It had been about fifty hours since Estelle escaped, and her lack of resources were making themselves known. She had been travelling near constantly, desperate to put as much distance between herself and the Conmunis as possible. Estelle may have more stamina than most humans, but she still needed to eat. More than what she could forage, only a few herbs and some roots. The Conmunis had valued fighting far more than foraging.

She needed something more substantive than broth that was, when it came down to it, less broth than it was water.

The next town she came upon, she asked about work opportunities. One of the wealthy families, a baker and his wife, needed someone to mend their roof. Estelle didn’t know how to do that, but she didn’t let that stop her. She was a fast learner, and good at problem solving.

It took nearly two days for Estelle to repair the roof. It wasn’t the prettiest of patch jobs, but it was done, and she was elated. She would be paid and given a free meal.

That didn’t exactly happen.

The baker paid her, of course, but he shorted her nearly thirty silvers, citing the ugly appearance of the roof. Estelle was furious but tried to contain it. What did the appearance of the roof matter when it no longer leaked? Sure, it was ugly, but the problem was solved.

And when she asked for some bread, even the burned scraps, he laughed and slammed the door in her face.

So she took her silvers and bought herself some produce to make a heartier soup. All that work, for what? Barely enough silvers to buy carrots and potatoes for soup made with river water. She was raging, furious at the baker. She had been promised a meal for her troubles, and now she was being denied? She had barely eaten anything over the past week and had been travelling most of that time on foot. She deserved more than this.  

That settled it. She would just take what she was owed.

She pulled her hood over her hair as she walked. She needed to be careful. Bending over the lock, she pulled her lockpicks from her pocket and set to work.

Estelle grinned as she turned the doorknob. Success! She crept inside, keeping her footsteps light, as she wandered through the small shop. Just a loaf or two of bread, maybe some cheese. That was all she would take.

She opened a case of bread and inhaled deeply. Her stomach rumbled. She took out a single loaf of bread and saw a small wedge of cheese next to it and snagged that too. Estelle took a bite of the cheese as she closed the case. It was sharp and delicious, and she nearly moaned with pleasure. It had been too long since she had good food. In the Conmunis, cheese was a very rare treat, and never anything as delicious as this.

Turning to go, only her quick reflexes saved her life. She ducked and the knife whizzed past her head. Glancing up, she saw the baker. How had he known she would be there?

It doesn’t matter, she told herself. She needed to get out, fast. The only exit was behind the baker. She swore. The baker was still armed, so she couldn’t turn her back on him. She had her knife in her boot, and her sword on her waist, but the quarters were so close that she would have trouble using it to defend herself.

She swore again, loudly, as she had to dodge another knife swipe. She pulled her own knife from her boot and caught his knife as he struck again. He was not particularly skilled, and she disarmed him easily. She placed her boot on his midsection and pushed. The baker fell to his back, sputtering angrily.

She leapt over him and made her way outside, her bread and cheese still in her left arm. Estelle needed to get out of there.

But outside waiting for her were four officers. She dropped her prize, tossed her knife into her left hand, and drew her sword with the right. She took a ready stance as the officers took theirs.

“Drop the weapons,” One of them said loudly. “Don’t be stupid. You’re far outnumbered.”

And she was outnumbered, and weak with hunger, and the baker standing behind her made five against one. Estelle may have been a skilled warrior and an elf to boot, but she couldn’t risk her life for some cheese. Not when she had just escaped life in the Conmunis.

She didn’t drop her sword but sheathed it and her knife. She held her head up high as the officers surrounded her and kicked out her legs. She fell without a sound, allowing them to tie her hands behind her back.

The officer was prattling on, but she paid him little attention. She was raging, furious at herself for getting caught. She knew what the consequences were, only because she had seen a few public floggings in her short time travelling. And being angry was certainly better than being terrified. She had never faced anything that brutal before. But she was determined.

Estelle would endure her ordeal with as much dignity as she could muster.