Blood Moon Cycle
Chapter Ten

Rielle woke to a quiet knock the next morning. She stood, replaceing she was much refreshed from the night before, and made her way to the door. When she opened the door she found one of the servant girls from the previous night standing outside. The servant girl quickly bowed before speaking.

“High King Morien Toriel expressed his thoughts that you would wish to get an early start today.” She said. “He wished to see you before you departed.” Rielle nodded.

“You may tell my cousin that I will meet with him in the throne room before I depart.” The servant girl bowed again and rushed away as Rielle shut the door again. Rielle quickly dressed, throwing Solidus’s cloak around her shoulders and tying his sword to her waist. She looked at the bow and, after a few moments of thought, took it as well and slung it over her shoulder.

She quietly left her room and made her way to the throne room where she waited to be introduced before entering. The High King sat, speaking with one of his advisors when Rielle entered. Rielle noticed that the Telatian assassin had been removed and the wall and floor had been cleaned. Only a small crack in the wall showed where Solidus’s sword had pinned the man. Rielle bowed.

“You requested my presence your majesty?” The High King smiled.

“You look much rested cousin. I hope you slept well.” Rielle nodded politely.

“Yes your majesty, my accommodations were much appreciated.” The High King nodded.

“Good. I have just been informed by my adviser that your horse and supplies are ready for your journey.” The High King motioned to the man beside his throne. “You may leave when you are ready. Is there anything else you will need for your journey?” Rielle shook her head. “No, your majesty, what you have provided is enough. And I will be reuniting with my escort shortly.” The High King nodded.

“If you will soon be with Captain Vesth of Gentry I am sure you will be safe. I have heard he is a fine officer.” Rielle nodded.

“He is a very fine officer, and loyal. I will be safe in his care.” The High King nodded once again.

“Very well, then I will no longer keep you from your task. Be sure to return again when you can cousin, it is a joy to see you.” Rielle smiled.

“Of course, your majesty. I bid my cousin farewell.” Rielle bowed and the High King nodded his head in return. Rielle straightened and exited the throne room. Outside, a guard was waiting for her and offered to show her to the stables. Rielle nodded and followed the man out into the courtyards and across them to the stables. There, a young boy waited with the reigns of a tall grey stallion held tightly in one hand. He looked nervously at the large animal as he held the reigns out to Rielle, who took them with a smile. The little boy scampered away and disappeared into the darkness of the stable.

“It would be wise not to let on exactly where we are going. Anyone here who sees you head out the south gate and then directly to the Moon Witch Forest is sure to remember it.” Rielle nodded slightly.

“I agree. We should do our best to distract attention from our actual destination.” This said, Rielle thanked the guard who had led her to the stable and then mounted her new horse. The stallion was steady and sure footed, waiting for a command from his rider. Rielle tapped his flanks lightly with her heel and he started off without hesitation. Rielle rode through the streets to the north gate, sitting proudly on her mount. The guards there let her through with a bow and she urged her horse into a trot. She rode easily over the flat ground towards the forest, waving and nodding to those working in the fields. She reached the forest and rode steadily for several hundred yards before pulling her stallion up short.

She looked around to make sure no one was following her or would see where she went, then quickly turned and headed west into the forest. The stallion pushed easily through the undergrowth as he picked his way around the trees. Rielle brushed branches aside in annoyance when they caught at her, but stubbornly continued to head west. Eventually she came across a game trail that headed south west and Rielle turned and followed it. It was not long before Solidus spoke.

“There is a magic you should learn.” He told her.

“What help will it be?” Rielle asked. She could almost feel Solidus shaking his head. “You should not think to learn only those things which may be useful to you. Learn all you can, at some point in your life you will replace a reason to use that knowledge. But, to answer your question, what I am going to teach you is a nearly fundamental magic.” Rielle nodded.

“Of course, I apologize, I will keep an open mind. What is it that I must learn?”

