Chapter 182 - A bard’s perplexing meetings
Rosa gazed out of the carriage window, observing the bustling, crowded streets of Bridgespell as the vehicle merged with the lively stream of urban traffic coursing through the city.
Sitting alone in the cabin was a novel experience for her. It marked the first time she had ever been by herself in an actual carriage. It was also the first time she’d stayed at an inn that went as far as providing transport around the city for guests.
Ever since she began working for Scarlett, she’d been introduced to all kinds of fancy and original experiences.
A grimace wormed its way onto her face, and she quickly averted her eyes when she caught sight of a passerby with tentacles sprouting from beneath their shirt, wriggling in the air above their head as if preparing to tear it off.
The visions had been less frequent lately, but when they did appear, they didn’t hold back anymore. Her unseen passenger was growing impatient.
She didn’t dare hope that this trip would completely free her from its yoke, but maybe she could finally get some answers. That was all she wanted at this point. To make sense of the mess that was her life.
Her thoughts drifted back to her earlier conversation with Scarlett.
She still didn’t understand what was holding the woman back or dictating her actions on this matter, but she was now convinced that Scarlett did know what was wrong with her. Not just that, but she also knew how to fix it.
Rosa trusted that Scarlett had reasons for keeping quiet, and that the woman was working to help her. That was why it pained her to go against Scarlett’s wishes like this, but this was the one instance where she couldn’t simply go along with things.
Yet, for once, it didn’t feel like it was just because she was running away; she understood why Scarlett didn’t want her to go alone. Rosa was apprehensive about doing so herself. But even if Fynn or any of the others could help, and if they would accept her once they learned her secrets, she couldn’t bring herself to let them come with. Because it was dangerous. And while things had been relatively calm lately, she sensed that it was only a matter of time until something snapped again. When she reached the breaking point, those around her were always those who got hurt first.
Maybe she was being unreasonable. She knew for a fact that Scarlett had thought so. But this was one of the few decisions that was solely up to Rosa to make, and she wasn’t willing to risk the others’ lives, even if it meant increasing her own risk.
A morbid chuckle escaped her.