An earthy scent lingered in Lianne's dreams, wrapping around her thoughts and feelings. It mixed with her memories of when she had still been in her home village.
It was the day her brother and her parents had left for a trip to the nearest city, and she had gone to stay at Amra's house. She remembered looking after their receding backs as they rode off. She had been too young to go with them on their recurring trips to sell products and crafts from the village. Lianne was supposed to join them when she was a little older, though that day never came before her parents died.
As a custom, the villagers burned a bunch of herbs to bring good luck on their journey. That scent comforted but also saddened her as she watched her parents leave with her brother. She desperately wanted to go with them until the day came when Edwin was the only one coming back.
The image distorted but the scent still lingered, beckoning for her to open her eyes. That familiarity slowly pulled her out of her dreams, the haze disappearing. She started hearing the crackling of the fire, the wind in the trees, and the small chirping of birds.
Lianne opened her eyes, blinking a couple of times. It took her a moment to take in the surroundings, realizing how deeply she had slept, her body desperate for the rest. She had fallen asleep as soon as she had laid down on the bedroll last night.
Her muscles ached and her body felt tired after what happened yesterday. Lianne had used the blood magic without the darkness having total control of her, and she had instantly paid the price. It still puzzled her how she had been able to use the skill, but it was evident that she was changing for the worse.
Lianne turned her head and looked around. It was early morning and the sun had just risen above the horizon, the beams barely visible behind the trees. She saw Amra still sleeping on her bedroll and Faolin sitting on top of his. He was smoking his pipe, the earthy scent lingering to Lianne. It smelled comforting and familiar, making her feel as if she was at home.
Faolin was reading something, sitting his legs crossed. He turned a page on a book and focused fully on what he was seeing. Lianne remembered seeing a book in Faolin's belongings when he had unpacked everything after they had gotten caught in the rain days ago.
"Good morning. How did you sleep?" Faolin asked Lianne without lifting his gaze from the book.
Lianne flinched at his voice, snapping out of her thoughts. "Too well," she answered while sitting up and rubbing her face, trying to get rid of the last bits of sleepiness.
Faolin glanced at Lianne, the pipe hanging from the corner of his mouth. "What do you mean?"
"My body feels numb," Lianne shrugged and stretched her stiff arms. "What are you reading?"
Faolin glanced at the book and closed it quickly. He held it tightly, thinking before speaking. "This book belonged to my mother," he said, his gaze wandering on the spine of the book, his fingers feeling the dark cover and the gilded emblem on it. The book looked worn out and Lianne was sure that it was older than her.
"What is it about?" Lianne asked curiously.
"It is about my family," Faolin answered silently as if he was unsure whether he should say anything about it. "My mother recorded everything to this book."
Lianne's eyes widened in surprise. "What kind of things?"
Faolin inhaled the smoke and kept it in his mouth for a moment before exhaling. "I've told you about the Qesser. My family is one of the few with that special gift. It is not bestowed upon many," he explained as his eyes traveled from the book to the trees surrounding them, his gaze longing. "It was the grandmother of my mother who first got the gift, as a reward for her deeds. After that, the skill has traveled in my family for generations. It is taught to those deemed worthy."
"What did she do to get it?" Lianne asked, wanting to know more about his family.
"She happened to come by a seer in need of help, and as she saved his life, the seer granted the skill to her," Faolin explained.
Lianne frowned. "I didn't know seers had those kinds of powers."
"They do not nowadays, but they did before. Their skills have diminished through ages and their powers are now reduced to merely seeing what we cannot," Faolin said while puffing up another cloud of smoke.
"She taught the skill to her children?" Lianne asked.
"Yes. It is the responsibility of a parent to teach it to a child who possesses enough talent to learn it."
"And your mother taught it to you?"
Faolin nodded, turning his eyes back to the book, his gaze distant. Lianne instantly had an inkling that the tale would not be happy, but she still wanted him to tell her.
