A Ballad of the Sun and the Moon

Chapter 20

They Turned in the seclusion of a partially wooded dell where Niva insisted they remain human. They weren't in the creatures' territory as she could recall, but – as she explained to Kimber – unlike strict and constant Darkfrith, their boarders and range shifted frequently.

The two picked their way through the forests, barefoot and very slowly, taking the opportunity to converse. Besides getting to know each other better, it was a convenient way to announce their presence respectfully.

"Is there anything you like about being human?" asked Kimber, referring to the skins they were now wearing as apposed to actually being limited to tender flesh and dull teeth.

"Quite a bit actually," replied Niva. "Speech for one. Words are one of the most intelligent things in creation. Being human has been what's allowed me to commune with other beings like us. As beast we are enemies, but as human we can find a safe neutrality between us."

Kimber nodded in contemplation.

"You?" she asked.

"Hmm," he replied signaling a moment to ponder. "I mean, there is the draw of just staying dragon up in the sky, but," he paused.

"But what?" Niva prompted.

"I do in fact like being able to experience humans as one of them. They've created many magnificent things. Literature. Art. Even Chasen itself was not purely made by our kind. The Adam dome comes to mind." He looked up thoughtfully.

"Chasen certainly was grand," she remarked.

"It would have been yours had you wanted." Kimber assumed he'd get a witty remark or maybe even a statement denouncing that horrible place, but an unclear grunt was all she gave, looking aimlessly forward.

The ground was coated in a gentle green moss, making the lack of shoes irrelevant. The trees were old and large unlike many of the forests in Europe that had been frequently quelled by loggers, which in contrast sported mostly younger growth. Here, the branches were high and kept much of the sunlight away leaving little chance for undergrowth.

Kimber cocked his head.

"Do you hear that?" asked Niva, pausing next to a massive splotchy-barked beech.

"They are rather light footed," commented Kimber. "Makes it seem like they are further than they really are."

Niva nodded adding, "They're tracking us."

Kimber lifted his face into the wind.

"They're hunters. They know better than to be downwind," said Niva.

"What do they smell of?" he asked.

Niva's lips curled upwards. "Fur."

"I see."

"One of them will likely present themselves once we've gone further into their territory. Let me do the talking."

They arrived at the remains of a fallen yew lined with ruffled ferns. A woman stepped out from behind a tree dressed in loosely hung wool. Her hair hung in a snarled skein thrown over one shoulder. Her feet were bare and covered in a thick, brown mud. She appeared as if she'd gotten dressed in a hurry.

Kimber was fluent in French, Italian and German, could speak colloquial Spanish and understand some Portuguese as well, but he couldn't place the language of the woman's greeting. Or be certain if it was even a greeting at all. Niva stepped forward and said something in the same language.

He drew a few similarities. The woman looked by definition human, but like their own kind there were subtle differences. She held herself with a poised strength to her. Her skin was fair and freckled, yet in a way that was too natural as apposed to the drákon who appeared more akin to polished stone. When she spoke, her words held a certain cadence to it. It didn't seem a natural attribute of the language she was using, as Niva sounded in no way similar.

The woman glanced at Kimber dropping her jaw a bit and he wondered if his presence would be a problem. His concern was answered when Niva called to him and motioned to follow.

"We are permitted in to see the Her."

"Her?" he asked, as Niva followed their escort.

"Yes. Their Alpha is a woman."

Kimber's brows rose.

"What? Is that so surprising?"

"Not at all. But it does explain a few things about you."

Niva seemed unsure of how to take, but gave him a proud smile nonetheless.

"How do you know their language?" Kimber asked.

"My mother was Northern. She taught me. Though the dialect these people use is much older. They are much more isolated than our kind."

They arrived at a river and walked upstream for an hour until they reached a valley that opened up on a quaint village. It was nothing special, archaic even. Remnants of an ancient time. A clearing made up the center, surrounded by wooden longhouses lacing throughout a thinner stretch of trees. Most of the structures sported small extensions sloping to the ground where copper pots, wicker baskets and firewood were kept dry. The doors were kept open and the villagers worked in front of fires or at tables kept outside of their homes.

