Do you mean to betray me, Verk?
I was never loyal to you or this kingdom.
Those were the last words Verk exchanged with the King of Bellanyx, Mint's father. Why the king thought he would stay with Mint gone was beyond him. Perhaps that was simply the thinking of kings; it was neither his concern nor care to figure such things out.
What was, is how he would rescue Mint.
"Are you two certain this is the path you wish to lead?" Following him were Captain Tallinn and Dame Lofie, Mint's knights. When he'd made his displeasure to Mint being traded off for some third rate night elf, these two followed him.
"We're certain, Lord Verk," Tallinn smiled from his steed as they galloped long the road to his home forest.
"The princess showed us favor, despite our failure, we will not abandon her." Lofie affirmed as well.
It was a sentiment that confused Verk, as these two were part of the reason he couldn't whisk Mint away outright. Perhaps they understood that too.
"If she'd expressed the desire, we would have helped you spirit her away, Lord Verk," Tallinn offered a solemn smile. "Naturally, we did not come about such thoughts until recently. We hoped your efforts would be rewarded and things could progress peacefully."
By coming with him, they were as good as traitors in the eyes of the Bellanyx. Seemed nobles of any faith didn't like it when those beneath them rebelled. It's not as if the two had converted to Solaris or Minerva.
"I hope Marigold will come to understand eventually," Lofie sighed. Apparently the maid was positively vexed by her friend's decision to abandon the Kingdom.
Verk didn't care if the half-Ent came to understand or not. Personally, he hoped not to see her too soon. "We're close to my home. Keep close and follow my trail. If you get lost, I will not search for you."
"Of course," the knights replied.
Mint had been traded off to Marduk, which lay in the exact opposite direction of his home. He hated to backtrack, but if he was to save her, he needed his father's inheritance. They entered the Northern woods, Europa taking to the narrow network of game trails easily. He didn't slow, but he did glance back occasionally to see if the knights were still behind him. Surprisingly, they made it to his father's grave.
"So you've come."
Verk brought Europa to a hard stop in the clearing. Kneeling at his father's grave was his mother, Alfa. Her golden hair shimmered as she stood, looking at him with expectation and the smallest of smiles. It was the most expressive he'd seen her in a hundred years.
"You are indeed your father's son," his mother smiled as she pulled free the sword buried in the stump before his father's grave. With it the other swords rose from their pedestals and flashed with blinding light, becoming spheres and embedding themselves into the slots upon the sword she held. "Take it." She said, tossing the sword at him.
He caught the sword by the hilt and looked upon his mother with surprise. "Did Grandmother approve of this?"
This was the sword of spirits. One of Elfania's most treasured artifacts, along with the eight other blades, it was one of the greatest arsenals of weapons Elfania possessed.
"Don't fear mother's opinion. Just go."
Verk looked at the shimmering blade before placing it on the empty sheath on Europa's saddle. "I need one more thing."
"Oh? You wish to ask a favor of me or mother?"
"Both," he gestured to Tallinn and Lofie. "I wish for these two be welcomed into the forest, and I require means to reach Marduk as swiftly as possible."
"You intend go alone?" His mother asked, looking at the knights who voiced their protest, but they would surely die in the battle to come. He nodded, ignoring Tallinn and Lofie. "I see, you ask for such humble things as if you're asking for the world, my son. The closest I can send you is to Titania's forest. Send my regards to her."
"I will."
"Lord Verk, wait!" Tallinn yelled, but his voice faded as light enveloped him. The visage of his mother was replaced with that of another Nymph, much shorter in stature with bright emerald eyes and long leafy green hair that touched the ground.
"So you're the fabled brother Fauntheia speaks of. I'm Titania," the short nymph gave him an apprising look. "You are monstrously tall indeed."
"I've not the time to chat, Elder sister," Verk said, looking around. He was in another nymph forest, the one closest to Marduk. How close that was, he didn't know. "Which way to Marduk?"
Titania pointed west, "That way, ride across the green sea towards the mountains. There will be a narrow path through to the other side where the demons make their nest. Beyond that, I've no clue of where you seek to go or what you wish to find. I only ask you not bring trouble to my home; my daughters are still young, and one my eldest is off satisfying her wanderlust. Thus, our defenses are weakened. Also, I require compensation. Some blood for fertilizer would be appreciated."
"Of course," he held out his right hand over the jar of mysterious green liquid Titania produced. She poked his finger and let the drops of blood fall into the container. "You're a greedy one." He commented as Titania took enough blood to turn the surface of the liquid red.
She huffed, holding the jar close to her chest, "We're starved for quality material here. I will take what I can get. If you wish for a swift way home, I shall require more."
"I'll keep that in mind," mounting Europa, Verk galloped westward. Titania's forest was far from vast as he emerged into the endless tallgrass that comprised the green sea. The grass seemed to aspire to reach the heavens as the tassels brushed the base of Europa's neck. Should he dismount, even he would be consumed by the prairie grass. "Hiya!" He beckoned Europa forward towards the looming mountains far to the west.
