked toward Haven, which was only a kilometer away from Fort Kundur. Haven was buzzing with activity, as usual. Stone houses contained shops downstairs and living quarters upstairs, and every single shop had a colorful flag or banner marking what it sold.
Tala made her way through the crowds, her satchel tapping against her dress until she came to the silversmith. She purchased a piece of silver, then walked to her next destination: the blacksmith’s shop.
Smoke poured out of the shop, which was open to the air rather than enclosed. She watched the young man plunge a red sword into the water and steam fill the area like a cloud. Tala coughed, trying to hide her fit behind her hand so that she looked more ladylike, but to no avail. The steam cleared, and he put the blade to rest on an anvil and turned to Tala.
“How can I help you miss—?” he began.
“T-tala. And you’re Jakin, yes?” she asked.
