Hunter's Moon

by D A Godwin

  Enna took a sharp breath, and her green eyes snapped open. She screamed, a piercing cry of such torment that it carried through the din of battle and brought pause to all who heard it. Her body contorted once more before collapsing back to the ground. Her head lolled to the side as she fought for air, and their eyes met.

  Shalindra slumped sideways, then fell heavily to her side as the world faded away.

  * * *

  Shalindra awoke in a bed, in a room with stone walls so white and smooth that it could only be the temple of Eluria. Cheerful morning light filtered through a window, falling gently on the chair where Enna sat half awake. Shalindra put a hand to her head gingerly and tried to sit up.

  “How long?” she asked weakly.

  Enna’s eyes opened fully. “Two days, Mis— Sister.”

  “Are you well?”

  A flicker of pain crossed Enna’s face and she dropped her gaze. “I can never thank you enough. What you did—”

  “Was worth doing,” Shalindra finished.

  Enna looked down again with a blush.

  The door flew open unexpectedly.

  Enna leapt to her feet to block the bed, then relaxed as Tormjere stepped into the room.

  “There are wards on the door,” she said with a frown.

  Tormjere grinned. “And good ones at that.” He came to an abrupt stop in front of Enna, who had yet to move from his path.

  “She just woke, and you will be gentle with her,” Enna said, leveling a finger at his chest.

  Tormjere bowed his head in agreement, and Enna stepped aside. He pulled Shining Moon from his belt and placed it on a table beside the bed. “Time for you to have this again.”

  “I hope that you did no damage to it.”

  “A few scrapes.”

  “They sent another demon, the day after you fell,” Enna said.

  “I got another one of these, too,” he said, holding up one of the multifaceted jeweled things. “Seems the Imaretii don’t like surrendering.”

  By yourself?

  His eyes flicked towards Enna in response.

  How could you risk—

  “It was a little one, and we were cautious,” he said.

  Shalindra’s eyes narrowed.

  Tormjere winked at Enna. “I told you she’d be more concerned with your health than mine.”

  Enna’s eyes narrowed as well, but he didn’t stop.

  “Alas, it appears you are her new favorite.”

  Shalindra crossed her arms.

  “What? You never passed out when you healed me,” he said with mock jealousy.

  Shalindra groaned and lay her head back down. “I think I might actually hit you if I was able.”

  Enna balled her fist and punched Tormjere in the shoulder for her as hard as she could, which was surprisingly strong for such a small girl.

  “Ow,” Tormjere rubbed his arm. “Remember, you have to fix anything you damage.”

  “I need food,” Shalindra said.

  “I will bring you some at once, Sister,” Enna said, giving Tormjere a warning look before hurrying from the room.

  “I think she likes you,” he said once she had left.

  “She already liked me. What happened?”

  Tormjere knew exactly what she referred to. He looked out the window, all thoughts of humor gone.

  “You almost consumed her, did you not?”

  “I wasn’t expecting it to be like that, and to be fair things were chaotic. She was… difficult to resist.”

  “You have not had problems with that before now, and I shudder to imagine the consequences had you not been able to control it.”

  “This was different, and it’s hard to describe. Every time before was a demon, and they all taste disgusting. It never occurred to me that people could behave in the same manner, and I wasn’t prepared for how… pleasant she would be.”

  “That these creatures can tear someone apart in such a way… I know you take from them because you believe it necessary, and I find it difficult to argue the need, but the cost frightens me.”

  “Thankfully, I’m not one of those creatures.”

  “How is she?”

  “As best I can tell, she’s completely normal, or at least she acts like it.”

  He sat on the end of her bed, careful to avoid her legs. “And you?”

  She felt him sliding through her mind, gently examining.

  “You don’t seem the same. Not bad,” he added quickly. “Just… not the same, as if you are missing something.”

  It was Shalindra’s turn to look out the window. “I do not know. It feels as if I have forgotten something, but I have no idea what it might be.”

  “Your Sisters are in quite a state, you know,” he said, trying to keep the conversation light. “Apparently, it isn’t possible to bring someone back to life. They seem to think it’s…”

  “… another piece of the prophecy.” Her eyes met his. “Am I what they think I am? Am I that person, that… Guardian?”

  “You are who you’ve always been, prophecy or not.”

  “How could I be a Guardian when I do not even know what I am to protect?”

  “Protect what you value most. The rest will sort itself out.”

  She took a deep breath. “You should not have taken Enna with you. Not after what happened to her.”

  “You say that as if I had a choice. She can be as strong-headed as you. And she did almost as well,” he answered her unspoken question. “It makes sense if you remember she’s been a cleric for decades now. I believe you’ve inspired her to greatness.”

  “And Shining Moon?”

  “It didn’t burn my hand off, though I think Adira kept hoping it would. I couldn’t call forth any powers as you can. Not that I didn’t try, mind you. For me, it’s just a physical weapon, though I prefer my sword.” He paused and looked at her slyly. “I did discover another of its powers, however. One that only I can use.”

  “Oh? And what might that be?”

  “Annoying Kayala. You should have seen her face when I was walking around with it.”

