Kira is a beautiful girl. It has caused her problems at times, but then there are times it has worked in her favour. Take the innkeeper - it wasn't the first time he had sent her to the soldiers who come into the village. Kira didn't complain, most of the time they were nice, some even gave small tokens or coins. Besides it was better than serving in the main hall when the townsmen came to drown their anger and pain in ale. The other serving girls didn't make it any easier as most of them were jealous of Kira. Many of the serving girls had constant cuts and bruises from the rough treatment of the townsmen. No the soldiers weren't so bad – usually.
These soldiers were different. Kira was a simple girl with simple pleasures, she didn't pay much attention to politics and power shifts. She figured it was best to leave that to the people who know it best – the nobles. One thing Kira did know was the uniforms of the soldiers that had come to the village in the past – these men were new. These men had a air of danger around them, as if to warn people that where they went death was soon to follow.
As expected Kira was told to keep the soldiers company. "Make them happy" the innkeeper told her "whatever they want." The other serving girls snickered at her bad luck. Before leaving the room the innkeeper turned back "Beth, you go with her. Whatever they want."
Kira and Beth headed up the stairs to the soldiers' rooms carrying trays laden with food and ale for the men. There were six soldiers of varying rank, the two senior officers shared one room, the other four in the room down the hall. "You take the junior officers" Beth told Kira, "and don't be looking for help from me – I'll be busy enough on my own."
Kira approached the door, knocked and was let in. Was it the room was really small or were all these men really big? Kira stepped into the room and looked for a space to put the tray down. Before she could ask the men started pawing at her and making rude remarks. "Don't spill that ale, wench" the largest one told her as he grabbed the hem of her skirt and tore a slit up to her hip. Kira knew she would be lucky to get out of this alive.
One of the soldiers behind her jostled her shoulder, causing Kira to drop the tray. Food flew in all directions and the ale jugs broken apart, the ale running between the floor boards to the rooms below. "Stupid bitch!" the big soldier growled as he struck her across the face. The soldiers all started laughing at the sight she made cowering on the floor, with a red mark spreading across her face.
The laughs were cut short by a high scream followed by a man's shout. The soldiers rushed out the door to check on their superiors. Kira heard jumbled bits of yelling. She pieced together enough to know that Beth was dead (or soon would be) at the hands of the senior soldiers. She knew this was the only chance she would have so she moved to the window and climbed out. Luck was with her and she jumped into a hay filled wagon before rolling to the end and off. As soon as her feet hit the ground she heard a shout from the window above. Kira took off running.
Kira knew that no one in the village would help her – she had no money to offer and they wouldn't risk their own lives to save hers. She knew the soldiers would catch her if she kept to the road – they had the advantage of horses. Dread settled in her stomach as realized she would have to entered the haunted woods.
Kira didn't believe the woods were actually haunted, but there were stories of strange sounds coming from the woods. Any woodsman who entered were never seen again. A healer had gone into the woods as a short cut many years ago - he came out of the woods, but he was never the same. He wouldn't talk to anyone and spent less and less time in the village. The townsfolk believed he went insane from the ghosts.
Behind her Kira could hear the pounding of horses' hooves on the hard ground and the yells of the soldiers giving chase. She headed into the trees and what she hoped was a chance at safety. Almost immediately the soldiers had to lose the horses – the trees were too close together to make any speed on horseback. For what seemed like hours, Kira could hear the men behind her giving chase. The men were getting closer, crashing through the brush. Kira heard the wind start to howl through the trees. The branches of the mighty trees began to creak and sway. Kira heard a man scream. The injured man moaned into the silence a moment before starting to scream again. The scream was cut short.
Terrified Kira bolted further into the woods. The wind got stronger and then all the men were screaming. It was dusk when she escaped the inn, but under the canopy of the trees it was already dark. Exhausted & scared, her fear keeps her moving. Unexpectedly Kira stumbles into a clearing. Looking up she can see the velvet night sky alight with moon and stars. There is a gentle river with a small pool.
Knowing she can go no further and beyond caring what may happen to her, Kira moves to the stream. She takes a long drink from the cool water. Looking at the pool, she removes her tattered clothes to bathe in the pool, her only light coming from the moon shining brightly above. As she sits in the pool, she is surrounded by the sweet smell of the night-blooming flowers around her. Her muscles begin to relax and she begins to feel light headed.
Not wanting to fall asleep and drown in the pool, Kira climbs out the moonlight shimmering on her wet body. Kira moves to the remains of her clothes and lays down. Exhaustion claims her mind and body causing her to fall asleep under the stars.