The inhabitants quickly dropped their tasks at hand and gathered around the surprise guests. Hundreds of eyes starred at them as Kim and Niva were brought behind a longhouse of more sophisticated design with a high pitched roof and carvings of beasts on the outer wooden beams.

Their escort - whose name Kim was told to be Hati - commanded them to stop.

Ahead stood a woman crouched down at an elk similar to the one Kimber had caught a few days ago. Her arms were inside the chest, working back and forth, cleaning the carcass. She tipped her head in acknowledgement as Eydis approached as if permitting her to speak. Eydis first knelt down awkwardly putting her head lower than the woman and exposing her neck. Then she began to speak the sing-song that Kimber couldn't understand.

The few clouds that had blotched the midday sky had congealed into a low fog dropping slowly to ground. Kimber shifted closer to his mate into a splotch of sun letting it warm his bare back. He could feel the strange magic of this place, not something of stones and songs, but something different, a vague pulsing in his bones.

Eydis returned and uttered something to Niva giving Kimber another curious glance.

"She says I am to speak to the Her alone," translated Niva. "You are to stay here."

****

Niva didn't care to leave Kimber there alone with a backdrop of intent onlookers despite him still being in sight. This clan was steeped in ritual unknown to her mate and certain behaviors gave quick offense. She shrugged it off knowing that Kimber could simply Turn if he came into danger – neither of them were sheep left to the wolves after all – but she hoped it wouldn't come to that.

"Matriarch Helke" Niva greeted with neither a tip of the head much less a bow, all the while standing fully erect.

"I wondered when you might pay us a visit." Helke pulled her arms - bloodied up past her elbows - out of the moose. She licked the excess blood off of her fingers then cleaned what she could off in a wide, tin pail of water.

"Thank you for allowing us entrance."

"Us. Yes. I hear you brought someone." She tipped her head upward and inhaled. "Did you find what you were looking for?"

"I believe I did," confirmed Niva.

Helke looked over at Kimber for the first time and released a sharp gasp. "Gods. You've brought us the Moon." Her breath deepened and her cheek flushed.

Niva's hair began to stand on edge.

"Call him over. I'd like to see this male specimen of...whatever you are."

Niva reluctantly called Kimber over and introduced him. To her astonishment Helke replied in English.

"Don't look so surprised Gift of the Sun," said Helke. "You're not the only one who kept secrets. We aren't as rustic as we would have you believe." The amusement in Helke's face was clear and she seemed to allow her smirk to linger for effect as Kimber came to Niva's side.

"But where are my manners," Helke added . She bent down to the carcass she had been cleaning and effortlessly pried open the rib cage as if it were nothing. With nails that became claws she sliced the heart out of the chest cavity and offered it dripping with blood to Kimber.

Niva stepped territorially in front of him. "It turns out my kind do no share," she snarled.

Helke retracted her hand whose fingers had returned to their stumpy human selves. "A real pity." She stared dazed with a longing at Kim until Niva shifted her weight to a more aggressive stance. "Well then, at least give me the courtesy of telling me why you are here."

"I wanted him to see what you are," said Niva.

Helke's brows rose crinkling the skin further on her forehead. "Is that so? I should demand you show me what you are in return." She looked up at the sky and followed its to-be trajectory towards the horizon. "But I know you'll just do what you wish and show him anyways." She let out a surrendering sigh.

Niva's lips twisted to the side. "It's going to be a full moon tonight isn't it?"

Helke gave a singular nod causing a look of dismay to spread across Niva's face.

"I know you don't believe in our ways. But it's how we are."

"I know. They are your people. It's not for me to judge. I just hate seeing it. Hated. Every month another lost."

"As do I."

A solemn silence lingered. Kimber gave Niva an inquisitive brow to which Helke replied.

"You shall see with your own eyes Man of the Moon." She turned to Niva. "And you may join us for the pre-ritual feast. You and your mate."

Niva looked at her and suppressed the look of disbelief that tonight would be any different than the many moon-lit ones she had witnessed a few years ago. Niva settled on an earnest "thank you."

Helke placed a hand on Niva's arm and moved closed to her ear.

