The Moon Chronicles 3n1ex

The Moon Chronicles

Stephanie E. Chambers

Copyright © 2012 by Stephanie E. Chambers.

Library of Congress Control Number: 2011963615

ISBN: Hardcover 978-1-4691-4400-9

Softcover 978-1-4691-4399-6

Ebook 978-1-4691-4401-6

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This book was printed in the United States of America.

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Contents

Prologue

1—Lumaris

2—The Magickers’ Secret

3—Caviler

4—The Catacombs

5—The Hunt Begins

6—Night of Magic

7—Escape to Dragon Mountain

8—A New Mission

9—Dragon’s Bone yard

10—Into the Black Lands

11—At the Gate of the Den

12—Alliance

13—Tying up Loose Ends

14—Face to Face

15—Winter’s Longing

16—Spring’s Gift

17—The Final Goodbyes

18—That Which is the Gods’

19—Mother meets Daughter

20—The Trials of the Mist

21—The Golden Blade of Legend

22—Janal’s Light

23—Birthday Wishes

24—Truth and Lies

25—Nathan

26—In Chazzera

27—Mt. Hondouju Looms

28—To the End

Prologue

Here, in the Land of Kraal, many races exist. The Elves, human-like creatures with the grace, stealth, and speed of the animals they live in the forests with. They live in both the light and the dark. The Dragons, great reptilian beasts of the elements who keep to themselves in secluded areas, and the great southern mountains named after them. The demons, fierce beings who serve only the darkness. They can take the shape of any living creature they choose and deceive many.

Then there are the humans. A rapidly growing population that knows nothing of magic. Their system of classes, moving up by fortune or marriage, provokes many wars between their kin. Those who live outside villages and away from the class system are peaceful people, their families the only socialization in their daily lives.

When they do go into the villages, everyone knows who they are. For it is these people who provide the essential crops of the land. The farmers are always treated kindly by every race, even those who live in shadow. Such people know about the uses of magic, but are, alas, still unable to use it themselves.

As of now, Kraal is under the influence of a dark lord. His true name is not known, nor said for fear of his endless magic seeking one’s life. He is simply called Malesh—the Elvin word for malice.

He rules from atop Mt. Hondouju, the tallest mountain in the world. His minions —dark Elves, the most veracious and bloodthirsty demons, mercenary humans— all work for him in plain sight, but their identities are unknown.

The people cowered before Malesh and gave in to save themselves. The Elves who would not follow him were either slaughtered or fled into hiding to their hidden capital. The Dragons were ferocious in their resistance, but their numbers were soon reduced to a small fraction. The hoards of the slain stolen and unprotected eggs smashed with the unborn inside killed.

Yet, there is a legend. A legend about a human known only to the non-human races—Magickers. A very different human with the mark of the moon who will change history and unite the broken land under the light.

It is said that a human will be born as the mother’s breath is done. A peaceful human with the graceful skills of an Elvin swordsman, the cunning nature of a demon, as secretive as a Dragon, and a great Magicker.

The Human Magicker will seek out the Dragons in their mountains to train in the secret arts of magic. Find the Elves’ hidden capital of Torr and sharpen its fighting skills. Sneak into the Living Forest to face the Gods and take the Golden Blade of Legend. The final task of the Human Magicker . . . .to defeat Malesh and rule the land of Kraal.

I, Halos, have searched the land for over 3000 years for the Human Magicker. In all my wanderings, I have been named a wanderer by the humans and an outcast by my people. Only the farmers know my true identity as an Elf. For I believe the Human Magicker will be born in my time. The great warrior must be found as a child to be raised to fulfill the ultimate purpose.

But with each ing year, my hope for the birth of the Human Magicker, dies a little more. Where is the legendary warrior? I pray to the gods to guide me to the

warrior, but not a sign. For a legend among the Magickers is never just a story.

Part One

To the Dragon Mountains

1—Lumaris

The harvest season was coming. In only four more days, the God of the Earth would emerge from the Living Forest and bless the crops with his magic. The young farmer girl stopped working the grain bed to wipe the sweat from her eyes and look at the forest half a mile behind her home. It was only a mere legend that the gods actually existed inside the Living Forest, and she found it hard to believe.

The Living Forest was—as the name implied—just as alive as she. Trees moved on their own at their will. Vines ensnared anyone they chose, some were let go to return home. Usually her brothers to see how far they could go into the woods. They never made it past ten feet. The rumors went on to say that the gods walked and slept among the trees, their celestial presence giving them the power to move. They used the forest as their earthly home, but refused to be seen by mortal eyes. The farmers had told that story because they heard it from the Elves and demons who traded with them.

But there was no description of the gods, or the sword hidden within.

“Hey, you’re not working! I’m telling Dad!”

The girl’s black hair swung as she turned to her younger brother. “No, wait!” Too late he was already running off to the house. “Brat.” She got back to work on the field.

When she came home that night for dinner, her father was waiting for her. Ender was a tall broad man with a strong build, rough hands from working the land, and a bronze tan from being outside all day. His hair was as black as his daughter’s, but much better cared for. His brown eyes were a little big in proportion to his face, they saw everything that happened on his farm. “Lumaris, I heard that you slacked off in your job in the grain beds today.”

“Father, I will it that at one point in the afternoon, I did stop working. I only did so to wipe the sweat from my face and catch my breath.” Lumaris told him without fear, for she hardly kept anything from him. “Hanri does not understand about needing to stop and rest while working.”

Ender made a triangle with his hands as he leaned forward on the table. “I see. Hanri is only six years old and has a lot of energy. You will be excused of this until I check the field tomorrow morning. Help your stepmother with dinner.”

Lumaris bent her knees in a small bow to her father and entered the kitchen. Her small stepmother who was six months pregnant with her second child was busy singing to herself as she stirred a big pot. “Hello, Karina. What may I help you with?”

Karina stopped singing and turned around. “Oh hello Lumaris. I would be so delighted if you would make your mother’s special sauce for the meat.” Her red hair, though damp with sweat from the heat of the kitchen, framed her perfect face beautifully. She had full lips, flawless skin, and the most gorgeous sea blue eyes Lumaris had ever seen. Karina had come from a noble’s family in the nearby town, but had always been a great joy around the farm.

Nobles were the highest class in the villages. All their riches gave them the right to be above the law most of the time. They were, to most, corrupt people and

they used their riches to get everything they wanted, even other people. Karina came from the richest family in the village, they never said a word about her marrying a farmer. Instead they spread a rumor that a demon had kidnapped her in the dead of night with no trace of where they had gone. Luckily, no one believed it.

Lumaris had liked her on sight. Karina’s sister was with her that day and had tried to scare her off, something about getting dirt on her new dress. Karina, however, had smiled at Lumaris and bought her a loaf of bread. When Lumaris mentioned that she was a farmer’s daughter, Karina had said it was important to return her to her father. Ender and Karina had hit it off from the start. Since then, Ender had gone to the town everyday, even without business, in hopes of seeing her again. It was two months later they were married and Karina moved to the farm with the family.

As Lumaris put the herbs into her mother’s recipe, she began thinking again. “Karina, have you ever seen anything past the Gods’ River? I’ve heard so many tales from Father and the travelers at the tavern.”

Karina made an understanding sound. Once again her stepdaughter was curious about the outside world beyond the river a mile from the village. “I have only once. I went to a town called Caviler. It is said to be the hometown of Malesh’s mercenaries in this area, but when I went there everyone was happy and peaceful. There was more trade than in Janal and though there were less inns they were much bigger. Caviler was a wonderful place to visit.” She moved the big pot of stew to the small table in the center of the kitchen to cool. “I stayed in the Torr Tavern Inn. It’s a grand white four-storied inn with gold trim around the door and windows. The food there was rumored to be copied from Elvin recipes.”

Lumaris sputtered as she put the sauce on the wood oven to boil. “Copied from Elvin recipes? Not possible. Elvin food cannot be matched by human hands,

even if they were to be taught how to make it. You know that from the Elves that come here to pick up apples from the Living Forest every summer.” She covered the pot and helped her stepmother with the fox meat roasting in the kitchen chimney.

“So they’ve said. I have never had food prepared by Elves. What about you?” Karina asked with a gleam in her eye.

Lumaris sighed. “No, but Father has. I never thought to ask him.” They both took the fox meat off the open fire and slipped it off the spit and onto a pan. “Maybe we can ask him at dinner.”

“No, I will ask him after dinner. I don’t want Hanri to throw a fit of never having Elvin food.” Karina laughed. Lumaris soon ed her before the sauce boiled loudly.

During dinner, Lumaris’ two older brothers reported the state of the vegetable garden and the two horses they owned; their jobs while still living on the farm. Hanri proudly told everyone how he helped his mom clean the house and delivered the lunches. Lumaris decided not to say that he had dropped her lunch in an ant hill when he turned to tattle on her and she had to go hungry.

Ender had gone to Janal that day and was grinning. It did not go unnoticed by his wife though. “Dear, why are you so happy? Did something good happen in town today?”

Lumaris watched her father’s eyes light up. She knew that something great happened in town today. Especially when Ender chuckled and rubbed his hands together. “Karina, I was approached by a horse breeder in town. He had seen Axel, and asked if we could bring him in to breed with a prized broodmare. He says that he will pay us handsomely if all goes well, plus he wanted to buy a few of our crops during the time of the Harvest Market.”

Everyone exclaimed happily and Hanri led them in an applause all around. “That’s great Father! That means more feed for the horses!” The elder of Lumaris’ brothers said.

“Yes, Trendon and Axel will just love it!” Lumaris added her voice. Dinner was eaten in toasting to luck and good fortune that night.

As Lumaris settled into her bed up in the loft with her siblings that night, she overheard her father and stepmother talking. “Ender, Lumaris and I got to talking about Elvin food while in the kitchen. She mentioned that you had Elvin food before.”

“That I have. Its taste is so good, so sweet, so heavenly that I had forgotten all my troubles with the farm at the time. It was when Lumaris was just born and an Elf stayed to help me take care of her until she could walk on her own.” Ender’s deep voice said. “She was beautiful, but then all Elves are. Lumaris fell in love with her right away, like a second mother. She left in the middle of the night so she wouldn’t throw a fit about it. Lumaris has been a big help ever since.”

“So she knew about your previous wife?” Karina asked sadly.

“Somehow yes. She would sing to Lumaris in the Elvin language, teach her what things were, sometimes she even took Lumaris out to the Living Forest.” Lumaris gasped. She had never heard that before. She had been in the Living Forest?

“She what?” Karina worded her surprised.

“I didn’t believe the first time myself, but Lumaris came back alive and intact. The Elf protected her, took her no further than the threshold. They were always in sight. Heh heh, the Elf always told me that Lumaris would play with the blades of grass, never getting cut, and the occasional butterfly that ed by. Told me to keep a good eye on her, make sure that she was safely hidden away here at the farm.”

“You mean you were told to keep her at the farm?” Karina was silent for a moment. “Why?”

“She never said why. Just told me to keep Lumaris out where she could be exposed to magic. Just a hunch of hers. Only left a warning when she went back to Torr.”

“What warning?” Lumaris strained her ears to listen to her father’s quiet voice.

“‘Word travels fast in the towns. If He should find interest in your daughter, she will be hunted. Do not despair though, there is a friend searching for her. Keep your eyes peeled for the outcast of my people.’ I don’t understand her words to this day. The only Elves I’ve seen have traveled in pairs or a group. I haven’t heard anything for the past 12 years since she left.” Ender sounded too cautious, as though he knew something.

Lumaris began to wonder about her life. What her father said explained why he never took her into town until the Harvest Market. A time when gossip was unanimously shunned by everyone, even the nobles. A precious time when the farmers sold their crops and livestock. The guards were only there to catch pickpockets and prevent fighting over merchandise. Every other time of the year she was kept at home, her father making one excuse or another. Her brothers were free to come and go as they pleased, but she was never allowed.

So tomorrow night, when her father would go to the tavern for his weekly visit, she would follow him.

Lumaris had ed her father’s inspection of the grain field. So when she finished them, she set to work on checking the irrigation channels from the local spring. One channel was blocked. That meant going all the way to the border of her father’s land and the Living Forest. Usually she had to go and tell her father about it, but she decided to check it out herself this time.

The ground grew softer and softer as she neared the forest. The autumn grass became greener and greener. The cool air more and more comfortable, like spring. She should have been a little frightened at the unnatural change, but she wasn’t.

The spring was a perfectly rounded pool, the blue surface reflected the sky above. She saw the channel her father had dug years ago before she was born. There was something blocking it alright, a tree root. She puzzled at the fact before her eyes. “Now how did you get there?” She reached out and touched the root.

The root jerked out of the way under her fingers. Lumaris yelped and jumped back. She looked up at a low rumbling sound and saw the great elm tree the root belonged to moving into the forest away from the spring. Her heart thudded in her ribs as she backed away.

The tree stopped and settled. Lumaris just sat there staring, her mouth agape. She shook her head to clear it and scrambled to her feet. Well, clearly the channel was no longer blocked. She had no reason to stay.

“Lumaris…” A voice whispered in the air.

She looked around. There was no one present.

“Lumaris…” The leaves rustled.

Terrified, she turned and ran, the voice calling her name once again. “Lumaris!”

She never told her father what happened. She merely reported that one of the channels had been blocked by an animal. Though she felt bad about lying to her father, she couldn’t tell him that she had gone to the forest. She was unusually quiet after her report at dinner. Only Karina noticed.

“Lumaris.” She stopped her before she went up to change for bed. “You were awful quiet at dinner. Is something wrong?”

“No.” Lumaris lied though she smiled. “I’m just tired is all.”

“Well then, better get a good rest for tomorrow. It’s not everyday a bright young girl turns fourteen.” Karina hugged her and gave a kiss to her stepdaughter’s night black hair. “Sweet dreams, Luna.”

Lumaris smiled at her nickname. Karina had called her that since she was little. It was because she was named for the night she was born, a full moon. In fact, the night of her birthday was a full moon every year because it was the Festival of the Moon God in Janal.

While her family went to enjoy it, Lumaris would stay home and spend time with Trendon and Axel out in the field. The silver-blue light would bathe the world and give it a magical quality like no other. Lumaris never minded that she had to stay home. She probably wouldn’t have liked the bright colors and frantic activity of the village. She much enjoyed the playful moods of the horses as they acted like young colts and the company of the small wild animals.

While Lumaris’ brothers all slept away, she listened for the creak of the front door. When it came she quickly, but quietly, snuck to the window. It was a cloudy night, so the light of the nearly full moon did not disturb the boys as she snuck onto the thick branch outside.

The night was dark with few patches of light. One such patch was her father’s lantern. Lumaris half-climbed half-slipped down the oak and followed the path a safe distance behind her father.

Ten minutes later, Ender came to the thick wooden gate of Janal. Lumaris hid in the tall shrubs on either side. She held her breath as her father looked in her direction, then her heart calmed as he didn’t see her. He knocked on the gate.

A opened up and an old man’s voice said, “Why Ender! Come for your weekly visit to the tavern, I see. How is your family?”

“They are great as always, Pulo. My wife and boys are looking forward to tomorrow’s festival.” Ender responded while chuckling.

The closed and the gate swung open. Lumaris knew she would be spotted by her father and Pulo, the kind but loyal to his job gatekeeper, if she followed. She hadn’t planned on this obstacle. She hit the thick wall surrounding the village as the gate closed. “Blunder hole!” She cursed, though she wouldn’t tell her father that she had picked up her brothers’ colorful language. She hissed as it locked behind her father. She went up to the gate and stood on her tip toes to push the open. Thinking of how much better she would see if she were taller.

From what she could see, her father walked down the path until she could barely see him and then turned into a building. A pair of sharp brown eyes came into view and she jumped back. “Wanting in the village are you?” Pulo asked suspiciously.

Lumaris stood up and dusted herself off. Since he knew her from the Harvest Market every year, she disguised her voice as a young woman. “Hello sir, I am searching for the town of Janal.”

“This is Janal. What manner of business do you have here?”

“Is it? I heard that you have a moon festival here. My family has allowed me to attend it this year. Do you know of any inns with available rooms?”

“Aye, but why would a stranger come to attend the festival? You-know-who don’t allow anyone to travel between towns without official business.” Pulo made a hissing sound through his teeth, but not in a threatening way.

Lumaris licked her lips and thought of something else. “You are right sir. I am a runaway. I come from Caviler across the river. My family’s house was overrun by the guards because they suspected my father of a crime most foul. He told me to seek out shelter in Janal. He will send for me as soon as possible.” It was too quiet as Pulo mulled it over. She hoped she sounded convincing.

The snapped shut. Lumaris exhaled sharply, then she heard the lock undone. The gate swung open and she stepped inside.

Pulo closed the gate behind her. “You will do well to keep quiet about this. Should you give yourself away to the guards once they hear of your father’s crime, no one here will stand between them and you. Everyone sticks to their own business in Janal.” He pointed straight down the street. “Down that way on your left, the Soaring Empress. You’ll know it by the silver Dragon painted on the front. They have rooms aplenty.”

Lumaris thanked Pulo with the same bow that she usually gave her father when she was dismissed and forced herself to walk down the path at an unrushed pace. She felt strangely crowded as she walked down the street. She knew only this one street since this was where the Harvest Market was held. The Soaring Empress was where her father took the family to eat for lunch, so she knew where she was going.

The inn had a splendid bar that served great food. Their roasted goose meat was the best. Also, because she would go in there to deliver the herbs her stepmother grew in their garden, she was known by the owner. She was careful to keep the hood of her cloak low over her eyes as she walked through the door and took a seat in the shadows by the fireplace.

Her father was at the bar in his usual place. He would sit there even during the family’s lunches at the market. She was relieved that this time his back was to her. “So Ender, is it really sixteen years ago tomorrow that you lost your first wife?” The bartender and owner asked. “Shame that daughter of yours died with her.”

“Mm-hmm. That little orphan you took on as your own is fourteen as of tomorrow.” One of the drinkers said with a smile.

Lumaris raised a brow. What did they say? His first wife died sixteen years ago?

What little orphan he took in?

“Yes, nothing but a babe when I found her. Drinking from the spring by the Living Forest. Nearly taken by the vines when I arrived.” Ender sipped his beer. “Such a sweet girl, I don’t understand how she came to be without a family of her own. Wandering around starving.”

“She’s becoming quite the beautiful girl, I’d be surprised if the noble boys didn’t look twice at her.”

“Yeah, there ain’t no better catch than a farmer’s daughter!” A very drunk man cheered.

Lumaris blushed. She had never been told that she was beautiful. Her hair was always damp with sweat from when she worked in the field, her face was always covered in dust and dirt from working with the crops and horses, and she always found her bright blue eyes a big contrast compared to her night black hair and lightly tanned skin. Her hands were rough, not soft and silky like Karina’s.

So how could they call her beautiful?

The door swung open and banged against the wall drawing everyone’s attention. There stood a tall thin man with a blue cloth tied around his head covering half his ears. He wore a little bit of tattered clothes and travel worn boots. His dark eyes found the empty table near Lumaris’ and he took a seat.

From all their exposure to the world of magic, Lumaris and Ender knew the man was an Elf on sight. Quite an ancient Elf from the look in his eyes too. Why would an Elf come into a town? They had always kept their with humans only to the farmers.

Ender ordered a wine in a pint. Then to add to the confusion of the bartender he sat with the Elf. Lumaris lowered her hood even more over her face. She really hoped he wouldn’t recognize her, much less look in her direction.

The commotion at the bar went on to business with the other men as Ender set the wine before the stranger. “What are you doing here? I’ve never heard of an Elf talking to anyone but a farmer.”

“So you are a farmer.” His voice was deeper than Ender’s, yet it sounded so youthful just as an Elf’s voice was. “I’ve been to Janal before and never met one. I will need to stay at your home then. I go into the towns to look for something.”

“Oh, like what?” Ender asked.

The Elf drank from his wine before answering. “Something important to the Magickers. I haven’t had any luck in 3000 years.” Lumaris kept herself from gasping. She had never known an Elf, though immortal, ever being that old.

“Ah, Magicker secrets.” Ender drank his beer. “Nothing I hate more.” Then he looked at the Elf better. “You got a lot of guts coming into town. What would your people say if they heard about this?”

“Why plenty Farmer.” He wiped his chin clean of wine that dribbled down it. “So much in fact that they refuse to have anything to do with me anymore.”

Ender’s eyes widen showing that they were beginning to glaze over with his drunkenness. “You mean… . you’re an outcast?” He lowered his voice at the end. Lumaris looked to see that a couple of men at the bar were listening to them.

“I guess. I refuse to run to the capital when Malesh takes over and I’m labeled a fool for life.” The Elf laughed quietly. “During all my wanderings, I came here the most often. Especially around this time of year. The Night of the Eternal Full Moon.”

“Is that what you call it? Huh, well this year its phases fall perfectly to a full moon.” Ender commented.

“It does every fourteen years. Something strange happens every year on that night. Nothing happened last time.” He turned his dark eyes on the farmer next to him. “I was standing at the door listening. I understand that you have a daughter turning 14 tomorrow.”

Ender slammed his now empty mug on the table making Lumaris jump out of her skin. “What are you saying?”

The Elf smiled. “Maybe I just didn’t hear anything. Most humans don’t like the looks of me and don’t say anything unless I’m on the other side of the room. They don’t know we Elves can hear a coin drop onto stone from half a mile away on a quiet day.”

The farmer glared at him. “I have a six year old boy, the most magic he’s been exposed to is the Living Forest and the trading Elves. I will not have him under the same roof as an outcast Magicker!”

“I will spare the boy and come after dark. It’s the girl I wish to meet.” The Elf whispered. “If she has a moon shaped mark on her, then my search may be over.”

“A moon shaped… . ?” Ender stared at the Elf. Lumaris unknowingly touched the birthmark on her right arm between her shoulder and elbow. “What does that have to do with anything?”

An Elvin smile. “Another Magicker secret.”

Lumaris felt betrayed by all the secrets. Not telling her she had been to the Living Forest, the warning about an outcast Elf looking for her, why someone would hunt her down if he knew about her. Most of all, she felt anger at her father for telling the men in town that she was an orphan he had found and taken in. She didn’t know what to believe anymore.

2—The Magickers’ Secret

Lumaris waited two minutes after her father left before she left herself. The bartender saw her leave and turned pale. He hadn’t known she was there. “Now we got demons sneaking around the dang place.” He said loud enough for her to hear.

Since the story she gave to Pulo at the gate was that she’d stay in the village, she had to try and get the keys she knew hung above the window. Once he went back into his booth she hurried down the street on silent feet. Once at the open doorway, she tried to think of a way to it to the window beyond without being seen.

“Your father’s far enough away now.”

Lumaris jumped and looked up seeing Pulo in his lookout window that looked over the gate. “You think I don’t know that polite bow of yours after 12 years girl? I actually believed that story of yours until then. Leave the keys and close the gate behind you.”

She stood for a moment with her mouth wide open. Then she grabbed the keys, unlocked the gate, put the keys back on their hook, closed the gate, and raced down the road a little ways. She looked back at Pulo wondering if he had told her father. The old man just waved to her smiling in a friendly manner. She turned and ran to catch up with her father and managed to sneak back up the tree and into her bed before her father came to check on her.

She was allowed to sleep in until breakfast the next morning, as it was her birthday. Karina gave her a cinnamon bun with the creamy sticky icing after breakfast like she did every year. Then, Ender told her to wash up then report to the stable. Tending to Trendon and Axel was always her duty on her birthday, this year she would handle them all day alone. Her family left shortly after she was dressed.

Axel was their old experienced field horse. Trendon, the younger colt, that would one day be the experienced horse was a young orphaned wild horse. It was unknown why his mare abandoned him, but he was welcomed into their stable nonetheless.

After taking them both out of their stables, Lumaris walked to the rainwater pond nearby. She looked at herself and sighed. “I don’t see how anybody could think I’m beautiful. My eyes make me look so creepy.” Trendon snorted as he stood next to her to drink, the ripples distorting her image. She smiled at him, “You don’t care about how I look though, don’t you? No, you care that I love you.” She patted his strong shoulder.

Axel swished his tail at her. “Oh I’m sorry Axel. I should have known better than to ignore you.” The stallion tossed his forelock out of his eyes revealing the star underneath. “Well, Father says that they won’t be back until after moonrise tonight. Axel, make sure Trendon doesn’t get into trouble. I’m going to the spring by the forest. I’ll be back by sundown to play with you two.” Lumaris jogged off down to the grain fields and to the softening grounds beyond.

The spring shone white with the rising sun above, yet her eyes did not hurt when she looked at it. “Karina said that all springs have memories. It just takes a special person to see them.” Lumaris knelt over the clear water and frowned. “Just what kind of special person? A Magicker?”

A breeze stirred the short grass around the spring. Lumaris noticed that the surface of the spring remained undisturbed. She raised a dark brow. “Wait a minute.” She stuck a finger into the spring. The water was warm and fresh feeling, but there were no ripples. “This is no ordinary spring, that’s for sure.” She folded her knees under and moved her finger in a circle and whispered, “Please show me a memory you have of me.”

Suddenly, the surface of the spring churned. Lumaris leaned back as waves crashed at the edges and the water shimmered in rainbow colors. A minute later the water began to settle and the colors formed familiar patterns. A handsome, strong young man with earth brown hair, eyes the color of spring grass, and the body of a newborn baby with a head full of black hair in his hands.

“It has been two years since you had died human child, but your future is of yet fulfilled. Though you died a mortal, with my blessings, you shall be reborn within this magic spring and return to the living as the Magicker of legend.” He knelt down and placed the dead baby under the water. A silver-blue glow was seen on his face. “The sword had dulled to stone when you died child. With your revival, the sword will live once again and wait for you. Grow and be safe, Lumaris.” The man took a living crying baby out of the water. He turned to someone the spring didn’t see and said, “Apalla, take this babe back to Ender’s farm and raise her until she can walk. to bath her in this spring every day until then.”

Ripples came from the center of the spring distorting the image. Soon the water reflected only the sky and Lumaris at fourteen now.

She shook greatly. “I-I was—” She sobbed as a tear rolled down her face and landed in the spring. Once again there wasn’t a ripple. “No. No!” She gasped.

“Yes dear child.” Lumaris gasped and turned around. For there standing just inside the forest was the man from the spring’s memory. He didn’t look a day older at all. “You were indeed dead, until I revived you in the spring you kneel by now.”

Lumaris couldn’t breath. The man’s presence wasn’t human, she knew it. This man… . this man was a Magicker, but he looked so human. She gasped and fell back as one of the trees moved to let him . She tried to move away from him, but the ground was too soft and her hands slipped causing her to fall back onto her back. The man stood over her, his expression unreadable.

“I am not surprised you cower before me. You were born on this night sixteen years ago, known to the Magic-s as The Night of the Eternal Full Moon.” He held out his hand. Not knowing why, Lumaris took it and let him help her stand. “Though you may not believe it, I am Kaisei. I am called the Moon God to humans.”

“The Moon God?” Lumaris paled even more.

“Aye.” Kaisei nodded. “As the Elf in the tavern last night spoke of—” He laughed at the girl’s wide eyes. “—yes I know what you did—what the Elf said is true. An event happens on my night but every single year. Over 3000 years ago, Malesh made himself known to the world. Sixteen years ago the sword within the forest responded, its true wielder had been born, but a moment later it turned to stone. I knew the child had died.”

Out of her shock of meeting a real god, Lumaris blinked. “So why didn’t you revive me that same night?”

“Their were two other children born that night as well. They live in different parts of the land. Unfortunately, as the God of the Moon, I am limited to traveling at night. Depending on how much light the moon gives, is how much power I have that night.”

“So as the moon lost its light during its phases, you were able to travel less and less each night.” Lumaris understood.

“That is why it took me two years to return here and learn that you were the child that had died. It was not in the legend.” Kaisei chuckled.

“Huh? Legend?” Lumaris blinked and tilted her head to the side. “What legend?”

Kaisei laughed again, making her grumble in annoyance. “I’m not surprised. The Magickers keep their secrets from humans.”

“Secrets? My father mentioned ‘Magickers’ secrets’ last night.”

“Did he? Seems that Elf suspected something about you. He suspects right. Lumaris, he has been waiting and searching for you for the last 3000 years. He has done so against his people’s will to hide in Torr because I told him that he was to be the travel companion as well as teacher to the legendary hero.” Kaisei sighed and looked at the spring. “I waited for the last fourteen years for you to return to the spring and use your magic for the first time.”

Lumaris blinked at the god again. Then she laughed. “Magic? I’m a human. Humans can’t do magic.”

The green eyes narrowed in amusement at her. “The legend of The Human Magicker has been told among Magickers since the beginning of time. The Human Magicker is a savior, born as its mother’s breath was done. Your mother died when you were born. The Human Magicker is a peaceful human with great power.” Kaisei smirked. “Farmers are peaceful humans exposed to the magical world, you are a farmer’s daughter.”

Lumaris looked at the spring. “So, so what I did—the spring’s memory. That was magic?”

“A spring only reveals its memories to a Magicker. It showed that I revived you in its enchanted waters. Apalla helped your father raise you and swore your brothers to secrecy about you. They were not fooled as he was. They ed their baby sister.” Kaisei fingered Lumaris’ hair.

Lumaris was shocked by how incredibly good his fingers felt. She was now completely convinced she was in the presence of a god. “Go to Janal tonight, return to the Soaring Empress. Seek out that Elf and show him your mark.”

Her eyes widened once again. As the god turned to walk away. “Wait a minute! Stop!” Kaisei turned back to her, still smiling. “There were others listening to him talk to my father. What if that doesn’t convince him?”

“You will find a way, my blessed child.” He turned, this time his blue cape brushed against Lumaris’ outreached hand. The material of the fabric was unlike

anything she had ever felt before. It slid over her skin like the silk of the one gown Karina’s family let her keep, but it was more. Just more.

Lumaris stayed a few moments longer pondering what had just transpired. When she couldn’t think of a logical explanation, she returned to the house having made up her mind about what to do next.

The sun was just setting as she arrived at the gate. She heard the music of the festival playing to a re-enactment of the Moon God’s fight against the God of Darkness to win back the light of the moon. It was believed to happened every time when the moon was half-full.

Lumaris smirked to herself. From what I understood with my encounter with him, the moon loses its light on its own. Well then, I will have to ask him about that sometime. For right now . . . She looked up to the lookout tower. Pulo was nowhere to be seen. Hearing the music get louder, she took a chance and whistled.

The music died just as her whistle did. Lumaris waited for a few minutes. Nothing. The music started up again continuing the play and still nothing. She groaned in an exaggerated manner and kicked the gate.

Then she looked at the gate. Really looked at it. She kicked it again, then kicked the wood around it. The second kick had a different sound. “He did say I could use magic.” She put her hand on the gate and let out a breath. “Okay, allow me to through.” When nothing happened she tried again. “Please allow me to through.” Still nothing. She kicked the gate again, harder than before.

The snapped open. Instead of the brown eyes of Pulo, Lumaris saw the dark sharp eyes of the Elf from the night before. “I’d let you in girl, but I don’t know where the old fool keeps his key.”

“It’s above the window by the door.” Lumaris waited when the closed. She rushed inside when there was enough room for her to squeeze through. “I thank you, kind stranger.”

“Well, no need to thank me. Whatever chore kept you at home all day is done and you are here in time for the offering to the Moon God.” The Elf smiled at her. “So, are you meeting your family?”

“Uh, no. I don’t want my family to recognize me, Elf.” His eyebrows disappeared under the blue cloth. “I am a farmer’s daughter.” She said trying not to laugh.

“Oh I see.” He tilted her head back to see her better in the light of the torch. “Yes, I believe I’ve met your father. Yet you look nothing like your mother.” He looked to the festival in the square a long way down the street. “There is a place where I can work some magic to make you look different. Come along.”

Lumaris followed the Elf down the street and to the tailor’s shop right next to the square. She ducked behind his tall figure when she saw Hanri and Karina. Quickly, the Elf undid the store’s lock and pushed her inside. Lumaris bumped into a sewing mannequin. “Ouch!”

“Careful, objects made by humans are more fragile than they appear.” The Elf said. He took her wrist and led her to the back of the store. He pushed aside a curtain to reveal an assortment of dresses. “Just pick one out and I’ll worry about your face and hair.”

Lumaris just stared at the gowns. “I’ve never worn a dress before.”

“Never? Not even your mother’s dresses?”

“No.” She felt a green gown. The material was soft and slippery in her fingers. The sound it made was like the shuffling sounds her father made when he returned home after his weekly visit to the tavern. She took it out to look at it. She did the same to a few more dresses before she pulled out one the same shade of blue as the Moon God’s cape.

It had de-tatchable flared sleeves, spaghetti straps, and a low back. In the lights streaming through the windows from the festival outside, she saw a silver sash at the waist and the gown was covered in gold sparkles. It reminded her so much of Kaisei’s grand attire.

“It’s like he planted it here for me to find.” Lumaris said absent-mindedly.

The Elf nodded. “It’s a beautiful gown.” She turned to the sound of coins jingling and saw him set three gold on the counter. “That should more than cover it.”

It was a puzzle for Lumaris to figure out how to put the dress on. She soon figured it out by stepping into it and slipping the sleeves on. The Elf seemed transfixed by how she looked when she walked out. Then he chuckled at her trying to keep it from falling.

“I believe you now.” He squared the straps on Lumaris’ shoulders and tied the silver sash behind her. “There, now it won’t fall. Have a look.” He pointed to a full length mirror. Lumaris gasped.

Standing before her was a young girl with black hair and bright blue eyes in a blue gown. She didn’t recognize herself, all that she saw was a beautiful girl worthy of the noble class. “Wow.”

“Ah, and that’s before I do anything.” The Elf turned her around and moved his hands over her face whispering the Elvin language. She felt a strange tickling sensation come over her skin. It wanted to make her laugh, but she forced herself to keep a straight face. “There, now no one will recognize you.”

Lumaris looked back in the mirror. She gasped again at the young woman with brown hair up in a bun, darker blue eyes beneath thick lashes, pale skin with colored cheeks, and lips with a touch of gold. “I can’t believe it.” She jumped a little. Even her voice was different!

“Like a beautiful young noble woman. It will fit your story to the gatekeeper.” The Elf laughed at her surprised face. “Let’s go watch the offering.”

The fourteen year old girl was amazed. The decorations for the festival were brightly colored, there were tables of food here and there, and everyone was dressed in their best blue, sliver, white, and gold.

In the middle of the square was an altar. A pile of old clothes, broken toys, and even dead plants sat in the center. A big man drabbed in the same blue as Lumaris’ dress was sprinkling some powder over it. “May the great Moon God, who watches over the world in the night, accept these gifts and bless us with a miracle tonight. We honor you Moon God and give unto you the ashes of our past.”

“Ashes of the past?” Lumaris asked.

“I think they mean to burn that pile.” The Elf’s voice had a hint of displeasure. “Humans know nothing about the gods. They don’t want them to burn their old things as an offering.”

Lumaris had to agree. Why would the gods want them to do that? It seemed much more practical to give him thanks for all he did. An offering would be to leave something at the spring by the Living Forest. Better yet, have it ensnared by the forest itself and ask it to give it to him.

The man took a torch and set the pile on fire. Lumaris watched the flames as they devoured the pile. There was something odd about the flames. The way it flickered was strange.

“Ashes from a previous burning.” The Elf whispered to her. “It makes the fire burn differently than it should. Fire cannot feed on ashes and so reacts strangely to it. Do hear how it crackles?”

“Yes, I do.” Lumaris said quietly. “It sounds, confused.”

The Elf looked at the young girl he helped disguise. As a Magicker, he could tell if a human was lying and what class they were born in. However, this girl confused him. She didn’t act like a normal human and there was an air of magic about her. Something that shouldn’t be around a human.

The fire popped and a spark landed into a flower pot bursting the petals into the flames. People jumped back and knocked others down. “Again!” The man in blue hissed under his breath. “Again, the fire spreads!”

The Elf whispered a single word. “Su-tera.” The unwanted fire died down to glowing embers which soon cooled. The crowd relaxed and applauded. The man seemed flustered, but bowed and praised the Moon God for his protection.

Lumaris turned back to the Elf. “You are the outcast Apalla warned my father about, aren’t you? The one searching for the Human Magicker.”

The Elf looked at her, his sharp eyes filling with fear. “What did you say?”

She bit her disguised lip. Then she ed what the Moon God had told her. “You’ve been searching for 3000 years for the Human Magicker, the one of legend who has been spoken of since the beginning of time. Here, look.” She pulled her right sleeve down to show her birthmark in the shape of a moon.

He gazed at it then followed the curve of dark skin with his finger. He pulled her sleeve back up. “There were a few children born on that night. I’ve seen them all, and none of them are the Human Magicker. You were the one hiding in the shadows of the fireplace last night then.” Lumaris lowered her eyes. “If those men were not drunk, they would have noticed you sneaking in after your father.”

Lumaris frowned and muttered angrily, “I will know how to convince him, Kaisei.”

“Kai… you spoke his name.” She looked at the Elf. “The gods only give their names to their chosen humans. The Human Magicker is chosen by Kaisei the Moon God.” He stepped back and bowed formally at his waist. “I was hand chosen by Kaisei to be your travel companion and teacher of basics.” He stood up to his full eight feet of height. “Right now, I would like to be your dance partner.”

3—Caviler

The small band played a gentle tune as the festival patrons swayed and glided in the square. Lumaris had always danced with her brothers when her father played his flute at home, but the Elf she was with was a much better dancer, his feet never seemed to touch the stone street. She wasn’t the only one who noticed though. She heard whispered comments from the villagers.

The Elf laughed softly so only she heard. “We’re taught to dance before we walk. My people learned it from the spirits of the earth and water long ago before the human race was born.” He spun her around making her skirt fly up to her knees.

Embarrassed, Lumaris pushed her skirt back down. “That is indecent!” She hissed to him.

“For humans.” The Elf corrected her. “By they way, my name is Halos.”

“My name is Lumaris.” She answered after a moment. “It was given to me by the Moon God himself.”

“Lumaris…” The names seemed to roll off his Elvin tongue. “It’s beautiful, like the full moon. A true child of his.” He began leading her deliberately away from a couple he saw nearby. When she asked what he saw he said, “The magic I used to disguise your looks will only work from a distance. Your father and mother are getting too close.”

Lumaris bit her lip and glanced around. Her father and Karina were indeed close. So close that Karina eyes lit up when she saw her stepdaughter. Lumaris turned back to Halos and followed his lead to the other side of the square as the music became lively.

Stopping for a drink of water, Lumaris risked a look back. She didn’t see them anymore. “Halos. When is the soonest we can leave?”

He looked at her quizzically. “You do not like the festival?”

“This is the first time I’ve been to the festival. So far, I’m running for my life from my own father!” She drank her water. “I have never done something behind his back before, now I’m doing it right in front of him!”

Halos put a firm hand on her shoulder. “Deception is never easy, but the best kind is when you can fool your friends—err family.” He corrected himself. “That way your enemy is fooled as well.”

Lumaris took a breath and let it out slowly. She felt much more relaxed. “Okay.” She turned her head to someone scoffing at her. It was a girl her age, a little taller though, with strawberry blonde hair, gorgeous brown eyes, and high cheekbones. The full lips reminded Lumaris of Karina.

“That dress is too good for you.” She said in a snotty manner. Then Lumaris knew just who this girl was. She gritted her teeth to prevent herself from snarling.

“Saphira… of Janal’s highest noble family.” She added.

“Oh please cousin.” Saphira snapped. “I never thought I’d see the day you’d wear a gown, or make-up for that matter, you didn’t even wear one at Aunt Karina’s wedding.” She eyed her cousin’s gown again. “I want it.”

“What?” Lumaris narrowed her eyes at her cousin. Halos squeezed her shoulder in warning.

“I. Want. The. Dress.” Saphira punctuated each word as she stepped closer. Lumaris braced herself for another catfight. They had one every few years over the fact that they were related. Yet anything precious Lumaris had, Saphira stole in one way or another. “Give it to me, this time I’ll pay you.”

“No.” Lumaris said sternly. “We are too old for this, cousin.”

“Too old for what? You giving me what should not be yours?” Saphira smirked smugly. “Whoever gave you that dress was out of their mind giving it to a farm girl.”

“Watch your tongue.” Halos said calmly. “Farmers are important to the people of Kraal. They grow the food you eat in your meals.”

“Why should I care about that? So long as I eat.”

Lumaris smirked. “What if Father decided not to sell to your servants this year, and the other farmers refused as well?”

Saphira looked at her like she was stupid. “Like anyone would refuse our generous pay.”

The dark haired girl laughed heartily. “Generous? The guards pay more than the nobles do!” Halos warned her to keep her voice down.

Karina’s niece didn’t find it so funny though, she scowled making her pretty face a mask of rage. “Fine then. Forget the money. Just give me the dress!” She reached out and grabbed Lumaris’ sash. Lumaris grabbed her cousin’s bare shoulders and dug her nails in. Saphira screeched and instead grabbed Lumaris’ dark strands and pulled hard, scratching the scalp underneath with her sharp manicured nails.

Dizzy with pain Lumaris slapped Saphira across the face. Stunned and even angrier than before, Saphira slapped her back twice then pushed her back. By this time, the music had stopped and people were staring. “Now give me my dress!” Saphira yelled and tugged at the right sleeve enough to reveal Lumaris’ birthmark.

Angry and fed up with her spoiled brat of a cousin, Lumaris growled, “Let go!!” She hit Saphira in the chest with the open palm of her free hand. A strong vibrating sensation sent the blonde girl back and into the food table behind her. The table broke beneath her and the punch bowl dumped itself all over her hair and gown.

Saphira screamed loudly sending Lumaris’ and Halos’ ears ringing. “You monster! Look what at you’ve done!! Do you have any idea how much this cost me?!??!”

“Nothing.” Lumaris fixed her sleeve back into place. “Your father paid for it.” For Saphira’s father was the head of the noble household. She grunted when Halos took her wrist and dragged her all the way back to the Soaring Empress.

“What were you thinking? Using magic so recklessly?” Halos asked through a strained voice to stay calm. Lumaris had changed back into her farmer’s tros and shirt. The blue gown was folded with care and tucked carefully into Lumaris’ pack.

“I used magic?” She looked at her hand. “That explains that feeling in my hand.”

Halos sighed and sat down on his bed next to Lumaris’. “You honestly don’t know about how to use magic?” Lumaris shook her head. “Well, I’ll begin teaching you tomorrow. For now sleep, we leave at dawn.” Halos doused the lanterns. “Good night Luna.”

She sensed, rather than heard, him settle into his bed. After a moment she pulled the covers to her chin and, after a smirk to her nickname, closed her eyes. Sleep claimed her a few minutes later. Her dreams filled with breath-taking, unfamiliar landscapes and the urge to keep moving or be caught and killed.

She was awakened by a shock to her temple. It was a small shock, but it still stung enough to rouse her from a deep sleep. “Gather your things and let’s go eat.” Halos said. Though grumpy and not that coherent, she got her pack and cloak and followed the Elf down to the bar. After a brief breakfast of blackberry pancakes and ginger ale, they headed right for the gate. Pulo nodded to the Elf, as he did to all those who left from visiting Janal, but he looked hard at Lumaris.

“That was quite a scene you and your cousin made last night. Her father threatened to burn your father’s fields. She said that you had stolen that gown.”

“No, I didn’t! It’s paid for and everything!” Lumaris pleaded.

Pulo gave her a crooked smile. “I know it. The tailor found those gold coins. Said to give the change to your old man. He wasn’t happy a’ tall to hear that you were in town. I suppose he’ll be ticked again coming to look for you today. So what’ll I tell him?”

Lumaris sighed, not from relief but from shortness of breath. She looked to Halos for help, but he shook his head. “I’m not going to get involved with your family. Besides, he only wants to know that you are safe.”

She licked her lips and turned back to Pulo. “Tell him,” She paused and found a little storage of confidence within herself. “tell him that his daughter has gone off to make him proud. That I will be back to see him and the family again. Kraal will be hearing about me soon, and You-know-who will be threatened. Tell my father Ender that.”

Pulo shook his head smiling. “Going off to see the world beyond the river. I will keep my ears peeled girl. Just don’t go and die on him.” He opened the gate and let them out. Halos led the way down the road and to the south. They arrived at the Gods’ River by dawn.

Halos paid for age on a boat to cross the river. It was expensive, but he didn’t seem worried. Lumaris trembled as the ship cast off and the shore drew away from her. By mid-morning it was out of sight and the opposite shore was a faint line on the horizon.

The ship was alive with gossip of the event at the festival the night before.

Lumaris pulled her hood over her face until there was no more face to hide. Halos chuckled at her and pulled her hood back. “Piece of advice, do not act as though you are responsible for talk. Then they will know that it is you they speak of.”

Lumaris shook her head out of annoyance, setting her black hair loose. “Halos, Kaisei didn’t tell me the whole legend. Would you mind?”

“Not at all.” Halos smiled at the distant shore over her head. “The Human Magicker was always said to be a different human, born in exchange for its mother’s life, a peaceful human who has the skill and grace of an Elvin swordsman and the cunning of a demon. With the secretive nature of a Dragon and the greatest power ever seen.” He looked back down to look into the bright baby blue eyes of the legendary hero. “You have a great burden upon your shoulders little one. It will be no less than three years before you return home to see your family. You must go through training with both the Dragons and Elves before then.”

“I can understand training to use my magic.” Lumaris said.

Halos nodded. “That is the first of your goals. The Dragons will train you. Then you must travel to the Elvin capital of Torr and learn the art of the sword. Each will take you a year to complete. You will return to Janal for your final phase in training. Within the Living Forest, you must retrieve the Golden Blade of Legend. After that you will be ready to defeat Malesh.”

Lumaris took all this in. She had so much to do in so little time. By this time next year, Malesh’s forces would be hunting her down intent on killing her. She sighed absently. At some point she would feel the full weight of her destiny upon her. For right now, she wanted to know everything she could. “Halos, what is the

Golden Blade of Legend?” She asked quietly.

He looked around quickly seeing that no one was paying attention to them. “It is the sword that rests in the heart of the Living Forest. The gods do not guard it, the forest does. That is why it lives.”

“The forest protects the sword? Is that why it actually takes lives sometimes?”

“Yes, the Golden Blade is a powerful weapon. An Elvin legend says that it was a gift from the Sun Goddess, Simetra, to carve up the land at the first Elvin King’s will. With it he created the riverbeds, valleys, and dug up the mountains. He even carved out Torr using the sword. Then one day, he used the sword to kill an innocent human. Simetra cast the sword into a forest and called upon the other gods to enchant the woods. The forest came alive and threw the king out at each attempt to retrieve the Golden Blade. Soon the forest grew into a vast wood that humans claimed to be the gods’ earthly home.”

“So they don’t live there?” Lumaris was getting confused.

“No one knows. They emerge from the forest when my peoples’ traders by it and then they disappear into it again.” He looked at Lumaris. “Is that where the Moon God showed himself to you?”

“Yes.” Lumaris ed the handsome god that had brought her back from the dead as a baby. “Have you ever seen a god?”

Halos shook his head. “I’ve never been to the Living Forest. I have received signs from the gods that always brought me back to Janal though. It appears they knew that was where you would be born.”

She shook her head. “No, that was where the sword knew I would be born. Kaisei said the sword reacted when I was born. How is the sword mine if it was hidden away by the gods?”

“Ah but the sword came alive with the forest when the spell was cast. Kaisei heard it speak of you.” Lumaris turned her head to look at the tall Elf better. “Through its own magic, he learned of a human born on his night that would defeat an evil so terrible that even the gods would be threatened. A human who would be able to use magic.”

“You-know-who threatens the gods?” Lumaris whispered. Halos nodded and she paled. “How can that be?”

“I don’t know. I refuse to listen to anything but the damage he and his minions cause. All I know about him is that his race is unknown and his face was never seen.” Halos walked over to the rail and breathed in the scent of the water. “Everywhere I go, I know I am watched by his people, except Janal.

“There is something about that town that he isn’t threatened by. It’s not the Living Forest, for that is no threat until you walk into it. Janal was always left alone, it is the one place that is safe from his hand. Perhaps that is why the gods always led me back there before you were born. Heh, I can’t count how many times I’ve been there.” He chuckled.

Lumaris ed him by the rail. “Maybe they wanted you to be safe, until you found me.” Halos nodded thoughtfully. “Did you say you were hand-picked by Kaisei to be my teacher?” The Elf laughed and nodded again. Then he put his hand on her head.

“A good student, you are. Never stop asking questions, just be careful whom you ask.” It sounded as though there was a secret in his voice, just like how Ender’s voice sounded two nights ago. Lumaris knew that she would find out soon enough.

The boat landed on the opposite shore shortly after noon. Lumaris was quick to get off the boat but she wasn’t quick to get off the wharf. “Come now, we cannot waste time.” Halos told her.

Lumaris looked at the Elf. “One more step and I will never be the same again. I’ve never even crossed the river before. I’m a little afraid.”

Halos smiled gently and took her hand. “The hardest part about a journey of 1000 miles is taking the first step. Once you have conquered that fear, the rest comes easy.” Lumaris took a breath and stepped off the wharf onto the strange land beyond. As the two walked off to find a tavern to eat lunch, a shadow followed closely behind them.

The lunch of catfish and minnow was adequate at best, but Lumaris found that she liked fish. It was a new kind of meat that she never knew existed. Halos was happy enough with apples slices and squash pudding. He watched the shadow that was following them intently without its knowing. Though there was no immediate threat, Halos was careful not to let Lumaris know about it.

On the crowded road to Caviler, Lumaris stuck to Halos closely. She had never seen so many people at once in her life. The Harvest Market in Janal was busy, but she could always walk down the street without bumping into things and people. She also got some dirty looks and some drunk man mistook her for an Elvin boy. It was just a little push to get him off, then he ed out on the side of the road mumbling about how his little girl was stolen by him.

