“No.” Ivy said into a dawn so dark, a cock would be scolded for crowing. She marched as unwavering as a train towards her destination.

“Ivy wait!” Called a tall, broad figure underlit by the flickering of a hand candle. It was quite difficult for them to keep up, on account of the frilly maid’s uniform they wore. “You haven’t even finished breakfast!” The gigantic maids voice was low and rumbling, but still warm and soothing. Like honey coated gravel.

Ivy whipped around like a viper. “To the biting fangs with breakfast Bellona!” She said with the venom to match my prior words. “I refuse to suffer another moment under that vile witch’s roof!”

Bellona huffed; her craggy face turned down in worry. “She didn’t mean-“

“You heard her as plainly as I! I am simply doing as I am told!”  Ivy stood now just before the threshold of an earthy and musty scented building.

Bellona crossed her well-built arms over her chest “This isn’t the time to finally begin obeying your mother.”

Ivy’s teeth groaned silently under the pressure of her own jaw. She glowered at the towering grey skinned woman before her. “Don’t you dare twist this around onto me.”

Bellona spoke levelly. “I am not twisting anything girl, I am merely-“

“You are siding with her once again! Just as this entire fang bitten world seems to do!” Ivy stuck an accusing crimson finger in the larger woman’s face.

Bellona’s features hardened, like sand crushing into rock. She reached a rocky hand up so slowly, Ivy was surprised when the tectonic force of a maid scorned closed around her wrist. “Ivy Humble. If you interrupt me again I will carry you back to the dining room.”

              Ivy’s anger did not just melt away, it fled for its life. For just a moment, Ivy was a girl again under that mudslide of pseudo-parental rage. To Ivys disgust her body reacted before her brain could rally her anger back to war. Her muscles relaxed, her shoulders dropped, and her forked tail coiled around her ankle like it was a scolded puppy.

Bellona did not release Ivy’s wrist.

After a time, Ivy let out an exaggerated huff. “I…apologize Bellona…”

Bellona stared down at the crimson toned woman below her for a long beat. Then let go of her wrist. “You’re forgiven.”

Ivy rubbed her assaulted wrist and sneered. “Why not just do it then.”

“Pardon?”

Ivy straightened, tail returning to its raised position behind her. “Why not just drag me back in there. Clearly I cannot pose any degree of challenge for you, oh mountain maid.”

“Mountain-“ Bellona shook her head. “When did you become this stubborn child.”

“I am not stubborn, and I am not a child.” Ivy said as she turned and stepped into over the threshold.  

Reluctantly the maid followed, raising her light to illuminate the stalls within. “If you aren’t stubborn then I’m a cockatrice.”

              The flickering light and footsteps of the two women roused the few horses still kept on the property. Most were the highest echelon of pedigree and molded by master trainers. All but one. That one was only half high echelon pedigree and the other half untamed wild. The daughter of a prized mare and the rugged bad boy stallion from the wrong side of the tracks. Fence. This misbegotten union resulted in a beast three hands taller and a quarter ton heavier than any horse ever held by House Humble.  

              That titanic animal was the last to stir at the march of petulance. In curiosity she craned her head, as big as a man’s torso, over her stall door and peered at the source of the noise. Even in the dim light any could recognize Ivy from her tall proud horns. The horse was Immediately overtaken by excitement. She dug at the ground brutally with her hooves. She pressed herself to the door with enough force to bend the wood and strain the latch. She then began snorting and squealing like a toddler starved for attention.

At the sight Ivy couldn’t help but let a smirk push passed her defenses. She took the massive creature by its cheeks and gave her friend a kiss in the center of her forehead. Where a white diamond decorated her otherwise entirely dusty brown coat.

“You’re taking Lily?” Bellona said.

Ivy turned and furrowed her brow. “Of course, I am.  Why would I not?”

“Well dear, Lily isn’t exactly suited for…. Traveling. You understand?”  She gestured at the bulky animal.

Ivy smiled. “Luckily for Lily I have plans for more than just travel.”

“Plans? How could you have-“ Realization struck Bellona. “Dear, you don’t mean…”

Ivy placed her hands on her hips and took a heroic pose. “I shall set out to become an acclaimed monster slayer!”

              Lily nudged Ivy in the back faltering the heroism taking place.

“Ah, I apologize big girl.” Ivy held Lily by her chin. “We, shall set out to become acclaimed monster slayers!”

Bellona stared blankly. “You’re… you’re joking? Please tell me you’re joking.”

