Merryn followed Parcival as he took off ahead saying something about letting the inn know about our intentions to stay. Odd. Han went with him. She stomped off towards the inn, mumbling the whole way there. "I should just leave..."

It only took a moment to scan the place though nothing seemed suspicious. She relaxed a bit. Huh, shoes and sandals were in a little area by the doorway. Everyone in the room had none on. Must be a reason for this. She sat untied the boots and placed them next to the others.

Inside the rustic inn, a young lady in simple brown komoto with a delicate spray of golden willow branches here and there—a maid perhaps—led them to a low table to a room further inside, her steps were tiny and dainty she seemed to glide. She pushed open a delicate paper wall framed with wood. Hum? Pretty. Somehow this place was soothing, a quietness flowed through the inn. As far as she could see there weren't any harmony nor calm stones about, yet this place eased away any lingering anger.

As the maid came back, trying to usher them inside before bowing again. He went inside and quietly sat on a cushion with knees folded under at the low table. "Come, both of you sit." She sat trying to do as he did, this sent a burning through her knees, the cushion helped some, but not enough. How the hell? She half sat half squatted while undoing the clasp on the cape then folded it just so behind her. So much better, still too hot for fall how strange. But fall will come in full force soon it's better to suffer for a while than need it.

"If it hurts sit more comfortably, it's all right. Now then. We traveled about nine leagues or so and took several months to get here due to all the trouble along the way."

"You were keeping track amidst that?" She squirmed about, trying to put her legs under the table didn't work so she finally sat cross-legged. She played with a loose piece of wood on the edge of the table and relaxed into the soft cushion. Every joint hurt, and it was getting harder not to limp. Luckily humans—at least this one—didn't seem to notice such things.

He nodded.

The maid came back in carrying cute little white bottles, three small cups, and large bowls of fragrant rice. With dark polished sticks next to them. The poor dear tried to hide it but, her chest heaved. Just how fast did she have to go?

"Thank you," Parcival said.

The maid bowed her silky tidy pinned black hair moving as she left.

The savory steam filled her nostrils, making her mouth water. Food couldn't fix everything, but it sure helped.

"Yes. That's not what's important though. I haven't said anything as I didn't want to frighten you." He paused, then gestured for her to take a cup. He then with much grace poured the drink into her glass, then Han's.

The maid came back with a plate of pre-lit pipes and placed them in the middle of the table.

She tilted her head. "Thank you. And, that would be?" Frighten me? She snorted. The spicy smoke tickled her nose, she waved at the plumes. It took a moment to steady her arm when picking up the cup.

"Careful, that's alcohol." He paused. "It's not juice." She raised a brow. "Oh?" A sip of it cooled her throat followed by a dry non-sweet flavor, not so much savory, other flavors dipped and peaked. It was hard to tell what they were exactly. "Very nice." Back home the beer tended to be pretty harsh.

Han took a pipe and puffed away, his tail twitched a little.

"The exorcising here can be a bit painful sometimes. I suspect you have a demon attached to your spirit." He took a bowl and placed it buy her and Han, then passed the sticks sideways. "I've seen you use quilled pens and such try holding these chopsticks like that." He picked one up and held it between his thumb and pointer finger in a kind of a pinch and wiggled it, while looking at her. Then placed a second one at the base of his thumb and middle finger resting it there. He then moved the endpoints together then picked up the rice and ate a bite.

"Thank you." And, immediately dropped it. It took several tries before both of the chopsticks decided to cooperate, giving a nice hand cramp in the process. Several failed attempts to grasp the rice failed before she sprinted it into her mouth. Ha, take that!

A corner of Parcivlas lip curled up.

She swallowed. "I didn't expect it to be easy. Do you really think I'd run away just because of that? What do you take me for?" Closing her eyes for a moment helped. It's doubtful it'll do anything, not with him.

Ah. Well, as he was in the mood to talk for once... "And the paper door?"

A faint smile traced across his lips. "I take it you like it here? They are sliding screens." He finished the rice and placed the chopsticks atop the bowl placing them toward the wall.

She shifted and caught his attention. They need to know. "Parcival? She gripped a boot tie pulling on it, the poor ties couldn't take much more and apt to snap any moment. "I need to tell you about what's really going on."

He put the chopsticks across the bowl. His eyebrows deepened. "Go ahead."