Faolin cleared his throat and straightened out his back. "My mother started teaching me the skill when I was very young. It is more complicated than a mere sealing spell, so it takes time to learn. Every time it is used to aid someone in need, it takes a small piece of the user. My mother ended up using too much. She..." Faolin said before pausing, a heavy silence hanging in the air. Then he cleared his throat again as if he tried to compose himself. "She was the first person I had to use my skill at."
Lianne listened to Faolin, her mouth agape. Her mind instantly started racing, trying to comprehend what he was saying. He had used the skill on the person who had taught it to him and the sadness of the deed was evident in him.
"My mother chose to use the skill as much as she could. She chose to aid others and I was merely left watching as she diminished from this life," Faolin whispered, his expression darkening.
"What exactly happened?" Lianne asked cautiously.
Faolin hesitated but decided to continue. "In the end, her body was not able to handle what she had lost," he said, putting the book down on the ground and leaning against his legs. "She passed away a short while after that."
Lianne looked at Faolin, her breath caught in her throat. She got taken aback by him sharing something so personal with her. She felt happy that he trusted in her, but she also felt sad about what had happened.
Faolin had already helped her so much. Lianne knew that magic stemmed from the energy of the user. She understood that some magic demanded more than others, but she had never thought that it would take something out of Faolin every time he helped her. If that was the case, it couldn't continue anymore. She didn't want him to diminish from this world like his mother.
"I'm sorry about that," Lianne whispered, looking at Faolin. As their eyes met, his gaze seemed longing and pleading for something Lianne didn't quite understand. They stared at each other until Faolin turned away, closing his eyes as if there was something he didn't want to see.
"Would you have tried to stop your mother from using her skill if you knew what would happen?" Lianne asked, watching Faolin's reaction closely.
"Yes," he answered plainly as he opened his eyes again. "After my mother died, I ended up looking for someone to blame..." he continued, his voice wavering before trailing off, the smoke lingering around him. Lianne wanted to ask what he had done, but Faolin's gaze was so forlorn that she wasn't able to pry into it more.
Faolin took a deep breath and shook his head. He quickly glanced at Lianne before he put his other hand on his chest. "By learning the skill, I was able to continue my markings. They branch over my heart as it is the root of it all," he explained before he took the pipe from his lips and put it out.
Lianne looked as Faolin knocked the pipe to the sole of his boot, the used tobacco falling to the ground. She felt his sorrow strongly, but at the same time, she felt surprisingly numb and incomplete. She ached but also felt hollow. Mixed emotions swirled inside her because of the darkness and what she had done to Kendel.
Lianne had been able to control someone else's blood at will and it had to have an effect. She had changed more and her condition was taking its toll. She had no idea how long she had left, and she couldn't help comparing her situation with Faolin's mother. She wondered if she should have accepted Kendel's proposition after all.
Lianne's feelings must have shown on her face since Faolin looked at her, his gaze worried. "Does your hair bother you?" he asked.
Lianne lifted her head, puzzled by his sudden question. "No, not really. Why?"
"I thought you looked sad," Faolin replied, and Lianne instantly shook her head.
"It's not because of that. I'm thinking about what you told me," she said with a small smile.
"Is that so?" Faolin quickly commented before he averted his gaze. "If you do not mind me saying, it suits you," he said while putting the pipe back to its pouch.
Lianne froze in place, staring at Faolin. She wasn't sure if he was complimenting her or comforting her, but either way, it made her feel good.
"Alright, settle down. You're not alone here," Amra suddenly spoke while sitting up on her bedroll, rubbing her eyes. She had woken up without them realizing it.
"Good morning," Faolin instantly said.
"Who could forget about you?" Lianne said to Amra while shrugging her shoulders.
"You could when you have better company," Amra teased her with a mischievous grin.
Lianne quickly glared at Amra, telling her to stop. "Do you want some breakfast?" she asked, wanting to change the subject. Amra didn't even know that she had kissed Faolin. He hadn't responded to that, which still stung, but Amra's teasing made the situation worse.
"Are you going to make the breakfast?" Faolin asked, his eyes wide as he turned to Lianne.
