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release the people. There has been enough bloodshed. We do not need any more.”
    The guard acknowledged and began spreading the word. The people had been enslaved for so long that they were cautious and unwilling to accept their freedom.
    Leinad found Tess and Quinn, and together they began to organize the people for their journey out of bondage.

EXODUS
    The people quickly gathered food and their meager belongings and prepared to leave Pyron Mid. The slave dwellings became an instant bed of frenzied activity. Anxiety, excitement, and apprehension prevailed among most of the people. They felt anxiety because they could not believe that Fairos would release them without some reason to further his own power. They were excited because never before had they been so close to freedom. They were apprehensive because they did not know where to go or what lay ahead of them. Some of the people left on their own, to return to their homelands, but most of the people were from the Valley of Nan or without a homeland altogether and had no homes to return to.
    â€œLeinad!” Quinn called. “We’re almost ready. There are thousands of people! Where do we take them? How will we feed them?”
    Leinad smiled at Quinn. “Where the King’s will lies, there lies the way.”
    Leinad and Tess rode on Freedom to the front of the mass of people. Leinad gave the reins to Tess and dismounted. He drew his sword and held it high for all to see.
    â€œThrough the King, we have been delivered,” he shouted. “Let us set our hearts to serve Him as we set our feet toward freedom!”
    He motioned forward with the sword and led the people northeast toward the majestic Red Canyon. Leinad glanced back toward Pyron Mid to see if Fairos pursued them, but such was not the case. He wondered how long it would take for Fairos’s grief to transform to enraged vengeance.
    Their journey was slow. Almost everyone traveled on foot. The few exceptions were the older people, who did not have the endurance to maintain their moderate pace. Tess promptly gave her seat on Freedom to two older women.
    Leinad hoped to reach the Red Canyon by nightfall of the next day. It was just beyond the borders of Nyland, and he would feel much better once they were outside Fairos’s realm.
    L ATE INTO THE FOLLOWING DAY , there did not seem to be any canyon in sight. Garrin found it an opportune time to create discord among some of the people. Leinad called for Quinn to take Freedom and scout the land before them. Within in a few moments Quinn returned.
    â€œIt’s amazing,” he said to Leinad. “We are almost to the canyon, but the trees ahead conceal it. The canyon is vast, but the land before and after hide it quite well.”
    â€œThank you, Quinn. We will travel along toward the east until we are safe beyond the borders of Nyland. Then we will—”
    â€œThey’re coming!” came an alarm from one of the men.
    â€œLook!” Quinn pointed to a distant dust cloud that could be produced only by horses at full gallop … many horses.
    â€œIt’s Fairos!” Garrin said to the people. “He’s coming to kill us all! I told you Leinad would get us killed, and now it’s happening!”
    Cries of alarm swept through the people.
    â€œYou brought us out here to be slaughtered!” one man shouted to Leinad. “We were better off as slaves!”
    â€œWhat will we do?” shouted another.
    â€œQuinn, go back to the canyon and find a way down,” Leinad said. “We don’t have much time!”
    Quinn pulled hard on Freedom’s reins and galloped off toward the Red Canyon.
    â€œQuickly, everyone!” Leinad shouted. “We’ve got to make the canyon before they reach us!”
    The people quickened their pace, but it was still far too slow for Leinad. He kept his eye on the approaching dust cloud and estimated by its size that Fairos had called his entire