Moon's Call (Sample)

Chapter Thirteen

That evening, Astrophel and Theresa walked side by side through the village. After being in bed for hours to regain her strength, Theresa had requested that she should be allowed to clear things from her mind and Astrophel, despite his mother's disapproval had offered to accompany her. She watched the children play, running around and across the paths. She tried to ignore the stares they were getting from most of the adults as she walked slowly beside Astrophel who just put his arms behind him without a word.

"You are quiet..." Theresa said, without looking at him. "Always quiet."

Astrophel glanced her way. "You don't find that weird, do you?"

"No." Theresa replied. "It's just difficult to guess what's going through your mind." She scoffed.

A subtle smile lifted the side of his lips. "And why are you curious about what's going through my mind?"

"Because you seem to answer my every question with a question." She chuckled slightly and he understood her joke and chuckled too.

"I don't talk much." He simply said.

She nodded. "Thanks for standing up for me the other day."

"You needn't thank me." He replied. "Every one knows how Claire talks with disregard."

"I hope we someday become friends." Theresa said longingly.

Astrophel scoffed. "Not Claire... Just not Claire."

"Why?"

"Claire hardly calls a truce... She's born to be feisty."

Theresa thought for a while and decided to change the topic as she observed the inhabitants of the village. "I feel so at home in Pragoth than I ever felt in Royal Isle."

Astrophel glanced around and replied. "We are one people, here, Theresa. We look out for each other."

"But... people still give me that cold unfriendly stares..." She said as she noticed a woman hanging out a basket of fish to dry, staring at her with scorn.

"Ignore them, it will pass." Astrophel advised.

She nodded and they continued in silence until she broke it again. "You have been one of the few who have been genuinely nice to me, Astrophel... You don't mind my asking why, do you?"

He only smiled and glanced down at the earth beneath them and looked up to squint at the horizon again. "We should return to the house now. I think you have had enough fresh air." He said. "And perhaps, you could teach me out to cause earthquakes too... Or fly."

She smiled up at him even though she knew that he had intentionally ignored her question. As he took her hand and they turned back down the path they had come from, Lycidas who had been watching them from a distant hill, transformed into a wolf and disappeared behind the hill.

         

         ***
"You sent the letter, like I said?" Darius asked Herrick.

Herrick nodded. "I asked sir Lucas to keep the part about her mysterious powers, confidential."

"Let's just hope he will." Darius said. "I wonder what that slut would do if she found out about the new events. We can't trust anyone too. Tell the guardians they are not to mention this to any other ears, not even their mates'!"

Herrick nodded and got up to leave when Elaine appeared in the doorway. Herrick acknowledged her with a nod and went past her while Elaine walked towards her husband and occupied the seat Herrick had just vacated. "You look troubled, I can feel it." Darius said to her.