"Yes, you would've done bad things, but the difference between you and her is that you didn't. You broke free, she wasn't willing to. She killed someone just to drag you out of that cell. You think she would've surrendered herself to the kings justice right after that? She would've fled, and a killer would be on the loose, regardless of who's 'slave' she is." He guessed he could understand Ella's point of view, that affinity to her that they shared. They were both of the same kingdom, though she truly had no clue of knowing how true either side was. Ariana could've done this all on her own free will, not as some slave like Ella had been, and what would that have accomplished for anyone then, to let a loyal woman go? She would've come back to finish the job...

Marken was inebriated enough to not notice Ella's own drinking, still drinking his own burning rum. He didn't have the state of mind to stop himself, much less her, as he drank by the fire. "I just wanted to know why..." Finishing off his glass, he set it down, turning to look at Ella. It was hard to discern, exactly, what his glazed eyes wanted, but it seemed he was atleast sober enough to speak coherently.