Interlude XXIII: Walking Circles
[Courtesan 1 (Dryad) POV] Year 5, Day 207
She ran out of the Maid House. Direction of the front gate.
[Why did they let me go? Maybe it's some kind of scam after all?]
She'd been quite sure when Bunny returned with that psycho maid Null, she was done. They'd try to force something. Make her sign through threats. Through manipulation. Through whatever elves did to break people.
But no. They just let her go.
[Just in case—need to get out of here. Put distance between this place and myself. Still don't fully understand. Heard something about contract law being almost holy. Maybe even the elf and his brainwashed followers didn't dare mess with it. Whatever. Works for me.]
The maid following her. When they passed the visitor house where all courtesans had been housed, the maid finally called out.
"You're not taking your things?"
She only answered. "I have all I need."
The maid didn't ask more. She wasn't sure what the maid thought—didn't want to look back. Kept running toward the front gate.
Fact was, after her last failed escape attempt, she'd made preparations. Understood that when chance came, she needed to be ready. Got a spatial item that always contained all important things.
Or to be correct—she didn't buy it. Those things cost lot of gold. Would probably bankrupt her.
Instead she'd become best friend a girl could be to the land designer who helped make sure everything looked nice here. Old guy found the dryad courtesan fascinating. Worked with lot of her kind due to his profession. She—broken and magic-locked—looked interesting to him. Was ready to spend gold on her.
Six months ago she got the item gifted. This old guy had actually taken effort to dig out her old court documents. Since she was slave at that point, she'd never actually seen full decision. Only felt the result when her nature magic was sealed.
It seemed the dryads who'd voted to lock her nature magic had given some kind of way out. To have the decision reversed.
Thirty-three years after decision. And that time had actually passed about half a year ago. She got the spatial item gifted the same day. Perhaps there was hope. Her owner could apply for reversal. The seal might be removed.
She still found it both nice—other dryads hadn't given up on her—but also frustrating to no end. They didn't trust her at all. As free person, she couldn't apply. But if owned, her owner could.
They'd probably attach terms. Make her follow proper dryad ways. Maybe even make it so she couldn't be freed at all. Or if freed, magic had to be sealed again because she was so untrustworthy.
Yes, they'd totally do it. None of them had talked to her since that day. Other than some insults.
[But I don't need them anyway. Don't need their approval. Don't need their forgiveness. I'll find my own way.]
Her spatial item wasn't large enough to fit everything. But what was left in her room was things she didn't want to see again anyway. Courtesan equipment. Nice clothing. All the valuables and everything that mattered was stored in her spatial item already.
She finally arrived at the gate.
Army of greenbadge adventurers there. She approached slowly. Cautious.
The maid who'd followed her just said to them. "Let her pass."
Nobody stopped her. She walked outside.
Stopped when out. [Like that? I'm free?]
She turned around. Asked the maid who'd followed. There were few more near the gate with something like thirty armed-to-the-teeth adventurers.
"My colleagues. Other four who joined here. Do they stay numbers forever? Courtesan 2, 3, 4, 5?"
She'd seen elves number their servants before, and even here some maids had only numbers instead of names. She wondered if this fate now included the courtesans too.
One of the adventurers near the gate spoke up. "Sec, miss."
He took some paper from the guard house. Small handwritten note.
Then continued, reading. "It came few minutes ago. Your colleagues officially joined here. They have new names now. No usage of anything they used before."
He read from the list:
"Courtesan 2, the lamia—Coral."
"Courtesan 3, the dark elf—Violet."
"Courtesan 4, the harpy—Canary."
"Courtesan 5, the siren—Flower."
She felt actually surprised. [Those aren't bad. Way better than whatever the agency forced on them. Hooker names, like that psycho maid Null said. She wasn't specifically wrong there. These new ones are something you'd actually be happy to use in everyday life.]
[Their decision to get brainwashed though. Probably just small gift of kindness to make them more committed faster. Standard elf manipulation. Make them think they chose it. Make them grateful for chains.]
She decided to give up thinking about names others got. Started running again. Direction of airship landing pads.
She'd memorized schedules for all important flights. There was transit flight with short stop coming in less than an hour from now. Maybe if she was fast, she could catch it. Get away from here. Get far. Get safe.
She arrived at the airpads.
Middle of the night, but there was some life. Activity. She checked the holographic display.
The flight she wanted wasn't there.
