Elia followed the man, trying to figure out where he was going. The massive armored figure weaving through the streets and the small girl trailing behind him moved through the chaos of Aril for a while. Before long, the man entered a tavern. Elia slipped inside after him, catching the heavy sliding wooden door. The place was packed; thugs sat at every table, and half-naked women danced before them. Women could be clearly seen sitting on the laps of many men. With people making out in corners and others passed out from alcohol, the place was a den of sin and debauchery.
The old man walked toward the bartender. "Do you have any wine for the road?" he asked.
The bartender eyed the old man's appearance and asked, "Can you pay for it, geezer?"
"I set out today. I've just spent the last of my coin, but if you have work, I can do it in exchange," the man replied.
"No coin, no drink! Get out!" the bartender shouted, driving him away.
The man headed toward the exit, huffing and puffing with visible frustration on his face. Elia continued to follow him like a shadow. The man walked for streets, finally turning a corner to reach an inn-like place. Several horses were hitched out front. He went to the horses, untied the rope of one, and began to lead it out of the crowd. The horse didn't hesitate to foul the path as it walked; Elia took great care not to step where the horse had defecated, as she had no shoes. In a place like this, falling ill meant certain death.
In a low, thin voice, Elia whispered toward the man, "Tha... Thank you for... for sav..." but she couldn't piece the words together. She had been a slave for so long and had been subjected to so much violence that she couldn't predict when someone might strike, and the words got caught in her throat. Although the man didn't fully hear what she said, he realized she was whispering something.
"Stop following me. I've set you free. Go live your life!" he said.
But Elia had never lived a life of her "own" before; she had always had a master. Furthermore, wandering alone in Meredian would likely lead to a merchant catching her, beating her, and selling her again. So, she ignored him and continued to follow.
Proceeding with his horse, the man finally emerged from the crowd. They were met by a large, long set of stairs. This was clearly the exit from Aril. Although the top of the stairs couldn't be seen from here, it was obvious that two figures stood there. They began to climb the steps slowly with the horse. The old man rolled his eyes when he saw Elia still following but continued upward without a word.
When they reached the top, two infantrymen met them with spears. They did not want vagrants from Aril entering the area called Ink-Bay. Ink-Bay was of vital commercial importance; Meredian conducted all its trade from here. Merchants from all the kingdoms of the main continent would travel from the Kingdom of Maidor to Ink-Bay by ship to trade. The distance from Maidor's bay to Ink-Bay was exactly seventy-five miles, and the journey normally took about seven days. However, if one set out by calculating the time of the southern Lures Winds, this period could be reduced three-fold, and the journey could be completed in two and a half days. This was critical for both merchants and Meredian. The time when this wind arrived was known as "Lures Time"; usually, every three weeks, this wind would start, last for three or four days, and then stop. Although it was a harsh wind, the people of Meredian welcomed it as it brought trade.
The two infantrymen ordered the old man and Elia to stop. "What is your purpose for leaving Aril?" they began to question.
"We aren't from Aril. We just happened upon this path. We are crossing to Maidor from Ink-Bay by ship," the man said.
"If you have no commercial purpose, I cannot let you into Ink-Bay. You must take the left side," the infantryman said.
While the crowd on the right consisted of elegantly dressed merchants, the left side was a quiet street that eventually opened into the plains.
"If you follow this path, you will reach the village of Vitreon. From there, you can cross to Maidor with your horse," they said, raising their spears and pointing to the road opening to the left.
"Thanks..." the man said ironically. He could have arrived in a short time by ship, but now he had to embark on a land journey that would take weeks. Elia was still behind him.
"Are you still following me?"
Because of the height difference, Elia looked up quite a bit at his face. "I have nowhere to go, sir," she said.
"Don't call me sir. I am no knight. At least... not anymore."
"So you are a knight," Elia pressed.
They walked together along the empty street. The man held his horse by the rope, and Elia walked on the other side, trying to make conversation.
"I told you, I am no knight. I broke my oath. I am an Oathbreaker," the man said, his voice trembling slightly.
"But you were kind to me, sir," Elia said, trying to lift his spirits.
"As if I care what you think," the man said, trying to avoid her well-meaning conversation.
Convinced that the man was bothered by the talk, Elia decided to stop. Neither said a single word until they reached the city exit; they simply walked in silence.