Count the Stars

Chapter 5 - Sacred Moon Valley

"The key to getting to the Sacred Moon Valley," Rylan whispered to me, "Is to find a Sacred Moon horse willing to bring us there."

Rylan had brought me to a forest on the outskirts of town, and we had been walking around trying to catch sight of a Sacred Moon horse for the last half hour.

He glanced at me. "You know about the Sacred Moon horses, right?"

I rolled my eyes. Of course I did.

The Sacred Moon Valley was a common folk tale told to young children, and the story went like this:

Once upon a time, a young girl from a poor family chanced upon a beautiful stallion while picking berries in the woods. The horse had gossamer white mane that glimmered as it caught the light, and clear, blue skin that gave off a gentle glow.

The girl was kind and patient, and the horse grew to trust her with time. It lowered itself to the ground, offering her to climb on its back, and when she got on, the horse rode far and fast. It brought her to a beautiful valley where the air ran crisp and clear, and the meadows grew more fertile than any other.

Delighted, the girl brought her entire family back on horseback to the place, where they promised to guard the place from prying eyes, in return for a comfortable life in private. The job of the keeper was passed down from generation to generation, and only a very lucky few were ever allowed inside.

Of course, one could always just wander around hoping to stumble into it by accident, but the quickest and easiest way in was by riding a Sacred Moon horse. However, only mortals were able to find Sacred Moon horses. I could not be able to acquire one on my own.

I had only ever been in the Sacred Moon Valley once, on an errand by the gods, way before I became a goddess. I had been friends with the family who guarded the place, and left them on good terms. But that had been a lifetime ago, and anyway, Sacred Moon horses did not turn up for immortals. I needed help from a mortal to help me find one.

"Are you sure you know what you're doing?" I whispered dubiously.

"Have faith, my friend, have faith."

Suddenly, Rylan held a finger in front of his lips, gesturing silently to the clearing in front of us. Two sky blue horses with pearly white manes stood in front of us, grazing on grass. They moved gracefully, as if suspended in water, with an aura of calm and peace surrounding them.

Slowly, Rylan made his way forward, reaching into his back pocket and bringing out a ripe, round orange. "Will this be enough to take us to the Sacred Moon Valley? My friend here is in dire need of your assistance."

The horses galloped as smoothly and swiftly as the wind, and the landscape was a blur that passed by me. I had shot Rylan a look as I was getting on, wondering how he knew of the horses' love of oranges, but all I had gotten was a casual shrug in return.

Very soon, my horse slowed to a trot, allowing me to appreciate the stunning view before me. It looked as if each step the horse took brought me closer to a page torn out of a beloved fairy tale.

The Sacred Moon Valley was simply a sight to behold. The sun glowed gently on snowy peaked mountains, casting a golden halo around the land that coated the place with honeyed light. Between the mountains, a crystalline lake snaked its way across, a dazzling ribbon of sapphire blue that sparkled invitingly. The running water was a quiet symphony to my ears, a subtle rush of falling drops that felt altogether comforting and welcoming. I tilted my head up to the sun, letting its warm rays kiss my face once more, unable to believe that I was truly here, experiencing such wonder. I wanted to bottle up this feeling and live in it forever.

A delighted laugh bubbled out from my lips as I turned back to Rylan, who was looking at me with a fond smile on his face, before he came bounding up next to me on his horse.

"You're acting like you've never seen the sun before," he said.

"I haven't." I looked out toward the horizon, my heart lifting. "Not this way. Not for a very long time."

"It is quite a remarkable place, isn't it?" he said, urging his horse onwards.

Absolutely. It was even better than I remembered it.

Along the well-worn path in the forest, I could make out camels leisurely meandering down a trodden path, knitted out in colourful blankets of warm reds and yellows.

I looked around, taking in the meadow from side to side, this beautiful picture-perfect land of nature in full glory. I was quite sure Yueling's house was...

"There." I pointed to a spot further up, slightly towards the left, in front of the lush forest. That spot seemed to gleam almost artificially, though it was hardly obvious at a first glance.

"I still remember," I murmured to myself.

We both slid off our horses. I rubbed my horse affectionately behind the ears, whispering my thanks. It trotted off into the forest, disappearing in a blink of blue glitter.

Racing up the field, I caught sight of Rylan's and my reflections getting larger as we approached. I smiled triumphantly.

It was a house made of mirrors, and it helped hide the house by reflecting the grass and flowers around it seamlessly.

He looked at the house, surveying it carefully, his expression on the verge of something that looked like awe. "This is incredible," he said.

Rylan circled over to the other side of the hut. I was about to knock on the door, which I was sure was on my side, when Rylan beat me to it, knocking three times loudly on his side.

When the door opened on my side, directly in front of me, a petite young girl with dainty white flowers in her curly hair popped out. She was clothed in pale green, her expression open with delight, coral coloured lips turned up in a clever, knowing smile.

"You could have at least knocked on the correct side of the door," she called to Rylan, who came over, not looking embarrassed at all.

"Sorry," I said to her. "He's new."

"Of course not." Rylan came bounding back around the house. "I was simply checking to see if the wall on the other side was sturdy," he said.

"And what did your knocking reveal?" she asked, bemused.

Rylan considered, before answering. "A little shaky, but it will do. Best to get it fixed before it loosens any more."

The girl nodded, before turning to me. Her eyes lit up in recognition. "You must be Nima. I was not aware..."

Her voice trailed off, leaving me to wonder what it was she was about to say.

"And you must be Yueling. You look a lot like your great-great-great-great grandmother," I replied with a smile. "She used to wear flowers in her hair, too. And she was a great friend."

She bowed, her cheeks turning red from the cold. "Please, come in. We have lots to discuss."