The Prophecy

2nd Movement: The Pope's choice

9 Lïon 1307 – 1 ray before zen

Checking with Flavie and Fenril had been relatively quick and effortless. They were both lazily settled in the stables, enjoying their sweet coolness, and complaining about the heat that resided outside. They didn't tell her directly, but it was clear they enjoyed the notion to avoid traveling to the Walk of the Sun. What they ignored was the alternative destination they would have to go to. Half-Moon had avoided the subject as much as possible. The Great Volcano was a sacred place, for "The Four", which meant the mission would be a delicate one. Especially for Half-Moon.

"The Four" was the denominator Humans, Elves, Trolls and Gelflings used to call themselves since the Children of the Eternals Reunification Law in 1160, but only when they talked about actions that were controlled and organized by representatives of each one of the four communities. It implied many things, from juridical to mundane aspects of life, and particularly the organization of powers and economy ruled by the Royal families of each community.

Infiltrating or participating to a meeting hosted by the "Four" wasn't easy feat. Even if you were an official attendee. Nothing was innocent or candid, in the Inter-communities' locations, people could be friends or foes, hidden under merry appearances. Although, the Great Volcano was sacred grounds, where the heads for the influent families, and Guild leaders gathered to take decisions that would influence the life of everyone else on Innàa. On the slopes of the volcano stretched the mighty Slindya-la-Belle city, Capital of the Four, flagship of the Walk of the Prophecies.

Though Fenril was not a horse, being friend with a most famous horse had its perks: he had his own entrance to the luxurious stables of Elwìnn. Flavie, was one of the most renown mare of Innàa, daughter of the great stallion "Thunder" and the beautiful "Tempest". Flavie-la-Noire, as she was sometimes called, was known to all for her speed and loyalty: none other than Half Moon could ride her. She was a proud and noble mare, some minstrels referred to her as the "daughter of the Wind".

Fenril was a strong and stubborn white wolf, the kind of which could be found it the Black Forest, in the Walk of the Mists. Very different from the Kourlaït wolf kind; breed of wolves developed by the human for war needs, Fenril was still an impressive, large wolf, able to carry someone on his back along with weapons and supplies if needed. While Kourlaïts were trained to obey the orders of any human, each Black Forest Wolves developed family ties with only one person. Fenril was Half-Moon's wolf, as Half-Moon was Fenril's Demi. They had bonded together when the girl was a little girl, and that bound had only grew stronger and deeper as years passed by.

Meanwhile, Half-Moon had returned to the square, by the Starry Dome. She was on her way to the East side, where Elf Master of Elwìnn had his residence. As she walked through the charming elven city, she observed the houses; those houses so unique and typical of the Elwìnn's style. The houses, made of blue stone, had an average of one or two stories. Magnificent arabesques framed the round or ogival windows and, on the upper floors, wide terraces with slate roofs opened out onto the path. Some low houses offered beautifully crafted blinds to the viewer's gaze, some of which were covered with the precious Tintagliss gold, a rare blue gold that worth more than regular gold. Some houses, set back from the rest of the village, were completed by wide porches in mauve or pink stones. Sometimes a few statues on either side of the portico welcomed visitors. Here a white wolf, here a bluebird or Pegasus, here again a Gloumy(1).

Half-Moon crossed the small stone bridge that spans the river Elwia, entering the East side. That was where the grove of proud and noble trees, stood strong. They were witnesses of the great forest that had once completely covered the small island of Elwìnn, in the center of the Crowned lake. The forest had, over the centuries, given way to the bewitching city of Elwìnn, the name it took from the island. In the center of this remanence of ancient times, was a large oak tree, about forty meters high. It sheltered the house of the Great Pope. The Wise Elf was native of the Walk of the Thousand Green, born in the Emerald Forest, he naturally liked the places where the trees reminded him of his place of birth. As a young man, he had decided to travel the world to explore, learn and increase his knowledge. He had fallen in love with the landscape of the Walk of the Cascades, he laid down his suitcases there, making Elwin his home. Since that time, things had changed a lot. The tree house he had built in the island of the crowned lake had attracted wanderers and other travelers who finally settled all around, giving birth to the elf city and then to the tribe of the Wise Elves: the tribe of the Winged Horses.