Moon Born (The Wolf Wars Series Book 3)

by H. D. Gordon

  The princess was silent for a moment as she absorbed this, the curiosity evident on her beautiful face. “Sounds like quite the story, Rukiya,” she said.

  “You can call me Rook.”

  “Okay, Rook… This mission you mentioned, I don’t suppose you want to share the details with me?”

  I glanced toward the flaps of the tent where her guards were surely waiting just beyond, and saw no reason to lie. Clearly, the female had saved us from certain death, as she could have just left us to die in the desert. If she wanted to hurt or kill us, she could have easily done it.

  “We’re looking for the City of the Seers,” I said.

  Her perfectly arched eyebrows shot up. “Is that so? And you think it is here, in the Danoki Desert?”

  I shrugged, reaching into my jacket and removing the scroll the Erl Queen had given me, relieved to find that it had not been removed from my person.

  “This thing just keeps telling us to head west,” I said, and frowned when Nandi recoiled from the map.

  “Why do you seek the City of the Seers?” she asked.

  Suppressing a heavy sigh, I bit my lip and looked down at my scarred hands. “When I started, I thought it was supposed to be to help others, some that I love, some that I don’t even know, other than the suffering they endure…” I tucked the map back into my jacket, and she relaxed a little with it out of sight. “But the longer I keep following the direction of this stupid thing, the more I seem to forget why I’m here in the first place.” I released a short chuckle, but there was no humor in it. “And to doubt any possibility of success.”

  Princess Nandi folded her hands neatly on her lap. Her delicate fingers were adorned with gold rings that matched the shimmer on her eyes. She took a seat near the fire pit and adjusted the folds of her white dress to cover her legs. Then she beckoned me over.

  A small smile came to her lovely face, and she said, “That sounds like a metaphor for life.”

  She did not look old enough to utter such a wise thing. I’d read that magic users, Sorcerers and Sorceresses in particular, could live for thousands of years, and I wondered what stories of her own the princess had.

  I realized that I didn’t know her, but I already trusted her, and considered the possibility that this kindness could be a mirage. But considering the whole of the situation, my companions and I didn’t have much choice in the matter. If we wanted to make it out of this dreadful desert, we were going to need Princess Nandi’s help.

  I moved over to sit where she’d suggested, folding my legs under me in the same fashion as she had, sitting on the rug that had been stretched out there.

  “We’re lost,” I admitted, and looked over to see that Asha was shooting me daggers with her eyes. I ignored her. It was a specific skill I was working on perfecting.

  I looked back at the princess and added, “I’m lost… Do you know of the city? Can it even be found?”

  Compassion filled her almond-shaped eyes, and she gave me a small smile that had surely broken many a heart. “In my experience, anything that is lost can be found. It’s the when that can be frustrating.”

  I felt my shoulders slump as I thought that I didn’t know how much longer I could continue on this mission if we didn’t see some kind of promise soon. As Princess Nandi’s face softened across from me, I knew the vulnerability was written all over my face, but for once in my life, I couldn’t find it in me to care.

  “I will help you cross the Danoki Desert,” she told me, and when I asked why, fighting back tears of relief, she simply replied, “because you desperately need to be reminded that good people exist in the world.”

  She couldn’t know how right she was.

  21

  Princess Nandi travelled with a band of magic users known as the Sand Sorcerers. They were an eclectic group that moved from place to place across the Danoki Desert, and Nandi had been chosen as their future leader through a democratic process, rather than by blood right.

  There were so many of them that when I stepped outside the tent for the first time later that evening, my jaw nearly dropped just at the sight of all those white tents flanked by torches burning emerald flames.

  Asha had been freed on the promise that she would not cause any trouble, and Vega had awakened and followed my order that he remain cool, that the Sand Sorcerers were our friends, and they needed to be treated as such.

  We stepped out of the tent together, and took in the sight of the desert at night and the massive group of people who followed Nandi.

  “Why would anyone choose to live in this wretched place?” Asha mumbled.

  Princess Nandi exited the tent then, a small smile on her lips. “The desert can be a great friend or a terrible enemy,” she said. “What matters is choosing which side you stand on.”

  Asha did not reply to this, and if I wasn’t mistaken, she looked a tad ashamed at her rudeness. If everything else I’d seen thus far didn’t already impress me, this alone would have. To make Asha think twice about the shit she let fall out of her mouth was a gift from the Gods.

  “Feel free to wander around,” Princess Nandi said, strolling past us with a grace that was almost feline. When she turned back and met our gazes, she added, “Just be careful not to wander beyond the edges of camp. It is quite easy to become lost, and most of the largest desert predators like to hunt at night.”

  “Larger than the scorpions?” Asha asked, and I realized that, yes, that was a little reverence that had snuck into her tone.

  Princess Nandi met the Demon’s eyes straight on. “Much larger and much worst than the Sahnda scorpions, I assure you,” she said.

  With this, the Sorceress strolled through the camp, checking on every person she passed, asking them how they were, seeing if there was anything they needed, and listening to any troubles or complaints they might have. Watching her reminded me of Adriel, and how he was with his people. If I didn’t already like her, this would have certainly done the trick.

