Chapter Two

On the lakeshore of a lake which reflected an eternally night sky a girl wearing a black dress which drew darkness sat on a wooden bench. Seated on her shoulder a 4-inch-tall fairy. The fairy’s beautiful tiny face was creased in anxiety. In contrast the girl seemed perfectly content. As if a great weight had been lifted from her shoulders.  “I don’t know how you can be so relaxed!”, exclaimed the fairy. “For now he only has mortal opposition, Arya”, reassured the Lady of Dusk. “But Daemi…” Arya tried to rebut. “Has stepped away from mortal affairs… For now, anyway she isn’t interested in the life of a mortal child”, reaffirmed the girl “Mortals are still to be feared. If they find him...” Arya had begun fluttering from shoulder to shoulder. “They are not searching Arya; you are the one that told me. The Ruling Council do not fear any one individual. House Estrisden no longer has the influence it once had. Now go, just in case. I want eyes on the next few meetings. The world has changed”, asserted the Fae Lady. “But Elona…. My Lady…...”, grumbled Arya. “Whenever you are ready, please and thank you”, said Elona sweetly. Arya rose into the air and then plummeted into the lake with a quiet plop. The lady of Dusk sat in the solitude of her palace’s grounds unmoving for a long while.

Upon entering the city Luna, Aloys avoided the scrutiny of the city guardsmen and the travellers. Originally he had feared a sudden hand on his shoulder and a deep voice calling “Halt!” but as he progressed deeper into the city that fear gradually dwindled. He instinctively avoided side streets and stuck to the main road. The noise was overwhelming. He tried to think back to the last time he had been in a city. When he was in Florence he was always surrounded by guards. As a result, he had never learned to navigate the city. Unwilling to ask directions to the City Lords household, Aloys was soon lost.

Wishing to escape the engulfing noise of the metropolis Aloys entered one of the city’s three parks. Although it was Winter the park was still full of families playing. The first time he saw a dog he clutched Twilight tightly to his chest. Eliciting a small mrow of protest. It was a beautiful day, cold but filled with sunshine. Dew covered the grass leaving it wet and shining. Aloys found an empty bench on a small rise and seated himself with a contented sigh. He sat there watching his surroundings, slowly eating the last of his food. In his leather bag there was the flint and steel and a small pouch of gold and silver coins. There was also a string necklace with a ring attached. The ring was made of a peculiar black metal that appeared to exude darkness. The only Engraving were three differing crescents. Recognising the ring as his fathers it instantly became his most precious belonging. He put the string around his neck and wore the ring underneath his shirt. He would only later learn the importance of having the House Estrisden signet ring.

Aloys sat peacefully in the centre of the park. He was cold but it was nothing he had not contended with over the last week. Time passed slowly and Twilight, bored, made an escape and started to explore. Aloys acknowledging Twilights desire left her alone. 10 minutes passed before he remembered the dog he had seen earlier. Driven by fear Aloys quickly sprung off the bench. He ran down the hill in the direction the runaway kitten had fled. He searched for 5 minutes, his heart thumping madly the entire time. Tears were barely held in check as he frantically ran around the small incline hoping to catch sight of a small bundle of black fur. Unwilling to give up hope Aloys marched back up the hill. He thought to himself that Twilight may have returned to the bench. Either that or the small hill would give a greater range of sight. As the bench came into sight he saw two girls and more importantly Twilight had made themselves at home on his bench.

The two girls were very pretty. They both had a very unique appearance. On the left with Twilight on her lap sat a girl about half his height. She had a blue dress with golden hair. The hair was incredibly long, it reached knee height.  In contrast the girl on the right was the same height as him. She had silver hair in a short pony tail. Her hair reflected the silver of her eyes and they appeared to resonate with an inner light. Where the golden haired child appeared to struggling to hold back a giggle the silver haired girl was composed. Although a small smile tugged at the sides of her mouth as she watched her irresistible friend. Twilight appeared to be bearing the enthusiastic petting with dignity.      

