inkdragon
Understandably Confused
"I know the area around here fairly well," Niobe said, grateful for the change of topic but reluctant to leave the small room where she had found temporary sanctuary. "We would do training exercises on these bluffs. The easiest path out of the mountains is east, on the other side of the monastery. If we move swiftly we could reach Runnfold before dark. Or we could try to stay the night here and leave tomorrow." But looking around the room, Niobe wasn't sure if there was enough wood to keep the fire going. And she wasn't sure when the last time either of them eaten a full meal was. Delaying travel would allow them to rest, true, but it might make them weaker overall.
"Once we get to town... I don't know." She sighed, rubbing at her aching head. "I haven't exactly thought that far ahead. I have no money to pay for a room, but camping won't be so bad down in the valley. Maybe we can wash dishes at a tavern to earn a hot meal."
It was strange. She had already made up her mind to leave, but actually thinking about it in the immediate sense made something recoil in her chest. She would be leaving so much unfinished. Would Ilmater ever forgive her for forgoing the traditional funeral rites? What if the fallen were not permitted into the afterlife as they were and by leaving, she doomed them to purgatory? Niobe told herself she could return, but in truth, she knew she wouldn't. She didn't have the strength to return home to find only an icy tomb.
"Once we get to town... I don't know." She sighed, rubbing at her aching head. "I haven't exactly thought that far ahead. I have no money to pay for a room, but camping won't be so bad down in the valley. Maybe we can wash dishes at a tavern to earn a hot meal."
It was strange. She had already made up her mind to leave, but actually thinking about it in the immediate sense made something recoil in her chest. She would be leaving so much unfinished. Would Ilmater ever forgive her for forgoing the traditional funeral rites? What if the fallen were not permitted into the afterlife as they were and by leaving, she doomed them to purgatory? Niobe told herself she could return, but in truth, she knew she wouldn't. She didn't have the strength to return home to find only an icy tomb.