Chapter twenty: Leaving
I spent the remainder of the day walking in the opposite direction of where the knights had been searching for.
I avoided areas where I knew guards would be in as well– which limited me to keeping to the slums.
I knew I had to find the quickest route out of the capital– but my options were limited. I couldn't take a teleportation gate, since they were monitored heavily. It would be the best way to get caught.
My other options were to take a carriage out of the city– and head in a direction that wouldn't arouse suspicion. I could head toward the dock and take a boat out to a new continent, but that was asking to be caught as well.
In the "run away from the prince because I'm emotionally unstable" arc, Paulita had tried to board a boat and– surprise– she was caught quickly. Even in other novels I had read in the past– it had the same outcome.
"A carriage." I muttered, turning a corner down yet another alley.
"What carriage?" Sayvren asked, popping up an inch from my face.
I jumped back, startled, and had to actively stop myself from hitting the sprite. "Are you a magical creature or damn ghost?" I asked, heart in my throat.
Why is everything in this novel trying to give me a heart attack? I shook my head, walking around him.
"What kind of questions is that?" He huffed, floating after me. "Where are we going? Sarius, the land of sun and sand? Or perhaps Darlus, the land of food and wine? Or-"
"Neither." I cut him off. "Those are prime places to search for a runaway noble."
"That's true." He flew up beside me. "We could take a boat to a different kingdom."
"No. If you're not going to actually give me useful advice– stop talking." I snapped, looking around.
People meandered around, without direction– dirty and confused. Oh, I sighed. I forgot about the drug problem in this area.
"I'm only trying to be helpful." Sayvren shrugged. "If you're looking for a carriage to leave, there's a wagon man a block away."
"And how do you know that?"
"I saw it a few days ago when I was sight seeing."
"Why were you even in this– Never mind. I don't care. Show me the way."
"See, I can be useful." Sayvren smiled, flying quickly ahead.
Not all of us have wings. I walked after him, picking up the pace to the point I was basically speed-walking.
After a few minutes, we came to the "wagon man" Sayvren had been speaking of. The old man was napping on the covered wagon, a straw hat pulled over his face.
"Excuse me." I called, walking up to him. "Are you taking requests?"
"Mmm." The man opened his eyes, pushing the hat up. "Hmm? What do you want?"
"I'm looking to leave the city. Are you accepting requests?"
"Maybe." He turned his head and spat. "But I'm not cheap."
"He looks cheap." Sayvren snorted.
"What's your prices?" I asked, ignoring Sayvren and glad the man couldn't hear him.
"Hmm," He looked me over, and grinned. "Well I can take you as far as Glacius town for," he held up his hand, wiggling his fingers. "Five silver."
"That's basically robbery." Sayvren snapped. "There's nothing there but grain."
"Hmm." I considered the idea– running the name through memory.
The name was mentioned once or twice during the novel– and only when a famine had struck it. Paulita had somehow solved the issue by suggesting burning the crops and planting seeds further apart.
In hindsight– the solution was weak at best– the author was trying to mimic slash-and-burn, but the way Paulita described it was because the soil needed time to spread its magic aura.
I'm starting to wonder why I thought this was a good novel.
"What about four silver?" I suggested.
"Four you say?" He stroked his beard, the gears in his mind turning.
He didn't speak for a long time– muttering pros and cons I couldn't make out.
Maybe I should find someone else.
"Four sounds doable." He said at last.
"Two up front, two when I get there." I stuck my hand into my pocket, pulling exactly two out. I didn't dare expose the entire bag– not in this location.
"How about three up front?" He suggested, holding out his hand.
"Two or I find someone else."
"Alright, alright. Two up front." He smiled as I dropped the money into his hand. "Climb on in the back and we'll set off."
"Why did you pay him that much?" Sayvren asked, following, as I walked toward the back of the wagon.
"Because I have no other choice." I hissed under my breath, climbing in. "Don't talk to me around other people."
"You're going to run out of money in no time." Sayvren rolled his eyes, sitting on the bench across from me. "Human's need to learn the value of money. You know…"
I turned him out as the man nudged the horses forward.
The ride out of the city was only mildly uncomfortable and jostling– but it was nothing compared to when we hit cobbled roads.
I didn't know if he was driving the way he was out of spite for me not paying him the full amount up front– or he was immune to all the jostling from rocks he slammed into. Either option was possible.
Comfort matters little right now. I thought, watching the city fade further and further in the distance.
The further we got away, the more I felt my shoulders relax– the knot in my stomach unwound.
What mattered was I made it out. I shook off the knights, shook off the strange man, and shook off the villainous destiny that awaited me.
The story will change now. My leaving made sure of that fact.
I'm never returning to the capital again. I thought, wincing as we hit another rock. Ever.
My fate would be my own.
…or so I thought.