 “I would never. Monster slaying is serious business.” Ivy opened the stall door just a hair and squeezed herself through. Lily would always rush out if the door was opened fully.

“Ivy Humble, this isn’t one of your goofy books. You can’t just stride into the woods with just a work horse and think you’ll get fame from killing a few monsters.” Bellona held her head in her hands. “ I swear child, I should have never taught you to read.”

“Watch your tongue! Those books are historical!” Ivy said just before hefting a bulky saddle onto the wide back of Lily. “Although, I’ll admit the Garen the Grey series…. bends history. And even then, only slightly. The rest are simple fact.”

“And how do you plan on killing these hypothetical monsters, hmm? With your stories? With the horse?” Bellona said.

Ivy kicked her leg up nearly to her chest, locking her shoe into Lilys tall stirrup. She hopped into position and lifted herself like a gymnast into her friend’s saddle. But instead of sitting, Ivy placed her foot onto the saddle and continued to raise till she was standing. Lily stood as still as a statue the whole while.

“You have very little faith in I or my horse.” Ivy reached above her head and moved a loose plank of wood above her to the side. “If you must know I have my own armaments.”

Bellona scrunched her face in confusion. “Is that the junk you’ve been bringing back from market?”

Ivy yanked a clanking, awkward shaped bag from the hidey hole. “Once again your lack of awareness has been your folly. Where you saw junk, an expert eye saw potential.”

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Ivy threw the heap of potential to the stall floor with a loud metallic jangle. The horse in the stall over stamped and snorted from the sound. Lily, of course, remained calm. After retrieving a long far less awkward object wrapped tightly in fabric from the ceiling, Ivy made her descent. Slower and much more careful than her ascension.

“Now what is that.” Bellona said at her wits end.

              Ivy made her way to Bellona slowly, Squeezing herself back out of the stall. She held the object as delicately as one would hold a newborn. She gave Bellona a sly grin and began unwrapping. Now in her hands sat a marvel of metal and handy work. It had a handle of dark oak surrounded in an intricate lace-like basket hilt. The weaving metal reflected the flames glow like a mosaic. The blade was as straight as a beam of light, ending in a point as severe as a needle.

“This… is my blade. Worry not, I shall put your training to good use. I swear it on my life.” Ivy said.

Bellona placed both her wide hands on the shoulders of her ward and nodded slowly. She spoke as emotionally as a stone. “How did you become so dumb.”

Ivys eyes widened. “What?”

Bellona took the sword from the shocked girl. “Ivy. This is a rapier.”

“And?”

“ I never taught you to use… a rapier. They’re for self-defense Ivy.” Bellona’s eye twitched.

Ivy furrowed her brow. “Aren’t… all swords for self-defense?”

“Self defense from people! Not monsters! It’s half an inch thick! What is this going to do?! What were you thinking?!”

“…It looked… really pretty…”

Bellona bit down hard on the insults and obscenities that flew through her mind. She needn’t bite them for long, because they flew right back to where they came upon seeing Ivys new demeanor. The horned heiress had a look of deep fury painting her. But it was directed not at the maid but at the ground. Her fists were clenched in rage, but her tail was coiled again in fear.

Bellona calmed herself with a long deep breath. “Ivy.”

Ivy didn’t look up. “What…” her voice quavered.

“Why are you doing this? All this planning, all this sneaking. Just to fight monsters?” Bellona asked.

Ivy shrugged.

“No. Tell me.” She dropped the rapier and held Ivy by the shoulders again. “You wouldn’t be doing all this pageantry for nothing.”

Ivy looked up begrudgingly and spoke. “I want… people to like me…”

Bellona sighed. “People already like you.”

“No they don’t…”

“Yes they-“

“No, they don’t!” Ivy drew back. “ They like the Humbles! They like the Humble fortune! Our business! How could anyone like me when they don’t even know who I am.”

“I know you.” Bellona said.

“You’re different…” Ivy wrapped her arms around herself. “I want people to like me for what I do. How they like Garen the Grey, King Hensil… or grandpa… Not just like me because I own the most stuff.”

“I see…” Bellona said after a pause. “And you’re… set on this. This is how you’d like to be known.”

Ivy nodded. “I’ve never been surer of anything in my life.”

Bellona looked at Ivy for a long while. Then groaned like an old dog laying down. “Fine. Get whatever else you’ve been hiding onto Lily and meet me at the front gate.” With that she began to head out of the stable.

Ivy watched her titanic maid leave dumbfounded. “Where are you going?”

“I’m getting you a weapon that could protect you from more than just a street thug.” Bellona called back.

