The Balinor Chronicles: The Celestial Herd

Chapter Thirty-two: There Are Worse Things Than Death

Moloth looked up as his lord returned. The Shifter Lord had, by this time, returned to a Unicorn shape, but his eyes still burned red. Moloth took one look at his lord's face and knew that things had not gone as planned.

Arioch stood fuming on the edge of a plateau near the mountainous region. He gazed out over the Valley, his head level with the trees. He did not turn as Moloth came up beside him. "My Lord?" Arioch snorted and turned his head away. The pair watched the sun sink lower towards the mountains, painting the sky with brilliant hues. At length, Arioch spoke. "This won't be pleasant."

Moloth grinned. "Like it isn't already."

Arioch's eyes blazed brighter. "There are pools I need. On the other side of the Valley. On the other side of them."

"Oh?"

Arioch turned to his companion. "I can get back. But not with you. I need those pools!"

Moloth blinked, but inside he was fuming. Why did he have to ask the Mare's permission? Why couldn't they have just left? "So we can't leave with you, until we reach the other side of the Valley."

"Correct."

The pair stood in silence a little longer, watching as the sky turned darker and sank beyond the hills. Arioch spoke again.

"Many of your people may die."

Moloth said nothing, but stood in silence. He gaze sank lower until he was watching a batch of Twilight foals. They cavorted and wheeled wildly; playing games that only they knew. In another world they might have had a chance, but here…Here they had breed true to their parent's colors, and their coats were even darker then their sires and dams.

"Arioch," Moloth began, "We will fight. You have promised us freedom, and we will have it." Arioch opened his mouth to speak, but Moloth cut him off, a dangerous shadow creeping into his voice. "Say nothing, Arioch. It is my people who will die for this fate."

Arioch jumped in before Moloth could go on. "You don't have to come-"

Moloth breath comes out in a rush, and had he been more from the fire line, sparks would have joined his breath. "How can you say that? Give us a taste of freedom, let us know what it is like, how can you say that?"

Moloth stops; his point is made. He doesn't need to go on, even though he lost his temper. Arioch, for the first time in his life, is defeated, and Moloth need go on no further. His last sentence ends the argument as he turns his gaze back to the foals playing in the field.

"There are worse things than death."