God of Discovery [high fantasy, slow build, mlm]

Sky Mountain - part 4

Their first encounter with the flower a few days later provided barely a handful of bulbs. They all dismounted and searched the area, but all they found were broken stems and holes where more of the flowers must have been before they were uprooted.

Shaffi said what they were all thinking, "This is barely enough."

"I suggest we go on foot," D'Argen announced. "It's clear that merchant friend of yours has already been here and gathered a lot of the flowers. Hopefully, we can find another few patches if we wander around for a bit more."

"I do not like the idea of wandering around," Lilian grumbled out with a sniffle. They had already climbed high enough to be deeper in the forest and away from the sun. The cold winter winds were only making it worse and Lilian was turning into an absolute grump. They were being quiet, quieter than usual, and as the only one among them that had such a strong affinity with the forest and nature, they were being completely unhelpful.

D'Argen knew better than to prompt them into action though. The mortals, however, were already dismounting.

"Do you not have your own tasks to tend to?" Thar asked him as soon as the two dismounted.

D'Argen looked around them as if searching for somebody listening in. All he saw were the mortals getting down from their horses and then offering help to the rest of the Never Born. Lilian, the shortest of them all, scowled as they were picked up under the arms and deposited safely on flat ground. D'Argen barely held back his snort of laughter but he did not hold back the smirk when Lilian glared at him.

"To the void with you," Lilian muttered quietly and jabbed a finger in his direction.

D'Argen lifted his hands to show he was unarmed and dropped the smirk.

"Pardon, Missir," Lith, who helped them down, started with a wary tone. "Would you like me to carry your pack?"

Lilian only scowled deeper and turned to stomp away.

"D'Argen, you do not have to look with us," Thar said, bringing D'Argen's attention back to him.

"Honestly? I know. Here's the truth," he leaned closer, ready to impart a secret. "We are not really here just because of some village head told us to make sure Isme did his job," he said quietly.

Thar did not look surprised and raised an eyebrow in question.

"Actually. There is... well... let's just say that stories of the demons on this mountain have reached Evadia." D'Argen finally decided to settle for a half-truth. As much as he trusted Thar, he was quite sure that Thar would look at him like he was crazy if D'Argen started speaking about cheetahs using his mahee. Maybe. Probably. Or not... Thar was different in a lot of ways but D'Argen could not bare seeing that look from him. "There is this... merchant. He's been telling a lot of stories and it's making a few of Acela's allies... uncomfortable."

"If you do not want to say, you do not have to," Thar said, obviously catching on that D'Argen was not telling the full truth and insulted by it. Without another word, he turned around and started walking. The horse he was leading followed right after him by the reins and the animal bumped D'Argen as he passed him.

"You deserved that," Yaling said to him as she passed.

D'Argen groaned and waited for them all to pass him before joining in at the end of the column.

The second time one of the horses slipped, Thar suggested they tie the horses up and continue ahead without them. Isme immediately volunteered to stay behind and search there.

"You can't just continue on your lazy—"

"Good idea," D'Argen interrupted whatever insult Shaffi would have thrown at the man and grinned wide. "Come here, here." D'Argen motioned the man closer to him and then led him off their makeshift path a bit. "Do you know how to make tea from pine needles?"