Chapter 17
The Journey Begins
1639 to 1642 - (Retrospection) Glastonbury, New Forest and Vanders
The journey from Glastonbury to New Forest was fairly easy, having been given a large amount of gold and silver and a mule to carry her few possessions. The gold and silver she'd sewn into her clothes for safety's sake, keeping just a few in her pouch on her belt. In Emery Down she was welcomed by distant family of Calum's. They provided her with a soft pallet to sleep in and enough daily work to make her feel as though she were earning her keep.
The days passed, then the weeks and months and soon it had been more than a year since she'd left Glastonbury. It all seemed so far behind her, even though it was only a few miles northwest.
A courier from Glastonbury arrived one day informing Anu that it was safe to move on….and away from England. Upon his departure, she bid her hosts a warm farewell and thanks. She carried what few possessions now remained and made her pilgrimage on foot to the port town of Swanage. As she waited for the ferry to Northcliffe, she watched all the activity around her, more than she'd ever seen in one place in her whole life. She was a bit overwhelmed. She took refuge under a lone tree and rested a bit. Above her, birds sang and flitted about. She watched each one with a keen interest and it was when a lone, brave starling landed near her that she decided upon her new name: Starrling… and Cerridwen after one of the lovely goddesses upon which her people worshipped. Starrling Cerridwen. She smiled in great satisfaction, feeling that the name truly fit her, almost moreso than her given name. This instead was her chosen name. With a new name, a new identity seemed to take over her spirit, also. She rose from her slump under the tree and stood tall and brave to face the new world she would be entering.
Chapter 18
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