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I woke to find that I was not alone.
As I turned in the heavy blankets, letting the first light hit my dry eyes, I saw the stranger. Lumo was lounging on the couch, thumbing through one of many dusty books that had fallen off the shelves during Gaelenod’s rampage yesterday. He was now wearing the same intricate mask as when I first saw him - covering all but his sharp jaw.
“You’re awake,” he said, not looking up from his book. “You had a long day yesterday - you deserved a good sleep in.”
I lay back against the pillow, eyes wide and staring at the ceiling. As much as yesterday felt like a dream - here it was, and all very real.
“I saw that you met my friend Gaelenod. I didn’t realize you were my lover. Very cheeky,” he said while turning a page.
“I didn’t -” I started, sitting up quickly to protest.
“Only kidding. Whether you made that up or he drew that conclusion himself - it works in our favor. The less eyes on you, the better.”
“He called you ‘Prince’ Lumo,” I said, placing my bare feet on the cold floor, “Yet I have not read of any Prince by your name.”
Lumo looked up from his book, holding his page with a thumb, head cocked to the side.
“I suppose you’re not reading the right books then,” he said, before returning to his spot on the page.
“He also mentioned… He said that you aren’t a human,” I hesitated.
“Because I’m not,” he answered, not looking up from the book this time.
“Well? What are you then?” I said, now frustrated by his non-answers.
He closed the book with a sudden slam, then looked to the ceiling, arching his long white neck backwards. “I’d like you to take a guess, Mira.”
“A guess? You’ve taken me here away from my family and all that I know, and you wish for me to play games?” I scoffed. “Was it not you who promised me any answers I should need only yesterday?”
Then, much to my growing frustration, he began to laugh. I felt my nostrils flare in reflex, then shook my head. It was far too early for this.
“Please don’t laugh at me,” I sighed, “I have been laughed at far too often the past couple of days and your amusement at my ignorance is exhausting.”
“I’m sorry for laughing, I do not mean to poke fun,” he said through a wide smile, “But I don’t often get chances to speak with… with people like you.”
“People like me? Humans?” I shook my head, “So if you are not like… not like me… then what are you?”
He looked back at me expectantly, with the same sly smile on his face.
“Oh right, I am to guess,” I rolled my eyes, “Well, I have already reasoned that you are not simply a glamoured imp or fae… You are certainly not one of the Four guardians either though you wear a face covering. Perhaps, you are a zealous devotee - or high-ranking mage of one of the Four? A rogue professor in hiding? Hence the hidden face?”
“Interesting, but no,” he said as he began to tidy the pile of books on the ground. “Keep going.”
“Well, I also considered a Void mage or even Void beast - but that wouldn’t explain why you were sent to watch me at the ceremony. You made it seem like you were sent by Herculea herself to make sure everything went well.”
“Because I was,” he answered shortly.
It was my turn to laugh.
“I don’t believe you.”
“Why not?” he responded, not looking up from his tidy piles.
“Because - the guardians talk to no one. At least not ever in person. They send their cranes or fleeting messages in dreams. To say that you’ve seen a guardian in the flesh is amount to heresy. It’s akin to making up stories about them. No guardian has left the Sky Tower in centuries,” I said.
I watched as Lumo placed the last book neatly on the shelf before he sat back on the couch, watching me carefully, expectantly through his golden mask.
“Are you one of their vessels? Like the ceremonial cranes?”
“Do you think I’m a mere vessel? A mindless messenger bird?” he scoffed, “I’m also not sure why you ruled out Void beast so fast - it was an interesting train of thought,” Lumo then jumped up to sit at the other end of the couch - our knees almost touching as he leaned forward to me where I sat on the bed, whispering “Why stop there? Why can’t I be one of the craven evil mages of the Barrens? Or even the Western Witch.”
I jumped away in reflex, only to watch him start laughing again.
“Please, Mira, I’m only having a bit of fun,” he slapped his knees and stood with a stretch. “Here, I brought you some proper clothes, as amusing as it is to have you wear my childhood garbs. Meet me outside once you’re finished. There’s a lot we must do today.”
I looked at the neat pile of clothes by the door, confused.
“Wait - after all this… you’re still not going to tell me what you are?”
He was quiet for a moment, back leaning against the door.
“I’m afraid I can’t - at least not yet,” Lumo mused, looking to the ceiling.
He seemed almost sad for a moment, before a quick smile of reassurance danced over his face, followed by him quickly shutting the door behind him.
