“Thank you,” Ren said, speaking past the lump forming in his throat as he slid the sword back into its sheath and placed it against the foot of the bed.

“Keep your head up, son,” Berin said, giving his shoulder a squeeze. “Things are a lot different now and I know everything looks dire, but we'll find a way to sort it out.”

Ren turned to Niklas, who drew him in for a kiss on the cheek. Ren felt his hand at the back of his neck, keeping him from pulling away.

Niklas' words were a whisper. “Get rid of the slave, Ren.”

“Take care of yourself,” Ren answered.

Silence fell once more as the door closed behind Berin and Niklas. Ren watched them from the window, feeling utterly alone. When he turned away, he glanced at Anik, who had lain down on his own bed, feet crossed. His eyes were closed.

* * *

With the first rays of early morning sunlight, Ren and Anik left the inn behind. Letting his horse drink from the trough, Ren tightened the girth and then swung himself into the saddle. He shot a sidelong glance at Anik. Anik stroked his horse's nose and held up a hand, letting it munch on the slices of carrot in his palm. Ren hadn't seen him taking the carrot from their breakfast meal. At least he hadn't made Ren pay for the extra treats for his horse.

Ren knew the slave would try to leave, and he knew he would have to stop him. Anik might be a Lowland warrior, but Ren would simply have to be firm.

“Well, good luck, I guess,” Anik said, as he swung into the saddle and turned his horse towards the open fields.

“I can't let you leave,” Ren said, turning after him and guiding his horse alongside Anik's.

Anik didn't slow. “Like I said, to the town and no further. This is the town. My debt is paid.”

“I don't know how to navigate. I don't even know where to go from here. I haven't freed you of your service,” Ren argued, nudging his horse forward to cut Anik off.

Anik easily dodged and replied by tossing Ren the rolled up map from the inn.

Ren caught it and stared at it. “I've never read a map before. I'm ordering you to stay.”

“Oh, for fuck's sake,” Anik groaned, stopping his horse and wheeling it around so he could face Ren. “Look, Prince I'm-So-Important. You're no longer my problem and I don't care what happens to you, so piss off and leave me alone.” He heeled his horse into a gallop and Ren watched him leave with a growing sense of panic. This wasn't how it was supposed to go.

“You're still my slave. Stop at once!” Ren shouted, but Anik didn't slow. He didn't even seem to have heard.

Groaning with frustration, Ren kicked his horse into a gallop and chased Anik down. It was time to change his tactics.