Lumaris moved fast on her feet to keep up with Halos. Caviler came in view as the sky began to lose its blue hue. She ed Karina telling her about it,

how it was smaller but so much more busier than Janal. Once inside the gates, she was proven right.

She and Halos were separated almost immediately. Lumaris yelled to meet her at the Torr Tavern Inn. Careful of her steps, she began her way down the main street. Everyone was working to set up the booths and pens for the Harvest Market the next day. She was really careful to stay out of the people’s way, but more than once she was yelled at or shoved roughly. How did someone like Karina like this place?

Still, it made her miss Janal all over again.

After an hour or so of searching, Lumaris was shoved into a white wall with a thud. She looked up to see that the building was four stories high with gold trim around the windows. The swinging sign was painted white with the letters in gold. Before anyone could push her again, Lumaris ran inside.

She was surprised at how empty it was. Sitting at the nearest table, she busied herself with going over her legend again. According to Halos, she was to train with the Dragons and the Elves before returning home for the Living Forest. Well no human knew the exact location of the Elves’ capital. Rumors led all seekers of the capital to the east and the north east of Kraal. All they knew was that one of the three human towns there always had with Torr and told them of the events of the last 3000 years. There was never any solid logic on which town it was.

The Dragons were the easiest to find. They lived in the Dragon Mountains that spanned the entire southern region of the land. The only town right outside the one into the mountains safeguarded the hatching grounds where they laid their eggs. Those people never spoke a word of what the Dragons did, bound by

secrecy or lose their lives.

In the days before Malesh people would flock to the foot of the mountains to watch the Dragons’ mating flights in the spring. Now only the people of the town and, if the stories were true, Malesh himself watched the spring flights.

Lumaris jumped as someone sat across from her. It wasn’t Halos, but a young man with light facial hair. His hood was up like hers, but she could see that he had dark brown eyes as well. Eyes that reminded her of her father. “You are a very lovely young girl.” He said in a rich voice with an eastern trader’s accent.

“Uh, thank you.” Lumaris said. She wasn’t sure if she trusted this stranger right away. “I hope you don’t mind but I’m waiting for somebody.”

“Ah, your Elvin friend on the boat.” Lumaris felt the blood drain from her face. “He does not know that some humans can act as well as Elves can. Especially those who work for Malesh.”

Lumaris squeaked but cleared her throat to keep from alerting the bartender nearby. She lowered her voice. “How did you know? Are you a farmer?”

“No,” the man lowered his voice. “I come from a noble family here in Caviler, trained to serve Malesh. I noticed that his head cloth is the color of the Moon God, and your eyes are the bright blue color granted to those born on his night.” He smiled as Lumaris felt the urge to run start building. “Yes, Malesh knows of you Human Magicker.”

Lumaris found it hard to breath. The room was suddenly dark, smaller, and closing in. She yelled when a hand landed on her shoulder. She turned her head only to see Halos standing at her elbow. “Child, why do you shake so?”

She looked across the table, but there was only an empty seat. She looked around the tavern, but there was no other man in a cloak. Lumaris wondered if it was all a dream as Halos sat across from her. “I’m, I’m sorry. I must have been too much into my thoughts.”

“Oh, well don’t be while in the towns. Too many opportunities for enemies to sneak up on you.” He pulled out a small bag on a string. Lumaris recognized the sewn on black L. “And always guard your purse from pickpockets.” Lumaris mentally kicked herself and put her little amount of money back around her neck. She tucked it under her shirt to keep it out of sight.

“Halos, where are we going first?” She continued in a low voice, hoping her fear of her encounter with the man wouldn’t show through.

The Elf leaned forward. “I will need a reliable map before we begin our journey. We can stay here until I have acquired one. Caviler has the best cartographers in Kraal.”

“How can we afford to stay here?” Lumaris demanded. “You can’t have the gold!”

Halos winked at her. “We Elves have our secrets. I shall sign us in.” He left a gold coin on the table with her. Lumaris quickly covered the shiny circle before anyone could see it. In Janal, only the nobles and their servants ever held gold

coins.

Then a waitress came by. “Hello young’un. Sorry to keep you waitin’. What’ll you have to drink?”

“I’ll have apple cider and my friend will have honey water.” Lumaris said. She saw the confused look in the waitress’ eye before she left to fetch the drinks. Halos came back to the table a moment later.

“We’re good here for about four nights. Don’t worry about coming and going, I’ve told the bartender that we came here for the Harvest Market. We lucked out as they had one room left.” He winked again. After a moment of thinking, Lumaris didn’t want to know.

After a small dinner of food prepared in the Elvin way (and Halos protesting that it was nothing like the real thing at all) Lumaris went out on the much less crowded streets and walked around. Halos figured that as long as she returned by moonrise, she could be trusted with a training session that he had planned for her in the distant future.

Caviler was full of twists and turns making it a head-spinning maze. She did all she could to keep the sun that was setting in the west in sight, for the tavern faced west on the main street. She had crossed the street to explore that half of the city. She asked a few people of where to find the finest map maker in town and was led to several places. She met two of the men she was led to, using the story that her uncle was looking to pay handsomely for an accurate map of Kraal. Both men said that they were in the middle of the map questioned and that they would be glad to talk of a price tomorrow. As she headed back to the tavern to meet Halos, a shadow blocked her path. “Now, what would a young girl want with an accurate map of Kraal?”

Lumaris recognized the voice as belonging to the man from lunch. “Why should it matter to you?” She stepped back.

The man smiled in the dying light. He took a step forward, Lumaris prepared to turn and run. Then to her surprise, the man knelt down before her. “Human Magicker, you are known by all of Malesh’s forces and have been awaited to kill for 3000 years. Even we humans who work for him have heard the legend. A human with a moon shaped mark, born at its mother’s last breath. To train in the secret arts of the Dragons, find the secret Elf capital and learn their swordsmanship, retrieve the Golden Blade of Legend from the Living Forest, and defeat the evil that threatens the gods themselves.

“I am Ardros, a mercenary of Malesh.” Lumaris gasped. “I believe you are the

Human Magicker as you travel with an Elf and your eyes are the color of the Moon God’s children. Do no be afraid of me.”

Lumaris stepped back again. “Why should I believe you?”

The man stood slowly. He pulled back his hood and smiled at her. He looked no younger than 20 years and no older than 25 thanks to his shoulder length light brown hair. “Because, I do not wish to serve Malesh any longer. I wish to serve under you and share in the spoils of your adventures across the land, but I do ask a favor of you before you leave Caviler.”

“A favor? I can’t do you any favors without you proving that you are telling me the truth.” Lumaris felt her suspicion taking over and becoming a whole different personality of its own.

Ardros smiled and chuckled. “You are cautious. That’s unusual for someone your age, but it makes sense for the savior of Kraal. Alright, I will prove to you that I am truthful. Return to your tavern, I will be by tomorrow and talk with your Elf. As a Magicker he will know if I am lying or not.” He pulled his hood back up and walked away. Lumaris ran to the tavern in record time, just making it before moonrise.

4—The Catacombs

Lumaris was as unhappy as Halos to hear about Ardros. The ancient Elf didn’t seem to trust the man before meeting him. Still, after their meeting and a gift he had brought for them, Ardros proved himself to be different. Lumaris listened closely as he explained himself.

“I am originally from Caviler, my family is in the workman class. They saved a good amount of money from both my parents’ businesses to send me to the courtyard barracks. You know the rest, I worked hard, managed to earn my place in the knight class, and made my family proud.

“Then, Malesh came and his guards took over the town. I wanted to fight back, but I had to do as my captain said and surrendered to save the town.” Ardros sighed took a drink of his ale. “Malesh said that he liked the defiant look in my eyes and took me as one of three men to be his mercenaries.”

“I thought Caviler was the hometown of all of his mercenaries.” Lumaris said.

“That’s because most of them like it here so much they practically live here. No, only three were chosen. He bestowed the gift of immortality on us, but the price was that we would forever search for the Human Magicker. All that we know of the legendary hero is the moon shaped mark, proof of its birth on the Night of the Moon God.”

“You told me that you knew because of my eyes.”

Ardros laughed softly at Lumaris’ comment. “I did. It is common knowledge among humans that those born on that special night are born with the bluest eyes ever. Not many are born at a time. With Malesh wanting them all dead for the last 3000 years, families have been hiding them from the eyes of the towns, at least until the Harvest Market. This is where my favor comes in.”

Halos sighed and stared intently at the man. He still hadn’t spoken a word since Ardros entered the tavern.

The man leaned forward on the table. “You see, there are a series of catacombs below Caviler. Not many people know about it because the entrance is kept secret. I will be willing to show the two of you, if only you agree to help me get my descendants across the Gods’ River.

“They have had to hide because of a crime the former head of the house caused. He is dead and now his young son is the head of the house. Two of his sisters watch over him in the catacombs.” He looked at Lumaris’ wide eyes.

“Was there a third daughter?” Her heart was beating wildly, hoping that there wasn’t.

“Why yes, there was a third daughter, she’s just about your age. She managed to escape across the river but I do not know if she is safe. I ask this favor because the boy was born on that night. Janal is safe out of Malesh’s reach and I want the boy to be safe. He is only six years old.”

Lumaris looked to Halos. He was still thinking as he looked at the mercenary. After a minute or two he finally spoke. “I see that your story is true and your words are genuine. The boy is in grave danger so long as he stays here. Janal is a small town and Malesh wants nothing to do with it for some reason.”

“No one who works for him knows either the reason or that Janal exists.” Ardros said. “Because of the second reason, not many know just where the Living Forest is.”

Halos gave a stiff nod. “If for some reason you cannot keep our presence a secret here, I will have no choice but spill your blood before this child’s eyes.” Lumaris stared at him. He turned to her. “As a savior, you will have no choice but to shed blood yourself one day soon. You will kill Malesh in the end.”

“I will teach her how to use a sword.” Ardros said. “At least until she arrives at Torr.”

“I know of how to use the sword, but you must be made useful if you are to travel with us, as she had told me.” Halos stood slowly. “Today, let us traverse the market and buy some supplies for when we leave.”

Lumaris felt right at home despite the extra business of Caviler’s Harvest Market. Halos, always between towns during the market, and Ardros, home for the market for the first time in a few years, both relied on her expertise on the crops to buy themselves some fruits and vegetables that would last for a few months. Lumaris snickered at Ardros’ face when he began to wonder just how much gold Halos had in his purse.

One farmer looked upon Lumaris’ eyes and a look of awe crossed his face. “You are such a beautiful girl for a farmer’s daughter. You must have some Elvin blood within you.” He moved her hair aside to be disappointed with the round ears of a human. “Perhaps it is too thin. Beware of the new moon’s shadows, for they are the moon children’s enemies.” He gave her a free apple along with her purchase.

Not saying a word to either Halos or Ardros, Lumaris thanked the man and promised to ask the Moon God to watch over his family. Halos also bought Lumaris some winter clothes and new boots. Hers were reliable, but so old they were beginning to fall apart. The shoe maker was a nice man, but there was something about him that made Lumaris uneasy around him. She got a good look at him just before they left his store.

She bit her lip to see the water blue eyes of an Elf who always picked up apples and a few pounds of grain from her father’s farm three times a year. What he was doing in Caviler, she did not ask, but she did hope that he would tell her father that she was safe while across the river.

The sun was at its highest point in the sky as Halos and Lumaris packed away the supplies in their packs back at the Torr Tavern Inn. Ardros led them to the northeast corner of the town. All that was there was a pile of rubbish. Lumaris didn’t even bother to hide her disgust. “Yes, yes I know. This is how it is secret.

No one would bother to look under a pile of rotting food and dead bodies.” Ardros began to part the pile.

Lumaris ducked behind Halos as one corpse’s bony hand came off and clattered over to her feet. Halos cleared his throat and patted her shoulder. She thought the sound he made was to dismiss his own rising nausea. Either way, she was just glad he was there with her. At last Ardros uncovered the hidden entrance.

It was a door set at an angle into the very corner of the village wall itself. What confused the two Magickers was that there was no way to open the door. Ardros chuckled. “There are always people hiding here for one reason or another.” He knocked on the door three times. Two knocks came from the other side. Ardros knocked once, then waited a moment and knocked three times. “Countdown from three, then after your one knock you tell the person on the other side how many wish to enter.” He explained just before the door open.

A dirty man with crooked teeth looked behind them quickly, then rushed them inside. Lumaris almost tripped on the stairs as she was pushed inside. “I thought you only had one descendant to hide Ardros.”

“No, she is not my descendant, she needs to hide.” Ardros pulled back Lumaris’ hood just enough to reveal her blue eyes.

“Ah, a moon child, is it? Must be a farmer to have survived so long.” The man looked closer. “Don’t you worry your blessed little head, you will be treated like a princess down here. Every child of a moon child always went on to spy in Malesh’s army. They’ve kept Caviler on his good side all these centuries.” The man said as he led the three through the maze and to a big ceremonial room. There were so many people, Halos had to turn Lumaris right back around and make her enter the room before him.

The people who saw her stopped what they were doing and stared. Lumaris pulled her hood farther over her face. Then she heard them whisper to each other. They whispered of how she was a moon child and that she was older than the other one. She felt her stomach sink in on itself.

Ardros’ arm stopped her before she tripped on three stairs. “Hello Father Ardros.” A young boy greeted them. Lumaris looked up to see two young women who looked like twins with long brown hair on either side of a thronelike stone chair. One was wearing a red satin dress with a gold sash, the other was wearing a dark blue cotton dress with a summer green cape.

On the throne itself, sitting sideways with one leg over an arm, was a young boy. He had the same brown hair as the women, but the same bright blue eyes as Lumaris. He stared right at her. “Who is this girl?”

Halos nudged Lumaris onto the first step. She ed her father doing that to her and her brothers when a new Elf or demon came to trade at the farm. She gave her usual polite bow. “My name is Lumaris, I hail from a Janal farm half a mile from the Living Forest.”

“The Living Forest of Janal?” The boy got off his throne and walked the few steps over to her. He was much taller than Hanri back home, it made him look about two or three years older. “Have you ever been inside it? Is it true that the trees move on a will of their own?”

Lumaris felt like laughing. He may be the head of his noble house now, but he was still just a little boy. She cleared her throat of the giggles before answering him. “Yes, the trees do move on their own. I have seen them do so myself.”

“How far have you been inside?” He asked getting closer.

Lumaris shook her head. “I have only been to the threshold to be bathed in the spring there as a baby.”

“Bathed in a spring?” Ardros’ descendant scoffed. “How uninteresting.” He turned to go back to his throne. “Some moon child you are.”

“This fellow moon child has agreed to see you safely to the gates of Janal herself, Tristan.” Ardros said to everyone’s surprise. Tristan turned back to his ancestor as his sisters gasped.

I will what? Lumaris thought loudly at the mercenary.

“Is it true Father Ardros?” The woman in red asked.

“It is true.” Ardros nodded. “Tristan, Lumaris never had to hide from Malesh because Janal is of no concern to him. In fact everyone in Janal knows who she is. She is hailed as a miracle during the Harvest Market.”

Tristan thought it over. “A miracle? I will talk with her in private after dinner. Have her return then.” He folded his hands in a triangle.

“Won’t you us in the city above?” Lumaris asked.

“I am in even more danger during the Harvest Market. Malesh’s forces are continuously patrolling the country side and towns for moon children. The Harvest Market is when my abilities are at their greatest. The Moon God himself comes from the Living Forest to walk the Land of Kraal.” Tristan stamped his foot. “You better be nicer to me tonight!”

Lumaris just gave him a confused smile. She would learn later on tonight. “Very well then Lord Tristan.” She bowed again. “I will return after dinner.”

The walk back up to the surface was even stranger as everyone stepped back from the teenager. Lumaris didn’t mind as much this time, seeing as to they saw a spoiled six year old boy as a prince.

It was about mid-afternoon when they emerged from the catacombs. The three had an early dinner at the Torr Tavern Inn and then walked around the city. Halos accidentally bumped into a man that was selling cows and goats. The man yelled at him with a few curses. The ancient Elf merely apologized, but Lumaris heard him say something under his breath afterwards. She heard the cattle lowing and the goats bleating followed by the man’s shouting as they left his booth behind.

Lumaris saw a big house surrounded by men in black armor. Ardros noticed her looking and said, “That’s Tristan’s old home. My great-great-greatgranddaughter married the noble’s head son and my family has been in the noble class since then. I will not deny that they had lost all sense of value by her grandchildren. Tristan is a good boy though. Just be patient with him, he is only six.”

She nodded in agreement. “Do you know what happened?”

The mercenary sighed. “I was there. Tristan’s father was harboring rebels to try and break Caviler from Malesh’s rule. They had a double duty of slowly doing that and protecting Tristan. The house was overrun with the guards when the secret was leaked out. I found Tristan’s third sister and told her to cross the river and seek shelter in Janal. She should have arrived the morning after your Moon Festival.”

Lumaris’ eyes widened. Oh no! Pulo won’t believe her! Not after what I did! She quietly groaned. Tristan’s sister was in trouble and it was all her fault.

Lumaris watched as Halos did the knocking this time. The dirty man was more rushed this time, saying more guards were on patrol after the sun went down. Ardros and Halos led the way to the big room. Tristan walked Lumaris to a backroom furnished with dusty tapestries and old furniture.

He turned to the older girl with crossed arms. “So is what he said true? Are you hailed as a miracle in Janal?”

“Because of how old I am. Even in Janal we know of Malesh.” Lumaris sighed. “Only everyone was told that I am an orphan.”

“Orphan?” The boy raised an eyebrow.

Lumaris tested a chair before sitting down in it. The cushion kind of collapsed under her weight but she didn’t fall through it. “I’m not really sure who or what I am anymore. I don’t even know if some legends and myths of the human race are just fairytales parents tell their children. What I do know is that I was once dead and I will save Kraal from Malesh.”

Tristan laughed. He laughed himself down on a lounger with a thin cloud of dust. “You? Destroy Malesh?” He laughed louder. “What makes you think that?”

“Not me, the Magickers.” Lumaris bit her lip as the boy stared at her like she was speaking Elvin. “Tell only my father and older brothers. I will be heading for the Dragon Mountains and Torr before I return home. I will receive training in both places for a year each.”

“Huh! You will survive the Dragons and find the Elvin capital? When do you expect to return—never?” Tristan snickered.

“Three years.”

The boy looked at her with his baby blue eyes. “You expect to return to Janal in three years’ time. My moon sister, you and I are hunted by Malesh. He fears us, he wants us dead. What am I to tell your father when you do not return?”

“I have friends traveling with me who will guard my life. I have a destiny to follow and please ask the Moon God to tell him the truth. My father believes me to be an orphan child taken in with my brothers sworn to secrecy. He doesn’t know that I should be sixteen now.” Lumaris cleared her throat. “The Moon God will have to forgive me, but I want him to know the truth.”

Tristan stood up. “Your father lied to you as well?”

“He didn’t mean to, I know it.”

“My father was killed because he wanted to save the town.” He said sadly. “He had people helping him to keep my existence a secret. You will be killed just like him. My sister Fiona is lost or she may be in Janal sharing dresses with Saphira.”

Lumaris raised a brow and pulled herself out of the old chair with a grunt. “Saphira? As in Saphira of the highest noble family in Janal?”

“Yes. She’s Fiona’s best friend and the only reason we know about Janal.”

Lumaris let out a very loud “Ha!” to the ceiling making Tristan jump. “Maybe she did make it into Janal, but if not I know the safest place for you to stay. We’ll catch the morning boat across the Gods’ River.” She practically bowled people over as she ran to tell Halos and Ardros her plan.

Lumaris couldn’t get to sleep fast enough when she and Halos returned to the inn. The Elf chuckled to himself as he saw the smile on her lips. The savior of Kraal is still a child. A child who is beginning to think like the savior she is meant to be.

Lumaris awoke as the moon disappeared below the horizon. Halos was still asleep, but she just couldn’t wait to get to the catacombs and sneak Tristan and his sisters out of Caviler as the gates opened. She checked her purse to see if she had enough money for all of them. She was surprised that it was full enough for ten people to cross the river.

The old man didn’t answer her knocking. She supposed he was asleep and hid nearby until the sun rose. Halos and Ardros came with it. “There you are girl!” Halos growled. “ that you are not at home on the farm where you are safe. Never wander off on your own again.”

She had never even seen an Elf mad, and she certainly didn’t want to see it again. Halos looked so menacing for such a kind man. Lumaris promised to never leave any place without him ever again.

Ardros found it strange that the man didn’t answer the knocks this morning. “He is always awake by now.” He drew out a dagger and pried the door open. Almost at once they saw the dead and still bleeding body of the doorkeeper. Lumaris gagged audibly and turned away. “By the gods! Tristan!” Ardros climbed over the man’s body and stumbled down the stairs in a panic. Halos and Lumaris followed close behind.

Lumaris recognized the strong smell of cooling ashes. “They were attacked!” Her voice echoed off the stone walls just before they turned to the ceremonial room. Lumaris skidded to a stop and her heart thudded at the sight before her.

There were dead bodies everywhere—men, women, and children. The sparse food was gone or glowing embers and the throne was smashed to pieces. As

Halos and Ardros searched through the bodies for Tristan and his sisters, Lumaris hurried to the back room. The door had been smashed in. Her heart pounded so hard, her chest hurt.

She pulled away what she could of the broken door and climbed through to the other side. After she landed with a soft thud she bounced right back up and looked around. It was very dark and she hardly saw her own hand before her face. I really need some light. Where was that candelabra again?

Lumaris jumped out of her skin and yelped as the candelabra she ed from the night before suddenly lit up. She could see that the furniture in the room was smashed as well and there was some blood on the floor. Then she noticed that it was coming from under the desk on the other side of the room. “Tristan!” She grunted and groaned as she pulled at the heavy oak wood.

It wouldn’t budge. She planted her feet and tried again only to slip on the blood. She went to the door and called out to Ardros and Halos to help. They tore the door off its hinges and moved the desk. Lumaris screamed at the body of one of Tristan’s older sisters sliced right down the middle of her back. “Wait!” Ardros pushed her back and uncurled the young women from around something. “Tristan! Tristan, my boy, wake up!”

There was a weak groan, Lumaris relaxed. He was alive.

Halos looked over the boy. “His arm is torn up and he’s lost a lot of blood, but he will live. We must get him up to a doctor.”

Lumaris kept silent as she followed the two men to the entrance of the big room.

Then she stopped and turned back. She felt that she was somehow responsible for all these people’s deaths. Halos appeared by her side and set a hand on her shoulder. “It is not your fault, Luna. We could not see this coming as we left.”

“Every year on my birthday, I overhear Father say a prayer for my mother. Asking her to be at peace and watch over my brothers when they need it. I want to say a prayer for these people.” Lumaris felt a tear roll down her cheek.

Halos clapped his hands and spoke a prayer for them in his mother tongue. Lumaris folded her hands herself. Kaisei, please see to it that these people find peace in their eternal rest. Simetra, find it in your heart to guide them on their way with your golden rays. I will fight for their cause in their places. I promise that I will fulfill my destiny of defeating Malesh for them.

Wiping away at her tears Lumaris walked along side Ardros whispering encouragements to Tristan. The doctor said that his arm would heal and the bruise on his side was from an internal wound. After bleeding it out, he released Tristan with a promise of not saying a word of seeing either moon child.

Ardros took Tristan to Janal himself, but he agreed to take him to the place Lumaris had planned to take him. She paid for their age on the trading ship and wished them a safe voyage. She and Halos stayed in the tavern all day in silence.

The one time Halos spoke was right before bed. “Luna, enjoy the market tomorrow. Stay on the main street and do not think of what happened. Tristan will be safe in Janal.”

5—The Hunt Begins

Lumaris walked among the market goers on the last day. Children laughed and played in the street almost tripping her. Their parents dug deep into their purses to afford the raised prices of the remaining crops and livestock. Lumaris saw the farmer that had praised her the first day. He was weeping.

“What troubles you friend?” She asked him.

The farmer raised bloodshot eyes to her. “Oh, dear moon child. I have not heard from my son in over a day. I fear that I do not know where he could be. No one in town has seen him.” He sobbed again.

Lumaris knelt by him. “I fear that he has been killed sir. Please forgive me, for it must be my fault.”

The farmer sniffed. “How so?”

“There was a secret community under the city in the catacombs—”

“The catacombs! That is my son’s tomb!” The man sobbed loudly. Then he took in a deep shuddering breath. “I do not blame you girl. So long as Caviler’s moon child is alive, then my son will rest in peace.” He put his rough hands on Lumaris’ small shoulders. “So long as you live, moon child, those souls in the catacombs will find peace.”

Lumaris found herself smiling for the first time since the day before. She walked the street again and found that the number of Malesh’s guards had doubled. She overheard snippets of their conversation and one of them caught her attention. “Where do you think that boy disappeared to? That moon child in the catacombs.” She noticed that the guards hadn’t seen her, so she stood in the shadow of the shoe maker’s shop and listened.

“How should I know? We killed so many people that he must be dead.” The second guard said. “Though I will it that his sister sure is a catch.” He chuckled mischievously. Lumaris had no idea what he could mean.

“I’ll say. I heard her screaming all night. You’d think she’d appreciate being done by a knight.” The two men laughed. “A shame the other one was sliced in half. What was she huddling under that blanket anyways?”

Tristan’s sister! She had forgotten they were twins! She had to rush back to tell Halos about her. Once inside she found the woman shaking beneath Ardros’ cloak in his arms. Lumaris sat next to Halos and sighed. “I had just heard.”

“I found her this morning. Penny is so scared she demands that you take her to Janal on the afternoon boat.” Ardros said. “She hardly trusts me just to hold her right now.”

“You must be quick.” Halos warned. “Come back on the evening boat, we have to decide the best route to our first destination. It is our last night in the tavern so we leave in the morning.” Lumaris nodded in confirmation. She had a small lunch of mutton’s leg and half a glass of apple juice. She let Penny lean on her shorter stature the whole way to the wharf and watched her closely on the boat.

Once again Lumaris heard gossip among the usual traders. “A moon child has been spotted in Caviler. I hear that a secret rebel unit under the city was found and destroyed. They were protecting that moon child.”

Penny gasped quietly and pulled Lumaris into the seat next to her. “My brother!” She whispered in a panic.

“Be quiet.” Lumaris cautioned her. She looked around to see if anyone was listening. She saw two of Malesh’s guards from the city, but they were too busy downing beer. She lowered her voice though. “Tristan is safe, I am taking you to the place where he is. He will be safe there, as I was.”

Penny looked at her. “You were safe in Janal?”

“Janal?” Lumaris snickered. “No, I’m a farmer. Ain’t no safer place than a farm. I’m sure your sister Fiona in is Janal with my cousin Saphira. You can see her as soon as you feel ready to be in a town again. My father will not mind having to sleep in the loft for you, and my stepmother Karina will take good care of you. She’ll even need another woman around when her baby is born.”

“A baby?” Penny stopped shaking all at once. “I will be so glad to help her raise it.”

“I’m not so sure, seeing as to how I have a six year old half-brother. He is full of energy and he knows nothing of resting during the day. He’s such a handful.” Lumaris looked at the deck. “I bet he’s really mad at me.”

Penny shook her head. “I will tell them what you did for my family. Tristan said that you want to rid Kraal of You-know-who and will return to your home in three years. We will pray for you the whole time.” Her small smile lit up her face. Lumaris smiled back and thanked her.

Far away on Mt. Hondouju, a man in stately attire quickly approached the throne obscured by thick black curtains. “My Lord, urgent news from Caviler.”

The figure on the throne lifted its head and gave a hiss. To the man and the guards in the room, this meant for him to go on.

“Two moon children have been found. One has been sent to Janal.” The man said.

“And the other?” The figure said in a hissing voice, like that of a snake.

The man hesitated a moment. “The other one is a girl. She-she is originally from Janal, but she and her companions plan to move elsewhere.”

“What??” The figure shot up, the simple movement sent the curtains flying and an icy cold wind freezing those outside the curtains. “Find this girl and see to it that she returns to Janal! I want her and any other moon child sent there!”

“Yes, but Milord, she travels with an Elf and one of our own!” The man yelled over the wind. “If the legend is true—” he stopped yelling as the wind had died.

“Send every guard in the south to the Dragon Mountains. No girl will through Magnus.” The figure’s eyes glowed menacingly. “This girl may be the one we must kill. This girl must be brought to Janal at once. Kill the Elf and I will see to the traitor myself!” He sat on his throne as thunder boomed in the

distance.

The man composed himself and bowed low to his master. “At once sir.” He rushed out of the room. “Landro!”

A very thin pale man ran to his side. “Yes Lord Kain?”

“Send a hawk to every encampment in the south, the Lord wants Magnus locked up tight. No young girl is to enter the gates. It may be the moon child who threatens his rule.” Kain sent the man off with a hiss and pointing in the direction of the hawk cages. Landro was off like the devil was on his heels.

Kain went to the window and looked out at the prison camps at the foot of the mountain. The people looked like ants’ legs moving on their own. Kain was growing old in his years, unlike the mercenaries he was not immortal. “If this girl is truly from Janal…” He shook his head. “No, no. She died sixteen years ago. It couldn’t be.”

Two weeks ed, Malesh’s southern forces closed in on Magnus, the city that guarded the only safe age into the Dragon Mountains. Lumaris, Halos, and Ardros traveled the rough terrain of the south towards Magnus. Word of their group reached the inns all over Kraal’s countryside. At times the three had to make camp outside, the moon Lumaris’ greatest protection, with occasional sightings of a white owl… .

Halos walked up to the crest of a steep hill and dropped to the ground. Ardros followed and crawled up to him. Confused Lumaris stayed back. “What do you make of it?” Halos asked the mercenary.

The young man sighed. “Malesh knows. From what I see, at least half of his southern forces are guarding all roads into Magnus. We will have to be careful and in the night.”

Lumaris peeked around the hill. During the weeks in training with the two men, she had learned to observe every angle of the situation before coming to a conclusion. What she saw was a tight line of two tents thick every ten feet or so with the guards on constant watch. The men looked as though they had been traveling a long time and were practically falling asleep on their feet. “Halos.”

“We cannot sneak past them. I sense others sleeping inside those tents.” Halos said. He turned to Lumaris. “We will have to find another way into Magnus. There are more roads into the mountains.”

“Why don’t we try something tonight?” Lumaris said.

Halos descended the hill and shook his head at her. “You are not ready to perform spells. You can barely skip a pebble across water without getting a headache.”

“Didn’t you also say that when more than one casts the same spell it makes the magic more powerful and therefore takes less strain on the castors?” Lumaris countered.

Ardros slid down the hill getting mud on his uniform. “Sorry kiddo. I agree with him. Look, as a teenager you think you know everything, but you don’t; even if you are the savior of Kraal.”

“You cannot use magic so recklessly either.” Halos added. “You’ll end up with no power left when surrounded by enemies.”

Lumaris sighed. In the beginning they treated her as an equal and taught her the basics of magic and the sword. As time went on they began to treat her more and more as a child. Any idea she had was immediately disregarded. What made them treat her so differently, she wish she knew. “So then, what do you two plan to do? We can’t afford to spend another night outside with winter on the way.”

“She’s right. It’s likely the gods will become impatient early this year. She can’t be caught out in a storm.” Ardros told Halos.

“We may not have a choice. With the moon waning, the Moon God will not be able to protect her as well as the night before. We must be even more cautious.” He reached out and grabbed the collar of Lumaris’ cloak before she could sneak off. “One minute into the argument is not the time to slip away.”

Lumaris snapped her fingers and made a wry face. “So I guess we wait until sundown.”

Ardros taught Lumaris how to read the actions of a soldier for the day. It was to be valuable for when she would go to fight Malesh in his fortress. The soldiers, even the extras that slept in the tents, were exhausted beyond the normal limit. Ardros guessed that they had very little time to sleep in the past two weeks, as they had to arrive before she did.

Once the sun was down and the half moon lit the land covered in white and brown patches, Lumaris went to Halos for her daily magic lesson. “Luna, do you the rules of using magic?”

Lumaris nodded. “The first rule of magic is to never use more than what is needed. The second rule of magic is to always have a reason for casting a spell.”

“And the third?” Halos nodded to her. Ardros settled next to him by the small fire they had made.

Lumaris always had trouble believing in the third rule. “The third rule of magic is never let a human, unless it is a farmer, know about its existence. Let the humans believe it is all a myth.”

“Yes. It is important to these rules. We Elves follow them and are believed as delusions of the farmers. Those in the towns will only believe what other humans have done because of the times today.” Halos said. “Now then, we

will continue with levitation.” He took out one of the many pebbles he collected for Lumaris’ lesson. “Merely speak the word of command and concentrate.”

Lumaris took a breath and searched her memory for the Elvin word for levitation. “Sklorae.” The word hardly slipped from her mouth easily, as always. The pebble was shaky as it rose a few inches from Halos’ hand. Already she felt sweat form on her temples.

Ah, as usual that girl struggles. Ardros thought to himself. I wish Halos didn’t have such good ears so I could tell her what I think is really wrong.

Halos was patient as his pupil raised the pebble higher and moved it to the left before she groaned and grabbed her head causing the rock to fall into the dead grass. “Certainly better.” He said. Then he saw Lumaris’ face. “Oh my.” He took out a cloth and wiped at the blood coming out of her nose.

“That’s what happens when you don’t use your own language.” Ardros muttered.

“Did you say something?” Lumaris asked once Halos was sure she had stopped bleeding.

“No, nothing.” The mercenary made a snowball. “Elf, why not let her improvise? She can hardly understand your language as it is.”

“Well, she can’t use the demons’ language and no other creature can speak the Dragons’ tongue.”

“Catch.” Before anyone could respond to that, Ardros threw the snowball at Lumaris. She panicked and held up her hand, the snowball hit a flash of blue before falling to the ground as powdery snow.

“That is normal. If you react in time, your magic will react according to your instincts and protect you. Since your color is blue, this suggests that you will specialize in water magic.” Halos explained.

“And since snow and ice are basically water, that means training will come easier this time of year.” Lumaris smiled for a moment. “But Malesh… .”

“He can perform spells of all four elements.” Ardros said lazily. “He was a master of all of them when he took over, and he’s gotten even stronger. Most likely he’s learned to use two or more at a time.”

“That is very advanced magic that takes hundreds of years to even prepare for. Luna, you must learn how to use your magic effectively by the end of your training with the Dragons. If you cannot—”

“I won’t be able to defeat Malesh and save Kraal from his dark hand.” Lumaris sighed. “I know, I have nightmares of what he may look like and how he will kill me.”

“Use that as a motivator. Turn those nightmares of defeat into dreams of victory. Once you dream of victory, Kraal will dream of peace.” Halos said proudly. “Even the bravest of heroes get scared of battle. Even the gods had doubts of a

savior being born when Malesh became a threat to them.”

“What?” Lumaris turned to the ancient Elf.

Ardros laughed loudly. “Good going Halos! Now she feels loved!” He laughed again until Lumaris slapped her hand over his mouth. Once he was quiet she turned back to Halos.

“The gods doubted I would be born?” She asked sadly.

Halos put his arm around the girl’s shoulders. “Well, after waiting 3000 years the promise of the greatest Magicker ever born starts to become nothing but a story. Now, you told me that the sword turned to stone when you died?” Lumaris nodded. “Well then, they knew the sword would alert them to your birth. So when it reacted and turned to stone they had to act.”

“Yes and the Moon God traveled all across Kraal for two years to find which of the three children born that night died. He told me the sword lived again as I did.”

Ardros stood up suddenly. “Whoa, whoa, whoa! Hold it! You mean to say that you were once dead?” Both Magickers sitting before him nodded. Ardros forced a laugh. “Great, I am traveling across the land with the world’s most ornery Elf and a walking dead girl!”

“Ardros, keep your voice down!” Halos warned.

“The Human Magicker is a dead girl!” Ardros’ voice echoed and hung in the night air. Lumaris held her breath straining her ears for any sounds from the barricade. She couldn’t hear a thing but she didn’t like the silence either.

“You blasted fool! The guards are on their way here!” Halos threw snow on the fire and scattered the evidence of their camp. “Run! Hurry!” He grabbed Lumaris by the wrist and dragged her away from the site. Ardros followed a minute later as snow began to fall.

Lumaris slipped on the snow a few minutes later and her small hand slid from Halos’ grip. The snow was coming down in thick sheets now, but it didn’t muffle the sounds of the guards close behind. “Lumaris!” Halos hissed.

Her ankle had twisted and swollen, she knew she couldn’t run. With a look back, she saw that Malesh’s guards had spotted them. “There!” The captain yelled.

Lumaris pulled herself up by the branches of a sapling next to her. “No, stop. Don’t come any closer.” She begged quietly.

Halos picked her up. “Now isn’t the time to get scared. We have to keep moving.” His Elvin grace allowed him to gain ground over the guards in no time. He lost Ardros as well. “He will find us. Ardros is not helpless.” Halos told her when she asked. They sheltered among the strong roots of an ancient tree with branches thick enough to lessen the snow to almost nothing. Halos sheltered Lumaris within his cloak under his blanket to keep her warm through the night.

6—Night of Magic

It was very cold. It was very dark. She felt as though she were falling. Falling into nothing but more darkness. There was no moon to protect her, there was no shield to block any oncoming attacks.

Ardros knocked her to the ground again. Lumaris got up and, frustrated, she attacked him wildly. Ardros blocked every attempt. “Focus! Do not let him get to you.” Halos’ voice came to her ears.

“I am not letting him get to me!” Lumaris snapped just before she lost her makeshift sword. Ardros pointed his at her throat.

“Kill.” His voice echoed.

Lumaris gasped and snapped her eyes open. “Easy Lumaris.” Halos told her. She heard the wind howling around them, a blizzard was just beginning. She felt the sweat on her skin where the cold didn’t touch. Halos was doing what he could to keep her warm.

“Halos no. We have to find shelter.” She croaked.

“I can’t see a damn thing in all this snow.” Halos panted. “And as long as you live, Kraal has a future.”

Lumaris struggled and kicked her legs until Halos was forced to drop her to her feet. She bit her lip at the sudden pain in her ankle but otherwise ignored it. She pulled her own thick cloak around her body to block out the cold. The snow was coming down thicker than before. It must be night. A whole ‘nother day has gone by. He must be exhausted. “Halos, do you know where we are?”

“No. I’ve been wandering for hours trying to keep you away from the guards. I’ve gotten past the blockade and we’re somewhere in the cat demons’ territory.” Halos sounded far away.

“Cat demons?” Lumaris then ed the race of demons. Her father had told her and her brothers that some of them settled into territories. No demon walked in the light as most Elves and humans did. “Are you sure we’ll be safe?”

“If we don’t meet any of them.” Halos had to yell so loud just to be heard over the wind. “Watch your step, these hills change in the winter.”

She had heard him, just barely. “Halos!” She reached out and found only air. “Halos where are you? Grab my hand!”

“Lumaris!” Halos sounded slightly louder. Then she understood. He had kept on going and thought she had followed. Lumaris walked carefully to where she last heard him.

“Halos! Where are you? I can’t see anything!”

“Just stay still and keep talking! I’ll come to you!”

Lumaris stopped, but she heard a crackling beneath her. She looked down and found that she was on cracking ice. She stepped back but the ice buckled beneath her. With a yelp she jumped forward. “Halos! Help!”

“Hold on! I’m just about there!” But the last thing Halos heard was a rumbling crash and Lumaris’ screams fading. He ran forward and nearly slipped into the hole in the ice. “Lumaris!” He called down into the covered ravine. “Lumaris!!”

“Be careful, she took quite a fall.” A female voice whispered. Lumaris moaned and tried to open her eyes, but her mind was blurry and she fell into unconsciousness. “Be careful not to bite her skin. Humans are fragile creatures.” The black haired girl was limp as a rag doll as the shadows dragged her into the darkness of a cave, leaving shallow ruts behind in the mud.

Ender cried out with joy as he held the newborn girl. “A daughter! I have a daughter! Selena, it’s so wonderful!” He turned to the beautiful black haired woman lying in the bed. Her eyes were closed and she was still.

“Mommy?” Ender’s younger son asked. He grabbed his mother’s hand and shook it. “Mommy?”

“Mother, wake up. We have a baby sister. Mother?” The older son shook her. He got no response.

Ender’s smile fell as he realized that his wife had died giving him his daughter. “Selena.” He looked at the baby. She had stopped moving and her eyes were closed as well. “No.” He shook the baby. “No, no, no! Not my daughter! God of Death, do not take them both!” His voice echoed as hot tears of anger pricked at the edges of his eyes.

Lumaris’ eyes fluttered open. Her vision was blurry, but she could sense someone next to her. “Halos?” Her voice croaked with thirst.

“I am here moon child.” He said softly. “Be still, you have a fever and you hit your head on the way down.”

“The way down?” It was a moment before she ed the ice breaking below her weight and the feel of weightlessness for just a split second before the darkness came up to meet her. She had tried to tuck herself into a ball and cover her head, but she could hardly control her muscles in the air.

“Ah, you are awake. Moon, you must be thirsty.” The same female voice she ed before blacking out. “Elf, sit her up and give her some water.”

“Oh, hello mother wildcat.” Halos said rather nervously. “More fever herbs? She has just woken up.”

Did he not understand the woman? Lumaris frowned and blinked a few times to clear her vision. “Halos, she said to give me some water.”

For a moment the Elf looked at the human girl. Then he got out his water cask and sat her up for a drink. Once she had her fill, Lumaris rubbed her eyes and blinked twice more to focus on their surroundings.

They were in a crystal stalagmite cave. Normally mined for the natural jewels that were formed by the mixing minerals and water, this one looked completely untouched. Lumaris’ bed was Halos’ fur pelt he bought back in Caviler for the oncoming winter. Sitting next to it was a big female wildcat, her golden eyes smiling.

“Halos…” Lumaris started.

Halos chuckled. “Do not be afraid. This is a normal wildcat of the hills. She and her litter have helped me to take care of you for the last two days. They’ve brought food and fever herbs for you and have kept you warm by laying next to you.”

Lumaris looked at him then at the wildcat. She yawned showing all of her ivory teeth, her whiskers white lines in the lights of the rainbow cavern. “You have had nightmares. Saying that your father shouldn’t mourn, that you are alive.”

“I must have been dreaming of the night I died.” Lumaris said. “What about Ardros? Did you find him?”

“My second cub had followed the man before the storm began. He’s made it safely to the town you two-legs call Magnus.” The wildcat said. “The Elf-man has never left your side for even a minute.”

“He hasn’t?” Lumaris looked at Halos. He looked right back at her strangely.

“Lumaris, are you alright?” He checked her temperature again. “No, your fever is indeed broken.”

She blinked her baby blue eyes. “Wait. Are you saying that you can’t—”

“Mother! Mother!” A young boy’s voice called. Everyone turned to a yearling cub at the entrance to a tunnel. “The panthers are coming! They know Moon is here!”

“They what?” Lumaris gasped. “Halos, I think the cat demons know!”

Halos stood and grabbed his sword. “I’ll help the cubs, you just stay put!” He followed the yearling into the tunnel and disappeared from sight. Lumaris made a face and screamed through her nose.

“Do not be upset with him. He worries over you like a father.” Lumaris turned back to the wildcat. “I was the same with my cubs before they were big enough to begin training to hunt.”

“Mother wildcat,” She licked her lips. “what happened during the two days I was out?”

“My one daughter has watched those shining two-legs who have been scouting the hills. They search for you and have enlisted the help of the panthers that can turn into two-legs.” The wildcat’s tail twitched. “They are the worst, they took two of my cubs!” She growled then returned to herself. “The Elf-man trusted us when he realized we were not of the ‘demons’ as he called them.”

“So, why can he not understand you as I can?”

The wildcat bit at an itch on her hip before answering. “I am a beast of the night, my one true master is Kaisei. I am teaching my cubs how to honor him and hunt only when his light may guide us. We honor him most by watching over his children. You, a moon child, have the gift of talking with us night beasts and all beasts during nights with Kaisei’s light. Unless the Elf-man casts a spell, only you can hear us.”

Lumaris slowly nodded in understanding. So if she were not the Human Magicker, she would have this ability because she was a moon child. “So all

those years I stayed home on my birthday, I really did hear all those animals and Trendon and Axel. It wasn’t because it was The Night of the Eternal Full Moon.”

“Yes, Kaisei created us night creatures to guard those who watch over the earth while they sleep. We were honored with his presence fifteen years ago when he searched for a dead moon child. The moon son in Magnus was sick, but he was still alive.”

Fifteen years ago? Lumaris blinked. “There’s a moon child in Magnus?”

“Yes, he hunts for his father’s business. He’s quite a natural archer. He’s such a good boy, only doing things to help his family.” The mother wildcat purred in her throat. “The poor boy. The last I heard of him from the owls was that he had been captured and trapped in the town’s prison. Whatever that is.” She added under her breath.

“How far away is Magnus?” Lumaris asked. “My friend and that moon boy may be in danger. Malesh wants all moon children killed.”

“In this season, it will take you half a day. With all those shining two-legs, you would not make it into the town. They have camped all around it.”

Lumaris stood and found Halos’ dagger. “Let’s stop those demons first, then you will take us to Magnus. Halos and I will find a way in.”

The mother wildcat stood up and stretched. “The Elf-man told you to stay here.

Will you disobey him?”

“Mother wildcat, I am a teenager. I’m suppose to be rebellious and not listen to my elders. Now lead on.” The mother wildcat ran like the wind out of the cave with Lumaris right on her tail.

Halos fired another arrow into the fray of demons. One fell but many others took its place. “Ugh! Foul beasts!” He growled as he shot another arrow. The cubs weren’t having much luck either. Already one was dead and the three remaining were slowly backing themselves into a corner.

“Barrae!” Halos saw a wall of blue light go up between him and the cubs and the cat demons. The demons turned to where the voice had come from. Halos turned as well.

There stood Lumaris looking like a true warrior. Her eyes alit with a bright blue fire and her hair framing her face so that she looked threatening. She held up the dagger he had left behind incase a demon got past him and cubs. “I am over here demons! I am the moon child you seek!”

The demons snarled and all charged for her at once. “Bra Furinc!” Halos cried and a wave of teal fire drowned the demons until they were no more than black bones and singed fur. However one refuse to die and pounced on the girl. “Lumaris!”

The demon let out a high whine and fell next to Lumaris. She pulled out the dagger with a grunt then stood. Her shirt was soaked with the demons green blood like the dagger.

Halos walked right up to her. “Lumaris child!” He tried to keep his anger contained. “I told you to stay in the cavern.”

“She did at first, but it is my fault.” The mother wildcat stepped forward. “I told her of your missing friend and the moon child of Magnus. Once she heard of their predicament, she insisted on going to Magnus.”

“Ardros has been arrested. He’s imprisoned in Magnus.” Lumaris told him.

Halos looked at her for a moment. The fire in her eyes was still there. The girl was indeed serious. She wanted to help Ardros. “Alright. We will go to Magnus and find a way in.”

The mother wildcat was quick to lead them to the town. As she warned, it was entirely surrounded by soldiers, some of them were demons disguised as humans. “I’m afraid I must leave you. I have no need to enter a two-leg’s den.”

Lumaris nodded to her. “Take care.” The wildcat nodded back and ran off back to her own den and cubs.

“They’ve taken no chances.” Halos noted. “The only ways you could get in is either by air or by getting yourself arrested. I don’t want to risk the latter.”

“I know, I know.” Lumaris said quietly to herself. Then she thought back to when she had cast that barrier spell. She had just spoken whatever came to her in order to shield Halos and the cubs from the demons. That word she spoke didn’t sound Elvin or anything like the demons’ language.

Halos had apparently been thinking the same thing. “That command word you used back in the caves, that was entirely your own. A new language.”

“I didn’t think when I protected you and the cubs. I just spoke in order for my magic to do as I wanted it to.” Lumaris answered. She got an idea then. “Halos, what about a sleep spell?”

“We’ll have to go through the rear gate. Less chance of getting spotted.” Halos led her to the foot of the mountains. Lumaris could almost feel the Dragons’ presence within. Great beasts with immeasurable power and unmatched wisdom. Immense reptiles that flew the sky every spring for their mating flights. She

ed that the image of the silver Dragon on the front of the Soaring Empress was based on the Dragon Empress herself.

But that was 100 years ago. There must have been a new empress by now.

Lumaris climbed up into a pine tree and hid among the needles and snow of the boughs. It was Halos’ idea in case guards came running. His dagger was ready at her belt.

“Until you have a sword of your own, this will have to do. I just hope you won’t have to use it again.” Halos had said as they spotted Magnus.

She saw the guards change. Halos shook the branch below hers, the signal to stay focus and concentrate on what she wanted. Lumaris took in a breath and watched the guards carefully. From her lesson with Ardros, the changing of the guards was the best time to strike. She would put the first guard to sleep, then Halos would follow after with the second.

She saw the guards going off duty enter the tents and checked for any other eyes that would watch. Halos had said not to use her magic recklessly, and just checking to see about what she couldn’t see didn’t sound reckless.

Okay, don’t think about a word. Just like in the caves. Just say it. She let out a breath and whispered her magic. “Slae.” Blue sparkles traveled through the night air and swirled around one guard’s head. He sniffed as though he could smell the magic, then his eyes drooped. The other guard noticed, but soon his eyes drooped due to teal sparkles swirling about his head. Both guards’ heads lowered to their chests and were quietly snoring.

Lumaris jumped down, taking a second to winced at the dull pain in her leg, and followed Halos to the gate. He whispered his word of command and the gate swung open on mute hinges. Lumaris rushed in and ducked in the heavy shadows of the gatekeeper’s booth. Halos locked the gate behind him and looked ahead for any guards.

“Halt! Who you be?” A harsh voice called loudly. Lumaris covered her mouth and froze in the shadows. Halos turned around. “A late traveler, and a big one at that.”

Halos stood still as three guards approached him. “I am sorry to raise such an alarm. I had business that ran late. I was on my way back to my tavern.”

“Ha! A likely story.” The second guard hissed.

