Arlin scanned the woods behind her, creeping on silent feet northwards, where she had spotted a tavern with windows glowing, calling out to travelers.  Once she was sure that no one was following her, she altered her posture to appear relaxed and confident as she strolled towards the building, but in reality she was tense as a bow string and on alert at all times. 

Once inside, Arlin promised herself that she would get some hot food and perhaps a drink, if only so that the townspeople would see only a traveler and not a stubborn, rebel princess, which she was not.  She preferred the term, 'vigilante royal', even though she couldn't go by it now. 

Once seated, she kept a wary eye on the raucous table next to her and hunched over her food, and if a passerby did not clearly see a woman intent on eating alone, they were blind. 

Arlin had to leave this place soon.  A lone traveler calls too much attention, so moving around frequently and far would have to be her usual now. 

All of a sudden, the tavern door banged open and a small, shaking boy in sopping wet clothes ran in. 
"My sister-" he gasped.  "My sister is in tr-trouble!" He was trembling so hard that he was stuttering. 
The barmaid came out of the kitchen and kneeled down with a blanket in her hands, and after she wrapped it around him, she asked him what had happened. 

He explained that one of the palace guards had seen her slipping an apple up her sleeve from one of the fruit stands, and decided right away that the underfed child needed to be punished.  The girl had been whipped for her mistake, and was now bleeding out in the town square. 

Everyone in the tavern put down their drinks, shrugged on their coats, and ran outside, seeking to help the little girl.  However, Arlin stayed seated, playing the part of the strange traveler who did not care.  Inside, though, she was sprinting outside with the rest of the people from the tavern, ready to save a little girl and revel in their own togetherness.  She had not known the palace guards, guards that her father commanded, would mutilate a young, starving girl for attempting to get some food.  That would definitely change when she took charge, but Arlin could change it right now if she went back. 

Still, Arlin dragged her feet as she put on her coat and hat, pulling the brim over her eyes to avoid being recognized.  She would go back and fulfill her duties to her people, but perhaps one day she would leave and never come back, be free in the way she had always dreamed of being.  Sometimes, Arlin thought, what you can do is bigger than what you want. 

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