Moon Shimmers Read online

  Delilah leaned down to kiss my forehead. “I think we’re all afraid of that. But as you’ve told me so many times, we have to grow. We have to accept change. If we stay together and ignore our futures just because we’re afraid, then we’ll stagnate and eventually we’ll resent each other.”

  I knew she was right—and truth was, I had told her that very thing so many times. “Thanks, Kitten. Thanks for being with me. For helping me meet my destiny. I love you.”

  Delilah stroked my arm. “You’ll always be my big sister. You’ll always be the one who took over when Mother died. Never forget that, Camille.”

  As she headed back to her own sleeping bag, I stared up at the stars. The moon, fading toward crescent, was a brilliant glimmer against the backdrop. “I hope I can do you justice,” I whispered to the Moon Mother. “I hope I make you proud.”

  And the moon, being the moon, only answered with a pregnant silence.

  Chapter 14

  AS WE STOOD in the clearing, we could feel the sun on our backs as it glimmered through Thistlewyd Deep. We had chosen a space where, when Smoky and Shade shifted form, they wouldn’t go toppling into the pond or smash themselves up against the hillside.

  Roz and Trillian moved the horses well out of the way, tying them securely to trees far enough away so that when two dragons appeared, they wouldn’t be too terribly panicked. Dragons ate horses, and horses knew that.

  I worried my lip. We had eaten breakfast, gathered only what we thought we might need, and there was no more reason to stand here. Excuses: done.

  “It’s time.” I motioned to Smoky and Shade, who were standing a good distance from us. “Go ahead. Make with the wings.”

  Delilah let out a snort. “In Shade’s case, that’s bones.”

  “Yeah, but it seems impolite to point that out.”

  Within a slow blur that gathered speed, first Smoky shifted form, and then Shade. The dragons stood there, side by side. I thought that Shade looked like what Smoky did on the inside. He was older than Smoky, and a little bit bigger, but without flesh, he seemed almost like a pteranodon or a pterodactyl.

  I motioned to Venus. “You and Bran come with me. Chase, you can ride with Delilah.”

  Chase gave me an odd look and I suddenly realized how odd it might be for him. He had dated Delilah and now he was going to ride on her fiancé’s back. But he said nothing, just followed her over to Shade’s side.

  Bran and Venus escorted me up to Smoky, who obligingly knelt for me to climb on his arm, then scramble up on his shoulder to his neck. Tendrils of his mane fluttered back, coiling around my waist to keep me in place. In some ways, riding on Shade would be easier, because there were more crevices where the bones met to grab hold of. But either way, riding a dragon was fun, if potentially dangerous. I had tied a sturdy leather thong to both ends of my staff, and now I looped it around one of the spines that rose along Smoky’s neck. They weren’t as sharp as bone, but some sort of rigid cartilage. I doubled the loop so that if Smoky had to tilt sideways, the staff wouldn’t go sailing off into the air.

  Venus and Bran situated themselves behind me, and Smoky pushed off, leaping into the air as his wings caught an updraft. He soared over the pond, followed by Shade, and as we gained altitude I was able to tell just how lucky we were to be riding on dragonback.

  The foothills were a good climb, but they were dimples compared to the Tygerian Mountains. Within minutes, we were soaring over a vast array of peaks and crags. The mountain range below us stretched out farther than we could see, the mountains growing in height to the north. The range widened as well, and the snow-covered array looked terrifyingly jagged, although memories of the Northlands flashed through my head. These mountains would kill you if you ventured into the wrong areas. The Northlands, on the other hand, would hunt you down and eat you on toast for breakfast.

  I shivered. At this height, even my cloak didn’t do much to keep me warm. I leaned back to find myself snuggling against Venus. He was shivering too, and he wrapped one arm around my waist, pressing against me to keep warm. The shaman was burly, and I rather wished he could turn into his puma self here so I could cuddle with the big kitty. But that wouldn’t be practical, and so I settled for the warmth that our bodies could manage. I didn’t know how Bran was faring, and I decided to refrain from asking.

