Inka would carry an Akalak child and she would survive.
This was her goal and no one would stop her, not even death, which remained to be her biggest opposition. Aware of her timeframe and that survival was unsure, she needed to be ready - Everything she knew and loved was left behind for this; How could she squander it now? The dangers of becoming Nakivak explained by others at Godiva's Refuge, it was more than just risking her life to aid in the survival of another race; it was securing a future for one who might not have one otherwise.
Gods, how she missed Inda and her mother.
Inka straightened the paper poised between her legs. On it, the Inartan had written a schedule. Every other day, she would rise early for physical training, alternating exercises until she found one that suited her. Running, swimming, trekking the city itself... These should do to strengthen her, but more than that, it would familiarize herself with this place as she had been instructed. In similar fashion, her diet would be strict. She would research fertility and birthing practices. In the evenings, she would go to the library to work on her Common Tongue and Tukant to improve her communication, and in any remaining free time, she would pursue her own crafts should she fail to find a sponsor.
What if no one wanted her? Inka's pen stilled and the room felt quiet. After all, she was no Konti.
After a beat of silence and with a steady hand, Inka wrote a reminder with each date of the Nakivak training sessions, classes that would teach her about her body and cycle by experienced women who had successfully followed through with their duties, and underlined them for good measure. She wanted - no, needed - to make a good impression... It would influence an Akalak's decision in choosing her as his breeder, recorded in a file that defined her strengths and weaknesses. She dripped the quill in ink:
Nakivak = Debt tragedy
I am no tragedy.
Inka lingered on the translation and folded the written plan up, knowing it was all up in the air until fate made its decision For now, she had been instructed to recover from her travels. But as Idalos often said: Two birds, one stone. Even if she wasn't expected to do much more, this was the perfect time to meet new people and become a recognized face in the community. The more she was seen around, the more likely she would be approached when it was time.
Inka slipped off the bed and stretched, reaching towards the sky as her back and shoulders arched. She felt the pull of her muscles and so she lowered, alternating to reach towards the floor and hug her legs while her hamstrings wept.
"Mm," she straightened, jogging in place to warm away the ache and then wandered to door of her room, where her sandals waited patiently by the door. Inka brushed her teeth and tied back her hair, dressing quietly before snagging her coin purse, city map, and locking the room behind her.
Another woman was heading to her room at the same time, and they waved in the hallway, "Good morning, Inka," she greeted, pulling her room key from her pocket.
"Good morning," the redhead parroted, taking her time with the pronunciation. She suddenly thought of her first night in the refuge, "You see Aetia, in this morning?"
"Hm, sorry, no... I think she is with her Talvis now."
"Oh," Inka's shoulder dropped slightly. It seemed that their schedule hadn't quiet lined up yet, but she knew she couldn't rely on one friendly face to make due in the city. Would she too have to spend so much time with her Talvis (which Inka learned was a patron, and not an Akalak's name at all, like she had thought!). Some of the Nakivak with gold manacles were gone for hours at a time, others days. One, whom she had not fully met and had only seen in passing, had moved out of the refuge entirely to supposedly live with hers shortly after she arrived, "If you see, say to her Inka go to get bow, like we say first night, yes?"
The other woman made a puzzled face, but seemed to gather what the girl was saying, "I will do," she smiled, "Have a good time."
"Yes," Inka moved towards the stairs, "Thank you."
Fingers running along the stone walls as she descended, she greeted the women in the common room and headed out the front door, down the stairs and into the fresh air.
It smelled like possibility.
'So...'
Inka shuffled down the path, rummaging for her map and trying to follow it with hesitant and frequent stopping steps. 'She said it was outside of the city... Is that safe? Is it... this way?' The curve in the road didn't seemed to be in the same direction, and she looked down, still walking, 'If the gates are here... And Godiva's is ... here....' Her finger traced the pathway, and a deep voice called out to her.
"Are you lost?"