“I’m going to teach you how to create light.” Rielle almost felt a little discontent with the thought of something so seemingly simple. She could feel Solidus’s amusement. “Light is an invaluable and versatile skill to learn. There are always times when you replace yourself in a dark place in need of light. Light can show your way, or blind an enemy. It can shed light on things that are hidden, or hide them from sight. It can provide a soft glow, intense heat, or form a simple distraction. If you learn to create light, you can replace an infinite number of ways to apply it.” Rielle was surprised by how Solidus had turned the simple idea of creating light into a complex skill with multiple ways to apply it.

“I am prepared to learn.” She replied.

Rielle sat beside a small fire, concentrating on a point just above her open palm. The air there rippled and bent, like a long empty road on a hot summer day beneath the sun. A glow, so faint that it was barely discernable, tried to build in that ripple. After several moments of struggle, the glow faded away and Rielle dropped her hand tiredly to her side.

“Why is it so difficult? It sounds simple.” She said to no one. Solidus answered from inside her mind.

“The sun shines brightly in the sky. The idea is simple, but can you explain why the sun shines? Why it rises and sets each day? The reason you can feel it’s warmth on your skin? Just because an idea is simple does not mean it is easy to understand and explain. Your light does not shine for you because you think of it as a meaningless thing that does not exist until you tell it to. But there is light inside of you at all times. Your life is fed by fire, and fire gives light. All you need to do is replace that light, created by your very life, and will it to shine before you. It is life itself, not a tool to be used.” Rielle nodded sullenly. Solidus chuckled lightly.

“Do not be discouraged, you have made good progress. You have learned to create the space where the light can manifest itself. You only need to learn to call it out. It cannot be forced, it just has to happen naturally.” Rielle sighed.

“I have been trying for two days.” She complained. “And it still won’t come to me. I can’t seem to get it right no matter what I do or try.” Solidus chuckled again.

“Give it time.” Rielle shook her head. She felt a little silly for arguing out loud with no one around.

“It feels strange to be arguing with a three thousand year old immortal being inside my head.” She felt Solidus shrug.

“Three thousand eight hundred, and I am not immortal, only ageless.” Rielle scrunched her eyebrows together.

“What is the difference?”

“Immortality means you cannot die. Agelessness, or Eternal Youth, simply means one does not age. It does not mean that one cannot die or be killed. Demons, Dragons, and the last Alenon Mages, are all ageless. The six Deities that created the world are Immortals.” Rielle nodded slowly, not entirely sure that she understood.

“You need rest.” Solidus told her. “Sleep and we will continue onward in the morning.” Rielle yawned then nodded again before laying down on her bedroll. She fell asleep quickly and dreamed. When she woke, she could not remember the dreams, but she felt as if they had been important. Looking around she found that the fire had gone out and the sky was beginning to get light. She packed her camp and made sure her horse was watered at a nearby creek before starting off.

Half the day went by quietly. Sometimes Rielle would try to create the ball of light as Solidus had told her, but could never get it to completely form. Solidus would give her pointers and, sometimes, remain mercifully silent. It was about the time that Rielle was stopping for lunch that she began to feel it. A taint in the air, not unlike the feel in the temple of Tyr’ Anon.

“What is that?” She asked aloud, as she took a piece of dried meat and began to chew. No answer was forthcoming. Rielle’s chewing slowed and she swallowed her food.

“Solidus?” The taint in the air around her grew stronger. Rielle stood nervously, looking into the trees for a source. “Where are you Solidus?” She almost cried. Leaves rustled behind her and a stick snapped. The world seemed to slow down as Rielle began to turn. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a figure leaping from the underbrush. Long black claws tipped its fingers, and sharp, pointed teeth set in a snarl decorated it’s almost human face. The creature shrieked as it pounced, sickly thin muscles tightening and twisting under ash grey skin as it attacked. Suddenly, Rielle felt herself pulled to the back of her mind and felt herself grasp the sword at her side. The sword left it’s scabbard, as if it had a will of its own, and struck the creature out of the air. It landed in a heap, it’s shriek cut off, and lay still. The sword returned to its scabbard. The whole thing had happened so quickly that Rielle’s eyes had barely had a chance to turn silver before they were changing back again.

