Chương 44: Vol 1. Book of Kaereth 13:1-49

Codex Of The Prophets – Book of Kaelreth 13: 1-49: 1 And so Kaelreth climbed the mountain, bare-pawed, with a determined look upon her face. 2 And the stones tore at the delicate pads of her paws, and blood followed each pace she took, staining the perfectly white snow behind her. 3 And the winds seemed to inundate her with little whispers, saying unto her, "Oh, great and prestigious warrior of the Kharani race and the Seran people, I say, you have already shown your strength! You have already shown your devotion!

Turn, turn back now! I say, return to the warmth down below, for no mortal woman belongs upon this peak." 4 Yet Kaelreth sharply answered the whispering wind, "I go where my Mother calls me," for she knew these were nothing more than the temptations of insidious demons. 5 And Kaelreth did not once even think of turning back.

6 She did not turn back, nor did she ever cry out about her suffering, for she knew that it was the Great Mother who had created this mountain and placed it before her as a test of devotion, which she would pass. 7 And when she had reached the top, the sky opened. 8 The Great Mother appeared before her in radiant beauty. 9 The snow ceased falling, and unseen paws parted every cloud. 10 Kaelreth fell to her knees in reverence, and the Great Mother said unto her, "Stand, my child," and so she did.

11 And Kaelreth said, "Oh, great goddess, our Creator, my life and my everything, I ask you humbly, as your servant, why have you called me up to this barren and hibernal mountain?"

12 The Great Mother, now partially visible yet hidden behind her ebony veil, reached out her majestic hands and said unto her, "My child, you are the one I have chosen to free the city of Veyrath, my holy city, for it has fallen beneath the rule of the tyrannical Ashen Queen, who has closed my temples, broken the sacred hearts of Seroth, slain the daughters of Veyrath, and taken their sons in chains. 13 Her soldiers feast merrily while the cubs starve beneath the city walls.

14 Only you can restore peace, my child." 15 And Kaelreth said, "O Great Mother, I am but at least ten thousand spears guard a singular woman, and Veyrath. 16 I possess neither an army of my own, nor gold of my own, nor noble blood. 17 How may one such as I go about freeing this mighty city?" 18 The Great Mother said unto her, "You, my child, count the spears held within their hands, but I count only their hearts.

19 One heart filled with infinite righteousness shall outweigh a mighty army built upon nothing more than wickedness and wrath. Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more. 20 Now, I say this unto you: go down this mountain and come upon the shores of the Vikira River, where you shall be given a prize from heaven above."

21 Kaelreth bowed reverently and set forth on her journey, making her way through the thickets and the copses and hopping upon the back of an ass before she came across a small elven settlement. 22 Now, the elves in those days were less secluded, and they took her in, gave her warmth and food, and then asked what it was she needed. 23 She pleaded with them for a horse, and the chief of the elven tribe agreed to give her one if she could beat their eldest daughter in a wrestling match. 24 Kaelreth agreed.

25 And so the chief brought forth their eldest daughter, who was nearly as tall as a young cedar tree and whose arms were thicker than the entirety of Kaelreth's body. 26 Three times the elf threw herself against Kaelreth, and three times Kaelreth remained standing. 27 And upon the fourth charge, Kaelreth caught her beneath the arms and lifted her from the soil below, then gently laid her upon her back so that no bone was broken and no dishonour was given to either of them.

28 And when Kaelreth had claimed victory over the eldest daughter, the elven chief bowed reverently, saying unto her, "You are truly a masterful warrior worthy of respect." 29 And so the chief gave unto her a young mare by the name of Tikera, whose coat was as white as a mountaintop and who had a long, luscious mane. 30 No woman had ever ridden the mare Tikera, for she had cast every rider who tried to mount her from her back and into the soil.

31 Yet when Kaelreth placed one of her bloodied paws against the mare's snout, the creature lowered herself willingly. 32 And so the mare and Kaelreth rode into the night for five nights exactly, until they came across a clearing near the shores of the Vikira River. 33 There, Kaelreth fell to her knees and meditated and prayed, doing so for nearly two days. 34 On the first night, frost began to gather in her fur. 35 On the second day, hunger clawed at her insides. 36 Yet she did not rise.

37 Then, on the second night, a figure emerged from the waters: Seroth. 38 He stepped from the river, though neither his robe nor his fur was wet, and the wound of his martyrdom—a slice across his slightly exposed bosom near his heart that continued upwards towards his neck—shone with a crystalline glimmer. 39 She shouted, "The Beloved!" and planted her face firmly against the soil. 40 Seroth approached her, glowing with holiness. 41 He bent down and said, "Look upon me, my child."

42 And so Kaelreth looked upon the First Beloved's brilliant visage, and she trembled from the sheer glory of it. 43 Seroth said unto her, "Our Lady, our Creator, the one who sent me to become flesh so that I might love your primordial ancestor, has asked me to give you this." 44 And there appeared in Seroth's hand a golden-hued sword, though no mortal hand had forged it. 45 Upon its blade were written the words: "True love shall deliver the suffering, and wrath shall break the tyrant."

46 Seroth said unto her, "Take this. 47 This blade is named Vaelora, and it shall never draw the blood of the innocent. 48 Now go and save the people of my city." 49 And so Kaelreth did as the First Beloved instructed, then mounted her horse and rode for two weeks straight towards the battle.