The third drew out a short sword. That had to be a demon in disguise. “Why don’t we… . try your word against ours?” He stuck the sword at the Elf’s throat. “Check the area!”

The other two chuckled in their throats. They tossed crates aside and pounded on walls. Lumaris, with her heart pounding, pushed herself up against the wall. One of the guards’ sword landed in the street right in front of her trapping her cloak. “Hey, I think I got something here. Bring some light!”

Halos panicked and pushed the demon guard’s sword hand away to draw out his own sword. “So you brought in the girl!” The demon guard growled and his skin

wavered. When the second guard brought a lantern ed, the guard was revealed to have pale slimy skin and a serpentine face. Halos blocked his sword and pushed him off and into the first guard whose sword was stuck in the ground. They both stood up and growled in their throats.

“The girl! The girl is gone!” The second guard shrieked. With a quick turn of the head, Halos saw that the sword only had a cloak. There was no fourteen year old girl in sight.

The first guard hissed angrily. “Find the girl! Do not rest until she is in the wagon set for Hondouju!” He drew his sword out and attempted to stab the Elf. Halos blocked his sword and used his magic to shove the demon guard away.

Up on the rooftops of the town, a short shadow carefully walked along the slanted shingles. Thankful for the heavy cloud cover, the shadow could walk in the open without worrying about her shadow being seen on the streets far below. When the waning gibbous did shed its light on the world, she saw the prison.

It was a scary place to look at. A huge building of four stories and must have covered an acre. Chains rattled in the winter breeze sending shivers down her spine. A scream from somewhere within made the shadow jump and just about slip.

“Scan the roofs! That girl must be around here somewhere!”

She looked down at the streets. Guards were scampering around the stone streets like cornered rats looking for her. She had to move quickly if she was to remain out of sight. Plus she was freezing without her cloak. As two demon guards

jumped up onto the roof above her she allowed herself to slide down the icy roof and down to its gutter. Careful of her footing, Lumaris traversed under the windows and towards the prison.

Halos dropped the dead demon guard. He was exhausted as he hadn’t fought in a real battle for over 200 years. Now he had to find Lumaris. She had to be shivering greatly without her cloak. He gathered it up and hurried down the street, careful of the ice patches.

After two hours of searching he noticed snow falling. An icicle followed. Curious. Halos looked up and saw… . nothing. There was no movement and the breeze revealed none. After 3000 years on the road and stopping in the human towns, he was no fool.

“Eleslay.” He whispered. A soft ball of white light floated from the palm of his hand and up to the roof. A whimper from the figure told him all he needed to know. “There you are Luna. Let go, I will help you down.”

Lumaris relaxed when she saw that it was only Halos. “Are you sure? Its not grass and dirt below me.”

He snorted. “I promise, you will not get hurt.”

“Okay.” Lumaris said in a worried tone. “One…” She loosened her grip on the window sill she was clutching. “Two…” She let her feet lose their grip on the gutter. That was a mistake and she didn’t count on one thing. Losing the feeling in her fingers didn’t make for a good grip. She screamed as she slid off the solid roof and into the nothingness of the air.

“Sklorae.” Halos quickly said. His teal magic created an eddy in the air beneath

Lumaris’ small body and gently lowered her to the frozen stone below. “We better move before—”

“Hold it! You’re under arrest Magickers!” A guard shoved a spear at Halos’ neck. In under a minute the two were surrounded by guards with weapons, three of them carrying lanterns.

“Well, look at what we have here.” A guard with a lantern grabbed Lumaris by the chin and forced her head back. “A moon child! This girl must be the one Lord M is after.” The whole lot of them laughed as they slapped shackles on the girl and Elf and dragged them off to the prison.

At least we made it into the prison. Lumaris thought with dry humor.

7—Escape to Dragon Mountain

“Put the man somewhere in Block D. The girl… .” An evil grin. “Put the girl in the ‘Special Cell’.”

That’s what the warden had said when he looked at her. Lumaris was literally tossed into a cell lower down beneath the building. With her limbs in heavy shackles she didn’t take the landing right and got scraped on her deltoid. There were no windows down here and so no light. Not even a torch.

She stood up and waited for the dizziness to fade away. Okay, just . . . just take it easy. The door must be around here somewhere. She took slow, careful steps forward. After about ten paces she came up to a smooth stone wall. She slumped against it taking a little weight of the heavy irons off her arms.

“It doesn’t do any good. The door’s the other way.” A voice came from somewhere in the darkness.

Lumaris froze. “Who’s there?”

“A friend. I take it you’re a moon child also.” She then knew it was a boy’s voice. He sounded around her age. “How did they catch you?”

“I got careless, but I had planned to come here.” Lumaris said. “How do I know you really are a moon child?”

“Why else would you get put into the ‘Special Cell’ with me?” He asked. “Name’s Hanri. Yours?”

She was surprised for a moment. His name was the same as her little brother’s. She blinked her head clear and said, “Selena. I come from elsewhere.”

“You’re not from Magnus? Interesting.” Lumaris decided not to ask as she moved along the wall to try and find the door. “Watch the bed.”

Thump! “Ouch!” She hissed at the throbbing pain in her shin, but thankful it wasn’t the leg with the twisted ankle. “What is it made of—rock?!”

“Yes. Just a blanket and half-stuffed pillow.” Hanri said. “Would you like help?”

“No!” Lumaris said immediately. “I mean no, I can handle this myself.” She felt along the bed towards the wall on the other side. Another thump told her that she had found some other kind of stone furniture for Hanri. She bit back a shriek of pain as she had hit the same leg. Hanri’s snickering didn’t escape her ears though.

“You know after a couple of days in pitch dark, your eyes get used to it. Especially during the night. That’s how I know the age of time down here.”

She stopped and ed something the wildcat had told her. You, a moon child, have the gift of talking with us night beasts and all beasts during nights

with Kaisei’s light. “Tell me something, are all your abilities better at night when there is a moon?”

“Yes. In fact I hunt at night just as the wildcats do. My eyes are as good as theirs and I make sure not to shoot any of them.” Hanri was quiet for a moment. “The mother wildcat I like best lives in a ravine cave half a day away. Her cubs would be a year old now and ready to hunt on their own.”

So this boy was the moon child she had been told about. A good boy who hunted for his father’s business. “Would you like to see her again?” Lumaris asked.

“After this place, their caves would be a welcomed sight.” He sighed. “No, no, I can’t leave my family. The game I hunt is all that keeps my father’s business afloat. Without me he has no meat to prepare and no fur to sell to the seamstresses and fur traders.”

A butcher’s son then. There was always an opening for a hunter for the butcher back in Janal. Most of the boys were too young or had lost a limb to the wildcats they encountered. A few never returned at all… .

“I will accept your help, if you promise me one thing.”

She heard his shackles as he stood. “If you will get me out of here, name it. Anything.”

A smile crept onto her lips. “I know a safe town you can hide. There are none of

Malesh’s guards there ever. The butcher is always looking for a hunter to get meat for him. He will be delighted to have you.”

Hanri was quiet for a moment. “What will become of my father? I am all that he has left.”

“I will send him after you in a year. Once I free my friends, I must go into the mountains. I will not come back out for a year. Spend the winter with your friend wildcat, then head to Janal.”

The moon son was quiet for a few minutes. Lumaris wondered if she had suddenly said too much. “No, I will find a way to bring my father with me when I leave. I cannot leave him behind. How safe is this Janal?”

“I grew up there.” Was all she said.

Hanri took Lumaris’ shoulders and walked her to the door without bumping her into anything. “Work your lock-picking magic and I’ll show you where they keep the weapons. I saw them put my bow in there before they threw me in here.”

Lumaris found the lock. “Unla.”

After visiting the weapons room, the two moon children snuck upstairs. There were hardly any guards, but they were still cautious. They were careful to peek around corners before turning them. Lumaris was glad they were all human, she found that they were actually very easy to trick.

Cell Block D was full of drunkards and pickpockets. Lumaris stayed out of their reach but stealthily checked that her purse was still around her neck. She even checked the three swords she got from the weapons room were still in their scabbards strapped on her back. She couldn’t wear them around her waist due to her height.

“Psst! Moon child! Moon child over here!” They both looked to see a big stocky man with an eagle tattooed on his chest. He waved them over. “If you get me outta here, I’ll get you to a safe place to hide.”

Lumaris was shocked. Even this criminal would protect moon children. Then she ed what a knight said in Caviler. “How do we know you’ll keep your word?”

“Trust me he won’t. He’s just out to get under your skirt.” A cellmate of the man said.

“Yeah, he’s in here for raping three guards’ daughters.” Another cellmate retorted.

Hanri took Lumaris’ shoulder and led her away. “Don’t trust anything anyone

here says, unless you see your friends.”

“Thanks, I’ll keep that in mind.”

They walked down a couple more corridors and climbed up a flight of stairs. “Lumaris!” Someone hissed at them almost immediately. She turned to see Ardros pressed against the bars of his cell reaching out to her.

“Ardros! You’re alright!” Lumaris ran to grasp his strong hand. “Have you seen Halos?”

“He is in a cell just down the hall.” He saw Hanri behind her. “Who is this boy?”

Lumaris turned around. Hanri was a good eight inches taller than her with dark brown hair that could easily be mistaken for black and the stubble of his first beard growing. “I am Hanri, the moon child of Magnus.”

“Another moon child for Janal.” Ardros said as Lumaris went to the padlock. “How old are you Hanri?”

“I am sixteen sir.” He was suddenly annoyed. “I have only helped your friend since she was thrown into my cell an hour ago.”

Ardros slipped through the now opened door and slammed it shut before the other criminals inside could get out. “I see you’ve learned to get your magic

down.”

“Magic?” One of the men in the cell asked. Hanri looked at Lumaris.

Lumaris just gave Ardros a look that said he just opened his big mouth and pointed down the hall with a jerk. Knowing that she was mad, Ardros just led the way to where Halos was kept. The Elf had heard and agreed with Ardros about her magic, but agreed more with Lumaris about how much of an idiot he was. She handed the two men their swords and they all turned to leave.

“Where do ye think yer going moon children?” A big guard with a broadsword and a troop of guards built like him asked sarcastically.

“Outta here.” Hanri shrugged innocently. The guard laughed and his friends ed him.

Halos and Ardros drew their swords, the blades gleaming in the torchlight. Lumaris, somewhat clumsily, drew out the sword she had taken from the weapons room. The hilt was small as though the sword were made for a woman’s hand, with a blue crystal on the end. A bird with outstretched wings overshadowing a crescent was engraved near where the blade started, the symbol for the Moon God. The blade itself was thin and razor sharp.

“We can do this the easy way, or the hard way.” Ardros suggested. “Your choice gentleman.”

The guards chuckled again. “And let two moon children get away? Oh, I think we’ll have fun with this.” With that the first guard charged swinging his sword.

Ardros pushed past Lumaris and blocked him. Halos cried out in warning to the coming of the other guards. Lumaris blocked and staved off a guard’s spear with her new sword. Her teeth rattled and her arms strained with the man’s strength. He was even stronger than Ardros in their training during the two week trek to Magnus.

The guard kicked her in the stomach sending her rolling down the hall a ways. “Ha! A little girl shouldn’t even hold a weapon!” He charged with the spear pointed for her heart. Lumaris struggled to her feet and jumped to the side avoid the spear. It was driven into the wall, and Lumaris swung her sword.

Hanri blocked a sword coming down on his face when he heard a scream. They all looked to the see the halved body of the guard that had gone after Lumaris. Lumaris herself was standing facing them with a red-bladed sword and a wild look in her eyes. “Humans. All of you humans are… .” She clenched the weapon in her hand. “All of you are heartless!” She screamed as she charged forth and ran her sword through the stomach of a stunned guard. He screamed in pain, but Lumaris didn’t seem to care. She just pulled it out and sliced his head off.

“Lumaris! Lumaris wake up!” Ardros sounded far away.

As the flickering torch came into focus, Lumaris felt the aching pain in her right hand and the rawness of her throat. She swallowed only to find that her mouth was dry. She cleared her throat and weakly asked, “What happened? Where am I?” She smelled something awful in the air.

“It’s about time.” That was Hanri. She turned her head to look into his baby blue eyes. “Your friends were worried when you fainted after that last scream. You’re in the back room of my father’s shop. The prison is on high alert right now searching for us.”

Ardros helped her sit up. “Are you feeling well enough to walk?”

“Yes.” She nodded. “What happened in the prison? The last thing I is a spear heading right for me.”

The sound of Halos’ chuckle reached her ears. “I suspect that you panicked so much you went into a killing spree.”

“Ki-killing spree?” Lumaris felt pale.

“Yeah, after you killed that first guard you were so shocked at what you had done that you lost your mind. You finished off the rest of the troop spilling blood everywhere but on you. All that screaming alerted the other guards so we ran out

of there as soon as we caught you.” Hanri supplied. A woman screamed outside the front of the shop.

“We had better get to the mountains fast.” Halos turned to Hanri. “Boy do you know the way to the age?”

Hanri nodded firmly. “As a moon son I am entrusted with the Dragons’ secrets. In fact, I can lead you into the mountains by another means.”

Outside the shop, the town of Magnus was full of shouting guards waving spears and sobbing women saying that they didn’t see anyone. No sign of the girl or boy with dark hair and bright blue eyes. The demon guards killed those they thought were hiding something and the human guards scared the living daylights out of the people.

Hanri led the three to the front gate. As he had suspected, there were few guards. Lumaris was beginning to go into shock of what she had done in the prison, so she was in no condition to listen. “Hanri! Hanri! My boy you are safe!” A man with the beginning of a pot belly came up to the sixteen year old boy and gave him a bear hug.

“Father! You live!” Hanri checked the gate. “We have to get out of the city.”

“Oh it looks like there’s no security, but they’ve brought in two earth demons. They want to make extra sure you and this other moon child don’t escape.” Then he saw the trembling girl hanging between Halos and Ardros.

She looked back and her eyes reflected the wavering firelight. “I’ll be, a moon daughter. I haven’t seen one since I was a little boy.”

“Please sir, we must get her into the mountains.” Halos said. “It is very important to all our futures.”

Hanri put his hands on his hips. “Can’t she use her magic?”

“Not in this state. I’ve seen this before, I even when through this. It happens after your first kill. She will not be able to hear us.” Ardros said.

“I still can.” Came a small voice. All four men looked at Lumaris. “I’ve got a suggestion.”

Ardros approached the guards and shouted, “Attenhut!” All six men straightened and the two demons looked at him curiously. “What kind of guards are you? You’ve let a man escape! There at 10:00!”

The men looked and saw the shadowy figure of a man running off in the distance. “Stay here and watch the gate!” One of the six told the big earth demons before ing the others in the chase. The demons turned to Ardros.

“Hello boys, you know of the two boys that you can’t let escape?”

“Boys?” One of the big armored lizards blinked his vertical eyes. “One was girl.

Uh, yes?”

“Uh, no.” Ardros smirked. “There has been no moon daughter for 30 years. Now there is a girl in there that is going into shock from all the panic. She has information on the two boys and we need to give her some air.

The two demons looked at each other for a minute. Then they somehow shrugged their massive shoulders and moved aside. Ardros waved for the girl to come out. A man carried her out into the fresh winter air. Once she was set down on the ground she heaved in great gulps of air. Ardros knelt next to her and whispered. The demons pricked their elephant-like ears, their serpentine faces alit with curiosity.

Finally Ardros stood up and smirked smugly at the demons. “She tells me that you were right. One of the moon children is a girl.”

“See? See? I right.” The demon hissed happily.

“Indeed you were.” The demons turned to the new voice. “Now here is your reward.” Hanri’s father whistled and an arrow appeared in one of the demons’ eye. Another three arrows blinded them both sending them into a charge. One went out to the surrounding wild, while the other crashed through the gate and into the city. Hanri jumped from the gatekeeper’s tower as it crumbled to the ground. “Hanri! Take her and go!”

He obeyed his father by jerking Lumaris to her shaky feet and half-dragging her around the protective wall to the rear of the city. To the mountains that lay beyond. “Hanri! The demon—!”

“I will find your friends later and lead them into the Dragons’ caves! Right now you must—” Hanri was cut off as the blind demon bombarded through the wall like a cannonball through paper. He was kicked by its leg and hit a tree twenty feet away.

“Hanri!” Lumaris shrieked.

The demon stopped and turned to the direction he had heard the scream. “Moon girl! I hear!” He sniffed the air and snorted. “You die!” He stood on his back legs and came to the ground with a thunderous crash. The ground rumbled and shook sending Lumaris to her knees.

“Die Human Magicker!” The demon roared. “Σπλιτ!!”

Lumaris gasped as the earth began to split right beneath her. She moved onto one side before it got too wide. “Fraz!” She cried and the ground around her was covered in patches of ice.

The demon smelled the ice and laughed. “You Human Magicker? You no know magic!” He laughed again making Lumaris cover her ears. “No good spell! Ha ha!”

You cannot use magic so recklessly. You’ll end up with no power when surrounded by enemies. She gritted her teeth ing what Halos had told her before she even entered Magnus. She was exhausted from fighting off her shock to keep her head. How was she expected to fight a blind demon?

“Still live?” The demon sniffed greatly, almost taking Lumaris into his great nostrils. “Then you have this! Βυριαλ!!” He stamped each of his four great cloven hooves in turn, each sending up showers of green sparks. Lumaris backed away but found the earth was beginning to draw her into it.

“This kill you!” The demon laughed.

An arrow with a rope planted into the wall. “Selena, grab hold!” Taking less than a second to acknowledge that Hanri was alright, Lumaris grabbed the rope tightly and pulled herself out with a grunt. She quickly pulled herself along the rope away from the forming sinkhole and towards the tree where Hanri stood waiting.

“You no go away!” The demon snapped his teeth around in random directions to try and snap off the rope he thought was around. Too bad his blindness made him snap in the wrong area… .

“Let’s go!” Hanri took Lumaris’ wrist and ran with her south by southeast from the village.

Halos and Ardros saw the two children run and escaped the village through the gaping hole in the wall. Hanri’s father followed quickly wanting his son to be okay. “Sir Butcher, where is your son headed?” Halos called.

“The Hatching Grounds! He always goes there when the Dragons call him!” Hanri’s father said. “Just don’t lose sight of them or we will never make it into the mountains if His men have anything to say about it!”

The other two men agreed as all three picked up their feet to catch up with the moon children.

The wildcat heard the running footsteps. Her whiskers twitched as she recognized the scent of the approaching two-legs. “Moons!” She and her cubs descended the ridge where they were enjoying their nearly bones catch and fell into step with the moon girl from the night before and the moon boy from the town. “Why are you running?”

“Mother wildcat!” Lumaris greeted her.

“My friend, we must get this girl into the caves. My father and her two friends will follow.” Hanri told her.

“No need, we are already here.” Halos said as they caught up.

“Lead the way boy. The Dragons can’t wait for her any longer.” Ardros added.

Hanri and his father skidded to a stop. “We are not going any farther until you tell us what is going on.” The man demanded. Lumaris scratched at Hanri’s hand to get him to let her go.

Halos shook his head. “We cannot tell you, though your son is a moon child. All we can tell you is that you both can hide in Janal. It is the only safe place where Malesh’s dark hand does not reach.”

“Yeah, yeah. Selena told me all about the opening for hunter in Janal. All I need to know is where is this Janal.” Hanri got raised brows from the Elf and exmercenary. They both turned to the moon daughter between them.

“Selena?”

Lumaris smiled sheepishly. “I had to be careful.” She sighed at the hard looks the men gave her and turned to Hanri. “My real name is Lumaris, Selena was my mother’s name. After what happened in Caviler and then before I met Mother wildcat here,” she rested her hand on the great cat’s head. “I didn’t know if I could trust you.”

It was quiet for a moment. A few distant screams could be heard from the village as it was torn apart. “That was… . a fair and smart move.” Hanri’s father said. “You have been through danger and have learned from it. Whatever your business in the mountains that has to do with all our futures, do it quickly and be careful when you emerge.”

Lumaris sighed again and fell to her knees. “I feel so light headed.”

“The Hatching Grounds are not that far. Can you hold on just a few more minutes?” Hanri asked.

“My legs feel like water.”

Mother wildcat chuckled. “I will carry you Moon cub. It will be great to see the Hatching Grounds again, since my litter could walk.” She gave a cat grin to her yearling cubs behind her. Hanri helped his moon sister onto the wildcat’s back, and led them all into the mountains.

The wild lands that would be green in warm weather ended abruptly at the terrain of the mountains. The ground was slick with a thin sheet of ice everywhere there wasn’t snow. Lumaris felt so dizzy she might as well have been knocked upside the head. A warm hand was on her back between her shoulder blades. “It’s alright, you can stop fighting your shock. It does no good to keep it in.” Ardros told her.

“But I can’t—” Lumaris began.

“I know you two-legs are difficult to understand, but I have seen what happens to a human after their first kill. It has happened too many times to count, but they have all gone on to be better for it. I believe you two-legs say ‘don’t be a hero’?”

Lumaris could have laughed if her aching chest wasn’t in such pain. “No, I want to see a Dragon before I give in.”

Ardros made small circles on her back. “I guess you will. From the way you stayed calm in the prison—for the most part—you will see a Dragon before you break down.”

Hanri found a group of bushes and pulled the bare branches aside. “Through here is the Hatching Grounds. It’s very warm down there, but it’s bearable.” Lumaris on the mother cougar went through first, then Hanri’s father, one cub, Halos, a second cub, Ardros, the third cub, and finally Hanri.

Lumaris moaned quietly as she felt the temperature rise while the wildcat

descended the sloping tunnel. A couple of minutes later the tunnel evened out to a very, very large cavern with many burrows in the floor. The red light a lava bed far below came up in a few places to light their way.

“So this is the Hatching Grounds where the Dragons lay their eggs on the summer solstice.” Hanri’s father awed. Ardros grabbed his arm as he nearly fell down a shaft that led to the lava bed.

“Yes, it is here that we will take the Legendary Human Magicker into our home.” A great man’s voice said. Everyone looked to see a golden star shining in the distance. “Bring the moon child forth.”

The group hesitated for a few seconds before answering the summoning. They were careful to not only avert the shafts, but the burrows—or nests, as they guess they should be called. The bowls of the depressions were slick as the ice outside. As they drew closer to it, the golden star grew brighter. Soon they came upon huge ceremonial doors with the symbol of the Fire God.

The star flickered once then blinked out. The doors swung open smoothly. On the other side stood a man with emerald green hair and golden eyes with slits. “Greetings, humans, wildcats, Elf, and Human Magicker.” His voice was different from the one before.

Ardros, Halos, Hanri, and the wildcats bowed to the man. Hanri’s father was confused at first but soon followed suit. Lumaris swallowed the lump in her throat and sat up to nod to the man.

“So, which of the children is The One?” He asked politely.

“I am.” Everyone turned to the shaking girl who was now standing next to the mother wildcat. “I am the Human Magicker of Legend.”

The man took one step forward. “My dear girl, you are trembling greatly.”

Ardros stood. “She has been trying to keep herself from breaking down about her first kill not long ago.”

“She has already killed?” He held out his hand. “You have been through much tonight. Your friends are welcome to stay the night and recuperate. Come, the Emperor and Empress await to greet you in the Great Hall.”

Lumaris gladly let the man with green hair her through the quartz and metal halls. It was all so incredibly detailed that she felt as though she had entered a true home of the gods. She looked back to see the state of the others.

Ardros had a scratch on his face and a makeshift bandage on his arm. Hanri and his father were tired. The wildcats’ fur had been scratched and mussed up by the bushes at the entrance of the Hatching Grounds. Halos looked quite ruffled and she just now noticed that he no longer wore his head cloth. His ears were very pointed and looked sharp enough to poke an eye out.

She herself couldn’t have looked any better.

Another set of doors opened to reveal the Great Hall. It was a golden room with

tapestries hanging everywhere. Many great Dragons shined and sparkled in the unseen bright light from the high ceiling, but none more than the gold and silver Dragons at the back of the hall.

Their guide knelt to them. “My great lord, I present to you the Legendary Human Magicker and her friends.” Lumaris gazed up at the two Dragons. They were both bigger than she imagined, each bigger than a noble’s home. She could feel just the surface of their magic.

“Such a small child she is.” The gold Dragon’s voice boomed. It was the same voice they had heard in the Hatching Grounds. When he smiled he didn’t seem as scary as before. “Hmm, but you will grow.”

The silver Dragon, the Empress, looked just like the painting on the Soaring Empress back in Janal. She had been smiling the moment she saw Lumaris. “At last you arrive. We had sensed you coming when you escaped from Magnus. This feast is in your honor, little one. There, sit and eat.” She gently jerked her head to a table to the Emperor’s right.

The food looked so good, Lumaris suddenly realized she hadn’t eaten in the last three days. She and her friends bowed respectfully to the Dragons and thanked them formally. The feast went on for a few more hours before everyone was led to rooms for the night. Lumaris washed her face and dressed in the soft nylon and cotton nightgown laid out for her. She was asleep the moment her head hit the pillow.

Part Two

Finding Torr

8—A New Mission

Snow fell on the town of Magnus. It had been a full year since the mountain village had been almost destroyed. The people grew silent and grim with the tight security of Malesh’s guards. They patrolled the city all the time and never let anyone leave or enter the gate. Food was soon scarce, and crime had broken out anew.

In the shadows the people whispered of the disappearance of their moon child that fateful night twelve months ago. He was a good kind boy who hunted meat for his father’s butcher shop. Both he and his father were missing, presumed captured and the boy killed.

Rumors of a moon daughter also floated around the town. Saying that she was responsible for the panic that night. The very reason demons were called inside the town. Malesh heard of these when he came during the spring to watch the Dragons’ mating flights. Everyone could tell he was disappointed. Not one of his guards escaped his silent fury.

The town was fully rebuilt and back to normal now. The Harvest Market was over and done with, and the tighter security became part of the people’s daily lives. Three weeks after the last day, a stranger appeared in a tavern.

“Haven’t seen you before? You work for Him?” The tailor asked the cloaked and masked stranger. The stranger merely shook its head. “You sneak into town?” The tailor asked in a whisper.

Once again, the stranger shook its head.

The bartender came up to the stranger. “So what’ll it be?”

“Apple cider.” The voice was obviously changed so that it was impossible to tell if it was a male or female. Once the cider was down, Magnus’ former judge sat next to the stranger.

“Say, have you heard the new rumor about that girl from that night a year ago?” He saw that it caught the person’s attention. “They say she was a moon daughter, a rare thing these days. They say she started all that ruckus.”

The figure grunted softly in interest.

“I heard from the guards that she snuck into Magnus after the blockade was put up a few miles from here. She was shown into the mountains because it was essential to all our futures.” The judge took a drink of his beer before going on. “If the Dragons are letting her stay in their caves, then she will never come out. You-know-who was mighty upset when he found that she made it past his guards.”

“Funny, I hear they aren’t sheltering her anymore. That they’ve sent her out on a mission for a much safer place to hide.” The stranger said.

“Oh?” The bartender came back. “When did you hear that?”

“This morning.” The stranger gulped down the last of the cider, left a few silver coins, and got up to leave.

“Funny,” Guards came out of the shadows and blocked the stranger’s exit. “The sun came up only minutes ago. As by law, nobody wanders the streets without the sun in the sky.” The judge stood up from his stool. “Now who could have told you that?”

Damn! They have a law against that?! The stranger thought. “How should I know? I didn’t see a face.”

“I’ll tell you who told you that rumor—no one!” The entire tavern was silent at that outburst from their former judge. All eyes were on the scene at the front door. “Take off that hood.”

The stranger turned to him so that the details in the hidden face were now invisible. “I have nothing to prove to you.”

“Enough with the fake voice! Now show us your true face or I’ll have you run through!” The judge yelled.

The stranger smiled. “Do it. I do not take orders from those who have sold their souls for protection from Malesh.” The townspeople in the tavern exclaimed and backed away as far as they could from the stranger. No one ever uttered the name of the Magicker who held the land of Kraal in his dark hand.

The judge growled and threw his half drunken beer pint at the stranger. After a quiet uttered word the pint shattered and the drink fell to the wooden floor right before the stranger’s feet.

“A Magicker!” One of the people said in shock. “It-it’s a Magicker!”

“Hmph. A Dragon in disguise to spread false rumors, or an Elf defying the inevitable?” The judge walked closer. “Or maybe one of those smart-assed air demons?” He clenched a fist.

The unseen eyes smiled. “None.” The stranger said in a female voice.

The guards were taken aback. “A human?” They all asked.

“Prove it!” The judge demanded. The cloaked woman shook her head. “Kill her! Kill her now!” The guards thrust their weapons forward but only ruined the cloak she had worn.

“Behind you.” She whispered into the judge’s ear. He gasped and turned around to see a teenager with night black hair and the baby blue eyes of a moon child. She smirked and gave a short laugh.

“You! You’re the moon daughter that escaped!” He reached for his sword but a dagger was already there.

“Uh, uh, uh.” A new voice taunted him. “Now it wouldn’t be nice to spill this young lady’s blood.” It was a young man with light brown hair and the beginning of a beard and mustache. “The gods wouldn’t like it.”

The judge glared at him. “And just who are you to challenge me?!!”

The man smiled at him just before he punched him.

“You didn’t really need to do all that.” The girl said after the fight. She was sitting crossed-legged on an empty table long ago abandoned when she had said Malesh. “Now how will we get to our next destination? In a box?”

“I don’t plan on it Milady.” The man laughed as he rolled his shoulder. “Besides, I needed the exercise.”

The girl jumped down from the table and turned to the tavern patrons. “Don’t be scared of me or my friend here. We only fight Malesh’s forces.”

“How do we know you’ll keep your word?” A woman asked. The girl recognized her class at once.

“I, too, am a farmer. There is no more honest person in Kraal.” The girl said. “Spread the word to your families and your other businesses in other towns. Malesh’s true enemy is growing in strength and will defeat him in about two years’ time.” With that the girl bowed to everybody and turned to the bar to set a few gold coins on the counter for the trembling bartender.

“Damn, you picked up their annoying sense of pride too.” The man sounded annoyed. “And here I thought those Dragons were only to teach you to control your magic.”

“Dragons? Magic?” The people murmured to each other as the two left.

“What kept you two?”

“Sorry Halos, we ran into a little trouble at the tavern.”

The tall Elf looked down at the two humans he would travel with for the next month. Ardros was once a mercenary for Malesh, a spell cast upon him to make him immortal. After making sure that his moon child descendant was safely delivered to Janal, the one and only safe haven in Kraal, he ed the Elf and his student in their travels. He taught the student the basics of the sword.

The girl was the student in question. A human though she was, she was no ordinary human. She was much more different from the rest of her race than Ardros.

She could use magic.

The tale of the Human Magicker has been told since the beginning of time to the magic using races. A human who will defeat the evil Malesh and save her homeland of Kraal. What the legend didn’t mention was that she died the night she was born and was revived two years later by the moon god himself in a spring.

Lumaris of Janal had just finished her one year training with the Dragons in their caves and was ready to continue on with the legend: To find the hidden Elvin capital of Torr and develop the sword skills of an Elf.

The now 15 year old girl, who had grown a good solid three inches, chewed on something as the three left the unconscious guards behind at the gate. Ardros noticed and poked through her pack.

“Snae.” Lumaris said lazily. Ardros cursed as her magic snapped the air around his curious fingers. “That’s what you get for pick pocketing.”

“Dammit! Just what are you eating?” Ardros growled at her.

“I’m not eating anything.” Lumaris said. “I’m chewing Rainwater.”

“Rain water? You don’t chew water girl.”

Halos laughed. “No, Rainwater is a plant used for freshening one’s breath when they have no time to do so. Lumaris picked those bushes blocking the entrance to the Hatching Grounds clean at the start of summer.”

“Freshens one’s breath, eh? So why is it called Rainwater?”

Lumaris spat it out. “Because that’s what it tastes like. If you wanted some you should have just asked.” She pulled out a pouch from her pack and tossed it to the ex-mercenary. He gave her back a glare before putting a small amount in his mouth.

As he chewed he began to taste water. The more he chewed the more he knew the taste as rain water. He ed it from when he was a boy and would catch the rain on his tongue like snowflakes. A smile formed on his lips. “So Elf, which of those three towns in the northeast are we headed for?”

“That depends on Luna.” Halos said.

Lumaris smiled for a second at her nickname, after all she was named for the night she was born—The Night of the Eternal Full Moon. She was named by the moon god himself when he revived her. “What do we know of the rumors and myths about where Torr is?”

“There is the hidden valley by Wachovia, a hidden cavern behind a waterfall near Chazzera, and hidden away in the Great Wood by Lenexa. That is all I’ve had time to hear in the last three millennia.” Ardros said.

“What about you Halos? What can you tell us?” Lumaris asked.

“Yes, I know where Torr is. All Elves do, even dark Elves.” Halos smirked. “But you wouldn’t learn if I told you now, would you?”

Ardros made an understanding sound. Lumaris stopped the group and put her fists on her hips. “Hold it, what’s going on?”

Halos chuckled as Ardros explained. “I just ed that it’s part of your teacher’s lesson. You are to decide which town we go to, to find Torr.”

Lumaris blinked at them. “That would explain why we’re traveling for a month. We’re going around to listen for more information on Torr’s location.”

“Yes, and at the end of the month you must decide which town hides Torr.” Halos said. “It is essential that you do this on your own. You will need such experience in the Living Forest next year.”

The teenager sighed and dropped her arms. “So where’s our first stop?”

“I’m so glad you asked.” Halos pulled out the map of Kraal Ardros had gotten them in Caviler. They were just a few minutes out of Magnus in the south, the only town in the region. The ancient Elf pointed to the closest inn about 11 miles away. “We’ll stop at the Puma Claws Tavern. I always heard all kinds of rumors there on my travels.”

“And with the tricks the Dragons taught me, we shouldn’t be recognized.” Lumaris said with a mischievous smile.

The Puma Claws Tavern was busy two nights later. All kinds of bounty hunters were there exchanging information on the three most wanted criminals in Kraal. As you could guess, most were wrong about the men but everyone was right about the girl.

She’s a teenager.

She’s got black hair.

She’s a moon child.

She’s a farmer.

So it surprised them when a young Elf girl with black hair and green eyes entered the tavern. After a whole minute of looking at her, the whole place went back to its usual business. The Elf girl was ordered by the bartender to set the bag of potatoes she brought in the back.

“She’s finished her training with the Dragons.” A man said. “I hear now that she’s headed for Torr.”

“Go and serve the men, Elf.” The bartender shoved a tray into the girl’s hands. She went around taking orders and writing down information discreetly. She dropped a page from the pad of paper onto one table before she went to get the drinks. The patron at the table slid it up his sleeve. His dark sharp eyes looked

around for anyone watching.

The Elf girl delivered the drinks and went to serve an order of mutton legs. “That moon daughter is headed for Torr next.” She recognized the hunter as an ice demon.

“You hea’in’ tere yersef?” His drinking companion asked.

“Sure. Chazzera is the town hiding the city. If you’d live as long as I have, you’d know that town was built after Malesh took over.” The ice demon said. “Why do you think it’s so small?”

The Elf girl wrote it all down on her hidden pad.

The ice demon’s companion took another swig of his drink, let out a small burp, and slurred, “Welf, how comb all o’ hiz tark Elves aren’t hea’in’ tha wab?”

“Because Elves are not stupid, and neither is Malesh. They want to catch her at any of those three towns.”

The Elf girl quickly made herself scarce and went about serving others, and writing down more information. At the end of the night she ed two friends outside. “That was a gold mine of information. Especially from the demons.” She said to them.

“So then, let’s sort this information out and get some sleep.” The taller of her two friends said. They traveled a few miles north and set up a tent and fire. Once they had dinner served they set the pages of information out on the hard ground.

The girl took off the points on her ears and rubbed her eyes. She blinked them a few times before she opened her baby blue eyes. “Man, after a while that spell gets itchy.” Lumaris rubbed her eyes again.

“Ah that it does.” Halos said. “Now then,” He turned their attention to the pages. “let’s organize this by the towns. I’ll take Lenexa.” Lumaris took out the pad of paper and they all wrote down information about the towns.

In the end, the lists looked something like this.

Lenexa

• By the Great Wood to the east

• Great Wood only home to magical creatures

• The largest of the three towns

• Rumored to have underground caverns that lead into woods

• Has Elves living there

• A temple to the Elves’ goddess Moira

• Problems with secret resistance

Wachovia

• By the famous hidden valley to the North

• Entrance to valley is never ed by visitors

• Frequent Elf sightings. At least once a month.

• Few outbursts against Malesh

• Filled with nobles. Possibility for rebel hideouts.

• Covets famous Elvin artifacts

Chazzera

By the waterfall with the hidden cave to the northeast

Unknown what is in the cave. No one visits or no one talks (or re).

Smallest of the three towns

Said to be built after Malesh took over

May hide a few moon children

No resistance to Malesh

“Strange. There’s no mention of Elves with Chazzera.” Lumaris noticed.

Ardros nodded. “Yes. Yes indeed. Totally loyal, save for the rumor of hiding moon children.” He sniffed a bit. “We best be careful though, I’ve heard from a reliable source that Malesh has sent every available man and demon on our tails. All his dark Elves are already busy guarding the towns.”

“They should be lax after a month of waiting.” Lumaris smiled at Halos who nodded with a smirk.

9—Dragon’s Bone yard

They traveled for another four days and heard the same information over and over again. Lumaris was always studying the rumors they had and straining her brain over where Torr could possibly be hidden.

Wachovia had frequent Elf sightings and Elvin artifacts, but Elves lived in Lenexa along with their own temple.

Lenexa was the largest town, but Chazzera was rumored to be built after Malesh took over.

Chazzera had no resistance to Malesh whatsoever, yet Lenexa had a resistance and Wachovia had the possibilities for rebel hideouts.

Halos said that Torr was as big as at least three Janals. Lumaris hadn’t seen all of Janal, but she knew it was quite big. With it being left alone and/or forgotten in the last 3000 years, it did grow by a few more acres. Lumaris promised to see all of Janal when she returned to go the Living Forest next year. Whether Halos liked it or not.

So the hidden valley was out. No one knew how big it was, because nobody ever talked about what they saw. Rethinking that, Lumaris decided it was still a possibility.

“Chazzera sounds interesting. Nothing to do with Elves, may be hiding moon children, and probably built after Malesh.” She mused. “Elves are smarter than humans. How else can they hide a whole city?” Then she ed something Halos said about Elves. Dark Elves.

Yes, I know where Torr is. All Elves do, even dark Elves.

Wait, if even the dark Elves know where Torr is, than we should listen for their movements. Lumaris thought. Would they be so traitorous as to tell Malesh?

Her thoughts were interrupted when she heard Ardros yell. He had drawn his sword and was fending off a wolf. An alpha by the size of him. “Stay back! Stay.” He told it as it bared its fangs at him.

“Be still, Ardros. This one is not used to our kinds, no sudden moves.” Halos said in a hushed tone.

“Wait, wait, wait!” Lumaris jumped up and lowered Ardros’ sword. “Let’s be calm about this.”

“Yes, I’m aware.” Ardros said.

“I’ll talk to him.” Lumaris stepped towards the wolf.

“What?!?” The two men yelled. The wolf whined and his ears were flattened

back. Lumaris hushed them. “Don’t be stupid girl!” Ardros hissed.

Ignoring him, she knelt three feet from the pack beast. “Hello, I am a moon child. What brings you here?”

The wolf sat abruptly and spoke in a rich voice. “Are you the one who saved the moon son Hanri of Magnus?”

“I am.” Lumaris felt her throat dry up.

The wolf shook his ears. “I bear two messages. One from the boy, and another from the Dragons.” He paused a moment to let her take this in.

“What is going on Halos?” Ardros asked the Elf in a whisper.

Halos put a finger to his chin. “This reminds me of the time we spent with wildcats just outside of Magnus. She seemed to understand them like she does us…”

“The boy wishes to know if you had successfully finished your business in the Dragon Mountains and where you are headed next. Your father has been worried sick.” The wolf said.

“I have successfully finished my business with the Dragons and I am heading for Torr next. I can be expected back home in at least 14 months.” Lumaris stated.

“What of the Dragons’ message sir wolf?”

The gray wolf seemed to like the title of sir and gave a momentary doggy smile. “The Dragons’ have an elder who has been called to the Dragons’ Bone yard. He wishes to see you one last time before he Sleeps. He wants to repay you for the brave act you did for his last hatchling.”

“Repay for the last hatchling? Oh, that’s right, I . So it’s his time?” She asked sadly. The Dragon in question had been very kind and cried with joy as he held the hatchling for the first time.

The wolf nodded. “I will carry your return message to the moon son. As far as I know, the Dragons’ Bone yard is just south of this place called Chazzera.” He cocked his head at the name that was strange for him. “On my way, I saw many traps. Traps big enough to catch a horse. You have three days before the Dragon flies one last time.” The wolf turned and ran off into the woods.

Lumaris stood and turned to Ardros. “How far is the Dragons’ Bone yard?”

“It’s at least four days away. Why? Is something wrong?” Ardros wondered.

“We’ll have to get up well before dawn. I have to wait for a Dragon there. It will take him a whole day to fly for the last time. It would mean so much to him.”

Halos snapped one of the bedrolls the Dragons had woven for him and Ardros. “Then we might as well get to sleep now, and we cannot stop for our meals if we

are to reach it in only three days. Luna,” She turned back from setting up her own bedroll. “this means that you may be unable to listen for rumors or study what little information we have.”

She nodded. “I know, but I’ll have three weeks left then.” She flattened her bedroll. “After all, he feels that he owes me for what I did.” Halos looked at her back for a second. Then he couldn’t see her anymore because Ardros dowsed the fire.

One year ago . . . .

Lumaris woke up so refreshed, just last night she finally made it into the Dragon Mountains. She was so exhausted from fighting her shock from her first kill throughout the feast last night, she slept harder than a rock. The metal door to her room swung open as she stretched and in came a young woman with lavender hair and the pinkest eyes Lumaris had ever seen.

“Good morning Moon. I am Yuzu, I will take care of your room and sword while you are out training. You slept well?” The woman asked.

Lumaris bounced out of bed. “I did. Pardon me for asking, but what time is it?”

Yuzu giggled. “It’s dawn. Oh that’s right you are human. Well, we have timers around the caves for our young until they can sense the time change. You may use them as part of your training.” The woman closed the door and Lumaris saw that she was holding some clothes. Yuzu set them on a small table and then set up a screen.

“You have four trainers, one in each element. Each has asked me to give you the schedule each day for your training. They all wish for you to bath first thing each morning and right before you go to bed. I have already prepared your morning bath for you.”

Lumaris walked over to the screen to see the new clothes brought for her, but Yuzu held up a hand to stop her. “The schedule?” She pointed out a heavy

curtain the exact shade of the moon god’s blue cape. Lumaris smiled sheepishly and went behind the curtain.

There was a deep depression carved out of the very floor already filled with steaming water. On a stalagmite just taller that her hung a moon god blue robe with a sink made from iron and a mirror next to it.

“Everything was prepared for you when the moon god visited the Emperor and Empress to tell them you were on the move to begin the legend.” Yuzu said from the other side of the curtain.

Lumaris whistled her approval. She quickly took off the nightgown and folded it up neatly. The water was very warm and felt so good to her. She hadn’t had a proper bathing in weeks. Not since her birthday. “Yuzu, what will happen to the others? Hanri and his father. The wildcats.” She added to be specific.

“The wildcats have already returned to their cave, and the moon son and his father will be leaving for Janal tonight. They will arrive there at dawn tomorrow.” Yuzu said. “As for your travel companions, the Elf will stay as a guest. The man will be watched carefully. Malesh knew you were coming this way and set up a barricade.”

Lumaris realized that the Dragons suspected Ardros still worked for Malesh, despite what he said. “He taught me some sword skills and about how the army works.” She looked up at the smooth ceiling and made out the pattern of a soaring Dragon. “Is he really immortal as he said?”

“Yes. He is far older than a human should be. Magic will even prolong your

life.” Yuzu answered. Lumaris heard the sound of a sword being drawn. She ed the sword she picked out in the prison’s weapons room. “This is interesting. I’ve never seen a sword like this.”

Lumaris stepped out of the bath and put on her robe. She carried her nightgown out and looked at the blade still stained with blood. The screams of the men came back to her faintly. “It’s thin, but it can still cut deeply. The metal has been folded over and refolded several times to strengthen and reinforce it. The hilt is made of wood but it is too strong to be wood. The symbol,” She pointed to it. “Is the crest of the moon god.”

“I found it in the prison in Magnus last night.”

Yuzu swung the sword. The sound wasn’t a whoosh at all. It sounded more like the sound of drizzling rain. “This was not made by human hands. You will have to have an Elf examine it better in Torr. I’ve put your proper training clothes behind the screen. I will clean your sword and then do your hair in the trainee’s style.” She set the sword on the table in the center of the room and drew a folded white cloth from a drawer.

Lumaris shrugged and went behind the screen to dress. The training clothes were easy to get into and actually fit her perfectly. A look into the mirror showed her that she wore white breeches with red stitching, a cream shirt, and a baby blue vest with a gold L sewn on a breast pocket on the left side. Lumaris brushed her hair with a fine brush with stiffened fox hair. Seeing no boots for her training clothes, she wore her own.

“My, my you look more like a student instead of a trainee.” Yuzu commented upon the Human Magicker’s exit from behind the screen. Lumaris guessed a student was a higher level of training than a trainee. She sat on a stool as Yuzu

re-brushed her hair and then proceeded to style it.

Lumaris woke up as the horizon began to light up, as was the schedule she learn to get used to in the caves. Ardros was snoring like a bear and Halos was only beginning to stir. She had dreamed of her first morning in the Dragon Mountains before her training started.

She shuddered ed the trainee hairstyle she had to wear for the first two and a half months. Two braids met under her chin with the rest of her parted hair falling in a long tassel to her collarbone. Two ponytails met in back to a braid with a tiny tassel at the end. Ardros wouldn’t stop laughing even after she kicked him right into a wall, literally. Halos was more polite. She never heard him laugh.

She was so glad when she moved up from trainee to student.

Ardros was shocked awake. He snorted and shot up. “I’m awake. I’m awake.” He rubbed his eyes and looked up. “Oh, good morning Lumaris.”

“We have to move. It’s already dawn.” She said right before a yawn. Halos handed her a slice of apple. Ardros was quick to gather his items and they were on their way to the Dragons’ Bone yard.

The rumors of Lumaris spread faster than wildfire. Any farmers who recognized her immediately turned the party away. Any word of Torr’s location was welcomed, but it was all the same information. Then came the night before they would arrive at the Dragons’ Bone yard.

Human Magicker, I must speak with you. A man called out to her.

She turned over in her sleep and moaned.

Belay your journey to Torr. You are needed in Air Demons Den.

Lumaris jerked awake. She rubbed her eyes. She saw that it wasn’t even close to dawn, the moon was just lipping the horizon. According to Halos they were a few hours away from the Dragons’ Bone yard. They could camp there and wait for the Dragon to arrive the day after.

Carefully, she pulled out the map from Halos’ pack. Since Caviler his eyes were the only ones to see it. She stole to the nearby trees and whispered, “Lira.” A blue ball of light grew from the tree branch above her. She unrolled the map and saw her homeland unroll before her.

Her hometown of Janal was the only one on its side of the river in the west. Caviler was the only town along the Gods’ River. She found a line painted on the map from Caviler to the south. The line ended at Magnus.

“The path we’ve taken so far.” Lumaris murmured and saw a note written over the mountains. “Spent a year in caves. Luna learns water in 2 months, air in 3.5, fire in 6, and earth in 8 months. Last 4 to master better.”

Lumaris pursed her lips. True she learned water quickly because her magic was based in it, but as the opposite element earth was nothing to shake a stick at…

Lumaris hit the hard stone floor, she coughed as she picked herself up. Her ribs ached making it hard to breath, her head throbbed, and her legs were wobbly, yet still her teacher wouldn’t give her a break. “On your feet!” He roared.

She pushed herself up and glared at the forest green Dragon with ice green eyes. He had been strict and unforgiving for the last eight months of training. Unlike her other three trainers, he didn’t believe in going easy on her in the beginning.

He snorted hot breath that smelled of scorched earth at her. “Human Magicker indeed! You are nothing but a little brat! What was the moon god thinking?”

Her earth trainer had tried to get her to do better with insults and put downs, and sometimes succeeded. Only once had she ever seen him smile, when she mastered the simplest spell of growing a seed into a flower on the second day of trying. He had said that she showed promise. She worked hard to see that smile again.

This time… . this time he had gone too far in insulting the moon god.

Lumaris gathered her magic in her hand as the Dragon conjured a spell. The stalactites above quavered and came raining down on her faster than they would have if they had fallen on their own.

“Era Shita!” The floor broke up beneath her feet and formed an asteroid-like shield with many belts around her. The stalactites broke up around her and fell to the ground harmlessly.

The energy in her hand glowed even more brightly and so did her baby blue eyes. “I’ll teach you to insult him! Reflae era!” She shot out her hand and all the rocks floating in her shield shot at her trainer. He was taken aback by the quickness of her power and hit all over with the rocks. He was pushed back to the over side of the cavern leaving behind scratches on the floor.

Lumaris fell to her knees and wheezed. She was so dizzy right now she couldn’t tell if her trainer was in his Dragon form or his human form. The last thing she ed before blacking out, was him saying, “Well done, Earth Master.”

Another line led from Magnus to their current location about right below the Dragons’ Bone yard. ing what happened in Caviler, she knew better than to go on ahead on her own. Still, she looked around for Air Demons Den.

The closest thing she found was a blackened area marked “No Humans Allowed.” She quickly rolled up the map, disappointed. “Maybe I can talk Halos into unrolling it and ask what’s there.” She put the map back into the Elf’s pack and quickly got back into her finely woven mountain sheep bedroll.

