Despite the reassurances of his aunts, leaving the inn was incredibly difficult for Meyrin. The Cracked Hoof was the only home he had ever known, as he had been too young to truly remember the home he'd had with his father before his death. For that same reason, his aunts were the only family he had ever truly known, as well. Leaving them and the inn behind was difficult even though he knew he could easily return whenever he wished.

Though the Cracked Hoof was not on one of the main roads through Nairiume that was paved with smooth, flat stone, the packed dirt road was still well-maintained and kept in such a way that most of the rain that fell flowed into ditches beside the road in all but the worst storms. There were places where the rain had formed small channels in the dirt of the road as it flowed off to the ditches, but these were easy for Jako to step over as he was a rather long-legged horse. It was early in the morning, just after dawn, when Meyrin rode off in the direction of Solaris and the morning dew kept much dust from rising from the disturbance caused by Jako's hooves, but Meyrin knew the dust would come with the heat of the late summer day.

He looked back once to wave farewell after a tearful goodbye with his aunts, but did not look back again for fear of changing his mind and returning home without getting anywhere near Solaris. Instead, he tried to focus on observing the land he rode through, as he could not recall a time in his life where he had gone toward the capital and not toward Cirrane, in the opposite direction. He knew it would take approximately nine days to reach Solaris on horseback, alternating between trotting and walking regularly. By the end of the day he would reach a crossroads that brought him to one of the main cobbled roads that led to the capital. There would be signposts at every crossroads he encountered telling him which path to take to Solaris, so he had little concern about becoming lost. He had some money to stay at inns along the way, but the crown-sponsored waystations would also give him a place to sleep and to allow Jako to rest. 

The waystations, though he looked forward to using them as a traveler with very little money, were one of the reasons his aunts were struggling with the Cracked Hoof. Some of the waystations included sheltered places where travelers could sleep if they wished, which lessened the need for inns. Of course, they did not provide entertainment or meals that had been prepared for guests, and no alcohol could be found there. Meyrin felt that the need for inns would never truly end due this more personal touch and the more inviting atmosphere of inns in general. The waystations were more practical for those traveling long distances who couldn't afford to pay to stay in an inn every night that they needed to.

Meyrin passed few other travelers so early in the day and on so unimportant of a road. He knew he'd encounter more fellow travelers as he came to the main road, and knew some of them would not be completely good or honest people. He'd learned common travel advice from guests who had stayed that the Cracked Hoof over the years, and kept all his valuable items close to himself, within the protective covering of his travel coat. These included his money, a book of tales he had always found comfort in throughout his life and that had been left to him by his mother, and a strange coin Biltrin had once given him as a reward for his improved skills with a bow and that Meyrin kept with him as a reminder of their friendship. His less valuable items, including extra clothing and blankets for sleeping, and what food his aunts could sapre for his travels, were all kept in his saddlebags.

On his back was slung his favorite bow, as well as a second, extra bow that was easier to string and fire quickly. He was just as precise with both bows, but his favorite was slightly more balanced and comfortable in his hands as a result of his improved bow-making skills. That would be the bow he displayed his skills with when he reached Solaris, while the other bow would help him to hunt and defend himself along the road.

He knew he roads could be dangerous for travelers who were alone, though he heard it had been decades since roving bandits had been the norm throughout Nairiume. Much had been done not only through the employment of the Tetimi and other enforcers of the law, but also through programs throughout the cities and towns of Nairiume to improve employment and meet other needs of the people so that crime had declined dramatically. At least, that is what Meyrin had picked up from guests at the inn over the years. There was much about travel and politics that he had learned about by overhearing many a conversation among those who were merely stopping at the Cracked Hoof during their own travels. He supposed that, if he were to be accepted into the Tetim Lanali program, he would learn a great deal more about the law and social programs, and the true state of things in the country he had always called home.

Meyrin touched the carefully folded letter from the Tetimi pair. He had placed it in the breast pocket of his coat so he always knew where it was, and therefore knew it was safe. The letter would be the simplest way, he assumed, to get into the Tetimi training center in Solaris to speak to the officials and officers in control of recruitment. Of course, he knew he would need to demonstrate his skills after they read the letter, but having a pair of Wandering Tetimi express that his abilities had impressed them so would give Meyrin the opportunity to show those skills at all. Of course, he knew he would be tested on more than his archery skills, as he was certain it required other abilities to be selected for the Tetimi. He wasn't certain precisely what would be required, but he knew it was more than simply being skilled with a weapon.

He hoped he was prepared.