[Why isn't it there? Schedule said—]
She went to the info booth. Asked. Trying to keep voice controlled. "There should be flight to Central in less than hour. Where is it?"
The booth lady—some kind of goat beastkin—answered friendly. "Lady, I think you mean Holy City to Central flight. Due to active civil war in Church lands, all flights from there are canceled."
She felt baffled. [Civil war in Church territories? Is this some kind of divine joke?]
She looked back at the hologram. Grabbed schedule book. Full stops for all flights.
There was international flight stopping soon that went to Empire. She actually thought about it. Leaving the country might not be bad idea.
[But tickets there probably expensive. Plus still not fully sure about this contract ending thing. They may control me as I leave country. How fast does contract ending register? Is it even relevant? Heard that those with life contracts may get questioned at borders if they have no extra paperwork to display owner approval for traveling. Some said it's only rumor. Bad luck. Maybe contract didn't end at all? Some kind of clever hoax? Don't want to risk any possible issues. Just to be safe.]
Then she noticed something that would work better. Local flight to Iron Mountains. And it had midstop in Riverton Station. Perfect for her use case.
[Riverton Station. Hub. Many connections. Many options. Can disappear there. Plan next move. Stay flexible.]
She instantly bought lowest-cost single room ticket she could for this flight to Iron Mountains.
After that, nearly three hours of waiting.
Most of the staff here was hired help. She saw a maid few times in distance—looked her direction even few times in return. She feared getting dragged back. But nothing happened.
[Maybe they really did let me go. Maybe contract law really is that powerful. Maybe I'm actually free. Or maybe they're watching. Testing. Waiting to see what I do next.]
Three hours later she boarded the airship.
As soon as on board, moved to the room.
Well. It was low-cost room. Barely able to fit a bed. Engine hum clearly dominating over everything.
[But it's also one of the best rooms on this ship actually. This is real low-cost budget travel. Everyone who came on board was adventurers or dwarves. Probably miners. This ship takes about two days to reach Iron Mountains. Most of them are lucky if they can just sit somewhere.]
In the small room she changed fast. Removed all fancy courtesan clothing. Replaced it with outfit she'd acquired piece by piece over time—so nobody knew she had something like it. Strange adventure outfit. Covered her entire body except eyes.
[With this, nobody can detect I'm dryad. Just some weirdo adventurer. Nobody will look twice. Perfect camouflage.]
She placed "do not disturb" sign on door. Locked it. Left for rest of ship.
Just sat in first place she could find. Fitting in. Listening to what others talked about.
Dwarves were drinking. This ship was selling alcohol, and since there was nothing better to do, most travelers were drinking a lot.
One of the main topics among travelers: why is exotic-looking courtesan traveling with them?
[Exotic-looking? They mean me? They noticed? Damn. Should've stayed in room.]
Most were sad she'd locked herself instantly to room. Ship crew had actually given warning that if anyone troubled their exotic traveler in her room, they'd enjoy most of their trip in chains.
[Oh. They think I'm hiding from them. Scared. Vulnerable. Good. Let them think that. Crew protection bonus. Accidental but useful.]
Many questioned—maybe she has contract coming with some of the mountain lords?
There were even funnier and wilder theories why she was on board.
She found all of those amusing. All so wrong. But entertaining.
[They have no idea. None of them. Just freed slave running. Nothing exotic. Nothing interesting. Just desperate.]
About six hours later, ship arrived over Riverton Station.
She joined travelers who left there. Just weird-looking weak adventurer. Nobody gave her any attention.
Trip down was scary. They didn't land. Used some kind of flying platform to move travelers up and down. Probably because of budget nature of flight.
[I'm dryad. Don't like high places. When all that's between you and land—kilometer down—is few pieces of metal and guardrails held up by magic? Terrifying. Hate this. Hate everything about this.]
In Riverton Station there was one place she needed to visit.
She had no idea how to find anything like this later. But she'd heard about it from Borderwatch City Watch—the greenbadge adventurers talked about it constantly. Local thieves' guild.
Borderwatch City Watch had used it as example of how their city was better. Something like that in Borderwatch would be drowned in blood within hours, they'd said. Proudly.
[Gray house with red door and blue stone roof. Through main road from landing pads, direction of west gate.]
It actually wasn't that hard to find.
She approached the house. It looked almost abandoned. Knocked the door. Three times fast. Two times slow.
Door opened. Old lady. Watched her. "How can I help you, miss?"
"Do you know where I can buy bread and sake? But I have no money."