Dawn came too soon. Still Lumaris hiked on with the men. “Just up this easy cliff.” Ardros snickered when he pointed to it. She felt like running up and kicking him in the behind. The cliff was nearly vertical.

“Now, now children.” Halos said. “We have until sunset when the Dragon arrives. If we make good timing, we should be at the lip of the crater around noon.”

“Noon?” Lumaris mouthed. Already she could feel the weight of little sleep for the last three days. Her pack on her back wouldn’t help either. At least in the Dragon Mountains there were paths and footholds on the rocky surface. What loomed before her was like the tangled thornwood weed that polluted the grain fields by harvest time.

That got her thinking of home. Not for the first time, did she rethink about her fourteenth birthday. I wonder if I have a new baby brother or sister? Is Tristan alright? Has my brother Hanri changed in the last year?

“Whatever you’re thinking Lady Moon,” Ardros said. “either forget about it, or use it to climb. I think about Tristan and his sisters back in Janal to push forward with this journey. I know you grew up in a good home, but after protecting them for six years…” He shook his head and walked towards the cliff where Halos was already beginning his ascent.

She thought a moment. In the Dragon Mountains she had thought about how she told Pulo that she would make her father proud. During her mastery of magic, word spread of her fast. He had to have heard something in the tavern.

That thought brought a smile to her face. Just knowing his daughter was alive was enough to relax him. Her cousin Saphira must be so upset, or in denial, depending on the money flow right now. That did it. Rubbing all this success in her snotty cousin’s face when she returned home had her scrambling up the cliff.

Halos found a ledge big enough to sit on mid-morning. The men took the time to eat a little, while the moon daughter, so used to the strict unbreakable schedule in the Dragon Mountains, sat and concentrated on her magic.

“Don’t concentrate too much. You’ll need your strength for climbing.” Halos warned.

“Oh yes, yes. I the three days loss of training.” Lumaris rolled her eyes. I may be 15 but I’m not so stupid as to do that again. She pulled moisture from the air to form a coin-sized orb. It glowed white blue to show that she had gathered enough for an image of a faraway place. Her water trainer was as the element. Kind, easy-going, and gentle but could change in an instant to hard, choppy, and merciless as her earth trainer.

“Do you have human fortune-tellers in your hometown?” The beautiful sapphire haired young woman asked.

“Not that I know of, but my father told me that one did visit years ago. She claimed to see far away places in a bowl of water.” Lumaris answered scratching at her collarbone where her hair brushed against it.

“It is possible, expect for humans of course. In fact that was the first use of water magic in history. Attacks came easy after that.” She chuckled in amusement at her student’s face. “Malesh doesn’t use it, otherwise his soldiers would know your face as well as your companions.”

“Wow, how lucky.” Lumaris sighed.

“There is a huge limitation though. You have to have been to the place your looking for. It doesn’t matter if the person you’re looking for is family or stranger, they just need to be at the place at the time you’re looking. Now, hold your hands over the basin here.”

It had taken her a good while to get from the basin to a small bowl of water, to a glass, then to drawing in moisture from the air. In the orb, she saw the image of her home surface into focus. The five acres of grain fields, the Living Forest half a mile from there, the old barn built extended from the storehouse in mourning of her death sixteen years ago, and the two story house where she spent most of her life.

Her eldest brother was tying Trendon to the cart. The colt was three now with quite the V in his pectorals. Her other full brother was talking with a girl Lumaris didn’t recognize and one of Tristan’s sisters. Then Karina came out of the house carrying her new baby.

She regretted that she could not hear a word with the small amount of water she was using. Her father and Hanri were nowhere to be found, probably in town for more news of her. They were doing fine. She released the spell before it began to feed on her strength.

“What did you see?”

Lumaris didn’t know or cared which one asked. “My family and Tristan’s sisters are doing fine. Karina’s new baby is healthy and strong. Tristan and my father weren’t at the farm though, must be in town.”

“Good to hear.” Ardros said in relief.

“One more year.” Halos told her. “You will see them again. After you see the

Dragon here, we can check on them in a stream or pond.”

Lumaris sighed. Her trainers had not minded that all she ever asked about was home. After all, they had heard a couple of rumors that other moon children ran there for safety. No one had stopped them from going to Janal. Even she began to wonder if her home was really safe for them.

“Let’s keep moving. We’ll sleep once we’ve reached the top.” Lumaris grabbed a rock outcrop and pulled her whole body up to the next.

The men looked at each other. “Did she get some muscle training along with magic training?” Ardros asked.

“It happens in females a lot. Somehow they get physical as well as magical muscles. While we males still have to workout to get bigger arms.” Halos sighed in disgust and pulled himself up.

“Mother Nature is cruel in that department.” Ardros pulled himself up too.

A few minutes before noon the three made it to the top and beheld the Dragons’ Bone yard. There were all kinds of bones in neat giant piles, seeming to be in groups or a pattern. Not wanting to know what made the piles, the three slide down the soft ashy dirt of the crater wall to the hard smooth floor.

Once she set foot on the floor, Lumaris’ hair stood on end. “In a place full of death, Magickers are aware of the spirits that have yet to on. There are few

here.” Halos explained for her.

Simply nodding, Lumaris cautiously walked forward circumventing the piles of Dragon bones. She had never seen Dragon bones before, in fact no human has. No human had a reason for coming to the bone yard. They were smooth as glass to the touch, or so they looked, and had a hint of color to each pile. Probably the color of the Dragons’ scales in life.

The spirits that haven’t ed on. Such a strange and creepy presence. Feels like they’re watching me right now. Lumaris thought to herself. In a minute the group came to a huge clearing. It was big enough for three full grown Dragons to land in or half of the eggs that were laid in the spring. There was something that pulled Lumaris forward into the clearing.

10—Into the Black Lands

The spring mating flights had been a wondrous sight. How graceful the Dragons had moved through the air. The females waited in areas of their own for a courting male. A male would approach a female and huffed to get her attention. She would wait for a second more aggressive huff if it wasn’t to her taste.

Once her attention was gained, he would stand on his hind legs and spread his mighty wings in display for her. With the showing of his vulnerable underbelly, the female would swish her tail from side to side on the ground, emitting the faint scent of her pheromones. Being in heat, is what Ardros called it.

The final test was in the flame. The male would fall to all fours with his wings half folded and sent forth a jet stream of his colored flame. Depending on the female, the flame would have to be long in length, very hot, or had to last a while. If she approved, she would fling her tail up, open her wings, and the both of them would take off the to the sky.

Lumaris had seen her fire trainer succeed with a first time mater. The male wasn’t expected to find a mate, but the reddening trainer had attracted the nervous guy with her area. Another female competing for him had badly tried to impress him, but failed when she took her eyes off of him because of a bird’s call overhead.

The eggs took all spring to form inside the birth chambers of the female Dragons. Not a one of them was allowed to take a human form, a long time standing fear of the eggs breaking in the shrinkage and the death of the mother as well. During the entire time Lumaris only trained with her air and earth

trainers. Water and fire were females who had mated successfully.

The end of summer was the time of hatching. Lumaris, Halos, and Ardros were all honored with watching the eggs of her trainers hatch. Water had six live hatchlings and fire had five. Out of 100 in their laying, those were good numbers. The rest of the eggs were either empty or the unborn could not break the shell. One Dragon had cried out, “No! No!!”

Lumaris ran to see what the problem was. A woman with dark gray hair sat sobbing on the ground. Her mate had flown his last season, his aqua green hair was graying, the sign that he would no longer breed. He had been the one to shout.

One look at the ground and Lumaris felt sick to her stomach. Seven dead newborn hatchlings lay sprawled on the ground. “A great number, and all died once they were out of their shells.” Someone near Lumaris had said.

This can’t be right. How could Dragon hatchlings die right after birth?? Lumaris thought as tears stung her eyes.

“I knew it, that curse he got from that dark Elf last winter. You know, before the Human Magicker arrived for her training.” An old woman whispered to her friend right behind Lumaris.

I have to do something. Lumaris clenched a fist. What good is magic if it can’t safe lives? Kaisei, please help him!

I cannot, but you can. His gentle voice answered her. Lumaris looked up to see a full moon in the blue sky above. Invoke my power and you shall perform a miracle for him. Trust your magic.

Lumaris exhaled and looked at the egg pile. “Just one live hatchling, just one.” The man pleaded as he knelt by his mate. Hearing him, Lumaris went to the egg pile and put her hands on it. The eggs were hard as rocks on the outside, but only the hatchling could break it from within with a horn that fell off soon after birth.

Kaisei, I invoke thee. Lend me the power I need to help the mourning Dragons. Lumaris closed her eyes. She had felt nothing, no power flowed through her body. Yet the outside world faded away to nothing.

Silence. Nothing but her and the eggs existed.

Then there was a faint tap.

Leaning closer to the eggs, she strained her ears to listen for the sound again.

Tap!

One more egg was trying to hatch! Taking a breath, Lumaris trusted her hands to dig through the pile and locate the egg.

Tap!

One of the eggs vibrated between her hands. Had she found the right one?

TAP!

She pulled. So much resistance. It was deep in the pile. She pulled again as the egg shook with another hard tap. Still keeping her eyes closed, Lumaris braced her arms and pulled. She grunted with the effort as her arms began to move. Her shoulders creaked and her chest burned, but she pulled again and again until— POP!!

Lumaris landed on her back with a thud. She opened her eyes to see a cracking egg in her hands. It was a small egg, but the hatchling inside was putting up a fight for life. Someone took the egg from her. She angled her neck to see the father take the egg to its mother.

“Another egg! An eighth birth? Incredible!” The watching audience murmured and exclaimed. Seven was a record, but eight was unheard of. Lumaris rolled on her stomach, only then to discover her arms and shirt were covered in the birth slime that had protected the eggs during the summer.

She looked up at a loud crack. The cavern feel silent. The hatchling broke through and squealed. It opened its eyes, beheld its parents, and squealed again. It shook its tiny pebble-sized head and the horn shed off its nose. The parents smiled and shed tears of happiness.

“A miracle.” She turned to her fire trainer with her long dark red hair, hazel eyes,

and one of her newborn hatchlings in her arms. “Once the shell horn is shed, the hatchling will live. If not shed the newborn cannot breath properly and suffocates quickly. That was the sign the other seven were dead when they closed their eyes.”

Ardros shook the girl hard. “Lumaris. Lumaris wake up! The Dragon is coming! Wake up girl!” Lumaris snorted and bolted upright. Already her night black hair was whipping about her face. She was wide awake. The Dragon was here.

They were sheltering behind a bone pile right next to the clearing. Unable to stay put, Lumaris ran out to greet the white Dragon. He settled with a hard thud as his wings would never carry him again. “Lady Moon?” He asked in a coarse voice. “Human Magicker?”

“O-over here.” Lumaris called to him. He turned his great head towards her.

He sighed, his breath cold like ice. “Ah, my child’s savior. You have changed since the hatching. Still, I must repay you for saving her. I have news that was confirmed the day you left us.”

“News? What news?” Lumaris asked politely. She knew the dying could not be rushed.

“An air demon had spoken of a rebellion in their town. They are tired of Malesh’s rule and are thinking of allying with you. Their king wishes to speak with you. He has an offer you cannot refuse.” He inhaled weakly. “They have a human hostage.”

Lumaris felt her heart stop. “And they will not let the hostage go until I speak with him?”

“Yes.” The Dragon wheezed and his eyes nearly rolled back. “He and the hostage are in Air Demons Den.” His eyes did go back and his whole body collapsed with a 5.6 earthquake worthy magnitude. Lumaris rubbed her rump once the ground stopped shaking.

“Air Demons Den is in the area humans cannot enter.” Halos approached Lumaris as she stood up. “It will take at least a week to get there, by normal traveling.”

“A week? Then we can commence with finding Torr. Maybe the demons have some new information.” Lumaris said. “We will travel leisurely this time. Right now, let’s set up camp and sleep.”

“I’m surprised you want to sleep.” Ardros retorted. “You faint and sleep half the day away, and you’re still tired.”

“Faint?”

“We found inscriptions in the edge of the clearing. They all read, ‘Do not enter unless you are called by Revile.’”. Halos said. “He is the God of Death. Seems he tried to call you back into his Sleep when you stepped over the line.”

“Oh, I don’t anything.” Lumaris shrugged. “I did dream about the hatching. Maybe I can go back and see how the hatchling is doing when Malesh is gone.”

Halos smiled. “Yes maybe.” They camped uneasily at the edge of the crater for the night. The next morning they unrolled the map and determined the path to take to the Black Lands, the area marked “No Humans Allowed.”

The week went by with close encounters and safe nights. The moon was waxing once again, so the moon god was on their side watching over his chosen daughter. It was the night before the moon was completely full when they reached the border.

Ardros whistled. “They sure aren’t kidding when they call this place the Black Lands.” What stood before them was dead earth the color of coal. Any tree still standing was just a skeleton of its former self, if there was one to . The ground was littered with burnt out logs and black bones of animals that could not escape some ancient fire. “What happened here Halos?”

“No one knows. It looks the work of a fire, but there was none reported so large in history. Perhaps Lumaris will find out from this demon king of air.” The ancient Elf answered.

Lumaris stepped across the threshold from green to black. The moment she set foot onto demon land, she heard the voice again. I sense you near, Human Magicker. Come to the hills where mist reigns. There you will find Air Demons Den.

“So where do we start looking for Air Demons Den?” Halos asked Ardros.

“How should I know? Like the map says, ‘No Humans Allowed.’ Even Malesh doesn’t break that rule.” Ardros rolled his eyes and ended up tripping over a log he didn’t see. Halos snickered behind his hand as Lumaris laughed outright.

“Teaches you to be rude.” She coughed on her laughter.

Ardros got up and dusted the black off himself. “Hmph! Being rude here is customary. They don’t believe in lies. Any lie is cause for intense pain.”

Lumaris was silenced. “So, we have to be careful and avoid the truth, but still be honest.” Halos supplied.

“Exactly.” Ardros wet his lips. “So, uh… . where do we start looking?”

Lumaris thought of saying something about the voice in her head, possibly the demon king, but then again, demons were cunning. He may have lied about the hostage and set up a trap in those misty hills. So why would she listen to the voice in her head?

Halos held up his hand. “Listen.” He said quietly.

It was quiet. At first.

Then low growling came to their ears. It came from all around them. “Ambush!” Ardros hissed under his breath. “Weapons at ready!” The three drew their swords

and waited with their backs together.

Lumaris sighed to relax her body. She hadn’t held her sword until four months ago when she was proclaimed the master of all four elements. Fighting magicusing enemies with a weapon was the next step to becoming the legendary hero… .

Yuzu styled her hair into a high braid, the same style as her water and air trainers. Just last night her earth trainer had proclaimed her master of the element. “Today, you’ll meet all four of your trainers before breakfast to be briefed on the rest of your training. After breakfast, you will report first back here and then before the Emperor and Empress in the Hatching Grounds for your adornment.”

“Adornment?” Lumaris asked.

“For the last 3000 years, they have kept a special token hidden from Malesh. It was a gift from Simetra after the Legend of the Human Magicker was known. The two of them have kept it locked away to where only the two of them know it still exists. I’m not sure if another soul alive today has seen it.” Yuzu said as she opened the door to the hall.

“I wonder what it is. Will you be there when they present it?” Lumaris asked.

“I will. They have called everyone to attend the event.” Yuzu’s pink eyes sparkled. “Oh, I must it, I never imagined the legend would come true in all my 300 years.” Lumaris didn’t say anything. For being 300 or so years old, she was a beautiful woman who had a successful mating flight and had recovered quickly from her egg laying. She had had five live hatchlings, three boys and two girls. For the next century she would raise them for preparation of their first mating flight, before she would mate again.

Lumaris reported to the throne room, the golden room where she saw her first Dragons, to meet her trainers. The four of them had been talking when she was announced to them. Upon entering the large grand room, Lumaris noticed that

only one torch was lit in a sea of shadows.

“Ah, Lumaris.” Her air trainer greeted her. His light gray hair seemed silver in the dim light. “Here, you stand before us as an equal at last.”

Lumaris’ water trainer stood and bowed to her. “We have discussed the next part of your training. It involves your sword.”

“My sword?” The moon child asked.

Her fire trainer nodded. “Now that you have mastered all four elements, you only need to practice. Practice to fight different elements with every available weapon you have.”

“So today you get your special sword back.” Her earth trainer said in his gruff voice. His hair was completely white, he hadn’t been able to fly this last spring, and her air trainer had yet to reach his first century.

As for her sword, after Yuzu had cleaned it that first day, it was taken away because she wouldn’t have time to train with it. Too true. She hardly saw Ardros and when she saw Halos, he was either watching her train or it was during one of the meals. They were the only ones she knew who could use a sword.

Her water trainer handed it back to her. “Don’t forget to wear it for your adornment after breakfast. One of us will find you afterwards to begin your final training.”

Her mind was brought back to the present with the smell of ashes. She blinked her eyes and saw big shadows heading towards her and her friends. They were probably fire demons.

“An Elf with two humans.” One hissed.

“A man and a girl.” Another whispered like a snake.

A third chuckled. “The girl has moon eyes.”

Lumaris gripped her sword. The blade held a dim sheen in the cloud filtered light. This time is no different than with the Dragons. They all meant to kill me, so will these demons.

The sun peeked through the fluffy veil worn by the sky to reveal the demons. They were tall as ten year old Dragons and built like work class horses. Momentarily she missed Axel and Trendon back in Janal. “Moon daughter! The Human Magicker!”

The other fire demons made monkey sounds and chanted, “We wanna kill her! We wanna kill her! We wanna kill her!”

“Slowly.” The first one held up his hand and conjured a fireball.

Lumaris only smirked. “Bring it on.” The demon hissed, only adding to the fireball, and threw his spell, burning the air as it went. All that Lumaris did was use her blade like a bat and sent the fireball high into the sky. Her smirk turned into a smile at the demon’s sneer.

“Human Magicker…” He growled. “You will die today!” The group leapt for the three.

The three travelers took a second to look at each other, then stepped forward three steps each. The fire demons all hit their heads on each other and fell straight to the ground where their prey once stood. They got up rather clumsily, crawling all over and pushing each other around, and snarled.

“Come on!” Lumaris teased them.

“Let’s get this over with.” Halos readied his sword.

For the next ten minutes, the area was a whirlwind of claws, flames, and blades. Halos was elegant in his cuts and smooth in his movements. Ardros was quick and fast. Lumaris was good at fighting off the magic, but eight months without even holding her sword made her slashes shallow and her response time almost too late. By the end of the fight she was exhausted and her sword hand was sore.

Halos looked at it. “Just an ache. You can overcome this problem in Torr. For now try not to move your wrist suddenly.” After she wrapped it up to remind her, they moved on their way towards where they thought Air Demons Den was.

11—At the Gate of the Den

Two days ed and not a sign of a town. Lumaris heard the voice in her dreams, always leading her back to the image of hills drowning in mist. She finally decided to tell the others about this. The air demon king wanted to talk to her and knew she was in the Black Lands. He had to be telling her where she could find him.

They found a small black pond four hours after they set out from camp. “Say, any chance you feel like a small break?” Ardros asked Halos.

“It has only been ten days.” The tall Elf said. “Not much could have happened.”

Lumaris smiled to herself. Since leaving the Dragon Mountains, Ardros had been even more worried about Tristan. He would be seven by now and probably fed up with working on a farm. She giggled thinking of her little brother Hanri being the same way. “Well, he did say once we were down from the Dragon’s Bone yard we could check.”

“Who knows how long the demon king will wait for you? He could be impatient and torturing the hostage by now.”

“Okay.” Lumaris sighed. “Halos, ever since I stepped into the Black Lands I’ve heard a voice saying to head for some misty hills. I’ve even seen them. There’s one with the ruins of a farmhouse on the top.”

“A voice?” Ardros put a firm hand on her shoulder. “Have you heard the voice before stepping here?”

“Once. The night before we arrived at the bone yard.” She itted.

The men exchanged looks. It was a while before either of them spoke again. “Lumaris, do you know which direction to go?” Ardros asked.

“I’m not sure. All he ever said was ‘go to the hills drowning in mist’. Maybe if Halos asked someone for directions—”

“Splendid idea, except for one thing.” Halos interrupted. “You two would be sniffed out long before they saw me.”

“That’s true. Even when they disguise themselves as humans, their senses are much more acute than any other race, except for the Dragons.” Ardros told her. “Still, we can’t go wandering around for long. They are expecting you in Torr.”

“Torr, you say?” A small voice at their feet cackled. The group looked down to see a rat with spikes along its spine and an arrowhead tail. “The grand city of the Elves. I have information on its whereabouts. For a fee of course.” The rat rubbed its strangely ted forepaws together.

“Depends on this fee.” Ardros knelt down to it and glared at it. “What’s in it for you?”

The demon cackled softly. “I have a job to do in the nearby den. I cannot tell you what on of my head will fall off if I speak.”

“Den? Is that what demons call their towns?” Lumaris asked the rat.

The rat glared at her for a moment. “Ignorant child.” Then it turned back to Ardros. “All you do is open the gate and I will do the rest once I get inside. Whatever your business there, do not tell me. If I know I will tell another. So, do we have a deal?”

“Which den do you have business in?” Lumaris asked politely.

“Air demons den. Now do we have a deal?” The rat’s eyes glowed red.

“What if we run into other demons?” Halos asked the rat. “We will have to stop and fight them.”

The rat shook its little fuzzy head. “Once you make a deal with a rat, you have to follow through. If those demons don’t like it, them zap ‘em with your magic Elf!” ing that demons held honesty above all, the deal was struck. The rat perched on Halos’ shoulder and pointed south by southwest.

They traveled for a few more hours. They saw more and more charred bones as they neared the den. The rat was rude to Lumaris’ questions at best, but she got her answers. Demons called their towns and villages dens because they did not

want to be like humans. Malesh had not entered the Black Lands at all in his 3000 years of rule. No cross-breeding was allowed and demons worshipped no gods.

An hour before the sun would touch the horizon, they cam upon the misty hills with a ruin farmhouse floating above it all. “There is Air Demons Den.” The rat said in a low, but presenting voice. “The gate is right between those two rocks.”

The group approached the rocks. They were taller than Halos with glowing white scriptures on them. Possibly the demons’ language, there was magic afoot here. Lumaris stood before Halos to face the rat. “Why do you need us to open the gate?”

“For my business. Demons keep their walls secure and strong. The only way a rat can get in is through the gate.” The rat hissed at her. “I will wait inside the gate and give you the information once it is closed.” With that the rat scampered down Halos’ arm, jumped to Lumaris’ belt, and down her leg to disappear in the mist.

“It may be bigger than a barn rat, but it’s not any different.”

“Perhaps when the demon is in that form.” Halos pointed out. “, they are shape shifters.”

The three walked into the mist carefully, Lumaris squeezed between the men. As they walked, the ground beneath them became smoother, harder, and their footsteps sounded like they were in the caverns of the Dragon Mountains. After what seemed like hours, Lumaris gave a sigh and her shoulders slumped.

She stopped. She reached out to either side. The men were gone. “Halos? Ardros?” She called. She reached out with her magic to find them. Her senses only picked up the thick mist.

This isn’t good. Where could they have gone?

“Lumaris…” A familiar voice called from the white unknown.

A grin broke across her face as she turned around. “Kaisei!” She rapidly walked up to him and knelt before the moon god. She stood at a gentle tap to her head. “What brings you to the Black Lands?”

Kaisei’s smile warmed her soul. “This mist is magic that protects the den. The gateway is a test for outsiders.”

“A test? How?” Lumaris asked the immortal that had revived her from death fifteen years ago.

“It is different for everyone. Your two friends are commencing with their tests now. I cannot tell you what their tests are, for I do not know either. As for you,” He stepped back from her. “I will test your fighting ability with your magic. To see if you had truly finished your training with the Dragons.” He tossed something aside and it clattered on the ground.

Reaching to her hip, Lumaris realized that Kaisei had taken her sword. Once

again she only had her magic as her weapon. “If you must, I will accept.” She stood in the ready position as taught by her trainers.

A sad look came across the god’s face, he lowered his chin slightly and closed his eyes. “As you wish.” His image was engulfed by the shifting mist. Lumaris tensed her body for a sudden impact. Fighting blind had been part of her final training.

Humans are correct that being blind is not a burden, but a gift. When you lose one of the fives senses, the other four are heightened almost to that of an Elf. Wise words from her fire trainer.

Her water trainer, though the opposite element, had advice along the same lines. Even when fighting in total darkness, that the loss of sight is a blessing in disguise. Use your other senses to command your magic.

Taking a breath Lumaris allowed her other senses to kick in. Just in time her hearing picked up the sound of an air blade coming from her left. “Era Shita!” She threw up an earth shield from the floor. The spell hit the shield, but a second later ice cold water hit Lumaris from behind, soaking her to the bone.

She shivered as her clothes started to be covered in thin ice. “That was a good block, but do not forget that you fight a god.” Kaisei’s voice came from everywhere at once.

Lumaris gritted her teeth from the ice clinging to her entire backside. She lowered the earth shield and got back into her ready position. She concentrated her energy to counterattack next time.

For a few minutes it was too quiet. She could easily hear the beating of her own heart. There! She dodged a ground attack and shouted, “Aria Son-Boom!” She sent a great blast of magic in the direction her instincts told her to. She heard the boom of the spell hitting a target but couldn’t tell if it was Kaisei or not.

Not waiting for him to respond she ran to find out. She ran until she thought she ed the place her spell hit. Quickly gathering her energy she knelt down with her hands as far from her huddled body as she could reach. “Era Silen Brea.” It was a new spell she decided to try out. Though what would happen by saying “Earth Silence Break”?

There was a footstep right behind her. She gasped and rolled out of the way of an ice stalactite running her through. Kaisei wasn’t there. She saw the size of the rock-like ice. It was as big as Trendon! If a god could do that…

. . . Malesh would probably be worse.

Lumaris’ thoughts were stopped by a blast of air, hot as Dragon’s fire, to her right side. She cursed herself for being so stupid and forgetting her opponent was nearby.

Never forget where your opponent is. They will gain the advantage and kill you on the spot. Surprisingly enough that came from her air trainer. He had been the youngest and kindest but even he was rough on her during training.

She moved her right arm up and used the heat still attached to her arm as a

catalyst. “Fira Lita.” A bright fire burned hovering in her palm. It lit up the mist allowing her to see about 10 meters all around. There was no shadow or sign of Kaisei. Still she kept her senses open. She choked and looked down at a vice grip on her ankle.

A hand shaped root had taken hold of her. It took her clean across the smooth ground with a jerk. After her head stopped spinning, she saw a hailstorm with fist sized stones coming down. She attempted to get up, but the root still had a hold of her. Using her fire magic once again she burned the root up and hurried out of the way of the storm.

Too little too late, she was hit on the shoulder and her leg as she just got out of the way. Limping with a numb leg, she felt Kaisei’s next spell coming right at her from ahead.

“Wa Torre!” A flood stopped the tree and quickly rotted it to nothing. Going against her training, and pain, she ran forward and fired the spell again. This time she heard a grunt and the thud of a body hitting the ground. She quickly caught up and found her sword instead of Kaisei on the ground. “Impossible!”

“Not quite.” Kaisei was right next to her. Lumaris jumped out of simply being startled, but that gave Kaisei the opening he needed and sent a fire blast into her face. Lumaris covered her face in time to avoid the worse of the burns and used her left hand, despite the pain in her shoulder, to cast out her own spell. “Solaris!”

Kaisei groaned as he was blinded. “Era Bine!” Lumaris quickly cast and Kaisei was bound up by roots under the rocky floor. “Aria Prisa!” She added a bubble of air around him to ensure he wouldn’t escape. By the time she was finished, Lumaris was wheezing from the toll of using so much magic in such a short

amount of time.

Kaisei snickered. Chuckled. Laughed. His laughing sounded amused. “To defeat a god is to be a master! Well done, Human Magicker.” Kaisei glowed his gentle blue and all of Lumaris’ spells were undone. She collapsed to her knees as he landed silently. “For your mastery of magic, listen: Torr can be found where you wouldn’t think it would be. The den is straight at 2:00.” With that Kaisei smiled at the recovering human and left.

For about 10 minutes, Lumaris sat to catch her breath. She even pulled out some fig leaves and chewed on them to regain her strength. Though she was to learn about magic in the mountains, she also learned fig leaves could restore her body’s resources afterwards. They were a strange treat to get used to during dinner.

Heading straight for 2:00, Lumaris soon heard voices. Careful of the mist, she held her hands out and walked slowly. The mist cleared and she saw lights. The lights were lanterns hanging above booths and doorways.

When she could see clearly again, she saw all kinds of creatures. Dogs, wolves, panthers, horses, and birds. Tons and tons of birds. Though standing behind the booths were human-like creatures. Perhaps that’s what demons really looked like. She pulled her hood up to cover her face.

“Psst!” Someone hissed. Lumaris looked around and saw a scrawny rat with unruly hair going in every which direction in a dark monk-like robe. “Here you nosy brat!” The rat whispered. Lumaris knew that voice alright. It was the rat from outside the den. She ed him in the shadows.

“Your friends are waiting in the alley here.” Right on cue the two men came up looking like they’d been in a rumble. “As promised I have information on Torr.” The rat looked around before saying, “I hear that Chazzera has been selling food made by Elves.” Quick as a wink, the rat scampered into the shadows leaving only a small dirt devil as a sign he was there at all.

Lumaris got out her list and added the new information. “Sells Elvin food.” Secretly she also added the information the moon god had given her, “Torr is not where I would think to find it?”

She folded the paper and put it back in her pocket. “What happened to you two?”

“I was deceived by the memory of my sister.” Halos itted.

Ardros didn’t even look at her. “I was attacked by my best friend from 3000 years ago.”

“It was all a test. It was a test because we are outsiders.” The two looked at the moon daughter. “I was told by the moon god, he was my test.”

“The moon god??” The Elf and ex-mercenary were wide-eyed. “No wonder you look a mess!” Ardros chuckled as he pulled out a piece of ice from her night black hair.

“Your leg is also bleeding. Come on, I’ll fix you up.” Halos gave her a moment to look down. She was shocked to see her tro leg was soaked dark red from

her knee to the hem. Up until now, she had not felt the pain. The burning, throbbing, dizzying pain.

Once patched up, the three walked through the streets. In a village three hooded figures traveling together would be suspicious. Here in a den it was normal. All the patrons, and some business dealers, covered their faces with hoods. Halos commented that the air reeked of demon food and their natural stink. Ardros’ and Lumaris’ scent as humans would most likely be lost. They concentrated on going towards the farmhouse ruins. It was a good vantage point and the king or his servants might see them from so high up.

Lumaris was homesick the moment they came upon where the front door used to be. All that remained were the south and west walls, an old rocking chair that still worked, a pile of rubble that was once the chimney, and a few burnt unusable tools.

There was a puddle by the chimney in the natural dirt floor. “Halos, I have extra leaves. Please let me check on Tristan and my family?”

Halos did not argue. Knowing so many farmers in his travels for the past three millennia, they hardly left the towns they worked for let alone their own homes. “Be careful though. Right after three leaves, you’re going right to bed. The moon is at its zenith.”

Lumaris stared at him. “The what is at its what?” She looked up. After a brief moment of dizziness, she saw the moon directly overhead. “But—but—but how —?” She stammered on.

“We were surprised as well. Time es quickly in the gate, it seems.” Ardros said. Lumaris stared at him. That kind of speech was something she expected from Halos. Still she turned to the puddle and held her hands out over it, palms down.

“Let us see. Show unto Ardros his beloved descendant.” Lumaris chanted the ancient spell. She slowly spread her hands. The water rippled and gently churned. Colors formed and shapes took hold.

What appeared before them was the house of Lumaris’ cousin Saphira. The image faded to show Tristan, a little taller than a year ago, standing before a girl as tall as Saphira in a light green gown. She was being fitted for a short dress jacket in a darker shade.

“Tristan, why do you stay at that dusty ol’ farm? Saphira’s house is so much nicer.” The girl said in a snotty tone.

“It’s the safest place for me. I owe it to Lumaris to stay there and help with the farm.” Tristan said. Lumaris smiled upon him.

The girl, obviously his third sister snorted smugly. “You know what Saphira says about her? She’s a dirty orphan who dresses like a man. She even had the nerve to steal a gown the night of the moon festival last year.”

“Orphan? She’s not an orphan. It was a lie for her father by an Elf for his sake. Lumaris is a good person. If it weren’t for her, I would be dead!” Tristan yelled at his sister.

She dismissed the fitter and turned to him, her dress making those shh sounds. “Tristan, she ran away from home. How is that a good person. On her birthday no less!”

Tristan took a breath to calm himself. “She is off training to save Kraal. She claims to be the one who will defeat Malesh. She will be back in a year.” He thought for a moment. “Speaking of which, when did Saphira say she and her father would be back?”

Tristan’s sister blinked at him quizzically. “In two months, when their business was done in Chazzera.” Feeling the spell drain her, Lumaris dispelled the image. She laid back onto someone’s chest. After her fig leaves, she wrapped into her cloak and went to sleep.

12—Alliance

Lumaris dreamed of her last day with the Dragons. It was a great celebration in the great hall. She had completed her training and the celebration was in her honor. For the first time in a year she was able to spend time with Ardros and Halos. She had received many a compliment on her gown, the same one from the tailor shop in Janal. She didn’t wear the sleeves so she could show off the moon shaped birthmark on her arm.

The adornment given to her for mastering the last of the elements gleamed on her sash. It had been an immense honor when given to her four months before. It went perfect with her gown. The speech the Emperor himself made was what she ed the most.

“Dragons and esteemed guests,” He meant Halos and Ardros, who was proven to be honest in no longer working for Malesh. “tonight is the last night of our part of the legend. For tomorrow at dawn, the Human Magicker herself leaves us.” The crowd groaned. The Emperor signaled for silence. “Yet she is meant to. Until the sun goes down, we are to party in her honor!”

The harsh sound of a screeching rooster woke her up. Lumaris looked out to see that dawn had just broke. She sat up and rubbed the sleep from her eyes. Then she turned to the window. Window?

The teenager found that she was in a comfortable room. It was simply furnished like her room in the Dragon Mountains. Her covers were moon blue as was the nightgown she wore. Servants of the air demon king must have found them and put them up for the night.

She got and walked to the table. There were her clothes all washed and folded, including her gown. On top of the pile was a note. It was from the servant.

Daughter of the Moon,

I have taken the liberty to bathe you and wash your clothes. Feel free to keep the nightgown, a gift from the king. He will see you in the banquet hall at lunch. Breakfast will be served to you so you may rest and recover from the test. It took more out of you than you think.

Trusting the demons to know their gate, she merely got dressed and looked through the books lining a wall. There were books on humans, books on Elves, books on Dragons, and books that told about the magical and important places in Kraal. Janal was one of them.

She took the book out but a knock to her door drew her panic. “Human Magicker, are you decent?”

“Y-yes.” How did they know she was awake?

Well the door slid open and in came an old woman in perfect condition. “I know I look nothing like your elders, but we don’t like how they look. This is as close as we get.” She set a tray with a covered plate and covered drink on the table. “The king is aware of your need of rest, the gate’s test took a lot out of your stamina. You were in worse condition than your companions. We spent two hours scrubbing you clean! Your gods know.” She sighed. “Still, we air demons

wish you no harm if the talks go well.”

“I hope they do so too. What does he want to talk to me about?” Lumaris asked politely.

“Well!” The woman put a hand to her heart. “A mannered human! Perhaps the talks will go well, whatever they may be.” She said the last part with uncertainty. “Until then all those books are at your disposal.”

She noticed the one Lumaris had picked out. “Oh is that where our book of Janal is. Quite a town it was in the ancient days.”

“Was it?” Lumaris grew suspicious.

“It’s not just known for being next to the Living Forest dear.” She looked at the clock on the wall. “I have other duties to attend to. Rest and someone will come get you for the lunch banquet. If the talks do go well, we have a few going away presents for you.” The woman made a quick bow and left. Lumaris blinked at the closed door. She had bowed the same way Lumaris did to her father and the people in Janal.

Speaking of which, she turned her attention back to the book in her hand. “Best not to eat while reading.” She set the book by her covered breakfast and lifted the lids.

Underneath were pink scrambled eggs, brown slices of bacon, and two links of

sausage. Her drink was a green spicy smelling liquid. She tenderly tried each item. She only hated the bacon stripes. The drink went down a little hard but it was good. After breakfast she sat back on her pillows and opened the book History of Janal: Village of the Gods’ Children.

As we all know, the history of Kraal began with the birth of the sky and the earth. To humans they are the god Ollopa and the goddess Simetra. They gave birth to the other gods the humans worship. Kaisei of the Moon. Moira of the Light and Pandora of the Darkness. Revile of Death. Yanoosh of Water. Tallos of Fire. Agite of the animals.

Each one of these gods rules over and was ruled by their innately assigned areas of the world. The Elves were born from Moira and Pandora. The Humans born of Simetra and Kaisei but did not bestow magic on them. The Dragons were born of Tallos. Demons were experiments of Revile.

The stories in this book are of a village that has a purpose. Not only of its connection to the Living Forest where the Golden Blade of Legend is protected, but for the strange and wonderful humans who were blessed by an element. Moon children, Earth children, Fire children, and River/Lake children. Each child is marked in two ways.

Moon children have bright blue eyes and a moon shaped birthmark. They can communicate with beasts of the night and all creatures during the night.

Earth children have black-green eyes and have a pure white circle. They can communicate with all creatures of the earth.

Fire children are born with red eyes and the mark of the Dragon. They can speak the Dragons’ true language and read fire and ashes.

River(son)/Lake(daughter) children are born with white eyes and have the mark of the snake. They can communicate with fish and are favored by water demons elementals.

Read this book with care, dear reader. For not all the stories are finished.

That last sentence through Lumaris off. How could they have an unfinished book in one of their libraries? Still she read on. The whole book listed the Gods’ children by name, type of child, lifespan, and their accomplishment.

A fire child named Tara had founded Janal. Said that Tallos led her there to settle the village for a purpose that was unknown even to the gods themselves.

A River child name Ennell was the village’s first judge and worked with Tara to keep violence and crime to a minimum.

An Earth child founded the port on the Gods’ River that sailed to Caviler across the way.

Even she was in the book! The only Moon child of Janal. The Human Magicker destined to save Kraal by defeating Malesh and uniting the land under the light.

A Lake child was born to a noble family and went on to establish the Harvest Market for the farmers’ and village’s sake. Under the last entry was a newborn. A newborn Lake child with the name of Selena.

Lumaris’ breath grew short. The room became smaller. She began to sink into the bed. A Lake child—a newborn child—with her mother’s name. A knock on the door jerked her back to reality. “Human Magicker? I’ve come to escort you to the lunch banquet.”

“I’ll-I’ll be right out.” She laid the book on the bed and answered the door to a young girl with bright orange hair and midnight blue eyes.

“Please gather your things and follow me.” The girl said in a perky voice. Lumaris walked along next to the demon girl—if she was a girl. She soon got a headache, though, from all the questions she asked. “how long do humans usually live? Who’s the oldest human in your village? How old are you?”

The moon daughter answered as politely as possible. “In my village the people live an average of 42 years. I never met the 96 year old man. I am 15.”

The girl wrote it quickly in a small book. “When do you marry? Why do you marry? Is it true you marry again? How are the children related?”

That dinning room better be soon. Lumaris gritted her teeth. “When we’re at least 17 For love, but the nobles arrange marriages. We do marry again after our spouse has died—”

“What’s a spouse?”

“A husband or a wife.” Lumaris resisted the urge to growl. “What was that last one?”

“How are the children related.”

“They are called half-brothers and half-sisters, because they share one parent.” Lumaris rubbed the temple the girl couldn’t see. She was worse than Hanri. “Why are you asking me all this?”

“I want to know all there is about humans.” The girl chirped. “So then. When do you human begin bearing children? How is a boy ready? How is a girl ready?”

“how old are you?” Lumaris found herself laughing. Hysteria maybe?

The girl frowned. “Ten times older than you.”

“Sorry. Well, we actually begin being able to have children at 13 or 14, but we wait for marriage. I don’t know how a boy is ready. A girl develops breasts and begins a monthly bleeding cycle. It’s supposed to be how our body prepares for a child to grow in our womb.” Lumaris didn’t notice the girl had stopped and bumped into a door. “Ah.” was all she said.

“Didn’t that hurt?”

Lumaris turned to her with her lips in a tight line. “Yes.” She said in a strained voice. The girl asked her to wait outside for a moment and went inside.

“My great lord, King Praxis. I present to you, the Human Magicker.” The girl with bright orange hair stepped aside as the doors were opened. Standing there was a fifteen year old girl with black hair and baby blue eyes dressed in tros, a shirt with dirt stains, and a shiny belt with a fist-sized moonstone on the clasp. She was average height for young humans and hid a slender figure under her roomy clothes.

“Ah yes. Come in, come in. Your friends are already here.” Praxis called.

Lumaris walked up to the table and saw a servant pull out a chair for her. She thanked the man and sat down. She looked at the demon king. He was a grey wolf with golden eyes and sharp claws on his human hands. He was a little on the chunky side but he looked as though he was still fast and strong.

As he said, Ardros and Halos were seated in two seats to her left. Seated to her right… .

“You? You’re the famous Human Magicker?”

“Saphira…” Lumaris muttered. “You’re the hostage.”

“So you two have met. Then you will have no problem taking her home.” Praxis

cleared his throat. “To be on even grounds, what is the Human Magicker’s name?”

“My name is Lumaris.” She would have bowed if she wasn’t sitting.

“I am King Praxis, the ruler of the air demons.” The king stated. “Now then, did you encounter a rat yesterday?”

“We did.” Ardros answered.

“A rat?” Saphira made a wry face.

Everyone ignored her as Praxis smiled. “He will be paid handsomely. His job was to lead you and your party here. I wish to talk of alliance.”

The three travelers nearly shot out of their seats. “Alliance?” Halos asked.

“Did the Dragon not say anything?” Praxis wondered.

Lumaris ed the dying words of the Dragon. “Oh that’s right. He did say you were tired of Malesh ruling over you.”

“Indeed we are.” Praxis paused as servants filled glasses with the green spicy

drink. Saphira found it disgusting and didn’t touch it. Ardros coughed on his not expecting the spicy taste. Halos timidly tried it. Lumaris was the only one to drink it like normal.

“It is called haag. It’s water saturated with edible spices. It helps demons restore magical stamina. First of all, you should know that Malesh is searching Kraal himself looking for you.” Lumaris choked on her haag. “All he knows of you is what the people know of you. Your friends would be safe, since all the rumors are wrong.” He nodded to Ardros and Halos.

“Do you know why he is looking for me?” Lumaris asked.

“We believe he is out to get a handful of your hair for a curse of the demon race. It is forbidden to use unless the victim has lied too greatly to go unpunished. It is a horrible punishment. The very one we use for any demon who lies.” Praxis’ voice was solemn and empty of emotion.

Lumaris was even more afraid of Malesh now. “How will I recognize Malesh?”

“You won’t. He knows how to disguise himself too well. So let’s talk alliance.” Praxis rubbed his hand-paws together. “How long ago did you leave the Dragon Mountains?”

Lumaris thought back but Halos beat her to it. “Sixteen days.”

“Sixteen? So you have been searching for Torr that long?” Praxis breathed in.

“We expected you to be there by now, to be honest.”

“Halos wanted me to decide which of the three towns hid Torr. We’re gathering information.” Lumaris explained.

“Good idea.” The king beamed with ivory fangs. “We want to help you when you are ready to fight Malesh.”

“I can understand you have reasons, but why do you want to ally with me?” Lumaris asked.

Praxis smiled again. “A true warrior is careful in all situations. We know the legend and teach it to our young thoroughly. Malesh has my people and the other demons running hither and thither, day and night looking for you since you left the mountains. We are tired of him after 3000 years.” The air king sighed to regain his composure. After a minute he continued on, “You cannot even dream to enter his fortress. You cannot even get the prison camp at the foot of Mt. Hondouju.”

“Prison camp!?” Saphira cried.

Lumaris even more shocked than her cousin. “He has a prison camp?”

“I see you humans do not know what the mountain once was.” Praxis shook his head. “It used to be the home of a fabled fifth race.” All six human eyes widened.

“A fifth race?”

Halos picked it up. “Indeed. There were supposedly born of Ollopa and Agite. Different kind of human that could use magic at will, honored the notion of spirits and ancestors, but did not have any of the Gods’ children. It’s unknown if whether or not they were even real.”

“Perhaps the prisoners of his camp. We can’t be sure, they look too human.” Praxis closed the subject. “Even if you got ed the camp there are the dark Elf guards that and most evil of humans that watch for martyrs of the prisoners. They specialize in dark spells and curses of the mind’s eye.

“So what I am saying is this: I propose to give you command of air demons when you breach the fortress grounds. During the time between then and now, my people shall guard you against Malesh and his forces by any means necessary.”

“Any means?” Lumaris set her glass of haag down so everyone wouldn’t see it shaking. Saphira muttered something funny only to her.

Ardros stood. “Listen king, Lumaris is still a child. How can you expect her to take command of 30 air demons?”

“The numbers have decreased and will double when she has the Golden Blade of Legend.” Praxis said calmly. “It is entirely her choice to accept or not.”

“Can you protect Halos and Ardros as well?” Praxis nodded. “Can you try not to kill anyone?”

The demon king’s eyes widened, since he had no brow to raise. “It would go against our nature. It would make us human.”

“Humans kill each other. That is what mercenaries do.” Lumaris glanced at Ardros for a split second. He seemed unaffected. “So you would be different from humans in that aspect.”

Saphira stared at her cousin. What in the name of . . . ? She sounds like Father when he’s doing business. This can’t be the same brat who ran away over a year ago. Who is this girl?

“To not kill. Well, I cannot guarantee the other demons, but by your request they will not kill to protect you and your friends.” Praxis leaned forward. “Do you have any other conditions?”

“What would you like in return?” Lumaris leaned forward as well.

Praxis laughed. “Clever for a human. Cunning nature of a demon indeed. What we demons want in addition to Malesh’s end is to be granted the summits of the Dragon Mountains.”

Lumaris shot up. “What?!?”

“We, as air demons, are losing our ability to fly. We were known for flying as the birds and Dragons do. Until Malesh we lived all over Kraal in the mountains with the Dragons, on the coasts with the water demons and serpents, and the open grasslands. We will live out in the open air as in the ancient days when I was but the young heir to the throne. All I ask on behalf of my people, the mountains are all that we ask for. We will diverse across Kraal on our own after we can fly again.”

Saphira watched Lumaris sit back and close her eyes. She grew perfectly still. Saphira’s cousin went like this whenever she pondered over something big, or so her aunt Karina said. She’s so different. Nothing like the little farm girl who always got everything she wanted and easily lost it to me. No, this is not Lumaris. She is not the moon child orphan from Janal. This girl thinks and talks diplomacy.

Is she really capable of magic?

Lumaris opened her eyes and slumped into her chair. “The emperor will discuss areas with you when you can arrive in Magnus. He wants to speak to you directly.”

Everyone blinked. “Huh?”

Lumaris straightened as she laughed softly. “During the last four months of training, the emperor and empress gladly taught me how to connect my mind with theirs. It is something I can do with the adornment they gave me upon mastering all four elements.” She wiped sweat from her forehead before it dripped into her eyes. “The drawback is that it takes a lot of magic to do so.” A

servant took the initiative and refilled Lumaris’ glass. She drank it and felt some of her stamina return.

“Adornment?” Praxis looked all over Lumaris.

“A gift the Dragon Emperor and Empress kept secret for the last 3000 years at least.” She took one more sip before standing. “I was a mere farm girl when I entered the Dragon Mountains, I left a master Magicker. I believe the odds of me being a leader in two years will be good.”

Praxis stood as well. “Two years then? Well, the Living Forest will not give the sword up easily. Once you finish with your training in Torr, attend the meeting in Magnus. The Dragon Emperor would be glad to see you again.” He held out his hand. Lumaris took it and gave him a firm handshake.

Four exited the misty gate of Air Demons Den late that afternoon. Lumaris was surprised that her cousin was quiet all the way to the border for the next three days. Not one complaint or word. Something was wrong.

13—Tying up Loose Ends

Lumaris dropped back, taking Saphira with her. “Saphira, what kind of business is your father doing in Chazzera?”

The blonde teen looked at the raven haired teen. “How do you know where my father went? You used your magic to find him?”

The moon child sighed. “No, but I do know through magic. Ardros, the one in the travel-worn cloak up there,” She pointed to the man who only came up to the Elf’s shoulders. “wanted to see how his descendant Tristan was doing. He was talking to a girl at your house.”

“His sister Fiona. She came to Janal soon after you left, shivering and crying that her family was killed. Her father was executed for harboring rebels or something, and her little brother was murdered for being a moon child.” Saphira stepped in Lumaris’ path and stopped her. “Pulo almost didn’t let her in, because somebody had used that same story the night before you left.”

“I had thought of that when I was told she fled to Janal seeking shelter with your family.” Lumaris said sadly. Her senses told her that Ardros and Halos had stopped a ways ahead to give them some privacy. Ardros was chuckling also. She turned her attention back to her cousin. “What’s been happening in Janal since I left?”

“Father’s business has suffered because of what you said to me about the gown

you ruined. We’re just floating to stay in our class. Your father has asked for any and all news about you: where you were last seen, where you’re supposedly heading, what you’ve done. Somehow he’s happy to hear the same things over and over again. The last thing I heard about you from this boy from Magnus that said you were on your way to Torr.” Saphira scoffed. “No one has found that city. Ever.”

“Well, it’s in the legend that I do find it, and I learned swordsmanship skills there.” Lumaris said. “Do you want proof that I can do magic? That everything you heard from the demons is indeed true?”

“Of course.” Saphira rolled her eyes. “Everyone knows they’ll say anything to get what they want.”

“No demons value the truth above all things. If you lie you get punished with intense pain. In fact Malesh himself is hunting me to perform a similar curse! Or did you forget that?”

