The next morning was terribly bright. Minerva's violet sun glared harshly off the freshly fallen snow as if trying to turn their eyes into raisins.
Scouts were sent out to inspect the road and, much to the camp's relief, the trail was navigable. Breakfast was a quick affair. Leftover soup, hard bread, and some jerky. It was important to use whatever daylight hours they could to get to the next campsite.
By the time Mint finished eating, camp was packed up, and they were on the move. As they rolled out of the clearing, she gazed upon the snow-covered ruins. Her eyes transfixed on the circular platform that overlooked the pond.
For a second, Mint thought she saw someone sitting on the platform overlooking the pond. They were smiling viciously, like a cat toying with a dying mouse. Hopefully, it was only a trick of the eyes.
"You look unwell, Princess," Marigold said.
"Do I? I must not have slept very well last night."
"That's expected when traveling." Her other handmaiden, Falabien, said. "It should only be a few more days before we enter Hallifax and we can all return to a more civilized life."
"Yes, hopefully all goes well." Mint looked out her half-frosted window. Snow stretched as far as she could see. There was nothing but white, white and more white… "Huh?"
"What is it?" Marigold leaned over to peer out the window. "Do you see something, Princess?"
Mint blinked, uncertain herself.
"Maybe, do you perhaps see a large black spot far in the distance? There, see?" She pressed her finger against the cold glass, but it was of little help.
"I'm afraid my eyes are not as keen as yours, my lady. If you use Sight, perhaps you will have a clearer picture?"
"Yes, of course." Mint offered a shaky smile as she gazed out the window and channeled Elfania's divine flame into her eyes. Much to her relief, the spell activated, engulfing her vision in a pale green. She saw as far as the hawk flew. The blackened tree line appeared clear as spring water, as if she were standing right there. "Must have been a trick of the eyes."
"What is it you thought you saw, my lady?" Falabien asked. Perhaps she was simply trying to make conversation.
"I'm uncertain, but I thought I spied a large wolf-like creature."
"Wolf-like? Not merely a wolf?" Marigold looked troubled as she looked out her own window. "Falabien are the wolves of the region known for being out during the day?"
"It's late, Lumi, as well as Minerva's season; it wouldn't be unheard of for dire wolves to be more active this time of year." Falabien said. "I'm sure it's nothing the guards can't handle, but we should inform them."
While the handmaidens shuffled about to get the knights' attention. Mint returned to her thoughts, though her eyes kept wandering towards the passing tree line.
Caution was warranted when traveling under Minerva's sun. Not only because of the frigid weather and snow, but because Minerva's demons freely roamed this time of year, day or night. Not only that, but they were more powerful. It would be 173 days before the Elfanians could enjoy Elfania's emerald spring sunshine.
"Hopefully, it was merely an adventurous dire wolf." Mint mumbled, her hand lingered on Minerva's brand. The goddess of Amethyst Flame was said to be harsh, but fair, and proclaimed those who followed her will be blessed with unparalleled freedom.
That said, their freedom extended only as far as the Goddess's good graces. Not only that, what was fair in the eyes of a god?
I wish I hadn't spoken so foolishly.
Her challenge hadn't even arrived, and Mint already dreaded what harsh but fair trial awaited her. No doubt the challenge would balance the scales of her selfish wish.
What are my and my mother's lives worth?
--break
"The princess saw a strange beast, you say?" Captain Tallian raised an eyebrow at Nevi and Lofie's report. "From here?"
The road they traveled was a suitable distance away from the forest, thanks to the Halifax kingdom's efforts to secure the route. Any attack, be it from bandits, demons, or whatever, would have to traverse a wide open field. Even arrows would be diminished in effectiveness at this range. Spellcasters might hide among the trees, but to fire a spell of any kind from half-mile would increase the amount of mana needed to travel such a distance.
"Yes, she only described it as wolf-like."
