Chapter 41 - EVO

Chapter 41 - EVO

***Tirnanog, Mount Aerie***

***Magnus***

I am not some kind of game to be carried back to your hunting lodge, Ginevra complained. Probably more to herself than to us. She had turned whinier the further her healing process advanced. Maybe because she was now awake for longer, which gave her more time to think and get bored.

We had her strapped to a sturdy pole, using as much of our spare fabric as possible. The poor woman looked like a cocoon made out of rags.

Maybe a beautiful butterfly would hatch from it in the future?

I chuckled at the thought.

This is so undignified, Ginevra continued. Why not a normal stretcher?

Because you could fall off if we have to run. We encountered a ghostleech on our way down here. No matter your worth, I wouldnt fight one for you, Astra shot back. And now be silent, or I may let you slip!

I silently pursed my lips when I noticed the annoyed tone in Astras voice.

It was the first time I had seen someone get on Astras nerves enough to make her lose her calm. Maybe it was the whiny, somewhat shrill way in which Ginevra was speaking now that her throat was healed.

I could perfectly imagine her as one of those politicians back from earth. Those who always complained about God and the world as long as it wasnt them who were the problem. Its the others fault! seemed to be their motto.

Why should I be silent? Ginevra huffed. I will be in deep shit once we return. If I make a deal with you guys and implicate the Patels, the Patels will make the rest of my life a living nightmare. Assuming they dont have me assassinated. And if I keep my mouth shut, you will lock me up. Or worse.

Or worse, Astra confirmed and nodded to herself. It looked like she had given up on niceties. But not because of your poaching. If what we deduced is true, then you are just a small fish. If I were you, I would sing like a bird and hope the Patels will have too many other problems than to harbour a grudge. Think about how many stratas aside from the Frosts would be interested in learning about the existence of a large scale Patel operation. If the Patels dared to pull one over on a family like ours, the ones in charge of the twelfth strata, then who else are they daring to fuck around with? People will start looking beneath their carpets when they hear about this.

Ginevra whined but didn't have a direct retort for once. I hope that shiny armour of yours means you have the resources to protect me because my contacts will send everything they have after me if they find out I am alive.

Metal would be shinier, I mumbled, unconvinced that a beetles carapace could be called shiny. My armour was polished, for sure, but didnt reflect the light. Come to think of it, having shiny armour for wilderness exploration would be a stupid idea because of visibility. Everyone knew as much nowadays.

Are you joking? Ginevra huffed. Anyone can buy metal armour with a months wage. Buying a full iobeetle armour set like yours would take me two years of poaching. Maybe three! And only on the black market, because full sets normally arent sold and instead handed down as family heirlooms!

I reached up and corrected the fit of my helmet, suddenly uncomfortable with what I was wearing. Had Astra put me into Tirnanogs equivalent of a spacesuit?

Astra pointedly didnt look back. She had both hands firmly on our carrying pole and was leading the way with confident steps.

You said our armour costs only a few months of income, I stated, implying a question for Astra.

Then you havent paid enough attention, Astra commented flippantly. I said it takes a few months to make the armour. Which is true. Just dont give me some shit about freeloading on me. If we are freeloading, then its on my parents, because I requisitioned the gear from the familys armoury.

I raised an eyebrow but decided to just go with it. As you say.

Complaining about having the best protection possible would be stupid.

We carried our trophy as fast as Astra dared to lead us through the Belly and then back up the Throat. It was an arduous task and we had to rely on Astras filaments more than once.

Pretty much all of the vertical ascends had to be tackled by Astra alone because it would have been impossible for me to carry Ginevra while climbing the steeper parts of the cave. At least not without injuring her by reopening the wounds. Or Wound? Did having your entire skin dissolved by stomach acid count as a single wound? Anyway...

Meanwhile, Astra simply had to hook her filaments into the ceiling and pull herself and our charge up a few metres at a time.

There was one dicey situation when we encountered what was essentially an oversized earthworm blocking our path. The shaft we had taken up the Throat suddenly ended in a pulsating wall of flesh. It moved in waves from left to right and was hot enough to force us to retreat a few metres back down the tunnel.

I learned that the creature was simply called worm and was slowly digging itself a path through the mountain, forcing us to either wait or turn around.

Astra decided to wait, since poking the creature in the side could reportedly cause a violent reaction we wouldnt survive. When something so large turned to scratch an itch, a cave-in was the likely consequence.

