“So why is it that you treat your servants so terribly?” Secela asked Alorra.

                “Why is that you are here, when the last time I saw you, you were at an orphanage?” Alorra said, smoothly.

                “I came to save my friend” – Secela grabbed Ina’s hand and held it up for Alorra to see— “from you,” she replied, glaring at Alorra. “What are you going to do about it?” Secela tried not to have her voice tremble. Her heart was pounding with nervousness.

                Alorra thought for a moment, pressing one finger to her chin and gazing into the distance, then after a moment her lips parted in a cruel smile.

                “Well, I suppose the best course of action would be to return you to the orphanage,” she said, and then with a few strides had crossed over to where Secela was standing, stepped behind her and grabbed her hands, holding them together behind her back with her long, cold fingers. With her other hand, Alorra covered Secela’s mouth to keep her from yelling. Secela struggled for a few moments, which felt to her like an eternity, finally managing to kick Alorra on her leg and stepped on her feet. The pain made Alorra loosen her grip for just long enough for Secela to escape and grab Ina’s hand.

                “Run!” Secela cried.

                Both of them started running as fast as they could, past the governor (who tried to run after them, but was too slow), down the street, turning right, and heading to where Shisalina was tied up, in front of Jadiro’s tavern, next to a water trough.

                Secela mounted Shisalina first, then helped Ina mount behind her.

                “Hold onto my waist!” she shouted, then spurred Shisalina into a gallop, out of the town.

                Secela and Ina rode for an hour or two, getting out of Jadiro and following the train tracks back in the direction of Veavelle. Then they spent the rest of the night under a tree, just as Secela had on her way to Jadiro. In the morning, they continued riding, both hungry because they had nothing to eat. Finally, they entered Veavelle. Secela led Ina to the Hungry Chicken, tied Shisalina up to a post, and entered the tavern.