When Lianne woke up again, it was already morning. Her head hurt and her mind felt groggy. It took some time for her to really come back to this world, the haze of sleep slowly disappearing. Lianne had a feeling she had slept restlessly, even if she didn't remember seeing any vivid dreams.

Lianne moved her hands under the blanket, stretching them up a bit. The worst pain was gone, but her muscles still ached. Her body had gone through an ordeal. It would take some time for her to get her strength back.

"Morning," Lianne heard Amra's voice as soon as moved.

Lianne turned on her other side and saw that Amra was lying on the bedroll next to her. Amra looked like she hadn't slept at all last night. Her eyes were bloodshot and her skin pale, but she still smiled as soon as she saw Lianne turning towards her.

"How are you feeling?" Amra asked with a hoarse voice.

"Like I've been hit with a hammer. Or like hundreds of horses had run over me," Lianne replied while adjusting her position a bit, wincing. "I'm alright."

"You're not just saying that so I get off your back?" Amra still checked.

"Me? Why would I do something like that?" Lianne gasped overdramatically.

Amra grinned. "You're right, who would think you'd do something like that?" she said in an exaggerated manner as she got up to sit. She stretched her arms and rolled her shoulders to wake her body up. Then she let out a big yawn, her whole face relaxing.

Lianne took some of her hair between her fingers and pulled it closer to her eyes. She really wished that everything would have been a nightmare and her hair would be back to normal in the morning. But it wasn't. Her body ached, reminding her what happened last night.

"How bad is my hair?" Lianne asked silently.

Amra stopped and immediately shook her head. "No, there's not much of it. It's fine," she said before pausing. "I still can't really figure out what happened last night."

Lianne looked at her hair carefully. She twirled it between her fingers, inspecting it hesitantly. Some of her hair had really turned to the shade of ash, and it puzzled her. Why did something like that happen?

Lianne let go of her hair and then turned on her back, looking at the ceiling of the lodge. What happened last night bothered her. Not only what happened with the man, but she also felt guilty for being harsh to Faolin. She never had a feeling that he was the enemy. He had only ever helped her, but she still couldn't get the interrogation out of her mind.

"Hey, Amra. What do you think about Faolin?" Lianne asked while pursing her lips, thinking.

"Again with him. I think he's alright," Amra answered casually.

"I can't stop thinking of the interrogation I heard," Lianne pondered.

Amra thought for a moment. Then she leaned back on her hands. "He's not telling much, but I get the feeling he just wants to get rid of his problems. As he said, break the bond."

"No, I understand that completely, but it baffles me why he is like that," Lianne said with a grunt while getting up to sit and bending her legs.

"You mean how he acts?"

"Yes. Sometimes he looks at the world like he has lived in captivity, but it's not like he's not capable. He can even be ruthless. I don't get why he's like that. It bothers me," Lianne explained hastily.

"Oh, hey!" Amra suddenly yelped while leaning closer to Lianne like she had a secret to tell. "This reminded me of something. Do you remember the songs about the bondservants?"

"What? The ones that belong to the demons? Why?"

"The songs are generally frowned upon. If someone catches you singing one of those in a tavern, you're immediately out," Amra explained as she started humming the start of a tune, reminding herself of the song. "Alright, the chorus went something like this," she said and silently started reciting the lyrics.

"These men kneeling before the demon, obeying every word,

Servants of underworld lost their freedom, as slaves all of them herd,

These men who traded their lives for a prison, tricked by the one they believed,

Fighting to be the one arisen, their bond all of them grieved,

They fought, they bled and killed for their master, those men that lost everything,

They fought, they bled and killed for their master, those men would do anything."

When Amra stopped, Lianne frowned. "It's just a song."

"Think about it. Most songs are based on something real, even though they're presented as stories." Amra explained almost excited.

Lianne thought for a moment. She lifted her hand on her chin and scratched it. "Do you think the mark has something to do with it?"