"Remember, if the ritual works we will not be able to tolerate a rival female. Friend or otherwise. You best keep a great distance or be faster than we are."

"We'll be fine," assured Niva.

Helke gave them both an optimistic smile. "Feel free to show your mate around the village."

"It was a pleasure to meet you," said Kimber, giving her a perfect English gentleman's bow.

"The pleasure was most certainly all mine," replied Helke with a lustful curling of the lips.

Niva noticed her red cheeks and took Kimber firmly by the hand, pulling him with her.

***

The feast was hardly festive. A solemn cloud seemed to hang over nearly everyone in attendance.

It took place just outside the village in a small field at the edge of the old forest. The tall grass had been laid flat by foot traffic and the dining area was an arrangement of crude tables and benches made of boards resting on upright logs.

The only person who sat in a less rugged fashion was Helke at the head of an actual table placed at a higher elevation before the others. Her chair resembled a throne, carved from black oak and covered in fine furs and decorative animal bones. Next to her on a slightly smaller chair yet similarly fashioned sat a young man nervously glancing about the feast.

The moose that Helke had cleaned that afternoon was being turned on a spit by a pair of women with a third dousing the flesh every so often with an herbed baste. Slices of crisped meat were shaved off and placed on a large platter which was passed around all in attendance.

Kimber observed as Niva took a handful, eating the meat directly from her hand (they had neither plates nor cutlery). He took a similar amount and ate as well.

"What is this ritual they are going to perform?"

Niva's lips slumped down despite her full mouth. She chewed longer than seemingly necessary and carefully swallowed.

"I suppose there is no point staying quiet about it. You should understand what you will be seeing tonight. These woman, all the woman they are born as they are. Changing their skin comes naturally to them - or least, the only price they pay is pain. The men are less fortunate. They must undergo a ritual first."

"I see," said Kimber. "So that young man sitting at Helke's side wants become a beast?"

Niva's face tightened. "I couldn't say what he wants. Maybe he volunteered. Maybe he was chosen. I wouldn't freely take the odds if I were him. I came to this tribe four years ago and stayed with them well on a year. They even welcomed me thinking perhaps I was a good omen. That my presence might help one of the men make the change. Every month I had to watch as young men get hunted down, ripped apart and eaten. You see, the ritual itself doesn't kill the men. But when the man fails to change at the height of a full moon, the women become enraged and are compelled to hunt him until the blood lust is satiated."

Kimber shifted uncomfortably in his seat. "And you thought our kind were brutal when you came to Darkfrith."

His mate's lips scrunched together. "Touché," she reluctantly admitted. "I guess I had hoped that my own kind might be more enlightened. And we are, in some ways."

Kimber thought to make another quip about his feather bed, but decided against it. "So why don't they just be content without a male who can Turn? Why commit their husbands and sons to death?"

"Ah," exclaimed Niva after which she let out a lengthy sigh. "We come to the cruel caveat of their kind. Only a man who has made the change can sire daughters. Otherwise, the woman give birth to sons."

The plate of meat came around again.

"At least they would live," remarked Kim taking a handful of savory morsels.

"Do you not find it selfish," began Niva certain in her tone, "to hand over the survival of your species-" . She trailed off as the plate was passed to her. Her eyes drifted upward as an epiphanous look stormed across her face; a look of someone who wasn't happy at a realization, but rather one who was newly shouldered with a grave responsibility. Finally, she finished her sentence in a mutter "-to an single man?"

Kimber tipped his head curiously. "Our survival doesn't depend on you," he said.

"Doesn't it?"

"My sisters can Turn. From them our people will thrive."

Niva looked at him with uncertainty. Kim merely wanted to comfort her, but wasn't sure she trusted his words. In all honestly, he wasn't sure what he said was a lie or not. She opened her mouth to speak when a voice came from behind. Niva and Kimber curved around on their make-shift log bench to see who had addressed her. A tall woman in a homespun dress and two thick plaits of honied curls reaching her waist stood before them.

"Her Greatness requests your presence at Her table."

Niva reluctantly stood, giving Kimber a sidelong glance as she walked towards the head of the feast.