“Really! Well… Well, thank you Bellona!” Ivy looked down at the rapier on the hay strewn floor below. “It’s… still quite pretty…” She leaned down.

From out of sight Bellona shouted. “Leave it!”

“Yes of course.” Ivy went to doing as she was told.

              Lily stamped her hooves and swayed from side to side in impatience as her rider loaded her up. Ivy’s ramshackle armor and three emergency outfits took the bulk of saddle bag space. The armor when unassembled did truly seem to be cobbled scrap. Ivy had had to procure the armor over the course of many months to not arouse suspicion from her parents. The most difficult to explain was the breast plate. Ivy had told her father it was a frying pan, a present for the kitchen staff. He believed her. Not because she was convincing but because he had never laid eyes on an actual frying pan.

              Ivy filled her remaining bags with stowed away previsions for her and Lily. Mostly the standard affair of oats, nuts, dried fruits and salted meat. However, Ivy made sure to pack plenty of sugar cubes for her friend and a nice bottle of Humble Bumble Honey Mead for herself. As much as she despised her mother, the woman had created the finest alcoholic drink in all of Breged. Probably in all the lands.

              Suitably previsioned…Prevised… Suitably stocked for the road ahead, Ivy finally opened Lilys stall door to its fullest. The animal moved quite fast for her size, gallivanting into the stable hall with all the energy she had held in anticipation. Ivy smiled warmly seeing the big thing at play. The other horses sneered like the popular kids in high school did. No, you’re projecting.

Ivy shushed Lily soothingly, bringing her to heel. “I know you’re excited big girl, I am too.”

Ivy scratched Lilys cheek and kissed her forehead once more. Lily let out a low rumbling nicker as she pressed her head to Ivy’s torso. Ivy was nearly knocked off her footing by the animal but just hugged the head and laughed.

“Come on you big goober.” Ivy kissed her horse again and took hold of Lilys reins.

              Horse and rider both made their way out of the stable. Ivy looked up at her family’s tall opulent manor and felt just the smallest sliver of fear under its watch. With firm determination she turned from her home. This was the part of the story where the hero left things behind. Even things they found comfortable. She would not allow herself to be talked out of this. Not even by herself.

True to her word, Bellona was waiting at the Humble Manor entrance gate. The only point of entry in the tall cobblestone wall surrounding the manor and its grounds. She held not only a leather sheathed weapon as tall as the maid was, but also a basket. Likely smuggled away from breakfasts leavings.

“Have you got everything girl? I’d say you won’t be wanting to make a return trip once you’re out.” Bellona said.

“Yes, I have what I need. Aside from what you bare of course.” Ivy looked up at the leather sheath on the end of a long wooden pole.  A metal point poked out from the top.

“Right right. Here it is.” Bellona handed over the weapon. It looked far larger in Ivys hands than the mountain maids.

              Ivy unbuckled and uncovered the gift from her maid. On the end of the tall firm handle was a rather heavy metal head that jutted out in three different directions. It sported the wide curved edge of an axe, a wicked barbed hook at its rear, and finally a long spear tip as its crown. A chimeric mix of all the implements you’d enjoy having at the end of a sturdy stick. It had only modest decoration. A rose at the intersection of the tools, with thorny vines etched into the bases of all three tools.

Ivy looked to her maid, who was now finding room in Ivy’s bag for the cheese, bread and waterskins Ivy neglected to remember.

“A halberd? But you’ve haven’t shown me how to use this either.”

“Correct. But I showed you how to use a spear, right? And an axe? I’m certain you’ll figure it out.” Bellona crammed in the last loaf of crusty bread. “Least bear hide wont bend it like that rapier of yours.”

“I suppose…” Ivy moved to her steed and mounted with the aid of Bellona.

Bellona now looked up to Ivy. Their height difference inverted. “Now have you got a place in mind you’re headed?”

Ivy thought for a moment then shook her head. “Truly I had expected to simply wander. Nomadically searching out quarry from the great coast to the boarder of Emond Valor.”

Bellona nodded. “Sure. Thing is you’ve got about a weeks’ worth of food and a horse who needs a farrier, fang near more times than she needs fed.”

“I see your point…” Ivy said. “Would you happen to have any suggestions?”

Bellona smiled broadly. “ I do. Thank you for asking your lady ship.”

“Please just tell me.”

