Half Moon

The foliage sent omniscient shadows through the dusk-lit ground of the forest. The distant howl of a wolf drowned out the quite bird chirps. But this scene was immediately changed from the crash of shrubbery as a boy dashed through the plants and trees. He ran wildly looking this way and that, as if running from something. He suddenly stopped in fear staring at a dark, shadowy figure he could barely make out in front of him.

“My my, if it isn’t the son of Vyline; tell me what are you doing out here in the Forsaken Forest?”

Seaming to summon some amount of courage and drawing a short sword at the same time, the boy glared at the cloaked one.

“Who are you and what do you want with me?” The boy growled.

The stranger raised his hood, showing off a pair of red eyes.

“I thought you would have recognized me by now Canthor.”

The boy’s eyes got larger with realization.

“Uncle Voldimire?”

The uncle nodded his head.

“It’s been years since I have seen you, then you must know what I am doing and what I am running from.”

“I have been watching you for a while and I was afraid this would happen. We haven’t much time, come with me.”

Right then, an arrow smashed into the tree next to the uncle. Shouts and the crashing of men in pursuit came toward the boy. The uncle whispered a few undistinguishable words under his breath and grabbed the boy’s arm.

“Come this way, and stay silent.”

The boy nodded noticing that the pursuers ran right past without seeing them, they seamed to be shrouded in a dark cloud that they could see out of, but no one could see into. The uncle and boy jogged through the underbrush, taking care to remain as quiet as possible.

“Were have you been all those years uncle?” The boy whispered.

The uncle smiled under his hood,

“You will know soon enough nephew, your father never was patient was he?”

No, he wasn’t… Canthor thought to himself, a look of frustration on his face.

They came to a clearing in the forest, Voldimire muttered some words and whistled. Two black horses galloped up in front of them. They each mounted a horse and road off into the distance. Canthor noticed that the horses were unnaturally fast; he had to use most his strength to stay on. Two days of riding later, they arrived in a town that Canthor had never seen before. He nearly fell off his horse as him and the uncle dismounted and

entered the inn. Voldimire checked out a room, and as soon as they got in Canthor passed out on the bed.

“So the news we heard are true then, and this is his heir? What does this mean for the plans?”

“It shouldn’t change anything; keep the next stage on schedule.”

Canthor opened his eyes to see Voldimire talking to two other similarly cloaked figures. He looked outside and saw the sun directly overhead.

“I see you finally decided to join us, how much do they let you sleep back at the House, anyway?”

Canthor looked over at his uncle and the two figures, rubbing the sleep from his eyes.

One of the figures lowered his hood, showing off pointed ears, a pure white skin tone, and yellow eyes.

“Welcome to The Brotherhood of Half Moon, heir to the Slyvaine House.”

---

“What is it Master Canthor?”

Canthor looked over in the direction of the voice seeing two yellow eyes staring intently at him. They were in a dimly lit corridor under a large city’s wall.

“Oh nothing Graylin, I was just thinking back to twenty years ago when I first saw you.”

“We must hurry, if the ruler of the House of Slyvaine is found down here in The Lower Level it will be bad news indeed.”

Canthor noted the seriousness of the tone of his voice and followed suit, walking behind Graylin down the hallway. As they turned a corner, the passageway opened up to a very

large room; one holding three hundred soldiers armed to the teeth. They all turned toward the passageway as the two figures entered, becoming silent as they did.

“Well it looks like everyone made it. Tonight is a very special night, one that marks a turning point not only for House Slyvaine, but for the Half Moon as well.”

Canthor looked at the assembly as he said this, knowing that if silence wasn’t required his followers would be cheering loudly.

“Above us as you know sits House Valor, and next to it the front gate of our great city of Galyiene. This night men, the Half Moon will make its biggest appearance yet. I am relying on you all to fight not for me, but for everything we stand for!”

With that, Canthor dashed into the next passageway with all of the soldiers following.

I wish you were here to see this uncle… Canthor thought to himself as he drew his two curved swords…