All I Need

Safania’s POV

By now the soles of my shoes had worn down to nothing. Barefoot, I wandered through the forest looking for signs of civilization. My feet were torn up from the rough terrain, but I was too numb to feel. I saw my breath appear in front of me. Night was falling soon, and I knew my body didn’t have the strength to survive another cold evening.

I heard the sounds of rushing water, so I headed in that direction hoping to find a fishing village. Instead, I found a large river. Ice clung to some of the rocks like crystals.

I must be near Peria.

I fell to my knees by the riverbank and drank some of the cool, crystal clear water. Once I finished drinking, I moved to stand, only to realize that I no longer had the strength.

Was this where I would die?

I collapsed onto my back as my vision became cloudier. But even through the haze, I could admire the beauty of my surroundings: the tops of lush, emerald pine trees piercing the pale gray sky. I drifted off peacefully, letting the chirping birds and rushing water sing me to sleep.

Third Person POV

“You swear these people have money, Embrien?” a merchant aboard a small ship asked his companion.

“I swear, Claude. I wouldn’t have forced you to come all the way up to this frozen hellscape if I didn’t think it would be worth it,” Embrien replied. “It’s so cold all the time that no one bothers to sell up here. So when they do get merchants, it’s like a party for them. They treat you practically like royalty. And you make more than you would ever make in Trevor Glen.”

Claude pursed his lips, unconvinced. It had better be worth it for the amount of time it took him to come here. Not like he had a family back home that would miss him. But there were some lovely ladies in the newest town brothel that he would miss.

“Captain!” a lookout exclaimed to Embrien.

The pair of merchants traced the boy's pointed finger to the river bank. A figure lay motionless on the rocky shore.

“Stop the boat!” Embrien yelled.

“Are you crazy?” Claude asked, pulling his companion aside. “You don’t have any idea who that is. We’re going to waste precious selling time recapturing someone who is most likely a runaway servant? We don’t even know if he’s alive.”

“Darien, swim to shore and bring the body back,” Embrien commanded a large man. Darien nodded and jumped into the water. Embrien was always impressed by his first mate. The water had to be freezing, but Darien showed no sign of feeling the temperature at all.

“You’re right,” Embrien said now speaking to Claude. “He could be a runaway servant. He could also be a young prince who lost his way. Or a palace guard who was sent on a special mission. Returning him dead or alive could net us a lot of money. And if it’s just a lowly servant, we can sell him to someone in the town. Besides, it won’t take Darien any time to bring his body back.”

The two looked at the shore again. Sure enough, Darien already had the body hoisted over his back and was swimming back to the ship. The crew helped Darien back into the ship, and Darien then laid the body in front of Embrien and Claude.

The two men inhaled sharply. Before them was one of the most beautiful women they had ever seen. From the looks of her skeletal form, she appeared malnourished, but her delicate features made her look like she was simply sleeping.

“Is she still breathing?” Embrien asked.

“Yes, sir, but it’s faint,” Darien responded.

“Take her below deck and try to warm her,” Embrien commanded. “She probably has a severe case of hypothermia if she’s been out here more than a few hours.”

“Yes, sir."

As Darien left with the woman's body, Claude turned to Embrien.

“Who do you think she is?”

Embrien shrugged. “She doesn’t look like she’s from Peria. Her skin is far too dark. You’ll see, they’re all very pale up there. But she doesn’t look like she’s from anywhere near Trevor’s Glen either, because her skin isn’t quite dark enough. My guess would be that she’s from Shyra, or somewhere in the East.”

“She’s beautiful,” Claude said.

“Yes,” Embrien agreed. “But don’t forget that this is a business deal. We’re taking her to get the money that will come from turning her in. Besides, you and I both know we could never afford a girl like this.”

“Which is why maybe we could wait to turn her over . . . spend some quality time with her, if you know what I mean. We won’t get a chance like this anytime soon.”

“No,” Embrien said firmly. “Would you sell any of your goods used?”

Claude shook his head.

“And why not?” Embrien asked.

“Because it wouldn’t fetch more than half its actual price,” Claude replied.

“Exactly,” Embrien said. “We’re going to market her as an unknown commodity. A mysterious girl washed up on the shore. Right now, she could be a runaway war criminal . . . or a kidnapped princess. The second either of us sleeps with her, we turn her into a common whore. Besides, if she is some noble woman, they could hang us for doing something like that.”

Claude sighed. “You’re right.”

Embrien smiled. A girl that beautiful someone was looking for. And if no one was, they could sell her to a brothel in Peria for lots of gold. Their fortune had just improved immensely.