“What was that thing?” She gasped as control of her body returned.

“They are called Nibilus, and if they are here then surely Basilisk are as well.” Rielle looked around frantically.

“Are there more?”

“Yes.” Solidus replied. “But not yet near. They are looking for you, but you can feel the taint when they grow close. You must hurry. Ride due south, the Moon Witch Forest is near. I will explain later.” Rielle leapt into her saddle and kicked her horse into a gallop. Branches stung her face as she raced through the trees. She bent low over her horse’s back and tried to turn her face away from the oncoming tree branches. Then, all at once, the branches ceased to strike at her. She carefully turned her face upward and gasped at what she saw.

The trees had suddenly changed into monolithic giants, their branches extending out hundreds of feet above, blotting out the sun. Rielle’s horse raced easily between the gargantuan trees, each easily fifty feet across. Rielle sat in wonder for several moments before Solidus spoke to her again.

“Turn west and ride hard, they have picked up your scent.” Rielle kicked at her horse again and laid low. It was for this reason that she almost trampled two men that stepped from behind two trees several hundred feet away. Her horse skidded to a stop and reared, Rielle clinging to the reigns for dear life. She leapt from the stallion once he had calmed down and stood steady, she could already feel the taint beginning to grow around them.

“State you business in the Moon Witch…”

“You fools!” Rielle shouted. The man she had interrupted looked dumbstruck. “Creatures of unspeakable evil are chasing me and now you will have them catch me, here, near your village.”

“Tell them to get into the trees.” Solidus instructed. Rielle waved her arms angrily. “Climb you fools, climb for your lives!” Both men jumped at Rielle’s angry tone and then started expertly up the trees, clinging to the rough bark as if it were simply a ladder. Rielle was amazed for a moment, but then Solidus was speaking again.

“There are too many for you to fight and I cannot risk taking control again. These creatures are tied to the chaos and if they see you under my control the demons could possibly discover me. Your only chance is to play on their fear of light. It burns them when they get too near.” Rielle looked at her hands and shook her head.

“But I can’t, I’m not ready yet.”

“You must!” Solidus commanded. Rielle jumped and then nodded as she began to build her power. The air around her seemed to thicken and a foul stench of decay filled her nostrils. The air above Rielle’s hand began to ripple. Her concentration wavered for a moment as she heard growls and moans among the trees. Rielle looked around and shuddered at the thought of a thousand unseen eyes staring at her. She quickly focused on her hand.

“The light is in you already, you only need to call it out.” Solidus reminded Rielle. Rielle focused inside herself and searched for something she could interpret as light. Several moments passed, but for all her searching, Rielle could replace nothing. The growls around her grew louder and the undergrowth rustled beneath heedlessly placed steps. Rielle could see shapes moving around, just at the edge of her vision. Her breaths came in quick gasps as she tried to see what lay in wait in the shadows beneath the trees. And then they began to appear. More sickly, grey skinned creatures began to creep out from around the trees and spars undergrowth.

Rielle’s inner power beat desperately. Keeping one part of her mind on her open hand, she quickly built the image of her shield around her and filled it with power. The purple dome of energy that was her shield surrounded her and the creatures flinched back momentarily from its sudden appearance. Half a dozen creatures now surrounded Rielle, pacing slowly, working up the nerve to attack. One of the creatures turned and leapt at Rielle, crashed into her shield, and was thrown back with a yelp. Rielle focused on keeping her shield intact as she felt the pressure where the creature had struck, her mind racing, trying to replace a way to escape. Another creature attacked and was thrown back. Several more attempts were made, each time the attack was thwarted by the shield, and with each attack it became more and more difficult to maintain it. Rielle was standing, tears welling up in her eyes, watching as the pack of creatures circled carefully. Then, as one, they all turned and attacked. Rielle watched as one who was lost and whispered,