  The miles passed by quickly. Dragons were fast and they were big, and in this area, they weren’t unexpected. We swooped past the tree level but still close enough to the ground that there was plenty of air to breathe, although I kept my head down, not wanting to get any bugs or birds in the face. I tried to stare at Smoky’s neck. Watching the dragon scales of my husband was a lot better than looking over the side at a drop that could easily kill me.

  We had left at the first blush of dawn, and by noon, we were flying around some of the taller peaks rather than over them. The temperatures had dropped dramatically, and I was shivering, even with Venus’s added warmth. I tried to position myself so the sunlight could fall on me, and even though it was nearing the Summer Solstice, at altitudes like this, the chill was daunting.

  I was about ready to thump on Smoky’s neck to get his attention when we began to descend toward one of the taller peaks. Breaking my firm don’t-look-down rule, I saw the shape of a structure on the side of the mountain, which meant we were circling Mount Tyger and the monastery.

  As we spiraled down, the monastery got larger. It was simple, but beautiful in its minimalism. Built out of stone, the temple was gray, with windows around the outside that contained no glass, but a translucent, flickering energy. I wondered if it was a form of force field that kept people out as well. The temple was two stories, about as large as a typical Denny’s restaurant, and it was surrounded by a stone fence that matched the walls. The temple was on the edge of a cliff, with a large clearing to the side, which was where we were headed.

  We were high enough that the only trees here were scrub, bent sideways from the constant wind. Grasses and wildflowers dotted the high tundra, along with lichens and moss. There was little here to eat for animals, but somehow, wildlife managed. We were probably about ten thousand feet up, but the peak of the mountain was much higher than we were.

  As we landed, a wave of dizziness hit me, doubling me over as I climbed off of Smoky’s back. I slipped and hit the ground with a thud. Thankfully, I didn’t have very far to fall. Venus knelt beside me, as did Bran, and a moment later, Smoky pushed through the pair and lifted me up.

  “The air is thin here. You are used to living near sea level,” he said.

  Shade, Chase, and Delilah joined us, Shade helping Chase walk. “It seems we forgot what an abrupt rise in elevation can do.”

  Delilah was rubbing her head. “I’ve got the headache from hell.”

  I tapped Smoky on the arm. “Put me down, please. The monks are coming.”

  And sure enough, they were. Three monks from the temple were walking our way. They were dressed in silver gowns, with blue sashes and blue hats that reminded me of fezzes. Silver tassels hung off the side of the hats, and each monk wore an exquisitely embossed leather sheath by their side, holding a long dagger. I knew immediately what kind of daggers they were carrying—the famed crystal blades that gave the order their name. I felt myself jonesing to get a look at them. I wasn’t necessarily a blade aficionado, but they were heavily steeped with magical energy and I’d probably never get another chance to see one up close. It seemed rude to ask, though.

  Smoky set me down and I straightened my skirt. Then, a little woozily, I stepped forward and inclined my head, holding up my hands in the universal sign used throughout most of the northern cities and lands in Otherworld to symbolize respect. Palm forward, bent up at the wrist, with the other palm crossing it. Open hands, open heart. The others followed suit, even Chase, once he saw the rest of us doing it. He was good at picking up things quickly, I’d give him that.

  One of the monks stepped forward. He eyed us, his g
aze slowly moving from person to person. At Bran, he did a double take. And when he came to Chase, he frowned slightly. Then, in Melosealfôr, he said, “You are on our lands, in our territory. You indicate you come in peace. We honor your intent, as long as you hold it. Come, eat, and rest.”

  There was nothing to do but accept. One just did not wander into the monastery and demand to be let loose to go after a diamond that was hidden on their land. To refuse food and drink, or at least their hospitality, would be a faux pas that could end in bloodshed.

  “We are on your lands, in your territory. We come in peace. We hold our intent, and accept your generosity.” I turned to the others and translated what we had said.

  “We can trust them?” Chase asked.

