❧ Chapter Four: Whispering Spirits ❧

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Several miles away, the roadside vendors smoked fish still danced on Merryn's tongue. Off ahead the craggy peeks of Mount Denlitka' it's shadow fell over the region, cutting oddly though the otherwise glaring morning light. She squinted and faced the road. This huge mountain killed off any hope of going further north. 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqLnlVcsdJw

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Beyond the rest of the cities and towns were a mystery, really should have traveled more. Maybe the townsfolk would know of a way. Hope the water here is clean. Licking her lips did little to soothe the dry, cracked lips. Two pine trees marked the entrance and a cute picket fence encircled the edges of the town. The inn wasn't much further in. A tad ordinary, but clean. 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ9IOF953M3

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A middle-aged woman stood outside, furiously sweeping the steps. 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsYkrHhcqlV

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"Have any rooms free?" she said. 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdUy53PDWo9

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The middle-aged woman of sun-starved white complexion ignored her and continued sweeping, puffs of dust flew off the steps as she brushed off a large pile onto the street, each step pulled a smaller cloud of dust that clung to her feet. 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR8SYzqm2pD

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The dangling pouch of coins clanked when she moved her leg. 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpZeTS9OXn9

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"The last of your kind to visit daya' near set fire to my kitchen! An left grungy muddy boots on my clean sheets! No Elvin. Go away," said the woman. She sniffed and went back to sweeping. 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqclV0uEml3

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Clenching her teeth, she squeezed the pouch, then let go. Don't make it worse, try. "I'm not them." 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgKOlThFxJu

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The woman sneezed and wiped the snot on her dress. "Four hundred copper." She held out a hand. 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbTbD71Rvvf

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She's trying to rip me off! Why most rooms cost less than 200. Still need to get out of sight, maybe even stay out of towns. "Right." The exchange was quick, and the woman brought her to a small ground-level room. 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuIfSPEtD4k

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"Breakfast is at six sharp, don' miss it, I don't make extra." 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRLxbRdVDjT

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That took forever. Merryn dragged her feet inside and closed the door. The sun streamed through the thin curtains, the warm door was nice. She leaned against it until the itchy died sweat on her back reminded her of the armor. Confounded armor! The top piece finally pulled free of the buckles, she threw it on the floor. Tomorrow could be better, or worse, I'll take things one hour at a time get out of here and find a port. Stay alive and find a port. Not too hard. Doable, simple. And rock snakes could fly. She wiggled under the covers and fell asleep. 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmDpDYFIRlJ

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During the night, a burst of rolling laughter resounded in her head. She bolted out of bed, falling on her side. 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡusnEEVgbPQ

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Do not fight this. You require no others, nor spirits. Your prayers to them are wasted. I will no longer be ignored. 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPFEvqh6nvO

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"I—am sleeping. Wake up." A punch should do it. She punched her thigh. 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡboPrPiMSr2

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Be glad I haven't taken all your energy now. 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdf2l1hKucK

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Another punch. Come on, wake up. 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuw5iinMSuH

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Are you listening to me? It shouted in her mind. 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1i2ElW4sW4

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"Go away." 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeGjACcIRCh

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Your perfect world is a lie. Everything you know, everything you see, is going to shatter. I will be all. I'm what is real. 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwDDyV8X0ka

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If her skin could crawl off and escape, it would. 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoBMZQl4TUA

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Quiet spirit! Begone! 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ07XvyabzW1

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Somehow, after pacing the room, checking the windows, and washing her face, she fell back to sleep. The next morning she pulled her armor on quickly, her wound smarted, but wasn't as bad as before. 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtbIywKI0WD

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Rushing out the door, she smacked right into someone, an eye just missed smacking the hard metal emblem on his shoulder. 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1RmCFVqoU9

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He grunted and rubbed his head, several strands of black hair fell loose from a leather tie. His warm brown, thin eyes scrunched as he rubbed his head again. 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL19oYRCspS

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She blinked. "You! Thank you, if you hadn't delayed that man..." How did that go again? She stuck her arm and hand out stiffly. Mother told me to watch my manners around these humans. 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLJsy91ykcN

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His gaze traveled from her boots, to ears and then settled on her face, a flash sparked in his eyes. "You're that Elvin woman from before." His lips quirked as he shook her hand. "Don't try to not wilt before we meet again." 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDBOvXlThQS

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"This flower has thorns. I'll be fine. Now, I have to leave. Good day." The old speech, it's pretty awkward. 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE6vvd2pnQM

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Turning around, she walked down to the lobby and bought assorted supplies, filling her backpack, as stealing anything would grant unwanted attention. Outside a kind, cape weaver mentioned a path through the grove off to the east. 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHSXPkvjI2N

