Chapter 351 - The Moonshadow Trading Company Short Stories: 5 - The Birth of Moonshadow Coven (II) (1/2)

*Eldovian Era 1715 14th day of the 8th month*

”Come on Talo, don't be such a mood killer like Sel over there,” Layton pleaded, ”Race me!”

Talo huffed, standing up from the side of the river where he was washing his hands of blood and turning to the bouncing ball of energy that was Layton. Now immortal ball of energy. Three days in and even Iah had begged to starve him just so he'd lie still for a while. Rassa was pretty positive that even that wouldn't stop him.

The 'Mood Killer' stood beside Rassa, even more of a shadow now that he possessed the ability to keep up with Rassa, at least most of the time anyway. Sel's discipline impressed even Rassa. He'd mastered hunting impeccably quickly.

Neva sat with Ebony and Iah on his other side, Layton's antics drawing the attention of the three of them.

”Kid, you're starting to get on my nerves,” Talo huffed.

”Well, you'll have to catch me to stop me, come on!” said Layton with an evil grin, ”Race me, race me, race me!”

Talo's fist jabbed out in a flash and Layton chuckled as he ducked to the side and backed up, ”Come on, race me!”

Rassa rolled his eyes and leaned back onto the boulder he was resting on as he looked up at the moon. Layton had been the last one he'd turned. He was almost thankful for it considering he was the only one that had any chance of reigning Layton in without pulverising him. When their youngest was feeling more agreeable, he'd listen to Iah, but there was no chance of Ebony tolerating his antics. Even now she scoffed at his behaviour and turned away.

”A message came,” Iah perked up, handing Rassa an envelope she produced from the pocket of her hunting coat, ”Alistair brought it from Varkevia”.

Rassa raised an eyebrow as he took the letter. If it was someone from Moonshadow she would have just told him as it would have been sent via the crystals during a meeting. A letter would have to be from someone outside the company. He glanced at the wax seal, a faint wave of recognition passing over him as he cracked it then read the contents.

After a moment, he folded the letter again and handed it back to Iah, ”Where are the sh.i.p.s?”

”Most of them will still be in Port Leis,” Iah replied.

”Tell the Moon Rider to come to Varkevia. We'll meet it there, tell the rest of the fleet that we'll meet them near Levron in two weeks for the journey south,” said Rassa.

”All of us?” asked Iah.

Rassa nodded to the still playing Layton and the frustrated Talo, ”I'm not leaving them here”.

”And Mathius?” asked Ebony.

Rassa turned to look at her, ”I suppose that depends on whether or not you wish to stay behind”.

Ebony hesitated for a long moment, ”I don't think I want to go south yet”.

Rassa nodded, ”That's your choice. You'll keep things in working order for me here, I know you will”.

Ebony nodded, a weight seemingly falling from her shoulders at his trust and approval. It may not have been the original plan, but the job she was given was no less weighty.

”So, what is in Varkevia?” asked Ebony.

”I made a promise when I brought the property for the base there, it has come time to deliver it,” said Rassa as he stood. He reached out and caught Layton by his arm as he went to run past, then swung him around so that Talo would miss him.

”Come, we'll get our things, then we can all run to Varkevia,” Rassa stated.

”Varkevia?” asked Talo, looking towards the north-east, ”Can we really run all the way there? It's a month-long journey on foot…how fast can we do it?”

”Us? It'd take half the night. The whole night if we have to stop and hunt, but we'll get there pretty quickly,” said Rassa, ”Pack your things and be ready to leave at sunset tomorrow”.

”Neva too?” asked Layton, Rassa releasing him as he jumped up in excitement at the prospect of being let loose.

Rassa nodded, ”Yep, all four of you”.

”You shouldn't have turned him,” Talo huffed.

Rassa chuckled, ”I needed somebody to balance out Sel, looking at his stony face for the rest of eternity would drive anyone mad”.

”Apologies, Master,” Sel bowed his head respectfully, a small smile at the joke on the corner of his stoic lips.