"Wolf-like, huh," Tallian could only sigh. Wolf-like described practically half of every known demon beast. He didn't want to disregard the princess's worries. As far as royals went, Princess Minette didn't dole out any unreasonable requests, and let them do their job with little fuss. "We'll keep an eye out, but I suspect we won't have to worry until nightfall. I doubt any demonic beasts would dare attack a group this large, even under Minerva's sun."
Though he thought there was little to be concerned about, Tallian ordered the caravan to pick up the pace. With the fresh snow, they were already bogged down, so they couldn't push their steeds much harder.
He ordered two scouts to ride ahead and check the next campsite they were scheduled to reach tonight. He also considered having a pair of riders go straight to Halifax to send escorts to meet them.
"King Bellanyx might not like that, but…" if they asked for aid, it would look bad not only on them, but their home, if they couldn't escort their princess themselves. "Is the mission not a higher priority, then our honor?"
It was worth more than his honor at least, but Tallian wasn't sure where King Bellanyx stood on the life of his ninth daughter.
If he really cared, would have sent us out this late in winter?
Tallian was fully aware of Minette's origin. As a human worshiper of Elfania, all elves, of any breed, were holy beings in his eyes. Even though Minette had merely been a maid before, she was still direct blood descent of their goddess, and that was enough for him.
Still…
"Sometimes my masters seem all too human." Saying such a thing within the castle walls was sure to see him sent to the guillotine or perhaps the noose. Depends on the mood of the king.
If he lost a promotion due to embarrassing his liege to fulfill his mission, so be it. The more pragmatic question is, could he spare two men at the moment?
Including himself and the princess's two female knights, his troop only numbered 20. A rather light guard for a princess, honestly.
Tallian felt a chill run down his spine as a peculiar thought entered his mind. He hastily shook it away, but it quickly reemerged. Forcing him to look at the reality of their situation.
Is there some sort of plot afoot?
If Princess Minette died on the way to Halifax, it would dampen their alliance, but he was certain King Bellanyx would extract some sort of compensation from the northern Nyx kingdom.
Does it matter whether we succeed or fail?
Having successfully worked himself into a tizzy, Tallian took a long breath and cleared away all useless thoughts.
What's most important is succeeding in our mission.
Whether they were meant to succeed was not his concern, for they would!
"Darus, Pennico," he called to the two men riding nearest to him.
"Yes, Captain?" They replied, trotting closer.
"Go on ahead and tell King Halifax of our progress and to send a welcoming commission to retrieve the princess. I'm worried the weather will delay us beyond what is acceptable."
"At once, captain!"
"We'll see you in Halifax!"
As the two knights spurred on ahead, Tallian felt his guts churn. Another storm was coming in from the north, promising more ice and snow.
"Oh, goddess Elfania, let us arrive at the next camp at the very least." He prayed with all his heart, and yet, they soon found themselves set upon by a storm so fierce and mighty, it felt as if a scorned lover sought revenge.
-break
"How are you holding up, Princess?"
"I'm fine," Mint offered her best smile as the entire troop huddled around the hastily made fire.
They were all sheltered inside her tent, since it was the largest, and the only shelter they could construct before the coming snow buried them.
If one stepped outside the entrance, they would be swept away without a trace. The howling wind and snow were so harsh one's own hand would disappear before them. Any attempt to look for tracks would be a fruitless one.
"Hopefully, this will be over and done before morning."
"Even if it is, the road will be completely buried."
"We may have to abandon the carriage and wagons and continue on foot."
"You can't expect the princess to trek across the countryside on foot!" Marigold scolded.
"She can ride one of the horses. We'll have six extra if we don't have to pull the wagons."
"Even so…"
"Marigold," Mint smiled at the handmaiden, though it was obviously not a polite one. "Things are hard enough as it is; let's not add to the burden, shall we?"
"But, Princess…"
"No buts! I'd rather arrive in Halifax ungracefully, then not at all." For good measure, Mint fixed Falabien, Lofie, and Nevi, the only other women of the group, with a firm glare. "Captain Tallian, whatever needs to be done to ensure our survival, you have my express permission to do it."
