Chapter 37

  Echoes of the Past

  Autumn leaves of golden yellow, flaming orange, and deep red covered the wide expanse of oak branches in the Oaken forest. The sight of the trees did not seem right, along with the warm summer breeze and cloudless skies. The conflicting sensations made Kris pause, “I’ve always wondered why this forest always has Autumn colored leaves no matter the season. Why is that?”

  “Ask a Druid, I don’t know.” Den said from beneath the landed airship. The big man dug a chisel into something growing from the hull.

  “Why are there barnacles on an airship?” Kris asked.

  “They’re not barnacles.” Den said.

  Kris waited a minute for him to elaborate, but he just kept chiseling away at the not barnacles. “Ugh, guard duty is boring.” Kris complained.

  Den didn’t bother responding, and kept working. After several boring minutes of watching an airship that no one was going to approach, the large lavender skin man spoke, “They’re back.”

  “They are?” Kris perked up, looking around. The road that led into the forest was empty, no one was around. “What do you mean?”

  “We’re back.” Mien said, appearing from around the back of the airship. Mien arrived with a few others. Pierre, Rils, and three hunters that Kris didn’t know.

  “What were you doing back there?” Kris asked, “And how did you see them?” She asked Den. The big man shrugged and focused on his work.

  “Not important right now.” Mien said. “The trail that they found is an interesting one. If it’s my missing brother, then he’s dead.”

  “What? Did you find a body?” Kris asked.

  “No, not yet.” Mien said, “We’re going on a short trip, be ready in ten minutes.” Mien stepped onto the airship.

  Pierre walked up to Kris as she pouted, “Gah, he’s running off too fast again. What did you guys find anyways?”

  The shorter soldier took a seat and drank from a waterskin. Pierre was sweating hard, carrying all that gear and heavy fatigues in the summer heat. “Well,” He said, “The trail that these Hunters think is Prince Mistan went straight off a cliff.”

  “You’re kidding.” Kris said, “Which cliffs?”

  “The cliffs over the Eterna Forest.” Pierre said.

  “That’s a long drop, but no one would fall over it. Was there a battle or something?”

  The hunters that had summoned Mien back were standing around a little ways from the airship in conversation, and Pierre watched them with undisguised suspicion. Then he shook his head in response to Kris, “No. According to Mien, whoever went that way walked right off the cliff. He was surprised.”

  Kris nodded, “That is surprising.” She agreed. She decided to watch the Hunters as well, wondering if they were up to something. Pierre didn’t seem to trust them, so there was no reason for her to either. “What’s next?” She asked after a minute.

  “Next, is more tracking.” Mien said, walking down the gangplank of the stationary airship. He carried a huge coil of rope over one shoulder, as well as a bag of anchors and climbing hooks. “Let’s go.” He said.

  “It hasn’t even been ten minutes!” Kris said, standing at attention.

  “No complaints.” Mien said. “Pierre, watch the ship.”

  “Aye, sir.” Pierre said, moving to sit on the gangplank himself.

  Mien started walking towards the back of the airship when the Hunters walked over. “Surely you aren’t going to scale the cliff.” The lead hunter said in a tone Mien had only heard in pompous noblemen before. “Flying down, or walking around would be much safer, don’t you think?”

  “And lose precious time.” Mien said. “No time to waste.”

  “Perhaps,” The hunter said, “But it’s so dangerous. You could get hurt. We wouldn’t want that, now would we?”

  “There’s no risk in a little climb.” Mien said, continuing to walk forth. The Hunter tried to step in the way but Mien did not stop and he relented. “Unless you think someone means to betray me?”

  “Surely not!” The Hunter said, “Why would-”

  “Go back to the Mystic Citadel.” Mien said.

  “What? I’ve official summons-”

  “Return to the Mystic Citadel and report to the King, my Father, that his summons about the trail you found is now in my hands. He will assign you with further instructions.” Mien said. The former crown Prince strode past them, with Kris trailing along behind. The Hunter bowed, and moved out of the way.

  After a few minutes of walking, Mien let out a sigh. “What was all that?” Kris asked.

  “Politics.” Mien said.

  Kris arched an eyebrow, “I don’t really know what you mean.”

  “After I uncovered the trail they couldn’t find, they wanted to track it themselves and claim to have found it. There is no good landing site for the airship below the cliff, and going around would be a full day’s journey.” Mien said.

