Reo lays out on Calliope's sofa, a wave of thoughts running through his tired mind. A part of him wants to do this to get money and his 'freedom', but another part of him doesn't want to betray his people more than he already has. The words Sen'na Laeo keep repeating themselves in his head. Why has The Goddess given him such an estranged path of atonement? He had been wishing for so many years that he had Castor back so much that it ached. Reo could always count on his big brother for anything, but he's gone. He's gone and is never coming back. It's all because of Reo and his foolishness.
"I hope this is the right thing to do, Castor." Reo mumbles before succumbing to sleep.
The next morning, they meet a giddy Clementine and her son who is cradled in her arms. The boy looks much better than the last time he saw him, but he still looks incredibly frail.
"I take it you know your way to Allori?" She asks him.
"Yeah, I know." He says dismissively.
He notices Calliope staring at a large mansion that is situated on the outskirts. She's grabbing at the two long braids in her hair and her eyes reflect a feeling of unease like she wants to leave as soon as possible. He wants to try to help her but Clementine forces his attention back to her.
"As you know you have to cross the Sunarai desert to get to Allori which will be too difficult for you on foot. When you arrive, there will be a caravan waiting for the two of you to get to Allori safely and without getting caught." Reo sucks in a breath as her words stab at his heart. Before he can retort back, Clementine shoves a leather bag in his hands. "Here is some travel money, now off you go. I expect that book in my hands very soon." For some reason, those words made him feel nauseous. She sees them off, the two of them beginning their journey to Allori.
Calliope assumes that the journey will take two months both ways, hopefully quicker with the Suna caravan. They'd have to cross the entirety of Roscha and Sunarai before they even brush the Allori border.
They've been walking for a few hours now, making small talk. Vast fields and small villages pepper the Roschan countryside. Calliope seems to be feeling better after leaving the city. He thinks about her upset face back at the mansion.
"Hey Calliope can I ask you something?"
"Sure."
"At the outskirts, you seemed to be really put off by that mansion we were by, what's up with that if you don't mind me asking?" She looks down at her feet and twirls her hair in her fingers. Reo is beginning to notice that she twirls her hair when she's distressed. She has a focused look on her face as if she's thinking about what to say.
"I just don't really like that place, it gives me a bad feeling." She says softly. They don't say anything about it afterwards.
The duo continues travelling through Roscha for the next two weeks, only stopping to camp for the night. They spend their time on the road coming up with plans and getting to know each other. Actually, it's more like Reo trying to get something out of Calliope. She asks him about his interests but when the topic of Calliope comes up, she changes the subject. The more time Reo spends with Calliope, the more fascinated he becomes with her. He studies her constantly, eager to learn everything about her. But Calliope with her guarded nature, doesn't reveal much. She has a nice habit of perfectly answering a question without giving an actual answer. It frustrates him. It's like she doesn't even want to attempt to be friends with him. All she really does is plan their next move for this mission, like she's obsessed with it.
They enter a village at around sunset where they decide to turn in for the night. It's not very big, just some houses, a few farms, and a corner store. Calliope doesn't seem impressed. She stares at Reo while he looks around eagerly. He's been here before, after escaping the ju haleer, he lived here for a few weeks with an Allori woman named Nita. He spots her home on the edge of the village, a small building with a sizable garden surrounding it. Reo ushers Calliope over.
"I know where we can stay for the night." Calliope's eyebrows raise in suspicion.
"Don't worry, I know who lives there. You could say she's a friend of mine." Reo knocks on the door and it quickly opens to reveal a tall woman with a slender frame. Her pin straight brown hair stops at her shoulders, turning grey at the roots. Her eyes are an Allori lavender, just like Calliope's right eye. She stares at Reo for a moment, then she smiles brightly.
"Reo! Min kjaere, it's so nice to see you again!" Nita pulls him into a familiar embrace that reminds Reo of his mother. She glances over his shoulder and eyeballs Calliope. "Is this your girlfriend?" She asks unabashedly. Calliope snorts and Reo sputters out a response.
"Uh, no. She's just a travelling companion." She invites the two of them into her home. The main room is very cozy and quaint with a kitchen off in the corner and a small seating area in the center.
"Please have a seat, you must be exhausted from travelling all day." Calliope gives Reo a questioning glance.
"Oh, Calliope this is Nita, Nita this is Calliope." Calliope gives Nita a sheepish wave. Nita smiles fondly, then gives the two of them a cup of warm tea.
"So, Reo what brings you here?' Reo can't tell Nita where they're going, she'll never allow him to step foot in Allori let alone Fhalhandre. Unfortunately for him, it's useless to lie. Nita is an emotional reader so she can spot a lie from a mile away. Reo squeezes the cup so hard his knuckles begin to turn white, he sets it down and takes a deep breath.
"Well you see… Calliope and I are heading to Fhalhandre." Nita just gawks at him.
"Are you mad? If anybody recognizes you it's your head!" She yells with terror in her voice. Reo jumps to his feet.
"I'm willing to take that risk, my freedom is on the line!"
"You're a traitor, Reo, you can't go it's too dangerous." She says pleadingly.
"Reo, what does she mean by traitor?" Calliope asks. Her shoulders tense up and her brows become furrowed. Nita stares daggers at him
"You haven't told her?"
"Told me what?" Calliope stands with her fists clenched. The rising anger in her voice makes Reo shrink away.
"I'm a traitor."
"And you never told me this very important piece of information because?" Reo thinks about Calliope's guarded nature, she doesn't tell him anything. Why should he?
"I'm not obligated to tell you about my past." He bites back. Calliope's eyes harden.
"Not obligated? Reo, that could jeopardize our entire mission, do you understand that?" She yells, then storms out of the house. Reo rolls his eyes and sinks his into the chair and puts his head in his hands. Nita rubs his back comfortingly.
"Why didn't you tell her, min kjaere?" Reo thinks about Calliope's constant pacing, planning, and dedication to this mission. She said that she wants the freedom that Clementine promised.
"She's been so worried about this mission; I didn't want her to be anymore stressed than she already is." Nita pulls Reo's chin up to make him look into her eyes.
"I understand where you're coming from but you have to tell her the truth." Reo takes a deep breath. He thinks about the hurt in her eyes behind the voice of anger. A twinge of guilt grasps at his heart.
"She may be upset with you now, but if you explain it to her she'll understand. I don't know her, but I can tell that she's also had a rough past."
"I hope you're right because I don't know her either." Nita stares at him with a confused expression.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"She doesn't talk about herself. She's very good at avoiding it. How am I supposed to get to know someone who won't tell me about themself?" Nita sighs.
"Reo, I can tell that girl has been hurt. Her heart is plagued with pain, fear, and mistrust. She'll reveal herself to you with time. Now, you just need to show her that you are somebody to trust." Reo rests his head on Nita's shoulder fondly.
"When you put it like that, I guess it makes sense." Nita chuckles.
"Now, go talk to her." Nita says, nudging him with her shoulder. She sends him out and he walks down the village's narrow lane toward Calliope.