Departure - Chapter 7

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The chapel faded behind us, the last echoes of the bells swallowed by the hum of the evening. The lanterns along the path flickered with every push of the wind. Scattered shadows walked across the dark road. My father walked ahead, hands clasped behind his back. He was quiet, almost unreadable. Lance lingered beside me. His steps were slower, heavier than usual. I could feel his stare even when I didn’t look his way. Finally, he spoke.

“That elder sure seemed interested in you.”

“Mm.” I kept my answer short, just like Father had warned. But Lance wasn’t the elder—he wouldn’t stop there. “Chloe,” he pressed, lowering his voice like he was sharing a secret, “why did he look at you like that? I mean…I’ve never even heard of an ‘appraiser’ before today. Not really. What does it mean?” The question stabbed at my nerves. I fiddled with the hem of my sleeve, watching the first shift beneath my boots. “It’s…rare,” I said carefully. “An ability that helps me…see things differently. To understand what something is worth.”

Lance tilted his head. “Worth? Like money?” I shook my head, my hair swishing from side to side. “Not just money,” I whispered, glancing at Father’s back. He hadn’t turned, but I was sure he was listening. “Value. Qualities. Things that people don’t notice right away.”

Lance went quiet for a moment. The silence stretched until he finally let out a low whistle. “That…actually sounds kind of amazing. No wonder everyone looked at you like that back there. But…” He grinned faintly. “You shouldn’t care about their looks. If anything, they should be jealous.”. His words caught me off guard. I blinked at him. “Jealous?” Lance nodded in response. “Of course. You’ve got something different. Something no one else has. I mean—look at me. I got ‘Protector.’ It’s strong, yeah, but it’s more so expected. Everyone in the village knows what it means. But you?” He smirked. “You’re going to surprise people.”

My chest tightened, hearing such words. I still remember those heavy eyes in the chapel, the weight of whispers that would follow me long after tonight. Yet here was Lance, puffing his chest out like it was the most obvious thing in the world. When was the last time I’d felt someone motivate me so much with just their words? He cleared his throat, as if he’d thought hard about his words. “Don’t let them decide what your gift is worth,” he said firmly, more like a promise than advice. “You get to decide that.”

I opened my mouth, but no words came. For once, I couldn’t argue with him. Father finally slowed his pace, letting the two of us catch up. His eyes flicked between us, and though his expression didn’t change much, I thought I saw something soften there. Relief, maybe. Or pride. For the first time since I left home, I felt I could breathe again.

By the time the lanternlights from our house came into view, my nerves had finally stopped buzzing. Father and I walked in silence, the cool night air brushing against our skin. Just before we reached the door, Lance slowed when Gil appeared from the shadows of the path, leaning against a fence with his arms crossed. “About time,” Gil teased. “I was beginning to think you’d get roped into sweeping the chapel steps.” Lance rolled his eyes in response. “Yeah, yeah. It’s done. “He gave me a little grin. “See you tomorrow, Chloe.” I managed a smile back. “Goodnight.”

With that, the brothers headed off together, their voices carrying faintly down the road until they disappeared. That left just Father and me. He didn’t say much, but when he opened the door and let me step in first, I caught the faintest twitch of a smile in his beard. The warmth of home hit me immediately—lit lamps. The smell of stew, and voices rising all at once. Luisa was the first to reach me. She wrapped me up so tightly I nearly lost my balance. “Chloe!” she gasped. “How was it? What did they say? What did you do?”

I held her arms and met her worried eyes with calm. “We did what had to be done. And…I’m good to go.” She froze, hearing my answer, then slowly broke into a smile, squeezing me even tighter before letting go. “You’re incredible, you know that?” The room filled with cheers after that. Mother wiped at her eyes in relief. Gil and Lance’s absence was barely noticed in the noise, and even Herring, sitting in his usual spot with his arms crossed. He nodded slowly, as if approving the notion. Reginald skittered onto the table, clicking his pincers happily, as though celebrating with everyone else.

Father let the cheer fade before speaking, his voice steady but full of weight. “All right,” he said, eyes settling on me. “The ceremony’s behind us. The road ahead begins now.” His arms folded, a merchant sizing up both risk and reward. “So, tell me, Chloe—when do you feel ready to seek out your merchant’s license?” His words caused the room to fall still. Luisa’s hand slipped from my shoulder, Mother’s worry lined her face, and even Herring’s golden eyes opened just a little wider. Reginald clacked his pincers against the wood, the sound echoing louder than it should have.

I sat frozen beneath the weight of everyone’s gaze, my heart thundering. The warmth of the fair, the storm of the cave, the glow of the chapel—all of it pressed against me in that very moment. This was it, the first step to everything. I swallowed, drawing in a shaky breath.

The silence stretched, every eye fixed on me. My chest tightened, but instead of shying away. I straightened my back and lifted my chin. I felt an overwhelming flood of emotion fill me as I opened my mouth.

“I’d like to depart as soon as possible,” I said. The words landed heavy, but they felt right. Like a weighted stone had finally dropped from my shoulders. Father’s face broke into a wide grin, pride shining through the lines of weariness. He thumped his chest once, strong and sure. “That’s my girl. Mallory blood runs in your veins, and tonight you’ve proven it.” He leaned forward, his voice softening but firm with promise. “I’ll make sure you have everything you need. Supplies, coin, even my own maps off the kingdom. I’ve walked that road many times before, and now it’s your turn.”

Mother reached for my hand, her warmth and worry all in one. Then let me prepare you properly. You and Herring both…we’ll make sure you’re ready for what lies ahead.” Luisa followed, slowly wrapping her hands arms around me from the side, squeezing tight. “And don’t you dare forget us. Letters, Chloe. Over and over again. I want to hear about everything you see, the people you meet, what you do…don’t spare a detail.” I laughed softly, the sound a little shaky but true. “I will, sis.”

In that moment, surrounded by their love and their hopes, a quiet peace settled in me. Margaret, the woman I once was, had chased her dreams in a world that was never hers to keep. Grasping at straws, trying to do everything alone…But now, as Chloe, I was able to take my first steps all over again. Running towards a goal that would take place in a strange, yet promising world. Somehow…the wonder of what’s next didn’t frighten me anymore. It comforted me. The journey was about to finally begin. After a year and some months' time.