  “Oh. And the stuff about betrayal?” Kris asked.

  “I don’t know if they are brazen enough to try cutting the rope as I descend, but now that I’ve brought it up they won’t even try.” Mien said.

  The path they walked along was starting to clear up, fewer of the oak trees down this way. “So you want to find out what this lead is yourself then.” Kris said.

  “I don’t really care about the glory. But if my Brother is in danger, I am not going to waste time or rely on glory seekers. We’re almost there.”

  The thinning forest opened up to a gorgeous view of the countryside of Myrrh from atop a cliff. Kris could see for miles ahead, past the silvery branches of the Eterna Forest to the foothills of the distant Drakmor Mountains. Further east she could see the beginning of the vast Ranear Plains. Mien walked up to the edge of the cliff, where an old wooden fence looked like it was ready to grow fungus from years of disrepair. Kris stepped up to the fence and peered down over the cliff.

  The drop into the Eterna Forest had to be more than a hundred meters, those Eterna Trees were enormous, and they didn’t reach the top of the cliff. Mien drove the anchor for the climbing rope into the stone. “You sure we should climb down this?” Kris asked, stepping back from the edge.

  “Fastest way down.” Mien said. “The trail leads right over this section.”

  “And, that rope is strong enough to support us, right?” Kris asked.

  “Unless you want to stand up here and guard the rope.” Mien said.

  “Well, if I do, then we will be certain no one can come cut it.” Kris said, pausing and looking at Mien.

  “Would be useful.” Mien said, “And then you wouldn’t have to climb down.”

  “That too.” Kris agreed, “So can I stay up here?”

  Mien finished securing the anchor and dropped the line over the side. “Be vigilant. I’ll be back before sunsdown.”

  “Be careful.” Kris said. Mien descended over the side of the cliff to scale his way down to the Eterna forest.

  The very moment the Airship touched down on the Sky Dock, Rex threw himself from the ship. “Land!” He cried, hitting the ground and rolling around in a fit of giggles and clanking from his full plate armor.

  “Oh stop being so dramatic, Rex.” Fara said as she walked down the gangplank to the Dock. “This was your idea to begin with.”

  “Flying on a ship is agony for a Kuldo!” Rex claimed, “We are men of the earth! Rex Earthbound!”

  One of the Kuldo sailors arched her eyebrow as she walked past, but gave the rambunctious MAW students no further attention. Evan stepped over to Fara and Rex, “Aren’t we supposed to be picking up intel here?”

  “That’s right!” Rex said, rising to his feet like a puppet on strings, “To the post office!”

  “How do you stand up like that in full plate?” Fara asked, getting no answer as the others began to walk away.

  Rex and his crew left the Sky Dock and entered the town proper. Many of the buildings were placed on stilts several feet off the ground, leaving large grassy areas overgrown with flowers and weeds. The roads were like bridges laying on the ground as well, ready to be packed up and moved if need be. Evan tilted his head, “No walls?”

  “Have you not been to Cryston, Evan?” Rex asked, “This is one of their mobile towns. If they have to, they can move the whole town. Usually doesn't happen for a few years.”

  “But what about Zori? Walls are good defense against them.” Evan said.

  “They have an abundance of crystals, so use wards. Like some kind of big magic shield around the town. Just as good as walls when dealing with Zori.” Rex said. “You should travel more.”

  “I am travelling.” Evan said, “Right now.”

  “Point.” Rex said.

  With Rex walking at the head of the group, tall and wearing polished black armor over all but his head, the townsfolk and guards of the mobile town gave their group a wide berth. Rex led the way to a building with a sign bearing the symbol of a five sided crate bearing an envelope, the symbol of the Seran Post system. Rex opened the door and strode into the middle of the room inside. Fara and Evan slipped inside and shut the door behind him.

  Arms akimbo, Rex grinned and looked around. “Now where do I pick up my package?”

  “Show some class, Rex.” Fara said, stepping to the side to let some elderly villagers walk by before heading to a desk labeled ‘Receiving’, “Just wait there.”

  “Wait here I can do,” Rex said, “Rex Stoic, no... Static? Standby?”

  “That one will never work.” Evan said.

  Rex dropped his tone from boisterous to a normal level, “Had to try though.”

