Arthur responded to Lily's gesture with a courteous smile, though her unexpected presence put him under great stress. She was definitely one of the most attentive servants in the household; however, he intuited the actual reason why Leandre had sent her. She was a "religious spy"; in other words, a person who assisted the religious council in their secret labors. Lord Leandre was probably unaware of his husband's plot, yet he needed to make sure he did not do anything inappropriate behind his back; for instance, revealing delicate information or starting an affair with another man. Emily was also struck by her appearance, but there was nothing she could do about it. They would have to come up with a strategy to concretize the escape under her watchful eye.

Lily joined the entourage and followed them to the front of the mansion. Two high-end carriages were waiting outside. One of them was meant to carry Lord Arthur and his maidens, while the other was destined for his escort. He greeted the horsemen warmly; they handled the luggage and everyone got in their respective vehicles. Fortunately, the rain had ceased temporarily, and the journey seemed promising. They just had to make a couple of stops before reaching the nearest shore. Emily found a spot next to the window and sat in silence, ignoring Lily's disdainful stare. At least Amelia, the other maiden present, was easing off the tension with her placid comments. She was almost fifty-five years old, an elderly citizen according to Rosettan standards, who was looking forward to her well-deserved retirement. She had proudly served the Beacon family for over three decades, and she had given birth to four of their children, including one of Lord Leandre's dearest brothers.

Lord Arthur was thanking her for her laudable labor, as they departed the property and reached the main road. Emily wanted to do the same, but suddenly she felt her stomach swirling. She eventually became so nauseous that she turned pale and was forced to open the window. Her abrupt malaise took everyone by surprise. Arthur requested the horseman to stop for a minute, and Amelia rushed to assist her. Lily was equally rapid in expressing her disgust.

–She is sick; she should stay in the house. She cannot work in this condition; besides, she is going to ruin our schedule!

–Don't be so harsh on our fellow sister, Lily. She is not used to traveling, it is normal to get dizzy. All she needs is a few drops of crimson flower…

Emily threw up on the side of the path and washed her mouth with pristine water. She recovered very quickly, yet Amelia tenderly wiped off her cold sweat and poured drops of herbal remedy underneath her tongue. They resumed their journey shortly after, despite Lily's complaints. Emily was not bothered by her constant attacks; nevertheless, she could not help but feel threatened. After all, vomiting was a well-known symptom of pregnancy. Every maiden in Rosetta could recognize the early signs.

The group would reach their first stop some hours later: a busy tavern in the center of the realm. The trip had been relatively uneventful. The passengers had spent most of their time reading, although Lily had also encouraged them to pray along the way to help their master succeed in his business plans. Lord Arthur was very uncomfortable around her, but he managed to dissimulate. He even thanked her for her tireless efforts and promised to reward them accordingly.

Once he entered the ample establishment, he requested three tables and ordered the special stew for everyone on his team. The servers did not even have to glance at the insignias on his jewels to tell he was a noble. Only the wealthiest men in Rosetta could afford to walk around with numerous servants and armed guards. They escorted him to the best spot in the room, right next to a stage where a group of maidens were singing and dancing. He was handed an expensive bottle of wine and multiple free appetizers to enjoy the show. In addition, the owner of the tavern took his time to welcome him with unnecessary flattery. Emily found it hard to believe that a master could give up a life of power and privilege to start over new. Perhaps a heart like his could never be bought, and that was what made them one of the same.

Once everyone was done with their meal, Lord Arthur made sure to cover the bill and add a generous tip for the servers and the kitchen staff. Afterward, they departed for the last destination planned for the day: a modest hostel on the outskirts of the realm. It was located in one of Rosetta's ancient fishing towns, very close to the vacant beaches. Despite being nervous, Emily had enjoyed the route so far. She had plenty of time to peer at the landscapes she was about to leave behind forever. The realm consisted of several small populations; each of them had a distinct name and some were celebrated for their particular guilds or cultural background. Emily saw many of those prosperous neighborhoods, their clean tree-lined avenues, massive temples, and colorful shops. However, she was mostly captivated by the suburbs, those areas that were considered problematic due to their historical reputation. Their loud streets were filled with minor criminals, beggars, and drunkards, but they were also home to most of Rosetta's pariahs: all types of people who failed to meet the rigorous religious standards and had been publicly shamed for it. Many of them were former convicts and had trouble finding proper jobs, housing, or social assistance. Lily had fun speaking ill about them and their scandalous behavior. Yet all Emily could think about was the courageous dissidents she was about to meet.