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I found a neatly tied paper package on the small table near the bookshelf. As I unwrapped it, I found a delicate black velvet traveling dress and cloak with a set of fine leather boots. He must have bought these in the city - perhaps Carroway even, judging by the quality. It was difficult for me to imagine him walking among the city streets sporting such an elaborate mask, but I suppose the crowds were cover enough.
Just as I pulled the heavy garment over my head, something caught my eye. I froze, seeing the delicate silver Binding Chain hanging around my bare neck. Somehow the cursed object had made its way from my dream and landed comfortably on my skin. I touched it in hesitation, but alas, it was real.
Should I hide it? Throw it away?
Had Lumo seen it?
I began to pace about the small room in an unsteady gait as I only had gotten one boot on.
If I were to hide it here, surely Lumo would find it. This one-room cabin was tiny.
Thunk, Thunk, Thunk.
There was a sudden knock at the door - breaking me from my awkward stride, and causing me to jump for the second time already today in my surprise.
“Mira - could you please hurry?” Lumo called through the heavy door, “We’re losing daylight.”
I scrambled, getting the remaining shoe on, and tightening the laces to my shin. I checked my chest, and the silver chain was securely hidden under both dress and cloak to my relief. With a final deep breath, I swung the door open - only to see Lumo there with the forest champion Gaelenod at his side, the mighty beast bigger than I had remembered.
“Where are we going?” I managed, straightening my sleeves, and patting down my presumably disastrous mane of morning hair.
“We must travel east - to the mountains. There are few who can find you there until I can make further arrangements. Gaelenod has agreed to act as our guide to get us through the forest swiftly,” Lumo gestured to the white moose. “He has also graciously agreed to let you ride upon his back while I scan the skies above.”
“I see. Thank you Gaelenod,” I bowed, “But, why can we not both fly as crows again?”
“Because,” Lumo stepped to me, holding my shoulders, “I promised that I would not bewitch you - not ever again. And I mean to keep that promise.”
“Right, I…” I stuttered with his sudden closeness, “...May I talk with you for just a brief moment?”
Lumo dropped his hands, giving a quick glance back to the mighty Gaelenod through this golden mask.
“This will be just one moment, Gaelenod,” Lumo said.
The great beast made a quick nod as he continued to eat the leaves off a nearby branch.
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I walked in high steps around the forest floor, around the corner of the little cabin. I turned as we were just out of earshot to find Lumo’s masked face just a bit too close for comfort. He smiled as I took another exaggerated step backwards.
“Before we go - I… I need to know,” I began, tugging again at my sleeves, “Why are you doing this? You could just as easily have left me yesterday to fend for myself. You could have let those two veiled figures pull me from my bed and answer to the judges. Why go about all this effort?”
There was a pause as my question hung in the air - I watched as what I could tell of his covered face remained unchanged and serious.
“I mean,” I continued, “I am grateful - very grateful for your efforts. I just -”
“Then let that be enough,” he spoke softly, leaning closer and lightly touching my arm. He then turned away, making his way back through the bramble with playful little hops with his long legs.
“C’mon, we’re running out of time,” he called back with a smile to my slack-jawed face.
“Mind holding on to my cloak for me? It’s a favorite of mine,” he added. I watched as with a final jump, there was a futter of fabric in the air, and he was once again a crow, landing gracefully in the branches up above.
As I grabbed his black cloak and garments from the ground, I was hit with a sudden shock of realization.
“Wait - If you lose your clothes as well when you transform… Does that mean you were completely bare yesterday - when you grabbed from behind in the morning?” I was shouting, shaking with fists tight around the heavy cloak. I swung the heavy fabric around at the bird who seemed only delighted in my fury as it flapped its wings between branches to dodge.
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Riding atop Gaelenod was not as comfortable as I had imagined. Although his thick fur was cushion enough, his size was comparable to the hefty draft horses at the farm. His slow, sauntering gallop was much more graceful, however, as he weaved through the many trees as my fingers wound around the thick fur at his neck.
It was relatively quiet for the most part - occasionally the great white moose would start to hum an ancient melody in his deep voice, only to stop himself when he remembered I was there, muttering an apology. It was the third time that I had asked him to continue that he obliged my request.
I lay my head against his thick neck, clutching tightly as his bellowing voice swallowed the forest around us. The orchestra of wild sounds all seemed to quiet as they too listened to the ancient song.
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Somber and white, deep thickets high,
I cry solemn song of the deep.
Yormen my love, sadness above,
In high towers you wait witness to thee.
