The Children of the Black Moon (The Spellbinders and the Gunslingers Book 2) by Joseph John Lee

Author:Joseph John Lee [Lee, Joseph John]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Eclipseborn Publishing
Published: 2023-05-30T00:00:00+00:00

Memory

Renewal

The Year 1276 Anno Salvatoris

265 Years Before the Invasion

“Would you mind passing the butter, child?”

“Yes, of course,” Tua said, loose bits of leeks spilling out from the corner of his mouth. “Here you are, Nena—oh, shoot.”

As Tua lifted the saucer, the handle snapped, the pool of melted butter splashing every which way, covering the table, spilling over everyone.

“Tua!” his father said.

“I’m sorry! It just broke!” He looked over. “Oh gods, I’m sorry, Nena, it’s all over you.”

“That’s quite alright, child. You can blame eastern craftsmanship for it.”

They all laughed.

“If you don’t mind, I’m just going to step outside to the Lake to wash this stain out. I’ll just be a moment.”

Tua frowned. “I’m sorry, Nena,” he muttered, eyes downcast.

She smiled at him and patted him gently on the shoulder. “It’s no trouble,” she said. “Just help your parents clean up the spill.”

“Be careful out there,” the boy said.

The winter sun had long since set, the nighttime chill bringing with it the promise of snow flurries from the mountains. The atmosphere was quiet but tense. Such as it had been over these past few decades. When the night broke, the day ended. Markets closed, doors shut, and choral silences rang.

There was a fear of the dark that had only grown worse over the last sixty years. Likewise, there was a mistrust of the daylight.

Regardless of cause, the effect was that gallivanting about the village was, to her, easier. Not more unsettling, not more fearful. There were none to get in her way, none to bother her, none to wish upon her good tidings or ill fortune, dependent on which side of the Lake she found herself.

But on this side, the western half, the shoreline spoke to her, still holding itself to be thawed despite the looming winter. She knelt on the sandy shore, stiff earth at half-frost crunching beneath her knees as she cupped her hands into the frigid water. The biting cold sent a shiver through her body as she sucked in a sharp breath and splashed her legs and torso. With due effort, she wiped down the trails of butter from her clothing and felt the same slick texture along the length of her pendant.

Peering over her shoulder for the unlikely event that someone was near, she removed the ornament from her neck, dunking it into the still waters of the Big Lake as a wave of energy left her body. The Moon shone brightly above her, reflecting on the water’s waves like an illuminative mirror. She caught her own reflection, absently massaging at the unmasked wrinkles peppering her face now that her Illusion had been dispelled.

It had been some time since Kamataa had seen her own face. It was nice to be reminded of what it looked like.

“A beautiful night, isn’t it, my Lady?” she said to the Moon’s reflection. “Fret not, for the work continues, as always it does.”

The Moon did not respond, only glimmered further on the surface of the Lake.

“Few we may now be, but with Your guidance, we may one day to you again return.

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