Page 45 of Moonlit Guardians

“Just make sure you’re back here before daylight,” Theren says. “We wouldn’t want Myerdoth to turn to stone in an unknown land.”

“No, we wouldn’t,” I echo.

He nods. “Be swift and I wish you well on this journey, Dragan.”

“Your kind aren’t known for showing this sort of kindness, Theren.”

“I guess we’re all exceptions to the rule. If I recall correctly, allying outside your own race wasn’t something gargoyles were known for.”

Myerdoth turns me away from the confrontation and steps through the mirror gate. I’m the last to go, watching as my soldiers venture safely to the other side. When I cross through the mirror’s surface, I realize it’s much different than shadow walking or using one of Pyre’s portals. The sensation is warm but not uncomfortable. I expected the glass to be cold and unyielding. Even so, it does what Theren promised.

I can feel the brush of wind against my skin and smell the dewy grass beneath my feet.

Belroth jerks his head towards four stone structures on a hill. “That look a bit witchy to you?” the golem asks. We walk along a stone path towards the structures. They are large columns formed from stone, etched with fine markings that aremuch too intricate for me to see clearly. At the center of the columns is a gaping hole that seems like an endless pit.

I jump without hesitation. My form straightens until the last minute when I spread my wings to break the fall.

Water. Deep water that goes on for miles. But I see light that indicates another tunnel. One by one, the soldiers, Myerdoth, and Belroth drop into the water beside me. The golems glowing veins illuminate the way down. Deeper and deeper we swim, all the while, I feel an uncomfortable burn in my lungs.

We reach the second tunnel and see that it arches upward to a pocket of air. I swim for it, leading the others as they trail behind me. I break through the surface of the water and smell blood.

Myerdoth turns to me. “We aren’t alone down here.”

Yes, I sense them too. Something dead and yet not.

“Tread carefully.”

***

DRAGAN

Crypt of The Moonlight Coven

Water drips from my limbs as I summon my blade of shadow. One step at a time, I inch my way through the narrow passage. It opens to a room filled with doors that could lead anywhere or nowhere at all. I don’t know what sort of trickery these witches have enspelled into their resting place, but I feel the magic in the musty air.

Myerdoth stands beside me, awaiting my orders. I step towards the middle most door and place my hand on the markings. They burn slightly against my palm. I move to the next, doing the same as I did before, but the sensation is different.

Finally, I reach a door with markings I recognize. “Soul Runes.”

“What?” Myerdoth asks.

“Back in Oronrel, there were doors that wouldn’t open unless someone possessed darkness within their soul. These runes are similar. We need to push our arm through the lock and…”

“Wait,” Myerdoth shouts. “You may be right, but I doubt there’s enough darkness within you to complete such a trial.”

“You doubt the darkness within me?” I ask, surprised.

“I don’t doubt that you still possess the power to be the King of Shadow, but darkness... Lady Fulthain has changed you. The more she feeds from your darkness and fills you will love, the less malice exists in your heart. I don’t thinkdarknessis what they’re measuring, but evilness. None of us is entirely evil.”

Belroth shakes his head and points at the runes. “These are encrypted. They aren’t what they appear. We must decipher the runes.”

“That could take days or even weeks.” I tap into the communication ring. “Pyre.”

It takes a while for the necromancer to answer. “What is it, Dragan?”

“I’m sending you an image. Do you think you can figure out the encryption of the runes?”

I wait patiently for his response. If, in this case, patience means pacing across the floor with my upper lip curled. Pyre doesn’t answer for some time. The soldiers begin to inspect the other doors.

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