In whispers we wait, great magics of fate,
To become one with the light above.
But until then we cry, great rapture divine,
Until Solia takes us away.
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I did not know when I began to cry, the salty streaks had already made path down to my chin before I hastily wiped them away. Gaelenod seemed to notice my slight sniffle though, because he then began to slow his gentle pace and turn one huge black eye towards me.
“Was it that bad? I’m not used to an audience,” he huffed, “Yormen has not seen visitors in a long while, m’lady.”
“No,” I replied, wiping my face again, “It was very beautiful - just a bit melancholy. I’ve… I’ve only read about the songs sung by the forest guardians. This was a great honor. Thank you, Gaelenod.”
The great white moose cleared his throat and gave a sharp nod - perhaps not used to compliments and he quickened his pace yet again.
Occasionally, I would look upwards, seeing the fluttering black wings in a flash through the tree’s thick canopy. As grateful as I was to be riding on the back of an ancient champion of the forest, part of me also longed to fly again in the same dance of wings behind Lumo, through the low clouds and bright rays above.
As frustrating as this new stranger above could be, he definitely had his charms. He carried about in the same bold way of someone who may have been left to his own devices for a majority of his life - not often told no by any assumed authority. Thinking of a young boy spending time alone in that tiny one-bed cabin and I could help but feel a twinge of pity, though surely a so-called prince had a queen or king to go home to.
“Tell me, Gaelenod - How do you know Prince Lumo? When did you meet?” I asked.
“Oh, I found him when he was a tiny lad - wandering about the forest all by himself, pitiful thing. He was no taller than my knee. I think he was trying to make it to the city but got lost. Spent the night using me as a pillow - can you imagine?” Gaelenod mused. “But every summer he would make his way to my corner of Yormen, always grateful that I took care of him that one night, scared thing that he was.”
I tried to imagine Lumo as a small scared child, wandering this ancient forest all by himself.
“Make it to the city? Where was his family?”
Gaelenod huffed, “I don’t suppose he wanted to be found. I don’t think his mother takes very kindly to him wandering around the realm. But I can’t fault him for being curious.”
My mind wandered to my own family. Had news been given to father yet that I was missing? Would he rip up the letter in anger - hit with the sudden betrayal of having a Blood Mage as a daughter?
No, I wouldn’t let my mind go there. I couldn’t.
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Just as the lulling rhythm of Gaelenod’s heavy hooves began to make my eyelids heavy - the massive beast suddenly stopped. We had made our way to a small clearing in the thick woods. I scanned the treeline but saw nothing of note.
“Why are we-” I began before quickly quieted by a loud huff of protest.
Gaelenod was anxiously pawing the ground, eyes wild. Something was very wrong.
I clung to the thick tufts on the back of his neck - ducking low and looking up towards the sky for any signs of Lumo, but saw nothing. My eyes darted through the trees surrounding us, thick foliage casting ominous shadows at every turn.
Suddenly, I spotted it.
In the clearing, a giant silver and black two headed serpent with four scaled feet took slow languid steps towards us. The two heads danced around another, twisting like ribbons in sinister rhythms, four sickly pink eyes staring back at us. As it approached, I saw that there was a rider perched high on its curved back, muscles taught holding its stiff leather reins that were tightly wrapped around the dangerous beast’s long necks. He was clad in heavy, stamped leather armor covering his legs and chest.
As they got closer, I realized that I had recognised the rider. It was the same proud fighter chosen by Herculea herself in the ceremony just days ago. But why was he here instead of fighting in the Barrens?
I felt Gaelenod tense from underneath me as he puffed up his chest.
“You are an intruder of the ancient forests of Yormen. I demand you identify yourself immediately,” Gaelenod’s voice boomed, sending a scattering of birds above our heads.
“I am here on behalf of Herculea herself - you are harboring a criminal and enemy of the realm, Champion Gaelenod. I am here to take her into my custody,” the man spoke.
I watched in horror as the great serpent beast slithered back and forth in front of us, pink eyes hungry for the opportunity to strike. The creature was almost the same size as Gaelenod and its hissing fangs could surely take him down with a single strike.
“A criminal you say?” the moose huffed, “I know no criminal.”
“Surely you do, as she sits on your back as we speak,” the man answered in annoyance.
“Mira? Mira is no criminal. She is under my protection,” Gaelenod responded to my relief.
“Then by the order of Herculea, you are also bound by her judgment,” the warrior responded, straightening in his seat, “Solia forgive me.”