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They reached the hostel at dusk. Emily was instantly blown away by the peaceful setting. A white lodge rested at the very end of a narrow road, surrounded by a few quiet cottages, barns, and orchards. Emily peeked at some boys playing, running barefoot around a clothesline, and a couple of fishermen coming home from work. She could also sense the rumbling from a nearby beach. She quickly realized that she had never been face to face with the ocean before; many sailors described it as a frightening, yet entrancing experience. She simply prayed she was brave enough to get on that boat and never look back. The horsemen took care of the steeds and guided them towards the stable on the side of the establishment. In the meantime, Lord Arthur headed to the reception. He needed three rooms for the stay: one for him, one for his maidens and one for his sentinels, who would take turns guarding his door during the night. He was already used to traveling, so it was easy for him to negotiate with the innkeepers. He also made sure to instruct his bond servants properly.

–We will be staying here for a couple of days, until I am done exploring the businesses and the workshops in the area. I will visit the old shipyard tomorrow morning, so I must leave after sunrise. Lily, make sure to fetch my breakfast. Emily, be kind enough to run my bath, and Amelia, please have my clothes and my books ready. We should all have some rest now. I'll call you if I need anything else or if I want you to clean my chamber pot.

–Goodnight, master Arthur. Praise the gods.

Lord Arthur settled in a spacious room upstairs, while the maidens were assigned to a smaller chamber on the first floor, next to the outdoor latrines and a vegetable patch. Emily's nerves were wrecked already, though she was trying to act naturally. She helped her fellow sisters handle the luggage, turn on the candles and fetch some water from the lodge's well. Amelia even took her time to clean the table and place fresh flowers on a small vessel.

–These hostels are usually smelly, especially during the monsoon season. Luckily, I brought enough scented soap. I also have my herbs ready in case you feel sick, dear Emily.

Emily turned her head slightly, as she combed her hair by the window. She had been standing there for a while, carefully analyzing her surroundings. According to Arthur's plan, she had to sneak out of her room unseen and meet him in the back of the building at midnight. He would have a horse waiting for him and they would rush all the way to the beach, where they would meet with a couple of dissidents before his father arrived with the ship. She had been so immersed in her challenge that she had barely paid attention to Amelia's tender talk so far.

–Thank you, sister. But that won't be necessary. I am feeling much better now. Matter of fact, I like this place a lot.

–It is beautiful, indeed. We should take some time to walk around tomorrow. I heard you can find the most delicious seafood in this town.

Lily seemed displeased with the conversation, or perhaps she was simply tired. She laid down in one of the beds and proceeded to wrap herself in the worn away eiderdown.

–Could you please save all that blather for later? I need to get through my prayers before I fall asleep…

Emily certainly could not rest, despite being exhausted by the extended trip. She was forced to lay on her mattress for hours, awaiting quietly in the dark. She eventually heard Amelia snoring next to her. She could also distinguish distant voices or footsteps in the adjacent rooms. However, by midnight, silence reigned across the gloomy hamlet. She patiently waited for the right time to leave the bed and cautiously head to the door. She only took a small bag with clothes and medicine: the only belongings that would follow her on her journey to the unknown. She glanced meticulously at the corridor before walking to the garden. The building appeared to be empty, even so, she could not put herself at risk of being caught by the hostel's workers or by Lord Arthur's guards. None of them was his accomplice or even aware of his intended escape, and they would most likely support Lord Leandre instead of him in case something happened. Matter of fact, in the worst-case scenario, they could all be sentenced to death for high treason.

Emily had to push away all those dreadful thoughts as she finally stepped out of the property and stormed towards the obscure grove. Little did she know that Lily's evil, confounded eyes were stalking her from the edge of the window.