"Maybe. If he has the bond. Like in the song," Amra said readily.

Lianne rubbed her forehead like the subject was too hard to comprehend at the moment. "I don't know. Maybe I'm overthinking this. I just can't seem to get yesterday out of my mind."

"I wouldn't worry about it too much. He has helped us a lot already," Amra shrugged her shoulders.

"You're probably right," Lianne said while letting out a sigh. Not knowing was the worst. It made her mind come up with theories that were not real. She tried to stop herself from thinking about it, but it was still hard.

"We should probably head out soon," Lianne then said, changing the subject. Clandmere was waiting, and what happened last night made her feel like they should hurry. There were too many things hiding in the shadows, trying to obstruct their way.

Then Lianne glanced at Amra with a small smile, wanting to lighten up the mood. She tried to get rid of all the bad thoughts in her head. "Or do you want to stay here forever, get married to Sionia and have sweet little human-elf babies with her?"

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Amra burst out laughing. "You do know how babies are made, do you?" she asked back with a teasing tone. Then they both looked at each other and smiled. They could always joke with each other. That was their way of easing the pressure.

"Yes, I think we should head out soon," Amra then said, getting back to being serious.

Lianne hummed in response and took a deep breath as if she was bracing herself. Then she eventually got up to stand. Lianne had never been that slow with anything. Her every muscle and nerve seemed to sting with small needles as she moved her body.

"Do you need help?" Amra asked when Lianne started putting on her boots, but she shook her head. She couldn't rely on Amra with everything. She had to get back in working order. They needed to continue their journey as soon as possible.

Lianne opened the door of the lodge and stepped out, immediately feeling the bright morning sunshine warming her face and making her squint her eyes. The atmosphere in the village was totally different than last night. The ghostly atmosphere was gone, almost like it wasn't the same place at all.

As soon as Lianne stepped outside, Faolin, who had been leaning against the wall of the lodge, flinched and stumbled a few steps. He was holding his bow in his hand and a pipe in the other, the earthy scent lingering in the air around him.

Lianne looked at Faolin puzzled. "What are you doing here?"

Faolin seemed surprised for a moment. He opened his mouth like he was going to say something. Then he shut it and hesitated. "I was guarding," he finally said silently.

"Have you been here all night?" Lianne asked, inspecting Faolin closely. He also looked like he hadn't slept much last night.

Faolin averted his eyes like he was ashamed, and in the end, didn't reply anything.

Lianne felt warmth and guilt at the same time. She was cared for and it made her feel safe, but at the same time, Faolin and Amra had to suffer because of her. She took everything for granted. She acted selfishly, thinking only about herself and not her companions at all.

Lianne let out a deep sigh. She had to act better. She had to apologize. "Look, Faolin, I'm sorry for what I said. It's not my place to demand answers from you. You have your own journey and your own reasons."

"Do not worry your head with it," Faolin answered nonchalantly as if nothing had even happened last night.

"I really don't think you're scheming something with the Shadows. You really don't have to tell me anything you don't want to," Lianne still continued with a small desolate smile.

Faolin turned his head down, looking at his feet while he inhaled the smoke from his pipe. He kept it in for a moment and then released it in a long exhale. "No, I am sorry you had to hear that. My desire to get out of my bond..." he paused, his eyes wandering on the grass beneath his feet. "I need to get out of it. Sometimes I am not cut out to be patient."

"No, I get it. You're not the only one," Lianne said while shaking her head. Of course she wanted to know everything, but at the same time, she didn't want Faolin to feel obliged to her.

Faolin took another deep inhale from the pipe. Then he cleared his throat while letting the smoke out. "Can you eat?" he asked and pointed at the largest lodge in the village. "They are serving breakfast."

"Yes, I'm hungry," Lianne replied with a nod as she started taking careful steps ahead. Even if she was curious, she couldn't always get what she wanted. She couldn't pressure Faolin.