The ferocious serpent then lunged towards us, two heads gnashing eagerly at either side, causing Gaelenod to buck upwards to dodge. I desperately grasped at the fur at his neck to stay on, but I watched in horror as it slipped through my unprepared fingers, and I found myself falling back and hard on the hard-rooted ground. A pain shot up my back upon impact, causing my entire body to tense, rolling to one side.
I watched, eyes blinded with tears of pain, as the two massive beasts circled one another - looking for any opportunity to strike. Gaelenod backed up slowly, lowering his giant antlers to strike as the serpent turned back and forth looking for opportunity to strike. The two fanged heads lunged again towards him as Gaelenod jumped to the side, shaking the ground with his massive steps. He then turned swiftly, pinning both heads with his antlers against a nearby tree. The serpent’s body flipped back and forth in wild waves, trashing the rider around on its back as its long tail took out nearby branches.
The serpent then reached with its two free front claws at Gaelenod’s white chest, stretching in awkward swipes. There was a sudden tear as bright red spewed across the forest floor in thick drops, and a haunting and guttural scream came from the great moose.
“No!” came out in a whimper from my lips and I watched as Galenod thrashed to the side, throwing the serpent away against another tree, sending splinters of bark in the air upon impact.
In a slow crawl, I slid behind a nearby tree, each tiny movement sending a shiver of sharp pain down my spine and legs. I had no choice but to move, to hide out of the serpent’s path as I silently cheered my champion on. He was the great guardian of these woods, a chosen protector - yet this two-headed beast was able to draw his blood.
The large wound was starting to affect Gaelenod - and I watched as he seemed to stumble after every quick dodge. I clenched my fists, watching with wide eyes after every missed lunge of snapping fangs. The bright red streak at his chest was gruesome against his white fur.
I wanted to run out there, to help him, to save him. I wanted to scream as I looked to the skies. I had nothing - nothing.
Where was Lumo?
My hand fell to my chest and lightly brushed against the silver chain at my neck. No - I was a criminal. Gaelenod did not have to fight for me. It was my fault that he was hurt. If I surrendered myself now, he might make it out of this fight alive.
I took a shallow breath and steadied myself against the tree. My legs shook from under me as I took another breath.
“Stop!” I screamed. “I surrender!”
“No!” Gaelenod bellowed.
The serpent then lunged forward - both heads aimed at me, before Gaelenod threw his head wildly to the side, blocking them. The impact shook the trees, and I watched in horror as both serpent faces clung to the side of the great moose’s long nose, fangs bared.
There was a final powerful shake of Gaelenod’s head, throwing the serpent to the ground, legs flailing as its rider struggled to get the beast upright again. The white moose then took two slow steps forward before finally impaling both heads at once with its heavy sharp antlers against the ground.
I watched as the rider then scurried back off the ground, away from the now motionless beast, watching the blood-soaked champion with fear as Gaelenod stared stoically back at him.
The rider finally stood.
“You - You will pay for this,” he stammered as he removed something from his pocket.
The warrior suddenly clapped fine powder into the air, leaving a poof of black smoke in his wake. He was gone.
I stumbled forward, reaching towards Gaelenod just as his legs buckled beneath him. My shaking hands touched the sides of his wide nose and sparkling black dots of venom started to pool near my fingers. His eyelids began to droop as heavy, struggling breaths hit my face.
“Please, please stay with me Gaelenod,” I whispered, my throat tight. “I will find Lumo - he can fix this, I’m sure of it.”
“No,” he huffed, “There is no magic fix for this. It is my time to rest.”
I then watched as the great white moose, humble servant and protector of these ancient woods of Yormen, servant to Solia and follower of Herculea, took a final deep gasping breath before a final, solemn exhale. He was gone.
Suddenly, behind me, there was a futter of fabric, and Lumo himself came dashing through the clearing towards us. I moved aside as his hands lifted the heavy head of Gaelenod, shaking.
“I - There was someone on our trail… I flew them off course. I was only gone for a moment,” Lumo stuttered. “Dear Gaelenod, my oldest friend. I should have been here to fight by your side.”
I felt my eyes start to water. So see such a great creature slain here in front of me - and I only had myself to blame. I felt my hand wander idly to my neck, and my fingers brushed against the slick silver Binding Chain.
I could… I could save him.
I looked to Lumo, crouched in front of his friend, back arched in aching breaths. He seemed to sense me looking, as he turned to me.
My fingers tightened around the chain.
