37: To the Mountains

"Are you sure you're okay?" Aiden persisted to confirm that Liran was fit for travel.

They had been trekking a steep path through the mountains, which led them further into the snowy Andor ranges. For half an hour, Liran was quiet and broody about something, her expression was dark.

Liran faced him with her annoyance. "What do you want me to say?"

"Liran-sai. You carry a threat to all of life. Of course we'd want to be sure you're okay." Aiden calmly answered.

"We or you?" She blurted out her anger. "I'm the one carrying this! Me! So you only need to think that I'm okay and drop it!"

Everyone shared concerned glances, noticing the flashes of black energy over her body before she lowered her head, shaking it.

"I'm sorry." She heaved for breath.

"That's what I meant. The more you hold in, the more it controls." Aiden carefully commented.

Anger flashed through Liran again. "Control? Nothing controls me. This is my choice to carry the pain!"

She turned and power walked up the path.

Annoying Imp patted Aiden's shoulder. "Let's just watch her silently. Any little gesture seems to trigger the Morningstar's hold."

"Graysky said that its power would be stronger now that we're out of the library." Rat sighed as he preened his face with a paw. "Her soul battle was fierce, bound to have taken a toll. And it's still linked to her."

"So does that mean that thing's hold on her is stronger?" Bosnia didn't hide her expression of worry.

"Yeah. It'll keep using any small triggers of emotion to claim her, so be careful with what you say." Rat advised everyone.

Aiden nodded and continued to walk behind her.

Everyone followed her in silence until Bosnia asked her burning question to Rat. "What's with that diamond thing on your forehead? You look like a poncy vermin."

Rat puffed out his chest. "It does make me look noble doesn't it."

"Smug try-hard more like it." Bosnia sarcastically added that stirred a bicker between them.

Clover shook her head and sighed. "It's a spatial pouch like Liran-sai's."

Rat stepped away from the bicker match to nod. "Graysky gifted it to me."

"So you can carry food barrels in that thing?" Bosnia's eyes lit up with hope.

"I'm not your stash and get-away boy." Rat huffed. "Keep your stuff to yourself."

"Bah, spoil sport." Bosnia grumbled and quickened her pace to be behind Aiden.

Their climb toward the Evergreen Mountain of The Daar'muth was uneventful so far. The only pain felt was shortness of breath from the thinning air. Their direction was, particularly, toward the range near the corpse forest border between Andor and the harsh Daar'muth Desert that went deeper into the southern lands.

Unfortunately, they had a vague map to go by, as the wizards hadn't ventured far south for a long time. The mountain contained raw magic from wild growing trees; some that affected tracking. She had reassured the old wizards that they would be fine. Grayman gave her a location charm just in case they got lost, they could mark their path.

Liran's thoughts lingered on her snappy response to Aiden. She sighed and slowed her pace to walk beside him. "Sorry, I don't know why I snapped like that."

Aiden shook his head. "We know and understand. But, even if you don't ask for it, we'll help you anyway." He patted her shoulder.

She nodded and continued to lead them into a dense forest valley, where underbrush and thick elms were so tightly packed together, it made sure they had to carefully pick their way through. 

A green magical array briefly flickered on Liran's forehead, which the others didn't see. 

Their way through the forest continued to be uneventful.

As the sun was setting, they decided to find a place to camp. Clover spotted a shallow cave within an overhanging precipice they could bunker down for the night.

The sisters got a campfire going, but Liran sat in thought as one hand stroked the muslin cloth of her lute, which was laid across her crossed legs. "Ugh, this moodiness is annoying."

With skillful movements, she unpacked her lute, tuned it then began to play a ditty melody. The song stirred smiles to everyone's faces, even her own.

After one play through, everyone's spirits were more jovial and calm.

"Let's eat!" Liran chirpily declared as she packed away her lute and began to gobble her share of vegetable skewers the sisters had cooked. "Not bad. You could add some pepper seasoning to give it that kick," she complimented their cooking with some advice, while her mouth was full.

Aiden smiled, feeling reassured that she was doing her best to be herself.

A short while later, everyone felt relaxed. Bosnia and Clover said they'd take the first watch to give others time to rest.

But Aiden couldn't sleep, as he monitored Liran's condition while she did. He frowned when he caught faint flickers of green light on her forehead. The Royal Binding Array.

He rose and went to stand next to Bosnia at the cave's mouth.

"You should be sleeping."

"We're being tracked. Keep a closer eye for strange movements."

Bosnia flashed a wide grin and nodded. Her expression dropped to serious focus when Aiden returned to Liran's side. Later on, he swapped with Bosnia. He and Annoying Imp took their shifts; fortunately nothing untoward stirred when everyone woke.