Amra instantly burst out laughing. "Even Faolin knows you're not a good cook," she said, her light chuckle echoing in the woods, brightening up the morning.
"Oh, come one, I'm alright," Lianne said, pouting and folding her arms.
"No, you're not. Not even alright. I'll make breakfast," Amra instantly retorted while moving toward the fire. "Could you bring the supplies from the backpacks," she said to Lianne while pointing at their belongings.
Lianne let out an exasperated sigh as she got up and went to fetch the food supplies. She acted offended, but while searching for the bread and supplies for gruel, she smiled. Amra was clearly feeling better already.
When Amra had prepared breakfast, they all sat around the fire and ate. Lianne tore a piece of the bread and popped it in her mouth before taking a spoonful of gruel. She loved Amra's cooking and would rather eat that than what she could make herself. Amra had the skill to make almost anything taste good.
A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.
Amra ate with a good appetite, her complexion more healthy already. She stuffed her mouth full of bread before drinking water from a flask. Faolin was eating slower, tasting and chewing the food calmly. Sometimes Lianne felt as if she and Amra had been raised by goblins when compared to him.
"Can I ask you a question?" Faolin asked while putting the plate down and they both nodded at the same time. "What are you going to do after we find Clandmere?"
Lianne stopped eating and swallowed a chunk of bread. "Do you mean when we get there?"
"No. I mean after you are better?" he elaborated.
"We're going back home," Amra instantly said before continuing eating. But when Lianne didn't answer anything, Amra stopped and looked at her puzzled. "Right, Lianne?"
"Right," Lianne answered, her voice unsure.
"We've always talked that we're going back, right?"
"Right," Lianne repeated, but deep down, she hesitated. She had thought like that when they had left the village, but the future had become uncertain after that. She hadn't even been able to think much about it. What if she would never get to Clandmere? What if she didn't have a future to look forward to?
"Lianne?" Amra called out to her.
"What?" Lianne asked, waking up from her thoughts.
"We're going back home, right?" Amra asked again, her wide eyes pleading
"I don't know," Lianne said, her voice wavering. "I mean, yeah, if that's a possibility. But what if it's not?"
"What do you mean?" Amra frowned.
"What if I change before we get to Clandmere? I can't go back then, can I?" Lianne asked, her brow furrowed.
"We already found the mountains and we will find Clandmere too," Amra said surely, repeating what she had already told her. She sounded so sure, but Lianne wasn't. The more she thought about it, the more she wanted to take Kendel's proposition. Everything she felt now pushed her to take it. She wanted to have a future, but first, she needed to get to Clandmere, and the fastest way there was through Kendel.
Could she get rid of Edwin if it came to that? He was the reason she was there in the first place but could she go through him if necessary? She still had no idea what had happened to him that night or if he even was the same man anymore. Lianne had been ready to die for his life once, but maybe now was the time to think of herself?
"You're probably right," Lianne said, trying to sound confident. "We'll get there," she added while taking a sip from her flask. Her emotions and thoughts battled inside her. She wanted to take Kendel's proposition, even if Amra and Faolin wouldn't agree to that. She wanted to get to Clandmere as soon as possible.
"That's the spirit," Amra said reassuringly.
Lianne averted her gaze, feeling guilty for her thoughts. She cleared her throat, putting the flask and the plate down. "I need to visit the trees," she said while standing up and stretching her legs. "I'll be right back."
"If you find more of those berries, bring me some," Amra said to Lianne as she walked toward the trees.
"I will," Lianne waved her hand while walking further into the forest where Amra or Faolin couldn't hear her. She didn't want them to know what she was going to do.
When Lianne couldn't hear their voices anymore, she stopped and looked around. She still hesitated but decided to follow her instinct. "Psst, Kendel, are you here?" she whispered and almost instantly heard rustling from behind one of the trees.
"You know me so well already," Kendel said while stepping out behind the tree. "What do you want?"
Lianne looked at him, her heart racing. She felt guilty for doing this behind Amra's and Faolin's back, but they wouldn't understand. "I'll agree to your proposition," Lianne said while stepping toward Kendel.