Saphira took a step back and looked at the two men 10 meters away. Then she looked back to Lumaris. She licked her lips and took a breath. “What kind of magic can you do?”

“I’ve mastered all four elements, but I specialize in water.” Lumaris saw the girl’s brown eyes widen and her skin pale. She turned around to see four wolves. Right away she knew they were demons. “What is your business here?”

“We have been waiting for you Human Magicker.” A female wolf stepped forth and said. Her fur shone like polished metal and was the cleanest of the four. “I

have a gift of my own for you. What gifts did my father give you upon your departure?”

“Demons!” Saphira whimpered and stepped back. Ardros and Halos came quickly and acted as a shield for her. “More demons!”

“I received the hostage, a canteen of haag, and one of his rings.” She took out the huge gold band with a diamond cut like a star. “He told me to show it to the air demons at Malesh’s fortress when I got to confront him and as a sign of our alliance.”

The wolf who had spoken took two steps forward, jumped up to her hind legs, and humanized into a young woman wolf in leather armor with bright blue eyes. She showed a smaller version of the same ring. “I am the king’s daughter, Princess Moon.” She smiled at Lumaris’ dropped jaw. “Yes, even demons can be of the Gods’ children. I had heard that you talked with my father and formed an alliance. My gift is to warn you of this: Malesh is in the town of Wachovia. He has already been to Lenexa and will be moving to Chazzera in two days. Be careful of which ever town hides Torr. His dark Elves are in all three and awaiting to capture you for the curse. It would be devastating for us to lose our most powerful ally.”

“Most powerful?” Both human girls asked.

“Do you mean to say… ?” Halos began to ask.

Moon shook her head. “It is just a rumor, but Malesh has not used his magic in the last few months. Only his voice and his presence are his weapons now.”

“He could be training in secret. He could be exhausted from doing so.” Lumaris suggested.

“Possibly, but still take great caution. Malesh is upset that moon children are fleeing from his guards, and you are no exception.” Moon stepped back. “I will speak with my father about your conditions in the alliance and carry them out here. The air demons shall also take care of the moon children and see them to safety.” She turned, at the same time became a wolf, and led her small pack towards the Black Lands.

The party of three humans and one Elf ventured on towards Chazzera. After dinner that night Saphira sat before Lumaris as she rolled out her bedroll. “I still want proof that you can do magic.”

“Oh that’s right, we got sidetracked by the air demons.” Lumaris motioned her to the fire. Halos stopped before he could dose it for the night. “Fire is my opposite element and I mastered it in six months. It’s a very dangerous element, but it’s not the hardest. I can let you see how your father is doing.”

“Really?” Saphira raised a brow. “You can show me my father?”

“If he is by a fire you can talk to him. My fire trainer said to think of it like how I use water to do the same thing, just always moving. Only you will see and hear what happens. Hold my arm until the image is clear and concentrate on your father’s face.” Lumaris folded her hands in a steeple fashion and closed her eyes. Saphira gingerly placed her hand over Lumaris’ hidden birthmark and looked into the fire.

The flames died to a glow for a moment, then they blazed into moon blue flames. Saphira nearly let go, but just held tighter and pictured her father’s face. The sharp features of his tanned face, his brown eyes that always judged artifacts, the pointed chin that tickled her hair when he hugged her.

Then he was in the fire. He was looking right at her. “Saphira?” His smooth voice was filled with hope and worry.

“Father.” She breathed. Saphira let got once the image was crystal clear. “Father is it me, Saphira.”

“Saphira, my golden sapphire.” The man knelt before his own fire and choked on a sob. “I was afraid you were dead. Where are you?”

“I am a week away near the area humans aren’t allowed in. I was held hostage to get someone there to talk to the king of the air demons. I’m perfectly fine, they did nothing to me.” Saphira told him with tears of happiness stinging her eyes. “Father, I am traveling with good people—humans and an Elf. They are taking me right to you before continuing on their journey.”

“Saphira, who exactly is with you?”

Lumaris grunted. “Saphira… .”

The noble’s daughter was quiet for a moment. “Lumaris. I am traveling with

Lumaris.”

“Lumaris? Karina’s stepdaughter?” Saphira’s father pulled back from his fire.

Halos tapped Saphira’s shoulder. “Say your good-byes. Lumaris cannot hold out much longer.”

Saphira saw that Lumaris was sweating and her face had lost color. “I have to go Father. Lumaris can’t cast this spell any longer. I love you and I will see you real soon.” A tear rolled down her cheek as the image of her father mouthing the words I love you too faded from her sight. The fire was once again red-orange and died down into glowing embers.

Saphira took refuge in Lumaris’ bedroll as Lumaris herself fainted from the spell. “A good thing you did for her, Luna.” He picked up the teenager girl and tucked her into his bedroll. Ardros redid his bedroll and ed the Elf in sleeping on the cold ground.

Six days later they stopped for lunch under the cliffs that housed the Dragon Bone yard. “What’s up there?” Saphira asked.

“The Dragon’s Bone yard.” Lumaris said with a full mouth. She swallowed and went on. “We were there last week. A Dragon had a message for me on his deathbed.”

“What was the message?”

“You and the demons.” Lumaris bit into her rabbit leg. Halos did well to stick with the wild pears he found. “What kind of business is your father doing in Chazzera?”

Saphira finished her meal and used a couple of leaves to wipe her mouth of the grease. “I really miss not seeing the animal get skinned and cooked.” She then turned to Lumaris. “He wants in on the Elvin food coming out of Chazzera. He’s trying to get a contract to have some delivered to the Soaring Empress.”

“Sorbin Nimbus?” Ardros asked with a full mouth.

“It’s a tavern in Janal.” Halos answered him.

“Wouldn’t that cost him money?” Lumaris asked. “I thought you were having—”

“We are, but Elvin food is expensive to the working class and the knight class always pays big for such a luxury. It’s bound to make us money again. Apalla says that Elvin food is—” Saphira was cut off by Lumaris’ sudden question.

“Who’s Apalla?” She had a strange look in her eye.

Saphira stared at her sternly. “Apalla is the woman whom Father is trying to make the contract with.”

“Long dark hair, smooth beautiful skin, emerald eyes, and a warm motherly smile?” Lumaris began to shake with anticipation.

“You’ve met her?”

That was enough of a yes. Lumaris screamed and turned to her travel companions. They were sprawled on the ground, totally unprepared by her scream. “Chazzera! We’re going to Chazzera!”

Ardros stood. “What are you shrieking about?”

Lumaris went up to them and pulled them into a huddle. She spoke quietly so Saphira couldn’t hear. “Chazzera is the village that hides Torr!” She beamed like a little kid in a candy store.

Halos stood up breaking the huddle. Lumaris frowned at him. “At what conclusion?”

“Apalla was the Elf that helped my father take care of me until I could walk.” She turned to see the look on Saphira’s face. The noble was very confused. “I overheard my father two nights before I met you Halos. Apalla returned to Torr when she left.” She stopped to breath. “So we are going to Chazzera.”

“No we are not.” Ardros said gently. Lumaris frowned at him now.

Saphira stood next to her with an identical look. “What’s going on?”

Halos put a firm hand on Lumaris’ shoulder. “Ardros and I talked it out in the mountains. Once you figured out which village hid Torr, we three were to go our separated ways.”

“Separate… ?” Lumaris dreaded the answer.

“I am an outcast, I cannot enter Torr ever again. Ardros will return to Janal and the barracks there. You will continue on to Torr.” Halos finished.

Saphira stepped back as her cousin hiccupped. She was crying. She knew that too well from causing the tears herself. Lumaris stepped away from Halos.

“The rest of the legend must be completed by you alone. I have completed my task by teaching you magic and helping you practice when I could. The moon god will watch over you as he always has.” He picked up his pack. “I will miss you, Lady Moon.” He bowed at his waist, turned around, and walked away.

“He means well Luna.” Ardros told Lumaris as she bit her lip. “You will face Malesh alone and so you must learn to be alone. At least when you return home you will be safer. They will look for a group of three, not a lone traveler.” He handed her the map they had been using. “You will need this, and we will see you again one day.” He repeated Halos’ actions.

Lumaris watched them go. When they were out of sight, Saphira said, “Wow.

Not even a warning. Just like when the demons came and took me from my father.”

Lumaris sniffed and blinked the tears away. “When you return to Janal in two months, tell my father that I will be at a council in Magnus in a year. After that I will spend the rest of the winter helping the resistance. I will return home in the spring.” She turned away quickly and jerkily gathered up her own pack. “Let’s go. We’ve got a long week ahead of us.”

“We certainly do.” Saphira mumbled as she walked after the weeping girl.

Lumaris decided to look at the map when the moon was at its peak. They were directly south of Chazzera now, and she wanted to judge the distance. A folded note fell to the ground when she unrolled it.

Lumaris of Janal,

We both could not tell you this in person because you are important to us. I have errands to run for the demons and will the resistance. Ardros will train and recruit the barracks in Janal as well as help your father’s farm.

Neither of us imagined that you would grow so much in only a year. You are no longer a child unaware of her world, you are a young woman ready to face life and its trials. We both will pray luck and fortune for you every day we wake and every night before we sleep. Ardros will be waiting for you in Janal when you return for your ultimate weapon.

We both love you like a sister and wish you the best in the Living Forest. Seek the Elf Apalla for housing in Torr. She once knew you. Good luck with your training in Torr.

Love always,

Halos and Ardros

She sniffed. “It that from them?” Saphira said right at her ear. Lumaris jumped and fell onto her side. “What’s the matter with you?”

“Don’t do that again.” Lumaris retorted. “And yes, it is from them. It’s private.”

“Okay then. What are you going to do about dinner?” Saphira asked innocently.

“I enlisted some help while you were washing your face. All we have to do is set up the fire. I will set up camp while you gather the firewood.” Thunder boomed overhead. “Or we’ll both get firewood and find a cave.”

The girls were quick in finding an abundance of twigs and branches before it started to drizzle. Saphira grunted and complained as she carried her load, which was heavier than Lumaris’. They found a cave just as the rain came down and immediately soaked them through.

They lucked out as the cave was empty of bears, demons, and bones. Lumaris

stripped off her cloak and tunic and Saphira took off her clothes and was dressed in the moon blue nightgown from the air demons. A wolf came by when they were dry and left behind two ferrets.

After the skinning and blood draining, Lumaris put the food onto spits and stuck them over the fire. “Lumaris?” She looked to her cousin who was resting her chin on her knees. “What happened to you in the last year? You’re so different. You’re stronger and smarter.”

“Wiser actually. Truth is, I am a hero of legend to the Magicker races. Born as my mother’s breath was done. A peaceful human with the sword skills of an Elf, a demons cunning nature, secretive as a Dragon, and the greatest Magicker to live. My first task was to train with the Dragons in magic usage. I’ve done that. My task now is to find the Elvin capital of Torr and learn the sword skills I will need to defeat Malesh.”

“What?” Saphira shot straight up. “You are going to fight You-know-who?! You even speak his name!”

Lumaris turned the meat to cook the other side and stood up to face her. “Saphira, you saw your father in the fire, you spoke to him. I was the medium that connected you. That spell takes a lot of energy to cast.”

“You were out for half a day.” Saphira said timidly.

“Yes,” Lumaris sighed. “I chewed on the fig leaves and drank a little haag to restore my stamina. I even used magic to dry the firewood.”

Saphira fingered the collar of the nightgown. “You make it sound so easy.”

“It’s not. I when I was learning to attack with fire. You would not believe what happened.”

Lumaris entered the training room where she learned fire magic. Today she was to learn how to fight with it. She checked that her high bun, then her two lower buns were in place. Her fire trainer threw a small quick fit when her apprentice style was one strand out of place yesterday.

“Flae.” She held a single flame on her finger. She held up to a hold in the center of the door then blew it into the hole. There was a tiny flash of red-orange light and a loud click. The door opened an inch to let her know the door was open.

Upon entering her teacher turned from the hearth that was used as Lumaris’ feed of magic and the trainer’s extra storage of flames. She turned to her pupil when she heard the door click open. “Ah, so you can now open the door on your own. That is excellent. Now then, think of me as your enemy for the rest of the session.”

“Why?” Lumaris hesitated in asking.

“You must attack at least once.” Before Lumaris could respond she called forth fire and sent a raging inferno towards the human girl.

Lumaris ducked and rolled to the side to avoid the attack. The heat was so intense the parts it touched were drenched with sweat. She bounced back up and sidestepped a blade of fire her trainer had summoned. With only her magic to defend herself, Lumaris used distorted heated air to skew the flames from her face. Always one for not fighting Lumaris always found herself cornered again and again on the defense. Once her trainer tripped her and she hit her head on the floor.

“You cannot leave until you attack!” Her trainer’s sword came down.

“Fira Shita!” Lumaris pulled the flames from the hearth and a shield of fire blocked the magic sword. She held her hand towards the hearth. “Fira Rivae!” The fire flowed from the hearth and like a river towards her trainer’s sword arm. She screeched from the burns. “I’m so sorry!”

“No, no. That was brilliant.” She batted the fire. “What spell was that last one you used?”

Lumaris gulped. “Fire river.”

The dark red haired woman with sapphire eyes looked at her. “You employed a water ability with fire?” Lumaris nodded. “Good job. You are beginning to cross elements. The others will be pleased to hear this.”

“ . . . She was burned harshly, but Dragon heal quickly. So in a few hours she was back to normal.” Lumaris finished.

“Even a legendary hero has trouble?” Saphira chuckled. “Maybe you haven’t changed in the last year. Your brothers sure have though. Your elder brothers are looking for land and brides. Your little brother is becoming a little adult, and you have a new sister.”

Lumaris stopped mid-bite into her ferret. “New sister?”

“Yes. Your father spend two weeks thinking of a name for her. He finally settled on—” Lumaris held up her hand. “You want to find out from your family? That’s alright.

“But you should know, you’ve made Ender very proud. You saved Tristan’s life and helped saved another moon son. In fact since you’ve been in the mountains, about seven moon children have come for haven in Janal.”

“Seven? I didn’t know there were so many in Kraal.” Lumaris said thoughtfully. “The mother wildcat must have spread the word. I’m glad they’re safe. Janal is the only safe place left in all of Kraal for moon children.” The meal was finished in silence. Lumaris found Halos’ bedroll in her pack, which Saphira took gladly.

Over the next six days the way was tough, muddy with snow, slippery with ice, and filled with cold nights. If not for the creatures of the night, the girls would have frozen to death. Friends of a moon child are quiet loyal. When they arrived

at the Dragons’ Bone yard, Lumaris told Saphira to stay put. “Where are you going?”

“It will take me half a day to climb to the top. I’ll be back by sundown. There are apple tree around here with a late fruit. Start picking them. I have to visit someone up there.” Without another word Lumaris began her climb.

14—Face to Face

The climb up was easier this time around. She arrived in only two thirds of the time. The piles of bones were just as creepy to look at and the sense of unsettled spirits was just as strong. She came to the circle of death to find some glowing people with wings working to put the Dragon’s bones into an intricate pile. One of them looked up at her approach and smiled.

The child’s voice whispered and echoed in Lumaris’ mind. “Welcome Human Magicker.”

Lumaris froze on the spot as the others turned around and looked at her. Everyone said the same greeting and went back to work with the bones. She found herself breathing slower than normal as she watched them place specific bones into the pile and fly to the top with small bones. They moved like the air itself and floated like flower petals in the wind. Once they finished with the bones that first child came up to her but did not step outside the circle.

“The Dragon Manos will rest in peace now. We place the bones into their respective pile after the low ones devour the flesh and steal the scales.” The child said. “You are most feared by the low ones. For you will take the throne from their king.”

“Their king? Malesh?” Lumaris swallowed to moisten her dry throat. “Low ones?”

“You will learn of them in Torr. Search for a scroll with a black seal. Within is the secrets and truths of the fifth race. Learn the truth to fulfill your duty in the end.” All the winged people turned from her and vanished in a gentle flash of bright light.

Her knees shook. Her palms sweated. Her mouth and throat were dry. Those people were not human or demon, or Elves. Dragons’ hair colors were unnatural unless they were under a century or ed their breeding life. None of the races had wings. Before her legs could give out, she turned and ran to the edge of the crater. She scrambled down the cliff side with enough judgment to use her air magic to slow her down.

Saphira turned to her when she came running up to where her cousin had left her. “What’s happened to you?” She wondered rudely.

“I don’t know.” She grabbed an apple from Saphira. She munched into it nervously.

The blonde noble’s daughter rolled her eyes. “Karina did say that you eat when something scares you. Start talking.” Lumaris stared at her right before she took another loud bite. “Karina is not here, so I might as well. Besides I need to talk when my father approves of the marriage.”

Lumaris swallowed hard and coughed. Saphira just watched her regain her breath. “Marriage? You’re only fifteen!”

“Next year when you get back.” Saphira said. “I… well I have to it that, other than my father, you were the only person I wanted to save me in the demon

village.”

“They call them dens.” Lumaris stated.

“Anyways, I always knew you could fight. I always knew something was weird about you. Now I know what—your magic.” Her black haired cousin looked at her. “It always happened behind your back. Karina’s wedding, where we first met. The basket of flower petals fell because your father told you to stay next to your brother. I had seen a gust of wind that affected nothing else. The first Harvest Market after that, the kettle of boiling water in the tavern fell over because you wanted to stop that drunken man from hurting Karina. I was at the window watching.” Lumaris tilted her head to the side curiously. “A few blue sparks by the kettle tipped it. I thought it was the light.”

“I had used magic before? I didn’t know.” Lumaris laced her fingers over the apple and muttered, “Kaisei forgive me for all those times as a child.”

“You’re back sooner than you said. So should we keep moving then?” Saphira asked. Lumaris agreed and they set up camp under a great willow tree.

The girls looked upon the small village of Chazzera the next day at noon. It wasn’t as small as they thought. “Father said that he would stay at Apalla’s cottage by the gate. Keep your hood up so You-know-who’s guards don’t find you.”

“No, I’ve used a disguise before. They will be looking for a human with bright blue eyes.” Lumaris smiled. “I just need to be out of sight in case any guards are watching. They won’t tell from this distance.” After the covers of a tree grove

the girls approached the gate of Chazzera where four dark Elves awaited them.

“State your names and business.” One of them demanded in a warped voice.

Neither girl had heard a dark Elf speak before now and were startled for a moment. Saphira licked her lips and spoke first. “I am Saphira of Janal. I and my servant,” Lumaris with brown eyes nodded. “have come to meet my father who came here on business.”

“What business noble?” Another Elf hissed. “Why would a farmer serve a noble?”

“These are troubled times and my family needs money.” Lumaris said.

“Your name farmer?” The first Elf pointed a spear at her throat. “All names must be known. Lord M himself is here and wants to know the name of all in the village.”

Lumaris forced herself not to swallow and hoped the sweat she felt roll down her face was just her imagination. “Selena. My name is Selena of Janal.”

“Liar! Liar! Liar!” The last two Elves shouted and screeched. “Human Magicker!! ‘T is the Human Magicker!!”

“Era Ris!” The earth beneath the dark Elves shot up sending them flying over the

girls and crashing to the ground. Lumaris grabbed her cousin and pushed her against the gate. “I’ll you through. Find your father and stay inside!”

“Lumaris!” Saphira started.

“Pa her thro.” her through. Saphira melted through the gate. The face of her wanted cousin was overcome by the inside of the gate.

“No!” She pounded on the sturdy wood. “No! Let her in! Don’t be such an idiot!”

“Saphira!”

She turned around to see her six foot tall father. “Father! Please open the gate! Lumaris is on the other side fighting dark Elves!”

“Lumaris?” The noble shouted at the gatekeeper but the gatekeeper was in a drunken stupor. Saphira had no choice but to watch scared as her father shook the gatekeeper to get him to open the gate.

“Oh enough of this, I will open the gate.” A woman said. Just before a big boom from the other side sounded.

Lumaris turned around to the recovered dark Elves after ing her cousin through to safety. There were a few pounds on the door and muffled protests, but

Lumaris had to fight. “Human Magicker…” The four gate guards grinned darkly at her. “Malesh will have his curse finalized.”

“Not a chance.” Lumaris muttered and drew her sword. She summoned flames to surround the blade. “I’ve face Dragons and demons. Come at me if you dare.”

The Elves drew their own swords, each of them with thin black blades. “Human Magicker, you must die!” They all charged at her. Lumaris charged herself without a thought in her mind. When her sword met two of the others instead of a clash of metal there was a boom. Their blades were surrounded by magic as well. All five were blown back by the shockwave. Lumaris let out a shriek of pain from the stab wounds in her shoulder and stomach when she landed.

“Lumaris!” Saphira’s voice reached her ears. “Oh my gosh! You’re bleeding!” Strong arms lifted the limp body of the fifteen year old girl and the sound of the gate closing was the last thing she heard.

Be still, little baby of the sky

Soon you will continue your journey

And once again gaze upon I

Sleep in this bed for me

Sleep and rest for the future of Kraal

Recover soon and save us all

Be still, little baby of the sky

Soon you will be in Torr

Stay in the light for you and I

Soon will see nothing like before

He chose you to save us all

The Moon God loves this dear land of Kraal

It was short but sweet, and familiar. Lumaris knew those words from so long ago, but couldn’t figure out when. Were they sung to her as a baby? The voice was beautiful like the full moon, beautiful like a moon blossom in the summer.

Moon blossom? What was a moon blossom? That’s right. A moon blossom only grew in the Living Forest and bloomed at night. How did she know that?

“Because you saw them as a baby, Lady Moon.” A woman said.

Lumaris knew that voice. She snapped her eyes open and sat up. She was dressed in her moon blue nightgown in a simple but elegant room. She looked to her left to see a lady Elf with long dark hair and black-green eyes. A pure white circle rested on her brow. “Apalla.”

“Fourteen years Lumaris. How have you been?” Apalla asked in her sweet silver bell voice.

“I’ve been good. What about you?” Lumaris smiled. The Elf hadn’t changed in all those fourteen years. She was just as youthful as ever.

“I have served my purpose of waiting here inside Chazzera’s walls waiting for

you. Once your wounds are recovered we will go into Torr to begin your sword training.” She gently but firmly pushed her charge back onto the pillows. “I’ve heard that you have made an alliance with the air demon king.”

“I have. There’s proof in my purse. My part is to not only grow stronger, but to lead the air demons at the fortress then in an attack. Until then they will protect my friends and any moon children they find.” Lumaris watched the Elf that had watched her as a baby after the moon god revived her from the dead.

Apalla took out the ring. “This is a star ring. Only demons have them. By the size this is the king’s alright.” She put the ring back into Lumaris’ purse and turned to her with a solemn look. “If they did not tell you, then I will. Malesh is here in Chazzera, and he knows that you are too.”

Lumaris frowned at herself. “I was told he was looking for me in these towns. He doesn’t know where Torr is and as far as he knows, neither do I.”

“What makes you think Chazzera is hiding Torr?” Lumaris pointed to Apalla. “Me?”

“Yes. I overheard my father talking to his new wife about you before I left home.” For a moment she longed to return home to Janal. “He said that you returned to Torr. So when I heard from Saphira that you were the one making a contract of Elvin food supplies with her father, I knew right away where Torr was.” She breathed in. “Torr is hidden behind the waterfall near here.”

“And to think, your companions abandoned you when you found out.” Apalla said sarcastically. “Your teachers are done. They will take care of Kraal by

helping the resistance from now on. Your home is protected by one of them and the other will travel for the resistance’s needs. I knew because I was told by a hawk with a message from my brother.”

“Your brother?”

Apalla nodded. “Did he not tell you?”

Lumaris ed that Halos’ eyes were a dark color. In fact the same color as Apalla’s. “Halos is an earth child just like you?”

“Twins like us are very rare. Once every few centuries or so.” Apalla sighed. “If only he’d heed our people’s warnings and fled to Torr with us, he would not be an outcast. I do miss him so.”

“I miss him too.” Lumaris and Apalla were quiet for a few moments. After a long and uncomfortable silence, The moon daughter said, “Apalla, I-I killed.” The Elf looked at her. “I killed humans.”

Apalla put a hand on the teenager’s shoulder. “How many?”

“I don’t know. I wasn’t myself. It was down in Magnus when I was rescuing Ardros and Halos.” Lumaris said.

The Elf nodded. “Your first time is always difficult. It is better to let the

nightmares go through their course and scream for forgiveness for a few days. The Dragons must have been understanding.”

“They were. My trainers were gentle and kind when I broke down for the first week or so. Even my earth trainer who didn’t like any kind of crap.” Lumaris giggled. “I would like to see him before he Sleeps in the bone yard.”

“Perhaps you will. It all depends on if Revile will wait another year for you.” Apalla stood to her own towering seven feet. “For right now, you will rest. Your wounds were not life-threatening, but you will not enter Torr for another two days. Stay in this room and don’t push yourself.”

“Alright.” She watched the Elf that took care of her as a revived from death newborn exit the room. The open doorway shimmered as she ed. After learning magic with the Dragons, Lumaris knew the shimmering was a age. Her room was not really in the house. She was rather in another dimension.

Resting was all she could do now. Her wounds needed to heal.

The next morning, Apalla brought her a breakfast of fried eggs and bacon strips. A book was there as well. It was the book from the demons’ den! “What is this book?” She asked.

“I found it in Air Demons Den, but I hid it under the pillows. They must have slipped it into my pack during lunch.” Lumaris picked up the book. “It lists all the Gods’ children of Janal. There’s a new lake child. I think I know whom she was born to.”

“Perhaps you will see her.” Apalla smiled. She went to tend to Saphira and her father. Lumaris took another look into the book. There was a space for a new moon child.

After breakfast Lumaris got up to walk around a bit. Her wounds slowed her down some, but not much. She found her way to the bathroom and washed herself, careful of the stab wounds. After she was dressed in her nightgown Apalla was there with crushed herbs and clean bandages.

“Apalla. Is it true that you are negotiating a contract of Elvin food with Saphira’s father?” Lumaris asked after she had new bandages and crushed rufferberry roots rubbed into her wounds to protect against dark magic.

“Why no. Needless to say he was furious, but no so much with him worried about his daughter in the hands of demons.” Apalla said. “The two of them are close. Saphira seems wiser now. From what he told me she sounded like nothing but a spoiled brat and hated you above all things.”

“She once did. Then after being held hostage and seeing how I’ve grown in the last year, she must have seen herself for what she really was.” Lumaris smiled. “I felt how happy she was to talk to her father through fire.”

“They are all each other has. Like your mother, Saphira’s died in childbirth. Have you told her the truth?”

Lumaris looked at her lap. “I did. She was shocked. I’m sure her father will be

when she tells him, so will mine.” She looked up at Apalla. “How will my father react to know that I came back from the dead?”

Apalla shook her head. “I don’t know. You will have to wait and see in a year. For today, rest. Tomorrow you will go through the cavern and into Torr. You will walk fine then.”

Lumaris was able to walk just fine the next morning. She donned her torn and bloody farmer clothes, her adornment from the Dragons, her thick winter cloak, and her tough travel-worn leather boots. Saphira and her father had finished packing and were catching a fabric caravan to the Simetra Textiles on the outskirts of Caviler.

It had been a good place to stop for the night when Lumaris and company had begun heading for the Dragon Mountains. The women were very nice and the owner was a generous man with a hearty sense of humor. Lumaris wished her cousin and uncle luck on their trip. “Here, give my father this. The jeweler can do something with it.” She placed a pebble sized emerald in the noble’s hand. “I found it in the mountains and I want him to have it.”

“A gift from his daughter will aid his faith that she will return alive and well. Good luck with your training, Human Magicker.” Saphira’s father bowed to her. The two nobles left riding the back of the caravan towards the gate.

“Change your eyes. Malesh walks the street himself.” Lumaris nodded to Apalla and closed her eyes to concentrate. When she opened her eyes a moment later, they were brown as fresh dirt. “Stay close and watch your step.” Apalla warned. She had disguised herself as a human and wore a sunhat with a white face veil to hide her ears and pure white circle.

Lumaris followed Apalla through the streets and to the back street of Chazzera. There they encountered guards. They questioned the women. Lumaris was thankful these were human guards and not dark Elves. Then a dark voice said from the back of the group, “Let me see the young girl.”

Her heart froze, her breath stopped. What a horrible voice, it didn’t sound human. The guards parted to the sides and a large figure’s shadow loomed over Lumaris. The figure came closer with slow determined steps. Each one closer closed in on the teenager’s lungs.

He wore all black. Black flowing cape, black armor, black boots heavy with black chain mail, and a black metal belt with a black opal that was nearly identical to her own adornment. She pulled her cloak closer together to cover it as the black helmet looked down at her. Red eyes very much like a demon’s looked down at her through the eye slits, yet they bore into her like an angered Dragon.

So this is Malesh. Lumaris thought to herself. The one whose power threatens the gods and is my destiny to defeat. Her knees began to buckle, there was something about his mere presence that startled her. Her knuckles turned white clutching her cloak to hide her adornment.

“The girl is a farmer and the woman is an A Worker. I find no resistance in their minds. They fear me just as they should.” He had a note of a snake’s hiss in his voice. Those red eyes burned like fire into Lumaris’ disguised brown ones. “If I find that either of you were trained, you will both suffer a public execution!” He turned.

Just like with the moon god at the Living Forest over a year ago, Malesh’s cape brushed against Lumaris. She bit her lip until it bled to resist the urge to scream. Bloody and horrific nightmares of her dead family and friends flashed before her eyes. Her own mangled body floating in the spring back in Janal with her baby blue eyes empty of life and focus. The sky crying crimson tears.

Apalla pulled Lumaris and ran. “Kill the girl.” Malesh told his guards. Without hesitation the men were off after the women. Once at the back wall Apalla opened a secret and pushed Lumaris through, then she closed it. “Apalla!” Lumaris pounded on the wall. “Apalla! Apalla!”

“Go to the waterfall! Hurry! Run!” Apalla called over the wall.

“There’s the woman!” Lumaris tried to calm down to focus her magic, but the sounds of metal clashing against magic worried her too much.

Then she felt him. Looking to her right she saw the tall dark and dangerous figure of Malesh looking right at her. “Human Magicker…” His voice sounded as though it gave off smoke.

Obeying her instincts for the first time in her journey, Lumaris ran for the trees. She knew Malesh was following, and at his own leisure too. Her heart raced faster than her own two feet as she ran blindly. Malesh was right on her heels.

“Run, run, run as fast as you can. You can’t escape me.” He laughed as though enjoying a good joke. Lumaris ran faster then she thought she could ever do. “Παιν.” His voice echoed in the air.

Lumaris cried out and fell forward as pain shot through her back. She sobbed as she tried to catch her breath and looked behind her. There was no dark figure, no man in black armor ready to kill her. Still she struggled up to her feet, only to fall crying in pain from her leg.

“Up here! Up here!” Lumaris looked up to see a white owl. “Counter the spell with the rufferberry roots. There.” The owl jerked his head to a spot before Lumaris. There indeed was the blood red leaves of the rufferberry bush. She dragged herself forward and pulled the bush from the ground with panicked lust. Since the pain came from the inside, she broke off the roots with a profound snap and shoved them into her mouth dirt and all.

As she chewed the pain in her back lessened, her leg stopped twitching. Another root and the pain was bearable. Pins and needles brought control over her muscles. One swallow and the pain was only a numb ache.

Crawling to her feet Lumaris looked back and saw Malesh coming. He was almost upon her. “By my faith in the gods and my destiny, Kaisei, Simetra give me the strength to run again and keep Torr a secret.” She turned and ran again with renewed strength in her legs and a second wind.

Malesh laughed in his throat as he saw his enemy turn tail and run again. “Run all you like girl, you will not reach Torr unscathed. In the name of Revile, trap her shadow and end the legend here!”

The owl hooted hotly and flew into Malesh’s vision, clawing at the eye slits. “You leave my daughter be brother!”

Malesh backhanded the owl and glowered at it as it glowed and became a woman. “My sister, your spirit still lives. So my own niece is the Human Magicker?”

“Leave her be. She made a promise and that promise must be kept.” His dead sister pleaded. Malesh ignored her and looked for the girl’s presence. He roared with rage as he found that she was too far away to pinpoint. “If you were not already dead, I would kill you myself Selena!”

Lumaris slowed as darkness eased from her mind. She stopped to catch her breath by a smooth boulder. She wheezed as the clouds in the sky spinning above her became dots before her eyes and her ears rumbled. Upon leaning against the boulder she felt the rumbling and it grew louder.

Water? Water! Bumping into the rock upon turning sharply, Lumaris pulled herself up the smooth surface to look over the boulder. Her eyes widened in awe.

A misty rainbow floated above a bright blue lake that fed a small river with a small tumbling waterfall. The larger version rumbled like a hungry Dragon mother during her pregnancy, but was constant like their thrumming. It was more white than blue from few jutted rocks here and there.

It was beautiful, and towered to heights she could not see in the glare of the sun. Looking back down to the great white whirlpool at the base of the waterfall. There were some stepping stones that disappeared behind the falls.

Part Three

The Living Forest

15—Winter’s Longing

The streets of Janal were patched with thin ice, icicles hung from the rafters and overhangs, it was a winter wonderland. By this time tomorrow it would all be half gone. It was the last day of winter and all the citizens were anxious for the sun to set and be over with dinner. The next day brought spring and possibly a citizen of their own.

A young boy of eight with dark brown hair and brown eyes carried the empty sack to the wagon. “Father, will she return tomorrow?”

“Perhaps, perhaps not.” The father sighed. “She may not be back for two weeks. She has some loose ends to tie up and then it’s two weeks from Magnus.” He climbed onto the wagon seat and waited for his son to climb up next to him. “All we can do is wait, she’s coming home.” He snapped the reins and the strong stallion was off for the gate.

An elderly man with crooked teeth saw the wagon coming and pulled a lever to undo a mechanism of the crossbar keeping the gate closed. He went out to pat the horse’s neck and speak to the farmer. “Tomorrow at the earliest Ender. Everyone is waiting for her to return home and tell of her adventures.”

“So are we Pulo, but we get to hear them first at the farm.” Ender shared a chuckle with the gatekeeper. “Hey, when the wildflowers bloom we’ll be back with the orchid’s bounty.” He meant the wild apple orchid that grew on his lands. Pulo swung the gate open and Trendon pulled the wagon down the road to Ender’s farm.

Penny greeted them with a one year old baby-toddler on her hip at the door. “Hello Sir Ender, hello little Hanri. How goes the sales?”

“We barely made enough. The nobles are lowering our prices to almost nothing.” Ender said as Hanri jumped from the wagon seat. “I swear, Karina’s brother is all that’s keeping us farmers alive.”

Hanri piled the empty sacks into the basket that had been full of Karina’s garden herbs. “Hanri boy, why don’t you put the wagon away and cool down Trendon. Penny please put away the basket and sacks.” He motioned for his infant daughter.

Penny handed the child over to her father. Ender cooed to the baby in his fatherly way and bounced her in his strong arms. “Hewwo my wittle girl. You know dada?”

“Da-da.” The girl said with a blank look as only a child learning to speak could. “Da-da.”

Ender laughed and kissed her red hair. “That’s my girl.”

Once the family and their two guests settled in for dinner they reported their chores on the farm. Karina, Ender’s wife, noticed the snow melting by noon already. Tristan, one guest and a moon child, had checked the irrigation channels and broke all the ice. Ender and Hanri together reported the poor sales for the grain and herbs today. “That’s terrible!” Karina said. “How can the nobles bleed

us dry when their money could be going towards the resistance?”

“Ardros is mad himself, but he knows he can’t do anything. That just makes him madder. Damn my son just can’t take it much longer!” Ender hit the table.

The baby fussed until Karina picked her up. “Ender, not in front of Selena.”

“I’m sorry Karina. You know I don’t mean it.” Ender rubbed his temples.

Tristan and Hanri cleared the table. Penny followed them to help the eight-yearold boys wash and dry the dishes. Ender, Selena, and Karina were left alone in the dinning room, again. It had been that way since spring began to approach.

“Ender, we all know you just want to see your daughter again.” Karina started off. “I’ve missed her too and so has Hanri. Even Tristan wants to see her again.”

“I know, I know.” Ender got up and paced, a habit he had down when his first wife died giving birth to Lumaris. “I just want to know that she’ll stay home for good and won’t go on anymore adventures or quests or journeys. I don’t know what kind of person she’s become in the last two years. Will she be the same? Will she be someone I don’t know? Will she still be my daughter?”

“Calm down Ender. Lumaris will always be your daughter no matter what.” Karina got up to walk Selena to sleep. She fell in step next to her husband. “As for your other questions, she won’t be the same because she’s seen new places and met new people. She’s spent time with Dragons, demons, and Elves. She

won’t be a stranger when she comes back. She’ll just be different. what Saphira told you after she told all of Janal about Lumaris last year?”

Ender ed too well.

Saphira stopped Ender as he turned to leave Janal to tell his family and guests the news. “Uncle Ender, there’s a private message for you.” She took in a breath. “Lumaris knows that you think she’s an orphan you found near the spring. The truth is, she’s your real daughter.”

“My real daughter? The one who died seventeen years ago with my first wife?” Ender scoffed. “That’s not possible, nobody comes back from the dead.”

“She was revived by the moon god in that spring two years later. She was revived to become the Human Magicker to save us all from You-know-who.” She handed him the emerald. “This is her gift to you. It’s an emerald straight from the caverns of the Dragon Mountains.”

Ender looked at the jewel. Though he was a farmer, he knew quite well it was the genuine thing. “From the Dragon Mountains?”

“She’s found Torr and is currently training her sword skills. Lumaris will be back in the spring to perform the third part of the legend. She has a council to attend to in Magnus which could take days and then she’ll help the resistance in Magnus for the rest of the winter.”

The night was uncomfortable. Tristan could hardly sleep. Penny tossed and turned and twisted for a comfortable position to sleep. Hanri couldn’t stop thinking about the fun times he’d had with Lumaris before she left. Karina was busy with Selena, but told her daughter stories of the big half-sister who would be returning home soon.

Ender had it worst of all. He just couldn’t stay in one place for long. He tried sitting, he tried leaning, he tried laying down, nothing worked. All he could think about was his daughter coming home soon. He found out the next morning that hardly anyone in Janal slept. Especially Hanri of Magnus.

Hanri had grown into a fine young man. He was nineteen years old, born the same night as Lumaris originally was. He was a master archer, providing the butcher with meat and the captain of the archery squad in the resistance. For the last two years he learned of Lumaris and even sneaked meat to Ender’s farm through little Hanri and Tristan.

“He’s just trying to butter me up to court Lumaris when she comes back home. He’s a good boy, but I don’t do flattery.” Ender always said on his weekly tavern visits.

With the arrival of Selena, Ender was happy for a while. Soon he went back to the worrywart he always was. Then he was once again glad with the news Saphira brought. The emerald had been smoothed naturally in the caverns. The jeweler simply put it on a silver chain, the only way to keep its value whole.

Big Hanri had brought the fur trade to Janal making more money for the village. Unfortunately, the nobles loved the fur and paid for less than they were worth.

Hanri and his father were disappointed, but did not break the law by stealing the furs back. Since then the nobles had taken all the money the village had to hide. Saphira’s father, the richest noble in town, talked with the other nobles constantly to pay more and give more to the village. Hardly any listened.

“What’s more is all these moon children and their families.” Jakov commented when he saw a moon daughter who was only three years old walking with her mother. She was the daughter of B Workers from Lenexa. “The Soaring Empress and the noble’s extra rooms are all filled up, there’s no place for Lumaris to stay.”

“Oh yes there is.” Ender said. “She always has her home.” He drank from his beer mug.

“That’s true Father.” Ender’s second son agreed. He was now married and had inherited his wife’s father’s farm of livestock. “She can always return home.”

“Home!” The other men in the tavern cheered and drank to it. A young woman with blonde hair and gray eyes went around refreshing drinks. Ender’s first son noticed her movements.

The gentle way she bowed her head to question men for refills, the quick yet clean pouring of the beer and sometimes wine, the small polite bow taken when she was thanked. Where have I seen that before? He raised a brow as the young woman went for another pitcher of beer.

The next day came and went. No Lumaris.

Another day ed and still no Human Magicker.

Then three more days.

Ender began to worry. Spring was a short season. When he went to see if she was just waiting at the Soaring Empress he saw the gate closing for a wagon. There was a person lying among the hay that was being delivered. “Wait! Pulo wait!” Ender ran to the gate with all the speed his aging legs could muster. Too late, the gate slammed shut just as he reached it. “Pulo open up!”

The snapped open for a moment, then snapped shut. The smaller gate for pedestrians opened quickly. “What be all the noise?” Pulo hissed harshly. “It’s too early to be yelling.”

Ender looked at the wagon as it stopped before the Soaring Empress Tavern. There was only hay. “There was somebody on the back of the wagon. Or I thought I saw somebody.”

Pulo patted the farmer’s shoulder. “Don’t beat yourself up. We all want Lumaris to come home and tell us of her adventures. She still has six weeks left. Ulrich has just arrived with the hay to make the bread for the resistance.” With one last pat, Pulo went back to his office and sat in the chair.

Ender nodded a moment later understanding why he thought he saw someone lying in the back of the wagon. He just missed his daughter a lot more than he had thought.

Lumaris arrived in Magnus ten days after emerging from Torr. The security was a lot less that she ed and so getting in without a disguise was easy. She found her way to the inn the Emperor indicated from the prison. The bartender was a woman with the sharp red eyes of a fire child. “Are you old enough to drink girl?”

“No, apple cider will do just fine.” Lumaris sat at the bar as the woman went to fetch her drink. The tavern was dimly lit and the air was thick with smoke. With the new cloak, with a face cloth that covered everything but her eyes, the Elves had given her, she smelled nothing.

Lumaris was halfway through her second pint when she felt the presence of King Praxis enter the tavern. She didn’t turn around like everyone else did. The signal to her position as agreed upon. A moment later Praxis sat next to her. She looked to see what his human disguise was.

A handsome middle-aged man with silver gray hair, a light beard, heavy mustache, and dark skin. The muscles he had made him appear a farmer, but his clothes made him seem of the A Worker class. The class consisting of businesses of tailors, butchers, fruit sellers, goldsmiths, jewelers, and blacksmiths. Right now Praxis could for a blacksmith.

When the bartender came back instead of ordering a drink Praxis asked, “Is Golden One here yet?”

The fire child woman shifted her eyes to see if anyone heard. Lumaris nodded at Praxis to say she was with him. “He awaits in the back room. Entertainment starts in a few minutes. Both of you leave for the door at the end of the bar.” She

jerked her chin to the left. She left to get another order filled.

“So,” Praxis said in a low voice deep with wisdom. “you finally return from Torr.”

“I had to find Apalla. An Elf who took care of me as a babe.” Lumaris said just as quietly. “She was hurt badly by Malesh’s men, but so was I. I cannot walk the same anymore. It affects my fighting also. Still, I completed my training.”

“What of that sword of yours? Did you get it examined?” Praxis had known from the servants that had cleaned her.

“Yes, I will tell both you and the ‘Golden One’ soon.” Lumaris turned to the back when footsteps filled the air. A woman got on the small stage just big enough for a small band. She was dressed beautifully in a blue silk gown covered in gold, silver, and diamonds. She wore molded clay points on her ears to make her look like an Elf. Lumaris scoffed, the woman had been born a noble.

Then the woman opened her mouth and the loveliest voice poured out and drowned the audience in song. She sounded like a bird in the higher notes, and a cat purring in the lower ones. Lumaris and Praxis took the opportunity to slip into the back room. The door closed as the performer held a very high note. The singing stopped right away. The room was sound proof.

Lumaris took down her hood and undid her face cloth. Instead of her night black hair tumbling down over her shoulders, short puffy black hair in a boy’s cut appeared. The baby blue eyes that made her a moon child were a contrast in her pale skin but was considered very beautiful by a lot of people who had seen her

whole face. Her face had sharper features than a year ago and her ears were a little pointed as well.

She saw Praxis sit at a round table with a big turkey dinner served for three. A young man sat in a second seat. He had golden blonde hair and golden diamond eyes that shown nocturnal in the candelabra’s light. “Lumaris.” The Dragon Emperor said in his deep, eternally youthful voice. “You have grown into a lovely woman.”

Lumaris bowed respectfully. “Thank you very much, Emperor.” She sat in the third vacant seat. “I am sorry I’m three days late.”

“We Dragons have the sharpest ears. How is your Elvin friend?” The emperor asked kindly.

“She is recovering wonderfully. Malesh let her live when he found that she did not know where I went. She hadn’t been to Torr in fifteen years and so forgotten where the entrance was.” Lumaris said. “Praxis, if I may ask, how are you and your daughter Moon?”

“Moon and I have received word that the water demons are beginning to follow our example and wish to ally with you. Their queen wants to speak with you after we settle our territory dispute.” He looked to the Dragon Emperor.

The emperor nodded solemnly. “I agree, no more small talk. King Praxis,” he unrolled a map of the Dragon Mountains. Lumaris realized the mountain region was much, much larger than she, and possibly anybody else in Kraal, realized. There was even a mountain dedicated entirely to the fire god. Lumaris ate as the

two males tried to remain calm during their diplomatic talks. After two hours they agreed on a small region for the air demons, which did once belong to them in the ancient days before Malesh. The other territories and expansion would come with the success of Malesh’s defeat and co-existing.

She left with Praxis traveling nine days to the Black Lands. Queen Mara of the water demons was actually a kind, lovely mermaid with pale blue hair and shimmering blue topaz scales. The talk of alliance with her was simpler with the schooling she had in Torr. The symbol of their alliance was a scale from the queen’s fin.

Winter was the shortest season in Kraal. It only lasted six weeks. It was five days into spring. She had to get home to Janal. Along the road to Caviler she met up with a friend of hers from when she was a child. “Well, hello there Lumaris. Haven’t seen you in over two years.”

The moon daughter turned to see a young man with blue eyes and brown hair like swamp mud. He was thin as a rail and had a feminine face, but he was strong nonetheless. “Ulrich. You haven’t changed at all. What are you doing all the way out here?”

“I’ve bought some hay to make into bread for the resistance back home. So are you heading my way?” Ulrich winked.

Lumaris chuckled. Ulrich had always flirted with her, but it was only fun. “Yes, I am returning home. I will be happy to travel with you.”

16—Spring’s Gift

Still no sign of Lumaris. Ender began to worry even more. A week into Spring brought no news of his beloved daughter. He truly wished that she would return home. He missed his tavern visit and concentrated on the farm. Hanri and Tristan began to wonder if Lumaris would ever return.

Tristan went to see Saphira for any news of Lumaris. He waited in the parlor for a good while before the door opened. “Hello Tristan. I’m sorry for the wait, but I had another guest to attend to.” She stepped aside and let the guest in.

Tristan’s baby blue eyes focused on the guest. It was a young Elvin faced man with black hair, slightly pointed ears, and brown eyes. The man was tall and thin, but gave off a familiar presence. “I’m very sorry sir. I insisted on seeing Miss Saphira right away.” The young man bowed quite respectfully and yet politely to the eight year old.

“LaRuse here was wondering if he could have a guide take him to Uncle Ender’s farm.” The man called LaRuse shut the door and saw to it that Saphira was seated. He stood next to the young blonde woman in the submissive background servant pose.

Saphira was now officially engaged to the only son of the least richest noble family in Janal. He was actually very nice and showered her with words that money wished it could buy. She had grown two and a half inches and was now learning how to work her father’s business, being his only heir and all. “So, news of Lumaris? I’m afraid I have heard nothing either.”

Tristan sighed. “Ender is burying himself in his work. He hardly talks to his wife and he doesn’t even look at his daughter anymore. Find a way to Lumaris and tell her to come home right away.”

“My father has already sent his messenger to look for her. Who knows where she was last? She may have gone to the Great Forest for all the gods know.” A smile tugged at the corner of Saphira’s mouth. “My father has made a breakthrough with the nobles and the resistance and the price of food will go up again. So next time Ender comes to sell apples he will be paid in full.”

Tristan seemed to take that and took LaRuse with him to the farm. After exiting the gate Tristan turned to the tall young man. “LaRuse. Interesting name. Is it Elvin?”

LaRuse chuckled. “No. My father came up with the name.”

“Oh? And just who is your father?”

“He is an Elf. He and my mother dropped me off here. Ender is rumored as a kind man and I wish to help him while his famous daughter is out making him proud.” LaRuse responded.

Tristan couldn’t understand why LaRuse walked behind him and stayed there even when the moon child slowed to walk next to him. “How is Ender known among the Elves?”

“Oh he isn’t. I just heard about him from the Elf that took care of his daughter as a babe. She told me so much about him, that I just had to meet him.” LaRuse smiled into his hand, a thought bringing giggles to his throat that he refused to let escape.

“I take it you heard about his daughter? The Human Magicker?” Tristan asked rolling his eyes.

“Of course. She is popular gossip among the humans, but there is so much information about her that doesn’t seem quiet right. They say that she is a young girl of fourteen.”

“She was when she started out on her adventure. Short thing too.” LaRuse quietly growled. “She’s sixteen by now.”

“The Human Magicker is supposedly a farmer by birth.”

“She is.”

LaRuse thought through what more information he had. “Oh yeah, some boys said that she had huge breasts.”

Tristan looked at LaRuse. “Huge what?”

“Never mind. Is that the farm?” The Elvin boy pointed ahead. A quaint two storied house with a barn and pasture stood twenty meters away. Two horses and a few wild geese were napping in the pasture by the rainwater pond.

“Yes, that is the farm the Human Magicker was born and raised on.” Tristan led the last several steps to the house. “This is the place where it all begins.” The boys went in through the front door. “Ender! You have a visitor!”

Ender quickly descended the ladder to the second story. He turned to the Elf standing in the doorway. “Selena?” He asked quietly with wide eyes.

“I’m sorry who?” LaRuse asked. “What did you say sir?”

