Chapter Ten

Adriana can't help but to feel a bit of excitement as she enters Celosia's accessory shop called The Wandering Trinket. The burly, rotund woman sitting behind the counter eyes the group, then offers a crooked smile showing her missing teeth boldly. She appeared not exactly a native and made one think of a pirate in some terms. "Ye must be the ones Azolla mentioned, welcome!" The most tranquil of voices came from Celosia as she sweeps her arms out and greets them. "Please take your time looking around, let me know if ye need help!"

"Thank you…" Evelynn replies bewilderedly as they all peruse the shop.

"Look Aunty Adi, this is so pretty!" Luther exclaims as he holds up a bracelet of braided silver with a dark gem in the middle.

"Oh, it is!" Adriana replies, soon feeling a tug from her side.

"Aunty, looky looky!" Victoria shows her a little bronze circlet with a shimmering turquoise stone.

"Do you want that?" Adriana asks her, gaining a shy nod in reply. "We'll see, go ask your parents." She tells them, they scamper off when she feels yet another tug.

"Aunty, can I have?" Hero asks as he raises a cuff bracelet. She smiles at him as she eyes the copper band with green gems.

"Let's ask your parents too then." She leads him over to the others, soon seeing that they were reluctant to buy the pieces for them. "Here, I'll take those while you guys help your parents find things." Adriana tries to distract them, picking out a tiny and delicate silver with an orange gem necklace for Keith while she was at it. She purchases the items, as well as a ruby and bronze torq and a silver circlet with an iridescent purple stone. "Ambrosia, please deliver these to Azolla for us?" She asks the woman after they all finished shopping and had returned to their rooms.

"Yes, he seemed rather excited to work with them." Ambrosia replies, taken the various items from the family. Not all were going to be worked on, but she would bring the ones meant for protection. Of course, she was privy to the request Adriana had made of Azolla.

"I'm glad we found a decent gown shop while we were out. That's a worry I didn't need lifted with some looser fitting clothing." Illiana comments, making some chuckle. But it was true, her pregnancy furthering meant her clothing desperately needed tailored, or new items bought.

Adriana finds herself soaking in a fragrant bath later, staring out over the buildings as she contemplates her life yet again. At least once a day she finds herself doing this, though it didn't help much. It was hard to fathom the reality that they lived, and becoming a "stardom god" was something a little confusing for her too. She also wasn't ignorant of how this world was, so she knew just how dangerous every move made could be. That alone causes her to be weary, because what happened if one was to die?

"Adriana, we'll be leaving in about half an hour for dinner." Quinton knocks on her door and lets her know after she answers him.

"Thanks!" Adriana calls back, then with a sigh heaves herself out of the tub. Not exactly peaceful the way her thoughts were, she still was relaxing and regretfully, that was over now.

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Adriana was tired. One could even say drained of all energy. But, how could she be the one to squish her nephews and niece's enthusiasm? They ran about the forest around them, eagerly letting their fascination guide them to the different flora around them. The night before, Ambrosia mentioned the various sights around them, and the children became enthralled. Not that the rest of the group wasn't, but none were ready to traipse through the woods at the crack of dawn.

"Oww! Mom!" Hero's whimper echoes around them suddenly. Looking over, they find him sitting on the ground beside the path holding his arm and starting to have a crying fit.

Adriana feels her eyes narrow slightly at this scene, a guide comes out to put some salve on their arm and starts to teach them about bees. Which all of that was fine, if not for the fact that they've felt the unmistakable pressure that let them know that the cameras are on them. It's an instinctual knowledge, but a welcome piece of information for them. It's happened briefly before, which they assume was their introduction to the show. But now, everytime anything pertaining to this situation of hiking in the woods happened, they felt the eyes watching. But what about this was so interesting? That made them rather nervous.

"Oh baby, let us see so we can help you feel better." Tamara coaxes Hero, who was fussing a bit about letting anyone help his bee sting. Apparently he went to smell a flower and tripped, startling a bee that stung him.

Hero pouts with tears clinging to his lashes as he wearily eyes the adults around him. Finally, he wipes his eyes and utters a soft "Ok" as he releases his arm.

"This salve will help with the sting immediately, little man. It'll help you feel a lot better." Jerald soothes as he comes forward.

"Wait, we must ensure that the stinger is removed." One of their guides, a man named Flux Ironspruce, intercedes quickly. "The bees here don't desire to harm others, but will give their lives to defend their colony. In doing so, they will often leave their stinger behind which can become infected if it isn't removed properly." He explains to the group at large.

"I see, thank you for the explanation. I have learned to make many quality salves, but don't have experience in doctoring." Jerald replies with a genuine smile of gratitude as the guides start to gently remove the hooked stinger.

"It's never a bad thing to gain new knowledge. I think we may have some plants unique to our lands that would be of interest to you." Flux tells him with a smile before turning his attention back to Hero fully. "There you are, the stinger can't hurt you anymore now."

"Thank you!" Hero says with a wobbling voice before surprising Flux with a hug.

"No worries, now it's time for some salve and a bandage!" Flux replies, handing the child to his mothers so they can handle the rest. He turns to Ambrosia and starts talking lowly with her.

"You mentioned unique plants? I assume they have interesting properties?" Evelynn asks eagerly with much interest gleaming in her eyes.

"Please forgive her enthusiasm, but she's a botanist that adores plants thoroughly." Rolan tells them as he smiles at his wife. In his opinion, she seemed too stressed and on edge, not taking a moment to just enjoy herself since this has all happened. Her being enthusiastic about something was a joyous occasion to remember.

"Yes, we were just speaking about perhaps taking your group to view and learn about them tomorrow. Of course, only those who would be interested." Ambrosia replies with her own grin.

"Yes! I would like that! And we can teach the little ones!" Evelynn exclaims, though many others shared her excitement.

"I think I'd rather relax and explore the settlement more, and gain some inspiration." Adriana says, bringing their attention to her as she gives them a half smile.

"That sounds like fun to me, I'll join you in that!" Illiana happily states.

"I think I'd like to learn more about the local cuisine, maybe get some recipes myself." Helena admits as she tilts her head in consideration.

"Then I say we spend the day gaining new knowledge and techniques for food and pottery." Quinton suggests to her, giving her a kiss after she agrees.

"We'll take Victoria with us then, how does that sound?" Evelynn asks them as they continue down the trails heading to their mausoleums and crypts.

"Yes, that sounds good to us. Thanks mom." Quinton answers, giving them a grateful smile as Helena sushes Keith. It wasn't that they wouldn't like to go around as a whole family, but allowing Victoria to go and learn with the rest was a good opportunity in case she takes a liking to herbalism or things of a similar nature. They didn't have many ways for schooling and teaching at the time, so this was pretty close.

"And, we're here." Ambrosia announces, bringing their attention back to their trip. Glistening falls goes through a grate, some of the water being diverted and running through a circular engraving in the ground before going through another grate. There are smaller, weeping trees covered in mosses scattered around the stone pathways as several entrances to the crypts were available forming a circle as they all face inwards. Flowers, hedges, and gazebos were in the grassy areas between the stone water and pathways. It was a peaceful and serene place that one could get lost in the beauty of. The entrances were each different fantastical creatures with the doorway carved at the base of them. The fact others were here and picnics were awaiting them didn't feel as eerie as it sounded before.

"Well, maybe I've gained some inspiration." Illiana breathes in awe, the rest of their group seeming to agree as they take the moment to soak in the scene.

"Welcome to our burial grounds, the lands of eternal slumber as we return to the earth." Flux announces as he ambles towards one of the awaiting gazebos.