CatalenaCatalena continued through the common room and out into Market Street, unsure of where to go, but only that she needed to be elsewhere.
She stumbled through the Marketplace, empty save for children playing at whistleball. She barely registered that she had both interrupted their game and almost taken a blow to the head from a well struck ball, and turned up to Festival Street.
What did she intend? She was not sure. Should she go to Hemlock and ask for his protection? After all, she was already serving a sentence here and while Sandpoint had some ostensible oversight from Magnimar, it was independent as far as governance so far as she understood. The Temple? Father Zantus would surely testify as to her character but such material matters would likely be out of his hands. No, she had no wish to involve either of them in her problems.
She passed an ancient mansion, the home of Madame Mvashti, the venerable oracle whose Harrowings were legendary for their prophetic power. But Catalena did not second-guess her own interpretation. She knew in her heart it was true. There was no need to bother her respected elder as comforting as it might be and likely upset her. She continued on.
Catalena realized she missed her family keenly. The road was the only safe place for
Varisians. Cities would always be full of prejudice and mistrust and repression.
At the end of Festival Road, she looked to the east. Tanner's Bridge. East, out of Sandpoint. She should run, she suddenly thought, keep going east. Her clan would be coming south out of the Cinderlands to Turtleback Ferry or Whistledown this time of year. No, she told herself, that would make things worse. She just needed to be among her people and there were plenty of them here.
She turned west instead, to one of the oldest taverns in Sandpoint, known simply as Risa's Place. Named for the near-blind Varisian sorceress who owned it, Risa Magravi. It was a place that advertised little, and was patronized mostly by locals and visiting Varisians. Risa was far too old now to do much beyond regaling guests with her tales and vast knowledge of history and legends. But Catalena adored her and was fond of her adult children, Besk, Lanalee, and Vodger. Varisian spiced potatoes and cooling cider were what she needed right now.
