Chapter 19. What Lies Ahead

Mia got down from the carriage and thanked the rider. He wished her safe travels and rode off. She dragged a deep breath and brushed the cold shivers she felt away. This was her first step to attaining freedom, and she was ready.

Then she approached the small booth with a not so bright light at her left-hand side. This was right before the entrance of the loading dock, where payments were made. An officer in charge of payment and receipt for passage sat inside.

There was a line of eight people and Mia drew closer to them and stood behind the last person. With every person attended to, she drew closer to the booth. When it got to her turn, she greeted the officer. The old man had his head buried in the record book before him and didn’t respond, and she almost wondered if he even saw her.

“The lower and first-class cabin has been filled up, only the middle class cabin is left. Fee for late payment ticket; one hundred bronze coins, fifty silver coins, or ten gold coin