The aging farmer shook his head clear. “I’m-I’m sorry. You just look so much like someone I knew. C-can I help you Elf?”

Tristan excused himself to clean the stables. LaRuse closed the front door and bowed. Upon straightening up he said, “Sir Ender of Janal, my name is LaRuse. I have traveled from Torr to help you in your time of need. To take over your daughter’s chores until she returns to stay home for good.”

“She will be arriving soon, but I appreciate the help. May I ask how you heard about me? It’s my daughter that is famous, not me.” Ender sat in the rocking chair before the black empty hearth.

LaRuse sat on the stool across from the rocking chair. “I heard about you from a

friend. Her name is Apalla.” Ender leaned forward putting his elbows on his knees. “She mentioned that she took care of the Human Magicker as a baby after she was revived in the spring by the Living Forest.”

Ender raised a brow. “She was what? No, no. My daughter is an orphan Apalla found by the spring.”

“Not what I heard. I saw her in Torr and I agree, she couldn’t have been dead.”

“She’s in Torr?” Ender perked up.

LaRuse nodded. “She’s become quite the beautiful young woman. I saw her train one time.” Ender motioned him to go on.

Lumaris grunted as she parried her master’s thrust. Then she tossed him off and swung in a crescent to throw him off-guard. It didn’t work, he blocked and kicked her in the side. Lumaris groaned angrily. “Malesh will not fight with honor. You must learn to read your opponents moves before he makes them.”

“I know, I know.” She grumbled. She got into her stance. “Ready.” Her teacher got into his stance when the silver bell in the palace towers rang.

“Ah. Time for rest and meditation.” They both sheathed their swords, and she glared at him. “Don’t use hate to fight. That is how Malesh fights. Hate is how he injured your leg for the rest of your days. Hate is why people fall victim to him and his guards. Love, young one, should be your weapon. Love should be what allows your blade to cut him.”

Lumaris bowed gracefully and respectfully to her teacher. “I hear and understand Master Spiro. Love is a weapon I must use in my fight.”

“Good then. Take a nap. I shall wake you when the bells ring again.” Master Spiro bowed to her, dismissing her for her nap. Lumaris smiled at him and went to her room in the barracks.

It was an elaborately shaped room The floor rose in a gently slope up to her bed in one corner, fell in a steep slope to her bath in the diagonal corner behind the wall of woven morning glories that waved like water in a breeze. The wall jutted out in the other back corner, next to her bed, to semi-hide her wardrobe where her few outfits hung, and caved in the last corner where her sword rested when she slept.

She put her sword there and thought of what the blacksmith of the Elves said about her sword. Interesting. Wood, but too heavy to be wood. Metal refolded over and over and coated with more metal to strengthen it. This symbol is said to be on the moon god’s very sword.

Lumaris laid back on her bed and thought, If I really do have his sword, why does he let me have it at all? The moon god couldn’t have put it in the prison for me to find. Soon she had drifted off to sleep, her mind thinking of possibilities and reasons.

“She’s learning the art of the sword.” Ender leaned back making the chair creak soothingly. “Tristan is right, she is serious about defeating You-know-who.”

“It is in the legend sir.” LaRuse said. “The Human Magicker will seek out the Dragons in their mountain to train in the secret art of magic. Find the Elves’ hidden capital of Torr and sharpen its fighting skills. Sneak into the Living Forest to face the Gods and take the Golden Blade of Legend. The final task is to defeat the one who threatens the gods—Malesh.”

“Malesh threatens the gods themselves, eh?” Ender rocked absently. “Sounds true. He has grown in power over the last 3000 years or so.” He stood up and towered over the boy. “Alright then, the boys and I are a little shorthanded. If you can take care of Trendon and Paladin, I’ll see to some other jobs you can do. Along with the horses you take care of the wagon.” LaRuse nodded to him. Ender pointed to the ladder. “Up that ladder is the loft where you will sleep with Tristan, Hanri, and myself.”

“Yes sir.” LaRuse took the pack he’d bee carrying up the ladder and spread his bedroll next to the window.

Ender noticed that was the area where Lumaris had slept. I won’t tell him yet.

Once he was settled into the loft, LaRuse went out to see the horses. Trendon was a big gay stallion with a white star hidden under his thick black ropey forelock. Paladin was a fiery gold palomino with pale cream mane and tail and white pasterns on all four legs. He was a yearling colt that had a familiar conformation to him.

Trendon went trotting right up to the gate to greet LaRuse. “Hello old friend. I’ve missed you too.” LaRuse hugged the horse around his strong neck. “I’m here to stay for a while yet. When I leave, I will take Axel with me. He will see the legend come to fruition.”

Two weeks ed. LaRuse became part of the family, practically. Trendon and Paladin loved him, the wild animals seemed to listen to him, and Selena adopted him as her brother. Penny and Karina found something odd about LaRuse but they never said a word. The people of Janal adored having an Elf. In fact most of the girls, especially the nobles, fell in love with LaRuse.

Saphira called for LaRuse at times and it bugged Tristan to no end. Even Ender wondered what was up. Still Tristan followed LaRuse one night into Janal. It was tough to stay out of sight and not to make any noise. He wondered if Lumaris learned how to avoid such disadvantages in her training.

At the gate LaRuse said, “Pulo, Saphira has summoned me to speak with her.” Pulo opened the gate quickly and let the Elf in. Tristan tried to run in but was too late and the gate locked before him. If he notified Pulo to let him in now, LaRuse would hear and send him back to the farm. Or worse, talk in code with Saphira. He did it with his sisters all the time back home in Caviler.

Caviler. He had heard news in the last two years that his hometown had lost some business and trade, but was still the biggest trade post in Kraal. The Torr Tavern had taken the hit the worst. It had been shut down since Malesh’s guards found out that Lumaris had stayed there during the Harvest Market the year she left Janal.

“Hey boy!” Pulo hissed from above. “What you doing here this time of night? Going to visit your sister again?”

“Uh, y-yes, yes.” Tristan lied. “Fiona wanted me to tell her if Lumaris returned tonight.”

“Ah, if she did, tell me on your way out. I know that girl has learned some secrets. Probably in town already.” Pulo got down from the tower and undid the small gate again. “Heard rumors someone was riding in the back of Ulrich’s wagon when he came back two weeks ago. All rumors say it was Lumaris.”

Tristan looked at him. “I believe that was the day LaRuse arrived.” He muttered. “Thank you for letting me in so late. I promise to tell you before I leave.” The moon son ran down the street to the square. Going west he went straight through an alley to the noble’s street. Saphira was at the end of the street in the biggest house. Tristan saw LaRuse get let in through the front door.

Careful of the bright candles, Tristan snuck to the garden and under the parlor window where Saphira and her father took guests. He lucked out with the window being open. Saphira’s voice floated through the crack. “ . . . go into the forest?”

“Soon, soon.” A female voice answered. “I just want to get to know Selena a little more.” Tristan crept up to look over the sill.

He saw Saphira in a fuchsia evening robe. Whomever she was talking to was out of sight. “You can get to know her after you defeat You-know-who. I know that you will survive the legend.”

Legend? Was she talking to Lumaris?

“I don’t know if I survive. Sure it ends saying that I unite the broken land under the light but that doesn’t mean that I do it alive.” Lumaris said. “Besides, I have to sneak into the Living Forest.”

Tristan moved to see what Lumaris looked like. She was out of the window’s range of sight. All he heard was her voice. She sounded more mature than the fourteen year old girl he met back in Caviler. Taller too.

“Lumaris,” Saphira sighed. “Talk to Hanri and dare him to go into the forest. He’ll dare you to follow him. That way you are technically sneaking in.”

“No, it doesn’t count if I plan it.” Lumaris sighed herself. “Something will come up. Look, my father is happy to have extra help on the farm. If he finds out it’s me, he’ll make me stay in the house. I’ll have to go against his word deliberately in order to get into the forest or even to leave to fight Malesh!”

“Shh!” Saphira ran up to Lumaris and covered her mouth. Tristan could only see the blonde noble’s back. “You know better than to say his name here in Janal!”

“No. His name is forbidden here because people fear that he will hear them and he’ll come, but he won’t! He won’t. He hasn’t used any magic at all in over a year.”

Saphira stepped back. Tristan mouthed with her, “What?”

“I’ve heard nothing else. There are too many possibilities in his favor than ours.” Lumaris sighed again. “Let’s let things work out on their own for a while longer. Then I’ll just walk right on into the Living Forest for my true weapon.” Tristan had heard enough. He snuck away and back to the gate. He told Pulo that Lumaris was indeed back in Janal.

It was all over Janal the next morning. “Lumaris is back! Lumaris is back! Lumaris is back!” Everywhere you turned her name was spoken on every pair of lips. LaRuse and Ender felt uneasy hearing that name all day selling herbs and apples to various businesses. Hanri was quite happy to hear that his sister was back, but got no answer as to where she was located in the village.

“Perhaps I wasn’t seeing things that day. That was her in the wagon.” Ender said to himself. LaRuse heard him and was unusually silent for the rest of the day.

That night Tristan went to help Penny watch Selena. He found LaRuse in Selena’s nursery alone with the two year old. “You wanna hear a story Selena?” He asked in his rich voice.

Selena clapped rapidly. “Yea! Yea! Yea! Stowy!” She squealed. LaRuse chuckled. Tristan put his hand to his chin.

That’s how I’ll get her to sneak into the forest.

The next morning Tristan took Selena outside, with LaRuse’s knowing. Curious, the Elf followed the boy from a good distance. What’s with the gleam in his eye? I don’t like this one bit.

Tristan set Selena down by the spring far from her family’s knowledge. “There. I’ll stay here but you just explore around.” He waggled his fingers at her innocent face then sat on a stump.

Selena, seeing that he no longer wanted to play with her, turned to the spring. She didn’t see anything interesting there and turned to the forest. She put a finger in her mouth and looked up and up and up and up to the tree’s top. She had never seen anything so tall before. She was leaning back so far she fell back on her bum.

LaRuse and Ender came along wondering where Tristan had gone off to with Selena. They came by as the toddler began to crawl into the forest. Tristan just sat on a stump not paying any attention to her. “Tristan! Grab Selena!” Ender yelled.

Seeing that he wouldn’t make it in time, LaRuse ran to grab her instead. Vines crept from the forest’s tree top. Selena was completely unaware as she followed a butterfly.

LaRuse lengthened his stride and ran faster. “Selena!” He called in a female’s voice. Ender had started to run after him and stopped. He knew that voice.

Selena was inside the forest and squealed as the butterfly played with her. Tristan turned around and shot up as LaRuse ed him. Into the forest LaRuse went and a blue flash came from his head. Ender caught up and yelled, “Tristan! What the hell were you thinking?! No! You weren’t thinking at all!”

“I was thinking of showing you that!” Tristan pointed to the person who now held Selena at the threshold.

There stood a young woman of about 5’ 7” with short night black hair and baby blue eyes. The old cloak she had worn was now green as the summer grass with a silver leaf clasp at her neck. The clothes under the cloak turned from tros and a shirt to a tunic, a light blue vest with a gold L over her heart, and knee length flowing skirt with moon god blue stockings and polished shining knight’s boots. On her waist was a metal and sheep skin belt with a fist-sized moon stone and at her hip hung a sword with the symbol of the moon god himself.

Ender blinked several times. “Selena…”

The woman smiled sadly. “No. Father, I am your elder daughter Lumaris. I’ve returned from Torr.”

The aging farmer felt his knees weaken. The woman standing before him looked just like his first wife only with shorter hair. Lumaris moved her hair out of her face and behind her ears. They were still slightly pointed as before. “Lumaris… you look just like your mother.”

Lumaris looked down at her baby sister. She had white eyes and on her right arm was the sign of the serpent. A lake child. Janal’s newborn lake child was her

sister Selena. She looked back up to her father with a gentle smile. “I have been in disguise since you saw me on Ulrich’s wagon. I wanted to spend some time with the family before I went into the forest.”

“Why must you go into the forest? You’re home now, you can stay.” Ender pleaded. Tristan snuck away to give them some privacy.

“It is in the legend, Father. I am the Human Magicker, and I must retrieve the Golden Blade that rests within the center of the forest.” Lumaris shifted Selena’s weight. “It is my true weapon and with it I will fight and defeat Malesh.”

Ender gasped and crouched slightly. “You know you should not say his name. Why do you speak of fighting him?”

“As I have said, Father, it is in the legend. I must do so if Kraal is to be united under the light, as is my destiny.” She swallowed to moisten her dry throat. “Father, have I not made you proud with all my accomplishments in the past two years?”

Ender sat on the tree stump just next to the border of the forest. He was quiet for a long time. Then he said, “You have. I have heard that you even made alliances with demons.”

“The water and air demons are fed up with Malesh and the legend after these last three millennia. Father, there is also something you should know about Mother, my brothers, and me.”

17—The Final Goodbyes

Lumaris found her way to the library. Here she would learn of ways to enhance her magical abilities and study about the history of Kraal. Most of all, she would search and find the scroll with the black seal on it.

She was overwhelmed with the sheer size of the vast library. There were catwalks and staircases all over the place to reach each niche of scrolls. There were young and training Elves there already doing their studies and researching. Some had more than one. From the niches she could reach on the floor, each one was labeled in both Elvin and human language.

She’d found the scrolls her teacher told her to retrieve. Then she searched for the scroll with the black seal. After two weeks she had a lead on where he was. The forbidden room above the library through a secret trapdoor. Once she found it she had to break the rules and break the seal without permission to read it… .

“On the scroll was the story of the fifth race. Humans with wings who could perform magic, fly, and transform at will. They were a mixture of all four races. They had disappeared with Malesh took over their mountain and turned the foot of it into a prison camp. Some escaped and started a new life. Most keep track of bones in the Dragons’ Bone yard, others shed their wings and hid among the humans. Mother was a descendant of one of them.” Lumaris finished her explanation.

Ender was silent. “A fifth race. Your mother said something about that to your brothers as babies.”

“My brothers have grown too old to earn their wings. I have not. I… might have them when I come back from the forest. I might not.” She said timidly. “I am the first Gods’ child of the fifth race.”

Her father laughed softly. “I’d like to see that and know it’s real. I thought I saw your mother’s once, but I’m not so sure. I was half asleep.”

Lumaris wanted to step closer to her father, but once she was outside the forest, she didn’t think she’d get back in. “I think it depends on the gods now, not me. Father, please know that I am your real daughter though I was dead for two years.” Ender looked at her with a knowing look. A white owl perched on a branch and watched the seen with large brown eyes.

“Saphira told me everything. The town has awaited for you to return for over a year. What do I say to them now? Everyone knows you’re back.” Ender sighed.

Lumaris smiled and let Selena grab her finger in her strong grip. “Tell them that LaRuse was me. It will prove to the non-believing nobles that I truly am the Human Magicker. Saphira told me that only the nobles do not believe. They think that LaRuse was a real Elf boy and that I am just a runaway.” She thought a moment. “Take Selena.”

Ender took his second daughter and Lumaris went to her belt. She pulled out a small dagger in a sturdy leather sheath on a tough deer hide belt. “Show them this. It’s an Elvin blade. The blacksmiths will vouch for it.”

“Vouch?” Ender questioned the new word as he took the weapon.

“It means they can the dagger is made by Elvin hands. I will return with a new sword,” She motioned to her sword on her left hip. “and new power. I don’t know how long I’ll be gone this time, but I promise that I will not leave Janal without your knowledge again.”

Ender stepped forward and hugged Lumaris tightly, but was careful of Selena. “You made me proud by all your accomplishments, because you showed me that you were ready to grow up. I have to it, you were a quiet brat when you left and you knew next to nothing of what was outside Janal.” He gave her a broad smile. “Now you know more than I could ever imagine or dream. We’ll be praying to the gods to give you a victory.” He kissed her hair.

Selena reached out and hugged her big sister. She pulled back and said, “Wu-mawis.” Lumaris and Ender chuckled as the child’s attempt to speak her sister’s name.

“I love you Selena. Don’t forget me.” She kissed the lake child’s head and turned with her lips pressed into a hard line. She took a few steps forward and looked back. Ender waved Selena’s free hand, her other was having its thumb sucked. The girls’ father was still smiling brightly.

With the new encouragement, Lumaris smiled back and walked into the forest. The white owl that had watched the whole scene hooted loudly grabbing Ender’s attention. He looked up and raised an eyebrow to it.

The owl hooted again and flapped its wings. The owl took off and descended in a great circle to the ground before Ender. The air around the owl shimmered and glowed. It grew and its formed changed shape into that of a woman. A woman with night black hair and brown eyes. Her rosy lips were the same as Lumaris’ but her skin was a fair creamy tone. “Hello Ender.” She said in a loving motherly voice.

Ender was speechless. “It couldn’t be… No. No it can’t be.”

“I am but a spirit my husband.” She walked forward and put a soft see-through hand to his cheek. “I have watched over our daughter since she left Janal. I have watched her grow and learn to be Kraal’s savior. She is strong and learning everyday.”

Ender felt tears prick at the edges of his eyes. “Selena, you were always watching over her. I knew there was someone next to her as she slept at night and protecting her from harm. A presence that loved her since that Elf brought her to me sixteen years ago.”

Selena smiled at her husband. “I was given the duty to watch over her. She was the Magicker of Legend since she was revived in the spring by the Living Forest. I was more than happy to see my family again. Now that she has returned to the forest to visit the gods themselves, I must leave.”

“No, Selena please.” Ender’s daughter Selena put her arms around his neck. She whimpered at being ignored.

“I won’t really be gone.” She put her ghostly hand on the man’s heart. “I will always be here for you and the boys. Lumaris will have my image, and this little one,” She tapped the lake child’s nose making her giggle. “will carry on my spirit along with my name. I will always love you, my dear Ender.” She leaned up on her toes and kissed him one last time.

Those lips were as real as they were in her life. Soft, sweet, and addictive as they ever were. She was gone too soon. Ender opened his eyes to see nothing but a single snow white feather on the ground.

18—That Which is the Gods’

Lumaris walked for what seemed like hours straight into the Living Forest. Trees moved out of her way once every so often and little animals ran across her path making her watch her step more carefully than usual. The Living Forest looked just like any other forest, and it hadn’t attacked her… . yet.

She felt her sword hum. Putting her hand on it she found it was warm. Warm like a pregnant Dragon’s scales. The sword had never acted alive before, but maybe it was the magic of the forest that was bringing it to life.

“Or perhaps it knows it’s true home.”

The teenage Magicker turned around with her hand on the hilt. She relaxed at seeing the most beautiful woman with long dark blonde hair and gold eyes. She wore a gold gown inlaid with silver threads and wearing a gold circlet with one big diamond upon her brow. Her skin was almost bronze in color, but even from ten feet away Lumaris could tell it was soft as silk.

From the descriptions of the legends, she knew whom the woman had to be. “Simetra.” She quickly fell to one knee and lowered her eyes from the beauty before her.

“Yes, I am Simetra of the Sun. You, Human Magicker, have done well so far. You have completed your training in magic with the Dragons. You have completed your training in sword with the Elves. Now you are here to steal the

Golden Blade of Legend that I myself had forged at the beginning of time.” Simetra walked closer and closer until her skirt just brushed Lumaris’ head.

Lumaris herself shivered at the sensation. It was like the warmth of the sun in the summer. Simetra gave off the feelings the sun granted humans. Warmth, happiness, love, and more. She knew that in the sight of this god she was not worthy of her position as Human Magicker.

“To doubt your position in the presence of one greater than yourself, is a sign of worthiness.” Lumaris gasped quietly. “Yes dear moon child, I know what you are thinking and feeling right now. Rise now and look into my eyes as an equal.”

Slowly and timidly, Lumaris rose to her feet. Then she swallowed and raised her eyes to meet the golden ones of Simetra herself. They were the eyes of a mother. The same eyes as Karina.

Simetra smiled. “How kind of you. Karina is special indeed. She raised you to be strong as well as polite. That is why I blessed her child to be a lake child.”

“You decide—?”

“No, Selena was not meant to be a lake child, but Yanoosh and I saw how Karina raised you and decided that her next child will be a river or lake child. A force greater than I decides who is born a Gods’ child. The greater force agreed after Karina conceived the child with your father.” Simetra put a hand on Lumaris shoulder. It felt like the sun on a hot summer day. “Come, the other gods await, especially Kaisei.”

Simetra walked with Lumaris further into the forest. As they walked, Lumaris noticed that flowers bloomed, birds sang and darted to and fro in the trees above, deer, wild sheep, and even wild boars came out into the open. Each of the game bowed to Simetra as she walked by. She nodded to each of them in return. Lumaris felt like a child being led by a confident mother the whole time.

At the end of the journey was a huge thick grove of great redwood trees that towered to the sky. Two of the trees moved their giant roots aside to allow the two women age. Inside were the rest of the gods, sitting and waiting. Once they say Lumaris, they smiled and raised their voices in cheer. Kaisei gave her a standing ovation in leading the applause that sounded like a thousand silver bells.

“Welcome my daughter.” Kaisei, the Moon God, greeted her. “Just like the Dragons and Elves, we have prepared a feast in your honor to greet you to the Living Forest. You are honored as the first, and possibly only, human to do so.” His rich gentle voice sounded like a big brother.

The feast was great indeed. The food tasted even better than Elvin food. Why else? It was the food of the gods. Lumaris was extra polite and very aware of her manners as she met all the major and the lesser known minor gods of music, certain plants, specific rivers, and animals. There was even a god who watched over the demons.

It turns out that Lumaris had been walking for hours on end. It was sunset. Lumaris was told she was allowed to train as she wished and rest and play with the gods as well. The feast was over long into the night like the other feasts in her honor. If even the gods gave her a great feast, then it meant that it was true, Malesh’s power threatened even the gods themselves.

Lumaris awoke in the night as the moon began to sink below the horizon. Not knowing what awoke her she did her stretching exercises she learned in Torr before picking up her sword. Only, instead of her own sword, she found an ordinary sword. It was less in quality than her own, but it was just as sturdy and sharp. Still, she tested it out. It proved to be different than her sword in grip and something else was missing also.

Gero, a minor god of the blacksmith trade was her sparring partner shortly before dawn. As they sparred they talked. “Sir Gero, do you know what has happened to my sword? I mean the one I had when I entered the forest yesterday.” Lumaris corrected herself.

“I do. I was ordered to create that very sword that you use now.” He easily parried her crescent swing followed by a downward slash. “As Mother Simetra told you, the sword has returned home.”

Lumaris stopped for a moment, realizing that she was already beginning to run out of breath. “You mean… that sword be… belonged to a… to a god?” She puffed out between breathes. “I had… an actual god’s sword??”

“Indeed it does.” Gero still had all his breath. She thrust upwards, only slightly surprising him. She then locked swords with him and they both had a battle of muscles. “It was taken back by its true owner as you slept. The sword you hold now was created as a temporary substitute until you’ve taken the Golden Blade.” Gero pushed her off.

Lumaris purposely stumbled on one foot then caught her balance. “So whose sword was it really?” She charged with a bit of aggression behind her.

“They want you to figure it out for yourself.” Gero said right before he did a crescent sweep and knocked her sword from her hand. Quickly Lumaris threw up an air shield and blocked his backswing. The minor god smiled. “You truly are the Human Magicker. All you lack is your weapon.”

For the rest of the day, Lumaris trained with various gods and rested and ate with the rest. She felt at home with the gods here in the forest. She found Ollopa alone and stayed near him. The legends always said that even the other gods never struck up a conversation with him. The God of the Earth always spoke first. Patience was the key with him.

It was an hour before he spoke to her. “You still have not thought of whose sword you have held for the last two years?”

Embarrassed she said, “No Lord.”

“Think on it as you train. By the way, as for your telling your father the truth,” He turned his silver eyes to the baby blue ones that ired them. “that has put your mother’s spirit to rest. She is now a creature of the forest. Her home tree is fully mature and she has moved in right now. You may visit her. You will know which tree she rests under.” He turned fully to her and continued in his gold voice. “Though you lack her eyes, you are the spitting image of her.” He turned back around and walked away.

Lumaris watched his graceful walk. He walked like the royalty he was, the King of the Gods. She envied his grace and poise. Even though she was half human and half of the fifth race, she was still a step lower than the lesser gods.

“The fifth race are you? What told you that?” Simetra came out of nowhere.

“My mother’s name and where she died on the scroll.” Lumaris said.

Simetra smiled. “The fifth race are called Sun children, my children. Their wings enable them to fly up to the Dragons’ Bone yard and care for the bones before they dissolve into dust. It is the job they had taken when the Dragons went into hiding in their mountains. You will realize the rest of your life’s work once you have completed the legend. Come, you are tired and need nourishment. You’ve trained all day like a good soldier.”

“Has only one day ed Lady Simetra?” Lumaris asked politely.

The goddess of the sky laughed caringly. “Yes, time is the same here as in the outside world.”

Lumaris spent the next few days training and relaxing interchangeably. She grew in power and strength learning each god’s technique and abilities. Soon she was on equal ground with them in sword, but was still lacking in magic. Agite and Pandora never gave her a break about that though.

Pandora may be the Goddess of Darkness, but she was actually a very nice and loving woman. She only gave off the feelings of fear, despair, and hopelessness. Her twin sister, Moira, was just as beautiful and gave off the feelings of hope, happiness, and courage. They were identical twins in which you had to really listen to their words and listen to your instincts to tell them apart.

Her sleeping quarters were anything a bed of heather appeared when she was sleepy. She never questioned, no matter how much she wanted to. Sometimes it was on the ground, others it was in a hammock woven of hanging roots. She went right to sleep every time and dreamed of her friends in Torr and her training.

The training had been meant for kill as her final battle would. She was cut and sliced so many times in the beginning she might have been a loaf of bread. It was hard to get up after a good night’s sleep from the blood loss. Yet, as she got better at blocking and dodging, she lost less blood and grew as agile as the Elves themselves.

One day she came across Kaisei. “Hello, Lumaris. I’d like a talk with you.” By talk, he meant he wanted to keep her sword skills sharp at the same time. Lumaris, of course, gladly accepted.

Many of the lesser gods and a few of the major gods were already in the area and

watched. Gero gave Lumaris a nod and a wink. She nodded back hesitantly, not understanding him. She gave her cloak to the goddess of wives and drew her temporary sword. Kaisei drew his.

“Do you know why you were chosen specifically, Lumaris?” Kaisei asked getting into a guard position.

Lumaris rolled her shoulders once and got into her position. “I’ve thought about it. I had a lot of time to think in Torr.”

After a moment someone called, “Begin!”

Their swords clashed. They pushed off and circled while exchanging friendly parries and low thrusts. “There is a reason: Your heritage.”

Lumaris blocked a thrust, pushed Kaisei up, and tried to twirl her sword around his to throw it from his hand. “My heritage? The fifth race, you mean?”

He stepped further back to avoid her move then stepped forward to engage quick close combat. “I do. What did you learn in Torr from the forbidden scroll?”

Long ago she had learned that Kaisei knew about what she did when she first met him. “Well, I learned that I was almost exiled for opening it. I broke just about the oldest taboo in the city.”

Kaisei laughed and so did a few of the other gods. “I see they did not intend to tell you. It was still a good job, until you were found out.”

Lumaris sighed as she landed from her jump. She grunted as her sword swings became serious and stronger. The swords clashed and clanged louder. “The fifth race is descended from all cross-breeds of all four races. They had wings to make them unique, but it was because of all the dragon and demon blood in them.”

“Yes…” Kaisei said absently as he struggled a little to keep Lumaris at bay.

She found an opening and swung away. He blocked his sword and the blades locked. “They were envied so much they were put into exile on Mt. Hondouju. They lived there and in the Dragons’ Bone yard until Malesh came along and imprisoned them in camps.” She grunted in her throat as Kaisei pushed her back a little. Then she noticed his sword. The mark on the hilt was a familiar one. A bird with outstretched wings overshadowing a crescent moon.

She pushed off of him and stared at him. “The sword I had used…” Kaisei sighed. “ . . . that was your sword?”

“It is. I let you borrow it when I saw that you had no weapon of your own. You handle a god’s weapon well for a mortal. You will be able to master the Golden Blade in no time once you find it.” He sheathed his sword. “You will begin your search now.”

19—Mother meets Daughter

After that fight, Lumaris handed over her sword. She was to now look for the Golden Blade. Her sword training was finished with the gods and her magic training would begin with the sword itself. She now wandered the woods in search of the center. The animals were less and the sun was more. All that inhabited this part of the woods were spirits of the dead in the sky tall trees. All the small animals and birds were the dead that had earned a place of eternal rest. Most of them were of the fifth race.

Her mother’s race.

Lumaris stopped. All this time and she never asked about her mother. Was that wrong? No, she had to be a good daughter to know about her mother though.

What did she know about her mother? Selena died giving birth to her and she was over 1900 years old descent from the fifth race. That’s what she knew.

She plopped her bum right on the mossy floor, ignoring the swamp-like feel of it. “I don’t know anything about my mother.” She wiped at a tear rolling down her cheek. “I’m such a lousy daughter.” For ten minutes she sat their continually drying her face of tears. Her heart silently broke.

When she finished she walked again. She walked even after the sun set and the air turned gray with her mood. She trudged through until her feet dragged along the soft ground. The trees moaned and creaked as they moved somewhere out of

her sight. She jerked as she found herself nodding as she walked. A tree raised its root and she tripped over it. She laid there all night, knocked out on impact.

The gavel hit the limestone carved high desk. “This court-marshal will come to order now!” The judge called. The room that had been murmuring for the past twenty minutes quieted and sat down. Lumaris sat at the front in the guilty chair. She had been found out with the Black Scroll.

“Farmer Lumaris of Janal, Human Magicker of Kraal.” The judge addressed her class and formal title. “You have been found guilty of breaking the seal and reading the forbidden scroll. You have also been found guilty of harboring the forbidden scroll in your room. What is your plea?”

She sighed and stood, her heart racing. “Guilty your honor.” The room gasped.

“We are fair here in Torr. So tell us your story before we present you with punishment.” The judge said. Lumaris was glad the judge was an ordinary citizen of the people voted to his position, just like the judge back in her village.

Lumaris nodded to him. She took in a breath and folded her shackled hands in front of her. “Three days before I came to Torr I visited the Dragons’ Bone yard one last time. There I encountered people with wings.” The people murmured again and the jurors looked at her more intently. Elves—dark or light—knew when a human lied. “I didn’t know what to make of them, but they were not evil or threatening. One of them came up to me and explained what they were doing with the remains of the Dragon that had died there two weeks before, and told me to seek the scroll with the black seal in Torr. I would learn the truth of the fifth race and fulfill my duty if I did.” She licked her lips awaiting her punishment.

The jurors debated quietly as the minutes ticked by. Lumaris may have been

standing right next to them but she heard nothing as she awaited to be banished from Torr.

The head juror finally stood solemnly. His hard features of at least 1000 years unreadable. “We need to know one more thing before we reach our final decision. Was your mother’s name Selena?” Confused Lumaris nodded in confirmation. The jury debated another three minutes. “We’ve agreed that your punishment will be to train until you fall from blood loss.” The crowd gasped loudly. “As a descendant of the fifth race you are to be treated like the cross breed you are.” The voice echoed in her head.

Lumaris awoke with a start. What had woken her? An owl’s hoot above. She looked up to see a snow white owl with big brown eyes. The presence of the spirit was familiar and warm. “Do I know you?” She asked getting up.

“Only while you slept.” The owl took flight in a flurry of feathers and circled down to Lumaris. The owl landed on a low branch of its tree. “Where are you headed child?”

“I am searching for the center of the forest. Do you know the way I should go?” Lumaris asked as though she were in Simetra’s presence.

The owl hooted gently and said in her silver bell voice, “The center changes, but I have seen it. A great living rock of a Dragon with a sword pierced in its back. It would attack even a spirit for going near the prize it carries.” She preened her wing for a moment. “I last saw it two days ago heading north.”

“North, you say? Thank you.” She did her polite bow, which Lumaris now knew was a demon’s bow to authority.

“What was that child? What you just did now.” The owl asked.

Lumaris turned back slowly. “It was a demon’s polite bow. A bow to authority figures.”

“I see.” The owl jumped with spread wings. In shimmering lights the owl grew

bigger and more slender. The next thing Lumaris knew she was looking at a taller brown-eyed version of herself. “The legend is coming to . You are as you are described in the prophecy.”

Swallowing her fear and shock, Lumaris asked, “As I am described?” Her stomach threatened to fall from the woman’s likeness to her.

“Cunning as a demon, secretive as a Dragon. You did well to fool the humans, but they have no magic to prevent that. As one of the fifth race, you have properties of all the other races. Your naivety is of human, your skills and grace are of Elves, the secretive nature you’ve traveled in is of Dragons, lastly, your adaptability to fool even your own family. Your ancient demon heritage.” The woman smiled. “How proud the gods are of you.”

“So all that I do and have done is because of my ancient heritage of cross breeding? Because I instinctively do so?” Lumaris started to get a little upset.

“Yes. All of us of the fifth race do so. You would be called a high one were you pure.” The woman’s smile did not waver.

Lumaris’ body tensed up. “How the hell do you—”

“Watch your mouth young lady!” The woman scowled. “You were not raised like that!”

Lumaris jumped back. This woman didn’t scare her, just came on strong in that

moment. Why did she react like a mother just now? Right, because she was a mother in life. Just how did she know how she was raised?

The woman sighed and the scowl disappeared as though it never was. “I’m sorry. I never mothered you, Karina did. She did a good job of it too. You can be a lady or warrior when the situation calls for either.”

Lumaris relaxed and stood straight, slowly getting out of her fighting stance. “Mother?”

Ender looked at the forest. It had been weeks since his daughter went in. The forest had been quiet too, no movement whatsoever. With the word in Janal that Lumaris was searching for the treasure in the forest, people have been saying that as LaRuse, she was among the living for the last time. All the nobles’ daughters, except for Saphira, were embarrassed about all the times they flirted with LaRuse. They were holed up in their homes fuming for days. All the nobles’ sons were shocked that a girl had bested them all in fencing.

“Father,” Hanri called Ender’s attention back to the present. “Lumaris is alright. She’s survived You-know-who’s forces across the river and she’s met Dragons and Elves. I know she is alive.”

The aging tanned farmer smiled at his nine year old son. “You’re right. She is alive. She has a guardian angel watching over her in there.”

“She does?” Hanri stood next to his father.

Ender blinked back a tear. “Yes, it turns out all these years, she has been watched over by her mother’s spirit. A spirit in the form of a white owl.”

“As LaRuse, she said there was a fifth race hidden in the world.” Ender turned to Hanri questioningly. “She said that the fifth race was a cross breed of the other four races. They were divided into high ones and low ones. The high ones lived in the light and resembled Elves and humans. The low ones resemble Dragons and Demons and worshiped the darkness. With that I’ve been thinking.”

“Of what?”

For a moment Hanri was quiet. “With nobody ever seeing his face, do you think that You-know-who is a low one of the fifth race?”

Ender looked at the boy. “Of the fifth race? Not many of them are left according to your sister thanks to him. Why would he destroy his own race?”

Lumaris started at the woman who could be her mother. “Are you really, Selena? Ender’s first wife?”

“I am.” The woman smiled again, that warm smile of a mother. “I am still proud of you my daughter. The training with the Dragons. How you handled yourself in Magnus and Chazzera.”

The Human Magicker blushed and gasped. “How-how do you—?”

Selena laughed. “I was always with you on your journey. I’ve watched you grow from a naïve young girl from an isolated town to a season traveler and strong Magicker.” She wanted to brush her daughter’s hair, but knew she could not. “Lumaris, know this, whether or not I knew you lived or not, I always loved you and always will. You father feels the same way, as do your brothers.”

Lumaris reached out to take her mother’s hand, but hers through only air. Warm air though. She smiled as her mother’s image shimmered into a hovering white owl and flew up into the tree. “I will still make you proud mother. I will find the Golden Blade and defeat Malesh, for the sake of Kraal’s future.” She turned with a purpose and headed north.

As she watched her daughter walk away with pride ing every step, Selena sighed. “If you only knew the truth of Malesh. It would only make it harder for you to fight though. How could you know and still fulfill the legend?”

For two days Lumaris wandered the forest. Spirits pointed her in the last

direction the stone Dragon was seen going. On the morning of the third day she heard the strangest sound not twenty feet from where she stood.

Skerch. Skerch.

It was almost like a scraping sound. From her days with the Dragons came the memory of wood scraping against the outer rock walls.

Skerch.

What was it that could make that kind of noise?

Skerch.

The sound was farther away than before.

Skerch.

She sprinted toward the sound.

Skerch.

She was almost upon it.

After turning around a bend, she bumped into a tree. She glared at it while rubbing her sore nose. She moved to the side, but so did the tree. “Very funny, now let me .” She stepped to the other side, but still the tree blocked her path. “I’m serious.”

The tree shook. The leaves gave off a sound as though laughter.

Scowling with fury, Lumaris grabbed the tree and pushed herself to the side. The tree’s vines grabbed her and tossed her back. The tree laughed again as Lumaris pulled twigs and leaves from her night black hair.

“So you wanna play do you?” She stood up. “Alright, I’m up for some exercise.” She ran in a random direction and the tree followed. She ran faster and the tree tried to keep up. Slowly she angled toward ing the tree. She slid to a stop. So did the tree.

Taking the opening, Lumaris ran ed the tree. It tried to get her with its vines again. Only she used the last burst of speed in her arsenal to outrun it just in time. She looked around with both her ears and eyes.

The sound and whatever made it was gone.

But she knew she was close. If she was right, only rock could make that sound. She knelt down and looked for tracks. There were huge snakelike tracks next to

heavy Dragon footprints. “They’re headed west towards the border.”

The border. No one knew what was beyond it since no one had made into the Living Forest, let alone made it through the forest. She would have to tell all her adventures when she got back to Janal. The myths about the borders would be so fun to debunk. She followed the tracks to, hopefully, where her ultimate weapon was.

She was too excited to sleep and walked through the night. The sound replaying in her mind. She stopped to sleep at dawn for a few hours. She was awoken by the scrapping sound once again.

Skerch.

She hopped down from her perch on a thick split root.

Skerch.

She ran west towards the sound. The woods immediately became darker.

Skerch. Skreech.

The sound changed from rock on wood to rock on rock.

Skreech. Skreech.

She ran at her top speed. The sound was so close.

Skreech. Skreech.

She emerged from the forest to a mist filled cliff. It was the end of the world alright. She knelt next to the edge and felt into the mist.

It was cool to the touch and damp. There was no floor beneath the mist. As she went to pull her hand back, something stopped her at her wrist. The mist refused to give her hand up. Then slowly it pulled her forward.

Panicked and reaching around for something to grab a hold of, Lumaris was helpless up to her elbow.

She turned and called to the trees to help up to her moon shaped birthmark.

Her leg was drawn in along with the rest of her body up to her shoulder.

I can’t die! The legend can’t end like this! She thought with great fear up to her neck.

It was silent as her night black hair disappeared into the mist. Simetra and Selena appeared at the forest’s edge. “She begins her final tests. Do not fear. Have faith in your daughter and she will emerge ready to fight your brother.”

It was dark. She couldn’t tell which way was up or down, left or right. It was cold, oh so cold. Her cloak was gone. Her Elvin cloak that kept her warm like a normal cloak, the gift from the Elves. Two sparkles told her the proof of her alliance with the air and water demons were gone. Another sparkle and a shine, her adornment from the Dragons was gone as well.

All that was left were human things. Her clothes and herself. Her back ached between her shoulder blades and her senses were numb. All was dark and nothingness. Then a voice came out of nowhere. No words, no sound, just a voice.

“What is it you seek moon child?”

Lumaris opened her eyes. She still saw nothing. “I… I seek to fulfill the legend. To save my homeland of Kraal from Malesh.”

“That is not true. What do you seek?”

Feeling defeated from no sense of touch or up or down, Lumaris caved in. “I seek the Golden Blade of Legend. I wish to become the greatest Magicker in all of Kraal.”

“Ah, that is the truth. Stand moon child, stand.” Lumaris uncurled her body and found footing. Her senses came back with such a jolt, she nearly fell over. “Come forward and you will find what you seek.”

Still feeling lost and uncertain, Lumaris walked forward and walked until a bright light overcame everything.

20—The Trials of the Mist

Lumaris opened her eyes to see her father’s grain field. Working hard in it, or at least trying to, was a five year old version of herself. It was early morning and her younger self was yawning. Then she fell forward on the spade.

I this. This is my first day helping with the farm because my brother was sick with a bad cough and fever. Lumaris thought. I was hurt and no one came to help me, at least that’s what father told me.

She turned her head to a flutter of wings. A white owl glided down to her.

That’s right, I now. A white owl spoke to me until the pain was bearable.

“Is this the past you ?”

The voice with no sound again. Yes, I this now. I had forgotten it until now.

“What is different here than what you then? Nobody re all correctly.”

Lumaris circled the girl and owl. Then she saw the girl’s leg. There was no wound. Wait a minute! Where’s the cut? I could hardly walk back to the house!

“This is what truly happened. A child is best exposed to magic at a young age. Your body knew you were hurt and healed you while you were distracted by your mother’s spirit. She knew it would happen as a high one of the fifth race. This was the first time magic was in your life. There were others.”

The image of the girl and owl faded into light. Lumaris squinted and covered her eyes until the Harvest Market came into clear view. Karina and her sister were just down the street. Here with Karina?

Little Lumaris ran down the street at a great speed. She slipped and bumped into Karina’s back side. “Oops.” Karina laughed when she saw it was only a little girl. There was dirt on the back of her fancy dress, but it slid off when no one was looking. “Are you alright little one?”

“I’m alright.” Lumaris stood up and smiled. “I’m sorry I hit you. I was running back to my daddy with good news.” She looked around and pouted. “Where is my daddy?” She sniffled.

“Oh there, there.” Karina picked her up. “We’ll help you find him.”

Karina’s sister scoffed. “Why should you help an urchin? Probably stealing your purse right now.”

“She wouldn’t still be around if she was Talya.” Karina protested gently. “Now then, what is your father’s name?”

After that, Karina helped me find my father and they fell in love. Lumaris looked at the ground and blinked. Where’s the puddle I slipped in? There was a puddle there.

“All beings need a mother, even you moon child. This woman was the best choice. She never regretted the decision of marrying your father.” The voice said as soothingly as a mother.

The images faded again to where she was seven and waiting for her eighth birthday to arrived. Karina was pregnant and due any day with Hanri. That’s right. Hanri would have died if . . . wait. This isn’t right!

The images burst into darkness.

“That was so cruel! How could someone mess with anybody’s memories like that?!” Lumaris practically screamed with rage. A feeling of chuckling tingled over her skin and the scraping rock sound filled her ears. “Enough with the lies! I was injured and bleeding! There was a puddle, I ruined Karina’s dress! There were no complications with Hanri’s birth! I know it! I know it!!”

The sound and chuckling feeling stopped suddenly. “You the first of the final tests. Can you handle the next one?” The voice sounded like it was smiling.

“Test?” Lumaris asked before the bright light came back. She opened her eyes to the inside of her home. Karina was rocking little Selena to sleep in the rocking chair, Tristan was tending to a fire a few feet away from them, Penny was in the kitchen boiling water, and Hanri and her father were nowhere to be seen.

The front door opened and in stepped her full grown older brothers. “How is father Karina?” One of them asked.

“He is holding up. Hanri is in with him now.” Karina said. There was a worried look on her face.

Why does she look worried. Father? Lumaris followed her full brothers to the back room of the house where they stayed when sick. Oh no! Father please don’t be!

Ender was pale and coughing. The early signs of the breathing disease. “Father!” Lumaris’ elder brother softly exclaimed.

“Pont, Mac. My boys what brings you here?” Ender joked.

Lumaris gasped at the raspy sound of his voice. No father! Don’t be sick!

“You were not at the tavern last night. Everyone is worried about you.” Pont, the older of the two said. “Is it—is it the—”

“—the breathing disease?” Mac finished with a quivering voice.

Please no! It’s the most deadly disease in all of Kraal. There’s no cure for it! Lumaris felt tears prick at the edges of her eyes. Please no! Anything but that!

“The doctor says it could be just a cough and fever, but to talk to you just in case. Come sit. Hanri, would you like to stay and listen?”

Hanri gulped silently then nodded determinedly.

“That a boy.” Ender turned slightly to take in all three faces of his sons. “Pont, Mac, Lumaris did indeed return two months ago. She is in the forest searching for her ultimate weapon now. Know this, your little sister is going to save us. She and the both of you have blood of the fifth race running through your veins.”

Pont and Mac looked at each other confused.

Ender laughed weakly. “She told me everything. Your mother was of a fifth race. You two are too old to earn your wings now, (cough) but you may still be able to use magic, (wheeze) just like your sister. Just try sometime.” He was cut off by a coughing fit. It sounded so horrible Lumaris thought her heart would break. Once it subsided, Ender wheezed a couple of times more.

The image faded as the aging man smiled at all three of his sons. “Such a strong man for a father. We see where you get your strength moon child.”

“That can’t be true! My father can’t have the breathing disease!” Lumaris yelled, a tear rolling down her cheek.

“Ah, but you do not know that it is not true. What will you do if it is?”

“What? I’ll, I’ll… .” Lumaris lowered her head as another tear fell from her face. “I’ll stay home with him until the end.”

The tears fell to form a circular puddle at her feet. “Just accept the fact that the breathing disease has no cure. Will you do that?”

Lumaris looked up. “You mean, you mean there is a cure? I could save him? If I could save my father…” She smiled sadly. “I owe a lot to him. I worried him for the last two years, and now I’m worrying him while I stay here in the Living Forest.”

“The cure to breathing disease will come to you when you need it. For now, you have ed the second test. the final test and you have earned the right to fight for the Golden Blade” Lumaris looked down and knelt at the glowing puddle of tears at her feet.

A dark image of burning fields and a burning house was shown to her. “No!” It was her father’s farm! Her brothers and Karina were wrapped in chains. In the background Selena was crying her head off for her mother and sister.

A sinister figure held the toddler by her collar. His laugh echoed and made

Lumaris’ skin crawl. “The Human Magicker is no more a legend than a bedtime story! I rule for all eternity!” Malesh’s laughing again only made Lumaris splash the image away. Then the whole scene came to be around her. Janal was dark grey with misery and hunger. Saphira and Hanri of Magnus were forced to the streets to beg for food and money.

“No, no, no, no! NO!!” The whole image shattered with a wave of her hand. “I PROMISE TO PREVENT THIS! I WILL NOT LOSE!!” She panted a couple of times as the whole area slowly became bright and—marble?

There were nobles and people of all classes celebrating something. “Who would have thought that she would end up ruling us, and what a queen.” Someone said behind her.

Lumaris gasped to see Princess Moon talking with the Dragon Empress, her silver-blue hair up in a high ponytail decorated with strings of pearls. “I know, she didn’t see it coming. There is where the truth of the legend comes to fruition.”

Ender came up to the two women and bowed in his finest clothes. “Your majesties.”

“Ah, the father of our beloved Human Magicker.” Moon’s voice faded as did the image.

Lumaris smiled and wiped away tears of happiness. “These images may come to , they may not. It is all up to you.”

“I promise to prevent the destruction of Janal. I promise to do a lot of things don’t I?” Lumaris asked.

“Yes. So much responsibility on your shoulders for one so young.”

Lumaris thought back to when she was last in Torr.

Once again a grand ceremony was held, but this time Lumaris was wearing the skirt, stockings, and shirt given to her by the Elves because her own clothes were now too small for her, not to mention bloodstained and torn from her travels. Her light blue vest and the adornment from the Dragons were bright with her pride.

She had been invited by the people’s leader to be presented with the Elves’ gift to the Human Magicker. He glowed with as much pride as she did. Lumaris walked down the violet carpet to him waiting before the great statue of Moira. His wife and son smiled brightly next to him.

Lumaris knelt to the king. All fell silent for the king to speak.

“Farmer Lumaris of Janal and Human Magicker of Kraal, today is the day you part with us. Though you broke our greatest taboo,” the people cringed ing the month long trial. “you did so to further understand your own heritage and how you are the Human Magicker.” He smiled broader. “It is apparent now that your ears are pointed like ours, as is common among the high ones. You have finished your sword training with us and will now depart to the Living Forest. Please rise, and tell us how you feel to be returning home after so long.”

Lumaris was shocked. The king never said please unless he was ordering his servants around. He was actually curious. So the moon daughter rose and with permission stood in the king’s spot and spoke to the people. “Though I feel Torr as a second home just like the Dragons’ caves, Janal is my true home. How I feel after two years to return, honestly I’m a bit scared. For the young ones out there, on all my adventures I’ve learned that it’s okay to be scared. I would not have made it alive to Torr if I didn’t it to myself I was scared out of my wits.” The people laughed among themselves.

Lumaris smiled. “Still, I feel somewhat relieved to go home at last. I will get to see my father and brothers again. I will meet my little sister for the first time. Even my cousin will be glad to see me again. I know that all I’ve done is make them proud and help build the resistance’s hope against Malesh. I also promise to you all that I will fulfill the legend and free Kraal from his iron grip.” The cheering of the Elvin populace reached the sky.

“You promised so much to the Dragons as well as the demons too. You cannot keep your promise without your sword.”

Lumaris frowned. “Now you are denying me the sword? Alright then. I’ll have another sword fashioned and face Malesh with that. Just show me the way back to the cliff.” She didn’t wait for an answer and turned around to walk away.

“Wait!”

Lumaris stopped. “Which way then?” She asked honestly.

“You would face Malesh without your sword if you could not have it? That is not in the legend.”

“So what? I almost died reaching Torr at Malesh’s very hand. I have an idea of how strong he is.” Lumaris responded.

It was quiet for a moment or two. Then the voice came back with a light shining down on Lumaris. “Such a strong determination. A hero needs that along with the ability to bluff. Go through the light and you will find the sword on the other side. Beware though. The true guardian of the sword is only second to Malesh’s might.”

