Chapter Two: The High Priestess of Watermoon
Hersuticus travelled for may days, following the stream through the forest which seemed to go on for ever. Knowing it was the true path to where his destiny lay, as the book had told him, he knew there was nothing else for it. He wondered what the water horse would be like, and whether or not he would be able to catch it.
After a night's rest, Hersuticus followed the stream until it at last came to what seemed to be the edge of the forest, but was in fact a clearing for what was a large temple. Through it flowed many waterfalls to a large pool below them.
"The only way into the temple is to go against the waterfall," Hersuticus recalled form the book. He dismounted and looked at the horse. "Stay here, know that Lily will keep you from harm," he assured it. The horse nodded its head as Hersuticus stepped up to the edge of the cliff. Spreading his arms, he dived off the edge to the large pool of water below. With a loud splash, he entered the water, which was lovely and refreshing in the warm sun. Coming to the surface, he looked up the large cliffs to see the temple far above him. But the only way in was accordingly to start here. Swimming over to where the waterfall met the water, Hersuticus searched for a way up or in. He searched under the water and behind the falls, but found nothing. Rubbing the ring upon his finger, the opal caught in the sunlight and shone upon the falls, which parted to reveal a ladder in the stones.
"The magic has not stopped surprising me yet," Hersuticus muttered as he began to scale the slippery rocks. It was a long way up, and the waterfall was quite an incumbance. But, toiling away with every ounce of strength he could muster, Hersuticus climbed the cliff to the top. At last, tired but proud, Hersuticus pulled himself onto the land between two streams that formed the falls. Breathing hard, he looked over at the temple. The setting sun behind it caused it to seem much less inviting than it did in the middle of the day. The other thing he noticed was that the place seemed deserted. No one was moving around and the plants had grown quite out of control. It wasn't until that night that he was strong enough to pull himself up and wander towards the darkened temple. From his kit he took a flint and stone and lit an old torch that was in the entryway, and began looking through the temples halls. They were large and spacious and had many levels. Unsure of where to go, Hersuticus moved form room to room, looking for any sign of the Priestess rumoured to live here. There were no beds made, sheets anywhere nor food prepared for anyone. there was no sign of life at all.
At last, Hersuticus reached the top of the temple and there he found a pool of water and a small stone alter. Taking off his ring, he held it up and then placed it on the alter and stepped back. A cloud moved and a full moon shone down upon the water, making it glow brightly as if the moon were right there. From within the shallow pool arose a beautiful figure, wearing a crown with a moonstone at its centre, which held in place the palest of blonde hair. Her clothing was thin and rather seethrough, but the deep blue of the material reflected the patterns of rippling water. Her eyes looked down on Hersuticus with a deep knowing, their dark blue image almost haunting.
"What is it you seek?" she asked, her voice deep and echoing.
"My name is Prince Hersuticus, I seek the knowledge of the Water Priestess," he answered.
"I am she to whom you seek. Tell me what the Priestess of Watermoon can do for you," she asked.
"I seek the Wild Horse of the Waterplanes." Hersuticus answered her. The Priestess closed her eyes for a moment before opening them agian. She seemed unwilling to answer, but then she nodded her consent.
"The horse runs freely in the rivers of the world, but once a month it must come here to drink of the waters of my temple that it may roam free again. If you wait until that night, you will find it here. But be warned, it must finish it's drink first or else it will lsoe the power it is rumoured to possess. Until then, I bid you stay at my temple." The Priestess answered and then disappeared. Hersuticus, unable to say anything more, went back into the temple, but it suddenly seemed a lot cleaner and there had been attendants in since he had gone onto the roof. So staying for three nights but seeing no one, Hersuticus kept constant vigial on the waterfalls of the temple and the large pool below.
