There was nothing else in the the chambers he could take with him. The carved wooden horse figurine Hellic had made him when they were both children stood atop the dresser. Ren didn't know much about art, but the colourful painting of foxes playing at the foot of a massive tree that hung above his desk had always appealed to him. His collection of finely engraved gold medallions sat in the delicate glass cabinet mounted on the wall, proudly on display. None of those things would be of any use to him on the road. He could only hope they'd still be here waiting for him when he returned.

If he returned.

The small voice in the back of his mind was an unwelcome intrusion and he forcefully purged it from his thoughts.

Ren sank down onto the edge of his bed with a heavy sigh, but a tapping on the window made him jump back onto his feet, his travel bag in hand. Pushing the window open, he looked down and saw Niklas step back from the window, dropping a pebble.

“We have ten minutes,” Berin called from behind Niklas. “I called for a guard shift.”

Normally, changes of the guard were carried out smoothly, with no holes in the defences, but the Fraynean soldiers had worked under Berin for years, some of them almost as long as Ren had been alive. Ren didn't doubt they'd risk Halvard's wrath if Berin asked them to. Ren just had to make sure it wasn't for naught.

Tossing his bag to Niklas, Ren looked over his shoulder. He was leaving his home behind and had no idea when he would be back. The thought that he might never return filled him with ice-cold fear. Then he pushed that fear aside and swung his legs over the window sill, climbing down to the cobblestones of the courtyard.

“Ride to Teu,” Berin instructed, urging Ren around the perimeter of the courtyard while keeping a close eye on the windows above. “Wait in the inn until nightfall. We'll find a way to sneak out and meet you there. Then we can talk about what to do next.”

“Any news about Thais?” Ren asked, but Berin shook his head.

“Take the slave with you.”

Ren gawked. “Why?”

“Do you know how to navigate by the stars? Have you ever had to ride anywhere alone that wasn't either the forest or within the city walls?”

Ren hesitated.

“Plus,” Berin continued.“He's a warrior. You're not. That might prove useful.”

“You don't know if-”

“Ren.”

“Fine,” Ren said, surrendering with a sigh. Maybe Berin's idea wasn't all bad. That was, if the Lowlander didn't decide to kill him before they even made it to Teu.

“Good luck, son. I'll see you tonight,” Berin said, giving Ren's shoulders a tight squeeze. Then he was gone. Ren watched him disappear beneath the arches, then turned on his heel and made for the dungeons.