A soft whiff of pine and mountain air came through the screens, it for the moment felt so much like home. She clutched the fabric, the memories hidden away for so long... I can't put this off any longer. Trust, just have to jump in. She pulled in two deep breaths and began.

####

Mommy and Daddy always had that refreshing mountain scent lingering on them when they came back from their missions. I never get to see them any more. It wasn't fair. She got up and tip-toed from her room to peek behind the table in the main room. Annie Jasper snored in the chair by the window. Good. After a bit, she stretched outside breathing in the cool air. Today's the day! I'll get it done right. Then maybe Mommy will let me go with next time.

She worked her way into the woods behind the city, following the light stone path. At first, she ran but slowed to a walk as the gate grew closer. So many crypt entrances side by side, the trees were of such a hight that the branches overlaped another, a soft brezze made the shadows over the crypt dance about. Each one had ancient Elvin runes above the doors, many with guardian statues in front. She headed straight to the Dentree crypt, this guardian was a little red fox. A pretty wimpy guardian, meh. She pushed forward her feet stiff and heavy. Don't be a baby, there's nothing to it. Come on knock it off.

As she reached for the door pull right then the guardian statue's head turned, far too slowly. "They're waiting for you, Merryn." Its stone eyes became alive and blinked.

"Eee!" She shrunk away clasping her hands. "Don't do that!" She shook her arms trying to will away the prickly tingling over her arms.

The statue giggled. "Alright, alright. Your ancestors are waiting, even the dead are busy so don't take so long getting to them." The naughty fox sat forward and again became stone.

I'll prank him back one of these days. But not today, they'd be back home today. I'll be strong too. She huffed. I'm not too little. She hopped down the stairs two then three at a time. And THUMP on the landing.

Funny, Great-Great-so many greats-Grandma usually came to see me by the door. It was really dark, none of the hallways or corridors were lit up yet. Great-Grea... Grandma's spirit always lit them in the morning. "Where are you?" Mom before she went on the missions would visit and fix any problems.

She floated through the facing wall, patting her bun. "Good morning dear. Are you ready?"

"Is it big?" Yesterday's spirit was big but really, really, stupid. It was easy to control. She wriggled and bounced on the pads of her feet.

"My, aren't you full of energy today? It's below." Grandma turned back around, "you're too young to have to do this," her face scrunched up and wispy tears lined her cheeks.

"Don't be sad. Okay? I don't mind, the Adaps are still sick right?" The cold wetness of the cracked stone floor seeped into her boots, she jiggled her foot flinging off droplets. It took a while for the rain to dry up in here.

"It still isn't right. You need better training than what an old spirit can give." She crossed her arms and squished up her mouth funny-like, her long pointed ears bouncing.

"I have to. I have to! Please, Grandma." Grandma held her gaze, studying her. If the elders...

In time she answered, her voice now thin and oh so soft. "It's downstairs. Be a careful child. The ancestors found this dark spirit the other night in the sinkhole west of here." Grandma passed through the stairwell down.

A huge shadow moved about between the broken stone slabs along the wall. It went off ahead curling around the thick support pillar in the middle of the room. She sneezed. The musty air burned her nose..

A thin wispy shadow circled above its huge red eyes dwarfed its face, it dived down arms outstretched its screech like a spear to the heart. "Grandma!" She ran further into the crypt and hid behind a pillar, the drip of water from above startled her.

Grandma poked her head through the pillar. "I can't help you."

"Ahh! Don't do that!" She jumped, then flattened against the stone. "But, this one is creepy!" She peeked. It went around the room through the walls and back again. This was bad they usually didn't attack.

"You have to learn to control them on your own now. Use what I taught you." Grandma went over to a crumbling bench and sat/hovered with her hands in her lap. "Go on. Try."

Merryn bounced back to the middle of the room. "Come and get me!"

Its eyes flashed and it dived at her again, screeching that horrible noise.

She grabbed its arms spinning it without letting it go smashing it into the stone wall. It went right through. She yanked it back in again, stumbled, and fell down losing grip.

The spirit wrenched free placing its cold hands on her chest. "Who are you to disturb my rest? Meet your death young one, for he is Talgu!" It chanted something then stopped pressing down harder.

A frost spread out from its fingers, then the cold thrust into her chest. Unable to even gasp she fell to her knees shivering. Oh. Oh. Her rattled brain focused again. "Ouch! You're so mean! Go back to sleep!" This one is way stupider. Shivering and with clattering teeth, she grabbed it again. "You're not pulling that again." She focused on the spirit's energy pulling it away from the wispy body.

