Season of Summer, Day 69, 508AV Learning to Smile Again Early morning sunlight filtered through the flimsy curtains of a young girl’s room, bathing the simple décor in a strange, golden glow. It was only 6 Bells, but the bed was already empty, it’s crumpled sheets left in a messy heap at its foot. The entire house was silent, its residents sound asleep, dreaming of simple things, dreaming of the coming day. None of the sleepers had heard the silent footsteps of the girl tiptoeing past their rooms, none of them had heard the front door creak open and closed. As soon as the door was placed back onto its latch, she let out the breath she’d been holding in. Long blonde hair, fell over her face, and she stood for a moment, leaning back on the door she’d just exited. Amarhyl was only 14, but the pain etched into her pretty blue eyes was that of an older woman. Now, they scanned the immediate area, looking for signs of morning activity. She found none. The farmers wouldn’t leave their houses till the 7th Bell. Tucking her hair behind her ears, and pulling her cloak tighter, she began to walk. She was headed in the same direction that she went every morning. Growing up in the Mythrin Outpost, she’d learnt that, unless you were a farmer, you had to make your own work, your own entertainment. Although right now, she wasn’t in the mood to entertain herself. Right now, she was in the mood to be alone. As usual. The Mythrin Outpost was heavily fortified, with Knights guarding its boundaries. Upon reaching the wall, Amarhyl turned, and proceeded to walk alongside it, rather than try to pass through. She was heading to a particular exit, one that she knew she could leave by, with no questions. The Knight that guarded that exit was, well she couldn’t consider him a friend, he just looked out for her. An old friend of her father’s, he knew that Amarhyl was a good girl, not a troublemaker. Upon reaching her desired exit, she paused as she saw the Knight. He appeared to be dosing, but she knew better. She purposely increased the volume of her footsteps, so that he would hear her coming; a Knight wasn’t someone you’d want to surprise. His head lifted slightly, just as she knew it would, and turned towards her. ”Morning Amarhyl.” He gave her a smile that she did not return. ”Don’t go making trouble now.” He winked, it was a joke of his, offered to the girl every morning, in hopes of seeing her mouth twitch. She hadn’t smiled since that awful day with her father. Now, she simply shrugged, nodded and walked past him, heading out towards the Syliran Fields. |