Captain Tallian chuckled. "Thank you, princess. Though I doubt our situation will be so dire come morning."
"Captain's right, we've faced worse than a little snowstorm. Especially when we've got such a firecracker of a princess with us, huh? Shame you weren't the crown princess, yeah?"
"She has a certain spunk about her, right? Reminds me of my girl at home."
"True, she is a bit of Tommy gal, right?"
Marigold burned red as embers as the knights chuckled and nudged each other. "You… you can't speak such slanderous remarks about the princess, even if they're true!"
"Mari," Falabien sighed. Marigold turned towards Mint in abject horror.
"Princess, I… I didn't mean…"
"Hm?" Mint looked at the ceiling of the tent with interest while cleaning her ears with her pinkie. "Did you say something? Funny thing. It seems this weather has plugged my ears. How dreadful. Seems I won't be privy to any remarks about me."
The members of the caravan chuckled and vented their displeasure with their situation, and their thoughts on her flimsy princess persona. There were perhaps a few crude comments about how voluptuous her half-sisters and the Queen were from the men when the whiskey flask got passed around. It was truly a shame Mint couldn't hear a word of it, so there would be nothing to write to the King and Queen. Not that she had any reason or desire to write them.
I wonder if I can get them to send mother over once I'm in Halifax.
Now that she had some time to think, well, think productively. Why couldn't she request her father send her mother, her actual mother, not the queen, over to live with her in Halifax?
Asking the goddesses really was foolhardy.
Her mother always warned her against seeking divine aid, as it required an equally divine price. None of the gods could freely fulfill prayers while they were at war with each other.
Mint thought this storm was the beginning of Minerva's challenge for her. Perhaps not, but one could never know until it was too late.
I'm sure I'll know the challenge when I see it.
Mint laid back against the travel pack that had been made into a makeshift chair for her. Bundled up in her blankets, she closed her eyes. Listening to the knights chatter and the quiet crackling of the fire until darkness took her. Hopefully, the morning would find them well.
-break
Boom! WSAP! Boom! WSAP!
Mint's ears fluttered; her eyes cracked open to see it was still dark. The only light was the faintly crackling embers of the fire.
"Wha…?"
BOOM! WSAP! BOOM! WSAP!
What is that noise? It repeated over and over in an odd rhythm, almost like… footsteps.
BOOM! WSAP! CRACK! BOOM, WSAP! CRACK!
It was even louder now! She heard another sound, like twigs snapping, only deafeningly loud! As if an entire tree had been pushed over! The others stirred as the noise grew closer.
Pulling her cloak tight, Mint stood, and tiptoed towards the entrance of the tent. Thanks to her heritage, she could see as easily at night as during the day. She slipped silently outside the entrance, finding the night or perhaps early morning air crisp against her neck like a knife.
Another foot of snow greeted her as she stepped out into the clearing they'd hastily set the tent. The supply wagons and carriage were completely buried, but the trees where the horses were tied were fine.
The shelter was almost completely covered on one side. It would be the perfect camouflage to anyone spying on them from the north.
"Let's see… or hear, rather." Mint held her hands to her ears as they danced up and down, listening for any sounds.
BOOM! WSAP! CRACK!
Her ears sprang up as she sourced the origin of the sound. Treading through the snow, she moved around the south of the tent and looked east, where the Elfania's glowing emerald moon greeted her.
Mint stared deeply into the dark silhouette of the forest. As the sound grew louder, she saw something move along the treetops, its form dipping and rising.
Then, right before her eyes, a tree at the edge of the forest toppled over, creating a whirling dust cloud of snow. From the forest, a large, hairy, black form as tall as the trees stepped out. The hulking figure swiveled its head, showing her its burning violet eyes. Its face illuminated by the moonlight.
"A… night… yeti…" It took all of her willpower not to release her bladder as the monstrous creature began moving again. It moved slowly, its head constantly swiveling about, as if looking for something. "What's it doing here? There are no black forests near here, right?"
