Crystal Chronicles: Guardian of the Moon
Chapter 3
It was early morning by the time Lunil awoke. She had had an odd dream. She was all decked out in leather armor with a long silver sword. A great shadow had struck her sending her across the room. She had stood back up battered and faced her opponent. It was faceless, formless, just a shadow. Her dream self had screamed and she had awoken. She had dreamed this before. Always it ended right there, with her scream.
She clambered out of bed and looked over to the three beds across from hers in the loft. Two were empty the third held her younger brother. He was sound asleep. She looked back to one of the empty beds. She new her brothers would never come home. She had been told 6 hours ago, but it just struck her now. The tears came and she couldn't stop them.
Her life long dream had been to be in a caravan with her elder brothers. To live the adventures Arren had spoke of. That dream was smashed. She would never again have a sword fighting lesson from Perry. She would never again see Arren's sweet smile when he defended her from Perry's frustration. She loved them and now they were gone. Simple as that.
Drying her eyes, Lunil began to creep down the stairs into the kitchen. She needed to take a walk. Lunil stepped carefully. Without even a creak she reached the small stove and made to cross the door way into her parents room when she heard voices.
"Isaac you can't! If you leave... Lunil, and I won't be able to tend to fields alone. Brin is too young to help yet."
"I agree with ShayFa Mae. We can't leave our home. We must send out another caravan. I will go to represent our family."
Lunil's mother was crying now. "I have just lost two of my babies Isaac, I can't stand the chance of loosing you too!"
"I'm sorry Mae, but its the only way."
Lunil carefully crossed the kitchen and opened the door that opened onto the village. She breathed a heavy sigh. She knew what she had to do. Quiet as a mouse, Lunil made her way to the pavilion.
The wagon had not been moved. The hippo-thing had been put in the stables. Lunil silently crept toward the back of the wagon. She parted the cloth covering and reached her hand inside. Suddenly the a white light illuminated the pavilion. Lunil spun around to face its source. It was Quinn. The light seemed to be coming from his hand.
"Who's there?"
"Just me"
Quinn's light dimmed as he approached her. He held a small candle. Lunil was sure that light from before had definitely NOT come from a candle, but there was no other explanation. Clevats couldn't do magic.
"You're the farmer's daughter" Quinn said.
Lunil nodded.
"What is your
name?"
"Lunil"
Quinn froze. He stared at her. "Is something wrong?" she interrupted his examining gaze.
The man snapped back to reality. "N-no, sorry. I just wasn't expecting you to be here."
She looked at his quizzically. "I went on a walk. I can walk in my own village's pavilion can't I?"
"That isn't what I meant."
"Then what did you mean?"
Quinn paused a moment, as if he was choosing the right words. "Never mind. I was just jabbering."
Lunil willed him to leave, but he didn't. Instead he asked, "Why were you getting into the wagon?"
"I was looking for something." Would he just mind his own business!
"What was it?"
Lunil realized he was not going to leave, so she gave in. "The sword."
Quinn raised an eye brow. "Sword?"
"Yes, you see the man who you found still alive was my eldest brother Arren. The sword was also his. Might I have it?"
Quinn looked at her. There was an eagerness in her dark eyes. The man nodded hesitantly. "I'll get it" He approached the wagon and returned to Lunil with her brother's great sword. Quinn offered it to her. She grasped the hilt and pulled it from the cloth it was wrapped in. Lunil gasped. This was not the sword her brother had left with.
From hilt to blade the weapon was made of pure silver. Two blue gems were inlaid in the hilt. The guard was a pair of dragons, claws reaching the blade. The leather wrapped around the grip was old, but still tough and thick. It was huge. The blade touched the ground while the end of the hilt passed Lunil's waist.
She lifted it into the air and held it before her. It was alarmingly light and she swung it carefully above her head and brought it down lightly on an imaginary goblin. Quinn's eyes widened. "You can lift that?"
"It very light." Lunil explained.
"Is it?" Quinn asked. Lunil was no longer paying attention. She was slaying the evil doers that filled the pavilion. Her silver sword flashing before her. Quinn watched her with interest. Finally she replaced the blade in its sheath. She carefully set it back in the caravan and turned to Quinn.
"You won't tell anyone I was here will you?"
"Of course not." He smiled.
Lunil smiled too. "Good night." She left the pavilion.
The villagers met again at noon to make their decision. Aiden stood before them. Quinn behind the elder, his arms crossed. "It is time. My fellow Naedyuins, let us now make our choice." The crowd was absolutely silent. "There are eight families and each one shall cast a vote. All in favor of hiring warriors please stand."
No one stood.
Aiden nodded. "All in favor of sending out a caravan stand now."
ShayFa practically jumped into the air. Lunil's father also stood. The Yuke Alchemist looked around and stood. Aiden frowned. He looked to the men standing up, representing that their families would fight for the village. But there were only three of them.
"All in favor of leaving the village, stand now. The three men sat. Sarine stood, her husband, the tailor, looked away. The Miller's newly widowed wife rose. Abay-Fin slowly stood and was followed by the old Selkie fisherman. He had lost all three of his children to caravans long ago. Everyone looked toward the only family that hadn't placed a vote. The Selkie rancher was an odd women. Her husband had served and been killed in a caravan a few years back. Her eldest son had been in the one Quinn found. She looked around at the people standing, and turned to her only family member left. Gareth helped his mother to her feet and sat down again.
It was five to three. They would be leaving the village.
Aiden looked with sorrow at the crowd. "You may all have a seat now." he said. He had been in this village longer than any of them. Traveling for him would be difficult, but it was what the village decided. "We shall leave in two days. Sir Quinn has offered to escort us to the nearest city with his chalice. Then all families can decide what to do from there. Meeting dismissed." The villagers began to rise.
Leave, thought Lunil. Leave. That was it then. They would all leave. "How can that be our decision!" Lunil hadn't meant for it to be out loud, but it had been. She looked around. Everyone was looking at her. She paused for a moment distraught, then rose to her feet. "We have been here for hundreds of years. We have suffered through droughts and disease and other hardships. How can you all just give up? How can you just leave behind everything you have worked so hard to achieve? If none of you are willing to fight for your way of life, let me! I will go!"
There was a moment of silence. Lunil's audience gazed at her in a shocked daze.
"Lunil" her father said harshly. He reached for her sleeve. Tugging on it, he commanded her to sit down. She looked about for help. Finding none, she sat.
Hope you liked chapter three! Please review. Also the website lives. is where you can find out more about my story and the village of Naedyus.
