Ezner couldn't believe the words he was hearing from the woman from the Order of Adunih. He stood there in shock, the woman stepping forward, placing a comforting hand on his elbow.
"You can go now Ezner, it's safe for you. Ilaren has outlawed all slavery. All slaves are freed and protected by Rharne law. Faith has made all of the appropriate arrangements for you." She handed Ezner a sealed envelope that was heavy with documents. "If you ever need help again Ezner, or know anyone who does, reach out to us at the Order of Adunih. Any of our locations, any of our cloaked members, will help you. It is the vow we swear."
She stepped aside, giving way for Ezner to look out the open door. He'd been a freeman for three seasons now, but he had been trapped here in this safehouse. Now, once he stepped across that threshold... he'd truly be free. That tiny little sliver of the world out that door looked enormous to the freeman.
His throat tightened, his heart began to race, one hand rubbing at the tattoo on his neck. He looked all around him, as though seeking permission from someone. Out there... was freedom. Out there he was in charge of his life. Out there he could make choices.
And it was terrifying.
"Oh look how blue the sky is totrial!"
Blue.
He closed his eyes and he saw hers. Deep, cerulean, looking back at him. Looking at him, as a person, as a friend. She was out there too. And he knew in that moment what his first choice would be. He opened his eyes, a determined look on his face. He turned to the woman, smiling, "Thank you, for everything." She nodded at him, smiling back.
Ezner then made the first real choice of his free life, and he stepped out the front door of the safehouse and into the streets of Rharne. The last of the fog was clearing from the long morning, and it was about midtrial.
And Ezner made the second choice of his life. He quickly got his bearings, realising where he was, and he turned to the right, and walked as a man with a purpose. And his boots carried him through the streets until he climbed up a porch, knocking on the door of the house where Elisabeth had let him spend the night. Her house.
She was going to be the first person he told that he was free. He knew people at the Order knew. But he'd not told anyone yet. And he wanted her to be the first. And so he waited, smiling, as the door began to open.
"You can go now Ezner, it's safe for you. Ilaren has outlawed all slavery. All slaves are freed and protected by Rharne law. Faith has made all of the appropriate arrangements for you." She handed Ezner a sealed envelope that was heavy with documents. "If you ever need help again Ezner, or know anyone who does, reach out to us at the Order of Adunih. Any of our locations, any of our cloaked members, will help you. It is the vow we swear."
She stepped aside, giving way for Ezner to look out the open door. He'd been a freeman for three seasons now, but he had been trapped here in this safehouse. Now, once he stepped across that threshold... he'd truly be free. That tiny little sliver of the world out that door looked enormous to the freeman.
His throat tightened, his heart began to race, one hand rubbing at the tattoo on his neck. He looked all around him, as though seeking permission from someone. Out there... was freedom. Out there he was in charge of his life. Out there he could make choices.
And it was terrifying.
"Oh look how blue the sky is totrial!"
Blue.
He closed his eyes and he saw hers. Deep, cerulean, looking back at him. Looking at him, as a person, as a friend. She was out there too. And he knew in that moment what his first choice would be. He opened his eyes, a determined look on his face. He turned to the woman, smiling, "Thank you, for everything." She nodded at him, smiling back.
Ezner then made the first real choice of his free life, and he stepped out the front door of the safehouse and into the streets of Rharne. The last of the fog was clearing from the long morning, and it was about midtrial.
And Ezner made the second choice of his life. He quickly got his bearings, realising where he was, and he turned to the right, and walked as a man with a purpose. And his boots carried him through the streets until he climbed up a porch, knocking on the door of the house where Elisabeth had let him spend the night. Her house.
She was going to be the first person he told that he was free. He knew people at the Order knew. But he'd not told anyone yet. And he wanted her to be the first. And so he waited, smiling, as the door began to open.