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The guards and Maxwell would be here soon. The shoulder twinged, she rolled and rubbed them, the bones jutted out some. The god seemed hungrier today, I'm getting thinner. Lucky the injury wasn't deeper, a person could easily die from a wound here. Touching the bandages, she clamped her teeth shut to avoid crying out. Her fingertips coated with the blood. Unbelievably, it still wasn't healed yet! Healing is also taking longer now. The spirit (god?) was talking far too much energy. 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMUlzL3GntD

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An hour later, he was leaning against a tree near the town's back exit. Muttering several burning curses under her breath, she stopped. Don't panic, it's probably nothing. Doubling back to the seaport might work, can't miss the boat back home. Pushing past the slog of busy people, she made it back to the main entrance. 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw7atWIvpid

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She managed to make it out to the woods just past the front gate. Is he an assassin? He didn't act like one. She rubbed her neck. 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmiiqgM9Uac

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Scanning ahead, off towards the left was a cleared area with a shack in a grove of trees. It'll be safer than sleeping outside, at least. Knocking on the door, she waited a while for an answer before pushing it open. 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0haRiew9US

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"Anyone here?" Clenching her fists, she stepped inside and opened them. Spiderwebs glued to her ears and face. "Ach." Nasty! The sticky stuff took forever to pull off. Everything was rotted, had better camp outside. Under a pine tree near the shack, she cleared the pine needles. Mother loved camping during missions, and she always made the best hennit stew. 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEBqpKOt3tW

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The fire hissed as a drop of rich fat fell into the flames from the skewered bird. The sun sank lower in the southern sky. The more hostile creatures would be out soon. 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZPZiYmDIaH

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Snuffing out the fire, she picked up the pack and headed behind the shack. 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKXxZVKwv9I

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Someone was here! The forest became silent-not even a Harper-beetle dared wax its tune. It was too soon to cast a spell. Peaking around the side of the shack, it stood. 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5fUy9PTou0

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Four curved and pointed legs stepped out of the shadows. As it continued forward, the shadows parted from its middle, a white furry body where the legs attached. It emerged skittering. Its head appeared next, with a pink nose wiggling up and down, sniffing the air. The creature's eyes were vile arachnid eyes, gleaming in the moonlight. Its ears long and fluffy, like those of a rabbit, and reached about four feet high. It inched closer to where she sat a moment before, its fangs dripping poison. Only a fool messed with them. Noiselessly, she padded away, aiming for the edge of the forest. 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAJoNNwVVUi

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Easing onto her stomach, she crawled over behind a fat tree. A bear ambled about eating berries from a bush. Leave me alone... 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4LswBwQxAw

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She tucked a lock of hair that hung in front of her eyes, then peeked. The spider-nab was in the tree near and was wrapping the branches drawing them together with webbing, this hid all but the tips of its legs. She swallowed. Maybe call a spirit? No, it's too soon. 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkMfHj84gGM

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Running full tilt under the webbed tree, she scrambled behind a large boulder just past it. 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsVsAxH62Jo

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Over to the tree, the bear's outline was a flat, bloodless husk. Running now would be smart. The fang holes oozed twin rivers of blood that pooled onto the grass. She gripped a dagger tight and focused on her breaths. It had to be around, eternally hungry, they always wanted more. 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGXCUQxcl5R

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A clicking and hissing behind her. 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlailRggbn3

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With her heart damn near climbing up her throat, she faced around. To be home, home, home! 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfzfjv0D2Mt

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Or right, depending on your view, I have taken a portion of your energy be glad in my kindness, I didn't take it all. 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh75h8uPRzr

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Glad? Being hobbled is what you consider kindness? 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXQ72pL02j0

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Considering the alternatives, yes. It became silent again. 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxyl17se4vN

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Should've taken that secondary training as a priest instead. 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQqDfguFLor

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The spider-nab blocked her way, its mandibles rubbing both fangs together. 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyXo4zUD9dQ

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She dashed at the spider-nab, loping off an ear where it splattered on the ground. It screeched, turned toward her hissing. Ho boy. 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx4Caq7fXPO

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The spider kicked her away and spun around full till just missing her cheek with its fangs. Rolling under its head, she lopped off a foreleg. It chattered, turned, and ran off limping. 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQfd0SF90lF

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She sprinted out of the woods. Maybe I'll stay on the path after all, some of the creatures here were more dangerous than the ones back home. 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaIL7uLTHIS

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The branches ahead scraped together, she turned to eye the nearest bunch. Was it back again? I'd better keep an eye out for it. There were worse things to fear, must keep moving. She continued down the path. 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrmClWx8J10

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