Chapter 6: The Road to the Temple

The first light of dawn crept across the mountains of Ravenwood as the castle gates opened.

A cold mist covered the valley.

The crimson moon had finally disappeared beyond the horizon, but its presence still seemed to linger in the air.

Emma stood in the castle courtyard wrapped in a dark traveling cloak.

The moonstone rested against her chest.

Since the vision on the balcony, she had barely slept.

Every time she closed her eyes, she saw the same image.

Kael lying on a battlefield.

Dead.

She hated how much the vision bothered her.

She barely knew him.

Yet the thought refused to leave her mind.

'You look exhausted,' a voice said.

Emma turned to find Kael approaching.

He wore black armor instead of his usual royal clothing.

A silver wolf symbol was engraved across the chestplate.

A sword hung at his side.

For the first time, he looked less like a king and more like a warrior.

'Didn't sleep much,' Emma admitted.

'Because of the vision?'

'Partly.'

'And the other part?'

'The giant army trying to kill us.'

Kael nodded.

'Reasonable.'

Emma crossed her arms.

'You know, most people would be a little more nervous.'

'I've faced worse.'

'That isn't reassuring.'

'It wasn't meant to be.'

Before Emma could respond, a horn sounded from the front gate.

The expedition was assembling.

Twenty warriors waited beside large black horses.

Each carried weapons and supplies.

Their expressions were serious.

Nobody viewed this journey as routine.

'Ready?' Kael asked.

'Not even slightly.'

'Good.'

'Good?'

'The people who aren't afraid usually die first.'

Emma stared at him.

'You really don't know how to comfort people.'

'I've been told that before.'

Together they approached the waiting riders.

The warriors immediately bowed their heads.

'My king.'

'Captain Rowan,' Kael greeted.

A broad-shouldered warrior stepped forward.

A long scar crossed one side of his face.

'The path has been secured as far as the eastern ridge.'

'Any sign of rogues?'

'Several tracks.'

'How recent?'

'Less than twelve hours.'

Kael exchanged a glance with Aldric.

The old advisor looked troubled.

'They're moving faster than expected.'

'Then we move faster.'

Kael mounted his horse.

Emma awkwardly climbed onto hers.

'I should probably mention that I'm not exactly an expert rider.'

'Try not to fall off,' Rowan said.

'Excellent advice.'

Several warriors laughed quietly.

For the first time, some of the tension eased.

The gates opened fully.

The expedition left Ravenwood.

The valley gradually disappeared behind them as they entered the northern wilderness.

The landscape was breathtaking.

Towering mountains surrounded them.

Ancient forests stretched endlessly across the horizon.

Crystal-clear rivers cut through deep valleys.

Under different circumstances, Emma would have enjoyed the journey.

Unfortunately, an ancient evil was hunting them.

Several hours passed.

The group followed a narrow trail winding through dense woodland.

Birdsong echoed among the trees.

At first glance, everything seemed peaceful.

Too peaceful.

Captain Rowan appeared to think the same.

'Something's wrong,' he muttered.

'What?' Emma asked.

'Listen.'

She listened carefully.

Nothing.

That was the problem.

No birds.

No insects.

No sounds at all.

The forest had gone silent.

Kael immediately noticed it.

'Everyone stop.'

The entire group halted.

Warriors drew weapons.

A cold feeling settled into Emma's stomach.

'What is it?' she whispered.

'I don't know yet.'

The answer came moments later.

A scream echoed through the trees.

One of the scouts crashed out of the forest ahead.

Blood covered his armor.

'Ambush!' he shouted.

'Rogues!'

The attack came instantly.

Dark shapes exploded from the woods.

Massive wolves charged toward the expedition.

Emma's heart nearly stopped.

'Down!' Rowan roared.

Arrows flew.

Several rogues fell immediately.

Others kept coming.

The battlefield erupted into chaos.

Warriors collided with wolves.

Steel flashed.

Growls echoed through the forest.

Emma struggled to control her frightened horse.

'Emma!' Kael shouted.

A rogue wolf leaped toward her.

She barely had time to react.

The creature's jaws snapped inches from her face.

Then a blur of black movement slammed into it.

Kael.

Except he wasn't human anymore.

A massive black wolf stood where the king had been.

His silver eyes blazed with power.

The rogue wolf crashed into a tree and didn't get back up.

Emma stared in shock.

She knew Kael was a werewolf.

Actually seeing the transformation was something entirely different.

He was enormous.

Larger than any wolf she had ever imagined.

Several rogues immediately retreated from him.

The Shadow King was clearly not someone they wanted to challenge.

A second rogue charged toward Emma.

Without thinking, she grabbed the moonstone.

'Please work.'

The crystal exploded with silver light.

Energy burst outward.

The rogue wolf was thrown backward through the air.

It crashed into the ground and fled.

Emma blinked.

'I did that?'

'Apparently,' Rowan said while fighting another attacker.

'Good time to discover hidden powers.'

The battle continued for several more minutes.

Then something changed.

Every rogue suddenly stopped.

One by one they retreated into the forest.

The surviving attackers disappeared among the trees.

Silence returned.

Heavy breathing filled the air.

The battle was over.

For now.

Kael shifted back into human form.

A nearby warrior handed him a cloak.

'Why did they retreat?' Emma asked.

'Because this wasn't the real attack.'

'Then what was it?'

'A test.'

Captain Rowan approached carrying something.

His expression was grim.

'My king.'

'What is it?'

Rowan held up a black arrow.

Strange crimson symbols covered the shaft.

A chill passed through the group.

'Malakar,' Aldric whispered.

'He was here,' Rowan said.

'Watching.'

Emma's stomach tightened.

The red-eyed figure from the forest.

The vision.

Everything suddenly felt closer.

Much closer.

Kael examined the arrow.

His expression darkened.

'This wasn't meant for us.'

'Then who was it meant for?' Emma asked.

Kael slowly turned toward her.

The answer was obvious.

'You.'

Before anyone could speak again, the moonstone flared with silver light.

A powerful pulse erupted from the crystal.

Everyone froze.

Far beyond the trees, hidden among the mountains, a beam of silver light shot into the sky.

The entire forest illuminated.

The warriors stared in amazement.

Lord Aldric's face turned pale.

'The temple,' he whispered.

'It's awake.'

Kael looked toward the distant light.

His jaw tightened.

'We're out of time.'

The race to the Moon Temple had officially begun.