They stopped and made camp on an obscure spot in the forest. Unlike the trade route in the Xai-Ren outposts, there was hardly anyone on the well-worn road through the forest. Canelis found an empty space and sat on it, leaning her head against a rough tree trunk and closing her eyes to relax. Leaves of multiple colors rustled with the cool breeze shuffling in the canopies, providing a calming focus in her mind. She was cooped up in that filthy cell for so long she forgot how nice a forest breeze felt against her skin.

A flash of light behind her lids sparked. She opened her eyes to find Cailen striking a flint into a meager pile of branches he had made. Within a few seconds, a bright fire burned and licked the sticks.

"We won't last that long with that scant thing," Canelis jerked her chin at their small fire when Cailen dusted his hands with a sigh and fell back. "You need to work on your fire-lighting skills."

"Yeah?" Cailen glared at her. "And you need to work on your people skills. Your way of starting and holding a conversation sucks."

Canelis opened her mouth to defend her honor when Cailen turned to the flame, bracing his elbows over his knees. "I wouldn't blame you though," he said. "The Army has pounded you into a non-feeling machine with how rigid it is."

"There you are again, degrading the only thing I know to be true," Canelis snapped. "If you've got nothing to say about my comrades, shut up. Unlike you, I've been in the Army far longer. I know what I'm talking about."

A small chuckle shook Cailen's shoulders. "I'm not apologizing for my thoughts, though," he said. "There really are some aspects in the way you guys do things that needed improvement."

Canelis raised an eyebrow. "Like what?"

"Letting people choose for themselves," Cailen said. "The Army doesn't do enough of that."

"Are you speaking from personal experience or are you relaying to me somebody else's sentiment?" Canelis inclined her head to one side. How much difference the absence of the grates between them could make, right?

Cailen mussed his hair, turning to her with a stupid grin on his face. "A little bit of both," he said. "I was born in Ok-Sa to renegade parents. Like how you're born inside the Army, none of us had a choice about where life would take us."

Canelis pursed her lips. So this was what it was? Generational renegades not being able to do what they want, enjoy what they felt entitled to just because they're born from the wrong family? "Do you want to serve in the Army?" she asked, daring to extend a proverbial limb out there.

The boy hummed. "If it meant having a roof that could collapse any time over my head, why not?" he said. "If I am going to survive, I owe it to myself to give me a better chance, right?"

"What about your parents?" Canelis knitted her eyebrows. "Your siblings? Children?"

Cailen's expression fell. "My parents are gone. Taken by the plague."

"I'm...sorry," she blurted. Why was she even relating to this boy?

He shrugged. "It's a long time ago," he said. "As for siblings and children, I haven't had either."

Canelis arched an eyebrow. "How old are you, even?"

"Not telling ya," he replied with a wink. "Are you curious?"

Canelis rolled her eyes and clicked her tongue. "No," she said. "Not one bit."

Cailen nodded. "Sure," he said. "Let's go with that."

"So this whole talk about the Army being a slave mill," Canelis prompted. "It stemmed from your wanting to enter Yin-Alora and your inability to?"

Cailen blew a breath and stretched his legs. It didn't take Canelis to notice that he had scooted closer to her and rested his back against the same trunk she was leaning against. She eyed the distance between them and shifted her position to put more space between them.

"Why? Does it sound pathetic in the Crown General's perspective?" Cailen asked.

Canelis found herself shaking her head. "I think it makes sense," she admitted. "One would want what's best for oneself."

"I don't need your pity though," Cailen rubbed his forefinger and thumb against the strands of his dark hair. "I'm going to do everything I can survive outside the Army either way."

"Yes," Canelis echoed. "It's better than being under an authority, isn't it?"

Cailen's eyes were wide when he met her gaze. "What was that, Crown General?" he said. "Am I hearing this correctly?"

Despite her apprehension on Cailen and his people, she laughed. "I'm just saying it must be nice to enjoy such a freedom you have," she said. "I have never experienced not having anyone to please."

"If you enjoy stealing from the Army and living in 'dingy caves', then be my guest," Cailen said. He was grinning amidst all that though. "I'm sure you and I could get acquainted a little bit better with that arrangement."

Canelis hummed. "Was this campfire setting not to your liking?"

"What's your name, Crown General?" Cailen blurted.

She raised an eyebrow. "Isn't that apparent from the get go?"

The renegade smirked. "They don't exactly announce the names of random officers," he said.

That's an odd reason but it made sense. There was less chance the people from Xai-Ren to know the name of the Riogener reigning them, much less the name of his daughter. How much less would it be for people presumed dead and were detached?

Then, she winked at him. "Not telling ya," she said. "Refer to me as 'Officer' from here on out. I can't risk being recognized in this city while you're with me. If we are to sneak to Yin-Alora withotu being detected, it's best to adhere to that request."

"Looks like I'm getting a sneak peek of Yin-Alora's defenses and how to best avoid it," Cailen said, obviously pleased with himself. "Thanks for that...Officer."

Canelis snorted. "You've showed me how to get around Ok-Sa and your hideout," she said. "The Army believes in reciprocation."

Cailen's only answer was a light nod before slapping his thigh in hefting himself up. "Well, that's for tonight," he rubbed his hands together. "You take first watch while I catch some shut-eye. Don't you dare stab me in my sleep."

Delight clawed its way towards Canelis's gut at having heard Cailen vocalize the same sentiment she had just hours earlier. It's a mutual distrust. Excellent. They're on the same page, at least.

To answer her companion's worries, she spread her hands. "Look at me. I don't have any sharp objects in my person since your people took everything," she said. "How will I get those back?"

Cailen plopped to his side on the grass and rolled one of his shoulders. "That's up to Tarmis," he said. "Probably after this whole excursion you brought upon yourself."

"Make sure to solve the plague, Officer," he continued, tucking his arms closer to himself. With his back turned to her, she could only imagine he must have closed his eyes already. "You gave your word."

She let a few minutes pass, watching Cailen's breath even out to a light snore, before responding. "Of course," she said. "I swear by Daexis's name I'm going to make things right in this territory."