Several Years AgoThe Frozen North of Firnfeld blew against the pitiful figures trudging across the snow, a small convoy of carts filled with goods and people as they made their way towards Quinqaachi - the regional capital. Among them a father and daughter sat huddled under their blankets. The biting wind slashing against their faces, the bitter cold draining the life from everyone.
"Dad, I'm cold."
"Shh, it's going to be alright, just hold on a little bit longer."
Truth be told he didn't think they would make it, they'd been out of food before they had encountered the traders who had been kind enough to give them a lift. But even then the city was still out of sight, they were slowly freezing death, and he didn't know what to do. He held her closer to him, giving her his warmth, or rather what was left of it.
"Pardon me, we're stopping here for the night."
Behind him the caravan master was looking into their wagon.
"It'd be best if you carried her to the fire, it would be most helpful."
He felt exhaustion finally hit him, he gave a quite nod and lifted her out of the wagon, the other members of the caravan sat around the large fire sharing meal. He sat down closer to fire, life flow back into his fingers, he gave a sigh of relief as he felt the warmth rush over his body. A single sigh of relief was loosed from his mouth, he looked down at the young girl in his arms, she was six, he was only twenty-two, she was a mistake, he felt that often these days, but hell, she was his mistake, and was all the mattered.
It was then he realized that a year had almost passed, time had gone on without him noticing, life up to this point had been a blur, moving from city to city, through villages and towns, from backwater camps and cavernous ruins. Things hadn't been the same with her gone, though, he looked down at his daughter, somehow she slept peacefully his arms, a rosy color building in her cheeks, she was still incredibly pale, yet it was enough to give him hope. As he broke out of his reverie he heard someone come up behind him, the caravan master sat next to him, passing him a bowl of soup, he looked down at it, chunks of meat and thick broth were all they had, but it was food at least. He nudged her awake, giving her the bowl of soup, he didn't need it really, at least so he told himself.
"Thanks."
He looked at the other man who held his own bowl.
"You are welcome."
And with that they all sat in silence. The other members of the caravan ate quickly, ready to rest for the next leg of the journey. The bowl his daughter held was empty, taking it from her hand it piled it next to the others as the others finished eating. His lack of sleep finally caught up with him, holding each other they fell asleep in front of the fire.
They got moving early that morning, he helped pack the wagons as others helped take down the camp, he looked around and saw his daughter warming herself by the smoldering remains of the fire, a few other children played nearby, it often surprised him how quickly a child could recover from adversity. As the last of the camp was stored aboard everyone climbed upon their wagons and they set forth towards the horizon.
Night had fallen and he could see the city lights in the distance. They decided to keep going pushing towards the city, for the people of the caravan the city would be home for the next few weeks, for him he hoped to start a new life, provide some semblance of stability in their life. he turned his head to look at her, she was leaning over the wagon's railing, watching with curiosity as the lights drew closer.
"Hey, come here."
She turned around, crawling over to him in the darkness, he held her as the two of them looked out toward the city, it was a reassuring sight, the distant lights. A few ships lazed around the crescent harbor, swaying as the winds blew, the mist hanging about as the night carried on.
"We're going to make a new life for the two of us," he whispered "Stay strong, do it for me ok?"
She nodded, holding her head against his chest hummed a tune that was so often in his head, watching the clouds in the distance.
He wandered into a large building the next day, he'd left his daughter with the caravan as he searched for a job, the building was a buzz of activity, men and women carried stacks of papers from desk to desk, armed soldiers patrolled the floor, others left to patrol the city, a man at the desk noticed his arrival, possibly drawn in by his haggard looks.
"Can I help you sir?"
"I heard you were looking for men."
"We always are." He looked him up and down. "Do you think you can handle it?"
"If I have to."
He looked down at his ledger, "Alright, I'm going to need a name."
He paused for a moment before speaking, "Alexander Henley, at your service."
--End--
I hope you don't mind the wall of narrative text