[Who thinks out these stupid passwords? Heard they change them from time to time. Probably run out of good ones long ago. Got this from Borderwatch City Guard about a week ago. Hoping it's still valid.]
Old lady looked at her. "Oh, I have those. Wanted some company anyway. Come in. Together is always better."
She entered.
Behind door was just regular living room. Lady indicated for her to follow. She did.
They walked through several rooms. All looked quite normal. Finally arrived to kitchen. Old lady knocked against the wall few times.
Wall opened.
Lady indicated. "Enter."
She entered.
Other side of the wall, some kind of tunnel started. Three scary-looking and heavily armed goons—she didn't know what else to call them—sat around a table. A centaur, a hobgoblin, and a human, all looking like people you don't want to meet in a dark street.
[Avoid watching them too much. Don't attract attention. Don't show fear. Don't show anything.]
The centaur, who seemed the most intelligent of the three, asked. "One gold coin for entry."
She gave gold coin. Got some kind of red piece of cloth with magic in return.
The centaur said. "Wrap it around your neck. Never remove. Or someone may think you're part of the merchandise. If you want to leave, tell one of the guards inside. They'll guide you out."
The hobgoblin pointed to the tunnel using his massive staff weapon that had a human skull as decoration—one that looked too small for a grownup.
She walked. Scared.
[Part of the merchandise? Hope this goes well. Getting captured here would be probably worse than getting brainwashed by elf.]
Tunnel went quite long. But in the end, entered larger underground area.
It looked actually quite normal. Shelves everywhere. People selling and buying things. Even most of the merchandise looked normal. Prices actually quite nice.
She walked around. Needed two things here.
But then saw what goon meant about the merchandise.
Large metal cages with people inside—slaves of different races and sexes. Some even looked quite beautiful and dressed up nice, clearly targeting a specific audience.
And one cage had a sign next to it: "We also sell body parts. It's your business what you make with those—we do not ask." Several slaves inside had missing hands, legs, eyes, and other parts she preferred not to look at too closely.
She almost ran out after seeing this part of the sales. Almost.
[Running here would display fear. Bad idea. Elf who used twenty years to torture me in name of training removed showing fear from me. Well, almost. Still feel it. Just know how not show it out.]
In the end she found merchant stall that looked fitting for her needs. Approached the shelf.
Merchant—ugly-looking oni, actually not that different from Ealdred, just smaller, weaker, and hundred times uglier—smiled. "What for you, miss?"
She said, trying to look brave. "I want to sell some items."
Merchant's smile grew bigger. "Show it, miss."
She started pulling out various items from spatial storage. Expensive pieces of clothing. Various gifts she'd gotten. Basically collection of things she'd picked to sell for travel funds.
Merchant's smile went bigger. "Did you rob some high-end courtesan or something?" He laughed. "You know, if you sold the girl herself, you'd probably get much, much more."
He indicated to slave seller in distance. The one who had selection of clearly sex slaves displayed.
She collected any bit of bravery she had left. "So do you buy or waste my time with your jokes?"
After that they used next twenty minutes or so to haggle over prices of various items.
[Happy for the thieves' guild customers I've had. They all talked about the same things and taught me rules. Down here, it's mostly about keeping smiling and never showing weakness. If they see weakness, the entire guild will jump on you for a chance at easy profit. But as long as you show no weakness, you're safe.]
[Just like my training. Just like everything. Smile. Pretend. Hide. Survive.]
After she was done, thanked merchant and left with bag of coins.
Then walked more. Needed to find second thing.
Soon saw it. Gnome merchant with desk full of various random things. But among them, one thing she needed.
Identification documentation.
Approached the merchant. Indicated to box full of adventurer badges. "I need something that would work for me."
Merchant watched her. Then took one badge out of box. "This should do. F-rank female scout. Named Vix. Your clothing will fit the image and your strength won't raise questions if it's F-rank."
She watched the adventurer badge. Asked. "May I have issues with previous owner showing up?"
Merchant smiled. "Nah, her entire party died in dungeon. But most of their items were looted later by others. Some now for sale here. If you want, I can sell you other badges also for fake party?"
He continued. "It's a nice valid-looking badge. Just don't try to use it in the guild or let someone scan it. Not sure what's the status of this adventurer in the guild database—it may be fine, it may raise some questions, or you may be arrested on the spot for using false documents. Plus your mana signature doesn't match, so if they check that together with the badge, you'll be caught anyway."
