Chapter 16: Map to the Mountains

I stirred awake to find Jess kissing along my throat, silver and gold eyes dancing. After the banquet, we’d returned home to find everyone asleep and quickly fallen into bed together. We didn’t have sex, as Jess was worried she’d injure me, which SUCKED. So, no sex for me. Jess continued kissing my throat and up my jaw, until she captured my lips in a passionate kiss. It went on for a long time until a knock interrupted.

“Hey, Seb, Jess! We’re having a strategy meeting.” Sasha called. I sighed and Jess and I pulled on our clothes and joined the others in the living room. I returned Lily’s smile, and glanced at Amaya, but she refused to meet my eyes.

“Ok, so what’s going on?” I asked. Sasha pointed to an unfurled map of the Fourth and Fifth Realms. She pointed at Lightcairn, which was in the northwest of the Fourth Realm, and then at Northhall, which was pretty central north in the Fifth Realm.

“Hell of a walk.” I commented.

“Oh, yeah. It’ll be easily a week on the road. Speaking of, which path are we taking? There’s the Brazen Pass, which is the most dangerous road we could take, though the most direct. Or there’s the Willow Road, which winds around the mountain range instead of trekking through.” Sasha explained. Lily touched the Willow Road.

“I don’t believe we should take the Willow Road. Despite local lore, both paths are incredibly dangerous. We should take the direct path and hopefully make it through alright.” Lily said.

“Fair point.” I admitted. The buxom centaur smiled at me again.

“Are there any towns or anything?” I asked.

“Up in the Neverpeaks? No. There might be some unmapped settlements, but no official towns. The Neverpeaks are home to a lot of outlaws looking for safety from the laws of the Realms. Along with your usual breed of monsters.” Jess said.

“So we need to pack heavy.” Sasha summed up. I nodded at my sister.

“Yeah, we do. How treacherous is the actual path itself? Like, stability wise. It hikes around mountains and stuff. Is it safe?” I asked. Lily waggled her hand back and forth in a ‘kind of’ gesture. I nodded. A knock on the door interrupted our meeting. Lily trotted over to answer it, and I saw a royal carriage.

“Sebastian, it’s for you.” Lily said. I headed over to the door and stepped out to see Fay and King Rolan in the carriage. I joined them, and King Rolan gave a weary sigh.

“My daughter thinks that accompanying you on your quest to Northhall is reasonable. I disagree. The forests of the Fourth Realm are a joke compared to the wilderness of the Neverpeaks. It will be a brutal journey, and I don’t think she understands that.” King Rolan explained. Fay sighed.

“Well, you’re right. The journey to Northhall seems like it’s going to be a struggle or it’s going to take forever. Fay’s welcome, of course, but I’m considering not even going to it from here anyway.” I shrugged.

“Oh? Do tell.” King Rolan said.

“There was a route where we hike southeast from here and cross over into the Fifth Realm. From there, we walk through the forest into a fairer country. It’s an easy walk, but a long one.” I explained.

“Hm. I could provide a carriage for your party, except your centaur friend, of course. If you take this safe road, I’d be willing to consider sending it for your use to Northhall. If you don’t mind me asking, where are you headed after Northhall?” King Rolan asked.

“I don’t know yet. We’ll see where our business directs us.” I shrugged. The elfking nodded.

“I really want to go, Seb. Please don’t let him keep me locked up.” Fay pleaded, taking my hands.

“It’s your father’s decision.” I said firmly.

“I decide no. I will keep my daughter safe, and your party can brave the Brazen Pass.” King Rolan said sternly. Fay wilted. The carriage rolled to a stop, and King Rolan left. I turned to Fay and kissed her gently, before I leaned in to whisper in her ear.

“I won’t leave you behind if you don’t want me to.” I said, and then I slid out of the carriage and helped Fay down, and we followed King Rolan into a little cottage.

“Hello, Elfking. Elfprincess. Adventurer.” a blind old woman croaked. She had a bowl of black liquid in front of her, and a sharp quill beside it.

“This adventurer earned a Spellmark for service to me. Could you apply it? I’ll cover the fee.” King Rolan said.

“I can, indeed.” the old witch said and gestured for me to sit. I did. She placed a worn leather book in front of me, and instructed me to pick one. I flipped through the options, seeing some cool ones. A spellmark of an arrow would give me insanely accurate aim with a bow almost effortlessly. A spellmark of a wolf would allow me to have a wolf’s sense of smell. Ultimately, I decided to get a spellmark of the moon. It would allow me to have heightened speed, strength, and awareness at nighttime. The old witch dipped the quill in the black liquid, and I pulled off my shirt and she traced the moon in surprising detail on the left side of my chest.

I shuddered as I felt the magic rush through me, and coughed violently as the spell ark took hold.

“The Moon’s Mark binds you. Let the light of Artemis guide your quest.” the old witch said mystically. I blinked and grabbed my shirt.