  Fara spoke with the worker at the counter while Evan waited in silence on a chair by the door. Rex remained where he had chosen to stand, remaining still as a statue in the way only a Kuldo could manage. Rex ignored the others around him until Fara was done, then followed her out of the post office.

  “Did my agent send anything worthwhile?” Rex asked as Fara read the note retrieved from the summon box.

  “Find out yourself.” She said after a moment, passing the text to the man. Rex looked over the document with practiced speed, while Evan stood on his toes to peer over his shoulder.

  After standing in the middle of the road reading for a few minutes, Rex grinned. “This is perfect, exactly what we needed. I hope you sent the payment, because we’re going to the mountains!”

  “Already? We just landed, shouldn’t we stock up?” Evan said.

  “No time for that nonsense, We have to get moving.” Rex said. “You can gather food in the mountains, there should be more than enough.”

  “I’ve never tracked in those mountains before.” Evan said, moving to keep up with Rex as the big Kuldo strode ahead. “What if-”

  “No time for complaints.” Rex said, “Forward!”

  If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

  “We need to get a map, at the very least.” Fara said. Rex kept walking, “Or I’m not going.” Rex stopped.

  With an exasperated sigh, Rex wobbled in place and turned around, hanging his head and shooting Fara an annoyed look. He smacked his lips together, pursed them, then nodded. “Fine. Buy a map. We can spare an hour.”

  Evan pumped his fist, smirking, then went off down a side road. Fara folded her arms. “What’s with you, Rex? You hate spending your money. First the airship, then the informant, and even a map.”

  “It’s all worth it with the prize we are chasing.” Rex said, “I’ll recoup my losses, and achieve my dream. It’s a win-win. Go get the map, we can meet at the North Path.” Rex strode off without waiting for Fara to respond, waiting to depart to the Drakmor Mountains.

  At the base of the cliff, the sunlight could not quite reach Mien any longer. He dipped his finger into a can on his belt pouch, then applied the salve to his eyes. With a breath of energy, Mien’s eyes glowed. He looked around the area.

  Nature had a way of hiding tracks. Creatures, plants, and Zori all got in the way of each other in the wild. For most, this area would not seem different than any other location in the forest. For Mien, it was different.

  There were signs of a camp and people here, though they were over a week old now. A simple campsite with a smokeless fire, just big enough for two people. It was an ordinary scene, until something arrived in the camp. Mien knelt down to investigate the tracks he saw.

  “Someone entered this camp,” Mien said to himself. Speaking your thoughts aloud helped focus them, he had learned. “They did not mean to enter, or did not notice the camp at all. The people here reacted with, shock perhaps?”

  Mien looked over the tracks to where the person who entered had come from. “For now, I will assume the person who entered is Mistan.” He tracked the path back away from the camp, reaching the base of one of the Eterna Trees. These super massive pines had trunks wide enough for twenty people to surround. An entire ship could be carved from a single tree, assuming they survived attempting to cut one down. At the base of the tree, Mien found an imprint in the ground. “Something fell here. It was probably the person who fell from above...” Mien looked up. The cliff nearby was so high he could not see the anchors holding his rope in the wall all the way up.

  “Let’s pretend that Mistan fell here, and somehow survived.” Mien said, returning to the clearing where the camp had been. “What happened next?” The clearing was surrounded by thick underbrush. Sturdy bushes, spiraling ferns, tangled roots, floating ivy clusters, and faded silver crystals made up the majority of the forest floor. Mien brushed silver pine needles out of the way to look at the dirt below, sweeping the edge of the camp.

  Through his dedicated searching, Mien found what he sought. Tracks of the people who left the camp. Most had been hidden, but not all of them. Not to Mien’s eyes. He made his way through a bush that someone else had gone through and stepped deeper into the Eterna Forest.

  The canopy above blocked all light as he ventured deeper into the woodlands. The trees were enormous, and quite far apart because of that. Yet as Mien explored, following the erratic tracks, the trees and brush felt closer. “This is the kind of place Mom told me to never go...” Mien said.

  Mien’s feral ears twitched as he continued, the only sounds to accompany him from his own footfalls and breathing. The Forest was silent as he continued, no creatures, no insects, no wind making any noise. Mien felt the darkness of the forest around him. Lights danced in the corners of his gaze. The silence was jarring.