  Shalindra rolled her eyes at his jest but was too tired to chastise him. She settled back into the pillow, suddenly downcast. “I could not have done it without you. I could not have done any of this without you. They think you are why this has happened to me, but they do not understand. None of them realize how much—”

  “They don’t need to,” Tormjere cut her off softly. “You’re their leader. No, you are, even if you don’t realize it. They look up to you and listen to what you have to say.” He gave her another grin. “And I go around eating nasty things. Which would you choose to follow?”

  She managed a weak smile, but her mind struggled to come to grips with all that had happened. The daily fight for survival that her life had become, the horrors they had experienced, the terror of never knowing why.

  “Rest now,” he said, rising from the bed. “Enna will be back soon.”

  “Tormjere, I…” She struggled for words, wanting desperately for him to understand.

  Yet he already did. He knew her thoughts as easily as he knew his own; he felt every one of her jumbled emotions, her doubts, her terrors. Her mind opened to his in ways she had never imagined possible. She wanted him to know. Needed him to understand. There was no one else who could.

  Her eyes squeezed shut, but it didn’t stop the hot tears that ran down her cheeks, nor the cascade of horrors that came flooding in like a fevered dream.

  And as always, he was there.

  I killed so many, and I can still hear their screams.

  Not screams, just newborn birds calling for food.

  We burned their towns as we fled, one after another.

  A campfire on a cool evening in the mountains.

  Everywhere is death and blood. I have seen so much.

  A red wine at midsummer’s feast.

  I am surrounded by blackness.

  Darkness is when Her light shines the brightest.


  One by one, he gently banished each nightmare, calling forward memories of happier times. Eventually, her breathing slowed, and she fell once more into sleep.

  Tormjere stood gently so as not to wake her and locked the door.

  * * *

  Enna was waiting for him when he finally stepped from the room hours later and fixed him with an impatient stare over the tray of food that she had replaced twice to keep it fresh.

  “She needed rest,” he said unapologetically.

  She resisted the urge to throw something at him. “You are not the only one capable of ensuring that.”

  “I never claimed to be.”

  “And yet you seem completely unwilling to let anyone close to her, no matter what their intentions.”

  “Can you fault me for that, given what she’s been through?”

  “You are not the only one who would die for her.”

  Tormjere shook his head. “This city is full of men who would die for her. Not a one’s willing to continue living.”

  She hesitated, unsure of his meaning.

  With a polite nod of his head, he stepped past her and down the hall.

  Still trying to understand his words, Enna pushed open the door and carried the tray of food into the room. The apples started to roll about precariously, and she rushed to set the tray on the table before anything fell off, nudging aside the hammer to make room.

  Shalindra sat up eagerly. “That does look good.”

  She took several small bites, and discovered her appetite rapidly returning.

  Enna sat by the bed again, lost in thought.

  “Does something trouble you?” Shalindra asked.

  “My apologies, Sister. I was… He said something strange that I did not understand.”

  “He does that often enough.”

  Enna stared at her hands. He did, but something about his words today clung to her.

  Shalindra set down her food. “There is something more.”

  “While you were recovering, when Tormjere and I…”

  “That was incredibly brave of you.”

  Enna tried not to look guilty. “Sister Kayala categorized it as ‘reckless and unseemly.’ She was most upset.”

  “He should not have taken you with him.”

  “Oh no, I insisted. I didn’t want him to be alone, since you were... It’s just that when we were there, facing it, I wasn’t afraid. I should have been, after what had happened, but I felt a purpose, as if I knew what he needed me to do, without him saying a word.”

  Shalindra’s blue eyes were studying her carefully. “Have you felt this before?”

  “No.”

  “Could you hear his thoughts?”

  “Is that even possible? I’ve never heard of such a thing, nor have I had such feelings again. It made so much sense when it happened, but it’s mildly unsettling now.”

  Shalindra’s brows knit as if she was worried.

  “You’re tired,” Enna said apologetically. “I did not mean to burden you with my concerns.”

  “It is no burden. Let us speak more when I have rested.”

  “Of course.” Enna got to her feet. “I will check on you shortly.”

  Shalindra smiled her thanks, but it was forced, and as Enna closed the door behind herself she couldn’t help but feel she had somehow made matters worse.

  Costly Mistakes

  It was late the following evening before Shalindra left the temple grounds, escorted by Tormjere and Enna. A vague sense of unease had dogged her thoughts all day, and a walk seemed the best way to clear her head and turn her thoughts towards happier things. She had promised Kayala she would stay away from the wall but found her way there nonetheless. She climbed the stairs to the top slowly, wincing with every step.

  The night watchman at the gatehouse bowed to her. She returned the gesture before wandering along the wall, empty but for those assigned to watch through the night. The torchlight illuminating the battlements lent little warmth to the cold stone underneath her feet and failed to penetrate the mist that clung to the fields.

  She walked in silence, still trying to understand what had happened. Two steps behind her Enna and Tormjere were debating the same thing.

  “It isn’t surprising really,” Tormjere was saying. “We’d become predictable, and I’m amazed they didn’t try that sooner.”