He never stopped to rest, riding all throughout the night. A normal steed would have taken three days at the very least to cross the vast sea of green—wagons even longer, but Europa made in a one.
"The Wrath Mountains." He eased Europa to a steady trot as he came to the base of the imposing black peaks. A faint break in the grass caught his eye and lead to him to the path through mountains. The shabby remains of a fort of unknown origins marked the trail. Nothing beyond the foundation remained. But the place still saw use by the stray traveler; the only mark of their presence was the remains of their campfires. He wondered what fool would choose to travel this way.
His mother told him the story of how these mountains were formed. Yes, formed, for she had borne witness to the event. From her account, a great demon—the name of which he'd forgotten—attempted to invade Saine from its western coast. The demon had brought countless others with him, intent on bringing the entire continent under Minerva's sway. The threat had been so dire that even Elfania sought to intervene.
However, it proved unnecessary.
Archsaints Wraith and Elkait confronted the demon horde and, using their divine power, constructed the entire mountain range to act as a bulwark. Doing so had taken the life of Archsaint Elkait, leaving Archsaint Wraith to whether the demon assault alone for three days. What Minervian forces remained were forced to trek through the hazardous mountains and were met by the Holy Orders of Solaris on the other side.
The entire mountain range was named after Saint Elkait, while the tallest mountain where his body was found was called Mount Wraith.
"I see why the Minervians never tried to push through this way again."
The so-called mountain path was barely that. Verk had to shrink Europa the size of a normal horse just to navigate the winding trail. There was no forgiveness for any missteps. Not only that, but navigating the trail after entering it was its own danger. Bridges, both natural and manmade, branched off to who knew where. The official path marked by the impaled skulls of hapless travelers.
Inscribed below the grizzly marker were the words, "He who wishes misfortune upon the weary will entice the wrath of the gods." The sign was marked with both the symbols of Solaris and Minerva. Meaning neither side was safe if they tampered with sighs.
Interesting that two goddesses at war with each other would form such a pact. Perhaps it was from some sort of concession or long forgotten treaty. The mountain wall protected the Minervians as much as the Solarians.
"Even flight would be impossible here." Verk looked towards the ever black sky; snow continuously fell, thunder rumbled, and lightning flashed. Violent winds assaulted his face around every bend. He could imagine the difficulties a winged creature would face here. Demons included. They might fly over the clouds, but then they'd be in Solaris's domain. The azure goddess wouldn't be too pleased to see her sister's subjects in her territory.
That meant the only way to fly Mint into Marduk was to fly either south or north around the mountains. Naturally, given Bellanyx's location. The northern route would have been faster. To avoid the Solarian capital, Valentine, that meant they would have skirted the coast of Avalon before hopping across the channel again to avoid the mountains. Loath as he was to admit it, even he couldn't supply Europa with enough power to fly such a route. Even if his Ent beast could mimic the form of a winged creature, it was still only an imitation compared to the original.
"You're doing fine, my friend," he patted Europa's glowing leafy mane as she navigated the path. Having a horse that never tired was as valuable as a mount that could fly. Europa gave a confident snort in reply, continuing to trot along.
With complete trust in his steed, Verk stole a few hours' sleep. Much to his disappointment, they were still in the mountains when he awakened. He spotted a large, flat plateau head, connected by naturally forming arches. His stomach twisting as he found a sign that read, "Halfway point—neutral ground."
Carved into the face of a mountain was a sanctuary dedicated to all three primary goddesses. It was most likely the last one ever built. The altar was small, offering little for accommodation: a small stable and shelter, a small bottomless hole filled with fresh water, and a tiny patch of green supporting a single fruit tree.
"Can't be too picky here, I suppose," Verk plucked a single apple that bore a twisted pattern of blue, green, and violet—the colors of each primary goddess. A new fruit immediately grew in its place. A sign written in various languages, both ancient and modern, read: Don't be greedy; the fruit rots beyond the bounds of the sanctuary. "An interesting flavor." The apple was a combination of sweet, sour, and bitter.
After offering thanks at the altar, Verk continued on his way. Interestingly, the path on the Minervian side was much wider, with clear signs of tool marks on the face of the mountain. Seemed the Minervians hadn't given up on invading Saine right away. Given the number of bones and rusted tools littering the around, it was safe to say they'd been determined. Their efforts resulted in a road a wagon could pass through with some room for error.
"Can't say they didn't try," Verk remarked, looking down the ravine filled with the bones of who knows how many demons. There were some large ones in there too. He wondered how many Minervian armies met their end here. "Acht said something about having to patrol the mountains every year."
Verk wondered how many of the dead down there were caused by his half-brother. He also wondered what would lie in wait on the other side of the mountain.
What's like fighting a demon horde? He remembered asking his brother once, long ago. It's like standing in a raging river, waiting for its source to run dry.
Upon exiting the mountain path, Verk learned how accurate his brother's remark was.