  He shook his head. The place gave him a bad feeling, but he’d been trained for worse. If Prince Mistan was at the end of this path, Mien needed to know. He clenched his teeth and ignored the silent tension around him.

  As Mien started to walk uphill, the sound of his footsteps faded. The ground was softer here, but he did not look down at it. There was something ahead, an eerie light through the trees. “What is this place?”

  The ash that Mien stepped on was a pale grey color, covering the ground as he reached the top of the small slope. Mien stepped through the trees into a large clearing, lit by an unidentified source. Ahead of him there was a stone. A boulder taller than most houses that sat in the middle of the clearing. It’s many smooth surfaces were grey, but had a strange purple hue in some places. The boulder commanded attention, as did the enormous black chains that wrapped about it several times over. Mien stepped into the clearing, approaching the boulder. He heard a thrumming sound in the back of his mind, a rhythm he recognized. What was that?

  “No...” Mien said, shaking his head. He forced himself to look away. “I’ve forgotten why I’m here. I... I have to look for my brother.” Mien looked at the ground, and saw scarring in the ashen floor. There was a battle here. Something about these markings, they looked familiar. Mien’s hand clenched around the chain as he tried to piece it together.

  “What?” Mien snapped his eyes to his hands. He had walked to the boulder and grabbed the black chain. He pulled his hand away and stumbled back. “There’s something wrong with this place. Where....” Mien looked past the clearing. The trees around him were not Eterna Trees. Deep green bark, wavy purple leaves... these trees were not ones he recognized at all! They were small too, narrow enough to reach his arms around. “Where am I?”

  No answer came to him, so Mien put that thought to the back of his mind. He examined the ground instead. There was a bloodstain on the ash in one spot, someone had fallen and been cut. Then a battle unfolded. One person fought something... a wind elemental? The ash was moved about in an odd way, the foe could not have been corporeal. Mien’s silver eyes glittered and he focused harder, trying to determine what happened here.

  Someone entered the clearing, two people did, from the direction Mien had come. Their steps were so light, the ash was not disturbed. “Who are you?” Mien asked. The people stopped, but did not speak.

  From the corner of his eye Mien saw the attack and ducked at the last second. He rolled to his feet and faced the sudden aggressor. A twisted being swung clawed arms again, so Mien dodged to the left. He couldn’t quite make out the details of the foe, it was too blurry.

  Mien closed his eyes to clear them, listening for sounds of the next attack. Nothing, he could hear nothing. Mien opened his eyes and drew his swords, taking a defensive stance. The enemy swung again, but was farther away this time.

  The people who had entered the clearing moved, running past Mien. There was another person there, someone fighting the twisted being. Mien shook his head. The people and the monster... they were fuzzy. And he could see the boulder behind one of them.

  “Ghosts?” Mien wondered, blinking his eyes several times. The people he saw were fuzzy, but the rest of the world was as clear as ever. The figments continued to battle, and Mien bagan to understand.

  He watched the attacks of the figments. Each one lined up to the marks in the ash, a perfect match. These weren’t ghosts at all, “Memories.” Mien said, letting out a breath. “This place remembers the battle?” Mien looked around, and his eyes were drawn to the boulder one more time.

  “That’s not it at all, is it?” Mien said, approaching the boulder. He walked through the slender figment as they battled, there was nothing there at all. Mien lifted his hand before him. “What is this... a portal?” Mien considered walking through the natural arch in the boulder, it was tall enough for him. “Whatever it is... I need it.” Mien drew forth his will, gathering mana in his hand. He placed his hand on the boulder’s surface.

  The smooth surface of the boulder glowed with a strong lavender light, and the air around Mien began to shake. The light grew, encompassing Mien and filling his eyes! Brilliant lavender was all he saw... then white... then black.

  Sunlight filled the land with warmth, and the mountain winds countered it with a pleasant chill. Petals and the scent of flowers were carried on the wind as the birds of the valley sang. It was a good day to set out. Yan dropped to the ground in front of Sebastian. “All set,” She said.

  “Good.” Sebastian said, closing the map he had been studying. “We’re just waiting on Michael now.”

  “What’s he up to?” Yan asked, “I thought everyone packed as soon as my Dad’s scout brought the map.” Yan peered into her house. Wolf reclined on her lounge chair while Hyato waited by the door. They both had their bags on hand. Hyato looked at Yan, then twitched his head to his left.

