Rising of the Moon - Chapter Two

Picture: The tree under which Leana was sitting.

- The Sun prince -

- "In the last moon village she will be born, in the night of two moons. There will be no cry from babes lips. The moon light will shine in her hair and the northern star will give its bright blue color to her eyes. She will be born in the grass, bathed in the light of two moons and blessed by the old Gods. In her lies the hope. In her lies the light. You can destroy our towns, kill our people, slay our wolves, but as long as she survives, you will live to see the end of your tyranny."

The priests words still echoed in Ranels ears. He was only 6. He remembered his father telling his servants to decapitate the moonpriest. He was hiding in the garden behind the ancient statue of the Sun God and for the first time he saw the madness in his fathers eyes.

- "I want you to search all the villages, kill moon man, enslave them. I don't care what you do, just find me that child."

12 years has passed since that day and the moon nation was scattered and nearly destroyed. But the girl was not found. Ranel stood behind the ruin of an old Moon God. A year passed since that night when he witnessed the slaughter of the last moon village. As a prince, he was forced to lead the attack on the poor people. He remembered their smiling faces, the dance, the beautiful smell of the moonflowers and he almost wished he could join them. He also remembered that none of his man wanted to attack while the woman in white was singing. It was the most magical voice he ever heard. It was strong and fair, soothing and beautiful. It filled their harts with joy and admiration. But the moment she stopped singing, the magic ended. Ruark, the general his father sent to supervise the attack, was glaring at the moon bathed village and its residents.

- "Let's slaughter them all. Then we won't have to worry if she's killed or not." He had an evil grin on his face.
- "No. We go in, ask for the girl. If they refuse to tell us, we'll find a way to make them. I won't let any more killing. Not in my name." Ranel stated. He was only 18.

He was not much older now either. He regretted that he didn't do more to stop Ruark from killing those people that night. He had seen Ruark taking caramith earlier that day. He was drugged with the plant. He was thirsty for blood. But the army chose to follow the old veteran general, not an 18 year old "kid". He never wanted to be the ruler in the first place. But being the eldest of the 3 brothers, he had no choice. Roan, his year younger brother, was his fathers favorite. He had the same madness in his eyes and thirst for power. In a way, he was glad that at least some day, when he replaces his father, he will be able to end the tyranny and give the moon people a chance to live. He was the son of the first queen that ruled along with his father. Queen Leana. Loved by all, she was the holder of peace in the kingdom. He remembered, before she was killed, how different his father was. He remembered the serene voice of his mother, her soft hands, her golden hair color of the sun. He had the same hair. They called him the Sun prince. The reason why the war with the moon people started was a single moonflower found on his mothers chest the night she was killed. Naturally, his father blamed the moon people for her death. It's how it all started...

But that night, one year back, his world collapsed. Even though he didn't take part in the slaughter, he felt the weight of this crime on his back. He decided that never again he'll let that happen.

Now, he was standing behind the ancient statue and glaring at the grass ahead. He'd seen wolf run by moments ago. Then, from the distance, he saw a silver figure approaching. She was coming closer, going towards the sound of the waterfall. Tall, slim, perfectly shaped figure, long silvery hair, two piercing blue eyes color of the northern star. His heart started racing. It was her. The girl from his dreams. Her step was light and gracious. It looked as if she was softly floating over the grass. She slowly approached the waterfall. Even her skin looked silvery on that moonlight. He glared as he followed her silently. She seemed broken, desperate. She came at the side of the waterfall curtain and gently touched the water. Water drops were falling all over her arms and face. It was as if she was covered in diamonds. He looked hidden behind a bush, feeling dazed and like under some spell. That girl couldn't be of this world. Her silver hair was covering her face now as she went through the water curtain. He stood up and slowly went after her.