[Perfect. Dead owner with unknown status. As long as nobody scans it properly, can work with that.]
She decided. "It will do. I'll take it."
She put coins on table.
He gave her the badge. "Happy to make business, miss."
She walked more, looking for the exit guard. Then noticed something strange.
Old man sitting in one of the corners. Without eyes—those looked removed? Strange. Very strange.
Some kind of bowl meant for donations in front of him.
[Strange place to beg for money. Super strange. Underground thieves' guild? Who begs here?]
One of the nearby sellers—a human woman who looked strangely normal for a place like this—noticed her looking. "That's Old Joe. He can tell you about your future." She shrugged. "Or may just outright lie to get coin for drinks. But he's guessed things right sometimes. Locals here kind of like him. Saved some asses with his prophecies."
[Fortune teller. In thieves' guild. Why not. Everything else is insane already.]
She approached the old man.
He raised hand. Clearly asking for coin.
She gave one. Bronze coin. Small.
Man took it. Touched it. Then raised hand again. Like gimme more.
[Even I can tell bronze wasn't enough. Too cheap. Fine. Whatever.]
She gave one more. Silver this time.
The man touched it again. Then said. "Better. We can work with this."
Then she almost saw something. Or thought she saw. Blink of light where eyes should be. But not sure. Maybe imagined.
Guy talked. "Circle. Your life walks a circle. But many turns and places it can break. Not strong, this circle is."
Then raised hand. "More coin please?"
She was confused. "What does this even mean?"
Old man. "More coin please. Gold coin will do next. Or did you not hear what I just said?"
She didn't know what to answer.
Guy waited a bit. Then repeated. "I said your life is like a circle. Circles start and end in same place, as you know, miss. But your circle is not strong. Can easily change or break. Clear?" Pause. "Want more? Gold coin please."
She felt really confused. [What does this mean? I walk in circles? Is this circle my current escape—that I'll end up back in elf hands? Or is this circle my life in general? And this breaking—does it mean I can escape successfully if I manage to break it? Or something worse? Better?]
[Also this circle talk fits everything. Can say it to everyone. Meaningless fortune. And I kind of need my coins.]
She just walked off. No more payment. No more prophecy.
[Waste of silver. Probably drunk old beggar making up nonsense. Should've known better.]
She walked until finding someone who looked like guard. Literally carrying massive thieves' guild badge on his ropes. Approached him.
"Can you please guide me out?"
A guard, a young human male, looked at her and the red piece of cloth around her neck. "Follow me."
They walked into another tunnel. Soon guard stopped.
He indicated to red cloth. "Return this. You don't want to be seen walking around in public with it anyway."
She returned it.
Guard then indicated to wall. "Walk through it."
She was lost but tried. It wasn't wall at all. Some kind of hologram. Stepped through.
Other side: some back alley.
Tried wall again with hand. Hard rock now. No passage back.
[One way out. Can't return. Good. Don't want to return anyway.]
She walked a bit to main street. Got bearings. Where she actually was.
Then took direction to north gate. Where land convoys were forming.
[Plan is clear. Keep low profile. Will use this guild badge I just bought if needed. Nobody can track me. Can't risk elf or agency or someone coming after me. Bringing me back.]
Her prince was waiting. She was actually worried. Since the failed escape attempt, no letters she'd sent had answers. Last one came back with notice: recipient no longer present.
[Did elf let everyone be killed? Even those not present in escape attempt? My contacts. My friends. All gone?]
But she knew one more place. Her prince had given it to her. If something went badly—small city near Empire border. He had friend there. She could always go there if they had no other way to meet.
[Should take some time to travel there while keeping a low profile on the way. But it's a destination, a plan, and hope.]
[And I have money now. Spatial item. False identity. Everything I need. Freedom is possible. Real freedom. Not agency lies. Not elf manipulation. Real.]
[Just need to get there. Need to stay hidden. Need to reach prince. Then everything will be fine. Everything will work out. Everything will—]
[—finally be what it should have been all along. Free. Actually free. Forever.]
She walked toward north gate. Toward convoys. Toward whatever came next.
[Goodbye, Borderwatch. Goodbye, compound. Goodbye, elf master and brainwashed servants. I'm done. I'm free. I'm never coming back.]
The city noise embraced her. The future waited ahead.
She smiled. Real smile. First genuine one in... she couldn't even remember how long.
Freedom tasted better than she'd imagined.