  Yan looked the way Hyato had indicated, and saw Michael at the end of the porch near her front garden. He sat on a cushion in a meditative trance. “He’s taking longer than I thought.” Sebastian said, “Still, shouldn’t be long.”

  “Oh well.” Yan said, having a seat. “We got enough food for the journey?”

  “We have plenty. Wonderful bland rations.” Sebastian said.

  “Oh yeah, here.” Yan fished a small box out of her bag and passed it to Sebastian. “Nayo put together some spices for us. They go well on the rations.”

  “Excellent.” Sebastian accepted the box and placed it in with the food. Then he opened the map to study it again. There were many viable paths out of the mountains, and many more that would not work.

  “Oh yeah!” Wolf sat up and walked out to the porch, “Yan, I have a question.”

  “Okay?” Yan said.

  “Back during the Trial of Combat.” Wolf said. “When the Chief entered his private viewing box, there were three others with him. They were wearing hoods, but we saw Aeroth and thought they were you, Aeroth, and Nayo.” Wolf said.

  “Oh yeah...” Hyato said. “But you were the one Michael fought. Who was the third person?” Wolf nodded, and looked for a response.

  “Really?” Yan asked, “You haven’t figured it out?”

  Hyato and Wolf shook their heads. Sebastian looked over from his map, “I’ve been wondering about that myself.”

  “Seriously?” Yan chuckled, “The third person was my Mom, obviously.”

  “Oh.” Wolf said, “Duh.” Hyato blinked.

  Sebastian placed his head in his hands, “I don’t know why I didn’t think of that.”

  Yan chuckled, “Did you guys think I didn’t have a Mom or something?”

  “Well, you never mentioned her.” Hyato said.

  “Apologies, Yan.” Sebastian said, “It slipped my mind.”

  Yan shrugged, leaning back and glancing at the tranced Michael. “Eh, don’t worry about it. You guys were focused on the trials after all.” Yan noticed Michael stir, and sat back up. “I already said goodbye to her and the rest of my family, so does anyone else have any business in town?”

  Wolf shrugged and Hyato shook his head. “It would be nice to visit the Archive again, but I doubt Michael will be meditating for that long.”

  “No, I won't.” Michael said, arriving from the end of the porch. “Hi Yan. Everyone ready?” He hopped off the porch and picked up his own pack.

  “They fixed up our gear and gave us extra, I’m good.” Wolf said, stretching his arms out.

  Hyato glanced at his left wrist, where there was nothing to look at. “Ready as I can be.” He confirmed.

  Sebastian nodded and gathered his bags, and Yan hopped to her feet. Michael nodded. “Excellent. Then let’s get a move on. If we can reach the Shards of the Sky before Vero and the Revenant, we can finally put an end to all this.” Michael stepped onto the village path, and the others joined him.

  “Yan, is it okay to just leave your house like that?” Sebastian asked.

  Yan glanced back at the building she once called home, a long time ago. “My siblings will take care of it. No worries.” Her gaze lingered on the building for several long moments. Then she turned and joined the others. Yan caught up and walked at Michael’s side.

  Several people waved as Michael’s party walked through the village. Michael smiled and waved back, eliciting a giggle from Yan. Many more seemed intent to go about their business, their normal lives or preparations for journeys of their own.

  At the gates to Aeronemar village stood Odai and Aeroth. “Dad, what are you doing here?” Yan asked.

  “Seeing my Daughter and her friends off.” Odai said, bearing a mischievous grin.

  “You didn’t need to bother.” Yan said, looking away and fidgeting.

  Chief Odai chuckled. “Of course I did. And I wanted to say something to the rest of you, personally.” Odai looked over the others, who gave him their attention. “Michael, Hyato, Wolf, Sebastian. Thank you.”

  “Aww shucks.” Wolf said, grinning.

  “Your brazen interjection into our culture helped end our isolation. I am grateful, as are many others. And I am sure, in time, the rest of the village will see it the same way.” Odai said.

  Michael felt warmth in his chest, and a wide smile broke out on his face, “Thanks. I don’t know what to say.” Sebastian and Hyato smiled as well.

  Odai looked them over, then nodded. “I don’t mean to keep you from your adventure for much longer. If there is anything you need, don’t hesitate to ask.”