"Stop this, I command you!" it struggled flopping about.

The cold was way worse now, it's time to hurry. Folding it was a struggle, as thrashed around. The firey cold jacked-up spreading untill a shard of ice stabbed near the heart. She stumbled and coughed a spray of blood. "Grandma?"

Grandma appeared beside her. "Remember fold and seal," and pointed at a brick her lip quivered.

A brick? I guess there weren't any scrolls or books here.

Grandma and the spirit's faces doubled and blurred. "Hurry."

She held its head and pushed down, folding it as it screeched and twisted about; while sending more ice into her chest. At last, it was folded up into a transparent wispy sheet, she shoved it into the brick. "Oh, kind goddess seal this spirit!" The floor tremored shaking the crypt and then a small glowing purplish rune was on the brick. "Thank you." The rest a jumbled mess of trees and a blurry city gate, she took a step and fell face first. Someone screamed followed by footfalls.

A soft touch of a blanket, as it wrapped around.

A soft furry touch on her back. "It's me." Han had come over the soft fur of his arm around her back.

Parcival didn't move, except for a twitching of his hands.

She pulled up her legs and rested her head on the knees. "I need a break." Was it cold in here? Hate being cold. She waited a beat. "Any clue where Beekaa went?"

Parcival paled. "They would let a child do something so dangerous?" He opened and clenced his fits.

Merryn's head snapped up. Just how angery was he? "There more to this but, I'm feeling tired." It's not like they know much about my people, so coudn't be blamed.

"Yes, we shoudn't stay here much longer." She let go of her legs and let them rest.

Han grabbed his drink and pipe then drank and gulped down half the mug and wiped his mouth with a paw. "You know his scent seemed to go off back towards the city entrance." Another gulp later followed by a light soothing hum.

"Are you... purring?" She leaned forward the hum was louder. Han hiccuped. "Yes."

Parcival shook his head. "I told you it wasn't juice."

Han swayed back and forth. "You told her. Hic. Not me!" His little pink nose turned red.

She caught a giggle coming out, turning her face away. "Honestly, Han next time sip it!"

He ran his fingers through his hair and looked at the ceiling for a while.

The maid came back whispering to him.

Parcival handed her some coin. She bowed and left. "Usually I pay for a room for the night but it's best to find Beekaa." He got up and Han placed the pipe back on the dish before following.

It was highly doubtful everything was 'perfectly fine.' Or maybe it was? She sighed. Probably overthinking things.

later that day her belly full they followed Parcival as he drifted through the streets, alleyways, yards, and such. He looked back from time to time.

A weakness filled in her legs and she clenched them tight while propping against a wall. Behind the others now she forced movement and had no trouble a few steps later.

Parcival came over. He glanced at her, his eyebrows arched. "Can you keep going?"

She nodded. It wasn't that bad.

Three food stalls were on the same street trying to get people's attention, all three shouted together as they neared. "Fresh sushi!" "Fressssh fish and vegetables in season!"

Han covered his ears. "For Goddess sake do they have to shout?" He sniffed and took off past them.

Damn these loose boot ties! She hopped on one foot fixing them while following after them.

Han stopped. His still red nose twitching, he breathed in a deep breath. A noisy group of kids walked in front blocking his path, they held armfuls of assorted goods.

She stood by him. "What is it?"

Parcival came back. "We really need to keep looking."

"I smell him, he's not far." Han stood on the tips of his pads and sniffed.

Parcival turned in the direction Han was facing. "Who?"

"Who else? Beekaa." Han took off sprinting, "hurry," his tail alternated depending on what way he turned.

They followed him all over the city, and just as the sun went down there he was. Beekaa sat on the steps of a house while pressing a dripping cut on a little boy's hand, the wound closed moments later. Han whistled, "that's truly fast," He came over to her while scratching an ear.

She sighed. Have to try this again... "Sir, if you please would you give us a moment of your time?" She clasped her hands together. Got to make sure he doesn't spook again, can't afford to spend another day trying to find this annoying prick.

He faced her. "Ach. You are doggedly hard to get rid of and twice as bothersome as a gnat!" He bounded off the steps his hot breath smelled of fruit.

She pulled back her hand. "Don't breathe on me." Keep it together. "I mean, we aren't collectors at all, please I need your help." The muscles on her legs gave out and she crumbled into a pile. Pain shot through her legs and arms. She squeezed her eyes shut. Not now.

