Night Wind
By: Wilona Riva
Disclaimer: Butch Hartman does; I don't.
Walking in the Storm
The Great Hall was strewn with stars, Maddie observed upon entering the large dark chamber lit with soft balls of white ecto-energy. Explains Danny's fascination with astronomy.
Moon poked her in the back; she walked on, watching the prone forms of her former best friend, noting her son's eyes were focused on his feet. "Danny?" she asked, reaching out as best she could to touch his shoulder with her wrists bound together.
He jerked away, not liking the touch of her warm skin. He shook his head and motioned for her to keep going. A faint door, glowing a brilliant twilight, appeared off to their left. Phantom cocked his head for a moment, turned to Moon and nodded his head at the door.
Why does the Night Queen want the huntress in the library? Moon signed to him.
No idea, he signed back. Those were her orders just now. The hunter goes to the infirmary and the ryu to the sun cellar.
Moon shuddered. Who is to guard the huntress?
Myself and Dusk, Phantom replied. Others will take over for the hunter and the half-ryu.
As the Great Night Lady wishes, Moon replied, making the sign of the Queen of the Night Stars over her heart. It was believed that the Night Queen, the Lady of Starry Heavens, was the true-born daughter of NightWind himself.
The ghost prodded Maddie with one sharp, bony finger and reoriented her in the direction of the door, which opened of its own accord, revealing a multi-tiered room lined floor-to-ceiling with books, along with a large glass dome protecting the loric wisdom of the Night Wind people from the elements.
Moon produced a small glowing blade and cut Maddie's bonds. She patted Maddie on the head as one would pet a dog, shot Phantom a sharp look and pointed to a large overstuffed chair in the corner next a three-legged table holding two small tomes and a large white globe.
"Here, let me help you, Danny," Maddie said, wrapping one arm around his waist. He yanked himself out of her reach and floated upwards.
"I can manage fine on my own," he answered her sharply, wincing at the pain. "How long until this stupid paralysis wears off?"
"About an hour from now," she replied. "Why do you speak sometimes and sometimes not?" Great, of all the stupid times for me to use incorrect English grammar. Grandma Edolie would be rolling in her grave about now.
"It is one of our customs," he said, extending one hand to the globe. At his touch, it lit up and several other white globes answered the first. Waving one hand to the upper reaches of the library, he said, "Go and explore. We will be here for a while."
When the seventh beside the first stands tall
Ryu and Night Wind both shall fall
Thrice Moon Son of the King and the Queen of Night
Shall twix and twain, both kingdoms to unite.
"We know!" L'orb yelled at the Clockwork Chronos. "The boy has known for months of the sixth and seventh of his race and has yet to find the last prophetical pawn."
"Prophetical pawn?" Clockwork mused, studying the three-dimensional crystal chess board before moving his knight. "Check, I believe."
"And I saw him making that move," L'orb grumbled, attention moving back to the game at hand.
"Ah, the lesser Ghost King awakens," a woman's voice exclaimed, scornful laughter ringing in his ears.
"Huh? What? Who are you and what are you talking about?" Vlad grumbled, more to himself than to his jailer. "Ow, what hit me?" he asked, clutching his head in pain.
"In order: You're in the sun cellar; you're a thrice-cursed half-ryu who dared to intrude on Night Wind territory; my name is Taygete and only one of the blood of the former lesser Ghost King could have unsealed and resealed his prison. The Night Lord fought him to bide you the time you needed to reach him at his lowest point and for that we are grateful, but do not expect more from any of us. We serve the Queen of Night and to her, you now belong," Taygete finished. "Oh, and I believe it was one of the Night Queen's phantoms that gave you that nice lump."
"Long speech for one so delicate," Vlad said, snarling at the woman's mocking tone.
"Shut up, ryu," Taygete snapped. "Oh, I can't wait until it's Caelona's turn to guard you."
Vlad filed that information away for further research.