  “In that case,” Sebastian said, “Can you send some of your Ninjas to cover our tracks as we adventure? There are some people after us, honestly I am surprised they haven’t caught up.”

  “Is that so? No one has come near the village in the time you’ve been here.” Odai said. “But if it aids you...”

  “Don’t.” Yan said. “I can cover our tracks just fine.” She stepped forth and gave her father a hug. Odai seemed surprised, but accepted it. A moment later Yan stepped to the gate, “Let’s go. We have places to be, right Michael?”

  “Right.” Michael said, following Yan as she led the way out of the village. The others followed, Hyato gave the place one last look before trailing after them as they left the valley of the Aeronemar Clan. Excitement for a new adventure buzzed about them as they set out.

  As twilight stained the skies orange the heat of the day simmered down. A faint breeze carried the scent of cooked meat to Kris’s nose. She sat near the cliff, not too close, while waiting for Mien. She blinked several times and took a swig of water. Passing the time training her eyes had dried them out, too bad she didn’t have any eye drops.

  The rope over the edge of the cliff grew taut, and Kris rose to her feet. She heard grunting before long, and peered over the edge of the cliffside. Just over the side was the weary face of Mien, face coated in sweat thick enough to mat his hair to his head. “Don’t just gawk.” He said.

  “Right!” Kris offered her hand and pulled Mien up the rest of the way. He collapsed onto the grass on the side of the road, taking in a deep breath. As he recovered, Kris started pulling up the climbing rope.

  “So, did you find a body?” Kris asked after a few silent minutes.

  “No body...” Mien panted. He drank some water and sat up. “Found some other things.”

  “What things did you find?” Kris asked, folding the climbing gear and shoving it into the bag it came in. It didn’t quite fit the way it did before.

  Mien looked around, eyes lingering on the empty road for a few moments. “Things to consider.” He sounded like he was going to say something more, but went silent.

  Kris watched Mien lost in thought for a few moments. “So, what things are you considering?” She asked.

  He stood up and brushed his hand through his hair to get it out of his eyes. “I need more information. Let’s head back.” Mien began walking towards the airship and Kris joined him. They walked in silence the whole way there, though Mien kept glancing about. His eyes tracked over the roads and trees like he was watching something, but Kris couldn’t tell what.

  The airship came into view soon. Kris noticed that all the barnacle things Den was working on were gone, leaving the hull clean, though worn in places. They rounded the back of the ship to the port side.

  The three hunters who had helped Mien earlier sat on the ground, tied up with ropes. Two of them sported bruises, and the third looked depressed. At the top of the gangplank Pierre sat with his bat in his lap. He gave Kris and Mien a nod, “They tried to seize the airship. It didn’t go well for them.”

  “This is an outrage.” The leader of the hunters said, though his indignance was muted somewhat.

  “So, should we take them to the city? Toss them into a cell?” Pierre asked, looking amused.

  “Don’t bother. Free them.” Mien said, walking up the gangplank.

  “What? But they-” Pierre said.

  “We don’t have time to arrest three unimportant opportunists.” Mien said. “Let them loose. We have more important tasks ahead of us.” Mien said, moving past Pierre. The man nodded and pulled out a key.

  Mien walked up the stairs to the helm where Rils sat, she was painting her nails. “You’re back.” She noticed. She seemed to lack enthusiasm.

  “Rils.” Mien said. “I would like to continue using the services of your airship.” Mien said.

  “Oh would you?” Rils said, “Why am I not surprised?” She let out a sigh. “Where are we going this time?”

  Mien lifted a hand, closing his eyes for a moment. A rush of images flashed through his head. “Not for free. I already used that favor. I’ll pay you. A Million Gil. How long does that get me?”

  Rils stood up, and the nearby crew members that were unable to disguise their eavesdropping all stiffened. Kris’s eyes widened. “A Million?” She took a moment to think, “A Month.” She said, “Anywhere you need to go. Where can we take you, sir?”

  Mien laughed, “Polite all of a sudden? You’re the best, Rils.” Mien was all smiles, and Rils beamed back at him. “We’re going to Cryston, but we need to stop somewhere close first.”

  “Wherever you need to go, this humble skyfarer will deliver you.” Rils said with an exaggerated bow.

  “Good.” Mien said. “Then let’s take off at once. To Liniva.”