Silver Moon: Chapter 4

Chapter 4: Memory lane

They walked down the dank staircase soon Aubrey and Jak disappeared for a second until a breath of warm air hit their faces. Rhyken and Willow stepped out of the staircase to see Jak and Aubrey standing in a large warmly lit stone room with a large rich red rug. Adorned on the stone walls were seven elegant silk tapestries depicting colorful battles between three sky pirate ships. On the other side of the room was a large dark pine wood door with two guards in light armour with metal arm guards and pauldrons on each shoulder. The soldier on the right was taller and broader than the other and his armour was made of a slightly blue-tinged metal. The smaller soldier on the left looked younger but his face was rigid with eyes that were pools of black and shone with wisdom beyond his years, his armour was tinted a light leaf green.

"State your name and purpose of coming here," said the blue armoured man.

Willow smiled and grabbed a silver chain around her neck; on the end of it was a large red ruby with the Ravenhart clan mark engraved onto it, "Captain Willow Ravenhart, The scarlet Sky Lord. I came to see the other two Sky Lords."

Wide eyed the two soldiers immediately bowed their heads, "and the other three, Lord Ravenhart?" the smaller soldier said both men not lifting their heads.

"They are with me," willow replied gliding past and swinging the door open. She turned around and motioned for Rhyken, Jak and Aubrey to follow her, when they were inside the door was closed behind them. Through the door was a slightly larger room made of darker stone. Three large colourful silks hung on the wall, on the west wall was blue and had the Eollivye clan mark embroidered onto it. On the north wall was another silk completely identical to the blue one except for the color instead of blue it was a lush red with the clan mark of Ravenhart on it. Finally on the east wall was a light green banner of silk which had on it the clan mark that belonged to the Toister sky pirates. In the middle of the room was a massive round table and beneath the silk banners were 3 throne like chairs each the colour of the silk they were under. Sitting in the blue chair on the west side was a tall handsome man with short russet coloured hair and his eyes were deep pools of hazel. He was wearing a loose white shirt with a long silver chain with a large sapphire hooked onto it. The sapphire had a small twelve pointed star with an eye inside it which was the Eollivye clan tattoo. Rhyken saw a look of disbelief run across the man’s face but as soon as it came it was gone. Sitting opposite of the man in the green throne was a woman of about the age of twenty five whose skin was the color of dark umber. Flowing down over her shoulders was long white hair that framed her deep copper coloured eyes, she was wearing the same type of necklace as the man and Willow wore around her neck but the gem was an emerald and engraved onto it was the Toister sky pirate emblem, two swords crossed with a skull above them. When the woman saw Willow a wide smile formed on the dark woman’s beautiful face, "Willow! It has been awhile since you came to visit your fellow Sky Lords...and you brought friends"

"Indeed," Willow replied delightfully turning to Rhyken, Jak and Aubrey she motioned for them to step forward, "The woman sitting under the green banner is Obsidian Toister, The jade Sky Lord. Opposite her is Silvan Eollivye, The cerulean Sky Lord."

Inclining his head Silvan made a gesture for Rhyken to sit next to him while Willow sat down on the red throne beneath the red silk. Jak and Aubrey sat in between Willow and Obsidian.

"So what are your names boys?" Obsidian said leaning forward placing her elbows on the wooden table and her hands under her chin.

"My name is Rhyken and the red haired boy next to you is Aubrey Falian."

Obsidian looked at him quickly looking quite offended, "It’s common courtesy to speak for yourself when asked for your name" she said frowning.

Jak snapped his head in her direction, pushing his hood back only a bit so you could only see his face. A scowl marred his beautiful face and was about to speak but Aubrey raised his hand looking quite amused, "I would have, but since I’m mute I can only speak telepathically and I wasn’t sure that you wanted someone touching your mind. So I asked Rhyken before hand to introduce me, I meant no offense by it," He said expanding his consciousness.

Obsidian looked shocked, "I’m so sorry-"

"You should be," Jak growled. Obsidian looked at him in surprise, it was the first time he had spoken.

"She cannot be blamed for what she did not know," this time the person who spoke was Silvan. His voice was deep but soft in sound. Jak looked at him and then to Aubrey who simply nodded. Rhyken noticed Jak had taken a liking to Aubrey and Jak rarely became friends with anyone but when he does he sees them as his family so Rhyken wasn’t surprised when Jak had defended Aubrey but sometimes he was a little too protective. Silvan’s eyes didn’t leave Jak, "Why is an elf here in the pirate’s capital anyways?" he finally said pointing at the tattoo on Jak’s hand.

A wry smile appeared on Jak’s face, "Not many people know the clan tattoo’s of the elves," Jak said clumsily pulling off his hood. His long ears made him look even more elegant in the lamp light. The previous anger seemed to have been washed away as the elf sat back clearly impressed by the Sky Lord’s knowledge.

"I’ve met a few elves in my time," Silvan said slyly then looking at Rhyken his eyes stopping at the tattoo on Rhyken’s neck. Rhyken saw something flash through Silvan’s eyes but couldn’t recognise it. Willow breathed heavily when everyone looked at her they saw she was asleep. Rhyken let out a laugh and poked her cheek. Obsidian got up from her chair and looked at Silvan, "I think I shall show these gentlemen to their rooms. Jak and Aubrey would you be able to help me carry Willow out of here?"

"I could help-" Rhyken started but Silvan raised his hand, "No, I would like to talk to you in private."