Forgot about me, did you? Let this serve as a reminder to find my body, forget going back to your city you will do this first. Travel to Duskport and find the entrance to the Deep. He pulled back becoming quiet.

On awaking, Parcival and Beekaa's faces were overhead with lips pinched and foreheads wrinkled. Lovely, this had to be a well-deserved punishment from Olenus. She clenched her hands into fists to push back the wave of thoughts. A breath caught in her throat. The weakness didn't let up and worsened she shook harder her limbs twitching.

"Dear gods, above she's going to break her own back," a gruff voice said. "Quickly, pick her up and follow me. Footsteps, scraping, and the sensation of being lifted.

Sometime later she covered her face willing the twitching muscles to subside. This was horrible if the adapts ever found out about this... She fought to stay awake, as it wouldn't do to seem so weak. Get up, move! A silky fluffy softness underneath, a bed? No, it felt low. She tried to roll over but still couldn't move anything. It was so quiet and dark.

Still can't move much.

"Merryn, I'm right here." His hand touched her back. He sighed. Footsteps again.

"Beekaa said it would take a few days if not more, serious damage has been done to her life energy along with bone and tissue damage," Han said. It sounded like Han anyway, as nobody else had that slight rumble to their voice.

She swallowed. At least that was possible. It took some time, but she stretched a hand over the legless bed to the floor, no. A mat? She ran her fingers over it seemed to be of straw or grass but woven, it didn't prickle her fingers. Just have to try to stay awake. A soft tick blanket weighed down, she gripped an edge squeezing it. If they only knew what caused this. If they left right now they'd be blameless, after all this isn't their problem.

"Any idea when he'll be back?" Parcival said. "He said later tonight. He had an ill mother to check up on." More footsteps and a door shut.

The night dragged on forever. Whatever it was that the priest had done made it impossible to fall asleep, so she counted to a thousand. That was a mistake as sleep tugged at her again trying to pull her down. She almost rolled over but the tiredness took over again. Only her fingers moved. Damn this, damn me damn Unnamed, damn everything!

Ages later, the door opened again and, Parcival knelt close. "He'll be here soon. I'm sure of it. Just hang on."

A ways away he laid down, snoring.

Her grip on the blanket loosened, and she smiled for a second. He should go home but am glad he's here.

A pit-a-pat of footsteps and a furry tail ticked her ears. "By all rights, I should just leave you two." More pit-a-patter and a tickle of pipe smoke nearby. "But you idiots seem to need me."

He was hard to understand. Overthinking things right now wasn't going to do any good—not like this. Thoughts circled all night long as did memories of family and Dentree. She groaned. Able to move away now as the exhaustion had eased somewhat. It was colder now than it had gone out, a pity that. Still unable to sit up, she closed her dry eyes and cat-napped.

Footsteps vibrated the floor and woke her. "Help me up. Please." The words were a whisper. Nobody answered. She tried again with more force.

"That was fast," Parcival said. He moved close and gently pulled her into a seated position. A hug would be nice. She mentally batted the thought away, not now. Odd his hair and clothing smelled of smoke. Such a warm smile. Mild pain shot through her body. Everything was so stiff as if each joint was of wood. "What happened?" A dumb question, but getting anything more complex to come out took too much effort. It was like when early in the morning, and the sleep refused to fall away. She rubbed the back of her neck working out a kink.

"Beekaa healed you a little last night but was called away to help with a family that was burned by a house fire," he said. His shoulders slumped. "A few of them were killed when the roof collapsed he won't be back until later. Han and I are helping him. The village is working to put it out. You stay here for now all right?"

"Those poor people!" She looked up at the cleaning and fought back tears. Yet another cruel reminder that death followed close behind and always had its way. The tears came anyway hot and salty, she pushed them away with her palms. It was okay to cry this time. "Let me help. I feel alright."

"Humm. I think not. I've gone along with every bull-headed thing you want to do so far. Stay here and rest. Maybe the Elders would share some fire shield runes with these humans and stop the needless deaths."

She swallowed a lump in her throat that kept coming back. They'd allow that at least, we can't stay cut off forever.

Parcival leaned over and interrupted her thoughts. "Didn't you hear me?"

"Huh? I'm sorry," she said.

He scowled. "His father's priest, or more formally The High Priest."