“You saved my life today,” Ilias said. “You've already helped me more than I could have ever asked for. I'll be okay, I promise. You go chase that hope.”

Ren thought the boy had a surprising amount of confidence, considering his situation. Maybe it was an act, maybe not. Either way, it worked well enough to put Ren at ease.

“Take care of yourself,” Anik said, tugging a blanket from his saddlebag. He handed it to Ilias along with their extra water skin and one of their food packets. Ren hesitated, then dug into his money pouch and gave Ilias the few gold coins he had left. There were no more towns between here and Stag's Run. Ilias would need the money more.

“Do you think he'll be okay?” Ren asked when Isleya's faint lights were well behind them. Their horses walked side by side in the tall grass along the road, the thin crescent moon providing the only light.

“He's a Lowlander,” Anik said. “He's tougher than he looks.”

“Good,” Ren said quietly, and then, when Anik shot him a strange look, “What?”

“You're not as much of a heartless ass as I thought,” Anik said, although his face betrayed nothing of what he might be feeling.

* * *

The guards didn't follow them. Golden fields stretched out before them, empty and quiet, the horizon broken here and there by clusters of trees that grew more frequent the further from the city they travelled. They rode in silence with only the soft sounds of the horses' steps and the occasional screech of an owl to disturb Ren's thoughts.

The sun rose and travelled across the sky. They ate on horseback, putting as much distance between them and the city as possible. Ren's body ached and he swayed in the saddle from lack of sleep. He kept wondering what Ilias had been doing with that butcher. He had probably been stolen from someone with a whole load of cash, judging by his appearance. Had Ren been back in Aleria, he might have chosen such a slave to serve him his meals. Someone easy on the eyes.

“Hey. Sleepyhead.”

Anik's voice disturbed Ren's thoughts and he turned his horse to see the Lowlander dismounting several lengths behind him. Above them, the sky was tinted pink and orange by the setting sun.

“We're staying here for the night.”

“Why here?” Ren asked, turning his horse around and dismounting a little unsteadily. He groaned as he stretched out his cramping legs slowly. An entire day and half a night in the saddle with no sleep left its mark. He shook his head to steady his vision, then tied his horse to a nearby tree. Ren felt like he'd never close his legs properly again. And not for any pleasant reason.