It does not take long for them to realise that they cannot stay in the city if they were to be together. Egon and the other nobles would never accept this union. Prestige was what Egon cared about the most, even above wealth. There could not possibly be a bigger slight to his reputation than his own daughter courting a slave.

They had to elope. All those days dreaming about eloping together made it seem like it was romantic, that it was what lovers in fables did. Now that they had actually decided to do it, the task looked far more daunting than they could have imagined. It was not as simple as riding into the sunset, they had to worry about their various needs on the run. How would they eat? Where would they sleep? various little things that add up to become one behemoth they had to either vanquish or ignore and hope that it too does the same.

Then there was Egon. He would not take it lying down. He would definitely send out riders to chase them down. They would be faster than Arran and Isan could be. They would be able to ride freely without worrying about any logistics, they could rest up in the village inns and eat full meals; all of which were luxuries Arran and Isan couldn't afford.

They had no time to spare, they had to make the best of what little time they had and try to get as much of a head start as they could possibly get.

Arran knew, that all these thoughts about eloping would only be true if Isan was willing to leave behind all that she had. He, however, knew that she would leave everything behind her without batting a single eyelid. It was written plainly in the set of her jaw, determined. It was written in the line of her eyebrows, scrunched up in deep thought. He hadn't doubted for a single moment that she would accompany him wherever he went.

They had decided to leave Cyrium in three days, after they had procured whatever they could.

Arran was left with the task of procuring another horse for Isan. He had already decided to take Equs with him. He couldn't bear the idea of parting with the horse. They had gone through a lot together, providing each other company day and night. Arran had grown more comfortable around Equs than he was around other humans. He knew that Equs was not just a dumb beast, he felt that Equs could understand Arran a lot better than any other person could. They were kindred spirits, they were both wild and free, at least in their hearts. And they both understood that fact.

Obtaining another horse was a simple task for Arran. All he had to do was saddle one up and they were ready to go. He chose a chestnut gelding. It was a calm and gentle beast, usually given out to new riders to accustom themselves to the saddle.

He waited with bated breath. He expected Egon and his guards to storm into the stable, their plans of escape somehow reaching the arrogant lord. His worries turned out to be for naught as the days progressed and the moment of truth had finally come.

They had agreed to meet outside Cyrium’s gates, by the race track. It would not rouse suspicion that Arran would be going there. No one would dare question why Isan was going towards the race course either. No one in their right minds would be expecting that such a seemingly rich and noble lady would leave everything behind and abscond.

It was also safer to reach the race course separately so as to not leave any traces that they had left Cyrium together.

It was still early morning, the sun had yet to rise. The road was still occupied with merchant caravans seeking to utilise the empty streets to quickly get to their destinations; before the city wakes up, spilling forth its hundreds of thousands of denizens onto the streets.

Isan was clad in her usual noble attire. It would attract too much attention if a noble were to ride away from Cyrium without any escort. It was also unheard of that a noble would forgo their ornate carriages and groomed horses. The nobles were never one to forgo their comfort.

They were at the exit to the racecourse, facing away from the city. The vast expanse of farmland before them was deserted; the peasants that tended to their farms, sound in sleep.

Isan quickly dispelled any worries that Arran had regarding her dress by simple stepping out of it. He had been taken by surprise. She was wearing the simple drab grey attire of the peasants, devoid of any embellishments and baubles. It was plain and common. She would be a fish in the sea amid the throngs of other peasants that occupied the roads as the sun rose.

She had brought quite a bit of money and a cloth bundle filled with food. Money was the only thing that she had in excess, the only thing that she had too much of. She hoped that they could buy whatever they would need in one of the many villages that had sprouted all around Cyrium.

Arran handed the chestnut gelding to Isan before mounting Equs. Isan had no difficulties with the gelding; being a noble meant that riding was one of the few pastimes they actively pursued.

They had set off then, aiming for the nearest village around Cyrium so as to procure what supplies they could before their absence would be noticed.

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