Into the Northern Mountains

---Katherine---

After my demonstration at the feast, everyone in the camp treated me with a greater degree of respect. When I went around camp, soldiers and generals alike address me with bows and nods, often clearing the way for me to pass through. I could sense their fear; the murmurs and rumors around camp were not new to me. Aaron liked to keep me updated on the gossiping. My favorite one thus far is that I was being recruited by an underground ninja organization.

General Coventry glares at me whenever I'm in the vicinity, but one glance from me is enough to cause him to quickly avert his eyes and look uncomfortable. He became a lot more respectful when speaking to me—and he only spoke to me if he absolutely had to. Even Lionel seemed more docile around me and treated me like an esteemed guest.

It was weird at first to know that everyone feared me, but it also made me feel powerful. They challenged me, so I showed them who exactly they were trying to mess with. Little did they know, the acts I performed that night were the extent of my abilities. My swordsmanship was impressive, but it was hard for normal people who don't know sword-fighting to understand how advanced I was. Sword-fighting was an art form, and one had to know art to appreciate art. Thus, the things I could perform and demonstrate my abilities, without a sword, was limited.

Two weeks passed. Thanks to Rachel's and my own healing magic, I was able to walk and move unassisted on my own. My shoulder still ached if I did strenuous activities, but that was all that hindered me. Lionel and I practiced our sword skills together a couple of times and we learned from each other. It was amazing how he could match me most of the time, and every practice was very satisfying.

Most of the time, Lionel and Indigo were busy welcoming new groups of soldiers and leaders into our camp or discussing battle plans. Lucian, Rachel, Aaron, and I helped train the soldiers in everything from battle formations to defense against Evils. We made sure everyone's weapons were coated or tipped with rosewood.

The final battle was near, and the preparations were underway. We now totaled around three thousand people, which was a small force but nevertheless the best we had. Lionel informed us that other revolutionary groups around Crystallea were all preparing to defend against any invasion should Lord Victor attack the towns and villages again. Late night meetings were frequent as all the important generals and we met in the main tent to discuss battle plans. Indigo headed these discussions, pointing out holes in our plans and identifying variables we didn't think of.

When the temperature took a plunge, we knew it was time to go. Rachel picked a date—her runes prophesized favorable conditions on this day—and we held one last feast the night before. The next morning, everyone was up at the crack of dawn. We packed up most of the tents and supplies and ate a hearty breakfast in the clearing. Then everyone was dismissed to put on their armor and sharpen their weapons one last time, before congregating with the supplies they were bringing on the trek into the Northern Mountains.

Lionel stood on top of a hastily-erected stage, facing the mass of soldiers and generals that stood below him. The Rosewood Seven—well, five now—fanned out on either side of him, with Indigo standing right beside Lionel with all the authority of a true commander. I looked out into the crowd, taking in the gleaming armor and shining weapons. Flags fluttered in the cold winter wind, most of them embroidered with a large crimson rose. This was a real army. We actually amassed an army to fight with us.

"Soldiers, brethren, countrymen." Lionel's clear voice rang across the clearing. "You stand here today in front of a daunting journey that none has ever undertaken. The Rosewood Seven, the chosen ones, will lead us, and we will enter the Northern Mountains and invade Lord Victor's stronghold so that we may demolish this evil presence from Crystallea once and for all. Across the country are hundreds, even thousands, of people just like you and me, who are all standing up and fighting against a villain who has plagued us for far too long. We just happen to be at the forefront of that battle."

Lionel looked at Indigo, who took over the speech. "I am not going to sugarcoat anything. It is a dangerous journey, and people are going to die in this battle. But thousands more, even millions, will die all across Crystallea if Lord Victor emerges victorious. We are the kingdom's largest hope. We are their only hope." Indigo paused for effect as she met everyone's gazes. "Once upon a time, no one thought defeating Lord Victor and his army of evil would even be possible. But we made it this far. The Rosewood Seven, and all of you, are the kingdom's beacon of hope in centuries of darkness."

"The night may be dark, but dawn will rise. If we do this right, we will go down in history as the army of ordinary people from ordinary backgrounds that stopped an ancient evil alongside the Rosewood Seven. Our names and our courageous tale will live on, even if we don't." Lionel stated firmly. "You have all trained well. I believe in every one of you and in your ability to make a difference. You matter. In this battle, everyone plays an important role. Together, we will triumph over evil. Together, we will defeat Lord Victor!"

Lionel pumped his fist into the air, and everyone followed suit, cheering and roaring approval. I admired his and Indigo's ways of speaking: how they paused at the right times and altered the volume and speed of their voices to reach the desired effect, and how they were able to inspire courage and hope in such a short speech.

I will always remember this day, when the skies were slightly overcast and a cold winter wind blew from the north. All of us were dressed in customized lightweight armor—courtesy of Lionel—and draped in warm fur cloaks. Black combat boots covered our feet. Our swords hung by our sides. When we mounted our horses to lead the army into the Northern Mountains, a mixture of emotions swelled up in my chest. It was pride, that I've made it this far and with my friends beside me. It was melancholy, knowing that I might not come out alive. Mostly, it was resolve and determination, because I was fighting for a noble cause and had no regrets.

The soldiers were split into different groups. One hundred soldiers were staying behind to guard the campsite. As we gradually approach Lord Victor's stronghold, we will leave behind small groups of soldiers—anywhere from five to twenty people—at certain checkpoints to ensure we had a way back. In the end, we will have more than two thousand soldiers attacking Lord Victor's stronghold from four directions. Lionel's personal soldiers will enter the stronghold with us.

We trudged along on the mountain pass, making slow but steady progress. Lionel and Indigo led the army, while Rachel and Lucian brought up the rear. That left Aaron and me riding along side by side in the middle. The first hour or so was easy. The trails were wide and smooth, and we covered a lot of distance. Everyone was hyped up and full of the excitement of battle.

Then the paths turned narrow and treacherous. Jagged rocks coated the mountainsides, and the ground was littered with chunks of fallen rock. The army stretched itself out as we went from having four men walking side by side to only two. Aaron rode by my side when he could, but at certain parts of the trail we had to ride one behind the other.

Snow began to fall. We all looked up into the sky, watching the snow drift down like feathers. As we ventured farther into the Northern Mountains, the terrain was gradually covered with white. The temperature continued to drop. Our progress slowed dramatically as wagon wheels got stuck in the snow and slipped on patches of ice. I felt the coldness penetrate my thick fur coat.

Still we pushed on, following Lionel and Indigo's lead. It was a world of white, and we were lost within it. The excited chatter turned into murmurs, and the mumurs died off into silence. Everything was quiet except for the sounds of wagons and footsteps. It was as if we were the only ones alive. We took another turn, and the path widened again. I wondered if anyone else besides Lord Victor ever lived inside the Northern Mountains. Probably not.

"Your hair is white." Aaron's horse pulled up beside me. I put my hand to my hair and felt icy coldness. Shaking my head from side to side brought down a shower of snowflakes.

Our horses drew close together. Aaron reached out and gently lifted the hood of my cloak over my head, enveloping my head with warmth. "There. Now snow won't get into your hair."

"Thanks, Aaron. I forgot I had a hood." I nuzzled the fur lining with my cheek, feeling the softness of the fur. "You should put your hood on too."

As he did so, I noticed that the wind was picking up. Snow fell faster, and it was getting harder to move forward. "It's a blizzard!" Someone yelled out. Panic and confusion broke out among the soldiers as the snow began to batter us.