The door slammed against the wall as Anik shoved it open and they darted out into the yard, through the gate, down the alley, and into the street. Ren's grip on Ilias' wrist was tight, dragging the boy along, but he didn't trip. Behind them, they heard Rowland's angry shouts grow distant. Still, they didn't stop running until their lungs were burning and they had reached the outskirts of the city.

Turning a corner, they leaned against the wall of a building, chests rising and falling heavily. Somehow, they had managed to escape Rowland and avoid whatever guards might still be roaming the city.

Ilias' eyes were wide with shock and excitement. A laugh bubbled up inside Ren and he couldn't help but let it out. Then Anik was laughing too, and then Ilias, until they were all laughing like idiots, alone in an alley in the middle of the night, letting out all the tension that had built up during their daring escape.

They were all right. They had made it.

Ilias' laughter was like bells, his smile radiant, and Ren wondered how long it must have been since he had last laughed like that. His surprised joy reflected Ren's own expression. It was strange to laugh after everything that had happened. A sudden pang of guilt made Ren's smile fade and he blew out a breath. It didn't feel right to laugh like this so soon after his brother's death.

“So, what now?” Ren asked in the silence that followed, looking to Anik.

“I'll fetch the horses,” Anik said, dropping his bag at Ren's feet before disappearing around the corner of the building.

“Where are you going?” Ilias asked.

“North,” Ren explained, tugging Ilias a little deeper into the shadows when a nearby dog began to bark.

Ilias frowned, cocking his head to the side so that his long hair fell over his shoulder. “Why? What's up there?”

An almost familiar cold slowly seeped back into Ren's bones. He tried to ignore it, but didn't quite manage. “Hope,” Ren said simply.

The sound of hooves against stone distracted him from his thoughts, and a moment later, Anik rounded the corner with a horse's reins in each hand. Strapping their bags to the saddles, they mounted, Ren reaching down to help Ilias up behind him.

Anik shook his head. “Not a good idea.”

“Why not?” Ren asked, glaring at Anik in confusion. An hour ago, he had been adamant about saving the boy. Now he wanted to leave him behind?

“Where we're going isn't a place for him. We still have days on the road ahead of us, running, hiding, fighting.”

“I think your friend is right,” Ilias said, smiling at Ren. “You don't have to worry about me. I'll find my own way.”

Ren hesitated, ignoring the look Anik gave him when Ilias took his hand and kissed the back of it.