Read Online Promise: The Scarred Girl by Maya Shepherd - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Maya Shepherd
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growling. Now the four Carris turn around to face Nea and her companion. Nea’s companion also assumes a defensive position and begins growling back. The Carris begin eyeing Nea suspiciously. Her throat feels dry and she swallows hard. Now she needs acting talent.
“Stop,” she orders her dog. The dog stops but looks at her questioningly. Nea smiles apologetically and walks toward them. She has always found it difficult to approach other people, but right now she’s trying to act as one of them would act. Her palms are dripping with sweat.
“Hello,” she says as friendly as possible. The four stand a stride’s length from each other; there is no friendliness in their faces. Nea looks to each of them. She sees that there are two men and two women.
“What are you doing here?” One of them says. They still eye her with a curious suspicion.
“I was on a patrol south of here. We were attacked by savages, and in my escape I lost the others in my unit and lost my orientation. I honestly have no idea where I am.”
She looks to the four, trying to see if they believe her story. One of them looks at her dog. “What’s with the dog?”
“This is a beagle, without him I would be dead. He smelled the savages long before we could even see them.”
“Where are the others in your unit?”
“Unfortunately, I do not know. The savages far outnumbered us. Everyone ran as fast as they could. I lost sight of the others and have been alone for several days.
A brief searching glance followed by a slight nod.
“You can stay with us in the city tonight. You should speak to the High Priest to see what you should do next.”
Nea nods to them with a grateful face. The rest of the day, the four barely notice her. While she pretends to rest, they either remain silent or talk together in muffled conversations, so Nea learns nothing from them. The Carris apparently do not trust her, she cannot blame them.
They set off at sunset. Nea slowly overcomes her nervousness, next comes the real difficult part. She must convince the High Priest of her story and make sure it’s convincing, because only then will she be able to freely move amongst the Carris. If he does not believe her, she will probably end up in a cage to wait for the decision of another superior.
The town is not as far away as she thought. From the vast and empty fields, it took several minutes to reach a paved road that led straight into a small village. The entire village consists of small, weathered timbered houses. Many roofs have collapsed due to storm damage. The pathways in the town are cobblestone. After walking through a narrow alley, they enter a kind of courtyard. Across the way is a small chapel. The color of the chapel stings the eye; it was freshly painted a dark red color not too long ago. In addition, the building appears to be completely intact. Neither the roof nor the facade has any damage. Next to the chapel is a large barn. The barn is also in good shape. The remaining half-timbered houses appear pale and seem as though they come from another time.
“Welcome to Shepherd's Field,” says one of the two women. “We will bring the animals to the barn, wait here.” Then they left Nea in the chapel's courtyard while they take the goats to the barn.
None of the other Carris in the area give her much notice, so her camouflage seems to work. Some give her a brief smile, which she politely returns. The dog runs around the courtyard. She sees that a huge portrait was drawn in white on the red chapel. It shows a young man's face. The man's eyes are stinging and full of hate. His mouth is wide as if he were screaming. His hair is chin length and juts out all over his head. He looks scary.
Miro's fist thundered into the wall right next to Nea's head. Startled, she jumped and ducked another blow.
“How dare you try to sell my jacket? Do you not know the difference between mine and yours?” He shouted in anger.
“You still have your coat,” Nea defended
“Stop,” she orders her dog. The dog stops but looks at her questioningly. Nea smiles apologetically and walks toward them. She has always found it difficult to approach other people, but right now she’s trying to act as one of them would act. Her palms are dripping with sweat.
“Hello,” she says as friendly as possible. The four stand a stride’s length from each other; there is no friendliness in their faces. Nea looks to each of them. She sees that there are two men and two women.
“What are you doing here?” One of them says. They still eye her with a curious suspicion.
“I was on a patrol south of here. We were attacked by savages, and in my escape I lost the others in my unit and lost my orientation. I honestly have no idea where I am.”
She looks to the four, trying to see if they believe her story. One of them looks at her dog. “What’s with the dog?”
“This is a beagle, without him I would be dead. He smelled the savages long before we could even see them.”
“Where are the others in your unit?”
“Unfortunately, I do not know. The savages far outnumbered us. Everyone ran as fast as they could. I lost sight of the others and have been alone for several days.
A brief searching glance followed by a slight nod.
“You can stay with us in the city tonight. You should speak to the High Priest to see what you should do next.”
Nea nods to them with a grateful face. The rest of the day, the four barely notice her. While she pretends to rest, they either remain silent or talk together in muffled conversations, so Nea learns nothing from them. The Carris apparently do not trust her, she cannot blame them.
They set off at sunset. Nea slowly overcomes her nervousness, next comes the real difficult part. She must convince the High Priest of her story and make sure it’s convincing, because only then will she be able to freely move amongst the Carris. If he does not believe her, she will probably end up in a cage to wait for the decision of another superior.
The town is not as far away as she thought. From the vast and empty fields, it took several minutes to reach a paved road that led straight into a small village. The entire village consists of small, weathered timbered houses. Many roofs have collapsed due to storm damage. The pathways in the town are cobblestone. After walking through a narrow alley, they enter a kind of courtyard. Across the way is a small chapel. The color of the chapel stings the eye; it was freshly painted a dark red color not too long ago. In addition, the building appears to be completely intact. Neither the roof nor the facade has any damage. Next to the chapel is a large barn. The barn is also in good shape. The remaining half-timbered houses appear pale and seem as though they come from another time.
“Welcome to Shepherd's Field,” says one of the two women. “We will bring the animals to the barn, wait here.” Then they left Nea in the chapel's courtyard while they take the goats to the barn.
None of the other Carris in the area give her much notice, so her camouflage seems to work. Some give her a brief smile, which she politely returns. The dog runs around the courtyard. She sees that a huge portrait was drawn in white on the red chapel. It shows a young man's face. The man's eyes are stinging and full of hate. His mouth is wide as if he were screaming. His hair is chin length and juts out all over his head. He looks scary.
Miro's fist thundered into the wall right next to Nea's head. Startled, she jumped and ducked another blow.
“How dare you try to sell my jacket? Do you not know the difference between mine and yours?” He shouted in anger.
“You still have your coat,” Nea defended
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