  Asha wandered off on her own, mumbling something about wanting to lay another Sorceress, and Vega remained beside Princess Nandi’s tent, as silent and stoic as ever, his mask back in place over his face. I followed the princess and watched as she interacted with her people, trailing behind her for a reason I could not quite pinpoint.

  It took me several minutes to realize the reason I was following her. There seemed to be an irresistible energy near her, an aura of goodness that made anyone close to her want to lean in. She had been right; I did need to see that there were still good people in the world.

  I needed her to restore in me some hope, because somewhere along the way, though I couldn’t say where, exactly, I had lost it.

  Watching Princess Nandi interact with her people, hugging them and listening to them and laughing and crying with them, sharing their meals and stories, was like a balm to my soul.

  Later in the evening when she led me to a tent that had been set up for me and my companions, I thanked her for giving me something I hadn’t even known I’d needed.

  “Thank you, Princess,” I said.

  It didn’t feel like enough. The words felt too plain to express the depth of my gratitude.

  Her face was like that of an angel’s when she smiled, her straight white teeth peeking out behind her lips. When she pulled me into a hug, wrapping her arms around me and squeezing as tightly as if we’d known each other for a lifetime, there was nothing I could do to keep a couple tears from rolling down my cheeks.

  Princess Nandi, future ruler of the Sand Sorcerers, Leader of the Forgotten, and Heiress to the Emerald Magics, hugged me as if it made all the sense in the world. I could not remember the last time I’d been hugged like that. The effect it had was flooring.

  I hugged her back, resting my head on her shoulder and squeezing my eyes shut as I absorbed the warmth that seemed to radiate off her soul.

  “Keep the faith, Rukiya,” the princess whispered, giving me one final squeeze. “The only thing that can stop you from reaching w
here you want to go is yourself.” She pulled back and looked at me, our faces close enough that I was still wrapped up in the clean scent of her. “You are the only thing that stands in your way.”

  With this, she placed a small kiss on my forehead and told me to rest well, because we had quite the trek to make come morning.

  I slept deeply, and when I awoke the next morning, I felt almost like a new person.

  Just as Princess Nandi had promised, her people packed up their camp and we started out across the desert, heading in a direction that I was assured was west.

  The tribe moved in a long line, the people and horses staying close to one another at all times, as their biggest defense against the dangers of the desert was their numbers.

  Both Asha and Vega seemed to be in better spirits this morning as well. It was amazing what one night of sleep and not fearing for one’s life could do to morale.

  Within the safety of Princess Nandi’s band, we made our way across the Danoki Desert. No giant snakes or scorpions attacked us, nor any pirates with black teeth and wind-worn faces. I shuddered to think of what would have happened if Nandi had not found us, and realized that I now owed the Sorceress princess a life debt.

  And though I knew that this was not why she had shown us kindness, that she was not the kind of person who gave only to receive, my debts on this journey were just stacking right on up. We hadn’t even dealt with the Seers yet, and something told me that they would definitely want compensation for any help they offered.

  Asha, Vega, and I rode up in front of the band, beside Princess Nandi, who walked half of the time for no reason other than to give her mount a break from her small weight.

  It seemed to me the compassion of the Sorceress knew no bounds.

  “We are nearing the western edge of the desert,” the princess told us as we passed over the millionth sand dune of the day. She pointed to the horizon. “The territory that way does not belong to the magic users. It is part of the Vampire’s land.”

  Asha let out a small grunt that reflected how I felt about that statement.

  The scene in the distance was indistinguishable, though I thought I could see an end to the sea of golden sands that we’d been swimming in for the past few days.

  “This is where we part ways,” the princess added. “My people must stay in the desert.” She nodded toward a mountain range in the distance, just a few sharp peaks that jutted up into the sky. “But if you keep on a path straight toward those mountains, it will lead you true west.”

  I looked at the point that she’d indicated, and my heart felt heavy at having to leave the princess’s presence. I didn’t want to be alone with Asha and Vega again. I didn’t think I could survive another loss of hope.

  Nonetheless, I sat silently as Princess Nandi had her three male guards prepare us with supplies for the remainder of the journey, and as they did this, she pulled me into another hug.

  I held her back, breathing in the clean scent of her for what was likely the last time ever. It was funny how some people could enter your life briefly, make such a big impact, and then disappear, never to be seen again.

  Like a star shooting across the night sky.

  Yes, that was what Princess Nandi was.

  As she hugged me, she said, “Remember, Rukiya, you are the only thing that stands in your way. Have faith, moonchild, and be the good in the world.”

  After this, she even hugged Asha, who looked so surprised that all she could do was embrace the princess in return. When she hugged Vega, and instead of just standing there like a statue, he removed his mask from his beautiful head and placed the gentlest of kisses on Princess Nandi’s hand, I couldn’t help a small chuckle at the absurdity of it all. Even Asha seemed to smile a little.

  We left the horses with Princess Nandi, as they were desert animals, and should remain there. Then, with a final thanks that did not feel adequate in the least, we left behind the Sorceress princess and her band of good people, and continued our journey west.