He looked around, eyes resting for a moment on the woman to his side. She had a long face with large slate-grey eyes and licked dribbled juice off her palm. He followed the lengths of the tables filled with women, chatting with each other and gnawing on rotisseried meat. His eyes fell upon a girl, sixteen maybe, with deep chestnut curls and a round face, who, despite a valiant effort, could not hide her sobs. An older woman placed an arm over her shoulders and spoke softly into her ear. They seemed like words of comfort, yet Kimber couldn't understand their language.

He continued scanning the crowd, finally landing on the young man whose life would likely be forfeit this night. Kim guessed him around eighteen, hardly old enough to die. Then again men in his merry old England were expected to give their services to the military where death was a likely outcome. Still, despite his youthful appearance there seemed an older wisdom to the boy's deep set eyes.

The young man intently watched the crying girl and Kim wondered at their connection. Maybe sweethearts, or friends, or possibly even lovers. Siblings? Kimber thought seeing a few similarities in their faces.

The young man's eyes shifted to Kimber, momentarily betraying a hint of yearning or something like it.

Kimber felt a tap on his shoulder. Behind him stood Hati, the woman who had escorted them into the beasts' territory.

"I give to you meat," she stated, holding out what appeared to be a well-charred kidney.

Kimber remembered how Niva had declined for him. Given how matriarchal this tribe of beasts seemed he wondered if offense would be given should he - a male - decline himself.

"Thank you," he said, extending his hand to take the offering.

Hati's lips twitched upward as she sat down in Niva's place. "You are like the Bright One, no?" she asked, her English no where near as refined as Helke's.

"I am," he replied.

Hati's delight was obvious and Kimber's answer pulled the ardent attention of the surrounding women.

"But you shine not like she," stated a woman to his right.

"Our Gifts are different. But we are of the same people."

"You are most beautiful," added the woman sitting across from him.

"That's very kind of you to say," replied Kimber, adopting the politeness of an English gentleman.

The plate of meat was passed around again. Each woman took a handful and passed the plate further down the table without giving it to Kimber.

"Here," offered the woman to his right, handing him the crisped morsels.

"Take mine as well," said another. "I hunger for something else," she said with a grin.

Kimber took both their offers, eliciting the same edacious look as Hati's.

The conversation turned to the women's musings - albeit in broken English - about the power of tonight's moon, and the assuredness that this cycle would be fruitful. They spoke of fine forest fungus and herbs and where the best spots to find them were. It segued into a boastful bout of who was a better huntress with grandiose tales of their exploits and prowess.

Kimber felt an arm slip around his waist as Hati slanted her head across his shoulder.

A bare foot below the table skirted up his calf, swirling arcs up his shin and back. When he felt a third woman grip his inner thigh he stood abruptly.

"Ladies, please excuse me," he said.

The women spoke quickly in their native tongue then stood as well. They freed themselves from the confines of their benches and table.

"We understand," said Hati.

"We show you," said another.

Kimber hesitated until they gave him a bit of space.

They led him to the edge of the field and brought him just behind the tree line.

"Better?" asked Hati.

Kimber assumed they thought he needed to relieve himself until they began to grope him anew. Evidently they had understood something entirely different.

"We hear Englishmen like private," said one of the women standing claustrophobically close to his backside.

"Not so many eyes," added another, snaking her fingers under Kimber's borrowed coat.

Kimber grabbed a determined hand attempting to snatch at the buttons holding his coat closed. They were certainly strong, similar to the average woman of the shire, but still had little to tempt him.

"Ladies, perhaps I haven't made myself clear," he insisted, gripping Hati's hand tighter till she whimpered.

It evolved to a giggle only seeming to spur the women on.

"So strong," remarked one, moving her hands to his stomach.

The womens' combined strength backed Kimber up to a tree. He considered Turning to smoke if only to avoid an altercation. Lucky for him the woman at his hind moved back and he took the opportunity to skirt away from those remaining.

When they didn't pursue him he glanced around to see why.

Hati was unconscious on the floor and Niva stood between him and the two remaining women. Kim didn't need to see Niva from the front to know her eyes had gone glowing gold. They lit up the faces of the two woman whose own eyes had turned to amber and orange slits. Beast versus beast. The untamable sky defending her territory against the feral earth.