Lianne limped slowly towards the lodge, taking one step at a time. Her muscles weren't cooperating with her, and even if she tried acting normal so that Amra or Faolin wouldn't worry, she knew she couldn't fool them. Faolin was glancing at her from the corner of his eye.

"What?" Lianne quickly asked.

"Where does it hurt?" Faolin asked as he observed Lianne's walk.

"Everywhere," Lianne replied with a burst of laughter.

"Do you need help?"

"Thanks, but no thanks. I'll be fine. It's not that bad," Lianne replied, moving forward like nothing was the matter.

Amra rolled her eyes. "You're so stubborn," she said to Lianne who quickly glared at her before continuing on towards the lodge.

Most of the elves were already in the lodge, eating together. They were talking cheerfully among each other like the whole village was one large happy community. Nobody even looked at Lianne strangely as she came in, even though she had woken up most of them last night with her screaming. Everyone just wished them good morning as they ate their breakfast in peace.

When breakfast was eaten, Lianne, Amra, and Faolin backed up all their belongings, ready to continue their journey up north again. Faolin still went to the lodge to see to his prisoner, to determine what to do with him.

Lianne was tying their backpacks to their horses, not really concentrating on what she was doing. She was distracted by Amra saying her farewell to Sionia. It seemed intimate. Amra held Sionia's cheeks in her hands. She looked at her and whispered something with a smile. Sionia put her hand on top of Amra's and then kissed her passionately.

Lianne looked at their interaction and couldn't help but think if Amra really felt bad for leaving. She had seen Amra with other one-night stands, but she had never seen her that tender. Was it more than just a fling?

"Ah, young love. Do you agree?" Raeran's voice woke Lianne up from her thoughts.

"Hmm?" Lianne hummed.

"To be young and in love," Raeran said again, walking next to Lianne, looking at Amra and Sionia.

"I guess so," Lianne said a bit absent-mindedly.

"I wonder if you believe when I say that I used to be quite the looker in my youth."

Lianne smiled and finally tore her eyes away from Amra and Sionia. "I believe that," she said before bowing deeply at Raeran. "Thank you for your hospitality."

"It was the least we could do for you. I do hope you did not drink the wine too much," he answered with a mischievous grin.

Lianne laughed. "Don't worry, I can handle my alcohol," she replied before getting serious. "I'm sorry for waking everyone up."

Raeran shook his head. "Do not be. Nothing to worry about."

"I was wondering. Have there been any outsiders here lately? Other than us?" Lianne then asked.

Raeran thought for a moment. "There are rarely any visitors from outside. You are the first ones in a while."

"Are you sure?" Lianne still asked, even though he believed what Raeran told her.

"Yes, but there have been rumors that one can see a stranger in these woods at night. A spirit that takes away one's soul," Raeran said with a wide smile. Then he winked at Lianne, indicating that he was joking.

Lianne smiled politely. That man wasn't a spirit. He was real.

That's when a commotion was heard as Faolin rushed out of the lodge. He strode to Lianne, his steps hurried, his posture tense. He looked around suspiciously like he was searching for something.

"What's wrong?" Lianne immediately asked.

"He is dead," Faolin said firmly as he came to Lianne, glancing at all the elves.

"Your prisoner?" Lianne asked dumbfounded, slightly stuttering.

Faolin didn't answer. He just looked at everyone gathered there. "Has anyone been to that lodge since yesterday?" he asked while pointing towards the place.

All the elves immediately shook their heads, their expressions baffled.

"You told us not to," Raeran answered Faolin.

"He did not die by his own hand last night. Are you certain?" Faolin still asked.

"What's going on?" Amra asked while coming to them, hearing the commotion from further away.

"My prisoner is dead," Faolin repeated.

That's when Lianne suddenly had a bad hunch. She remembered that the man had come out from one of the lodges last night. She hadn't known which one, but this couldn't be a coincidence. Had the man killed Faolin's prisoner?

"Can I see him?" Lianne asked Faolin.

"Why?"

"Just take me there."