Fall

“Get down from there.”

The world shifted around me as I stood on the edge of the thick oak branch. My arm held me steady, wrapped around the only branch within reach. The wind blew through the leaves and the branches parted. Beams of light broke through, scattering brightness beneath the canopy.

I laughed when I saw it. It was wild and untamed. 

“I can see the city,” I yelled, my lips parting my face from ear to ear. 

I felt good, better than I had in weeks. Diale would likely take credit, her medicines are practically magic, but she would never hear that from me. No. It was the fresh air, and finally getting out of that carriage. 

Breathless, I turned back toward the city. 

It was truly majestic. The city shone with an inner light, its white marble walls nearly transparent beneath the bright morning rays. 

My weight tilted slightly and I felt my arm slip. Instead of flailing, I bent my knees, pulling my weight in close. 

Everything turned upside down.

I watched as limbs and branches passed beneath me, a constant awareness of my surroundings. At the last moment, right when my feet would have lost contact to the branch I kicked off, sending my body shooting towards the gap in the tree. 

The sudden gasps from below brought the laughter right back out of me.

My hand shot out, snatching for, and grabbing, the last branch before open air. My body jerked violently from the sudden change in direction, my fingers rubbed raw from the rough bark, but I held on. 

I dropped the last few feet after hanging suspended above the ground for a moment. 

I reveled in the freedom.

“Honestly. What would your mother say?” Diale said. 

I looked back at her. She stood stoically beside the carriage, her chin raised slightly. It wasn’t done in contempt, Diale really cared about me. Her question wasn’t really about my mother. It was about her. 

I walked over to her and put a hand on her shoulder.

“She’d say to do something about my clothes.” We both glanced down at the suit I wore. Deep blue and black, no hint of leather or proper clothing for a trip of this sort. It had been the hight of fashion back home. 

Not any more. 

The suit was torn in several places. Stained by sweat and sickness. The last few days of the journey had been impossible, and my inability to behave properly didn’t help the situation.

Diale laughed. “That she would, young master.” She patted my hand and turned to look down the road. “How long until we reach the capital?”

“Nightfall,” I said simply, moving to climb into the coachman’s seat up front. 

Diale’s tongue flicked out. “Tsk. Tsk. Reckless as ever.”

I sighed. “If I have to spend another minute in that carriage I will personally light the match to burn it to the ground.” I turned to look at her. “I’ll climb back in when we get closer. I promise.” 

Diale eyed me for a moment, then before I could say anything, she pushed me to the side and climbed up as well. 

I smiled, following. 

Leaning back, I let the breeze blow through my long hair.

Diale had no reason to be worried. 

“No one will recognize me.” I whispered to myself, letting the wind sweep through my hair. But as the city grew closer, I was beginning to wonder.