Our trip through Bilhaeder took about as long as Elph suggested, though it seemed we had only just reached the street when the edge of the city appeared ahead. I suppose my lack of freedom in the last four years made such an outing so enticing I barely realized the time passed.

Sneaking out of the main government building had been simple enough, with Elph to guide us around the most used areas and through little-occupied quarters. A private elevator platform in the back of the ...