  “We have no reason not to. Plus, this is their land. We can’t just go barging around without their permission and I’m not going to do anything to get us on their bad side. Besides, it’s lunch time, and a hot meal would be welcome.” Smiling, I turned back to the monk, who was watching us carefully.

  He motioned for us to follow, and they turned and headed toward the temple. Right then, I knew we were right to follow protocol. If they were comfortable enough to turn their backs on us, they could easily defeat us. I wasn’t sure how much they knew, but by the looks they had given Smoky, Shade, and Bran, they understood exactly who they were allowing under their roof.

  We crossed the barren courtyard and by the time we got to the temple doors, I was so weak-kneed that I could barely manage. I didn’t want to show any vulnerability but the truth was that I needed help if I wanted to make it any farther. I looked around, motioning to Smoky. He moved closer to my side and held out his arm. I wrapped my arm through his and he subtly brought a tendril of his hair up to wrap around my waist. While I was still walking, he was mostly supporting me.

  Delilah, on the other hand, was doing fairly well. But Chase was still looking woozy and so Delilah scooted over to him and wrapped her arm around his waist. Shade merely smiled, and Chase looked extremely grateful.

  As we entered the temple, a deep resonance echoed through me that almost knocked me out. It wasn’t a sound—not audible, but more an internal shifting, a pulsing of energetic waves that rolled through me. I caught my breath, so startled that without Smoky’s support, I would have been knocked to the ground. Behind me, Shade grunted too, as did Bran. Venus just let out a laugh and rubbed his hands together.

  The temple was as ornate on the inside as it was sparse outside. Rich tapestries covered the walls, mandalas in brilliant blues and silvers, punctuated with red. The patterns on the woven rugs seemed to be moving, but when I looked again, they were still. Optical illusions, perhaps. Or maybe it was magic. By now, I wasn’t that sure of anything.

  The benches were carved from blocks of stone that looked like they had been hewn directly out of the mountains. Glassy black spheres ornamented the walls, and flickering out of the dark orbs were etheric blue lights. But even from where I was standing, I could tell there was no heat. Weapons lined the walls—silver staves, wooden sticks, silver daggers, shuriken, and wickedly curved swords that were so ornate they looked like they should be in an art museum.

  The hall we entered was long and wide, with the ceiling at least twenty feet high. At either end were large fireplaces, with massive fires crackling away. Doorways led to halls along the back of the chamber. In the center of the hall was a large statue, of a goddess that I didn’t recognize. She rose to the ceiling, and around her spiraled a long, curving staircase, leading to the second story. The stairs were narrow and steep. Running those several times a day would keep me in shape, I thought.

  The monks passed by the staircase, leading us toward a hallway that was center against the back wall. The hall was narrow, but not long, and opened out into yet another chamber, this one containing a door against the back, a door to the right, and a long table, in the center of the room. Like the benches, it was carved from one giant piece of stone, each of its legs at least twelve inches square. It would take one hell of a disaster to move the table, let alone destroy it. It occurred to me that had this table been in the throne room at Elqaneve, Queen Asteria and our father might have survived if they had been able to duck beneath it.

  The lead monk—or at least, he seemed to be the lead monk—motioned for us to take a seat at the table. The long benches were also carved in stone, but at least they were padded with a thick cushion. Still dizzy, I gratefully slipped onto the end of one of the benches and braced my elbows on the table, trying to shake off the altitude sickness.

  Another moment and a fourth monk joined us. He was wearing the same outfit as the others except there was an insignia of some sort on his left shoulder. The others parted for him as he slowly approached the table, and I was pretty sure he was either the head honcho, or as close to it as we were going to meet.

  He looked us over, then took a seat opposite. “We welcome you into our temple and bid you rest and eat. But first, we would ask your names.”

  He spoke in Calouk, the common tongue. Everyone at the table could understand him, save for Chase. Delilah translated what the monk had said.

  I cleared my throat. “We value your offer, and accept. My name is Camille Sepharial te Maria, and these are my comrades. My husband Smoky, my sister Delilah Maria te Maria, her fiancé Shade, Venus the Moonchild, and Chase Johnson, who cannot speak the common tongue.”