  “It presents a problem for the future,” Enna replied.

  “True, but now that you’ve…”

  “Why do you think I’d wish to do that again?”

  Tormjere twitched as a sudden stab of warning burned across his neck. He stopped, staring across the darkened fields outside the wall to where the Ceringions camped. Shalindra and Enna stopped as well, following his gaze.

  Between the darkness and the mist, they could see little but the dots of torchlight in the Ceringion camp. One winked out, followed immediately by another. Then more in quick succession.

  Shalindra held her breath, wondering what felt so wrong.

  A horn blew once, then was squelched. Part of the night seemed to move, sending a great spray of sparks into the air like a campfire kicked into the wind. The terrifying sounds of the dying carried to their ears.

  There came a muffled tearing sound, like cloth being ripped. Men were running, tiny black shadows that passed before fire and torchlight. The lights continued to disappear, and the shadows stopped moving.

  Then they saw them. Two burning red motes of light that bobbed in unison, approaching as fast as a hawk in flight. In the darkness of the open fields they could see nothing of its shape, but they heard the thunder of a huge animal grunting, like a horse whipped beyond its limits.

  Tormjere’s sword cleared its scabbard.

  By all that is holy in Her light, what is that?

  Someone blew the alarm on a horn. Around them men rushed to ready weapons.

  The dim silhouette solidified into a terrifyingly huge blur of coarse black fur and bare muscle as it crossed the edge of the torchlight. The entire wall shuddered as it slammed into the barrier at full speed. Blackened, clawed hands grasped the crenellations and ripped them apart. Stone and mortar shattered as it tore its way up the wall, scrambling atop the battlement.

  Men ran for their lives as the massive, wolf-like beast hunched above them. A shaggy mane of fur draped its shoulders and chest, coming to a point down its back between two disproportionately small, leathery wings. It was old and foul, an abomination of nightmares, and when its monstrous head swiveled towards them the burning red eyes locked on Shalindra.

  Tormjere did not hesitate, charging towards it before it could gain its footing. The demon responded with a vicious assault. Gnarled fingers tipped with yellowed claws slashed and tore while deadly fangs sought to maul. Shields of silver and silvery-blue sparkled in the night as both women tried desperately to keep him alive.

  Tormjere dodged and cut, coordinating his attacks with their defenses, but his blade did little more than scratch the beast. Powerless to prevent it, he was forced back as it advanced.

  There’s no room.

  Tormjere narrowly avoided a clawed hand that tore a hole in the stone wall next to him. His sword nicked the demon’s skin.

  We need to get it off the wall.

  A shield blocked the claws raking towards his head. Tormjere dodged past the snapping jaw and swung, only to have his blade knocked aside with enough force to numb his arm.

  I cannot get past you.

  It ripped a stone merlon from the battlements and hurled it at them. Tormjere twisted to the ground to avoid the stone. Shalindra couldn’t recover fast enough, but a silvery-blue shield snapped in front of her at the last moment, shattering the massive stone. Enna gasped in pain and staggered backwards.

  Back up!

  The demon leapt over Tormjere, slamming both fists into the battlement as it landed. Stone heaved and buckled, throwing them off balance. Its arm reached for her.

  Shalindra swung. Shining Moon accelerated in a silver blur, sla
mming into the clawed hand. The creature yelped and slid sideways towards the inner edge of the wall. Its weight caused the structure to crack and crumble, sending a section clattering into the street. Enna fell with it.

  Mistress!

  The demon hurtled off the wall after her as she tumbled down the stones to the street. Its flight was deflected away in a shower of silver, and it was forced to use all four limbs to arrest its slide. It regained its feet quickly, almost filling the street with its bulk.

  Tormjere threw himself from the battlement sword-first and drove a deep gash through its furry back. He sought a handhold by grabbing at a stunted wing, but the demon spun, flinging him to the ground. Enna’s shield saved him as claws raked towards his head. He slashed at it as he rolled away.

  Enna scrambled to her feet, backpedaling away from the creature.

  Shalindra slid down the crumbled wall, landing near her. She raised her symbol to shield Tormjere from another blow, but the demon’s hand smashed through her barrier with the force of a battering ram, scattering shards of silver across the street.

  Tormjere!

  The demon’s fist sent him flying through the wall of a burgher’s house. He landed hard amidst a shower of wood and mortar. The demon tore its way into the house after him.

  Tormjere flung a table at its snapping jaws as he backed away. The wood splintered in the creature’s mouth, barely slowing it. The building was collapsing around them, and Tormjere smashed his way through a shuttered window and into the street as the demon exploded through the wall behind him.

  Enna deflected its snapping jaws as it tried to bite him. Tormjere hacked across its snout, drawing blood. The demon flinched, then redoubled its attacks.

  Hit it!

  Shining Moon slammed into the creature’s side, eliciting another painful yelp. Its kicked towards Shalindra. Enna’s shield caught enough of its force to keep the blow from being fatal, but the impact sent Shalindra spinning to the ground.

  Tormjere’s sword cut into the demon, drawing its attention back to him. The demon spread its arms wide as if to seize him, leaving no room for escape.