"What changed your mind?" Kendel asked, starting to grin widely, his whole face brightening up.
"It doesn't matter. I'm accepting it and that's all you need to know. I'll help you as long as you'll take us to Clandmere," Lianne said determined.
Kendel's smile widened even more. "Good girl," he said and stretched out his hand.
Lianne looked at his hand closely for a moment before she took it. She shook it once and then let it go. Her heart thumped loudly in her ears, but she disregarded all her nervousness.
"It's settled. Go toward the mountains, I'll be waiting for you there," Kendel said and turned his back toward Lianne, ready to leave.
"Did you know I would try my skill on you?" Lianne asked while squinting her eyes, stopping Kendel from leaving yet.
Kendel turned back to her, his smile never faltering. "Yes," he replied while leaning closer to Lianne. "You are too easy to read," he said and then turned around again, starting to walk away. His light steps barely made any sounds as the moss pressed down under his weight.
Lianne looked at his receding back as he disappeared behind the trees again. Relief washed over her when she was left alone and she leaned against a tree trunk, feeling faint. She knew she had done the right thing, but it still made her feel strained.
Lianne put her hand on her heart, feeling it beating fast. She closed her eyes for a moment and exhaled deeply, trying to calm herself. She wanted to act natural when she returned so the others wouldn't realize what she had done.
It took a moment for her to get herself together again. After calming down, Lianne took determined steps back to the camp. Every step felt heavier the closer she got. Nervousness mixed in with her guilt, making her feet feel like lead.
As she started hearing sounds coming from the camp, she stopped again. Amra played a melody on her lute that resonated within her. The lonely notes spread through the forest, striking her with the realization that she had betrayed her best friend.
It struck her with an empty feeling in her stomach and surfacing nausea. Lianne had to compose herself again, trying to disregard those thoughts while taking a moment to breathe. She straightened out her back and wiped the cold sweat from her forehead before stepping into the camp. "Sorry, I couldn't find more of those berries," she said as she walked back to them, trying to act as casual as she could.
Amra stopped playing. "That's fine. I liked them, but you don't have to go out of your way to find them for me."
Faolin glanced at Lianne, his gaze piercing, making her heart beat fast again. She tried to assure herself that he didn't know what she had done. He hadn't even sensed Kendel before, so he shouldn't have sensed him now.
"Should we head out?" Lianne asked, anxious to move on and leave the camp.
"Yes," Faolin said as he closed his flask and stood up, not paying any more attention to Lianne.
"Great. I've been wanting to leave ever since yesterday," Amra said, getting ready to stand up when Lianne stopped her.
"You can rest. I'll pack your things too," she said while starting to gather the dishes from the ground.
"Are you sure?" Amra asked baffled and Lianne nodded.
"Yes. Save your strength for the journey," she said while taking her backpack and stuffing her belongings in it. She put the bloodied clothes in her bag, just in case they would find water and she could try to get the stains out.
Lianne picked up her backpack and carried it to Luna. She had left the roadside inn without her saddle, but luckily Faolin had been observant. He had brought it when he had gotten their belongings from the inn.
Amra kept on plucking the strings of her lute as Lianne and Faolin cleared the camp. Her demeanor was better than yesterday and her eyes glinted with joy as she played the instrument. She seemed relaxed, and it puzzled Lianne how calm she actually was.
Amra hadn't talked about what happened with Kendel or what Lianne had said about Edwin. It bothered Lianne that she hadn't even paid attention to the changes in her. Lianne knew it was Amra's way of trying to make her feel better, but it felt as if she was sweeping the problems under the rug.
"Would you sing us something?" Faolin asked Amra while he packed his belongings.
Amra pondered for a moment before she smiled. "Sure, I'll play you something to get you moving," she said while starting to play a melody Lianne recognized. It was a fun song that she had played many times before, especially at the tavern in their home village. The tempo was uplifting and always made people happy.
Dance with me, the night is young,
Dance with me till the end,
I will play you the song unsung,
If you'll be my friend,
Raise the mug to those gone far,
Drink until the morning,
Look upon the evening star,
Do not heed the warning,
Dance till the sun will rise,
Dance until you are weary,
This will be our last respite,
We won't stop till we're bleary.
