Even tough Lin’s intuitions were asking him not to, he obliged with Mia’s decision to be a guest at the wolf tent. They went straight to the water body connecting the wolf terrain with the human world, after Mia had summoned the mer-creature to transport them. Boshu too, went along with them. Mia had a split second of thought that she should share whatever details she had about the mer-people, but then again she consciously choose not to do so. At this moment , getting Lin involved with any more matter would only get things more complicated. She anyways had the time till her child was born. She had to wrap everything up within that time. Once they were out of the water, Xie lead them to a near by inn to get refreshed.
“Let’s go there ” He pointed “That place has the best food in this area, and honestly, I am starving. ”
“Me too, let go” Boshu hurried in the direction, leaving the rest no choice but to follow his lead.
“Mia are you feeling alright? ” Lin came upto Mia’ s ears and whispered. Mia was so engaged in her thoughts that a frown had grow on her face. She immediately straightened up and said “I am fine. Never felt better. Why do you ask? ”
” Nothing. Just like that. ” Lin didn’t drag the conversation and immediately walked towards Boshu, leaving Mia behind. Though that was precisely what Mia wanted, for Lin to get detached from her, it hurt. It hurt so mich that her eyes started boiling as it followed Lin leave her side and join Boshu. But before anybody could see, she wiped her face clean and continued marching. Once inside, Lin, Boshu and Mia were mesmerised by the beauty of the sculpture inside. It was clearly a work of art.
“Here, I got ourselves rooms to refresh and change. There are baths attached to each room. They will be sending new clothes for us to change into. I think food will be ready by then. We can all come down here and enjoy lunch together. ” Xie said with a warm smile that befits any host.
“Sounds great ” Roe pushed her brother and Boshu aside and rushed to her room. Xie and Boshu followed suit to the room they were to share. Lin stood there waiting for Mia with his hands streched as Mia looked at him with nervous eyes.
“It wouldn’t hurt to take his hand this while ” said jer heart as her brain fought constantly with the notion. But her tired feet and soul needed some rest so she ultimately gave her hands to him. He sensed her fatigue and without hesitation lifted her in his arms. Mia closed her eyes without any more struggle as she tightly held on to him. She then closed her eyes as her head bowed over his shoulder.
It was after a while that there was a loud knock on Lin and Mia’s room. Lin immediately rushed to answer it.
“Who’s there? ” He asked. His dagger in his hand in full alert.
“Lin, it me. ” It was Boshu.
He put the dagger back and opened the door.
“What happened? Why we’re you knocking so frantic? ” Lin asked.
“I was worried when you didn’t show up for the meal. Why didn’t you come down? Weren’t you hungry? ” Boshu asked.
Lin just pointed at the sleeping Mia with his hand.
“Oh, I see. I thought something bad happened to you. ” Boshu murmured under his breath.
“Why? ” Lin asked catching his whispers.
“Oh nothing. It’s probably nothing. It’s just that we are in enemy territory . Though they seem friendly and nice, we can never be too sure. Precaution is better at all times. ” He said.
“Did you notice anything strange? ” Lin urged sensing Boshu might have seen or heard something suspicious.
“It’s probably nothing but I saw that Xie sneak out of the room a few times when he thought I was taking a shower. The last time I followed him and saw him taking with this inn’s keeper in whispers. I must just be over thinking. ” Boshu added as he finished his narrative.
Lin’s eyebrows furrowed. He was in deep thought.
“Do you think it might be something fishy? ” Boshu asked again.
“Probably not” Lin told him with a pat on his shoulder “You go back to your room and tell them about Mia. We would be stopping for awhile. Go now. Tell them. And… ”
” And…? ” Boshu asked.
” Keep an eye on them but silently. Let me know if you see any thing else out of the ordinary again. ” Lin commanded.
Boshu nodded his head indicating that he understood his assignment and then walked back to his room.
Lin took a glance at the sleeping Mia and then used his apparition technique and went out of the room, keeping it locked from the inside. He had placed his cloak over Mia before leaving, so that she didn’t get cold before he arrived.
Roe was getting bored and fidgety in her room, so she too decided to take a stroll outside since they were going to be staying over night at the place. Roe jumped from one roof to another, breathing deep the sweet fragrance of her homeland. It didn’t take her long to cross the little settlement and get out in the clearing, which gave way to the woods in one side and the desert to the other. She was tiptoeing on the border when she saw a figure immerging in the distance. It came out of nowhere. It looked familiar too. In a flicker of an eyes two more apparitions joined it. She was quite far from them, so she couldn’t make out clearly. But she strained her eyes. There was no way of getting any closer without giving herself away as the desert was flat stretch of endless land and sand. So she climbed the tallest tree in the wood, to get at clearer a view as she possibly could.