Try to run from him
"Oh, my..." She bends down to get a better look at you.
"No..." you say, trying to back away from her, but you're in
too much pain. She notices and shakes her head.
"Easy, my girl. No one here's going to hurt you. Now,
who..." She stops, gasping. A minute later, you realize what has
startled her--a large, teardrop emerald on a chain around your neck.
The emerald is the dominant color, but there are flecks of silver,
blue, and lighter green in it, too.
"She holds Ireland in her hand..." the maid murmurs, before
sinking to her knees.
"My apologies, milady--here, let's get you inside and cleaned
up..."
You have no idea what's going on, but at this point, your physical
needs take precedence, and you go along with her.
You are brought to a large bedroom, where a woman in a lavender
dress--you assume she's the housekeeper--meets you. You are first
gently helped out of your clothes and carefully washed. The feeling of
the grime you were carrying around slipping away is wonderful, but
it's nothing compared to the feeling of being helped into a nightgown,
put to bed, and given a cup of piping hot peppermint tea.
"Slowly, now," the housekeeper says. "Don't overdo
it." She lets you take another sip or two, but then removes the
teacup. Another maid hands you a slice of toast, but you only manage
to nibble on it before the housekeeper removes it.
"Could I have a little more?" you ask.
The housekeeper smiles. "Later, my dear--let it settle. You don't
look like you've eaten in awhile."
"I haven't," you agree. "Thank you, ah..."
"Mrs. Cabot, dear. Now..." She pulls the coverlet up to your
chin. "Rest now. You should stay quiet for a few days, because
after that, we will have to explain your destiny here in Tyle Sands,
the northernmost province of Zijernia."
Northernmost? you think. Well, that explains why you were so
cold...but what is Mrs. Cabot talking about? What destiny? Where is
Zijernia?
The next morning, you wake up slowly, feeling as though you've been
hit by a truck. Mrs. Cabot is back, and with her, all your questions.
But there is also another person with her--a statuesque woman with
warm brown eyes and blonde, wavy hair. You wonder if you should ask
who she is first, or ask the questions that have been on your mind. So
you...
A deep gut instinct tells you to run the other way. The fear you feel
is pervading, although you have no idea where it came from. You turn
and run, ignoring the pain in your ankle until it becomes unbearable.
You collapse on the steps of what appears to be an English manor
house. Two seconds later, a maid opens the door.
