The next four hours passed without any more incidents. Sariya stayed in the dining car rather than return to her seat. The Captain of the Lady Orianna, a hulking brown furred Beastkin with large canines and an underbite came to thank her personally for resolving the kidnapping incident and promised to refund her ticket price and give her free passage on the Lady whenever she needed passage.
She thanked him. He invited her to take the remaining journey in the stateroom. Yes, he invited her to the stateroom and not the rich merchant family. He wasn't pleased with the commotion they made. It wasn't that he was harsh. He felt for the child, but he could only imagine the headache he'd have if it hadn't been thwarted.
Although the man was just beginning his business, the woman's family seemed to be a big deal. Her father was a voluntarily stranded diplomat from another world and had a thriving business in Silvermoon. He suspected that was more the likely target of the child's kidnapping. Taking care of the aftermath of a thwarted kidnapping was less of a headache. All he had to do was cooperate with the authorities and give a statement and let them do the rest.
He'd also look into whoever supplied the kidnapper a control disk. He hadn't always been a congenial airship's captain. He was a veteran of the Hunter Wars. He'd bought the Lady from the reward bonuses he'd collected for killing Hunters. He named it after his late wife, who'd been a victim of the Plague.
Sariya accepted his offer. Ulvo came to visit her, smelling other goodies she had. This time he offered to pay for some lemonade. Sariya's taste led her to have the barest minimum of sugar, and Ulvo enjoyed it immensely. "I really must visit this Crowley House when it starts selling food," he sighed wistfully.
Sariya chuckled. He looked around and leaned forward as if in a conspiracy with her. "What else do you have hidden on you?" he asked lowly.
She followed his movement of looking around and leaning in. "If I spoiled everything, what would you have left to discover?" she replied.
Ulvo laughed. "Too true, my dear. Too true," he regretfully agreed.
Finally, Sariya took pity on him and handed him a lemon. The first time she peeled on and ate it, Delaney and her aunts had looked at her with wide, shocked eyes. Humans didn't eat pure lemons, it seemed. She liked it.
Ulvo's eyes brightened as he sniffed the fruit. "What is this?" he asked.
"They call it a lemon. Peel off the outer skin," she said.
He grinned and after another sniff, he put it away. This time he left her to see about his own duties. In her remaining time, she embroidered more clothes for her baby while watching the scenery from a window.
When the ship finally docked, the passengers disembarked at the medium sized air station at Nightfall. They checked their tokens after they came down. After checking her identity, a station attendant informed her that a military officer wanted to talk to her about the incident aboard ship.
It didn't take long. She was led to an office in the station. When the woman in the Myrkirian military uniform checked her token, she raised her brows but didn't comment. She merely asked for a statement and to sign it. Afterward she was free to go.
She was coming out of the office when she ran into Saar Ulvo again. "Ah, Mr. Saar. Can you recommend an inn for the night?" she asked.
He smiled, pleased she thought of him for this. "Miss Ainsley's on Front Street is good. It's close to the station," he answered. "It's where we usually stay when we're in town. Don't worry, it's not rowdy. The crews find other, more entertaining places," he assured her.
She nodded, thanked him and made her way out of the station. She walked out and found a trolly heading to Front Street. It was only a few stops away. She noticed a few more Eodunn out and about. Strong looking women, walking with waifish men in skirts and veils and long shiny hair.
She found herself smiling subconsciously. She was nearing the place her father was from. Her father was a powerful sorcerer, and her mother was a devoted protector. After learning about mage tiers, she guessed he was probably at or close to the fifth tier.
But magic sickness had weakened him when they got to Thelessia. Magic sickness was something that could affect Eoduun sorcerers when they overused their magic. It was a perfectly curable disease, something like a long term cold. Body aches, fatigue, sneezing, sniffling, occasional fevers. It could last up to a year. They'd barely been on Thelessia half that time when her parents were outnumbered and killed. He used the last of his magic to protect her.
She knew she actually had three aunts, her father's younger sisters. They were powerful, but not as powerful as him, they couldn't break the space-time barrier like he could. He wanted to explore the universe and they didn't. He met his mother on his travels. She didn't know if they even knew about her or her mother. It'd be a surprise for sure.
She found Miss Ainsley's place. It was a quiet and stately hotel made of wood painted a serene blue. Checking in wasn't a hassle. The clerk smiled in a friendly fashion, had her sign the guest book, pay and led her upstairs. She left Silvermoon midmorning, 10 Morning, and she arrived here at 8 Morning after traveling for six hours.
She decided it was time for something to eat. She wondered if there'd be any Eoduun restaurants here since they were so close to Undirheim. She went down and inquired from the clerk about restaurants and the magistrate's office. The clerk directed her perfunctorily with a standard smile.
Sariya decided not to pay her any attention. She went to the restaurant. It was owned by a half-ish family. They greeted her with a smile. Perhaps they thought she might also be half-ish given her size. They didn't glance at her askance.
She ordered her favorite dish. She hadn't had it since she moved to Tarrytown because it was too complicated and some of the ingredients were only found in the Dark Forest. After savoring her meal, she paid and made her way to the magistrates office.
When she got there, she found the right place to update or change temporary tokens. She'd be in Myrkir for at least a year to finish out her pregnancy. Probably longer after that. She'd need a change of identity token.
When it was finally her turn, she explained to the clerk why she was there and gave her the temporary token.
The clerk understood and checked the token, preparing to replace it with a permanent token. However, her eyes widened. "I-This...is a diplomatic token. It's good for another six months. I can't change it here. You have to go to Starshadow when it expires," she said, staring at Sariya with wide eyes. Even as a clerk in the magistrate's office, she'd never seen a diplomatic token.
Sariya sighed and laughed. Of course it would be something like that. She hadn't known her very long, but Chrystianna seems like the type. She thanked the clerk and took the token back. She then asked the best way to travel to Weston.
"Oh, there's a path through the mountain. You can walk or ride through it, or join a supply train. You just go to the entrance and see if there's a train willing to take you or let you travel with them," the clerk answered.
Sariya thanked her again and left the magistrate's office. It was still early, so thinking about it, she went back to the hotel and checked out. She went to the entrance of the passage through the mountains to Weston.
They were at the southern end of the Desolate Rises, but they still had to cross to Weston in order to access the entrance of Undirheim. She found a large area where there were warehouses, animals, wagons, etc. She'd learned why with magical technology there weren't more efficient ways of moving goods into Weston. It's because this area of the Rises is almost a magical deadzone for flight or other transportation technology. There was a type of Draconite ore in the mountains that interfered.
Since this was Eoduun territory, no one was allowed to mine the ore. The Eoduun preferred the natural protection provided by the mountain. It helped keep anyone from using such means to break into Undirheim.
She didn't ask anyone for a ride. She could afford to pay whatever price was asked, but there wasn't any need. The passage through the mountain was natural and clearly marked. The years have worn a wide path. It was not a straight line by any stretch. It could take two days on a mount, and almost a week for slow moving supply trains.
Sariya could run as fast as most mounts and had more stamina. She didn't run, just walked steadily. She'd hunt in the mountains when she was hungry, drink lemonade when she was thirsty. She'd been on longer hunting trips under harsher circumstances.