Somehow, after losing count of the days she'd been travelling, Daphne found herself in the bustling city of Dale.
One would think that, being in a merchant Company, she'd be used to being around a lot of merchants, but this city seemed to be on an entirely different level. She could hardly move without bumping into some person along the streets, trying to force their wares on her.
"This can't really be where they are..? Maybe the neighbours were wrong." Her thoughts continued trying to discourage her, but she was determined not to let that happen. She had gotten this far.
Finally, after getting turned around and bumped and shoved, she found her way. She looked up to see the sign. "Lonely Mountain Mercery" it read. Before stepping in, she allowed herself an eyeroll at the highly uncreative name.
"How can I help you, Miss?" A man she assumed was a servant was eyeing her tunic and Furley's sword with disdain. She didn't care, she was used to such looks.
"Birger, don't scare off our customers straight off," came a kindly voice from the room beyond the entrance. A small, yet somehow stately woman joined them. She froze when she saw Daphne and looked her over more than once.
"Ugh. I shouldn't have come. Everyone is only going to see my worn tunic. Heh. No wonder Furley called me a beggar." Somehow, it hurt more from this woman than from her employee. She didn't know why, until her thoughts were interrupted by the sudden engulfment by the older woman's arms. Daphne stood there, eyes wide and arms pinned to her side.
"You must be Petunia!" She froze at the sound of her first name and looked down at the woman, who only came up to her neck. "I...yes...how did you know?" The woman looked up, smiling with tears in her eyes. "Your father told us in a letter that you scowled just like your mother. But my, how much you look like your father."
If her eyes were wide before, they were far wider now. "I go by Daphne," she said in a quiet tone, unable to think what else to say before she suddenly dissolved into tears and hugged the woman back.
She had a brief moment of vaguely recalling her deceased mother's face from all those years ago, and seeing the resemblance. This woman was very clearly her grandmother.
She made it.
