The Prophecy

The undergrounds of Kahr-O-Tirr: still waters

_ Now?

_ What "now"?

_ Let's go...?

_ No, that would be unreasonable... They're not all asleep.

_ But Half Moon, she... She's...

_ I know.

Fenril laboriously dug himself out of the peat moss they used for bedding. He could not condone such madness. Separated from Half Moon, their existences could only be precarious. He had heard horrible stories about the Trolls and, in addition to their ugliness, their cunning was legendary. Tales of deception and deceit perpetrated by Trolls were carried in all Walks by the wind and minstrels. For the wolf, those tales were not tools to inspire confidence, security, and trust about their current situation... And Half Moon was alone, somewhere in this immense troll city. And moreover, she was sleeping! How could she have been so unconscious? Sleeping when Trolls where around! In a city which abounded in trolls in every door, in every corner! Flavie was right: it was necessary to go there, look for her before moving away as fast as possible from this cursed city. With difficulty, he pushed towards the exit. He growled.

_ It's going to be difficult to go unnoticed! You are so large...

With utmost precautions, he slipped out of the stables, preferring the wide patches of shadows to the fine luminous streaks distilled by the opening of the ceiling of the cave. From where they stood, they could see a small part of the esplanade that dominated the great temple.

_ This is where they took her.

_ Yes, and I did not see her come out. They must still be there.

They approached the stairs. Suddenly, Fenril was jumped back, silently indicating to the mare the presence of two guards in light togas. They seemed drowsy from the soft warmth of the fire that had been lit in the center of the esplanade. A few rare passers-by were returning to their homes or meeting places. Overall, the city was plunged in a penumbra brightened by points of light. All seemed calm. From time to time, a young boy, whom Fenril had not noticed at first, got up, approached the fire which he revived by feeding the embers, then returned to his blanket in which they rolled up with an air of contentment.

No, they couldn't go through there, the way was dead-end. Maybe another way. Another staircase? Either way, one had to get to the top of the temple and enter the House of Offerings, the house with four doors.

They went around the east side of the pyramidal temple. The monument was made of surprisingly hard and cold gray stone. It exuded a sense of cruelty, danger, and repulsion. There was a stairway on the east façade, but a recent landslide prevented access to it. Off they went, towards the North façade. To reach it, it was necessary to pass again in front of the stables, to cross one of the four arteries of the city, to pass in front of an illuminated inn and what else? The shade masked whole sections of Kahr-Ô-Tirr. As discreetly as possible, hoping to make themselves invisible, they walked along the shadows. Whispers came from the stable. Normal. Muffled music was coming from the few windows of the inn. Strange place of pleasure in a city of wise men...

_Well, said Fenril, I suggest crossing the esplanade as quickly as possible, with a little luck, no one will notice us.

_ And if not?

_ We'll see what happens.

He took off. In a good jump, he reached the stable and then ran along the stable wall again. Flavie soon joined him. In the distance, the fire continued to crackle, and laughter could still be heard coming from the inn. They had gone unnoticed. Flavie entered the stables and Fenril, disappointed, followed her.