Chapter 22 Researching the Earth Serpent
I returned to find Archer already entrenched in the library.
Our tables were buried under a fortress of research regarding the land serpent; the challenge now was cross-referencing the texts to ensure we hadn't misidentified the beast.
Over the last week, while Aylin started the construction of the new homes, Archer and I had successfully pieced together a fascinating timeline.
According to the chronicles, the birth of the first Lycans, Vega, Rigel, and Regulus, instantly triggered the paranoia of neighboring realms.
The Eastern Raiders moved first, invading through the dense mountain forests to crush the Lycans in their infancy.
Vega, despite his youth, became their savior by tapping into a rare evolutionary trait: he could communicate with slumbering, non-verbal entities of the earth.
He woke Vervain, the Earth Serpent. The texts describe a mile-long apex predator wrapped in onyx scales, featuring a sub-dermal network of liquid emerald that only becomes visible under sunlight.
As the literal bedrock of the Wyrmtooth Mountains, Vervain could glide through ground like a needle through fabric.
Driven by sheer desperation, Vega negotiated a primordial pact with the leviathan.
It worked perfectly; for generations, this symbiosis between Lycan and serpent has been the only thing keeping the Eastern raiders at bay.
Now that the serpent is blocking not only the raiders but also us, I think it is safe to say we have failed our end of the treaty.
“I want to confront the serpent alone Archer, I don't think going in with a group of warriors is the best option. After everything we have learned it is safe to say that this is an ancient being and he deserves respect. I will tell Aylin of my decision when he returns home in a couple days.
Oh and Archer can you make sure my date is ready?”
“Queen Celest, Bloodmoon’s Hippogriff was delivered this morning. He is in the barn as you requested. I have to ask though, do you really think going into the Wyrmtooth Mountains alone is a good idea? There are creatures out there, let alone a mile long land serpent.
Why not take a few guards and have them wait outside the cave? That way they can guard you from the outside while you handle Vervian. That way if someone or something follows you, you won't be ambushed while dealing with Vervian.”
He continued to speak but it seemed more to himself as he turned pages to a very old book, “I am at a loss, Vega was alive only 150 years ago, I’m not sure why he wouldn't have passed the knowledge down to his people,
which would ultimately lead to the werewolf people knowing here in Pleiades as well. We were all close to one another and were the ones trying for harmony between people.”
Archer stops talking, scratches his head, looks at me and smiles, “For tonight my Queen, I will take my leave.”
Archer stands from the table we have been hunched over for days, stretches his body making it pop at least ten times and then bows to me and walks out the door.