It was four more days of walking before she came across a small town. It was much like her own, poor
and impoverished, living in the shadow of The Wall. A river ran just along the edge and Niu retreated to just
outside the boundary, where she found a small stream that had branched off the river. She drank long and deep,
washing her face and hands before leaning back against a tree. The woods whispered in her dreams, speaking to
her about destiny.
It was morning when Niu woke. She walked slowly into the village, not knowing what to expect from
the people. A small bridge acted as an entrance, and she could see the bodies of a few men sleeping underneath,
on the river bank. One raised his hand and waved, it was merely a stump, burned and scared at the wrist. She
looked forward, the small sleepy village before her was just waking up as men and women got up to tend the
fields and wake the children, just like they should have been doing in her town.
She took a step back and the wood beneath her creaked. Looking down she saw that the old man was
still staring at her. She only paused for a second before walking carefully down the river bank. The other bums
were still asleep. The air was still and damp, and the powerful smell of unwashed bodies rolled over her.
“
Need something?” The old man smiled, showing a set of missing teeth. “You look like someone who
needs something.” Lines creased his face making him look ancient, though his smile was quick and easy. His
shoulders drooped with age, his clothes were torn and ragged, much like all the other men he shared his home
with.
“
I’m looking for some raiders. They would have a girl with them”
He smiled again, though this one contained much less warmth, “Looks like fate has dealt you some
hard cards. She always has been quite the fickle mistress.” He spat on the ground next to her feet rubbing even
harder at the stump. None of the men even stirred to his shouting. “Would it be but for her and I could have been
a great man, the girl of my dreams at home waiting for me as I worked our field. I could have been a great man,
but fate decided that instead I’d be a beggar! I could have been a great man, but fate has dealt me some hard
cards too.”
Niu bit her lip, looking down. She scowled a little bit. “There is not a person alive who does not know
such a thing. I have decided to tempt fate, so I say to you again; I am looking for my sister, have some men on
horseback come through here with a girlI know not where to go and I can only ask the vagabond of a small
secluded town. Have you seen my sister?”
He sighed, , and though he smiled, his shoulders drooped and his eyes travelled to the floor. “Yeah.
They came through here, maybe two days ago, went right over this bridge not stopping for anything, they had a
girl with them, looked just like you too.” Niu stared, her mouth hanging open.
“
They went that way,” The man said pointing down a long stretch of road.
“
Thank you” she whispered. She turned and ran back up the river bank, half sliding half climbing; she
somehow made it up onto the edge. Without turning around she ran down the road, wondering on her luck.
The raiders had made a camp deep inside the woods; they had made some attempt to cover their tracks
though there was no real effort behind it. One or two sentries kept look out, but they were more bored than
attentive, and it was not long before both at least one had nodded off. Niu snuck into the camp, making her way
towards the large tent situated at the back of the clearing.
A small light spilled out onto the ground outside and Niu peeked into the tent, watching and listening.
The leader stood there dressed handsomely in silk and gold, though his hair stood wildly on his head.
He stood with his arms held wipe open before him and spoke to someone who was situated on the side of the
tent. She could not see them.
“
How beautiful you are! The fates must have truly loved me to lead me to one such as you. Though it
was not always so, did you know I once had my fortune told, and the lying scum told me I was never going to be
happy? The idiot was clearly lying for never have I been more blessed than here under your radiance. Oh, the
man must have been lying to me, he could not have been a true prophet, it could only have been a scam. It must
have been fate that brought us together, that saved you from the brutality of my men, and rescued you from that
impoverished village.” His eyes were alight, red in the glow of the candle, and his smile was wide, showing off
his teeth.
“
Come pour me another glass of wine.” As her sister stepped out of the shadows, Niu could not keep
her knees from collapsing, a slight gasp of relief escaped her lips and it was a long moment before she was able
to stand again. Her hair was tangled and matted, no longer holding the gleam that had she had long been envious
of. Her lip was split, and dried blood and tears marred her beauty. Niu clenched her teeth, a sudden burst of
anger filling her at the wrongness of the image before her. And just as suddenly it was put out by shame.