Lumaris nodded and jumped up to the light with the ease of a jack rabbit. She grabbed hold of the rim of the light. For a minute she was heavy, then she pulled

herself up flipping through the portal. She landed on the soft ground of the Living Forest floor. Standing there before her was a great stone Dragon with fire burning eyes and the Golden Blade sticking out of its back.

21—The Golden Blade of Legend

The stone Dragon looked menacing and furious. It was covered in moss, leaves, and vines from head to tail. The stone itself looked coarse and nicked in numerous places. “So you guard the Golden Blade?” Lumaris asked.

The Dragon growled. “LittlE GirL OF ThE WingeD PeoplE, HoW HavE YoU SurviveD ThE ForesT?”

At first Lumaris was surprised it had talked. Then she answered it with, “I survived by simply walking through it and then ing tests in the mist at the end of the world.”

“EnD OF ThE WorlD?” The stone Dragon eyed her. “NO OnE SurviveS ThE TrialS OF ThE EnD OF ThE WorlD AnD ReturnS. YoU MusT BE ThE TruE WieldeR OF ThiS SworD IN MY BacK. FoR OnlY ThE HumaN MagickeR CaN SurvivE ThE PlacE EveN The GodS DarE NoT EnteR.”

Even the gods wouldn’t enter? Lumaris thought.

“SO TheN, ProvE TO ME ThaT YoU ArE ThE HumaN MagickeR OF LegenD! FighT!” The Dragon breathed fire.

Jumping out of the way Lumaris used a word of command and the fire streamed the other way. The Dragon came at her himself next. She was hit by his massive

claw. She rolled on the ground to avoid the worst of the fall. She was rather clumsy since the Dragon had cut her arm. Thankfully it was only a flesh wound.

The Dragon roared, announcing his next attack. “Win Strae!” A stream of air hit the Dragon full force and only pushed him back a few inches. Lumaris stopped before her muscles began to ache.

The rocky lips seemed to smile. “Era Rie!” Lumaris was brought up to his eye level. “I WaS UnawarE ThaT YoU WoulD UsE MY OwN MagiC LanguagE ChilD. SO ThiS WilL BE A TruE BattlE OF SkilL.” He blew hot breath on Lumaris which sent her spinning into the air.

“Ari Cusho!” Lumaris caught herself on a cushion of air. She hit the ground running a circle around the Dragon. Her thoughts raced on how to approach her opponent. He was big, strong, made of stone, and every bit just like—

Lumaris stopped her circling. “—Just like a Dragon.” She smiled slowly.

The stone Dragon chuckled in his throat. “YoU CamE TO FighT FoR ThE SworD. NoW FighT!!” He breathed fire again.

“Fira Strae!” Lumaris diverted his stream of fire into diverging to the sides before she was singed. Once the fire was safely dying away, she jumped into the air. Once again she diverged the fire from harming her as she fell. She grabbed hold of the Dragon’s horn and squeezed his ear.

The Dragon howled with pain despite that Lumaris was the one with bleeding hands. She fell a few feet but grabbed a vine before too long. She held on for dear life as the Dragon shook himself to get rid of the pain.

“FighT LikE A DemoN? YoU ArE OF ThE WingeD PeoplE IndeeD!” The Dragon bared his sharp stone teeth. Thinking quickly with her panic, Lumaris pulled herself up and onto the Dragon’s back. Unfortunately, she was at the base of his neck whereas the sword was in the center of the Dragon’s back. He twisted his neck so that he faced the girl completely. “LookinG TO GaiN ThE SworD?” He asked sarcastically.

“Maybe.” Lumaris answered smugly. She carefully stepped back. The Dragon shifted and she slipped. Her vest snagged on the rocky scale cutting between her shoulder blades.

Shaking himself on purpose, Lumaris’ back was torn on the rough surface of the guardian. Lumaris held her hand up to his face. “Lira Fla!” The Dragon was blinded, giving Lumaris enough time to grab hold of another vine, turn it red with her bloody hand, and pull herself up to the sword.

She didn’t count on one thing though. The Dragon’s tail.

Lumaris was knocked off. Her shoulder ached from the impact of the tail and her whole backside ached from the impact of the ground. She was sure a twig or a leaf had worked its way into her cuts.

“YoU ArE A FighteR.” The Dragon was still blinking though. Lumaris ran to the Dragon’s tail, but he swatted her with more ease than before. “OnlY

InexperienceD IN TruE CombaT.”

Lumaris gasped. Her lungs burned, her whole body was in pain. She was beginning to grow dizzy from it all, or maybe that was the blood loss. “True combat?”

“TruE CombaT IS A BattlE WherE YouR VerY LifE IS ON ThE LinE. HumaN MagickeR, IF YoU WanT TO FulfilL ThE LegenD, YoU MusT BE WillinG TO SacrificE EverythinG!” The Dragon said. “FighT WitH AlL ThaT YoU ArE!”

Lumaris had been holding back. Only because she was told this guardian of the sword was second to Malesh. She had planned to give it her all against him. She stood up, ignoring the pain of her whole being. “Fight with all that I am.”

The Dragon stood on his hind legs and glared down at the still figure.

“Fight with all that I am.”

He breathed fire. The hottest fire he could conjure.

“Fight with all that I am.” Lumaris looked up, her baby blue eyes glowing hotly. “Fight with all that I am! Fira Rever!” The fire reversed on itself and singed the Dragon’s face. Lumaris jumped up and climbed the vine and moss. She held on as the Dragon crashed down to his forelegs.

Roaring with rage, the blind Dragon scratched at where he felt the human cross breed scrambling across him. The smell of fresh blood permeated the air. So did great magic of determination. The Dragon used his tail to swat at the little pest now climbing along his back.

Lumaris was struck on the head. Blood streamed down between her eyes and into her mouth. The tail came again and struck her on the back. Only there was like a cushion of muscle there. She decided to look into it later and climbed toward the sword.

The Golden Blade of Legend glimmered and glowed as she neared. There was a pull. A pull between her and the sword. The tail came down again as she gripped it’s hilt.

Karina sat in the chair on the back porch of the farmhouse. Since two weeks after Lumaris went into the Living Forest, she had kept watch for the young woman. It was almost fall now. Her seventeenth birthday was nearing too fast. Only two more days of summer and Lumaris would be considered dead.

Selena played with the small animals that provided food for the farm. She had learned to walk and was trying to master the art of running. Karina laughed softly to herself. Her lake daughter was growing up so fast. Selena was able to keep a simple conversation going and knew her mother, father, and Hanri.

Speaking of which, Hanri of Magnus came by every so often to see if Lumaris had come back yet. Every time the answer was the same. He came up now with two dead rabbits and two dead ferrets over his shoulders. “Miss Karina?”

“I’m sorry Hanri—” She saw something in the distance. She slowly stood up. “Hanri, can you tell what that is in the distance?”

Hanri looked at the setting sun. “It’s a bird of some kind. An odd bird with a long body and the biggest wingspan I’ve ever seen.”

Selena bumped into Hanri and landed on her bum. She looked up at him and saw her mother coming to stand next to him. She looked to where they looked as they both gasped. “What in the world?”

The strange flying creature came down and landed in the pond in the horse pasture with a huge splash. With the sound came the running steps of Pont, Mac,

and Hanri of Janal. Pont and Mac jumped the fence as everyone else strained their eyes to make out the creature.

“It’s a woman! A woman with wings!” Pont called. He and Mac helped the woman get to her feet and walked her into the house. Karina ran for the bandages and boiled water for all of the woman’s wounds.

Ender got all the news from Hanri who was struggling to keep his little sister calm. “Wings, eh? Can’t make out the face from all the blood yet.” He winked at his son. Hanri was confused until big Hanri came in panting and with blood on his hands.

“Ender, it’s—it’s her—it’s—”

“Lumaris.” Ender sighed and coughed a little. “Let her sleep until tomorrow. I’ll see her after she’s eaten.”

Karina smiled upon the sleeping form lying on her stomach. All her wounds were cleaned and dressed. Her black hair was free of leaves and twigs. What she just went through in the forest must have been horrendous. Her back was torn to shreds, her arm was nearly useless, and she had a few bumps on her head. It was amazing she had made the flight all the way to the farm.

What was the most amazing about the new Lumaris was her wings.

They were soft as a horse’s coat and white with a tinge of blue after the blood

was cleaned off. She seemed taller than before too. Karina sighed quietly. “Lumaris, whatever happened in the forest, we’re just glad that you lived through it. You have come back to us. You came back alive.”

Lumaris grabbed the sword as the tail came down. Next thing, the Dragon roared as the magic of the sword came alive and threatened to turn him into rubble. Lumaris’ hand burned filling her nostrils with the smell of burning blood. The sword came out of the stone easy as butter. It’s golden glow enveloping the whole clearing. Pain in her back was intense as something slide out with effort.

“With the effort of putting your life on the line, you have proven you are the Human Magicker of Legend. Don my power by calling out my name!” The voice from the mist at the end of the world! It had been the sword itself!

After a moment, Lumaris held the Golden Blade above her head and called out, “VIGOR!!”

The sword’s power was so great as it flowed through her body. The Dragon was turned to dust in its presence and the spirits hid in panic. The sheer raw power caused Lumaris to see so clearly she saw the pattern on the bark. Her hearing became so acute she heard a centipede’s hundred feet running for shelter at the edge of the clearing. The air itself was warm as the Dragons’ Hatching Grounds.

“By donning my power you have invoked the power of the gods themselves. Now use your wings Human Magicker, and fly home.”

Lumaris woke up feeling the softness of the extra bed in the injury room. Her god-like senses told her she was alone with the door open. She opened her eyes to confirm this. Laying on her stomach she saw in the corner of her eye that she did indeed have wings. White with a tinge of blue, bright as her little sister’s eyes.

“I earned my wings.” She heard footsteps in the kitchen. Karina turned on the fire and put some vegetables in a pot of water to steam. Lumaris was a little shocked at her new sense of smell, but then the Golden Blade had said she invoke the power of the gods by donning its power.

Her weapon was propped up in the corner where she could see it. The hilt was gold with a moonstone in the pommel shimmering in the early morning candlelight. Karina just put some eggs into another pot. The sheath of the sword was a tough leather with the symbol of the moon god and a separate crescent moon symbol of pure white. The belt of the sheath was made of the same leather with a gold and silver buckle.

Her new god-like senses told her the leather wasn’t made of any animal hide from Kraal. She didn’t know what it was made of, in fact. Slowly getting up, with dull pain in her arm and back, she walked using the wall as a crutch to her ultimate weapon. She felt the leather, it was soft as satin and thick as muscle. It would take ten swords to make a small cut in this.

Someone was coming down the hall. From the feel of the outline, height, and the sound of boots. Lumaris recognized her brother Mac. She turned to see him emerge through the doorway. His green eyes widened to see her awake and out of bed. “Hello Mac. You’ve grown so handsome in the last two years.” Lumaris greeted him.

“Lumaris…” He was quiet for a moment. “You’ve really grown up in the last two years.” He looked at her wings. “Will you leave us again?”

“Not too soon. I promised to stay with Father if he was sick. Still, I will stay and

tell of my adventures. Everyone must be dying to hear them.” She smiled.

Mac smiled back proudly. “We all are. Karina is making—”

“Eggs and vegetables.” Mac stared at her. “She’s now asking Pont to go and get the goat’s milk. I’m not sure how I know, but I do. I just heard her and the door closed. I am hungry, but I would like to see Father.”

Mac shook his head smiling again. “He said that he will see you after you eat. I’ll help you walk.”

Lumaris insisted on carrying her sword around. She felt more whole with the weapon on her hip. All that she told Mac had been true, even when she announced that Pont was back just before his footsteps was heard on the back porch.

Breakfast was full of questions. Lumaris only answered a few, the rest she would answer in the tavern when she told Janal of her adventures. She quickly ate breakfast hoping to see her father happy and healthy. She was disappointed to find that he was indeed sick with the breathing disease.

“I had a vision of this while at the end of the world, but I had hoped it wasn’t true.” Lumaris told her father.

Ender smiled at her and put a warm hand on her cheek. “You’ve grown so beautiful. Your wings are beautiful as well. So this is what the fifth race looks

like.” He laughed weakly with a few coughs following.

“Oh Father!” Lumaris held his shaking hand. “Father, don’t give up. There is a cure.”

“A cure for the breathing sickness?” Ender wheezed. “That would be a miracle, but not as much as you returning home alive.”

She felt touched that he cared more about seeing her again than living. He would die happy if there really was no cure. “I would like for you to be at the tavern to hear of my tales Father. I was told the cure would come to me when I needed it. I promise, Father, that I will stay to tell all of my stories. Malesh will think I am still in the Living Forest if I stay low for a while.”

“He may even believe you dead.” Ender smiled. “When did you start thinking like that?”

“I don’t know.” They both shared a laugh. “It’s so good to be home again Father. I’ve missed everyone here.”

“We’ve all missed you too, but come look at this.” Ender leaned over to the nightstand and with a cough pulled a piece of paper from the drawer. He handed it to Lumaris. “Ardros found this posted up in Caviler.”

Wanted

The Human Magicker of Legend

Crime:

Treason

Description:

Female

Black Hair

Moon Eyes

Late Teens

Wears an Elvin Cloak

Swordswoman

Traveling with a man and an Elf

If seen, report to the nearest guard. Use caution.

Lumaris crumpled the notice. She was now a wanted criminal. Most people in Kraal would turn her over afraid of Malesh’s wrath. She would have to be extra careful from now on and avoid inns and towns at all costs.

“They are closing in on Janal as well. Ardros and the guards have had to defend the town twice while you were away.” Ender said.

She looked at her father. “They’re attacking Janal now? After 3000 years of peace?”

Ender coughed, wheezed twice, and nodded. “All the moon children of Kraal are now here in Janal. They must have been leading them here for a purpose.”

Lumaris ed reading in the book History of Janal: Village of the Gods’ Children that Janal was founded for an unknown purpose. Not even the gods knew what that purpose was.

But apparently Malesh knew.

Part Four

To The End

22—Janal’s Light

Janal was the village that has been left alone in peace for the 3000 years the terrible tyrant Malesh has been in power. It became known as the sanctuary for the moon children of Kraal, who were killed because of a legend among the Magickers.

A human—a moon child—would rise as the Human Magicker and defeat Malesh. The Human Magicker was in the Living Forest, as far as Malesh knew, looking for her ultimate weapon: The Golden Blade of Legend.

Farmer Lumaris of Janal looked down on the small port half a mile from her hometown. It was surrounded by Malesh’s demon and dark Elf guards. Standing next to her was a young blonde woman with bright blue eyes like hers. “They are still recovering their losses from the last attack. Pont has heard that more soldiers are coming in tomorrow.” The woman said.

“Hn.” Lumaris responded. “Princess, Janal was founded for an unknown purpose. If that purpose includes luring every moon child to it, then we better move them to a safer location.”

“But where to?” The blonde woman asked. She was actually Princess Moon of the air demons in disguise. No one in Janal but Lumaris knew this. She had gone to Janal to fend off any rumors that Malesh was slowly centering his guards around Janal’s port. She was surprised to find the rumors to be true. Lumaris had crossed the Gods’ River upstream in the countryside and hadn’t known this.

Lumaris put her hand on her sword. The Golden Blade of Legend was her ultimate weapon and had the ability to speak with her mind and heart. Vigor, can you help defend Janal against the soldiers?

“Of course I can. I am a weapon to be used to fight. If you wish to use me to defend your home, then so be it. A noble cause for the people is what I was made for.” Vigor responded.

After fighting for her life to retrieve the sword Lumaris had returned home to rest and recuperate from her wounds for a week. During that weak she went through her morning and evening sword exercises she had learned in Torr. The sword was, at first, heavy in her hands, but was now lighter and easier to handle. It did not take physical strength to handle the sword, it took magical strength.

Lumaris also practiced her magic when she could. Living on a farm she still used her own muscles to help around the place, but sometimes her magic was gratefully appreciated.

Right now as the leader of the guard unit in Janal, she studied the enemy camp from atop the highest hill surrounding the port. She and Moon counted at least twenty full units able to fight with thirteen more having injuries. It was unknown how many more were coming tomorrow.

“Let’s head back before the sun gives us away.” Lumaris said. “It’s brightest at its zenith.” The two Magickers snuck away and hurried back to Janal. They were allowed into the gate by Pulo. He was growing old in his years and had an apprentice gatekeeper for when he could no longer open the gate alone.

“What’s the word?” Pulo asked.

“More are able to fight than wounded. Reconnaissance was right on all counts.” Moon said.

“Best hurry to the barracks then.” Pulo’s apprentice closed the gate as the women headed down the cool cobblestone streets. The barracks was one of the two biggest buildings in Janal and so was easy to spot. The gatekeeper there opened the gate when he saw them coming down the street so they could keep going.

Ardros was pacing in the map room when they came in. “What did you see?” He asked.

“The enemy camp has twenty units capable of fighting and thirteen with wounded men. All of them are fire demons and dark Elves.” Lumaris said. “Pont says more are coming tomorrow morning, the number is unknown.”

Ardros nodded with a quiet grunt. “Malesh is desperate to destroy Janal with so many numbers.” A unit had ten men. Janal had three units at the ready, plus all the farmers and men in the working class who could afford to close their shops. Even the noble heirs that knew how to use a sword and ride saw the danger and offered their assistance. That number added up to about one hundred.

One hundred against two hundred, and more were still coming.

Lumaris leaned over the map of the local area. She was a citizen of Janal but knew very little of the surrounding area. She studied the maps everyday after visiting with her father, who had the breathing disease, in the mornings. Her brothers Pont and Mac took her to certain areas in person and showed her around.

A warning from the Elf Apalla from when she was a baby prevented her from being allowed to explore the land. As the Human Magicker, she had to be kept safe and guarded from Malesh’s forces if they ever came to Janal. Now she was leading the village against the attack.

“Look at this hill.” Lumaris pointed to a spot on the map. “It says ‘Burial Ground’. What does that mean?”

Ardros looked over her shoulder. “I learned from the guards that that’s where the first fire, earth, lake, and river children are buried. You will be buried there as Janal’s first moon child. They say their spirits can communicate with other Gods’ children.”

“Communicate with other Gods’ children, eh?” Moon put a finger to her chin.

“I learned in Torr that after death Gods’ children gain power and become light itself.” Lumaris said.

“How is that gonna be useful?” Ardros asked almost impatiently.

Moon laughed. “Those who worship the darkness are afraid of light. If we can lure them to the burial ground, the dead God’s children can cast their light and weaken them for us to defeat. It would certainly lessen the casualties you’ve suffered over the summer.”

“Where does a bar wench come up with this stuff?” Ardros scratched his head as the women laughed. “I’ll never get you two. So what’s the plan?”

All day ed and the soldiers didn’t come. The guard left the village just before sundown. With the enemy walking in the dark, night would be when they’d strike. Lumaris was wrapped in her Elvin cloak, made of material that hadn’t torn or raveled during her fight to win her sword.

A fight that nearly cost her very life, and gave her incredibly heightened senses.

As planned she walked behind Ardros, the acting leader for the enemy. Unknown to all the men, Princess Moon was in her wolf form and following the small army from a safe distance off the road. With both of their acute senses of hearing and smell, they would know when the enemy was near.

They walked until they were near the burial ground. Lumaris and Moon snuck away as the men settled in to wait. The burial ground had the four headstones of the first fire, earth, lake, and river children of Janal as promised. Once the Human Magicker and demon set foot on the sacred ground, the four spirits came up and became ghostly images.

Fire child Tara frowned at them. “What brings moon daughters here? There is not one buried with us.”

Moon and Lumaris bowed respectfully to the spirits. “We are here to ask a favor in order to protect Janal.” Lumaris said. “Quite possibly your light may be able to save us from destruction.”

The spirits looked at one another. The earth child who had built the port spoke

up next. “Why should we help the living?”

“Because they have taken up camp around your port earth child.” Princess Moon said.

“And the rest of us?” The lake child asked crossing her arms. Her white noble robes were wispy in the dying sunlight.

“The fire child had founded Janal and the river child was the first judge who worked with her to minimize crime in Janal. Lake child, you founded the Harvest Market. If you do not help, then Janal will be no more a cold, grey begging ground under Malesh’s control. Crime will be everywhere and the Harvest Market no more.”

The three remaining spirits muttered amongst themselves. As the sun lipped the horizon, they turned to Lumaris and Moon. “We will offer our light to save Janal on one condition.”

“Yes?” Lumaris waited.

Tara’s face softened. “That you leave tomorrow to defeat Malesh. We have heard your adventures as well. We know you are finished with them.”

Ennell the river child spoke next. “We will give you something to help your beloved father before you leave for the village tonight though. Our way of repaying you, IF you should happen to win.”

Moon smiled. “With your help, there is no doubt of victory.” She and Lumaris bowed respectfully again and left for the makeshift camp. While Moon went to scout ahead for the enemy, Lumaris reported a successful talk with the spirits.

It was right after the last ray of the sun went down. Moon howled her warning. Lumaris new sharp sense of smell knew the ashy scent of fire demons and the other scent had to be the dark Elves. “The enemy is coming. They’re not that far from here.”

The men drew their weapons and were ready to fight. The crescent moon barely rose when the first one came into view. Lumaris gasped in fear. “What is it?” The tailor asked.

Since winning her sword Vigor, Lumaris’ senses had been so acute they were god-like. “There are too many for me to count.”

“There are at least four units to one of ours.” Vigor reported. Good thing Lumaris had told everyone that she could speak with her sword when she reported that statement.

“That’s not good odds.” Ardros commented. “Four to one could be exhausting if the men survive once.”

“All we need to do is survive to retreat to the burial ground.” Lumaris said. “The spirits agreed to cast the sacred light when Moon and I step on the grounds. The sacred light should weaken the enemy so we can slaughter them all.”

“Shouldn’t we keep one alive?” Pont asked.

“We know they mean to destroy Janal thinking that Lumaris is in the forest. If she’s found out to be in town, then she’ll be the primary target of the army.” Moon hissed. Lumaris put a firm hand on her arm to calm her.

Hanri of Magnus came up to them with a report. “Scouts say about half of them are dark Elves.”

“So half are fire demons.” Lumaris looked to the direction the enemy would be coming from. “Shame that the men will burn to death if they’re not careful.” She turned to the men of Janal. They all looked to her for and valorous spirit. She was their ray of hope as the Human Magicker. “Citizens of Janal, tonight we fight for our hometown. Tonight, you fight with your lives to protect the ones you love. If you should die, you will be ed. This I promise you.”

The men raised their weapons and cheered.

Lumaris turned to Moon and quietly asked, “Ready to fight your first battle?”

“Ready!” Moon smiled.

Their scouts came running back to them. “They are approaching fast. Some of the demons are fiery horses and are leading the army.”

“Archers, ready night arrows!” Ardros called.

“Spearmen, ready barrier!” Lumaris called after. The called warriors readied their weapons. “Everyone the plan and stay alive!” She ran down to her spot in the back and wrapped her cloak’s face cloth around her head. She didn’t even bother to use her magic to hide her bright blue eyes.

A moment or two ed before the fire demons came into view over the hills. With her god-like visions, Lumaris saw that the demons were bigger than regular horses, bigger than the biggest breed of horses raised in the Dragon Mountains for food. Flames licked at their hooves and were as their manes and tails. Their red eyes spelled bloodshed.

“Be steadfast.” Vigor told her. “Your greatest magic is the opposite element. You will be the strongest opponent on the field.”

The black demon horses reared and neighed as one. They hit the ground galloping and leading the rest of the vast army into the night. The horses were the only bright lights.

“Steady.” Moon held out her hand to the archers. Once the horses were in range she shouted, “Fire!” The arrows flew and disappeared into the starry sky. Half a moment ed before the cries of injured and falling demons and dark Elves were heard. The horses pressed on unhindered.

“Charge!” Ardros ordered the spearmen. “Take down those demon horses!”

The men charged with all they were worth. Three horses were killed and two more were injured and fell. The last four ran right ed them, but were soon hit with more night arrows.

Next went the swordsmen, along with Lumaris. She saw men fight off four demons or Elves at once and saw many of them fall. She alone with her ultimate weapon remained unscathed.

Vigor cut through the bodies like a hot knife through butter. Blood covered her whole front and her sides. At times she had to remove blood from her eyes, each time she was faced with four or five more enemies. For every enemy that fell beneath her sword, she fell back a step as was planned.

Moon came to her side in her wolf form and fought off three demons as black wolves. Soon they grew exhausted from the constant fighting. Lumaris thought Vigor would slip from her hands from all the sweat and blood on her palms. After cutting down another three demons she looked ahead and in the darkness was a figure.

A dark figure with fiery red eyes and dressed in black armor. “Hello again, Human Magicker.” Terrified at the prospect of who this was, she backed up nearly tripping on her own cloak.

“Lumaris!” Moon called in distress.

When the ground beneath her feet grew soft and spongy, a great light came from

behind her. The demons and dark Elves covered their eyes and cowered. All the remaining men of Janal cut them down with ease and the battle was won.

Songs and merry marching chants were heard long before the remaining 50 or so men returned to the village. The square was crowded with every citizen of Janal drinking, playing music, dancing, and singing. Lumaris had the most fun as she was the one who really lead the attack.

She only pretended as she wanted to forget what she saw.

Morning came with a slight headache. Today was the first day of fall and so in four days was the Harvest Market. That meant her birthday was in three days. She would be celebrated in town along with the Moon Festival. She kept her gown free of dust and dirt. Karina found it beautiful enough to have been made by the gods themselves. Lumaris had wondered that when she found out her sword from Magnus was really the sword of the Moon God.

The three days ed with chores, fixing the wagon, and spending time with Ender as the breathing disease got worse. Each time she visited she prayed to the gods that the cure for the disease would come soon.

Ender was actually worse for wear. He never let anyone know that he was dying. Though he suspected Lumaris knew, what with her divine sense of sight and all. Still, he put up a tough front for his five children.

The day before her birthday, Lumaris was helping Hanri learn to harness Trendon to the wagon when a bird flew by in a white blur. “What was that?” Hanri questioned as he watched the bird. “An owl?”

“An owl?” Lumaris echoed. She looked at the ground and saw a package had been dropped. Inside was a vial and a note. “‘Mix one drop for every child with one cup of tea until vial is empty.’ Wonder what tha…” Lumaris paled.

The cure will come when you need it.

Vigor had said that in the mist at the end of the world.

Her father was dying and really needed the cure she held in her hand. “Hanri, when does Father get his tea?”

“With every meal. Mother should be making it right… now?” He watched his older half-sister run off towards the house like Revile, the God of Death, was on her heels.

Lumaris made it in time to stir in the five drops before Karina delivered breakfast to her husband. Lumaris thanked her own mother for delivering the cure and looked more closely at the note. There was a lot of white space beneath the message. To her sense there was faint writing in the space.

Going to the barn she lit the lantern and removed the glass to get to the flame itself. She held the note above the flame. Trendon whickered in question. “I’m trying to see about a hidden message.”

The words appeared in gold letters. “Moon Blossom Petals.”

“Vigor, does the message mean the cure is made from the petals of the Moon Blossom flower?” Lumaris asked.

“It appears so, but the blossoms are within the forest. No one ever goes in that far.” Vigor answered.

“I have.” She blew out the lantern and replaced the glass. She returned to helping

Hanri with harnessing Trendon. She was careful to get the cure for her father into the other two cups of tea that day.

When night fell, she went into the forest with the purpose of finding Moon Blossoms. The trees’ vines gently pushed her into the direction of southeast. Soon she came to a huge patch of bushes with closed flowers. Under the light of the last sliver of the moon, Lumaris saw the fabled white gold flowers.

With ten petals shaped like diamonds and forming a starburst, the Moon Blossom was beautiful. She was careful of the sharp stems as she picked ripe blossoms in full bloom. The herb specialist in town would know how to create the thick liquid cure from the blossoms.

With ten flowers, she figured it was enough for three vials at least. With this discovery, she was bound to make a name for herself in all of Kraal all over again.

23—Birthday Wishes

Lumaris woke with the dawn and dressed in the new britches and shirt Karina had sewn for her upon her return from the Living Forest in the summer. She put her sword on her hip and headed down the ladder from the loft. Penny was there waiting for her. “Good morning Penny. Did you sleep at all?”

“I could not. Your father was up all night coughing after you went to bed. I was so worried about him, I just couldn’t sleep. Tristan and Karina stayed up as well.” Penny reported. Then she held up a Moon Blossom. “I also found a bouquet of these in the pantry. Are these Moon Blossoms?”

“Yes.” Lumaris let her follow outside. “I think its petals are the cure for the breathing disease. Though I find what happened to Father disturbing.” She drew Vigor and began her exercises.

Penny smiled from the porch though. “Don’t be. Once his coughing stopped, he had color in his cheeks. He’s sleeping peacefully now.”

Lumaris stopped after a thrust. “No coughing to wake him?”

“None yet. It’s like the gods have finally found the cure themselves and have given it to your father.”

Lumaris smiled and continued her morning exercises. “Well, Father did say that

my mother was an excellent herbalist. Her spirit delivered the cure and a note on how to use it. That explains why it effects those with children and why it lasts longer for some than others.”

“Your mother figured all that out in death? What a remarkable woman.” Penny yawned. “I best get some sleep. My brother and your stepmother are already asleep. We’ll be up soon to make breakfast.”

“Sweet dreams.” Lumaris said to her. She finished her exercises with ease and a smile. Then she went jogging to wake up the rest of her muscles, something she learned in the Dragon Mountains from her air trainer. Once she was done jogging around the grounds, she went inside and started breakfast herself.

Pont, Mac, and Tristan were the first to arrive. “Something smells divine.” Mac commented.

Lumaris giggled. “Elves are great cooks and so they taught me. They said it would give me better nutrition while I travel.” She set a plate of sauced mushrooms on the table. “These mushrooms are a delicious topping with toast.”

“Can’t wait to try it, but we’ll check on father first.” Pont picked up the tray with Ender’s breakfast and cure-lined honey tea. Tristan looked at Lumaris and raised a brow. Figuring Penny told him she’d stay up to ask her, Lumaris nodded.

As usual they all waited for everyone to be seated at the table before giving thanks to the gods and eating. Lumaris was showered with compliments and praise for her cooking. Pont and Mac had to learn how to make a few things, like the sauced mushrooms.

After breakfast Lumaris checked on her father. He was napping with color in his face and a small smile of peace. Thanking her mother one more time, Lumaris left him to sleep.

Seeing that today was Lumaris’ birthday she was left without any chores and allowed to go to town and tell her tales in the tavern. Donning her Elvin cloak that did not tear or unravel she walked the ten minute hike to town. Pulo’s apprentice unlocked the gate for her. With her polite demon bow she thanked the young man and headed for the tavern.

There were women as well as men awaiting her arrival. They cheered briefly once she walked through the door of the Soaring Empress. Moon waved to her from where she was serving men on the other side of the tavern. The small raised stage had a comfortable chair awaiting the seventeen year old.

“Cider with honey and goat’s milk, coming up!” The bartender called. It was Lumaris’ usual drink since returning from Torr. Once her drink was served she sat in the chair on the stage and sighed.

“So then, what would everyone like to hear about?”

Suggestions rang out from everywhere at once. A time with the Dragons, a time with the Elves, things she’d seen on her travels, even her encounter with Youknow-who in Chazzera. Then a little girl no more than maybe four or five came up and asked, “I heard you know magic. Can you tell us about magic?”

Lumaris smiled and picked up the child to set her down on her lap. “There is a lot to know about magic. There are so many rules to abide by with privacy and morals, I almost got dizzy having to memorize them.” The tavern chuckled.

“But you are strong and a wonderful Magicker.” The girl said.

Smiling brighter, Lumaris said, “That’s true, but it took a lot of hard work to get where I am. Starting off with my training with the Dragons…”

Lumaris sat patiently as Yuzu finished fashioning her hair in the embarrassing student style. “Today, your water trainer wishes you to finished your training and become a master of water. Your air trainer will meet you outside the mountain for your training today. Then your fire and earth trainers will have you go through drills today.”

“Master water today? I may specialize in water, but still.” Lumaris protested.

Yuzu shook her head. “She says she has faith in you.”

“And a bet I’ll wager.” Lumaris rolled her eyes. “Still, it’s worth a shot.”

Heading down to the water cavern where the pregnant Dragons who mated during off season rested. Being spring, her water and fire trainers were down there beginning their own sessions. Her water trainer’s long azure tail floated in the water like a long sapphire stone. “Ah, Lumaris there you are.” She stood up, her lovely scales dripping. “Yuzu told you what I have planned for today?”

“Yes and I’d like to know where you stand on the bet.” Lumaris snapped.

“Bet?” Her water trainer laughed. “Oh, you are quite an infant. There is no bet. I know that you will master water today.”

“We’ll see.” Lumaris muttered. “So how do we st—” She was cut off by a stream of water shooting right at her. She ducked out of the way and

instinctively channeled the water beneath her right back at her teacher. She gasped too late and realized what she did.

Her trainer easily knocked the water away with her tail. “Good instincts. Now finish it!” She conjured water spears and fired them at the Human Magicker.

Lumaris dove and dodged just to come out unscathed. “Wa wail!” She called up a wall as a tidal wave’s force of water splash up at her. “Wa Chae!” Lumaris wrapped her trainer in chain strong as glacial ice. Her trainer just broke them despite her delicate condition.

“You’re good, but are you good enough?” She sent multiple chains towards Lumaris.

“Ari Sho-wav!” A shockwave of air shattered the chains. “Wa Fra!” She concentrated and froze the water at her trainer’s four feet. While she was caught off guard Lumaris performed the chain spell again and tightened them, but not enough to endanger her trainer’s condition.

She just laughed the deep bell-like laugh all Dragons had in their true form. “I cannot move, or I at least would not if you hold tighter.”

“Any tighter could—”

“I know.” Her topaz eyes sparkled. “Well done, Water Master.”

“You had to fight a pregnant Dragon?” The little girl asked with wide eyes.

“I did. I didn’t like it, but my fighting instinct took over. Now I can do this.” Lumaris held out her hand and drew in moisture from the air. Everyone who could see was awed at the sight of the perfectly round crystal made of the hardest ice. “I can also add earth to the crystal so it is permanent and not cold.”

The child nodded and Lumaris muttered the command. The crystal changed from a white-blue to a lovely light blue like her eyes. She gave it to the child as a gift. “Wow! Thank you!”

Sipping her cider she listened to more suggestions of what to tell. “Oh!” She laughed at a myth about Dragons. Someone had asked if they mated only in the spring. “No, spring is when those who follow tradition mate, and they only do so every 100 years.” The crowd gasped. “The year I was there the Emperor and Empress mated. They were the last to do so and they were the most magnificent sight. They were the first two Dragons created by Tallos, therefore, all Dragons are their children and grandchildren.

“But there was a time when cross breeding happened.” The tavern fell silent as the grave. “This was thousands of years ago, long before Malesh. Humans, Elves, even demons bred with Dragons and each other. This resulted in another race. My mother’s race.”

The child hugged Lumaris making her feel better. “A fifth race with all the qualities and flaws of all four races. The cunning nature of demons, the secretive nature of Dragons, the grace and poise of the Elves, and the intelligence to learn and mercy of the humans. The temper of demons, the paranoia of Dragons, the

quick kill of the dark Elves, and the ignorance of the humans.”

“Ig-no-ance?” The little girl tried the new word.

“It means to not know.” Lumaris told her like a big sister. “Like me before I left Janal three years ago.”

“You?” The girl’s eyes grew wide again.

“Yes. I knew nothing beyond Caviler across the river. I thought Elves were just traders who visited farmers for food three times a year, all demons were of nightmares, and Dragons were hiding in the mountains. I was wrong.”

“But demons are bad.” The child said.

“Not all of them anymore.” Lumaris dug into her purse around her neck and drew out two big rings. One with a starburst diamond and the other with a waterfall blue topaz. “See these rings? These are from the leaders of the air and water tribes.”

Everyone crowed to see them.

“They are the signs of our alliances.” The girl looked confused again. “An alliance is an agreement between two leaders or races. In fact the air demons gave me another gift.” She set the rings on the table next to her cider, knowing

nobody would dare steal from her. She reached into her cloak and pulled out the book from the demons. “They also gave me this magic book. It lists all the Gods’ children born here since the town was built.”

“Wow! Can I see you?” The girl smiled. Lumaris opened the book and pointed to where she was. “You’re alone aren’t you?”

The bright blue eyed teenager laughed. “Maybe, but another will be born soon. See here, there is a blank spot below mine. Looks like the new moon child will be the first child of moon children.”

The current judge of Janal stepped forth and looked at the book. “That is what is written, but you are the only moon daughter in Kraal.”

“Oh no I’m not.” Lumaris put a finger under the little girl’s chin. The people gasped to see that she too was a moon daughter. “How old are you today moon sister?”

“Five.” The girl answered.

“And your name honey?”

“Kara.”

“Well then, today we celebrate all the moon children in our village, including our

own Farmer Lumaris.” The judge said. Everyone raised their mugs and gave three cheers.

Lumaris stayed with Kara in the tavern to sing songs and play games until sundown. She had to go home and dress for the festival. When she came back she was gorgeous in her moon blue gown with silver sash and covered in gold sparkles. Her sleeves tickled Kara as they danced to the music in the square.

Then while they played hand games, the crowd and band fell silent and parted. Lumaris stood and Kara asked, “What’s happening, big sister?”

“Happy birthday, Lumaris.” A deep kind voice said. The tailor and butcher smiled and stepped aside. There stood Ender dressed in his festival clothes and smiled, hardly a pallor to his features.

“Father!” She threw her arms around his neck. “Father you are alright!”

“Thanks to your mother’s cure.” He smiled at her then Kara. “Another moon daughter, and how cute she is.” Kara ran up to him and Ender scooped her up into a hug.

“I dropped the Moon Blossoms I gathered at the herbalist. She’ll start on making the cure tomorrow. I’ll go back during the Harvest Market to gather more blossoms.”

“They’re real pretty flowers.” Kara told Ender.

“Not as pretty as you, I bet.” He told the little girl and chuckled.

“Your daddy is real nice big sister.” Kara smiled brightly. “You got your birthday wish after all.”

“Your wish?” Ender raised a brow at his daughter.

Lumaris smiled sheepishly. “I had wished that you would be well enough to celebrate tonight.” After another hug and a kiss to her black hair, the town continued to dance, sing, and party into the night. Lumaris had never enjoyed so much time in her own town before. When she would return a hero, it would be an even bigger party.

The next week Lumaris stayed and told her tales. Soon she told Janal everything there was to know. With her promise of telling them all about her adventures, she had to leave to fulfill her promise of defeating Malesh. Everyone sent their prayers with her as Ulrich drove his caravan to the port. Ardros once again traveled with Lumaris to serve under her when they arrived at Malesh’s castle, Moon went with them. He received word that Halos was going to meet them at the village of Sodaton five days from Caviler.

Once inside Sodaton, Lumaris wrapped her face cloth around her head and tightened her cloak around her shoulders. Moon convinced the gatekeeper to let them in with her stunning beauty as a human.

“Who exactly is this friend of yours?” Ardros whispered to Lumaris.

“Oh, you’ve met her before.” Was all the Human Magicker said with a mischievous smile.

Sodaton was a village of poverty. This place needs a lot of help. Lumaris thought. A good school, good bank, some food.

“Do not think ahead of yourself. This town has little money because of Malesh.” Vigor told her. “Think of taking care of the source of the problem first, then fix the problem itself.”

“Right.” She muttered aloud sincerely. They stayed at a tavern with adequate accommodations. The food was just edible as well. Halos ed them after

sundown with new maps he acquired.

“These cost me nearly all my money, but they were worth it.” The ancient earth child Elf unrolled them up in the room. They showed the detailed area of the foot of Mt. Hondouju. There was a town that could be populated by 300 people easily. “The mapmaker says it’s dismal in this prison camp. The prisoners are gloomy and grey in color?”

“Grey in color?” Moon asked.

“Literally. If they are of the fifth race then they have hidden their wings. So in coloring our own skin, we will be able to blend in.” Halos said then he hissed as he breathed in and looked at Lumaris. She looked back at him. “I’m sorry, you are the leader on this expedition.”

“Any ideas from anybody is fine by me. You know the maps and all information you have about Mt. Hondouju will be helpful.” Lumaris said.

After swallowing silently Halos said, “Then I have some bad news.”

Lumaris began to pale. “What bad news?”

“Malesh has sent an escort out to every town, including this one, to find you.”

24—Truth and Lies

Lumaris disguised her eyes. With word that she was now out of the Living Forest, Malesh even put up a law that any woman with a sword was to be immediately arrested. Vigor was something she refused to put down, even for the night, sometimes she went out as LaRuse the Elf.

On the day they left the tavern she was taken into an alley. “Hello Elf, give all your money.”

Smiling Lumaris spoke in her gentle Elf boy voice, “I don’t have any money, but I do have fighting experience.”

“Oh ho ho!” One of the three men laughed. “Is that so little man?” They all laughed now.

“Try me.” She narrowed her undisguised moon eyes.

The one holding her noticed. “Hey now wait a minute. I heard that every moon child in Kraal fled to a place called Janal. What the hell are you doing here?”

“I don’t believe in this thing called Malesh. If he’s real he should show his face!” Lumaris snapped.

“That’s it! You little—ugh!” Lumaris kneed the guy in the stomach. Then she pushed him against the other wall. The other two charged her at once, but her small stature allowed her to duck and let them hit each other in the head.

Lumaris laughed as they slumped. “I warned you.”

The first man had recovered and whapped Lumaris on the back of her head. Too bad for him, Lumaris developed a hard head. Just not hard enough not to disrupt her magic. Her disguise was gone in an instant. “What the—?”

Lumaris turned to reveal her wrapped up face and glowing eyes. Her hidden mouth smiled. “Slae.” The man’s eyes drooped and he slowly fell into a peaceful sleep. The Magicker giggled and just put back on her disguise and left the alley. Awaiting outside the alley was a demon guard.

Putting her hand on her hilt she was ready to fight again if necessary.

Then the demon guard smiled and winked at her. “Tomorrow there is a caravan leaving for Chazzera. There are four seats left.” The guard left whistling.

Not wanting to look into that, Lumaris left in search of the caravan. As the guard said, there were only four seats left. “I need one of those seats for my daughter.” A man came up and shoved Lumaris out of the way.

“I have to secure those four seats for my master.” She told the man.

“Daughter is more important that master!” The man yelled.

The caravan driver held the man back. “All that matters is if you have the money.” In the end the man came up two coins too short. Lumaris paid for the four seats and returned to the inn. According to Ardros, he had a run in with the guard himself. They were all air demons.

The caravan left early the next morning. On the caravan was a seer woman who told visions for free. She stopped next to Lumaris when they stopped for noon meal. “I see, I see you are meant for a great destiny. A voice speaks only to you. You who has the blessings of the gods.”

The other engers of the caravan gasped at the masked girl.

The old woman went on. “You have been through so much already. What will you find in Chazzera? A woman.”

“Lucky guesses all of them.” The people gasped again. “No one can see the future, nor know another’s past on sight.”

“Ah, a skeptical one.”

“A farmer.” Moon told the old woman.

“So farmers say that Magickers exist. Elves travel in pairs gathering food for

Torr, demons are evil creatures of nightmares,” Moon frowned at that. “and Dragons are mighty beasts that breath fire.

“Well, how come only dark Elves have been seen? Demons only in their human forms? The Dragons never leave their mountains.” The old woman countered.

“This woman is a messenger of Malesh. She was sent among humans to dispel them of Magickers’ existence. She spreads lies to make them see you as nothing more than a common criminal breaking the law.” Vigor warned.

That would make perfect sense. Lumaris stood her cloak floating on the breeze, but still hiding her sword. “You know the old legends, the Elves hid in their city, and the demons are shape-shifters. The Dragons numbers are growing so that they may leave their mountains to live among humans once again.”

The driver came up to them and frowned greatly. “As much as I enjoy this lively talk, we will be leaving a few minutes. Finish eating and then get into your seats. I don’t want to hear another word of this during the drive.” Everyone listened to his stern voice. Lumaris suspected that he had some demon blood in him. Almost no human was pure blood according to all the records in Torr.

The drive was long and quiet. Lumaris took the time to tune her magical energy with Vigor. A meditative process that required a lot of concentration. Halos shook her awake when they stopped for the night. The old woman continued to lie to people about their futures and said vague things about their pasts. Ardros and Lumaris had to be held back and calmed repeatedly so as not to just shout at her.

Even Vigor had to hold Lumaris back.

The next night when the caravan stopped someone asked the old woman, “If there is no such thing as Magickers, then what is Malesh?” Everyone murmured agreement about that.

The old woman laughed softly. “Malesh is an ancient man who discovered a remedy for immortality in his youth and found magic from even more ancient days.”

Lumaris growled and her eyes began to glow. Moon put a firm hold on her shoulder. “Calm down, there is nothing that can be done.”

“Oh, I have had enough. We are one day away from Chazzera, either we walk or ride.” Lumaris shot up and walked over to the crowd. “How can you all believe her? If Malesh were truly human, he would not know how to use magic at all. No human can use magic.”

“Ah, but there is an old, old legend of a Human Magicker. Malesh is that legendary human.” The old woman said.

“I’ve heard of the legend.” Lumaris said. The crowd turned to her. “The Human Magicker is supposed to be a hero to Kraal. To unite the land under the light. What has Malesh done? He’s terrorized the people into never speaking his name. He’s divided all towns and villages except by business.”

“Do you believe so?” The old woman looked Lumaris square in the eye. The teenager saw that the woman was a demon. An earth demon. “Business is what brings news from town to town. The people do not speak his name in awe of his power.”

“A spell!”

I invoke the moon god’s blessing to protect me from the deception set before me. I invoke the sun goddess’s light to guide me through this battle of wills. Lumaris felt the warmth of the gods power flow through her.

“So then, do you believe Malesh to be a god?” She asked suddenly.

The crowd exclaimed and turned to the old woman.

“Perhaps, if he has enough power.” She responded calmly.

“Who here would worship Malesh? The man who separated you from your distant family ? The man whom you fear so much you would never say his name lest he search for you?” Lumaris asked the crowd. When no one answered she sighed. “I will not judge you like this woman. I am a farmer like all of you, one of the people of Kraal.”

“If you are then show your face!” A young man called.

“Yeah, show us your true face!” A woman agreed. There were more grumbles to provoke Lumaris to taking off her mask.

After a moment she did and down tumbled brown curls. “That magic of hers is really good.” Ardros said to himself.

“A moon child even! A moon child who doesn’t fear You-know-who!” The people backed away from the two women. They were in fear and confusion now and didn’t know who to believe.

“Your future is yours to write. It is not written yet, no one can read or see it for you.” Lumaris preached. “Ask your own gods what the truth is, for you know they never lie to you. Simetra’s first principle: Always speak the truth and you shall live in serenity. So do not listen to the old woman, or me for that matter. Listen to the god you worship already. Ask them what the truth is.”

“Enough already!” The driver yelled. “Young lady you have caused enough trouble! If you wish to continue this conversation in the morning, then you and the rest of your party will walk to Chazzera! Right now, everyone go to sleep!” The man’s face was red as a tomato, so no one argued with him. Everyone rolled out their bedrolls and tucked themselves in for the night.

In the morning everyone was exclaiming about dreams and revelations. Magickers exist. The Human Magicker is a hero for the and of the people of Kraal. The younger woman had spoken the truth. The old woman was not to be trusted.

In fact, the old woman was gone. There was no sign of her.

“Huh. Scared off an old woman. First I heard of it.” The driver said scratching his head. “Well, since you ain’t causing no more trouble, get into your seats.” The ride into the small town was a quiet one. The people were still in awe of their dreams. Lumaris only smiled in knowing the gods would not abandon the rest of Kraal for her cause.

Chazzera was bustling with activity. Only the wrong kind.

People were being arrested left and right, put in heavy shackles. Halos grumbled and Moon put a hand on Lumaris’ arm. “Keep low, Lumaris.” The demon princess nodded to a wanted sign about the Human Magicker.

“Right. Stay calm.” She told herself. She sighed to release the tension from her body. They stayed at a small tavern and ate an adequate supper. Lumaris heard Vigor say something about a young boy looking at her.

I know, he’s behind me two tables away. He’s the son of a B Worker. Lumaris’ god-like senses never ceased to amaze her. He sees you through my cloak.

“Be wary. His means are unclears.”

The boy followed them up to their room. At the last minute, Ardros stepped to the side and swung around to grab the boy from behind. “Okay boy, what’re you up to?”

“Please, please don’t hurt me. I only wish to ask for the employment of the Human Magicker.” The boy pleaded. “I know it’s her—err you.” He pointed to Lumaris.

“What for?” Ardros asked.

“We in Chazzera know she was here last year. He imprisoned the whole town and said we were to suffer for letting her leave again to this Living Forest. I want to employ all of you to break His hold on us.” The boy took a breath and panted.

“Slow, deep, even breaths.” Lumaris told him. “You’ll only dizzy yourself.” The boy complied.

“Let’s go into the room and talk.” Halos said. Lumaris saw a door close silently and nodded. Moon unlocked their single room and they all spilled inside.

Ardros dropped the boy onto a bed. “All right, start talking.”

Lumaris and Halos lit the candles for some light. The boy looked no more than 9 or 10. He had a high brow and pointed nose, the traits of nobles. “I am Nathan of Chazzera. My family founded this town 100 years ago. My father is under Malesh’s control and has all the patrol times and executions for the town’s elderly. I don’t want him to know you’re here, he’ll turn you in.”

Lumaris and Moon got the idea and winked at each other. “Why should we help you? Malesh is the source of the problem.”

“Lumaris!” Halos was shocked.

“Pl-please! My grandfather will be killed tomorrow! Father doesn’t know or care! He can get you into the food storage for the town and is the judge! The people look to him for strength!” The boy was on the brink of tears. “He’s prayed to the gods to bring you back to help us.”

