The second chapter!
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She woke up after a while looking out the window she could tell it was around midday, sitting up she looked down and saw her stained dress and undergarments. She was already on her second pair of clothing after the arrow went through her, sighing she slowly stripped off her clothes letting her ripped dress and undergarments fall to the floor, she cleaned the blood, sweat, and cum, off herself with a damp wash cloth. Then rummaged through her bag pulling out her fur pants and a long soft shirt, she tied a raggedy fur skirt around her waist it barely reached her knees but with the pants it suited her. Putting on her old cloak Emma hoped no one would see her under this. She left her room and wander out of the inn cautiously her eyes darting around as she walked, she need to buy some things to repair her clothes she had enough to afford a needle and some thread maybe some scrap fabric.
Making her way to the markets she was sure to keep her head down and move through the shadowy alleys quietly, the streets were full of people moving around going about their day. As Emma got closer and closer to the market she felt her heart racing at the thought of seeing him, she shook her head at herself. 'He's a cruel bastard' she thought to herself. She walked throughout the markets her eyes searching for that familiar shadow in the crowd till she came upon a shop with fabrics and needles. She browsed through the wears trying to find some scrap off white fabric in the basket of off cuts, the shopkeeper was a small old lady and seemed spritely as she dealt with someone else. Emma dug through the basket of fabric her mind still distracted by what had happened, replaying the events of yesterday eventually she pulled out a small off white piece and then picked out a needle. As she rummaged through her coin purse she held out 10 gold.
"will this be enough." she asks holding out all the gold that she has.
"15 for both, 10 for just the needle." the shopkeeper says politely. "oh thank you sir that'll be more than enough." the shopkeeper says taking a handful of gold from a metal gauntlet from directly behind Emma.
Emma freezes all the hair standing on her neck as her heart races, she looks up behind her seeing the glint of pride and amusement from his eyes under his helm, 'ekira' she looked at him for a second before stuffing the items he bought her into her pocket. With all the commotion and noise in the market she didn't hear him approach, he stood there his left hand resting on the hilt of his sword. He leans down slightly and whispers to her.
"im just trying to keep my little thief out of trouble." he mutters softly in a teasing tone.
Emma glares at him as she clutches the fabric and cloth before turning and walking away hearing him start to follow she walks into the crowd her size allowing her to slip past people while 'the oversized metal tree' gets slowed and blocked she chuckles at the thought of insulting him, his arrogant prideful look while paying for her things she hated it. Eventually losing him she takes a detour to the inn to make sure he isn't following her, by the time she gets to the inn its just past sunset.
She walks into the inn and hurries to her room opening the door and locking it behind her, something catches her eye as she walks over to her bed she sees a silk wrapped packaged. In the silk cloth is two new dresses and a gold necklace placed on top of the neatly folded dresses, she stands there for a minute surprised this is all easily over 2,000 gold. She huffed, of course he knows where she's staying he paid for the damn room! She sat on the bed looking at the necklace for a little. The necklace was gold with emeralds almost along the whole thing in an almost v shape, she felt flattered. She wanted to hate him but she felt flattered, he could have done much worse to her, she shook her head trying to reason with herself.
She sighed confused tired and full of conflicting emotions, she picked up the necklace staring at it, 'he has good taste at least' she thought to herself. Emma curled up into bed just wanting to sleep, but she found herself struggling to sleep. After a while stood up unable to sleep, she picked up one of the dresses and dressed herself putting it on and lacing up the sides, feeling the soft silk of the flowing ruffled cream silk gown.
After she laced the back she gazed at the necklace and picked it up putting the necklace on. She enjoyed how it looked the dress was a warm cream with a few ruffles on the end and shoulders, It even had a square neckline similar to the one he tore. For a second she wondered if he felt bad, this dress was much higher quality with some of the softest fabrics she had ever felt it flowed behind her when she walked and reached her feet gracing the floor. She put on her boots and the white fur cloak, looking at herself in the mirror she felt beautiful in something she usually didn't have enough money for. Even with her rough grey fur boots it suited her. It really, suited her. She pouted pressing her lips together mad at the idea of seeing his arrogant smile if he saw her wearing his gifts.
She shook her head trying to shake this... feeling, if she wore these things it would be because she wanted to for herself. But deep down part of her wanted to tempt fate, she found herself unable to sleep that night. She pulled the white fur cloak up so it kept her neck warm as she curled up in bed, still trying to make sense of it all. She knew now the contract was definitely a set up to get her out in the open, or at least in a kingdom where she cant runaway far with these harsh winters, not without horses and an escort. Logically she knew within a day or so the news that their plan failed would get back to king Matri and soon more men would come to kill her, her body was tense she felt uneasy and alone, running and hiding endlessly.
Her thoughts were interrupted by footsteps going up the hallway stopping just outside her door, feeling like something might be wrong she immediately stuffs all her things and pants into her pack and hauls it out the window, her bag hit the ground outside with a thud. Hearing the metal of the lock on the door being scratched and tapped and jiggled as it was picked, she began climbing down the side of the wood and stone inn and dropping on the ground by her satchel. Quickly putting on her satchel she raised her hood over her head and started walking knowing something was wrong. She headed up the streets making sure to stay close to the shadows but the fur of the white cloak stood out in the moon light, as she put more distance between her and the inn she started to run.
Ducking through alleyways she got up the hill and looked back before turning another corner, in the distance down the road was a man trailing down the same path she took, he seemed to slow when she looked at him. She raced up the road taking every turn she could to get out of his sight, eventually seeing an empty crate on the street, it was on its side open with its lid leaning against it. Thinking fast she tossed her satchel behind inside and climbed in and holding the lid against the crate she waited...
After a minute she could hear his footstep approaching the crate up, gazing out a small gap in the wooden lid she saw him walk right by. Grabbing her dagger she carefully lifted the lid and stepped out quietly and very slowly her eyes on the back of his head as she slowly stalked him down an alley.
As soon as he was halfway down the alley, she lunged at him, kicking the back of his leg in making him keel facing forward away from her, her fingers dug into his hair as she pressed her dagger against his throat.
Her voice filled with venom and control. "Who the fuck are you!"
The man didn't reply instead he tried to grab her arm and pulled her down over him his leg kicking hers, throwing her off balance as he reached for his own weapon. Panicking as she felt the cold cobble stone ground slam into her back as he put his left hand on her throat trying to choke her as his other hand clutched his dagger and raised it above his head she struggled underneath him.
"Matri send his regards." He said with an aggressive but hushed tone.
He gasped as she plunged her dagger into his throat and slashed his throat open, the blood gushing over her, she watched him fall back then try to stand and then stumble and fall going limp. She stood up slowly panting and shaky.
