BAD CROW MOUNTAIN (Lesbian)

CHAPTER 3 A brief historical overview

"Why are you so eager to climb this mountain? You are not just a simple Svartalf, no doubt, but you hang out in a tavern working as a waitress or bar... barwoman something. Then, risking your own life, you saved a witch who was accused of attempting to kill the head of the village," I say with a yawn. Climbing up the old green steep mountain looks not very difficult, but with every step I am getting more and more tired despite the fact that the place is full of small magical sources everywhere that are supposed to give me more stamina.

Svartalf wants to tell me why she wants to go up the mountain, but something is bothering her.

"You won't believe me anyway," she mutters tiredly.

"Imagine you are telling me a story. You don't need me to believe you, Svartalf. Come on, I don't even care if it's true or false. I just don't want to fall asleep while our ascent. I need some entertainment. I see that your tongue itches to tell me everything. Come on! Come on!"

"Fine, annoying witch! Fine. I'll tell you," she nervously agrees. "How well do you know Woodland history?" she asks out of sudden.

I wince. At the academy, I never respected theoretical subjects, preferring practical classes. Why would a battle witch need to know what year the troll uprising was or when the dwarves privatized the eastern and southern mountains and monoliths, monopolizing almost the entire mining industry, leaving humans high and dry. It feels that only humans get into trouble, as always; speaking about elves, they never care: there are multiple magical sources, portals to other worlds, and magical artifacts on the elven territory that will allow them to live in clover until the goddess Amixantra herself wants to feed all their souls to her sons, which, of course, will never happen.

"Mmm... Let's say, I do know something about history," I say evasively.

Elfia sighs, "They should feel guilty for teaching you. The academy has lost its glory and old school noble professors..."

"I was taught there for free, besides, they provided me with a roof over my head and some food when I needed it, so I can't complain. I don't think that your pompous elvish ivory school is better than my academy!"

Svartalf rolled her eyes, "Humans are annoying, but humans with magical powers are the worst."

"Says the woman who's a half-human," I snort, lifting the right corner of my mouth.

She sighs, "Do you want me to continue?"

"Sure thing!" I smile, saying it just like a curious little earthy farmerette. I sit on a flat rock not able to move anymore. She keeps on standing looking suspiciously excited for someone who's about to give me a brief historical overview.

"How well do you remember the events of thirty years ago?"

"Well, I was one year old, so not really great," I say with a smile in my voice.

"Don't pretend that you are stupid. I mean the events that were happening in the country thirty years ago."

"Queen Kattia Pettra has come to power." I raise my head to the sky, watching how the fog begins to descend from the mountain, enveloping stones, trees, and silhouettes of crows that stubbornly refuse to go to bed and, as if our guards, are escorting us to a crater filled with water, "and the king was missing or dead or whatever, royal drama, nothing new."

"That's why humans live so poorly! You don't care what happens to you, ignoramuses who don't ask questions and take everything at face value."

"The vast majority of people are peasants who live in villages. They are illiterate not because they want it. I was lucky that magical powers woke up in me, otherwise, I would have long been milking a cow and giving birth to a child per year without being able to read and write. The peasants only know what the priest says or hear the news that comes from the palace with the official queen's heralds. Even if they organize a rebellion, what can they do with pitchforks and shovels against the royal trained soldiers with swords and arrows? How should they stand against the royal sorcerers, most of whom are fed by the hands of the queen, and she gives them castles, gold, and lands. Her tamed sorcerers and sorceresses will do whatever she wants. She has a lot of her people ready to do everything for her."