Chapter 17 Escape Across the River
ARC III THE BLOOD WRAITH
The Song of Anri still echoed across the mountains. White feathers drifted through the night. Moonlight shimmered across shattered stone and broken trees. For several precious moments, the hunters were weakened. Not defeated. Only delayed. And Moon knew exactly how little time they had.
The cherub's song faded. Anri hovered behind Moon, platinum-blond hair glowing softly beneath the full moon. The tiny angel looked tired. Even his wings drooped slightly.
Matias recovered first. The Laughing Reaper slowly lifted his head. A dark smile spread beneath his mask.
"That was unpleasant."
The corpse puppets began moving again. Slowly. Then faster. The Shadow Wolves followed. Their silver eyes reignited within the darkness.
Toivo felt dread return immediately.
"They're recovering."
"Of course they are."
Kev sounded irritated.
"Unfortunately demigods are difficult to kill."
Gret spat blood onto the ground.
"Good."
The giant Northman grinned.
"I was getting bored."
Toivo laughed despite himself.
Moon, however, remained silent. His dark eyes turning silver eyes were focused elsewhere. Beyond the battlefield. Beyond the forest. Toward something hidden in the darkness.
The river. Moon raised one pale hand.
"We leave."
Toivo blinked.
"Now?"
Moon nodded.
"Now."
Then the earth began shaking.
Everyone turned.
The Blood Wraith had risen. The masked warrior slowly stood. His black cloak whipped violently behind him. His Azuran blade gleamed beneath the moonlight.
The pressure radiating from him felt overwhelming. Unlike Matias. Unlike the wolves. The Blood Wraith felt familiar.
Terrifyingly familiar. Toivo hated that feeling.
The warrior's hidden eyes remained fixed upon Moon. Always Moon. As though nothing else existed. Then he took a step forward.
The mountain beneath his feet cracked. Another step. Stone exploded. Another. The forest trembled. Even Gret stopped smiling.
"That one is dangerous."
Kev glanced at him.
"Congratulations."
"Your powers of observation continue to improve."
Gret ignored him.
The Blood Wraith raised his sword. Darkness gathered around the blade.
Matias laughed. The Shadow Wolves surged forward. The hunt resumed.
Moon finally moved. Silver light erupted from his sleeves. Celestial silk exploded into existence. Thousands of glowing threads burst from his shadow. The strands danced through the air like rivers of moonlight.
Beautiful. Deadly. Divine. Toivo watched in amazement. No matter how many times he witnessed Moon's magic it never stopped feeling miraculous. The silk spread across the battlefield.
Around trees. Across cliffs. Over the river hidden beyond the mountains. Moon's silver eyes glowed brightly.
The silk stretched farther. Farther. Farther. Until it vanished into the darkness ahead. Then Toivo finally saw it. The river. A colossal river. Wider than any river he had ever seen. Its black waters raged violently beneath moonlight. Massive waves crashed against jagged cliffs. The current looked powerful enough to swallow entire armies. No bridge crossed it. No ferry could survive it. An impossible barrier. Moon calmly stepped forward. The celestial silk tightened. Becoming glowing pathways suspended above the raging waters.
Toivo stared. Moon had woven a bridge. Not a bridge of stone. A bridge of moonlight.
"Move."
Everyone obeyed immediately. Toivo mounted his marble horse.
Gret followed.
Kev transformed into his black cat form and leapt onto Moon's shoulder.
Anri drifted behind them.
The fairies surrounded the group. Thousands of tiny lights. A living constellation.
Then they crossed. The celestial bridge carried them over the impossible river. Far below the waters roared like dragons. Toivo looked down once. Immediately regretted it. The drop was enormous.
"Don't fall."
Gret laughed.
"Helpful advice."
"You're welcome."
Behind them Matias reached the riverbank.
His laughter vanished. The Reaper stared upward.
Toward Moon.
Toward the bridge.
Toward the impossible magic.
The corpse puppets halted.b Even the Shadow Wolves hesitated.
The river frightened them.
Then the Blood Wraith arrived. The giant warrior stood beside Matias. His gaze remained fixed upon Moon.
The distance between them seemed to stretch endlessly. For the first time the Blood Wraith looked frustrated.
Moon looked back. Neither spoke. Yet something passed between them. Recognition. Memory. Pain.
Then Moon turned away.
The bridge dissolved behind them. Silk unraveled into silver particles. Moonlight scattered across the river. The crossing vanished.
Matias cursed.
The Shadow Wolves howled. The hunters had lost their trail. For now.
The far bank welcomed the travelers with silence. Dark mountains rose ahead. Ancient peaks hidden beneath mist.
The road north continued. Toivo glanced behind one final time. The enemy stood on the opposite shore. Tiny figures beneath moonlight. Watching. Waiting.
The hunt was far from over. But tonight they had escaped.
Moon quietly closed his eyes. Anri dissolved into drifting feathers. Returning to the divine light from which he came.
The fairies settled around Moon like stars. And beneath the full moon's glow, the travelers disappeared into the northern wilderness.
While far behind them, across the impossible river, the hunters watched in silence.
Planning their next move.
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