Fantasy: The Beginning of the End

Fantasy: The Beginning of the End - Z. Smith - Part One: The End - Chapter Six

I had to admit, for someone who had been captured by Goblins and survived for weeks by successfully hiding from the horde, Princess Leta complained about very little. And despite her stoic nature, I could see she did have passions of her own, and how earnest her desire to return home was. As the sun began to sink below the tall pine ridges of the Ash Mountains, Leta quickened her pace as she led the way north through the mountain range. I was surprised to see her step on hard rocks and briars without flinching, and when I questioned her, Leta assured me she felt little to no pain, having built up a resistance during her time in Mount Plight. I assumed 'resistance' to mean heavy callouses any lady in Noran would faint to mention, but I could see Leta valued pragmatism over silly social graces.

"Who was that big scary Goblin chasing after us?" Darius asked as we carefully climbed down a ridge. "You two seemed to have a history."

"That would be Krellis," Leta answered him, sounding as if she had tasted something bitter. "I suppose he might be considered the leader of the Goblins, if you can consider one's ability to rule based on no one else being able to kill you."

"Isn't that what all rulers are, though?" Darius joked. The princess did not appear amused.

"Why were you two sent to rescue me?" Leta said, directing the question at me.

"I could give you the truthful answer," I admitted with a wince, "but you'll probably not like it."

"I assume to establish relations with the Kingdom of Fairytale?" Leta's eyebrows raised. "It's the most logical reason I can think of. Besides, I hardly expect altruism to be a motivation."

"Do you think so little of us?" I asked, not intending the question to sound offensive. While the princess had been correct, I was slowly awakening to a bias Leta appeared to hold against Darius and me.

"Humans always act in their own self-interests," Leta stated flatly, as if reciting out of a dictionary. "You two are no different. No one in their sane mind would brave Mount Plight unless there were something significant to be gained."

"You've caught us, girly," Darius drawled benignly from behind me. "Our superiors sent us to rescue you so the Kingdom of Men could open talks with Fairytale."

"I thought as much," Leta smirked before shaking her head. "I'm afraid your superiors will be disappointed. My mother has a clear policy of no-contact between Humanity and Fairytale. Also," Leta finished, shooting a dirty look at Darius over her shoulder, "my name is Leta."

"But why?" I frowned. "What have we done to deserve such a punishment?"

"It was Humans who began the Dark War over seven hundred years ago," Leta pointed out, "and every encounter since has proved the decision to cut off contact a just one."

"Fairytale was not the only nation to suffer as a result of the Dark War," I argued. "The Kingdom of Men is still recovering from the Dark War in its own ways."

Leta scoffed aloud, but said no more other than, "This conversation is pointless."

"I have a question," Darius spoke up after a few moments of silence. "What brought you out of Fairytale, girly? I assume the Goblins didn't grab you from your bed up in Fairytale."

"First, my name is Leta," the princess rolled her eyes. "Second, I was on a mercy mission to the Inquisition city of Valenheim when my escort party was attacked my Goblins on the Great Plains and I was taken prisoner."

"Wait, mercy mission?" I asked in puzzlement. "Is something wrong in Valenheim?"

"There was an outbreak of the Red Plague," Leta answered, stopping to turn and address us directly. "I was sent by my mother to assess the situation and give whatever aid we could."