Story Two. Chapter 1 ~ Falling from High Places

The Beginning.

“We are not letting you walk alone in a place like that,” Lady Umiko states.

Raindrops pelt against our skin as the drizzle stretches out over the forest.  The content downpour makes it difficult to make out any out sounds around use.  The smell of wet soil has followed us for miles but my sense of smell has not adjusted to the smell.

“Euphemia,” Lady Umiko stays again.

“I can’t bring you with me,” I say.  “And you have to get back to my father’s villa so the guard doesn’t suspect you for assisting me.”

“Euphemia…” she mutters.

I touch her cheek, “Umiko you are my eyes.  You must return. I will be fine.”

I lower myself from her horse with ease.  I walk to the head of the horse.  Its mane is wet and her black eyes are low.  She shakes her head as if to try to stay awake.  I pet her nose.

“I don’t have a choice,”  I say, without looking at Umiko.  We both knew this when we galloped off into the night together.   She is making our enviable parting longer and hard then it must be.

“We can go home now, you can live with your father’s ideals.” She says.  “You don’t have to take the risk or trying to rally a dishonored bandit.”

I’m not sure what would come out of returning to a man that my country as dishonored, by asking him to go against his morals to suit their king’s ideals.  And reward him for his family’s loyalty by outlawing him and labeling him as a threat against the crown.  I don’t know what he would do the daughter of that king.

But what choice do I have?  What choice does anyone have, my father, Akane, or I really have?  The cards have been dealt and we must play with the hand we have received.  That is all there is to it.

“He will destroy us all,” I say.  I’m not sure she can hear me at this point.  The rain has picked up from it slow pitter patter to a heavy downpour.

“Don’t die.” She says.

She removes her my staff from her back and lowers it to.   I walk to the walk to the side of the horse and untie the large cloth package.  I slight it over my shoulder with ease.  I move to the edge of the cliff and look down.  The trees are thick and I can’t see the bottom.  I’m not sure how far the bottom is on from that.

“Sea of Trees,” I mutter.  “It’s fitting.”

I step off the edge and descend into the darkness of the forest.