Chapter 357 - The Moonshadow Trading Company Short Stories: 6 - The Bronze Token (IV) (1/2)

*Eldovian Era 1716, 16th day of the 12th month*

Olly frowned as he watched Kit in the meeting hall. Even without Kit saying anything, it was plain to see that Kit was not in a celebratory mood as the others were. Even seeing Iah after the many months they'd been apart had not perked him up as much as it should have.

Olly elbowed him lightly, ”You should ask”.

Kit shook his head, used to Olly knowing what was wrong without Kit having to mention anything, ”He'll say no”.

”You won't know that until you ask,” said Olly.

Kit raised an eyebrow at Olly, ”So you know he'll say yes?”

Olly shrugged, ”It's a possibility”.

Kit sighed, that didn't help. He was sixteen now, and almost as tall as Layton, yet still he was carving charms. He enjoyed the work, especially seeing as Rassa had given him and trusted him with such a burden at his age, but he could not help being envious of those who had known Rassa for far less time, yet had gained so much more.

Kit watched them interacting. They were going on holiday for a week. The entire coven. But not him. Nor Olly. Even if they had been with Moonshadow longer than many of the others. He did not understand the waiting. He was sure Rassa would have offered by now.

With a huff, Kit stood and walked from the room, ”I'm going to bed”.

Olly registered a few of the Coven noticing his departure, Iah and Rassa included. Rassa watched after him a moment, then turned to look at Olly for an explanation. Olly held his gaze, his loyalty to his best friend warring over common sense, then he turned and left the hall after Kit.

The journey back to their rooms was a long one, so even when he was half-way back, it left plenty of time for Rassa to ask a question and get an answer.

”Are you going to tell me what's wrong? As much as it pains me to admit it, I am not as skilled at reading the Mist as you are,” said Rassa.

”No one is,” replied Olly, his tone matter-of-fact.

Rassa sighed, ”Then?”

”You haven't asked him yet,” said Olly, ”He, no, we, have followed you for years, have been loyal and unquestioning for years, yet you do not ask. He grows impatient”.

”And you?” asked Rassa.

Olly sighed, turning to face Rassa, ”Kit is my best friend. I will stay by his side no matter his choice”.

Rassa nodded, ”You should know what happens if I turn him, Order's influence will-”

”Kit is more than strong enough to fight it,” said Olly, ”But I don't need to tell you this. Besides, it's unlike you to hesitate like this. It's his decision. Let him know the facts and make the choice”.

Rassa sighed, ”I was also waiting until he was an a.d.u.l.t”.

”Waiting that long…it may burden him further, and you risk losing him to his anger,” said Olly.

Rassa paused in the hallway, ”You make good points, Oracle”. He sighed the continued forward, ”Look after him, Olly. I'll be back with my question at the end of the week. Enjoy your holiday”.

”We always look after each other,” Olly replied, ”It's what best friends do”.

Olly watched Rassa smile at him with a warmth that he rarely saw, then the Vampire vanished. A week. A week and he would ask.

Olly knew he would. He'd seen the thirteen figures who stood behind Rassa Moonshadow. He knew their names and their faces. Some were here already. Some were not far away, and one was far in the distance. But all would stand with him. All would carve his legacy. All would be asked and turned regardless of their background.

Olly smiled, he'd waited a long time for this, but waiting was often the best part.

***

*Eldovian Era 1716, 19th day of the 12th month*

”Why do they call is the Endless Lake?” asked Layton, ”It only takes me an hour and a half to run to the other end and back again”.

”That's like an ant thinking a city block is so big, but a human can walk it in a few minutes,” said Talo, ”Exactly what is your point?”

”My point is that it's a stupid name for a Lake,” said Layton, ”If it was endless, it wouldn't even be a lake!”

Talo opened his mouth to argue back before he frowned, then turned to Mathius, ”Hey Mathius, the kid has a point, 'Endless' is a stupid name for a lake, who do we blame for this?”

Rassa turned his back on the Northern end of the not-so-endless lake, looking out at the expanse of desert before him. Now that, everyone was sure that was endless.

He felt Ebony come to stand beside him, ”You've got that look on your face”.

Rassa turned to Ebony, ”What look?”

”The look that says you're about to make an outrageous suggestion that will turn into a plan that you want us to implement,” said Ebony.

Rassa shook his head, ”I don't know what you're talking about”.

Ebony sighed, looking out at the Desolate Lands with him, ”Do you really think nothing lives there?”

Rassa shrugged, ”Only one way to find out”.

Iah came to stand with them, ”I heard stories that there are times in the year when it freezes over”.

”It would not surprise me,” Rassa replied, ”I've heard there are places in the world that are frozen for all time. Built of Ice and Snow”.

”They sounds terrible,” said Neva, ”Who'd want to live in a place that cold all the time?”

Rassa smiled, ”Perhaps those whom temperature does not have much of a hold on? Or those who see the beauty in such a deadly environment”.

The women all paused before Ebony raised an eyebrow, ”You're not suggesting that…”

Rassa shrugged, a mysterious smile on his lips, ”Maybe, one day”.

”Maybe one day?” asked Iah.

”Maybe one day what?” asked Layton.

”The Great Lord Moonshadow here is thinking of setting up shop in the Desolate Lands. And not just in this part, oh no,” Ebony declared, ”He wants to go so far north that the land is eternally frozen. This might just be his craziest suggestion yet”.

Rassa sighed, ”Ebony, every land that is known, bar the Fairy Forest and a few uninhabitable islands, is claimed. Every land known is mapped and wars are fought over them. The only land that is known today that has not seen any of those mortal bonds, are the Desolate Lands. To me, that is not only vastly exciting, but it also presents an opportunity that I haven't been able to make possible despite my power and growing influence. An opportunity that, as we grow in number, I will need to seize”.