They checked this route to ensure they wouldn't pass anywhere near one of Minerva's cursed black woods. The nearest one was a hundred miles from here. So why was this monster of the abyss here?
Overcome my challenge, and all shall be yours…
Minerva's words echoed in her ears as the Night Yeti turned its burning violet gaze towards her.
"That's… my challenge…" How is a 40 foot tall Night Yeti an equal challenge to her wish! "That's not fair…"
The Night Yeti pulled back its arm and threw something. A large black blot sailed across the visage of the moon and crashed in the middle of the tent!
Mint screamed as the Night Yeti roared and ran towards her!
-break
"What in blazes!" Captain Tallian frantically fought against the weight of the canvas as someone screamed. Had the storm been so bad that it collapsed the tent? His companions screamed as they too struggled against the fallen shelter.
"Captain!"
"What's going on!"
"The princess! Where is the princess?!"
That was Marigold. Panic flooded his veins. Had something happened to the princess? Was she stolen away while they slept!
"Draw your blades! Cut through the canvas!" Tallian ordered. He already had permission to do whatever was necessary. Without further hesitation, he drew his dagger and cut his way out of the tent. "Princess!"
She was the first thing he saw. Much to his relief, though it didn't last. A giant monster was coming right at them, and the crushed remains of Darus and his horse were atop the tent. The others emerged from the remains of the tent in various stages of shock as some saw the monster first and others Darus's corpse.
"To arms!" Tallian roared, running across the ruins of the tent to grab Princess Mint by the arm. He pulled her without restraint, all but dragging her towards the horses.
"Captain…" she said in a daze, only to trip on the hem of her dress.
"Whatever it takes, right?" He said, running his knife down the length of her skirt, cutting as quickly as he could so she could run freely if needed. "On the horses! Hurry!"
Thankfully, they hadn't unsaddled the horses because of the storm. Tallian all but threw Mint onto the back of his stallion, and drew his bow with a handful of arrows.
"Hurry! Hurry!" he roared as the others struggled to mount up. They didn't have enough horses for everyone. At the edge of the forest, he filled his arrow with emerald flame and loosed it.
The arrow flew like a shooting star and hit the Night Yeti dead center in the chest. A sizable explosion followed, knocking the beast back, but it kept marching towards them.
"Captain…" nine of his men stood resolute with their bows at the ready.
"Elfania be with you." He said, rushing to mount his horse with the princess in front. "Ride! Come on!"
Tallian led those who'd mounted through the foot and a half deep snow. Those still by the tent unleashed a continuous volley of emerald flame arrows upon the yeti. Slipping into the trees to restrict the monsters' movements.
They should have held out for a little while, but the Night Yeti inhaled, ballooning its chest to comical proportions as hellfire spurted from the sides of its mouth.
"RARWWAO!"
Violet flames engulfed the forest. The screams of his comrades were as painful as they were short. The Yeti, illuminated by the blaze, turned towards them. In the light, Tallian realized they weren't simply dealing with some lesser demon. The beast was clad in bone armor made from assorted giant beasts. A cracked, horned skull acted as its helm.
"Is that an Alpha?" Lofie screamed as they raced across the frozen grasslands. She would assume that.
"If it were only big, it would be," he replied as the beast roared and gave chase. Tallian spurred his horse onwards, if they could just get to the northern woods! "It's at least an archdemon or fledging lord! Hurry! The forest will slow it down! We'll ride until the horses have nothing left to give!"
They all imbued their steeds with the divine flame of Elfania, causing flaming emerald hoofprints to appear in their wake. The horse's pace quickened, just enough to keep ahead of the Yeti's long strides.
"This is my fault…" He heard the princess sob, but he didn't have time to think about that. The tree line was coming up! "Single file! Try not to get separated…"
It seemed they would manage an escape, but Tallian's heart sank as they crossed the boundary of the outer trees. Instantly the magic of his goddess Elfania left not only him, but all the knights. His horse buckled and fell on its side without divine flame to sustain it.