“If I have light inside me, please let it save me.” All the power she had built drained from her as it filled her hand and became a bright, golden sphere. The creatures shrieked in fear and pain as they tried to turn and run in mid air. They crashed into the shield and it collapsed, allowing more light through to the open. The few creatures who fell at Rielle’s feet smoked and shriveled, quickly reducing to dust. The creatures who were farther back began to burn and peel as they continued to shriek and scramble over themselves in an attempt to run. Rielle watched in relief as the creatures fled in terror, turning until she saw something that was not running.

At the edge of the light cast by the sphere, Rielle could make out the silhouette of a giant creature. It seemed built the same as the smaller creatures that had just fled, but it was well over twelve feet tall with a thick mane of hair on its back and skin that was almost black that made it difficult to distinguish from the shadows around it.

“A Basilisk.” Solidus warned. Rielle felt power flow from Solidus into her and the sphere in her hand grew brighter and flecks and veins of silver pierced through the golden light. A pained snarl issued from the silhouette before it turned and loped into the trees. Rielle could feel the taint lessening, and then, disappearing altogether. She closed her hand over the ball of light and extinguished it, the drained feeling that came with using magic settled over her and she slumped tiredly.

“Well done, I will explain what those creatures are when our task here is done.” Rielle nodded carefully before looking up into the trees.

“The danger has passed, you may come down safely now.” She called. It took several minutes before the two men climbed back down to join Rielle, each looking around carefully to see that there were no more creatures waiting to attack. When they had reached the ground, Rielle bowed.

“I am sorry to have yelled and called you fools. The situation was dire.” The guard who had spoken when they first appeared nodded.

“We understand, had we known what it was that followed you, we would not have interfered.” Rielle stood straight and nodded.

“It is well that you did stop me, I was in search of your village. I am sent by the High King of Hortaal in peace to speak with your Matriarch on a matter of great importance.” The second guard eyed Rielle suspiciously.

“Why should we trust a child of Hortaal?” Rielle nodded sadly.

“I understand your suspicion and wish that the relations between our two peoples were not so strained. But I assure you that the High King, as well as myself, have nothing but good intentions toward your people. The High King wishes the bloodshed could be stopped but he fears that, if he were to order your safety, it would only serve to incite the people to break the command and cause further bloodshed. The matter of which I must speak to your Matriarch is not on behalf of Hortaal, but is for the safety of all people the world over, no matter their descent or disposition.” The second guard still looked unsure, but did not speak. The first guard nodded and spoke.

“We have seen that you can use magic. No one of Hortaal would practice it and still hold enmity towards our people here. The art of magic was lost to us long ago, but we are hated because our ancestors once used that power. We will honor your request and take you to the Matriarch.”

“Thank you. I am honored by your trust.” Rielle said, and bowed again before following the guards as they turned and led the way into the trees. They led her deep into the forest, twisting and turning seemingly without direction. Rielle could not have said which direction they were facing at any given moment. The enormous trees each looked identical to her and their thick canopies efficiently blocked all view of the sky. The guards leading her stopped in front of an especially large tree and waited. Rielle debated with herself about whether or not to ask what was happening but, before she could decide, she heard the quiet creak of rope above her head. She looked up, and was amazed to see a simple elevator being lowered down to them.

Once it touched the ground the two guards held it steady while Rielle boarded, then stepped on and tugged one of the four ropes attached to each corner. The elevator started up and Rielle held tightly to the edge. Once they reached half way up, Rielle could see the village. The entire community was living in the tops of the trees. Houses and walkways and stalls all lined the trees, rope bridges connecting each tree to the ones next to it. People walked along the paths and bridges, talking and laughing with one another, some shopping, some simply moving from one place to another. Rielle marveled at the simple happiness with which each person walked.