Soundlessly Obsidian led Jak and Aubrey who were carrying a sleeping Willow out of the room. When alone Silvan stared at Rhyken, "You know it takes someone pretty important to be adopted by the Daeiklyn especially when they aren’t an elf, so special they have to be of royal descent," Said Silvan tilting his head to the side his hazel eyes twinkling.

"I don’t know what your implying but-"

"I’m not implying anything," Silvan interrupted the corners of his lips twitching, "I want to tell you a story, will you listen?"

"Do I have a choice?"

Silvan chuckled, "No."

"Then sure I’d love to hear a story," Rhyken said leaning back. Something about this man was vaguely familiar to him like he had met him before.

"Well, I once had the greatest friend I ever had in my lifetime. Our fathers were friends and we would get into the biggest trouble but we parted ways when we were sixteen because we had to grow up. I became the Eollivye Sky Lord when I was twenty two years later I met up with my friend after I was caught by the kingdom. In our few years apart he had married at eighteen and had a son that same year. After escaping the prison thanks to his help I decided to help him whenever he was in need. So he and I fought many battles together. After a year of travelling I came back to visit him," a broad grin spread across his face, "He was busy and while I was waiting I met his five year old son who had his mothers hair but his fathers smile. To my surprise he knew who I was; his father told him I was his uncle."

"So what does all this have to do with me?" Rhyken asked.

"My friend’s son used to call me ‘Uncle Blue’ and my friend was also the King Aden of Ossier."

Rhyken looked at him in shock he tried to get up but Silvan grabbed his arm.

"I don’t know who you think I am but-"

"Don’t bullshit me Rhyken! I’ve known you since you were little, I can recognize you even by the way you walk! You’re father may have been the King but he was still a brother to me and I still see you as my nephew!" Silvan yelled but he lowered his voice and Rhyken could hear the pain in his voice, "I thought you were dead, you could have at least sent me some kind of sign you were alive!" Hurt strained across the tall man’s face.

Rhyken looked away, "I couldn’t let anyone know not even you Uncle Blue, even though I wanted to tell you I couldn’t risk Lucien finding out I was alive," he implored.

Silvan let go of Rhyken’s arm and slouched in his chair. Rhyken looked at him and sat down as well fiddling with his hands.

"You know I didn’t recognize you without your beard, Uncle Blue," Rhyken smiled. Silvan looked at him and amusement played across his face.

"Aye and you are a lot bigger than I remember but you still have the same silver eyes as your father. You know everyone is waiting for your return, Crown Prince Rhyken."

"Why didn’t you ever tell me you were the Sky Lord of Eollivye?"

"Your father told me not to, said you were at an impressionable age and that you would probably run off to become a pirate," Silvan smirked.

Rhyken grinned, "He would always play with me when I asked but only on the condition I would do my schoolwork."

"He was a good father and a good man," Silvan said placing his hand on Rhyken’s arm.

Rhyken could feel sadness grip his heart but also felt relief that he could finally talk to his Uncle again.

"You know ever since the fire I’ve forgotten how to smile for real. My face still remembers how to do it but I can’t feel any joy anymore. All that’s left is an empty shell and anger," Rhyken said gritting his teeth. Silvan looked at him alarmed and concerned.

"You didn’t see them perish in the fire did you?"

"It’s as they said King Aden went down fighting the cursed souls of the hell fire whereas Queen Eirwyn died trying to protect her precious son," the words seemed to be forced from his mouth. Before he knew it tears fell from his eyes, "She gave up her life to cast a spell that would protect me, she died because of me!"

Silvan immediately reached out and placed his hands on his nephew’s shoulders, "No. She died for you not because of you. Your mother loved you so much she was willing to sacrifice herself for you even if you didn’t want her to, any mother would but that doesn’t make it easier."

Hearing footsteps approach Rhyken quickly covered his head with his hood. Silvan swung around to see Obsidian rush into the room. Slamming the door in a huff she sat down on her jade throne glaring at Silvan furiously, "You know Silvan, I don’t like being left out. How do you know this boy?" Obsidian said her copper eyes staring straight at Rhyken. Silvan shifted in his seat slightly.

"I’m his nephew, we we’re separated during the great fire and thought it would be best to talk to each other before telling anyone else," Rhyken said quietly.

Gasping Obsidian grabbed Silvan’s arm, "You told me he was dead! So it’s true the Son of King Aden is alive."

"Indeed," Silvan said humourlessly.

"You told her who I was?" Rhyken said quite annoyed.

"I thought you were dead so I saw no harm in telling the woman I love most that my nephew was the Crown Prince or should I say the future King?"

Rhyken looked at his uncle bewildered, "The woman you love most? You mean you and…"

"We’re due to be married next autumn," smiled Obsidian.

Rhyken laughed under his breath, so much had changed. His uncle was getting married and soon he would kill Lucien to rightfully claim the throne to free the citizens of Elesnmíre from his tyranny. Sighing heavily he leant his head back against the chair he was sitting on. Staring up at the ceiling he slowly felt drowsy since he got little sleep from the night’s events before. Blocking out all sounds around him Rhyken slid into an exhausted sleep.
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Ok... I’m putting up chapters 3 and 4 today but I’m hoping to get the next Shadow Realm chapter as well in the next few days BUT UNFORTUNETLY NEXT WEEK I HAVE EXAMS... so.. LAME T___T
Anyways wish me luck on my exams and I’ll try to get those stories written before hand :D

LOVE LOVE~!
The One and Only Jingles