After a price was set, and Yume got some rest for her wings, the trio got ready to go. Well, until then, it was already night, so actually they were ready to start their trip the next morning. The muse accepts grudgingly to accompany them, more swayed by the Sarista asking for her bodyguard's help and the poor fate that awaits the girl in case they fail, than anything else.<br/>In the morning, Dingo expressed a desire to join them. "I don't feel like I pulled my own weight last night", as he puts it. Every sword is helpful, and his things are packed and ready, so why not?<br/>Then suddenly, the Thalasian expresses a desire to join them, too. He doesn't promise lots of help, outside of gathering rumours, but all he asks for is the story of saving a kidnapped girl. Dingo adds he will keep himself alive in a scrap, so it wouldn't be like adding weight. "People are more likely to talk to a singer", as they both see it.<br/><br/>The trip is short and uneventful. The city of Chamast that Yume leads them to is recently founded, after water was found underground, and most people met on the road use colourful and humorous names like "Muddy Hole". It's small, probably not even on all cards yet, but the streets are surprisingly broad - most allow for two cars going in the opposite directions to find their way without slowing down - and obviously most people here are part of the trade caravans going to the more desert parts of the continent. Caravans are everywhere, and it seems almost every second person of the local residents is either selling or lending animals, helps into an inn, repairs the cars used for travel, selling booze and other services to the caravan guards, or more than one of these. The ones that get to service the Viragos might have to waive the price of the spirits, but it's part of life.<br/>Aevala, who stays behind due to her sudden illness, has warned you to keep your purses tightly shut and in a secure place, and to watch your backs. People can and do get robbed in this place, it seems.<br/>They are now standing on the edge of said place, and Yume is leading them forward. Problem is, she shows them an inn, and gives her shriek that means it's the place they were looking for.<br/><br/>Arathea is remembering her escape away from the Khan. She has only to close her eyes to see his shaved head and scowling grin. He sure will be unhappy that she escaped!<br/>On the other hand, opening them doesn't improve things... well, not by much. She sees the face of the sleeping, drunk Arimite she picked up - he probably thought he had picked her up - in the nearby inn. She reached the city hungry, on foot after her animal collapsed under her, and without a lumen in her pockets.<br/>Her collar attracted a glance or two, but slavery is not well accepted in Zandir, and the little town she has reached is in Zandir. Of course, it's near the frontier, so people can probably be whisked away to less scrupulous places... Even the Arimite could do it. But he just seemed the easiest to manipulate into buying her a dinner. Well, she wasn't exactly planning to pay for it with her body, but then it wasn't a big deal, either. At least, after it became clear, she was going with his plan for the night, he was treating her like a free woman.<br/><em>For now.</em>The whole thing was a dangerous game, but one she's good at.<br/>Following an impulse, she leaves the bed. The man looks like he might wake up soon.