100 Hawk Mountain Pass (1/2)
Will, Maya and Roy raced atop the wood line and fields below, the mountains grew closer with every minute. From what looked like a pin prick when closer to Ember, after getting closer, the walls of the mountains seemed to reach the heavens. ”I read that Hawk Ridge is still three days travel by flight after getting to the top of these mountains.” Roy said as he craned his head to try to see the top. ”And I hear that getting to the top is no small task.”
”How so?” Will called back as he continued his way. ”I thought we would just fly to the top.”
”We would be able to do that,” Roy said wryly. ”But the path a hundred yards from the mountain is full of affinity traps to keep those who can fly from breaching their defenses.”
”Affinity traps?” Will looked at the mountains with newfound curiosity.
”They react to certain affinities. The closer you get to the trap, the more likely you will set it off, resulting in a chain reaction of explosions. If you set off even one, we would most likely die.”
”Then why don't I just absorb the trap's power before going up?” Will asked. ”They were most likely made by one of my ancestors, so I should just be able to take the elemental power back within myself.”
”That's true,” Maya began, ”But then you would leave this mountain defenseless to invaders. That would be more of a disservice than a service, don't you think?”
Will sighed. He knew she was right, he was only going to these kingdoms to ensure that they could put a face to his name and know that he would support them in the future as the Wandering Prince, and not the Crimson King.
The two companions took Will's silence as understanding as they headed to the base of the mountain. Will saw a solitary figure at the foot and flew towards it. Landing, he was greeted by a man in brown leather who held up a hand to halt them.
”Who seeks passage to the top of Hawk Mountain?” The man said formally. Will could tell that the man had to say the same thing many times per day and felt a little more comfortable with the current problem of the traps which lay ahead of them.
”I am William Ragnos, Wandering Prince of Crystallia.” Will said with a fist to his heart. ”This is Maya and Roy, my travelling companions.” He waved his hand to his friends who also put a fist to their hearts.
The man gave a salute of his own, somewhat confused why a prince felt the need to salute to him first. Royalty which used the mountain pass usually expected the salute first, along with an apology for not knowing who they were. He already had a better opinion of Will due to the respect he had been given. ”Ragnos..” The man studied the last name. ”Isn't that Ebonhart's ruler's name?”