Amra stopped singing as Lianne walked to the fire and started putting it out. "I've heard that so many times," Lianne said while she dug dirt from the ground and threw it on top of the fire.
"That was joyful," Faolin commented while folding his bedroll.
Amra laughed while still playing the final chords of the melody. "I love playing this song. It's so lighthearted," she said before putting the lute down. "I learned it from her father," she added while gesturing toward Lianne.
"Are those kinds of songs common in where you are from?" Faolin asked.
"It's not like they're a custom, but people enjoy them a lot," Amra explained while smiling.
"Those kinds of songs are never played among my people," Faolin shrugged. "I guess my people are not that fun," he added.
Lianne glanced at Faolin, who smiled at them, gesturing that he was actually joking. Faolin didn't do it much, and he wasn't that good at it, so it surprised Lianne that he tried.
"You certainly aren't any fun," Amra said while grinning, getting a burst of laughter out of Faolin.
Lianne observed Amra's and Faolin's easy chatter but the light mood at the camp only deepened her guilt. She wanted to move along and head toward the mountains as soon as possible.
"I'll pack the lute," Lianne said while taking it and walking to Sol, tying it up next to Amra's backpack.
"Be gentle with it," Amra said behind her back, her mood getting better all the time.
Faolin walked next to Lianne and started tying his bedroll to Myrin's saddle. They worked in silence for a moment, before Faolin stopped and turned to Lianne.
"Is everything alright?" he asked.
Lianne quickly nodded, trying to hide her feelings. "Of course. I'm only anxious to get on the road."
"You have seemed down all morning," Faolin said, inspecting her demeanor. "Do you regret not taking the proposition Kendel offered?" he suddenly asked, taking Lianne off guard.
Lianne glanced at Faolin, her heart starting to beat fast again. "Well, yes, kind of. But no, I guess," she babbled nervously.
"I understand, but it is better this way," he said while pulling the last ropes tight and patting Myrin on the back.
"Yeah..." Lianne said, her voice trailing off before she turned to Amra. "We're ready, let's go," she said, not wanting to talk about it anymore.
Amra stood up and walked to them, her steps more steady than before. "I can't wait," she said as Faolin helped her up on the horse. She tediously lifted her leg over and sat on the saddle, adjusting her position to be comfortable.
"Thanks," Amra said while taking the reins. It would still take some time for her to be in full strength, but this was a great start.
Faolin came to Lianne next, ready to help her up too, but she shook her head. "Thanks, but I can manage," she said and put her other leg on the stirrup, swinging the other over the horse.
Faolin got on Myrin and glanced at the others. "I am ready," he said and snapped on the reins, making the horse slowly move forward. They were ready to go toward the mountains. Kendel would be waiting for them there, even if the others didn't know it yet.
"Right after you," Amra said and followed Faolin.
Lianne patted Luna on its back and took the reins. She glanced around the camp once more, and then toward the woods, wondering if Kendel had already left or if he was still somewhere nearby. It was still a mystery to her how he moved around.
They rode out of the woods and back to the open scenery from where they had entered more than a day ago. As soon as they were out, they saw the mountaintops in the distance, peeking at the far horizon.
They stopped their horses and looked in the direction their path would lead them. Lianne stared at the mountains, anticipation and fear growing inside her. They had gotten so far, but at the same time, she was afraid of what was waiting for them ahead.
"We should head straight toward them. Once we get there, we will assess the course again," Faolin said, pointing at the mountains ahead. Lianne nodded, agreeing to the plan. Kendel would meet them somewhere there.
"Alright, let's go," Amra said and snapped on the reins again, making Sol move. The others did the same, continuing their journey.
The snowy mountaintops loomed intimidating on the horizon. They were still far, but every step the horses took, got them closer to their destination. Lianne glanced at the mountains and then at her partners. She felt guilty but at the same time hopeful. She would make it to Clandmere, whatever it would take.