Chapter 7: The Temple of Moonlight

The silver beam continued to shine across the sky long after it first appeared.

Every member of the expedition stared toward the distant mountains.

The Moon Temple had awakened.

And according to the expressions on the faces around her, that was both a miracle and a disaster.

'How far away is it?' Emma asked.

'Less than a day's ride,' Captain Rowan replied.

'Can we reach it before Malakar?'

No one answered immediately.

That silence was answer enough.

Kael climbed back onto his horse.

'We're moving now.'

'What about the wounded?' one warrior asked.

'Two riders will escort them back to Ravenwood.'

'And the rest of us?'

'We ride.'

No one argued.

Within minutes the expedition was moving again.

The pace was much faster than before.

Nobody bothered hiding their urgency anymore.

The race had begun.

As they rode deeper into the mountains, the landscape changed dramatically.

The forests became thinner.

Rocky cliffs rose around them.

Ancient stone ruins occasionally appeared beside the trail.

Most were covered in moss and vines.

Many looked older than recorded history.

'What are these places?' Emma asked.

'Remnants of the First Kingdom,' Aldric replied.

'The first kingdom?'

'Before Ravenwood existed.'

'There was something before Ravenwood?'

'Long before.'

Emma looked around.

The ruins stretched across the mountainside like forgotten memories.

'And what happened to it?'

Aldric's expression darkened.

'War.'

'With who?'

'The darkness.'

Emma groaned.

'Can anyone in this kingdom answer a question without sounding mysterious?'

Several warriors laughed quietly.

Even Aldric smiled.

'One day you'll understand.'

'That's exactly the kind of answer I'm talking about.'

By midday the expedition reached a narrow canyon.

Towering stone walls surrounded them on both sides.

The path ahead twisted between massive rock formations.

Captain Rowan rode to the front.

'I don't like this place.'

'Neither do I,' Kael admitted.

'Too easy for an ambush.'

'Exactly.'

Emma's stomach immediately tightened.

'Please don't say ambush.'

'Why?' Rowan asked.

'Because every time someone says ambush, we get attacked.'

Almost immediately, a loud crack echoed overhead.

Emma closed her eyes.

'Of course.'

Huge rocks crashed down from the cliffs above.

'Move!' Kael shouted.

The expedition scattered.

Several boulders smashed into the trail behind them.

Dust exploded into the air.

Warriors shouted warnings.

Emma barely managed to steer her horse away from a falling rock.

The canyon shook.

More stones tumbled from above.

'This isn't natural!' Rowan yelled.

'I know!'

A figure suddenly appeared atop the cliffs.

Then another.

And another.

Dozens of rogues stood above them.

Their eyes glowed gold.

Their leader stepped forward.

Unlike the others, his eyes burned crimson.

Emma's breath caught.

She recognized him instantly.

The stranger from the forest.

The man from her vision.

Malakar.

He wore black armor decorated with blood-red symbols.

Long silver hair moved in the wind.

A cruel smile spread across his face.

'Shadow King!' his voice thundered across the canyon.

Kael immediately moved to the front.

'Malakar.'

'It's been a long time.'

'Not long enough.'

The rogue leader laughed.

The sound sent chills through Emma.

'Still stubborn, I see.'

His crimson eyes shifted toward Emma.

The smile widened.

'And there she is.'

Emma suddenly felt like prey.

'I was wondering when we'd finally meet.'

'Sorry,' Emma called back. 'I've been busy getting chased by your lunatic followers.'

Several warriors looked horrified.

Malakar blinked.

Then he laughed.

A genuine laugh.

'Interesting.'

'People keep telling me that.'

Kael stepped slightly in front of her.

'Leave.'

'Or what?'

Silver energy crackled around Kael's hands.

'You'll find out.'

For a brief moment the two men simply stared at each other.

Ancient hatred filled the space between them.

Emma could almost feel it.

Malakar's smile slowly disappeared.

'The prophecy has begun, Kael.'

'I know.'

'You cannot stop what's coming.'

'Watch me.'

'I already did once.'

The canyon fell silent.

Even the rogues stopped moving.

Something about those words struck a nerve.

Kael's expression hardened.

'You lost.'

'Did I?'

Malakar spread his arms.

'Look around. Your kingdom is afraid. Your warriors are dying. The temple has awakened.'

His crimson eyes locked onto Emma.

'And the Moon Bearer has finally returned.'

The moonstone around Emma's neck pulsed.

Once.

Twice.

Three times.

Malakar noticed immediately.

'Beautiful.'

'You're making this really creepy.'

To Emma's surprise, several rogues chuckled.

Malakar looked amused.

'You have no idea who you are, do you?'

'Neither does anyone else, apparently.'

'Then allow me to enlighten you.'

'Don't listen to him,' Kael warned.

Malakar ignored him.

'Your bloodline created the seal that imprisoned the darkness centuries ago.'

Emma frowned.

'Okay.'

'And your bloodline is the only one capable of breaking it.'

The canyon grew quiet.

'What?'

Aldric's face turned pale.

'He's lying.'

'Am I?' Malakar asked.

Emma looked between them.

Neither side seemed comfortable with the conversation.

'Someone explain.'

'Later,' Kael said.

'That's becoming everyone's favorite word.'

Malakar laughed again.

'You deserve answers, Emma.'

'How do you know my name?'

'Because I have been waiting for you far longer than anyone here.'

A cold sensation crawled through her body.

'That's not unsettling at all.'

Suddenly Malakar's expression changed.

His amusement vanished.

'Bring her to me.'

Every rogue atop the cliffs moved instantly.

'Nope,' Emma said.

'Definitely not doing that.'

The attack began.

Arrows rained down from above.

Warriors raised shields.

The canyon erupted into chaos.

'Protect Emma!' Rowan shouted.

Several guards surrounded her immediately.

Kael transformed.

Black fur exploded across his body.

Within seconds the enormous wolf stood where the king had been.

A terrifying howl echoed through the canyon.

The battle intensified.

Rogues leaped from the cliffs.

Steel clashed.

Growls filled the air.

Emma grabbed the moonstone.

The crystal burned against her skin.

'Please tell me you know what you're doing.'

Nothing happened.

'Great.'

A rogue wolf charged toward her.

She instinctively raised the pendant.

Silver light exploded outward.

The attacker flew backward through the air.

'Okay. That's useful.'

The battle continued for several minutes.

Then something unexpected happened.

The moonstone began glowing brighter than ever before.

The silver beam in the distance intensified.

The entire canyon shook.

Everyone froze.

Even Malakar.

A deep rumble echoed across the mountains.

Far ahead, hidden among the peaks, ancient doors began opening.

The Moon Temple had revealed itself.

For the first time, genuine excitement appeared in Malakar's eyes.

'At last,' he whispered.

Then he looked directly at Emma.

'The real game begins now.'

With that, he vanished into the shadows.

The remaining rogues retreated immediately.

Within moments they were gone.

Only silence remained.

Emma stared toward the distant mountains where silver light still filled the sky.

The temple was waiting.

And somehow she knew that everything would change once they reached it.