“Of course.” Bellona pointed to the road and aimed her finger like she could see the whole journey stretched out before her. “Now, you’re gonna follow the main road beside the river like you’re going to Ala. But you’re not. At the first split in the road you’re gonna head towards the mountains. Do not actually go up the mountains. That’s dwarf and wyvern territory, dwarfs are worse to deal with trust me. Go passed the mountains towards the coast and you’ll find a little village called Apie Fields. Once you’re there look for a Martha Herbeta. She’ll be able to give you board while you’re there.”

“Wait. Apie Fields? Isn’t that the Zolts fief? That’s the middle of nowhere.” Ivy protested

“Yes, it is in the middle of nowhere. And if a monster showed up…” Bellona raised her brows to Ivy.

“…The Zolts would have to handle it?”

“Mhm. But the Zolts…”

Ivy squinted. Then gasped. “The Zolts are idiots! These people are likely up to their necks in monsters! I may very well be their only hope for salvation!” Ivy’s eyes burned with the intensity of heroic passion.

Bellona gave Ivys leg a couple soothing pats. “I wouldn’t go that far. The fields usually have one or two mercenaries helping out. Just until they decide to head somewhere with more coin.”

“Then I shall form a band of heroes! And we will defend these fields from whatever attempts to beset them!” Ivy called into the cold damp morning air.

“Sure girl. Gotta get out there first though.” Bellona looked at the road. Cocks were free to crow now as the sun crested just over some of the lowest hills in view.

              Ivy nodded and set her eyes to the road ahead. All she ever wanted was lying before her. Stretched out in paving stones all the way to the horizon. Her story truly began with this one step. Then why couldn’t she do it. Her hands white knuckle gripping the reins, frozen as if by a basilisk’s gaze. No matter how she internally begged, her legs refused to squeeze her mount into motion. She stayed in that state for just long enough to become awkward. Sealing her fate to remain till the end of days. Till Ragnarök. Till the cleaving of the wor-

“Girl?” Bellona broke the silence. “You gonna get going?”

Ivy gasped out a breath. She hadn’t realized she wasn’t breathing. “D…Do you think…Ill be okay…”

Bellona looked up, all honey and no gravel this time. “Well of course dear. I think you’ll be fantastic Ivy. You’re a mite dense but you’ve got a good head on your shoulders.” She reached up and squeezed Ivy’s hand firmly. “I’m sure you’ll be amazing.”

“That’s….” Ivy shook off her thought and looked down at Bellona. “Thank you. You’ve been…instrumental in… well instrumental in me. I thank you, Bellona. For everything.”

Bellona smiled softly. “Well thank you Ivy Humble. Just for being Ivy Humble.”

              Ivy firmly squeezed Lily now, letting the large animal know it was time to make their grand escape. Lily had no such jitters as her rider. She craved freedom. The kind of freedom she was created from. No fences, no breeding plans, no more nagging nags claiming she’s a nag. Just her, her rider, and the open road. These thoughts flooded the animal’s mind, pushing her quickly into a charging gallop.

              Lily had never done something like this before. Ivy was flooded with panic. Her maiden voyage thrown into mockery by an unyielding mount not fifty paces from her start. But the panic left the moment sunlight warmed Ivys crimson skin. She looked forward instead of at her mount. The land around her was indescribable. Every hill and every field around her was academically known to her, seen a thousand times from the back of a carriage. This was different. She was here, in the world.

              New sunlight made dew drops into radiant crystals. Lilys thundering hooves created a backdrop of heart resonating beats. These drumbeats awoke and disturbed small burrowing creatures to the surface, creating a small natural audience to Ivys first flight. And framing all this beauty from on high, the sky shown a gorgeous and alluring deep pink.

              Ivy could not hold all her emotions inside for much longer. All her anxiety, all her anger, all her hope came out in a long and heartfelt laugh. The truest kind of laugh. The kind coming directly from the bowels of your spirit. A full chested and true belly laugh. The first laugh of that kind Ivy had ever experienced.

              An unseen force gripped Ivys mind. A cold guilty clutching that bid her to turn around. To gaze at her home for maybe the last time. But her eyes never climbed up the manor. There was nothing and no one in the manor to mourn. Ivy’s eyes landed on a tall, broad, grey skinned mountain brought to her knees by the same grief that turned Ivy’s head.

Through the tears flowing like rivers down her rocky face, Bellona shouted with the voice of a war horn. “You give them hell! You hear me girl! Give the world hell!”

Ivy choked back her tears with a beaming smile. She raised her halberd high above her head and called back with pride. “It’s all I know to give!”

              And with that she rode into the world. A crimson skinned, proudly horned and fork tail woman rode into the world on the back of a behemoth under a red sky. With the singular goal to give this world hell. I assure you. Hell is what it received.