Sadly, I never got to see the whole beast. Once it had passed, we had to wait for two hours until the stone cooled off from the worms passage and then we got to skip a newly created tunnel, roughly twenty metres in diameter. Astra couldnt answer my question of where the thing had put the mass it had scraped out of the mountain.

Well, the only way to find out would be by jumping down a worms maw, she suggested. I dont know anyone who was lucky enough to survive being in one of the things paths.

You are back early, Mary stated the obvious after we greeted her, then focused her gaze on Astra. Your parents are waiting for you in Etans office.

Having said her piece, Mary turned and stalked off in her offices direction.

I believe I have never seen her in any other state than bad mood, I commented once it felt safe to do so.

Grandma Mary is just like that, Astra commented with a wince. It took well over a year until I finally managed to see her having a neutral expression.

I scoffed and followed Astra to Etans office, where we found both of her parents waiting. It looked like we wouldnt get something like a bath before we had to report.

You returned early, Teresa opened the conversation with a tone of worry in her voice. Did something happen that forced you to abort your trip? I heard you requested transport to the Tates hospital. We already thought the worst happened.

Oh, I apologize. I didnt consider how it would look from your point of view. We are fine, but we picked someone up who needed transport back to the clan, Astra replied, then continued to give her parents an abridged version of our adventure.

Their expressions turned serious as they listened. Etan asked only a few short questions during Astras explanations to clarify parts of the story which were unclear.

Before long, Astras recount came to a conclusion and her parents shared a long moment of silence with each other before Teresa gestured for Astra to follow her out of the room.

Etan frowned but didnt say anything about it before he turned his attention to me. So the third strata eh? Are you planning any more trips to catch witnesses and drag them to my doorstep so I end up cleaning up the mess?

I shrugged and spread my hands. Dont blame me for Astras decisions. If she hadnt stopped me, we wouldnt have dragged the two Thich all the way to Mount Aerie.

Etan only closed his eyes and rubbed the bridge of his nose. I am not looking forward to the fallout, but this may help us in the long run. The Patels are fervent supporters of the faction which is in favour of doing nothing to keep the peace.

***Tirnanog, Mount Aerie***

***Astra***

My mother led me out of the office and into the estates hydroponic garden a place where she liked to have her more serious discussions.

This gave me the first hint that there was about to be a reckoning and I didnt look forward to it.

Once the swing door to the garden area fell shut, Teresa turned abruptly and started screaming as loud as I had ever heard her chew me out when I did something stupid.

What the fuck went through your head to hunt down a mindflayer with just two people! Did you forget everything we taught you about survival! I cant even blame Magnus for this because you should have been the one to know better! I know you want to prove yourself, but this is not the way to do it! Climbing to power by blindly taking every challenge in front of you is only a way to ensure one thing! And thats death!

I felt it before I saw it and moved without thinking. The other me, the one I had watching out for threats suddenly took over and had me bend backwards, then twist and roll over my shoulder.

There was a thin strand of scintillating light that flashed through my vision just in front of my face and I felt a sting on my cheek.

Once the other me returned control over my body, I was standing four metres further away from Teresa, crouched and ready to back away further out of her reach. A burning bush, an ornamental plant that the original settlers had brought from Earth, lost a few of its branches. All of them severed as if by a razors edge. It had been right next to me before I dodged my mothers wrath.

Now the bush looked like the gardener decided to trim off everything close to the paved walking path.

I touched my cheek and my hand came away bloody. That was uncalled for, Mom. Headwounds bleed like a bitch! I know myself it was reckless. I assure you, I have a reason for seeking power beyond power for powers sake.

Teresa balled her fists and visibly fought to regain her composure.

When I saw how much she actually cared, I suddenly felt bad for how I had presented the story to her and Etan. When I tried to see things from her point of view, I realized challenging the mindflayer must have looked like the pure recklessness of greed.

The type that got young fools killed.

I went down to my knees and apologized to Teresa for the first time in a long time. I hadnt been the best daughter someone could adopt in this fucked up world. I am sorry for worrying you like that, but I am fine. Magnus had a good plan and you can believe me when I say, I deliberated a whole night over trying it or not.

It wasnt right of me to cause worry for Teresa and Etan. They had taken me in and given me more than most other children could expect in this world.

Oh, get back to your feet! Teresa let out a defeated sigh. I intended to take off an ear for such a stunt! So you may learn something for the future. At least it seems like the mindflayer mutation wasnt a complete failure. You can move your whole body now?

I grinned, not caring about the cut on my cheek, or that she had intended to take an ear for educations sake. Oh, that, and so much more, Mom. You have no idea!