Chapter 45 Fourty -Four

• Avelyn moved swiftly through her room. She began gathering essentials with a nervous expression on her face . She packed food and water first, wrapping the provisions in a cloth and tucking them carefully into a small satchel. Her hands lingered over the map she'd taken from the library-a worn and faded piece with routes marked in elegant, scripted ink. "This'll do," she muttered, folding it carefully.
• From a hidden corner of her dresser, she retrieved the few coins she'd managed to save over her time here. It wasn't much, but it would have to be enough to get her started. Her fingers brushed over the coins briefly while wishing that it would be enough. The weight of it in her palm was comforting, grounding her resolve.
• Finally, she placed a few pieces of clothing into the bag, practical garments suited for travel and inconspicuous enough to let her blend in should she encounter anyone on the road. She couldn't afford to look like someone from the castle-too many prying eyes would recognize the attire of a palace servant.