"If you touch my mate again, I will tear your throats out!" roared Niva.

A lick of pride spread through Kimber at her display.

"You have no right," growled one of Hati's conspirators in return.

"He accepted! We share!" snapped another. "What right do you-"

"I am not one of you!" interrupted Niva.

The still standing women bent their legs as if ready to pounce and Niva readied herself to meet them.

A command rang out from beyond the trees and the women backed off immediately lowering their heads.

Helke approached with the young man chosen for the ritual at her heels.

"What is the meaning of this?" she demanded.

A cacophony of yipping excuses spilled from her subjects' lips.

At the raise of her hand silence reigned. She turned to Niva. "And what is your version of events?" Helke asked.

Niva clenched her fists to steady her breath. "It doesn't matter whether he accepted their proposition," she fumed. "He did so unknowingly. Besides, even if he did, my nature prevents me from permitting it."

Helke's eyes rose. "Something you learned while you were away?"

Niva glanced at Kim and nodded possessively.

Helke let out a sigh. "You know how such disputes are settled Sunniva. I should encourage this if only to see what you are. But I've no doubt you would win and I cannot risk precious lives out of curiosity."

"That is wise of you," snarled Niva, lacing her tone with warning.

Helke squinted her eyes in reply as if reconsidering her choice of action. She tipped her head and spoke in her native tongue to the two women still standing. Kimber thought they might attack but instead they lifted their downed companion effortlessly, carrying her away.

That spark of power that Kimber felt rising from Niva began to smoulder and Helke let out a relieved sigh.

"I must prepare," she said, turning to leave. The young man at her side stopped her with a hand to her shoulder and whispered in her ear. She gave him a nod. "Don't linger too long, Sköll. You won't have much time for your last words if that is what the gods intend for you."

The young man nodded his head in understanding and Helke walked away.

"Sköll? Is that your name?" asked Kimber.

"I thought you couldn't speak our tongue," Sköll replied.

"I can't," confirmed Kimber in English. "But when you know enough languages, the structure of a new one is easier to pick out."

"Ah. I've heard the English are well educated," remarked Sköll in perfect Queen's English.

"As you seem to be as well," added Niva. "Considering someone who was raised this far from civilization your English is impeccable."

"I've not spent my entire life here. We are encouraged to spend a time away, bringing knowledge of the outside world to our home."

Niva rose her eyes at this. "Your people don't allow their men to leave," she stated as if a well-known fact.

"Oh yes," countered Sköll. "It is our belief that time away gives us strength and prepares us for the world's changing."

Niva shot Kimber a roused look to which Kimber creased his brow in reply. "Did you ever think about staying away?" he asked, turning back to Sköll. "Knowing what your fate might be here?"

Sköll answered without hesitation. "No. We've something special to preserve here. Our kind are unique," he said glinting understanding towards the two dragons. "Abandoning my brothers and friends to uphold the burden of our kind? I couldn't do that. And now I'm even more glad I returned. Well, I suppose glad isn't the right word. My older sister's husband was chosen, you see, in this past drawing. I volunteered to take his place if only to give them one more precious month together. Perhaps he might even get her with child so she could have something of him."

Kimber thought of the girl crying at the feast.

"But you have so much more of life to live? How could you throw that chance at freedom away?" asked Niva, dumbfounded.

"I've not yet experienced a woman's touch," explained Sköll. "Never felt the joy of love except for that from my mother and sister. I've never known what it's like to hold my own child in my arms. But I do know those are all lovely things. I suppose never having experienced just how lovely they are makes it easier to give them up in exchange for those who do have such riches to enjoy them for a bit longer."

His lips twitched up creating a resolved smile filled with a deep sorrow.

Kimber placed a hand on his shoulder. "I admire your bravery," he admitted.

"Sunniva? I hope you won't hold a grudge. If your mate looks half as delicious to the women here as you did...still do to us men I'm surprised at their restraint. Many a man dreamed of an offering of flesh from you." He flashed a cautious eye at Kimber.

"I regret having never asked you for a kiss."

Niva let out a quick laugh through her nose.

"But you have your mate now. Go on. The ritual will begin soon."

***