  The monk nodded to each in turn. When I had finished, he said, “My name is Keth and I am the Speaker. I ask that you direct all your questions to me. I will be at your disposal while you take rest with us. My brethren are only allowed to speak to strangers when there is a need and I am not around. I will have food and drink brought to you. Do you eat animal flesh?”

  My stomach rumbled at that moment, and I blushed. “Yes, we do, all of us. Although we have a few animals we will not eat of. Cats and dogs, big cats.” There was no way Delilah and Venus were going to play cannibal.

  Keth nodded. “Then we will bring food.” He turned to the monks behind him and gave an order in a language I didn’t recognize—it definitely wasn’t Melosealfôr or Calouk—and they left the hall.

  I wanted to dive in and ask him if we could search on the property, but it would break tradition and protocol to do so before eating. Instead, I said, “Your temple is beautiful. We appreciate your gracious invitation. We weren’t sure how you felt about visitors.”

  “Generally, we’re wary. But we seldom have dragons visit, and the few times they’ve come in the past, it was a congenial affair. Indeed, for dragons to approach our compound, there must be something important afoot, so we chose to greet you rather than warn you off.”

  I realized that of course they knew we had two dragons with us. They had to have sentries watching and they would have seen us land. That they weren’t afraid of dragons and had a favorable view of them boded well for us.

  Keth turned to Chase. “You are not from Otherworld, are you? But yet, you are not fully human. Your aura tells a story of mixed parentage from long ago.”

  That he spoke in English surprised the hell out of me—and Chase. I kept quiet, though—it wasn’t my question to answer, and since he had directly asked Chase, I figured it better to let the detective answer on his own.

  Chase glanced at Delilah, then at me. We both nodded. “Yes, I’m from Earthside. And there is elf in my lineage. I didn’t know about it until recently.”

  “You are also going to live a very long time, given the proper circumstances. The Nectar of Life flows through your veins, and your aura as well. There is a story there, but perhaps for a different time.” Keth studied him for a moment and then, seemingly satisfied, turned back to me. “Here is your meal. Eat, and after you finish, we will talk further. Until then, the door to the right will lead you into a chamber where you can clean up and refresh yourselves. I’ll return when you’re ready.” With that, he abruptly stood and left the chamber as two other monks brought in great trays of food an
d filled the table.

  The food was hearty and there was a lot of it. Roast bird—what kind I couldn’t tell, except it had been turkey-size in life given the size of the drumsticks—and a side of ham, cheeses and breads with their yeasty, warm scent, a tureen of vegetable soup, a crock of butter and one of honey, and three large pies that smelled suspiciously like apple all spread across the table. A regular smorgasbord. The monks brought in large pitchers of fresh creamy milk, and ale, so frothy with head that it smelled like yeast and hops.

  Chase waited until we were alone again before asking, “Is it safe to eat?”

  “You mean are they trying to poison us? I’m going to say no on that. And the food here is bound to be good. You don’t train as hard as they do on empty calories or subpar quality.” I helped myself, stabbing a large slice of the bird breast, a hefty chunk of ham, and a couple of the rolls. The hot food was welcome. Though we’d eaten on the road, there was nothing like a tramp through the woods to stir the appetite, and the altitude may have made me dizzy and lightheaded, but the food seemed to be calming my symptoms.

  Smoky poured me a glass of milk—somehow, I didn’t think alcohol would make a good complement to the dizziness—and Shade served bowls of the soup, which had been cooked in a rich meat base, and was filled with chunks of carrots and handover roots, along with wild chervil and cress leaves. As everyone set to, a comfortable silence rose around us as the tension began to fall away. After about twenty minutes, we pushed back our plates. Delilah and I ventured into the washroom and—sure enough—it also contained a bathroom, to our relief. We took care of business, and washed our hands and faces.

  As we returned to the table, the servers were carrying away our plates, and Keth had also returned. He had brought with him a bottle of what looked like brandy, and was pouring cordial glasses for us.