Frost crunched underfoot, loose stones slipping to confuse the womanâs already hindered balance. Her head swiveled towards the footpath leading up to her village, vision trailing along a second or two later. It was far later than she had intended to return, only the night watch would be up and about, but even that was far too many potential witnesses to her current state. They abhorred drunkenness and after the first drink, Lynn hadn't understood why. When the fourth hit her with itâs new depth of hindrances, she began to understand. It had worn off some by now, but she knew it was still obvious what she had been doing. The scent alone was more than enough proof.
Near the crest of the slight slope, she stumbled, nearly diving face first into the ground. A hand shot out of the darkness and caught her under the arm, yanking her to her feet. She giggled despite herself.
âLynn! What- You reek of that filthy dredg those people drink.â
âBlair! Oh, thank the ancestors itâs you!â The other woman slapped a hand over the entire lower half of Lynnâs face only to have it dragged away. Still, the drunk obligingly lowered her voice. âLish- listen, I forget where I bed. Sleep, I mean. Imma need your help.â
Blair glowered and shook Lynn hard, forgetting for a moment that the shoulder she held still ached from the last battle. Alcohol only blurred the pain so much. The runt yelped, twisted away frantically, and fell into the frozen earth.
âThat stuff is poison, Lynn! Youâll be sick the moment it wears off. What demon possessed you to drink so much?â
Light? Why was there light at this hour? Lynn looked up, confirming the moon and stars, then stretched to look around Blairâs looming figure again. Firelight. Oh. Oh shit. It was a lantern.
âBlair, shut the fuck up!â she hissed. The others were waking. It was still too soon after their loss, everyone was shy of noises. Especially in hours of vulnerability. It was already too late, whether Blair listened or not, the warriors were going to investigate. Everyone would know.Â
No one had ever done this in Lynnâs life time. She rattled her sluggish mind, trying her damndest to recall the punishment. Was there one set? Would Laveth know it if there was? A devilish cast of curiosity stole her expression as Blair continued to yell and lecture. Healers were good for that.
Lynn clamoured to her feet, tucking the arm of the injured shoulder close to limit jostling. âYeah, sickness, dizzy, slow mind, donât care. Ey, you know the punishment?â
âPunishment?â Blair shifted back on her feet, momentarily confused by the switch. Always healers were focusing more on the body than the world it lived in. âWhy should I know that? Iâve never been so stupid!â
Other warriors were leaving their homes now. Lynn caught only a few faces, though all were familiar. The number struck her. So few were left, but no one was being persecuted for taking on that needless battle. She watched for it every day, no one else felt the overwhelming guilt that ate at Lynnâs insides every hour. They slept soundly in their beds while half of their sisters were in ashes.
The mischief from earlier turned black while the growing crowd parted. Laveth was given a wide berth out of respect. Her hair was braided tightly back in rows of varying thickness for the night and her cloak was halfway falling off one shoulder to reveal rumpled night clothes. She gestured for Blair to move back and was given an ample gap.
Lynn knew that she would be asked to speak alone. Most high ranking warriors were given the courtesy of a private judgement before the public event. Laveth gestured again, commanding Lynn to follow. Obstinately, she held fast. Feet planted in a wide, firm stance, thumbs tucked in her belt.Â
âLynn.â This was a command as well as a reprimand. âDo not test me.â
âSo stiff. Câmon, relax.â She smiled a little too hard and wide. âYou need to get drunk and fuck hard. Maybe then youâd appreciate life enough to break sword when you should.â
âBlair,â the commander barked.
She stepped forward attentively. Lynn hated her for being so eager to please. More like a sheep than a warrior. âBring the traitorâs essentials. All of them. I value life enough to leave her a means of self defence.â Blair darted away, dragging another sister along to help gather Lynnâs gear. âThe traitor,â Lavethâs voice rose to instruct all who were present, âwill not return. This is no longer your sister. She is an outsider and any attempt to return will be treated as an enemy infiltration.â
This is what I've been working on for the last week or so. There's more to add, but I think this is a bit of an excessively long text post as is.Â
Lynn's story recently went through a serious revamp and this is a pivotal moment that resulted from that. She's already become detached from her sister's way of life. Now she's effectively escaped it, albeit in a rather messy fashion. Â