“It has been some time since I saw people who were untouched by war and destruction.” Rielle said. One of the guards nodded and looked around.

“In the trees we are safe from those who wish us harm. For so long it has been the people of Hortaal, but now it seems there are other dangers for us to beware of.” Rielle nodded her agreement and remained silent. Two guards were waiting for them when they reached the village. One of the guards stepped off the elevator and took one of the guards waiting for them aside. When they returned, the new guard looked at Rielle with a mixture of amazement, respect, and suspicion.

“We will lead you to the Matriarch’s home.” He said. Rielle thanked the guard who had brought her to that point and bid him farewell as he returned to the elevator and started back down. She turned and followed the two new guards across one of the rope bridges and down a path. The guards themselves were respectful enough, but Rielle immediately noticed that the villagers all stared at her with intense anger and hatred as they passed by. Rielle shuddered and kept her eyes on the back of the guard in front of her.

Eventually they came to a hut that was larger and more elaborately decorated than the others. One of the guards held a woven cloth door aside and bid Rielle to enter. When she was inside the guard spoke.

“Please sit and make yourself comfortable. The Matriarch will return soon to speak with you.” Rielle thanked the guard and bowed. The guard bowed in return and then left. Rielle looked around the room carefully. There were herbs and roots hanging from the ceiling with no apparent order and a few glass vials of multicolored liquid sat on top of a small table with a mortar and pestle. More glass vials of similar liquids lined some shelves on one end of the room while shelves on the other were lined with scrolls of many shapes and descriptions. Rielle spotted a comfortable looking chair near the small table and sat down to wait. It was not long before an elderly woman, only marginally taller than Rielle, entered the room with an almost motherly smile.

“Would you like some tea dear?” The woman asked. Rielle nodded politely.

“Yes, thank you.” The woman made her way to one of the shelves and took down a small clay pot. She sprinkled some of the contents into a small teapot and poured hot water into it from a larger teapot that had been sitting on a bed of heated stones. She waited a moment for the tea to steep, then poured the tea into two small cups and handed one to Rielle. Rielle excepted the tea with another thank you and sipped at it carefully. The hut was quiet for several minutes as they drank and the woman inspected Rielle. Finally, the woman broke the silence.

“It has been a great many years since we had a visitor come to our small village. Not one from Hortaal, and even longer since we had one that did not wish us harm.” Rielle nodded.

“I am ashamed for my countrymen. My cousin, The High King, wishes nothing more than peace between our peoples. He would pass laws to protect your people, if he thought anyone would listen. Unfortunately, he fears that such an act would only drive the people of Hortaal to hunt you all the more.” Rielle felt like she was repeating herself needlessly. The woman nodded. “Morien Toriel is still the High King is he not?” At Rielle’s nod the woman continued. “He always did have a certain presence of mind that I admired. I also agree that a command to leave the people of Bitreel alone would only escalate the violence.” Rielle nodded again and took another sip at her tea.

“The people of Hortaal still fear magic and think that magic is practiced here, though your guards have told me that is not the case. I wish that my country would listen to reason.” The woman nodded.

“It is true that magic was lost to us many generations ago. But you came to us, sought us out. Do you not also fear magic?” Rielle smiled and held her hand palm up as Solidus had taught her. She found that calling the light was much easier now that she had already managed it once. A softly glowing ball of golden light appeared above her hand and the woman’s eyes widened. “What reason is there to fear magic? It is like a sword, an arrow, or an ax. A simple tool that gives no reason to fear it. Only the one that wields it can make it good or evil.” She closed her hand around the sphere of light and it went out.

“Well put.” Solidus said simply. The woman blinked several times and sipped from her teacup.

“You seem to be a very bright young woman. What has brought you here?” Rielle sat her tea on the table as Solidus gave her silent instructions.

“I have been instructed to come here and seek out a child.” The woman gave her a strange expression.

