Chapter 210: Chapter 192 – Westward Ho!

"In the distant past, many conflicts were abound due to the raiding activities of the elven tribes that inhabited the Forest of Shadows. Such activities came to a screeching halt once Ptolodecca took over the area over a millennium ago, and in the ages since then, the people of western Ur-Teros had ceased to treat elves as savage raiders and more as friendly neighbors." - Frilla Borsdatter, Jötunbergian historian, circa 518 FP.

"Oh, you're all headed to the Shadow Forest? I think we can arrange for some faster transportation and a guide if you'd like," offered Éirynn when she heard of Cal's next destination during some idle chat. Aideen's half-elven niece turned out to be quite carefree, much like her aunt, and together with her wife Mimia were the oldest disciples of the Bone Lord present, which just made sense since both of them were "unliving" from over a millennium ago.

 

"That would be much appreciated, thanks. We started a bit late on the journey this year after all," replied Cal with a nod. She was still a bit uncertain on how to call Éirynn in particular. The half-elven necromancer was Aideen's niece, but her wife was also Cal's aunt by blood, which made for some rather confusing hierarchy. "Sorry for the trouble, though."

 

"It's no trouble. I take it tomorrow won't be too late for your purposes? It's already rather late in the day now," said Éirynn in return. They had spent the last week enjoying the hospitalities available in the Ptolodeccan capital, and tomorrow the rest of Cal's extended family would be returning to Paradise along with Aideen, which was why she too planned to depart.

 

"That'll be just fine, yeah," nodded Cal in reply.

 

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The next morning, Mimia and Éirynn came to meet them by the front gates of the Palace of Bones with a young elven girl beside them. The elven girl had white hair and red eyes, much like Cal, likely someone who has their magic-based strain of albinism, which she heard weren't uncommon in the Forest of Shadows.

 

"Cal, this is Leissa, she's my and Éirynn's disciple, and a native of the Shadow Forest. She'll take you there and be your guide during your stay," said Mimia as she introduced the young elven girl - Cal estimated the girl to be no older than herself, very young for a full blooded elf - who gave the group a polite, deferential bow.

 

"Thanks for the trouble, aunt Mimia," replied Cal with a nod of her head. She then offered her hand for a shake with the elven girl, which the girl accepted, her grip quite firm despite her looks. "And nice to meet you too, Leissa."

 

"Leissa, you'll take Hócht with you to bring them to the forest posthaste. You can handle that, yes?" Éirynn asked her student from the side. The carefree half-elven woman looked more serious today, but Cal thought that's likely because she was in the presence of her own student.

 

"I will not disappoint you, master," replied the young elf with a confident voice that nonetheless betrayed some nervousness to it.

 

They then went into the Palace courtyard, where Hócht, their transportation method, awaited them. Cal had guessed by the name that it would have been one of Mimia and Éirynn's undead constructs, and she was right. She was not prepared for the sight that greeted her, however.

 

It turned out that Mimia and Éirynn had based Hócht's general shape off of a horned lizard like the ones Cal saw to the north the year before. However, while it kept the general shape of a horned lizard, the monstrosity before them was at least twice as large as the largest horned lizard Cal had seen.

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Like the other undead constructs, it had a "skin" made out of pieces of pristine white bones that interlocked with one another, with four trunk-like legs that supported its barrel-shaped torso. It had seven horns on its visage, two long, curved horns that pointed forward over each "eye", and three more on its snout, a larger horn at the forefront with two progressively smaller ones behind.

 

Cal was about to ask whether they should climb up the beast when the undead construct lowered itself, and the bone plates atop its body reconfigured themselves and formed stairs that led to its broad back.

 

Leissa climbed first, her steps confident on the plates of bone that formed the impromptu stairway, clearly not her first time. Cal shrugged and followed, as she walked up the stairs towards the undead construct's broad back, her nieces and students behind her.

 

Atop the beast's back, she found that the bone plates there had also reconfigured themselves into a broad seating area, one that would have easily accommodated her entire group with room to spare.

 

Leissa was seated at the very front, where the young elvish girl supposedly gave commands to the undead constructs, while Cal and her group seated themselves comfortably behind her. Fortunately neither of Elaina's or Sidonie's dogs were troublesome and seated themselves quietly on Hócht's back.

 

The undead construct then walked out of the palace, and towards the western gate of the city, as it traversed the main thoroughfare, which Cal now noticed was more than large enough to have accommodated three beasts the size of the construct, side to side.

 

Hócht walked out of the city unchallenged, the local inhabitants not the least bit bothered by its passage, though Cal noticed a few who looked at it with awe. Probably visitors from elsewhere, she thought in passing.

 

Once they passed the city gate, Hócht began to pick up speed. At first Cal had expected a bumpy ride, but to her surprise, they felt barely any movement from their seats, even as the great undead construct picked up speed and the landscape moved past in a blur.

 

The undead beast ran faster than any horse could, as far as Cal could tell, and given its undead nature, it would not tire either, which meant that they would likely reach their destination in record time indeed.

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