An Akalak carrying a bundle of furs was watching her, smiling. His skin was midnight, tinged with red. Eyes of turquoise, he stepped forward in supple leather boots and matching attire, reaching for her map, "I can help you."
Inka turned the offer over in her mind, weary. She had expected something like this to happen, but not so soon. Nimi was right, "My Common is poor..." she thought that might have been something to dissuade him, but he gently took the map from her hands.
"Where are you going?" he asked, tapping the paper and crouching so not to loom over her.
"I.... do not know. I look for bow, and there is beautiful red head outside of city that has. Yes?"
His smile broadened, "A beautiful red head in the city, too." Inka furrowed her brow and then her face reddened - bold man. He was speaking of her? If this was all a ploy to get her attention...
"You say you help," Inka persisted, reaching for the paper in a flash of silver. He caught her hand, quite easily, and quicker than she had been expecting.
"I did," he finally tore his eyes from face and looked down at the bracelet bound around her delicate wrist, "What is your name?"
His touch was firm but gentle and she knew where he must have been looking. Her stomach dropped and she was suddenly embarrassed, "...Inka."
"Inka," he repeated slowly, as if tasting the word, "I am Rysaric. And you..." he smirked, noting the map, "-Are looking for The Stained Pelt. I go there often," He followed up with a series of directions, keeping them as simple as possible for the foreign woman, and then rose back to his full height, "I will take you."
"No-" She withdrew her hand, as well as her map and then shook her head, "No, no. Thank you. I go alone. I have to learn." she drummed her fingers nervously, "Important for... me in city. I must know way... so no help."
"No help," he smirked, but then glancing past her, his amusement seemed to darken as he noted other Akalak, "I will take you to gates only. Riverfall can be tiring if you go the wrong way."
She frowned. Bold and persistent.
"Fine. To gates. No help. Final offer."
Rysaric seemed to find this endearing and she couldn't tell if he mocked her or not, "Final offer."
"Stop that," she muttered, watching him heft up his belongings and them motion for her to lead. She pushed her shoulders back and continued the way he had instructed, and she was surprised to find that he kept his word - staying quiet as she figured out the trail. He didn't seem to tire, but didn't mind that they stopped once for her to catch her breath. Once, she forgot whether she was supposed to take a turn or continue walking straight, and he hooked her elbow in fluid redirection which she jumped away from in surprise. She shot him a look. But later, when it happened the second, and then third time, Inka's pride was buried and Ryaric's presence didn't seem too bad. He seemed content enough to walk beside her, whistling idly as she grew more confident with recognizing where she stood on the map and when the gates revealed themselves, Inka's discomfort at being approached faded and she smiled broadly.
"Thank you, Rysaric." a crowd had gathered by the gates and she saw his dark head bow in satisfaction, "I did need much help. Sorry I was... like... wild rabbit."
He laughed loudly, "Like wild rabbit?.. I think the word your looking for is skittish," he quirked a brow, finally sighing at the goodbye, "Stay close to the others when if leave Riverfall. It can be dangerous in the plains, but the Pelt isn't far. It was nice to meet you, Inka."
Bowing, Rysaric turned on his heel, leaving the woman to run towards the crowd in a bundle of bouncing curls. That wasn't so bad! Now all she had to do was find the beautiful red head selling bows, "Excuse, excuse," Inka's hazel eyes scanned the colorful mass of individuals before her, feeling only slightly less intimidated when she noticed one without a weapon. He was very tall, around seven foot if she had to guess, and unlike Rysaric, his skin was cool-toned. She would ask him; he didn't appear to have a face tattoo, which was one of the warnings she had been given and she'd have to get used to approaching Akalak one of these days, "These people move to go outside city? I need to go to Stained Pelt for bow but told to stay with group for being safe," she tucked the map into her pocket, glancing around at the others before drawing her attention back, "I am Inka, Inarta from Windreach."