Climbing in Calradia: Part One

Brigid ignored the looks of contempt from men as she walked through the Sargoth market, browsing the many wares that were on offer at the end of the day. She was used to it though, being the daughter of a retired sword sister and having been trained by her, and knew that she could beat any of them in a fight if it came down to it. Stopping in front of the food stalls Brigid retrieved a handful of denars from the virtually-empty pouch at her waist, exchanging them for a loaf of bread. The baker glanced at her thin arms as she took the bread, shaking his head slightly, and tore another loaf in two, handing Brigid the larger portion.
"No charge girl. Make sure Isabelle eats as well."
Brigid dipped her head as she blushed in shame and frustration, mumbling out a quick thank you before continuing on a loop through the market. The teenager tore a chunk of bread from the smaller loaf, devouring it in a few big bites, and glanced around herself when at the mouth of a dark alley. Feeling safe she headed to the end of the alley, skirting around muddy puddles and piles of rubbish, before gingerly moving a panel of wood, revealing the concealed hovel beyond.

The sounds of sex could be heard through the thin walls of the hovel and Brigid grimaced. Her mother had told her stories of great adventures all over Calradia, of her mercenary companions and the captain who'd united them all, but here she was now, just one of the hundreds of whores living in the dark places of the Nordic capital. Treading carefully as to not disturb the coupling pair Brigid made her way around the hovel's main room, climbing a ladder to her sleeping area. She heard the man grunt as he climaxed, the sound of coins clinging together reminding her to check her pouch, and waited as Isabelle led the man from the hovel.

"You can come down now Brigid."
She stuck her head over the side of the platform when her mother spoke, descending the ladder and presenting both loaves of bread to Isabelle when they were seated at the table in the corner of the main room.
"The baker gave me extra. He said to make sure you eat."
"That man is too perceptive." Isabelle tore away two chunks of bread, extending one towards her daughter as she started to eat the other. "But I'm grateful. Give him an additional denar when you go back to him."
Brigid nodded and pulled the remaining coins from her pouch, handing them to Isabelle.
"For your stash Mother. For your better life."
"Dear Brigid, that stash will be for you." Isabelle softly groaned as she stretched and Brigid was struck by how diminished she seemed. "Now, let me sleep."
Brigid rose as her mother made her way to the room's bed, the teenager picking up the loaves. She turned as she was about to leave, catching sight of the bruises on Isabelle's body as her mother removed her worn dress, and gasped, placing the loaves down and crossing to Isabelle's side.
"You should go to a healer! Take some denars and see a healer tomorrow. I'll make the money."
"This is nothing. There were times when, after a battle, I would be black and blue for days after."
Brigid paused in her fussing and glanced up at her mother.
"Why did you retire from being a mercenary?"
"I got old, and I had you to think of. Now let me sleep, I won't say it again."
Brigid stood as Isabelle curled up around herself on the bed, collecting the loaves as she left the room, and climbed back up onto her platform, lying back and staring up into the rafters until sleep took her.

---

Brigid slipped out whilst the sun was rising. There was always work she could find, even if she was rarely paid, and so she spent the morning as a barmaid in a tavern, having to endure the leers and gropes of the patrons as she served them meats and ale. It didn't help that the tavern owner was as lecherous as his customers, forcing her to wear a dress so poorly fitting that she would be better naked. Brigid gave up just before midday, punching out the cook after his fingers crept up her bare thigh one time too many, and stormed from the tavern, feeling safer in her own ratty clothing.

Even though it was only midday Brigid made her way back towards the hovel, going home the proper way along the Sally Road. Several whores who lived in the warren the hovel was part of were in the street, most of them trying to attract customers. Margaery, called the Young because her looks didn't match her age, was among them but she hurried over when she caught sight of Brigid.
"Oh, sweet child. Don't go in yet."
"What's happened?" Margaery was silent, sorrow creasing her face, and Brigid grabbed her by the shoulders, shaking the woman. "Margaery, what has happened?"
"It's your mother." Brigid instantly thought of the bruises on Isabelle's body and she released Margaery, running into the warren. "Brigid, wait..."

The door to the hovel was barely hanging on, the wood splintered outwards from the middle of the door, and Brigid gingerly pushed it open. The hovel had been ransacked, the path of the invaders blatantly obvious, and it wasn't long before she stood in the main room. Isabelle was on her back on the bed, a pair of deep sword wounds marring the flesh of her abdomen and the muscles of each forearm severed. Brigid could see the wounds because her mother was naked and the teenager glanced at the chipped sword, identical to those owned by most of the small-folk, just beyond Isabelle's grip. She could imagine Isabelle's anger as she lay there: mortally wounded, her arms useless, with a man forcing himself on her. Turning away from the corpse as Margaery entered the room Brigid knelt to begin digging beneath where the table had been. The stash she and Isabelle had been building had probably been stolen by her mother's killers but there was something that only the pair knew about. Prising a metal breastplate from the ground Brigid retrieved a sheathed sabre and drew it, turning back to stand over Isabelle's body.
"Mother. I do not know who killed you so I cannot avenge you." Brigid carefully gripped the blade of the sabre with one hand, letting her blood wet the metal, as Margaery watched in silence while the teenager made her vow. "But I will try to live up to your teachings and make you proud."