It was quiet for a moment. The boy began to think his efforts were in vain. Then Lumaris said, “Do you know where your grandfather is?”

Moon patrolled the prison yard with two other air demons. They understood the plan right away. Once Ardros, Halos, and Nathan arrived with Lumaris tied up, the demons disguised as wild boars approached the gates.

The dark Elves standing guard saw the two-legged group first. “Halt! What is you business? One called when they were ten feet away.

Nathan gulped and called back, “We have the Human Magicker and have come to collect the reward.”

The Elves talked in hushed tones. The second one, a female, said, “Bring her closer. Let us see the eyes!” The group slowly advanced.

“Now!” moon hissed. The demons came out of the bushes crying that Malesh was raving mad and heading their way.

Shaking the Elves looked at each other, then ran off. Laughing, Lumaris removed the loose ropes. “It worked perfectly!”

“Anything for our ally.” One air demon bowed to the human moon child. “Be quick inside, the human guards are mercenaries of war. They have magical shields to protect themselves against you.”

“Thank you for the warning.” Lumaris followed Nathan inside.

Inside was dark and musty. It smelled so unpleasant, Lumaris wanted to gag. Nathan didn’t wait for her as he looked for his grandfather. She kept up as best she could, but it was strange there were no guards. Were the demons misinformed, or misled?

Up on the top floor they still found no sign of Nathan’s grandfather or guards. Lumaris grew wary. “Nathan where are the guards? Are you sure—?” She ed thru an invisible wall.

“A magic trap!” Vigor sounded so far away. “It’s infuse with the spiritual power of suggestion! Be careful of what you say!”

Nathan turned around. “So He did set the trap. Dear old Father can come through on his word.”

“Your father?” Lumaris demanded.

The boy grinned showing two sharp canines. “Oh? Did you not know? My father is the one you want to destroy!” He sprouted wings black as her hair. “I told him you would come here and buy a sob story. Father gave me a chance and I succeeded. Sleep.”

The world went black.

25—Nathan

Lumaris dreamed of home. Home on the farm a year before this all happened. Her 13th birthday had been normal, just like the ones before. A cinnamon bun from Karina, no chores to ride the less experienced horse around the grounds, left behind at night while they family went to town for the festival.

A white owl watched her dance with the horses and wild animals under the full moon. “You see her watching?” Vigor asked. “She was my eyes and told me all you did. When you reached the mountains,” Lumaris watched Hanri practically drag a fourteen year old girl with black hair into the forest at the foot of the mountains. “When you reached Torr, she saved you”

The white owl flew down between Lumaris at 15 and Malesh. The owl became Selena and Malesh said, “My sister, your spirit still lives. So my own niece is the Human Magicker?”

What?!? Lumaris’ mind exclaimed. She grunted when something hit her face and it began to sting incredibly. She forced her eyes opened and looked right into the eyes of Nathan. “Ugh! Cousin!”

“Ah, so your sword has finally told you the truth, eh dear cousin?” Nathan stood up. He was revealed to be a young man with the same facial features and dark short hair that looked like carpet, save for the strands at the base of his neck. He was now stronger with magic pouring out of his being and black wings coming out of his back. “Yes, Malesh is your uncle, half-brother to your mother Selena. I had the pleasure of knowing her in my youth when I was as young as you are. A beautiful and kind woman she was.”

“How can I be related to such a beast by blood?” Lumaris yelled.

“As I said, they are half-siblings. Our grandfather was seduced by a low one and she had my father. He was ashamed and never itted to falling under her spell. What you don’t know either is that Grandfather was also the leader of the high ones and my grandmother was the heir to the low ones.” Nathan smiled most wickedly. “So I am father’s heir. When the time comes I will kill him and take the throne as my own. Not you!”

“What do you mean? I don’t want a throne!” Lumaris shouted in frustration. “When this is all over I am going to return home and live the rest of my days on my father’s farm! My legend with be told as bedtime stories to inspire the people to always believe in the gods and follow the path set before them!”

Nathan smacked her again. “Such an infant. You high ones always were whiners. Your mother was just the same. She even denied her demon and Dragon heritage.”

Lumaris growled. She tried to charge Nathan, but only succeeded in getting into his face. Her wrists were chained to the wall. “Don’t you ever say that about my mother!!” She screeched. “You—!”

Nathan punched her in the stomach. She grunted and groaned long in her throat from the pain. “Don’t forget, you are my prisoner. I could kill you if I wanted to, but father should get the pleasure himself.” He removed his fist and Lumaris fell to her knees coughing.

Nathan laughed. “Weak as always. You high ones talk big, but you never back it up.” He laughed again as he left the cell and left her in total darkness.

Lumaris took deep breaths to relieve her stomach pains. If the guardian that protected Vigor was second to Malesh, how was it Nathan was able to hurt her so much? She had nearly died from the blood loss from all the cuts on her hands and back. Her arm was nearly cut off from its stone claw and her head was nearly smashed in by its tail. She had earned her wings in the process.

How did low ones earn their wings?

“By killing someone important to them.” Vigor said. “The mother is the most likely target. Why else have you not heard of Malesh having a child?”

“Through childbirth… . just like me.” Lumaris hung her head. Then she shook it. “No. No we are nothing alike. Unlike him, I will defeat Malesh whether or not he is family.” She slowly stood up.

She turned around, crossing her arms as she went, to assess her situation. The chains went through a board to together at one and into the wall. “Hmm, a simple ancient wrist lock. Good thing the Elves taught me more than just about the sword.” She turned back around and built up her energy. As soon as she did a great shock enveloped her whole body and she fell to one knee panting. Her built up energy lost.

“Another magic trap. Seems you cannot build up your energy without getting fried.” Vigor noted. “I have one solution on how to get out of this one, but it will require a lot of strength.”

“Maybe not. Maybe Malesh only relies on magic.” Lumaris waited to catch her breath again and stood up. She braced her arms and shoulders and pulled. The chain groaned and gave only a little. She stopped a moment to catch her breath, then pulled again. The chain’s groaning was lower and cracks appeared in the one. On the next pull pebbles fell from the t in the wall. One more and the locking came out with a sharp twang!

Lumaris fell forward and the board fell on her back. She panted as she awaited for feeling to return to her arms. Then she tried building up magic again. This time the shock did not happen and the locks opened up easily. She was still tired from the experience and sat up against the wall to regain her strength.

A while later a guard jiggled the lock on the door. “Got some food for ya Human Magicker.” He called. “Rather let cha starve.” She heard him add under his breath.”

Lumaris went to hide behind the door. Once the guard was in she kicked him upside the head and performed a quick sleep spell. After grabbing the tray she got out of the way of his collapsing body. She may need to escape and get her sword back, but she was also hungry.

After eating, Lumaris relocked the door with the guard inside. She used her Elvin grace to run down the hall silently but cautiously. She overheard two guards say that a golden sword with a rich leather scabbard was in Nathan’s possession. So, both my goals are together eh? Time for another family reunion. She headed to the top floor where he would most likely be.

Nathan paced back and forth glowering at the sword. “You are just a sword made out of gold. You do not live, you are nothing but a weapon.” The thing had burned, electrocuted, and evened pushed his hand away with a forceful gust of air. He reached for it again and this time his hand went through it like water. “Damn thing!” He tried to smack it away but his hand ed through air.

He growled and threw a copper urn to the wall. It shattered into a hundred pieces and plinked on the floor. The guards outside heard nothing but somebody did.

“A magical sword with a sense of humor. Arrgh!!” Nathan yelled again.

The door creaked open just enough to let someone inside. In stepped a someone with long white hair and red eyes. A dark Elf. “Lord Nathan! The Human Magicker has escaped!”

“What?!?!!” The low one of the fifth race screamed. He walked over to the door as he yelled, “How could she escape?! There was a spell on that lock!! Have all the guards search every corner and every crack for the that little witch!”

“A witch am I?” Nathan heard Lumaris’ voice just before a soft blue glow momentarily lit the doors in front of him. A wind blew the door closed. “Lo.” With a click the door was locked. He turned around to face none other than his young cousin, the Human Magicker herself.

Nathan laughed. “So you are unlike your mother. You do not deny your demon heritage of shape shifting.” He slowly circled the armed girl. She circled him in

return. “Let’s see if your father’s humble life gave you the sense to give up when you’re outclassed in a fight.”

“Outclassed? Unless you are the second strongest being in Kraal, then you are the one who is outclassed.” Lumaris said unhindered.

“We shall see.” He spread his black wings. Lumaris noticed the light shined red on them. He took to the air with the ease of an updraft. “Have you learned to fly yet? Have you even earned your wings?” He chuckled mockingly.

“Why fly away from your opponent? That is the coward’s way out.” Lumaris smirked. “I’m sure uncle Malesh does not want a coward to rule in his place.”

That seemed to set Nathan off. He dove towards her in a mad rage. At the last second, Lumaris jumped high and Nathan got out of his nose dive. Spreading her wings as well, Lumaris floated where she was. The back draft her cousin caused kept her ten feet in the air.

She grunted as Nathan dove into her back and crashed them both into the wall. He came out with only bruised forearms and forced a laugh. “You don’t even know how to fly! What kind of high one are you?” He kicked her right between the wings.

Lumaris smacked him with her wing while turning around. It only surprised him for an instant. She flapped her wings with effort to avoid a punch full of magic that blow up the wall halfway through. “Come back here and fight like a Magicker!”

“Like a Magicker, huh? Alright then. Darkae the roo!” The torches were blown out and the room fell into total darkness. Lumaris pushed off the wall to flip, while calling her wings off, and landed on the stone floor. She quietly stepped to the side a few times to avoid his guess.

“You think you’ve avoided me?” He spoke in the Dragon’s language, which surprised Lumaris a great deal, and a fireball of red light went flying towards where she had landed only a moment ago. Glad she had moved, Lumaris kept her senses open as to where Nathan was.

Okay, so he only relies on magic. Seems I’ve got the advantage with Vigor by my side again. Lumaris thought with a grin.

“He has perched on the wall opposite you. Aim up at an angle.” Vigor told her.

How close is he? I can’t really see anything.

“Take two steps forward and he’ll be in reach.” Vigor seemed to know what she wanted to do. So she took the two steps and stabbed upward. She met with hard flesh that slipped from her blade with a howl of pain.

“You little witch!!” Nathan screamed and summoned another spell. Lumaris conjured up a strong shield in time but when she got cut on the wrist she knew what he had summoned. A shower of ice.

“Fira Rivae!” A river of fire flew towards Nathan singing his wing. He exclaimed again, this time sounded more like a screeching bird.

His voice was deeper than before and threatening. “You will never fulfill the legend! You are nothing but a weak human!”

Lumaris was insulted. Had to be pride from her Dragon heritage. “Oh yeah? Well take this!” She spread her arms and a great burst of energy spread from the center of her body to the walls.

There was a thump on the other side of the room, followed by several more. Then silence.

On the floor and panting, Lumaris knew she could hardly light the torches if needed.

Silence.

More silence.

A small groan. Lumaris held her breath.

“Damn witch…” Nathan was back to normal, or he sounded like it.

Lumaris tried to get to her feet. She slipped on the slick stone back onto her bum. She controlled her breathing and listened closely.

A soft sound, like feathers brushing. Nathan was getting up. The sound of his boot confirmed it. Lumaris began to panic. No, I cannot fight anymore. That last blast of energy was all I had. It was true. She was tapped out of energy and her body felt as heavy as lead. Nathan could defeat her by blowing her over like one of his feathers.

“Where are… are you?” Nathan sounded dizzy. She heard him step. Keeping quiet she found him still on the other side of the room. She smelled blood. “Where are you Malesh?!”

Malesh?

“Where is my father you sick Magicker???” Nathan yelled.

“Fira lita.” The torches lit up the room. Nathan was a mess with blood streaming from a wound somewhere in his hair, one wing hung at a wrong angle, and he had trouble standing. He stared at her.

“Who are you? You work for Malesh?” He glared at her.

“No.” Lumaris shook her head slowly. “Do you not ?”

“ what human?”

Lumaris sighed and worked her way to her feet. “I’m not human. I-I am a high one. I am of the fifth race as you are.” She was ready to fight even without magic and hardly any physical strength left.

“Of the high ones? Where are your wings?” Nathan asked.

“I am half blood, from my mother.” She itted. “Do you not attacking me? Wanting to kill me?”

“All low ones want to destroy high ones. It’s common sense.” Nathan growled. He groaned when he tried to raise his crooked wing. “The last thing I is learning that Malesh had captured my father and that my half-sister had died about twenty years ago.”

Lumaris gasped. “Tell me her name was not Selena and she looked like me.” She fixed her hair and stood as straight as she could.

Nathan looked at her carefully. “Selena? You’re still—”

“No. I’m-I’m-I’m her daughter, Lumaris; and apparently I have two uncles who are low ones.”

Nathan looked at her. “Except for your eyes, you looked just like Selena. She

was born from a high one through our father. She was his pride and joy, while Lucero and I did his evil deeds in his footsteps.”

Lumaris shuffled carefully over to her uncle Nathan and sat on the steps. She patted the step to motion him to sit as well. “I can’t believe Malesh would trick his own brother into thinking he was his son.” Then her mind ed what Nathan had said. “Wait, who is Lucero?”

“Lucero? He’s a traitorous murderer. He betrayed the low ones and took the Forbidden Throne on Mt. Hondouju.”

“Forbidden Throne?” Lumaris asked. “Why is it forbidden?”

“It is a throne that only a god may sit upon. He believes he is a god because he has mastered the four elements and can combine them. He even had a sword of pure darkness fashioned to suit his needs.”

Lumaris looked at her newest family member. “A sword of pure darkness? What else?” She had to learn all she could.

“That’s all I know. If only the Human Magicker were to emerge and defeat him. He would be a beacon even to the low ones.”

“What happens to someone on the Forbidden Throne?” Lumaris asked after a few minutes of silence.

“What doesn’t happen? I’ve heard all kinds of things. More often than not, I heard that it slowly eats away at who you are, your body, and your magic at once. Once it’s done with that, you are just no more.” Nathan looked at her. “I’m talking to you and you haven’t even told me your name child.”

Lumaris smiled. “I am called Farmer Lumaris of Janal by the humans, but by the Magickers I am known as Lumaris the Human Magicker.” Nathan stood up.

“You? You are the Human Magicker?” Lumaris nodded. “How old are you? 100? 200?”

“Seventeen. I’ve been training to become the Human Magicker for the last three years.” Lumaris told him. “I have trained with the Dragons and the Elves and I now have my sword back.” She stood and put her sword on her hip. “You, dear uncle, have been under his spell for years and have been doing his bidding. Right now you are terrorizing Chazzera, torturing the people for letting me escape last year.”

Nathan seemed to pale. “Oh, I’ll need to sneak out of here. Low ones are not evil by nature. We just want the high ones gone so we can be the only ones of the fifth race. The high ones are the ones who are not feared as we are on sight.” He growled.

Lumaris smiled. “Uncle Nathan, I didn’t fear you on sight. I think you’re rather handsome.” He smiled sheepishly. “I can take care of Malesh. It’s in the legends. All I need is a way to get to the castle on top of Mt. Hondouju.”

26—In Chazzera

Lumaris slipped out of city hall’s front door. A group of men dressed in dark colors and smiles awaited them. One stepped forward. “Hello girl. Are you the one known as Farmer Lumaris of Janal?” Lumaris nodded cautiously. “We are the resistance in Chazzera. There is someone who wishes to see you.” He stepped aside.

Upon sight Lumaris grinned and ran up to hug the person. “Apalla!”

“Ah Lumaris, my child.” The Elf squeezed the tall girl. She broke the hug and looked at her. “Why look at you, you’ve gotten so tall in the last year! And so beautiful too!”

“I’ve missed you so much Apalla. What of your wound?”

“I healed months ago. We have heard of your accomplishment in the Living Forest. The resistance has taken good care of your friends. Although it was found out that Moon is a demon…” She raised a brow.

“Princess Moon of the Air Demons. I have her father’s ring to prove our alliance.” Lumaris pulled it out. Apalla was awed by its beauty and nodded. “She arrived at Janal before me to take care of the village if something happened while I was in the forest.”

“Well, seems demons are changing their ways because of a common enemy.” She stepped aside to see the wolf and two men came up. “She was very helpful in watching the guards in case you were to be brought to Mt. Hondouju.” Moon drooped her ears in slight embarrassment.

“Well that is our next stop.” Lumaris said. “I will command the air and water demons on a raid up to the castle and face Malesh myself.”

“You and your friends will have help with the prison camp.” Apalla said. “I’ve sent a message to Torr to ask for reinforcements to deal with the prison camp as you and the demons go through the intricate tunnels in the mountain. Moo—I mean Princess Moon says that is the only way up to the castle, unless you are a bird.”

Lumaris smiled. “That’s good information to know. We’ll put it to good use once we get there. We’ll head back to the tavern and get some sleep. Let’s stay an extra day to gather supplies and help the people.”

“That’s a good leader in the making.” Someone in the crowd said.

“I’d follow her to hell and back.” Another commented.

Lumaris blushed at all the compliments. She had never felt so appraised before. Though back home she was valued as a hero, she wasn’t called a leader. This made her feel better at being commander at Mt. Hondouju.

She slept peacefully by all the prayers of the people. She dreamed of home, of Selena walking to her healthy father. Karina and little Hanri in the kitchen laughing and cooking. Pont and Mac with their beautiful and kind wives. Ulrich the wagon driver and his young son. Pulo and his apprentice gatekeeper. Everybody in the tavern who had heard her stories. All the moon children she had met.

Caviler was also in her dreams. The Torr Tavern Inn. The old man who gave his blessings thinking she was an Elf. Tristan shaking in his ancestor’s arms as he was lifted from his older sister. Penny shivering on the boat by her side.

In Magnus she saw the people in the tavern that morning who were the first humans to learn of her true identity. Hanri dragging her to the mountains to get her to the Dragons’ caves. The mother wildcat with her small litter of yearling cubs fighting off demons disguised as panthers.

In the Dragon Mountains she saw the golden glint of the Emperor and the white sheen of the Empress as they flew their mating flight high in the sky above. The ruby scales of her fire trainer. The azure hide of her water trainer. The pale green scales of her earth trainer. The dark gray hide of her air trainer. The smiles of the two whose draggling she had saved from dying in the egg pile.

From the Black Lands was King Praxis and the queen of the water demons. Their pointed teeth tearing into the food they were eating at the time. Princess Moon delivering a final message to her outside the Black Lands. The canteen of haag doing its work restoring her magic and some strength.

Chazzera had Apalla’s home. Saphira reuniting with her father and promising to tell Lumaris’ own father of what she’d been up to.

Torr, the gleaming white city full of friendly faces. The stern face of the judge as he sentenced her for looking upon the black scroll.

The beauty of the gods at the feast where they awaited her in the Living Forest. Her mother… .

Lumaris woke up with a start. “Mother. Everybody I’ve met.” Times on the road with Ardros and Halos zipped through her minds eye. “That’s right. All that I’ve done so far will be for naught if I don’t defeat Malesh. All will be lost if I lose.” She looked out the window to see dawn peeking over the horizon. She got up, dressed, and put her sword on her hip.

Outside awaiting her was Nathan and Princess Moon. Nathan looked much better today and his wing seemed to work as he stretched them. She walked up to them. “Good morning. Uncle Nathan—”

“Nobody has seen me.” Nathan put a hand on her shoulder. It was warm and gentle, but firm. What he was about to say was serious. “Princess Moon and I are going on ahead and telling everybody you will be coming soon. We’ll do what we can to play along like we still serve Him. Search us out when you get there.” He gave her shoulder a little squeeze and smiled before letting go.

“Nathan is right. It’s best with all the rumors of you going around Kraal, we should do something to lure Malesh into a false sense of serenity at home. Rest and gather supplies today as planned. Ardros and Halos will travel with you for the last time. They don’t want to miss out on the final battle.” Princess Moon smirked. “Take care of them both.”

“I will.” They both laughed at their shared joke of men. Nathan rolled his eyes in good humor. “How long will it take to get to Mt. Hondouju?”

“If you leave right after your exercises tomorrow, it will take about a day and a half.” Nathan said.

Moon held up a finger. “Although if you can travel through the night, you will get there by dawn the next day. You will know the mountain the moment you see it.” They said their good byes and left. Nathan by air with his wings and Moon as a wolf running at top speed.

Lumaris watched them disappear. She pulled out a leaf of Rainwater, plucked it into her mouth, and got to her exercises, as she did every morning. Halfway through her exercises, some kids from Chazzera came and watched her. Then they started to copy her movements with long twigs and sapling branches.

Once she was done and breathed out, she heard a commotion start behind her, “You cannot!” A little boy shouted.

“Can too!” A girl cried.

Lumaris turned around to see them fighting with their make-shift swords poking and scratching each other. “Frae n tie.” The sticks froze in time and could not be moved. “What’s going on here?”

The children were both awed and laughing at the two who were arguing just a minute ago. They said things like “oooh” and singing “you’re in trouble, you’re in trouble”.

The boy let go of his stick. He was surprised for a moment at the fact it did not fall, then turned to Lumaris. “She said that she can do magic just like you. We all know that humans can’t do magic.”

The girl had let go of her stick and gawked at it. When she realized that attention was put on her, she crossed her arms and harrumphed. “I can so do magic.”

“Well, I did learn in my travels that in the ancient days all the races could do magic, even humans. Maybe she can do magic.” Lumaris smiled and winked at the girl as the kids exchanged looks.

“I wanna see some magic!” The other kids exclaimed and crowded around Lumaris. She laughed and motioned to the kids’ makeshift swords. “Unfrae.” They glittered blue for a moment, then they fell to the ground. The kids cheered. One tugged on her arm.

“What did you say?” He asked.

Lumaris felt a bit self-conscious. “I said ‘unfreeze’ in a magic language all my own. All I do is say what comes to mind with the word.”

“You mean like ‘tetsu’?” The little girl from the fight asked. Lumaris looked

around. That meant Dragon in the Elvin language. In the tree grove nearby, she saw the carving of a Dragon in the truck. It was fresh.

“Wow, you can do magic. There’s a carving of a Dragon in that tree.” She pointed to the tree. All the kids were awed at the action and went to investigate the carving. The little girl stayed behind with her mouth hanging open. “Even I’m impressed. You really can do magic.”

“But I—” The girl looked like she wanted to cry.

Lumaris knelt down to her eye level. “You did do it. You said the word.” Then she saw a tear and wiped it away. “Don’t cry, there’s nothing wrong with having magic. It’s a great gift, just try to watch what you say.”

“I don’t know what I said.” The girl sniffed and rubbed an eye.

“You said Dragon in the Elvin language. I know someone who can teach you the language. It’s hard to master it though.” Lumaris smiled. “She’s a very nice woman who took care of me as a baby.”

“She took care of you? She took care of a hero!” The girl threw her arms around Lumaris’ neck. Lumaris hugged her back with a glowing heart.

In the village’s marketplace, she found some food for the journey and had a blacksmith take a look at her sword. It was free of nicks and very pristine. The only problem with it was that its worth was immeasurable. Her friends entertained the kids and had discussions with the men. She decided to talk with the ladies and get some tips on being a lady since she never learned how. She also heard stories of their being mothers and wives.

That seemed to hit a nerve.

Lumaris couldn’t figure out why it hurt. It could have to do with the fact that if her whole adventure never happened, she would be courted back home and possibly engaged by now. She wondered around thinking after that became apparent to her.

Ardros noticed her when she came in for dinner. “Something wrong milady?”

Lumaris laughed softly at his nickname for her. He always thought she was treated like a princess since the Dragon Mountains. “Maybe, maybe not.”

“I’ve heard stories about how all the young men have taken a liking to you.” Halos smiled. “If your problem is no one to be married to, you have time. As one of the fifth race, you will remain young for a couple of millennia. You are but an infant in their years.”

She smiled at the old Elf. “By the way, have you seen your sister?”

Ardros looked at Halos. Halos cleared his throat and said. “I have.”

“Good. ‘Cause whatever you have to talk about is none of my business.” She laughed at the surprised look on the Elf’s usually serious face. Ardros ed her.

They awoke the next morning packed and ready to go. Ardros stood next to Lumaris for her morning exercises. Even Halos showed them a few of his moves for flexibility. Once the three were finished they walked down the main street to the village’s gate. On the sides, the few people awake looked at them with serious expressions. They knew the mission they were heading for. The little girl from the day before stopped Lumaris for a moment for a hug and a gift. Lumaris thanked her and wished her luck in her magic training.

When the gatekeeper closed the gate, the heaviness of their final journey weighed down on them, especially Lumaris. They were heading for the ultimate battle. The fate of the land depended on her winning against Malesh.

Her own uncle. Half-brother to her mother.

Would she have the strength to finish him?

27—Mt. Hondouju Looms

The sun set as they ate the peaches Lumaris had picked out for them. In the wind her Elvin cloak flowed behind her shoulders like water, her short black hair tickled her neck and shoulders, her sword vibrated with anticipation. They had decided to nap for a while in order to travel through the night. Now was the planned time. Halos took the first watch, then Ardros. Lumaris took a short watch since she had gotten the most sleep.

The moon was almost full and provided them with ample light through the night. Rough uneven terrain, a waist-high river, and a thick forest full of a demon guard barricade were their only obstacles. The terrain was no problem, but the river had another surprise for them.

An old woman sat there. She was beautiful for her age and looked quite agile, yet she looked worn and tired down to her bones. “Ah, dear travelers. Would you like to cross the river?” She asked in a croaking voice.

Lumaris hung back just in case of danger. Halos went forward after he mumbled a protection prayer from his goddess Moira. “Is there a toll we must pay ma’am?”

“Oh yes, yes. There is a toll.” The woman smiled and stood with more ease than she should have. Lumaris cocked her head one way then the other to take another look at her. Nope, just an old woman with more strength than usual for her age. “You all must pay separately, not together or for another.”

They all exchanged looks as the woman went on. “ my questions and you shall cross the river. I will speak with you first Elf, then the man, and finally the girl.” Dread filled the girl’s stomach. There was something wrong about this woman.

The woman slowly walked with Halos to the riverside. Ardros and Lumaris could hear nothing in their hushed tones. After a few minutes Halos forded the river and the old woman came back for Ardros. The same thing happened as Lumaris waited on the rock the old woman had been sitting on.

When she walked the old woman to the river she said, “May I ask what you asked them?”

“Oh my, no. It is personal, as it will be with you.” The old woman croaked. “I wish to speak with you about your choice.”

“My choice?” Lumaris questioned.

“Yes, your choice. Do you regret leaving your village? Leaving your father without a word?” Lumaris thought about that. “Do you regret missing the birth of your little sister? The birth of Paladin, Axel’s colt?”

“I do regret missing those moments. Selena carries my mother’s name proudly and will do it justice in the future. Paladin is a beautiful colt and doing his sire justice.” Lumaris responded calmly.

“Is what you do justice for Kraal?”

“What exactly do you mean? I’ve done a lot of things for Kraal.”

The old woman surprisingly stopped and turned on her. “What have you done for Kraal?”

Lumaris understood that question perfectly. She breathed a couple of times from the woman’s outburst and said. “I have done—well I—I have—”

“Exactly child. You have done nothing but hide from the whole country. Only your village knows you for who you really are. That is but a handful of Kraal’s people.”

Lumaris paled. That was true. Compared to everywhere else, other than Chazzera, Janal had the smallest population. She breathed in and found that extra storage of wisdom and courage she had first discovered when she left home at age fourteen. “I have done nothing for Kraal on the whole, but I have allied with two demon tribes, I have been present at the meeting between the air demon king and Dragon emperor, I have saved Chazzera from a tyrant, and I have saved my hometown from an invasion or possible destruction. I know all that will be for nothing if I cannot reach Malesh and defeat him. Everyone I’ve met is counting on me.”

The old woman smiled and seemed to back down. “And you? What will you do once the battle is over?”

“I—” She looked down. “I haven’t thought about it much. I do want to go back to the Dragon Mountains and visit a hatchling I saved, then go home.”

The old woman took her arm again and they walked to the river again. “A good choice for the Human Magicker your sword has made. You are strong-willed and pure of heart. That is required of you to cross the river. For this river has been enchanted for you and your companions. Many have drowned in its depths, many have been swept away to another fate. Now with you crossing, the enchantment will break at long last.”

Lumaris stepped into the river. It was cool and the current was gentle despite how it looked. She stepped up to her waist and simply walked through it. She stepped up to the other side and turned back to look at the old woman. Only she didn’t see an old woman.

It was a gorgeous blonde woman of the fifth race with red eyes and the sign of the Dragon on her left wrist. She wave with that hand and slowly vanished into the spirit of a dove. She flew off towards Janal and the Living Forest.

“A spirit of a winged woman.” Ardros breathed. “That’s what was so odd about her.”

“One of the fifth race to stay here waiting for the Human Magicker to cross to the final battle.” Halos said. “A test of the gods.” They all turned as one and walked on into the forest. They first encountered a sleeping earth demon. Sneaking past him was no problem. A whole camp twenty meters wide would be a problem though.

“There are a few human guards. You can right on through Ardros. Just put your hood up like them.” Lumaris said.

“So what about Halos? His height alone will give him away.” Ardros mentioned. It was true. Halos would be the tallest in the camp. Ardros would be about their height. Lumaris was still a bit too short to through herself, plus her dark green cloak would give her away.

“Lumaris,” She turned to Halos. “I can go around the camp. You go above and keep an eye on Ardros.” He pointed upwards. The branches were thick enough to someone her size and Ardros may run into trouble in the camp. It was a good plan. Once she was up in the branches and Halos had been gone for a few minutes, Ardros put up his hood and casually walked through the bushes and into the camp.

For a while it seemed that he was overlooked in his black cloak. Then a horn was heard. Ardros froze as he heard the branches above shook. The camp fell quiet as the grave. Nobody made a sound. Lumaris silently sighed as she was not seen halfway through the branches. “All humans to the commanders tent!” A demon bellowed. Lumaris mentally winced at the sound. Her god-like hearing made her ears ring.

“Listen in on the meeting. This may be important information.” Vigor told her.

Right. Lumaris waited for the noises of the camp to pick up again before she moved and followed the flow of the few humans to a large tent with the seal of Malesh’s army on it. Ardros disappeared inside. Lumaris carefully perched on the branch right above the small circular opening in the top of the tent. The commander was a water demon. Ardros stood right next to him.

“Humans, we have received word that the Human Magicker and her companions have entered the forest moments ago.” The men murmured. “Be on full alert and keep your hoods down.” They all nodded and few took their hoods down now. “The human man can right on through. Secure the perimeter and keep your eyes open. Malesh will accept no failures this time. Raise the alarm immediately when you see them. Do not wait a single minute to do so.” The men promised, even Ardros said something this time. “Go now and do not waist time.” The men rushed out of the tent, but Ardros was stopped by the commander.

Lumaris heard his low voice with her hearing. “I know you two are here. Quickly leave. Malesh awaits for her in his castle. Travel beyond the light of the torches. You have but a few minutes to the end of the forest and then an hour of the castle.” He pushed Ardros to the back of the tent. He scrambled under the fabric and hurried to the shadows. Lumaris stayed a moment longer.

“I am expected?” She asked quietly.

“You are. The prison camp is awaiting you as well. The princess of the air demons must see you once you arrive. Now go with your friends and hurry!” She traveled among the branches to the shadows and dropped to the ground with ease. She and Ardros ran for their lives to meet up with Halos and keep running to the end of the forest.

An hour later, the sun began to rise. The three topped a steep hill and looked at the small northern range of mountains. They stood there catching their breathes and watched the shapes of the mountains take hold. One looked like a hunched old man, reminding Lumaris of the farmer back in Caviler when he wept for his lost son. Another seemed like a napping Dragon with it neck outstretched on the ground and its tail wrapped around its body creating a boxed valley.

Another took the shape of three peaks, each with bridges connecting them to each other. As the sun rose more behind it, roofs shone black and walls with many windows appeared. Cliff faces with caves and stairs appeared further down. Finally, a small town was at the foot of the mountain.

“Mt. Hondouju.” Lumaris breathed.

“Fabled home of the fifth race.” Halos said.

“Now the home of the enemy.” Ardros stated.

They all started down the hill in step. Each step filled them with determination to free the people in the prison camp before them. Each step filled them with courage to free their homeland of Kraal. Each step filled Lumaris with the resolve to raid the castle and face Malesh.

There was no vegetation to cover their approach to the prison camp. They had to be quick to go from rock to boulder and back to avoid being seen. Time was against them as the light revealed them whenever they moved. Lumaris was pulled to a side and her mouth was covered. The men saw that a wolf had pulled her down. “What kept you three? I’ve been patrolling for you all night.” Came the voice of Princess Moon.

Lumaris righted herself. “We had to get past a demon camp in the forest.”

“A camp?” Moon’s ears quivered in their very straight stance. “Malesh is getting too cautious. Even we did not know of the camp. You must have ed through a different part of the forest than I did.”

“Sounds right. So what’s happening here?”

“There will be an eclipse, part of Malesh’s recent magic exercises. We can cross into the camp then. We must keep moving, they don’t last long. There is a present waiting for you in the forge inside the caverns, but first you will rest in the servants’ quarters in the prison camp ahead. The three of you need it by the looks of you.”

Lumaris didn’t argue. She was tired and almost yawning. Her legs ached for a chair or a bed to recess on and her lids were dropping now that she was waiting in one place. “Hear all that guys?” Ardros and Halos let her know they did.

It was about two hours later that the eclipse began. Once darkness covered the

field they were in the four ran right through the gate before the torches were lit. Moon led the way to a small hutch that went into a cool underground. The demon princess watched over them as they slept.

Lumaris was woken up by Halos’ old shock to the temple. “The princess has disguises for us to wear. Ardros and I will head out to scope the camp while you are taken to see your gift in the forge.”

“Sounds like a plan. I’ll be able to get some information on the caverns for you two.” Lumaris got up.

“Wait so how will you get up to the castle?” Ardros asked.

“Fly. What else?” She stopped to stare at him. “When did you get gray hair?”

Ardros laughed sarcastically. “This is my disguise since I cannot do magic. An old man with some muscle.” He croaked the last part getting giggles out of the other two.

“I’ll meet you guys on an outside staircase by the castle. I didn’t see any other way inside. Gives you a chance to see my wings if you beat me.” Lumaris put on her cloak.

“If?” The men asked together.

“I’m bound to meet some opposition myself.”

Once disguised as a Saphira look-a-like, a water demon, after seeing the proof of the alliance, led Lumaris to the caverns. At the gate he gave her a basket. “I’ll say you are to deliver a forgotten lunch to someone. Seek out Tamon, he’s a fire child with red hair.” They walked a few steps before a dark Elf guard asked their business in the forge. He bought the story that got Lumaris inside. She slowly approached the sounds of hammers on metal, and peeked around the corner. There were about seven men with red hair, but her god-like senses found her the one she sought. The farthest one from her.

She walked carefully to the man she sought. He turned to her as though she was expected and handed him the basket. Under the napkin was a small towel with a note on top. He read it quickly and threw it into the fire. “Strike at sundown before the torches are lit. Malesh will be in meditation then.”

“And the guards?” Lumaris asked.

“Inside the prison camp.” He pushed her to the opening she had come from, telling her to leave before anybody noticed anything. Lumaris left quickly, but inconspicuously. She informed Halos and Ardros of the plan. Now all that was left was to find Malesh and defeat him.

When the sun set, Lumaris and company led the prisoners who were free to move through the town to the caverns. Each prisoner was armed with a weapon from their occupation. The guards were surprised as they were lighting the torches and were easily overtaken. As most of the people followed Ardros and Halos into the caves, Lumaris, Moon, and a few people stayed behind.

“Why did you stay?” Moon asked the people.

“Because we know one of our own when we first saw her.” One said and pointed to Lumaris.

“You are of the fifth race?” Lumaris was shocked, to say the least.

“Your human heritage denied you the innate ability to know your own race.” A woman said. “Now let’s spread our wings and fly.” Everyone called upon their wings as Moon transformed into an eagle.

“I’m not so sure about flying to such a height.” The demon princess confided to the Human Magicker.

“I’m not so sure about flying at all.” Lumaris whispered back. “I haven’t even practiced.”

“Flying is easy, just focus on moving your wings up and down like this.” She flapped her bird of prey wings slowly for the girl to see the movement. “Keep it up until you’re ready to land.” After a nervous nod they all flew up into the sky with Moon in the lead.

Lumaris didn’t show how winded she was just a quarter of the way up. The ts of her wings were burning from the constant movement and her body felt like dead weight. Still she pushed herself forward and followed Moon to the top cave where a torch was already lit. A man awaited them there and put a finger to

his lips.

“Everyone is gathered in the great hall. Malesh planned it so that you would invade tonight.” He said. “He wants this battle and awaits you Human Magicker. Follow me everyone.” The man turned with a swish of his cape. Though carefully suspicious Lumaris kept a hand on her hilt as she followed the old man.

“He is a low one.” One of the high ones behind her said. “Possibly Malesh’s father.”

Father? So then this old man before her was possibly her own grandfather.

28—To the End

The great hall was vast with a balcony all around the room. It was already filled with people. Lumaris’ grandfather lead the others up the stairs by the door. She and Malesh were alone on the floor. He wore only his helmet to hide his identity. “Hello, Human Magicker. I knew you were coming after I saw you defeat all those I sent to Janal. Do you want to know why I lured all the moon children there?”

“That would be helpful. I figured you knew the purpose it was founded for.” Lumaris drew her sword.

“I did.” He drew his own sword. Those in the balcony gasped and were taken aback. Even Lumaris felt the hatred and evil that powered the black blade. “You are part of the reason.” He sprouted his wings. There were even blacker than Nathans had been. “Let us make this a fair fight between our race, my niece.”

Halos and Ardros dropped their jaws. Moon growled. “Lies!”

Lumaris was so enraged at his knowing this all the time that she charged forward. Their blades clashed filling the whole room. The sound was terrible, like a banshee cry. Malesh easily pushed her off and flapped his wings to pushed her back a few more inches. “Yes, let your anger control your actions, but it’s not enough.”

She mentally kicked herself for doing so. She should have known better after all

her training. Malesh was strong but was she strong enough to even match him?

“Quiet? You are certainly different from your mother.” Malesh hovered in the air. “You’re not even up to her amateur level of swordsmanship.”

Lumaris just fumed ing last time she attacked in anger. This time she walked up to him.

“Giving up so soon?” Malesh laughed.

“Come on Luna.” Halos muttered hopefully under his breath.

Lumaris stopped two feet from her uncle and smile. She raised her left hand to him. “Gae Win!” A gale force wind threw Malesh for a loop. Lumaris jumped up and hovered to his level. She smirked at his scowl.

“Innocence runs in the family.” He threw his free hand out and then came a stream of black fire. Lumaris diverged the fire with her golden blade. The she swung it up and a wave of golden light went towards Malesh. “You really want to know why Janal was founded?” he dodged the light. It did no damage to those on the balcony nor the balcony itself.

Lumaris flapped her tired wings and circled the room with Malesh. “You did say I had a part in it.” She rolled over in the air and swung down just barely missing her opponent. He nicked her in the arm. She fell back and up.

“Yes you do. It’s all because of you!” He flew right at her with his sword aimed at her heart.

“Lumaris!” All her friends called.

At the last second she put up her sword and avoided the death blow. She then brought up her knee to his stomach. Malesh hardly grunted and used his magic to push Lumaris into the wall just below the balcony. She fell to the floor with a thud. The crowd gasped and began to plead her to get up.

Princess Moon turned to the man who had led them into the great wall. “Don’t you care what happens to her! She’s your own granddaughter!”

“I’m aware. I’m hurting.” The aging man said. “I know it the moment I saw her. She looks so much like her mother.” On the last word it sounded like he was choking back a sob.

Lumaris’ arm stung from the nick in her arm. She looked at it and it was bleeding freely. Too much for such a small wound. “You noticed at last.” Malesh said. “That is the beauty of my blade. If it doesn’t strike a death blow you will die from blood loss.”

“Stop playing around with him! Use my power!” Vigor told her. Lumaris stood up and swung Vigor, a golden wave of flames spread throughout the room. Malesh was pushed back a few feet almost touching the balcony. When he regained his sight Lumaris was right on top of him slashing this way and that, putting him on the defensive. The balcony vibrated with the encouragement from the spectators.

Malesh locked their blades and pushed her off with a shockwave of darkness. Lumaris was thrown for a loop but regained herself. She dodged a beam of light reflected from his black blade and shot back one of her own. Then she called part of the wall to her. Malesh was hit through his side. His blood poured to the floor.

The muffled grunt brought blood into the slit that served as the mouthpiece. Lumaris swallowed a lump of disgust and apology for her uncle.

“Don’t stop now! Skewer him!” Someone in the audience yelled. The rest, except for her friends, ed in calling for her to finish Malesh off. Lumaris called off the thin column of earth and Malesh plummeted to the ground. She clumsily floated down after him. She walked up to him but stopped three feet away.

“Finish me.” The muffled voice sounded pathetic. “Do it and fulfill the legend.”

Lumaris stared at him and lowered her sword from her ready stance. “Uncle Lucero—”

“That name! Don’t ever call me that name!!” Malesh yelled, blood continued to drip to the marble floor.

“Uncle Lucero, why did you do all this? Why did you take over Kraal?”

Instead of answering, Malesh drove his sword forward and into Lumaris leg. She screamed from the pain as the blade had gone right through the bone. “I told you to finish me off! Just as I wanted to finish off the last of the moon children forever! The very purpose of Janal was to lure them all to one place just for me!”

Lumaris stepped back and ripped the sword from her leg. She took to the air as the crowd now saw why she had screamed before. Her blood streamed down her breeches and soaked inside her boot. The leg was useless now. Malesh used the Dragons’ language to heal himself.

But Lumaris wouldn’t hear of it. “Era Shae!” The earth shook right below Malesh making him lose his balance and concentration. The she dove at him, still dragging her leg, and swung her sword at him. Malesh blocked her but was pushed back into the wall, leaving a cracking imprint.

The crowd cheered for her again as she punched him in the stomach. Malesh kicked her back gaining ground. Back onto the floor they dueled with all they had, each one limping a side.

The image of the burning farm went through Lumaris’ mind.

I promised to prevent that from happening.

“Are you strong enough to do so?” Vigor suddenly asked.

Malesh’s sword seemed to gain strength as it cut deep across her chin. The gasps

and jeers of the crowd faded into nothing. All Lumaris heard was the clashing of the swords and the scuffling of her own and Malesh’s feet.

Halos, Ardros, Tristan of Caviler, Hanri of Magnus, and her father flashed through her mind. I am fighting for them.

The people of Caviler the morning after the catacombs were destroyed. People wept for the lost souls down below. I fight for them too.

The people of Magnus screaming and running as the demons and dark Elves raided the town looking for her. The mother wildcat and her cubs running and guiding them to the Hatching Grounds. “Do you fight for them as well?”

Yes! I fight for Kraal! I fight for everybody in Kraal!

The beauty of the Living Forest. The kindness and friendship of the gods as she feasted with them. The Dragons giving her the adornment she now wore around her waist. The adornment grew warm. At her neck her purse grew warm from the demon leaders’ rings. Her cloak grew warm around her.

“What of the others? The gods? The Dragons? The demons? The Elves?”

Lumaris was pushed back by another shockwave of darkness. She looked up to see Moon, Halos, Ardros, and her grandfather. She thought she had seen the golden glint of the Dragon Emperor, but there was no sign of him.

She charged Malesh as she thought to Vigor, Yes! I fight for them! I fight for all of Kraal and its inhabitants! I even fight for myself! I fight to save everyone from Malesh! I will sacrifice my life for them so long as he goes with me!!

The swords scraped against one another. Vigor headed straight for Malesh’s heart and glowed. “Then you shall use my powers for the final blow.” Vigor said in awe of her determination.

Time seemed to stand still. Lumaris’ blade tip at the point of with Malesh’s heart. His blade tip about to stab her below her heart. The crowd frozen with fear and hope. Then blood spurted in the air, and both fighters fell to the ground. One of them was to never move again.

Dreaming was hazy. People yelling and storming around her, hardly letting her breath. Sounds of cheering and rebellion that someone was finally dead. A dark figure appeared before her. The red eyes confirmed it was Revile the God of Death. “Well done, Human Magicker.” He smiled warmly at her.

Lumaris shot up. She panted from the shock of the most feared god congratulating her. Then she noticed she was in her moon blue nightgown. She looked around.

She was in a room on a canopy bed with white curtains. The floor was covered in rugs of moon blue and white. An armoire was by the west wall, a desk of red oak was a few feet to its left, and a bookcase behind that. By the south was her on the bed, a nightstand with a lamp on it, and another bookcase that was empty save for the book she got from the demons. By the east wall was a door leading to a room of shining marble, double doors to a balcony with gold curtains, and her sword on a stand. On the north wall was the door to the hall and two tapestries with the symbol of the moon god in silver on them. The door opened.

“Ah, you’ve awakened at last.” It was Yuzu from the Dragon Mountains!

“Yuzu!” Lumaris groaned from a pain in her chest.

Yuzu came to her side and laid her down. “Don’t stress yourself. Your wound has not completely healed.” At Lumaris questioning look she added, “He stabbed you right below the heart and tore the muscle. It was a miracle you survived.”

“How long was I out?”

“A week. You’ve had terrible nightmares. Your father was all that would calm you down.” Yuzu blinked as Lumaris sat up again.

“My father? He’s here?” She smiled.

“He arrived four days ago with the whole family. They brought all the moon children with them. One named Kara has been asking when you’ll be better and wake up.” Yuzu stood up, her lavender hair swinging. “With you feeling better, let’s try out that leg of yours. I’ll get your earth trainer.”

“Who isn’t here?” Lumaris laughed. Yuzu just smiled at her and left. That meant that everybody Lumaris knew and had met was here?

But where was here?

She tossed the covers off and looked at her leg. Her entire calf was wrapped thick in bandages. The wound must have been more serious than she thought. Finding a walking stick by her nightstand, she got up carefully and wondered to the balcony.

The view was incredible! Lush green lands, blue skies with the sun shining like no tomorrow, and best of all no prison camp. Two pots with moon blossoms on the corners of the balcony. She couldn’t think of a better place than a free world.

“Lumaris.” A deep but gentle voice sounded behind her. Lumaris turned to the pure white haired Dragon who was once her earth trainer. He was close to death, but she knew he would not Sleep until he wanted to. “Ahead of yourself I see, as usual.” He smirked. “You’re not using the stick right at all. Here.” He stood her on her good leg and had her hold the stick on the side with her bad leg.

She tested it out. “Wow, this is much better. Thank you.”

“We should be thanking you Earth Master.” His name for her since mastering magic over earth in the mountains. She looked at him. “Kraal is free after three thousand years. Reports keep spilling in of dark Elves and demons retreating into the shadows and Black Lands from all over. We Dragons are flying the skies again and Elves are moving to old abandoned homes. The air demons will be ing the Dragons in the mountains after your coronation.”

“My-my what??” Lumaris’ bright blue eyes widened to saucers.

Yuzu and the earth trainer laughed. “You never knew?” She asked.

To Lumaris shake of the head, her earth trainer said, “You grew up among the people, earned their trust, made alliances with two demon tribes, you even helped the negotiations between the Dragons and the air demons for territory, and you saved the land. What better leader can you think of?”

“Someone who knows how to lead them.” Lumaris said timidly.

“But you do, you led the raid on the castle. You did the talks with the demons king of air and demon queen of water yourself.” The earth trainer said. “Once your leg is healed enough within a week’s time you will be crowned queen of Kraal.”

Lumaris was impressed. Her a queen? She had always dreamed of leading Janal as its queen, but that was the fantasy of a little girl. To be queen of all of Kraal… .

“You have a week to think about it. In the meantime, concentrate on healing yourself.” Lumaris nodded to her earth trainer and they walked her to her bed for more rest.

Before falling asleep, she asked, “Where are we though?”

“You’re still inside the castle on Mt. Hondouju.” Yuzu’s voice said right before darkness took over.

The week ed with walking and walking exercises. Lumaris was glad to see everyone she’d met once again. Selena hadn’t forgotten her, Kara hugged her at every chance she got, Saphira was proud to be related to her, and her father told her how proud of her he was when nobody was listening. King Praxis sometimes helped with her exercises and the water demon queen gave her leg some water therapy. The Dragon Emperor and Empress helped her perfect her flying. Overall, her leg healed wonderfully and she was walking on her own.

The day of the coronation came. Lumaris bathed and dressed in her gown. Yuzu came in and did her hair in a full, teased high ponytail to the side decorated with moonstones. She put on her adornment, cloak, and her own ring of a moonstone starburst made by the demons. One look in the mirror and all the doubts she had as a child of ever being beautiful were gone. She had to blink back tears of happiness so as not to smudge her make-up.

Yuzu walked with her to the grand ball room. Right outside the door, she turned to Lumaris and asked if she was really ready for this. “I’ve thought about it all week. Everyone is proud of me and they’re all counting on me to lead them still. I didn’t let them down with Malesh, and I won’t do it as their queen. I am ready.”

Yuzu smiled, hugged her and went in to announce her presence. Lumaris wished she was completely honest with what she said and begged the moon god for forgiveness. Then the doors opened and she heard someone say, “Presenting the one and only, the savior of our land, Lumaris the Human Magicker!”

She stepped forward and the people applauded loudly for her. The room rung with the clapping, but she didn’t care. All that mattered now was that she didn’t stumble down the stairs and towards the throne where only a god could sit. When she did sit down, she felt the air around her grow warm. She saw all the gods there at her coronation, smiling and cheering her on like the people.

As her father held the crown over her head he said, “People of Kraal, all five races present, I present to you your queen: Queen Lumaris of Kraal!” He lowered the tiara onto her head and the room shook with the cheering and loud appraisals. Though her ears rung, she didn’t care. All that mattered was that she was going to lead these people and many more into a brighter future. A future full of happiness, prosperity, and freedom.