And it finally sinks in. I might actually be free. Free, after a year in the Amparan dungeons. A year at my jailors’ mercy, cut off from my fellow fighters, wishing for death. My bones go soft. I cover my eyes, hold my breath, do anything to keep control, but I collapse into wracking sobs. It takes me a while to realize the animal sounds echoing off the walls are coming from my own throat.

I feel a hand press gently on my shoulder, though the woman says nothing. It shames me to break down like this. After what seems like an eternity, the tremors finally subside.

“Why did you pull me out?” I ask. My throat is parched, and my tongue feels awkward. “You could have left me there to die with the others.”

“Not everyone condones the way the empire treats its prisoners. If Hefana says you are to live, I do my utmost to help.”

Hefana, the goddess of healers. It still strikes me as odd, almost heretical, that Ampara would have the same gods as my people, the Shidadi. It’s said that we share the same forefathers, but the Amparans ceased their wandering and settled in cities. They brought the gods with them and built them giant stone temples, while my people continued to worship in our tents. From how things have turned out, it seems clear that the gods prefer temples.

Well, whether this woman was sent by Hefana or dumb luck, I owe her my life. “I don’t know how I can repay you.”

The man comes close—I’d forgotten about him—and he bends down so his face is just a hand’s width from mine. “You can repay us by leaving. We’ve risked enough nursing you back to life. We’ll give you food, provisions, enough to get you started on your journey, but you need to be out of our house in two days, you understand?”

The woman presses her lips together, and I can tell this rebellion on her part is a constant thorn between them. His words are raw, but they’re fair. If they’ve really pulled me out of that living hell, they’ve already done more than I can ask of anyone. I need to get away, for my sake and for theirs.

“What provisions can you give me?” I ask. I’m already thinking ahead. I’ll have to travel on back roads and steal food along the way. It’ll be a tough journey, but at least I’ll be in the open air, free from chains, going on my own terms.

And if Ampara comes after me again, I’ll make them regret it.