Zoya, with her grim face was sitting beside Diya, biting onto her bread puff while the cheese cube melted in her other palm cause of heat from the campfire in front.
As it turned out, the rabbit she found was killed by Ariem with one of her poisonless darts and then cursed by Hendoor, that's why, however hard she tried, it stayed cold.
To her utter disappointment, everyone except Dadi and herself knew about this prank.
After a bunch of moral lectures to the friends, old and new, Zoya finally took the cheese and bread from basket ans started munching.
Diya, on the other hand was now done with eating and onto drinks. No doubt Hendoor had the best drink that's ever passed down their throats.
"In the midst of these forests, sometime in 14th century A.D., lived a couple, two great sorcerers Jasmine and Loya, in a cabin just like this, small and free of complexity."
Flames of the bonfire reflecting in her eyes along with the moonlight formed perfect synergy for the piece of history Sol was narrating to their new friends.
"All the creatures, human, animal or extraterrestrial, reached out to them when in need and they never turned anyone away.
Whether it was help with building a house or lack of proper livelihood or an attack of non-social and anti-diverseity creatures, they were the once to be called in.
Latebrosa never knew any other saviour than Jasmine and Loya. Despite being the greatest sorcerers of all realms at that time, the two of them never oppressed and other creature, never captured the land of another, this was the simplest life anyone could live by and they were satisfied with, just that.
A few meters behind their house was a fresh water pond named Syrinn, she was as alive as any other creature of the forest and talked to beings with gloomy spirits when they came to her shore. That pond never went dry and never ever flooded, however hard the sun shone or however heavy the rain fell.
Every once in a while she welcomed the masses of Latebrosa for gathering that was celebrated like a giant festival. Syrinn provided them her sparkling sweet water during those 7 days and everyone lived in tents around her. Some trees of that area still talk of how vibrant and beautiful those times were.
One of such joyous nights, when Jasmine and Loya were out on walk, they heard the cry of a baby coming from the mountain pedal. They rushed to the site and there was an actual human baby of no more than a couple of months old, left on one of the rocks by someone. It was a baby girl wrapped in white cotton towel, the two sorcerers need not use their special abilities to discover that the child was abandoned. And hence, they brought her home, named her 'Kinata'." Sol paused, examining the expressions of their guests.
Imam was leaning forward as if to take in the information as soon as it gets out of Sol's mouth, his sharp facial features shining in the glowing light of fire, Diya was laying on her belly with both palms under her chin, gazing at Sol without blinking for long time. Zoya and Mikesh were leaning on each other, trying hard to stay awake and Dadi was all focused sitting on the ground instead of the rock which was now occupied by the book she was reading earlier. Fonjuar was nowhere to be seen as he considered 'already heard a million times story', to be unworthy of his bed time and headed inside after dinner and drinks.
Ariem and Hendoor were still drinking and eating of what was left in the basket.
"That's one part of the story." Hendoor followed what Sol has narrated. "Arrival of the child was celebrated by whole Latebrosa, everyone was elated at the view of adorable baby adopted by the two great sorcerers. Kinata grew up among the various creatures of the forest and things were much better than has ever been. As days passed by, she too started working for the unseen and unprivilaged creatures of the forest alongside her parents.
When Kinata turned 10, Jasmine and Loya decided to bless her with the powers of her own so they, with the help of Syrinn, gave half of each of their's power to their daughter and said,
'These powers will guide you in the times of lower than lows and higher than highs of life Kinata. Use them with caution' they told her.
With the powers of both of her parents, she was believed to become one of the greatest witch in the history of wizardry, though some argued that she should be addressed as sorceress since she attained her powers from sorcerers.
Soon after, Kinata started her spell and magic studies from the 'School of Kigwall Sanfaro', located at the edge of Latebrosa on the other side of the mountain. It's where sorcerers and wizards go for higher education after homeschooling." Hendoor took a deep breath and realised he wasn't getting as much attention as before, everyone looked tired, "We aren't sleeping with eyes open, are we?"
"Yep, Hendoor can we continue later? I can't sit through anymore." Ariem yawned and got up to leave.
"I agree, none of us want to miss any piece of information and I too struggle to keep my lids apart for another second." Dadi said, more like a suggestion than request while everyone else nodded, none with too much energy left to speak.
"As you say, we'll continue tomorrow on the way to Syrinn."
"I would love to see the taking pond, was going to suggest that." Zoya chimed in.
"Not anymore," she stared at Ariem in confusion.
"Just like any other creature, frozen water too, doesn't speak."
"What?"
"Exactly, you'd be surprised to see what's been made of the habitat that was once blooming and alive." Said Sol, as she too lifted herself off the muddy ground and rubbed the dust from her pants followed by others, picking up the basket and carafe they all walked towards Hell burrow like undead souls out of past few day's tiring journey.
After everyone left, only Dadi and Hendoor remained outdoor.
"If you plan on sleeping here, I won't put out the fire grandmother." Hendoor joked, he certainly didn't expect her to spend night out in wilds with no special powers to defend herself with.
"How do we know my granddaughter is alive and you all are not just using us to have your way?" Dadi's words stunned Hendoor.
"She's alive. I have sources and they are pretty accurate."
"Where is she? Why can't we go there directly?"
"Without all this prior information and an elaborated plan to defeat Martha, it's impossible. Tomorrow we will head for the underground keep through Syrinn."
"This arises a thousand more questions but I'll let it pass for now." Saying this, she too disappeared behind the wooden door of his house.
"I have arranged beds for you all." Hendoor yelled after her, fairly relieved at not being interrogated any further.