“I could - I could bring him back… I could-” I stammered, eyes wide.
But Lumo shook his head.
“No, he died in battle - fighting to protect his forest. This is what he would have wanted.”
But just as Lumo stood, he froze, head turned to the two-headed serpent lying motionless in the frenzied dirt.
“This creature. It is not native to Yormen,” he spoke, walking in slow strides around its winding back, “It bears a saddle… Was there a rider when it attacked?”
“Yes,” I answered, swallowing hard to quell the tears gathered in my throat, “He said he was sent by Herculea herself… That Gaelenod was harboring a criminal -”
“Do it,” he muttered through tight lips, his entire body tense.
“What?”
“Bring. Him. Back,” Lumo said, kicking the dead serpent’s body with every tight-jawed word.
I stood in my surprise, confused, sending a sharp shiver of pain through my back..
“I - are you sure?”
“How dare they - how dare she,” he spat, “This is no wild beast…”
My hands tightened around the silver chain as Lumo walked towards me.
“Mira,” he put his warm hands on either side of my face, coaxing, “Please bring him back, I beg of you.”
I watched as a silver tear made its way under his mask, trailing to his tense jaw. I closed my eyes, taking a deep breath, then nodded.
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I felt the familiar movements take over me, like the first dream where I brought the imp back to life only days ago. It felt familiar, meditative even as I wrapped the silver chain around my hand, then let the tiny needle prick the tip of my finger. I watched as the tiny drop of blood fell into Gaelenod’s slackened mouth.
I waited, hands clasped together beside him, eyes tightly shut. Lumo knelt beside me, hand on my back as comfort.
Around us, the trees started to shake with a great wind, swirling leaves above. A great gasp of the forest as it called Gaelenod from his slumber. I felt the trees sway, and the ground began to pulse beneath me, flowing through my body before grasping at my throat. My head began to swirl, sharp pains through my joints in a sudden stiffness. It was as though my body too had been poisoned.
But just as the pain became too much to bear, I heard a haunting melody tremble through me - lifting me up.
I was running through the woods again, as graceful as mist, hearing her call to me. Velvet voice pulling me closer, closer to the surface. Just one more breath - one more. Yet my massive frame, body tense kept longing to remain, to fall to the depths through the soil once more. I charged, antlers forward, to the sound of the soft melody. Just a little closer. Just a little -
Gaelenod’s gasping breath caused me to fall backwards. The huge moose stumbled on shaking legs, disoriented and clumsy. I watched, holding my breath as he took shaking steps left, then right, as he desperately tried to stand up. His eyes were wild - staring back at me, then to the Binding Chain still wrapped around my palm.
“No… No…” he grunted, throwing his head back and forth.
“Gaelenod… Listen… Please…” Lumo was standing, arms outstretched, trying his best to calm the great creature.
“You… you brought me back…” Gaelenod stammered, trying to steady himself, “Forbidden… Forbidden….”
“Dearest friend, my oldest companion. Please listen,” Lumo said, stepping forward. “For you to die over such petty means would be an insult to a creature as noble as yourself. For Herculea to involve you in such games - to have one of her minions given permission - no, authority - to take your life without ramification… Does she think she is Solia herself?”
“But was she not wrong? I was certainly not brought back from death by mere chance.”
There was a moment of heavy silence as Gaelenod looked directly at me where I sat. I felt sick.
“You are not to place any blame on Mira - She only did what I asked,” Lumo’s voice boomed, louder than I had ever heard him speak, and the ground seemed to shake in response.
To my surprise, Gaelenod seemed to cower with Lumo’s words. The great beast lowered his head, turning away from me.
“If you were to think I would let you die over something so trivial, you would be mistaken,” Lumo continued, voice softening, “If this was some wild beast - some rogue monster you fought and died in battle to protect your domain, I would surely give you the warrior’s funeral you deserved. But this,” he gestured to the serpent, “This is a tyrannical act by a Guide you served - honorably so - for the entirety of your life. And if Solia has any such issue for bringing you back - I will take it up with her myself.”
Lumo’s words hung heavy in the air. I waited for Gaelenod’s protest, but none came.
Lumo then reached his arm out to me as aid, and seemed to notice my pained expression as I stood up straight. My back still ached, shooting darts of pain ripped through me with every slight move - only temporarily dulled by the excitement.
“You’re hurt… Gaelenod - do you know of a healer nearby?”
But the forest champion only turned his head slightly, pretending not to hear.
“Gaelenod.”
“This way,” Gaelenod huffed.
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