Page 33 of Dawn to Dusk
“Balthazar has been encouraging me to work less.”
“I agree.” I intertwined her fingers with mine to guide her away from the wards. “Have you explored the mountain yet?”
“It’s on my list of things to do.” She smiled at me. I shucked my trousers off, handed her my clothes, shifted, and encouraged her to get on my back. “Let me know if I hurt you.”
I neighed. I lived long before beasts could shift into a humanoid form. To say I was ridden by rougher things would be an understatement. Anyone who started off as a mountable being was pretty thankful for Bria giving us the ability to shift.
Once she settled on my back, I took off to our destination. The earth beneath my hooves radiated with life. We made it to the mountain, and I shifted back, catching her thighs. A surprised yip left her, and she laughed at herself. She handed me my clothes and looked around.
We walked the path to the top, and she looked down. The wind whirled her glorious red hair around.
“As a unicorn, you’re a lot older, yes? Older than Balthazar?”
“Yes.”
“What do you know about Bria?”
“If it was not for her, everything would be dead by now.” I told her.
“Really?” She followed me, letting me hold her warm hand again.
Her fingers mindlessly tightened in mine, soaking in the comfort my presence gave her. A smile took over my lips, glad she felt the same as me. It made me feel less greedy when I reached over with my other hand to rest it inside her arm. Touch was important to people, and I went too long without it.
“They call this the dark age, but anyone who actually lived through the dark age knows this is nothing. There was a solid seven years where the sun did not rise. Jetros ruled everything. Nothing could thrive. The creatures that did his bidding caused havoc, killing anything and everyone in his path. He effectively cut off Mirneax, Herth, and many others from their power. Creatures feared like they never had before and have not since.”
Her eyes stayed on me as I told the story, thirsty for the knowledge I had.
“It was about two billion years ago, give or take a few thousand years. Mothers killed their own children so they would not starve or freeze. Food and warmth were scarce. We resorted to eating each other.” I pointed to the scar where a hoof managed to embed itself in my chest. “Not in the normal, natural order way. Clans, packs, and herds attacked each other. Alliances fell apart. You ate what you could find. Killed for safe shelter.”
Her gentle fingers traced the scar with a softness of someone who understands. After all, my brother turned on me. Her sister turned on her. Esmerey tried to fight Smerthna off with the gentle tactics she used to keep other beasts back. But itwas too personal. Smerthna grew angrier and angrier each time Esmerey tossed her sister to the side.
“Bria defeating Jetros and moving the moon into Earth’s orbit saved every living thing. She took her father’s place as the night goddess and resumed her responsibilities as luna goddess.”
We both looked down from the mountain. She smiled, then lifted her face up. Mirneax shined down upon her, concentrating her rays on her servant. “Good morning.”
The rays strengthened, illuminating Esmerey in golden light. I could tell based on the smile on her face that her goddess was speaking to her. I recognized that look from before my own goddess died.
She gave me a silent apology with her eyes when she focused back on me. I caressed her face so she would not worry about the interruption. She kept stopping to investigate rocks and whatnot along the way. Witches were always like this. I thought they lost their wonder, but she was clear proof that was not the case.
“What did you find?”
“The diversity in rock here is astounding.”
“Golems made this mountain by hand, so it is like a bird nest of sorts. When Balthazar started building on this property, there was nothing for the creatures who preferred the mountains, so they made this for their mate.”
“Interesting.” Her features and scent stayed neutral, but I could see the brightness in her eyes when the explanation pulled at her heartstrings. Instead of commenting on the little love story, she held up a rock in her hands. “This only naturally exists in Dragon Valley. Makes me wonder how they managed to take it.”
“From safely underground.” I chuckled. Dragons had not been fond of other creatures setting foot on their turf.
“Solid plan.” She smirked. “This is worth hundreds on the market.”
“Really?”
“They call it dragon stone. It’s created by dragons setting the earth on fire over and over again for thousands of years. It’s considered to be virtually indestructible.”
“Is it?”
“No. As far as the dragons were concerned, it’s dirt. I did my own research and found no special properties. In fact, the earth is dead. Nothing grows, No microorganisms, no latent magic, nothing.” She barely restrained a laugh.
