Well and truly pissed off

Alice woke me up at the crack of dawn the next morning, after which we saddled the remaining horse up to the cart that had been left behind and went on our way. With only one horse to pull a cart and two people, progress was a tad slow, but it was still much faster than going on foot, and it meant we had something we could sell if living expenses became an issue.

Unsurprisingly, Alice removed the Edelweiss emblem hanging from the cage in the cart. It would be bound to draw attention otherwise.

“Any ideas on what the plan is when we gets to town?” I asked in front of me. Alice, who was trained in horseback riding, was sat on the saddle, while I sat at the front of the cart behind it.

“I believe I spake before of a good frend of myne who lyveþ in Romshi town. She shareþ my sympaþies and swore her assistance if ever I were in a danger such as þis. ‘Twill only be after speaking wiþ her þat I may plan furþer. I know not yet þe extent of assistance she may lendeþ to me.”

I was hoping for a little more certainty than that, but I could hardly be surprised. It had been less than 48 hours since Alice had fled her home, and since leaving she hadn’t seen a single friendly face except mine. Not exactly the best conditions to be making long term plans in. I supposed we should thank our lucky stars that she had a friend that’d be willing to help.

“What of þee? Wilt þou seekest þe help of þe church as I suggested?”

“Actually I was gonna ask if you 'ad room for one more in ya party. I’m rubbish in a fight, but me knowledge of the industrial world might come in 'andy if you’ll 'ave me.” My answer seemed to surprise her, as she looked back at me and tilted her head.

“þou wishest to assist me furþer? For what reason? þy perceived obligation to me is ended, I saved þy life and þou hast saved mine in return, þou hast no furþer reason to feel indebted.”

“It ain’t about payin’ back debts no more. I’m on this train now, ain’t I? Might as well see it through to the end.”

“Understand þee not þat great peril yet awaits? I face down immeasurable odds and þee wouldst remane at my side over such a trivial reason?”

“I wouldn't call it trivial at all. I’ve been ‘ere for all of a day, and I can already tell this world is… be’ind the times, to say the least. But the first person I meet is also the person who could be the spark that lights the fire of change. If I were sent ‘ere with a purpose, don’t it seem like this is it? Or rather, if I gets to choose me own purpose, I can’t think of any better than ‘elpin’ a pretty young lady change the world for the better. Almost makes me sound like a proper ‘ero, dunnit?”

Alice, who had turned back to watch the road, covered her mouth as she let out a slight chuckle.

“My, þou certain speakest big words. Well þen, I shall look forward to seeing you make good on þem. I humbly accept þy assistance, Barry Mckay. I’m truly glad to have you.”

“Glad to be on board, lady Alice.”

I knew the path I was choosing was set to be thorny. Hell by all odds, it was likely to be the death of me. But if my life on Earth taught me anything, it was that inaction was the fast track to a miserable life. If my time in this new world was set to be short, at least it’d be well spent.

And besides, I had a good feeling about this girl. A feeling that she was on the path to achieve great things. And I wanted to be there to see it happen.

***

Thankfully, the rest of the journey passed without any further interruptions, and we eventually found ourselves rolling into town that evening, the sun slowly dipping behind the horizon, basking our surroundings in an orange glow.

It wasn’t what I had expected of a pre-industrial town, but I was unsure if that was due to my own poor knowledge or simply the difference between my world and this one. We had come in through a residential district, where wide terraces of brick and wood stood, thatched roofs and all. They were arranged in cul-de-sacs, as you’d expect of a city in the modern day, but the buildings themselves were undeniably antiquated. Judging by the spacing between doors, the individual homes were rather small too. That was of little surprise, I imagined the common folk could afford little more than a room or two, but for someone spoiled by the luxuries of the 21st century, it was quite the reminder that quality of life had improved substantially in recent years.

As we moved further into the town, however, the homes we saw seemed to increase in value. From long terraces with barely enough space to live in, to semi-detached homes with small gardens, to large fully detached houses with gates. Clearly the more affluent members of society gravitated more towards the centre of the town, or more likely they had been there the longest and the town had been built around them.

It wasn’t at a terrace or a small detached house or even a mansion that we stopped, however. We trundled on through the streets until the numerous homes began to give way to markets and shops, the residential and commercial districts phasing into one another slowly, until eventually there were no more homes to be seen.

“It’s pretty late, wouldn’t this friend of yours be at 'ome by now? Don’t seem like this district’s particularly occupied.” I asked. In the time it had taken us to make through the quiet town, the sun had fully set, and the streets were dark. It was only the lantern hanging from the cart that lit our way.

“þou wouldst certainly expect so, but I've reason to expect oþerwise,” Alice sighed. With nothing else said, the horse and cart continued trundling along, until Alice suddenly diverted down a side alley, from which a single building emitted a dull glow. It could only be seen through the gaps in the door and the small window which was partially covered by a curtain, but in such a dark corner of the town it still stood out like a sore thumb. As we approached the wooden door of the mid-sized brick building, Alice slowed the horse to a stop and dismounted, beckoning me to do the same. Wordlessly, she rapped her knuckle on the door and took quite a large step back. A moment later, the sound of heavy steps could be heard from the other side of the door.

“þe shop is CLOSED!” Yelled the source of the steps, the presumed proprietor of the modest shop we had stopped at. A tall women, dressed in the sleeveless top and loose trousers of a workman, her toned body accentuated by her attire, threw open the front door. It’s arc narrowly avoided Alice’s face. By her tone, she seemed well and truly pissed off that someone was disturbing her so late in the evening, but upon seeing my companion, all anger melted away, and she wrapped the girl in a tight hug. “Milady Alice! You’re all right! þank þe good lord above…”

“Aye, Eleanor, I’m safe and in good healþ. þough I may no longer be if þou crushest my spine. Might þou release me?” Alice practically wheezed her words out as the girl called Eleanor held her in a bear hug.

“Ah! Mine apologies… þat bastard people trader ran his mouþ about you at þe tavern yester eve. I knew nought but þat you wert alone and pursued. ‘Tis a great relief to see you well.” Eleanor released her hold on Alice and took a step out of the door, looking either way down the street. “Still, þese streets be unsafe. Hurry inside, we must not speak here.”

She ushered the two of us in, taking one last look around before closing the door behind us.