Talo rolled his eyes, ”I think you may have over-compensated”.

”Perhaps,” Rassa grinned, ”Come”.

***

Rassa sighed, putting down the light element tool in his hands and looking up at where Ebony stood in the doorway. Iah had left an hour ago to head to Port Leis and inform the fleet, and the other four were learning from a particularly energetic Olly about how the Mist worked to carve the runes. Rassa didn't exactly expect them to take it up, they were warriors, not charm craftsman, but he knew that the understanding of the mist would be beneficial for when they were unsealed.

”What is it, Ebony? You've darkened that doorway for eight minutes now,” said Rassa.

”Sorry, I didn't wish to disturb you,” said Ebony.

Rassa put down the half-finished charm in his hand and spun to look at her from his spot on the stairs beneath his 'throne'. He barely ever sat on that throne. He thought the thing was ridiculous.

Ebony stepped further into the room, ”You have a guest, or rather guests”.

Rassa raised an eyebrow, ”At this hour?”

”She's quite insistent”.

Rassa scented the air, his lip curling in annoyance, ”And persistent. I hoped she'd stay in Port Leis, clearly the network she's been able to develop stretches further than I anticipated. I'll have to talk with our own networks to ensure nothing else has been breached”.

”Surely our location is not a secret,” Ebony raised an eyebrow, ”Moonshadow is so heavily watched”.

”I know, I meant cut out the tongue of the one who told her how to get in,” said Rassa.

Ebony gave a small grin, ”I can handle that while you're gone”.

Rassa rose and walked to her, planting a kiss on her temple, ”Thank you. Tell them they can come in”.

”You don't want me here?” asked Ebony.

”This won't take long,” said Rassa.

Ebony nodded, then left the room. Rassa had almost forgotten how slowly humans walked. Kit and Olly were some of the few humans allowed in this room, and they rarely came here, as did Moonshadow's department heads who usually met in the crystal room for discussions. A minute later, Devina Lightbringer, in the company of eight other individuals, five of whom were also women and the remaining three young men, walked into the large audience hall.

”Devina Lightbringer, Spark of the Holy Order, to what does this dweller in darkness owe the p.l.e.a.s.u.r.e of your presence?” asked Rassa, lying back onto the granite floor. He wanted to be as dismissive as possible with these people.

”This is quite the headquarters, Rassa Moonshadow, planning on expanding?”

He knew she meant his Coven, though she had no word for it.

”Not with you,” Rassa replied, ”I do believe I told you that some time ago, yet now you bring a contingent as what? Offerings? I may be arrogant, but I don't believe myself a god in need of worshipping”.

”Could have fooled me, Vampire,” Devina replied, looking around at the grandeur of the room.

Rassa sighed, pushing off the ground. His clothing was simple, homey. Like he was preparing for bed. He wore no shoes, and his unkept look would have looked sloppy on anybody else. Rassa made it look ethereal as he crossed the room to stand before Devina, his maroon eyes taking on a brighter red sheen as his voice turned into a threat, ”Then get on your knees, little priestess”.

Devina met his gaze and held it for a moment. A deep rumbled came from Rassa's throat, a warning, plain and clear at the challenge. The Priestess looked away.

”Is that why you will not turn me? Because I am of the Holy Order?”

Rassa watched her a moment longer before he moved away towards the wide glass windows that looked out over the lands beyond, ”That's exactly why I won't turn you. My Coven is very small, Devina. And new. If I were to turn a Priestess of the most ancient Order based organisation in the world, it would be seen as a desecration of their twisted faith and a declaration of war. My people may be powerful individually, but they cannot hope to defend a position against hundreds of thousands if not millions”.

Devina was silent at the admission.

”Besides, turning you would be near suicidal. The Order you have lived with since your youth and the Chaos I introduce will clash within you to such an extent that it would be as if you were being torn apart. Though the chances are slim, if I have any chances of turning a Magician it will have to be one of Shadow, your opposite,” said Rassa.