Lunar Heart, Shadow Bound ✓ [when the moon lies]

Ch.31.2: A Rauvuren Dinner

Wescherlie stood at the front of the dining hall and out flowed the clearest, sweetest voice that reminded Pinti of Tendri. Just like her little sister would have, Wescherlie swayed side to side in the rhythm of the song. The Rauvuren's native language Avesian was more like sounds than words. There were even a few long 'ahh's and some raven-like squabbles.

At the end of the song, Rauvuren applauded, cheered, and Wescherlie gave a little bow. "Now for our guests, The Song of the Scepter of Tamido in Universal."

The moment she started singing, Pinti bristled, immediately recognizing the song. It was same song she and Daero heard in Kathulan.

"Vrebrinfeld," Daero whispered in her ear and she nodded with wide eyes.

Laid afar, the furthest sphere

Beyond the morrow, into the night

The whisper of the wind one can hear

Darkest reaches, dimmest lights

Rust ridden alleys, stolen lives

Raw, rich, a bloodstained meadow

Words wield weapons as sharp as knives

Half-beating hearts, born from shadow

Blue tainted darkness, Lunar light

An abysmal crevice, hideaway creak

Only one soul shall wish tonight

One soul granted powers to unleash

The clear voice hung in her ears. Pinti only managed a small encouraging smile when Wescherlie beamed in her direction. What were the chances of this coincidence? The one she and Daero had heard was the Song of the Scepter of Tamido! Could it have been a clue?

If the song is a clue, where in the Sixth Ring is the Scepter? She wondered. Did that have something to do with the reason Xohr wasn't just going himself?

After Wescherlie's singing, Emphrelius announced it was time for the children to go to bed. Rauvuren time, it was late at night. Pinti had lost all sense of time because as far as she knew, it had been 'late at night' for too long now.

"But Unkav!" Wescherlie's complaints could be heard as Emphrelius took her away.

* * *

An hour later, Xohr took Pinti and Daero here to his study to show them a scroll depicting the fate of Kathula and how no matter what, they were doomed to die. It was in ancient Kathulan, but Xohr read it to them—twice. Still, Pinti couldn't believe this. It didn't add up to what she had been told so far.

"I'm going to find the scepter and destroy Edglings. Nothing bad will happen unless I'm too late or something." Pinti traced the drawing at the end of the scroll. It was an Edgling's black smudge and a dark blue Kathula mingled together. The painting smeared into a black smudge indicating the Edgling had won.

"All I have foreseen. It has been foretold by the Lunar Goddess." Xohr was sitting in a red velvet chair across from them. "My mother, Iarell Tamida V'kuthiar, tried to unify all five races—Humans, Halfhumans, Sorcerers, Kathula, and Edglings. So, then she, with the Craftsmen of Peace, created the scepter, but Edglings did not want to cooperate. She had to do what she thought was best. Punished Edglings, but they returned time and again to try to overpower Kathula. It seemed inevitable Edglings would kill Kathula.