"No…" Tallian clawed at the earth, which was lush green. "This is Elfania's territory?"
Part of their pact with the goddess was they couldn't use the blessings given to them inside of her territory. A devastating betrayal from human worshipers, who attacked and kidnaped elves while they slept, was the reason for this. Never again would Elfania allow a human who wielded her divine flame to harm her daughters.
"Captain, what do we do!" Lofie yelled while she stood ready with her sword, the others following her example.
"Captain Tallian…" the princess said, her fingers gripping his cape.
--break
"Captain Tallian…" Mint held the knight commander's cloak in a death grip. The man himself was expressionless as he lifted her to her feet. She was about to tell him how this was all because of her selfish desire, but he shouted before she could say anything.
"Are there any horses left that can still run?"
"Over here!" A knight yelled, pulling the steed by the reins.
Before Mint could say anything, the Captain all but threw her on the back of the steed for the second time tonight.
"Gather whatever food and water you can. You lot pelt that damn thing with arrows! Slow it down by any means!"
"Yes, captain!" The knights replied, stepping out of the forest so they could use their blessings once more. They fired volley after volley at the Yeti, each exploding missile buying them another second of life.
"Captain, what is your intention?" Mint screamed as Tallian stuffed what meager supplies they had onto her horse. He stowed his bow, some arrows, and a short sword onto the saddle and stepped back with a sad smile while he saluted.
"Princess… it's been an honor." With a flaming emerald hand, the Captain slapped the horse's ass, sending the steed sprinting!
"Captain! Marigold! Lofie!" Mint screamed as they grew further and further away. The captain's last words echoed through the trees.
"Ride until the horse dies and then run even further! No matter what, you must live, princess!"
A flash of amethyst engulfed the trees. Mint buried her face in the horse's mane as she cried.
"I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" This was all her fault; they were all going to die because of her.
She cried and wailed as the horse continued to run. It ran and ran until it let out a horrifying whinny and fell upon its side. Mint barely wiggled free as the horse went through its death rattle.
Wiping her tears, Mint took the supplies from the dead stallion and continued onwards.
"Where do I go… What path do I take?" Mint wondered aimlessly forward, deeper and deeper into the woods. She struggled over roots, rocks and vines. Snow once more stung her wet cheeks.
Her foot caught a stray root, and she fell face first to the ground, her entire body exhausted.
"What does it matter…" She sighed.
She was lost. She had no navigation skills, nor any talents that would aid in her surviving in the forest.
"I just want to rest…" She closed her eyes and darkness filled her vision for what seemed like forever, but when she opened them again, there was a soft light. "Am I dead?"
All she could see in her squinted vision was a colorful array of flowers. It felt as if she were floating as well. Was this what heaven was like?
Her ears fluttered, hearing footsteps. She craned her neck towards the source of the sound, a waterfall of bright golden hair with familiar pointed ears poking out of the sides of the golden mane.
"A nymph…" Mint mumbled, reaching towards her presumed savior. The elf, who would be her cousin by some degree, looked her way. She saw only the lower half of her face, her glossy green lips curled in a smile.
"So you are alive…" the mysterious Nymph said. "Sleep for now."
The light was so blinding, Mint couldn't make out much of her. Was the light radiating from the Nymph herself? Vaguely, she could pick out bits of her clothing. Which in itself was a clue. Nymphs, forest elves, rarely wore much for clothing. From what little she retained from her lesson on fashionable trends, this woman's clothes were ancient.
Not hundreds of years ago, but thousands, perhaps even tens of thousands.
"Are you… one of the Great Sisters?"
"You need not worry about such things." The Nymph cooed, patting her head. Instantly, Mint's mind became foggy, and sleep threatened to overtake her. Despite her efforts to resist. "Since I went out of my to save you, perhaps you could do me a favor…"
"Anything…"
"Honestly," the nymph sighed, flicking Mint on the forehead. "You shouldn't be so quick to make such offers lightly, little sister."
Mint tried to mumble out an apology as the darkness took her again.