Upon the forth night as the moon turned to a fading half, there was the sounds of horse hooves and a neigh that echoed long across the deep caverns. Looking down, Hersuticus saw the Water Horse arrive at the edge of the streams that made the waterfall. Making his plan, Hersuticus slipped into the flowing stream and hid under water near the horse until it had finished its drink. Being careful to come up for air when it was absolutely needed and not to be so blunt about it as to scare the horse, Hersuticus waited for more than an hour for the horse to finish its drink. Finally, when his patience was starting to thin, the horse finished drinking and turned to leave. Slipping quietly out of the water, Hersuticus jumped upon the horse, but he had given it such a start it began to ride away, Hersuticus clinging for dear life. The wild horse rode especially fast and was faster than any horse he had ever been on, not to mention as rough. Pulling himself up onto the horses back, Hersuticus took a rope form his side bag and made a noose out of it. Putting it around the horses neck, he pulled tightly and the horse came to a stop.
"Have I done it?" he asked no one in particular. "Have I caught one of the four wild horses?" As if to answer, the horse turned around and went back towars the temple at an easy pace until it arrived at the stream to which it was drinking. Feeling sure he had it tamed, Hersuticus was about to dismount when the horse took off suddenly and jumped, freely as you like, over the edge of the cliff and into the large pool below. As it entered the water, Hersuticus grabbed onto its neck, and it was lucky he did, for the horse seemed to turn into water and the rope around its neck slipped off and disappeared. Hersuticus could still feel the horse in his arms, and it swam deeper and deeper into the pool. Holding on desperately to his breath, Hersuticus could not see any sign of the bottom, and he dared not look up to see how far they had swam, but simply clung on for dear life. Finally, the bottom appeared. the horse landed and then kicked off, gliding like a fish towards the surface. Hersuticus was running out of air, and was sure he was going to perish like all the others, for the bottom of the pool was littered with bones of men. He watched with what was left of his fading mind as the surface drew nearer. Just as he thought he wasn't going to make it, the horse broke the surface and rose onto it as if it were glass. Taking many deep gasps of air, Hersuticus took several moments to get his breath back. When his breathing had returned to normal, there was a shinning image in the water, and out of it arose the Priestess of Watermoon.
"Well done Hersuticus, you have caught one of the wild horses. Be proud, for no man has achieved this before. But be warned, none of the other horses are as easy to catch, and this horse will not betray its ciblings."
"I understand," Hersuticus panted. "Where must I go to find the next horse?" he asked.
"The Water Horse, Ambu, will now ride on land or water to any place in the world you ask of it. But be careful, for she does not always know the way. My daughter lives in the wild forests and fields of the far north. Seek her out at the Perriroyal Forest and the castle that lays within."
The next day, mounted upon his horse, Hersuticus took leave of the temple of Watermoon, leaving behind some silver coins for the priestess, along with many fruits from the forest. Riding the horse Ambu across the rivers of the forest and the lands that surrounded it, Hersuticus soon found himself clear of the thick lands to arrive in a local town.
Many people came to admire Hersuticus, for no one had seen a horse like the one he rode before. The horse was a magnificent deep silver color that reminded you of the most still water, with a mane and tail hair so soft and flowing that it seemed to almost be made of water. When Hersuticus took it to the stable to be fed and watered, it gave him a look as if to ask where he was going.
"Is there something I do not know?" he sked Ambu. In responce, she nudged the hand wearing the opal ring. "Do you want me to touch you with it?" he asked. The horse presented its forehead in reply. Touching the ring to the horses head, it suddenly disappeared as if its body had turned to water and fallen to the ground. Hersuticus rubbed the ring, but then recalled how the horses could be called upon command if you possess the ring of the wilderness. The gifted ring from the fairy Lily had been that ring. Hersuticus only hoped his mother could repay such a debt and not do what she had done to Caraboose last time.
Spending his night in the Inn, Hersuticus tried asking people if they knew where Perriroyal Forest was, but few of the people there spoke his language, and none knew where it was. Deciding that he could only rely on Ambu to take him in the general direction, Hersuticus continued on his travels.
A/N: This chapter is inspired by the most powerful tarot card, 'The High Priestess.' Her wisdom, knowledge, grace and patience are that to inspire all, and I hope that you have seen her in my writings and in life.