  22

  The edge of the Danoki Desert.

  I stared down at the toes of my boots, which had started off black and were now stained a brownish yellow from the trek through the sands.

  Before me, the air shimmered with the invisible border between the realms. Beyond, there was a valley. There, the golden sands gave way to the greenest of grasses. Those grasses bent and swayed in the breeze, and lead up a small slope that was crowned with tall evergreens, which dotted the hills rolling on into the distance.

  The Wolf in me rejoiced at the sight of it, the smell of actual plant life almost enough to bring tears to my dry eyes.

  “Thank the Gods,” Asha muttered. “If I never see one more grain of sand for the rest of my days, it won’t be soon enough.”

  I snorted my agreement, and took a few steps forward along with Asha. We made it a couple of paces before glancing back at Vega, realizing that the Valac warrior was not following us.

  Instead, he stood on the edge of the Danoki Desert sands, his helmet tucked beneath his massive arm, and his body twisted back toward the east.

  Back toward Princess Nandi.

  Asha and I exchanged glances, sharing a rare moment of camaraderie at Vega’s curious behavior.

  “You could go back to her,” I said.

  The words came out gently, and even Asha did not make a snide remark.

  This seemed to snap the Valac warrior out of whatever musings he’d fallen into, and he shook his head, snapping his mask back into place and concealing that beautiful face of his.

  He did not respond to my suggestion, only stalked passed me and toward those rolling green hills.

  “I serve the Erl Queen,” was all he said.

  And though the words were spoken with the stoicism of a true warrior, for whatever reason, they tugged at my heart.

  “We should check the map again,” Asha suggested, presenting a welcome change of subject for once.

  I removed the scroll from my pocket, and realized that every time I did so, it got harder and harder not to just shred the stupid thing to pieces.

  As I unrolled it on the grass, Asha cut into her palm and squeezed a few drops of blood onto the parchment.

  “Two guesses about what this little bitch has to say,” I mumbled.

  But the three of us leaned our heads over the old map, anyway.

  And, this time, after it gulped down Asha’s offering, the scroll revealed three words rather than two.

  Of all the thousands of words I’d read in my lifetime, I was sure that none had ever incited in me a reaction that was quite comparable.

  The three words were:

  You have arrived.

  I glanced around, not spotting a city or a Seer in sight.

  Asha and Vega did the same, coming to the same conclusion.

  I felt my rage boil up sudden and hot, and was about three seconds from blowing my top completely when the air in front of us shimmered, and as if unfurling from the heavens above, a staircase of clouds appeared before us.

  After a moment of stunned silence, we climbed.

  Asha waved a hand for me to go first. I rolled my eyes at her and began walking up the staircase that should not be where it was, that seemed attached to nothing at all save for the blue sky above.

  I studied the clouds as I got closer and closer to them, but could see nothing that indicated a whole city of secretive creatures might dwell among them.

  The higher I climbed, the harder the air became to breathe, and the landscape of the Danoki Desert to the east and the rolling green hills to the west receded below me with a frightening rapidity.

  I was not as afraid of heights as I had once been, as climbing the cliffs in Marisol and riding on the back of a Firedrake had mostly cured me of the worst of the phobia, but my legs still wobbled, and my heartbeat picked up in pace as the staircase continued up and up for what seemed an eternity.

  The mistake I made was when I glanced back at Asha and Vega, and though I found they
were climbing right on my tail, it was the distance between the earth and my body that made my eyes widen in fear.

  “Look up, genius,” Asha panted, as she climbed the stairs behind me.

  I narrowed my eyes on her, letting my annoyance with her take the place of some of the mounting fear. “If I were you,” I said, the breeze this high up almost ripping the words away, “I would not talk shit to me right now. I’m bound to shove your stupid ass right off this staircase.”

  We climbed a few more steps.

  “Or maybe I’ll grab your tail and toss your furry ass off,” Asha shot back.

  From a flight or so down, my sharp ears caught Vega’s mumbled, “Or maybe I’ll throw the both of you off.”

  As strange as it may seem, this eased the tension running through me a little, and I forced my body to continue the ascent.

  We reached a spot so high above the ground that I could not make out distinct features below any longer, and instead, was surrounded only by the white and blue of the sky, a view that was not unlike the one I’d had while flying on the back of the Firedrake I’d freed from Reagan Ramsey’s chains.

  My weary legs were beginning to ache when the staircase finally ended. Instead of just leading off into the open sky, there was a golden doorway amongst the clouds, standing closed and silent, as though this were the most natural thing in all the world.

  When I reached it, the gold door swung open, and what I glimpsed inside made my tired heart stop.

  We had made it.

  We had reached the City of the Seers.

  As soon as I stepped through, I knew that I had crossed into not just another realm, but another plane entirely.

  Buildings of the cleanest white stood out starkly against a turquoise sea. The air smelled fresh, hinted with citrus and salt, and the clouds that we’d been walking amongst were now way overhead. Beneath us, on this side of the door, the ground was solid. We stood in the middle of a quiet and vast city, the street paved neatly beneath our feet.