The Moon Calls

25

"I have never been to the Great Tree." Donella said as she and Varian looked over the map. "I have heard it was one of the places Zhan Tiri and Demanitus battled."

"Zhan Tiri..." Varian shivered.

"You mean that creepy demon thing that Stripes and the others almost summoned?" Hugo asked.

Varian's cheeks went a bit pink as he thought of how Hugo had broken him from the trance. It was just a kiss on the nose, but it was still a kiss. Did it...mean anything? Was he reading into it?

"Well, no matter what, Varian isn't going anywhere unless the King and Queen say it's okay." Cassandra said, walking over to them with drinks. "He's as much their child now as Rapunzel is, at least until his father is freed."

"Which won't happen unless I go to learn that incantation." Varian said firmly.

"The black rocks are too dangerous for you." Cassandra sighed. "Remember that tunnel? We barely got out..."

Varian nodded. "I remember."

"Rapunzel and Fitzherbert are talking to the King and Queen right now. If they can talk them into it, then you should be able to go." She placed her hand on his shoulder. "But, until then, please stay away from the rocks."

Varian sighed. "...Right." He got up and walked over to stand on the balcony. "That's getting increasingly harder to do by the minute."

Cassandra and Hugo walked out to join him, looking out at the landscape speckled with black rocks. Varian wrapped his arms around himself, his hair glowing for a moment. "I don't know how long I can resist Her."

"Why don't we go back and see what else Gothel has?" Cassandra suggested. "With permission this time? We can bring a horse and cart, take her secret stuff..."

"Are you, a Royal Guard, suggesting we steal?" Hugo gaped at her.

"Well...I mean, she's dead, right?" Cassandra walked off inside.

Varian and Hugo watched her go and then Varian grinned before following her.

--

"Yeeeeah, no."

Varian, Hugo and Cassandra stopped short and turned to see Rapunzel standing behind them with Donella.

"Oh, come on! You ratted us out?!" Hugo cried in disbelief.

"You were about to take Ulla's son out to where it's dangerous for him." Donella shrugged.

"Dangerous?" Varian frowned.

"...You didn't notice?" Rapunzel frowned. "Let's go." She walked across the bridge and they followed her.

She led the way through the forest and to the tower, where they saw black rocks had sprouted up around it. "She's found your old hiding place." Rapunzel said grimly. "The black rocks have spread everywhere, Varian. And...they're not just after you."

"What?" Varian's eyes widened as he walked over to her. "What do you mean?"

"I've been getting visions, dreams, too. And when I go too close to a black rock that's not yours?" Rapunzel walked over to one and her hair started to glow.

"Aaaand now her hair is glowing." Hugo muttered.

"Rapunzel..." Varian walked over to her. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"I've been trying to avoid them, to avoid them spreading out. For whatever reason, the Moonstone is hunting both of us. She may not speak to me in my dreams, but I get visions." She stepped back and her hair stopped glowing. "And so...neither of us can safely go near the black rocks."