Clang!
Zhao Si swung his blade and cut through the chain securing the prison wagon's door. The chain fell to the ground. The horse pulling the wagon paced uneasily and snorted, seemingly afraid Zhao Si would slash it too.
Creak.
Zhao Si pulled the door open, removed his face covering, and spat out the Glintstone Bullet in his mouth. "Sis, how did you end up like this?"
As he spoke, he helped Sellen out of the prison wagon and cut her shackles open with his blade.
Sellen flexed her numb, swollen wrists, where the circulation had been cut off. They tingled painfully, and even her voice trembled. "Some of the Sorcery Professors at the Academy-hiss... staged a rebellion. I was caught up in it. Haven't you heard?"
"I heard some of it." Zhao Si sheathed his blade. "I was mostly asking where you were, so I skipped over the Academy's rebellion. All I heard was that Blaidd put it down."
"How did you find me?" Sellen sat on a stump to rest.
Zhao Si picked up the water flask from the ground. There was still plenty of water inside. He handed it to Sellen, then stirred the pot over the campfire. The meat broth inside gave off steam and a rich aroma.
Zhao Si gathered up the utensils scattered on the ground, found a clean wooden bowl, and filled it for Sellen.
Only after doing all that did Zhao Si say, "I went to the Academy first and got the information from Shrimp-Meat Boy. He has a lot of young buddies in Gatefront Town, and they noticed where you were going. If I'd known, I would've headed straight toward you. I didn't expect to take such a huge detour."
And he certainly had. He had set out from the Weeping