“A child? What child would bring you here?” Rielle rubbed her hands together and picked her words carefully.

“It is difficult to explain. There is a child here, about twelve years old, who is very skilled and physically sound.” The old woman nodded slowly and set her tea aside.

“I may know such a child. Why are you trying to replace them?” Rielle took a slow breath. “We are at war. The world is at war. Balance in the world is shifting and falling apart. If the shift is not soon restored to balance, the world could come to an end. The child I am instructed to replace will be a key part in restoring that balance.” Suspicion filled the woman’s features.

“Who is it who instructed you to replace this child?” Rielle was silent for several seconds before giving a single nod.

“My mentor, The one who taught me to use magic. He is the one who saved your ancestors and brought them here during the purge.” Suspicion was replaced by shock and Rielle nodded again.

“This village, and others in the Moon Witch Forest that make up Bitreel, were formed by those who had knowledge of magic. Knowledge that placed them in danger during the purge. Those who were found and saved by the Silver Mage, Solidus.” The woman’s shock slowly disappeared and, after several moments, she spoke again.

“The Silver Mage is the only one outside of this forest who would know of our history. You could only have been sent by him. I will summon the child that you seek.” Rielle held up a hand and looked at the doorway for a moment.

“It seems that will not be necessary. The child I seek is coming to us as we speak.” The woman gave Rielle a strange look, but nodded and sat back in her seat. Moments later a guard entered the hut, a ragged looking girl, about twelve years old, in tow.

“Matriarch, I caught Tiasia trying to sneak into the store rooms... again.” The woman scowled at the little girl.

“How many times have you been told to stay out of there Tiasia? You know that the others will punish you severely if you are caught stealing their stores of food.” The little girl shrugged and, unsuccessfully, tried to pull away from the guard.

“I was hungry.” The Matriarch sighed heavily.

“You know better Tiasia, you should have just come and asked for food.” Rielle half smiled.

“Let me have a closer look at you child.” She said sweetly. Everyone looked at Rielle, who simply smiled and nodded. The Matriarch nodded to the guard.

“You may go, leave her here with me.” The guard nodded then dropped the girl’s arm, a little less than gently, and left the hut. Rielle motioned to the girl.

“Come closer. Tiasia, that was your name was it not?” The girl nodded and went to stand just in front of where Rielle was sitting. She had short black hair that was mussed and dirty with leaves and sticks. She had brown eyes and, though she had dirt smudged on her face, freckles could be seen dotting her cheeks and nose. She wore a dappled brown cloak, a tattered little tunic, and a pair of simple breeches. Rielle looked over her for several moments.

“She is the one.” Rielle stated matter-of-factly. The Matriarch studied Rielle’s face.

“Are you sure?” Rielle nodded.

“Quite. It is this little one that will be part of the balance. If it is alright with you, Matriarch, I would have this child leave and journey with me.” The girl’s face was suddenly the picture of excitement. The Matriarch looked back and forth between Rielle and Tiasia, struggling inwardly with the decision.

“You will take care of her?” Rielle nodded again.

“Of course. No harm will come to her if I can prevent it.” The Matriarch looked back at Tiasia for several seconds before turning her head away and nodding.

“She may leave, with my blessing.” Tiasia let out an excited squeak before she could contain herself. Rielle smiled.

“Go and gather your things.” She glanced at the Matriarch before adding, “And do not stray between here and there or you may be left behind.” Tiasia nodded vigorously and rushed from the hut. Rielle looked after the excited girl and then turned back to the Matriarch.

“There are other things of which you need to know. There are creatures in the forest, stalking all who they come across. They fear, and are hurt by, light. It would be best to keep the forest near your villages lit at all times to keep them at bay.” The Matriarch nodded and motioned for Rielle to continue. Rielle looked around carefully to make sure that no one would hear her speak.

“There will soon by a Blood Moon Cycle.” The Matriarch shuddered in her chair and only managed to speak in what was barely more than a whisper.

“When?”