“Twilight!” cried out Aloys in relief. Tears threatened to break but he held them in check. The golden haired girl allowed Twilight to escape and the kitten quickly leaped into his arms. Both girls stood in unison.  “My names Cnaeus!” the golden haired child proclaimed cheerfully. Extending a small hand enthusiastically. Aloys shook the hand, reacting without thinking, confused in the face of Cnaeus’ overwhelming enthusiasm. The emotional shifts of the last 5 minutes from worry to fear to relief to confusion gave Aloys pause. His brain still playing catch up to recent events. There was an awkward few seconds while Aloys took in the new information. Realising he was still shaking the girls hand Aloys abruptly pulled his hand free. Smiling himself he said “My names Aloys it is a pleasure to meet you”. Trying his hardest to repeat the words he had overheard his father say in the past. The silver haired girl still as composed as before smiled slightly before saying, “Aviendohva”. She didn’t make an attempt to shake hands. Which Aloys was slightly grateful for. Both girls sat back down on the bench. Cnaeus eagerly patting the space between them. “Sit”, she called. Aloys sat. It was a few moments before he realised that he had. He hadn’t even had a chance to think beforehand.

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Seated on the bench the three young people sat in a contented silence. Twilight had somehow escaped Aloys’ clutches and was now nestled deep in Aviendohva skirt. Her pale hand stroked the dark fur gently. Surprisingly, although he wasn’t sure why it was surprising, it was Aviendohva who broke the silence. “Are you new to the city? We have never seen you before”. Even to an eight-year-old Aloys it seemed apparent that the words were chosen with care but perhaps that was just how the peculiar girl was. In reply he said “yes, I arrived today”. A few seconds passed and it was obvious she was thinking of a suitable reply. Cnaeus broke in, “Where do you live?”. To which the silver haired girl shot her a scowl. Aloys struggled, words caught in his throat. He didn’t want to lie but the truth would just spark unnecessary questions. Aviendohva interrupted, “Do you need any assistance”. The presentation of the words was very formal. As if at an important assembly. Aloys jumped on the lifeline gladly. “Well…. “A bit sheepishly…. “I am looking for Lady Sara Blå Domita’s household”.

The odd girls silently conferred through their gazes. It was Cnaeus who first spoke, ”I could help you, for a price”. Aloys reply was a bit slow in coming and it stuttered slightly in the middle. ”Price?” Aviendohva rolled her eyes while Cnaeus eyes shined with ill concealed mirth. ”One kiss!”, she exclaimed causing a small sigh in reaction from her friend. ”A kiss?” he replied stupidly. ”Do you accept?” she countered swiftly. ”I suppose, yes”.  “Done Done and Done!”, squealed Cnaeus. Cnaeus quickly leaned over and gave him a peck on the lips. Aloys felt himself blush which sparked off another torrent of giggles from the golden haired girl. Both girls stood up and he felt himself rising to his feet. After a few moment Cnaeus stared deeply into his eyes and he felt himself being pulled into the little girl’s sky blue eyes. She peeled off a rapid string of instructions which ended with “show them the ring!”. Somehow the instructions stuck and Aloys realised he could repeat them back word for word. Which was odd…... He felt like he was missing something. Something obvious but it was hidden from him. Aviendohva interrupted his musings. “I gift to you this scarf to protect from Winters bite. I gift it without strings or attachment.” As before she was very formal. Realising it would be rude to refuse her gift he accepted. She placed the scarf around his neck before stepping back. “Goodbye, Aloys” the girls said in unison. Realising a dismissal when he heard it Aloys swiftly turned. Twilight nestled comfortably under his arm. “Goodbye girls”, he called as he stepped away.

Aviendohva and Cnaeus sat quietly on the bench. Until the silver haired girl abruptly snorted. “A kiss?! Really?” Cnaeus simply giggled in reply. Neither looked away from the blonde haired boy exiting through the park’s main gate. “His eyes are odd.” Aviendohva stated. “For a mortal that is”, she amended. “They’re pretty!” Cnaeus proclaimed. They both sat in a comfortable silence. When Aloys was out of sight. They both slowly faded away leaving a lonely bench at the centre of the park. The Daughters of Light had left the mortal realm.      

Although having precise instructions Aloys journey through the city took a great deal of time. As a result, it was almost evening when he arrived at the gates of House Domita. It was an elegant mansion. It appeared newly built. The white stone shone beautifully in the setting sun. The mansion was surrounded by a well-kept garden; it was unfortunate it was winter. He was sure the garden would have a vast number of flowers during the summer. The garden itself was surrounded by an incredibly high stone wall. A guard interrupted his gawking, “Move a long you”, he grunted. It didn’t seem to be in any way ill tempered. If anything there was a slight grin on the guard’s face. Aloys started to stammer an explanation. His mind thinking three sentences at once and his mouth tried to support it. The guard while initially trying to follow the incomprehensible stream of words simply gave up and raised his eyebrows. Luckily Cnaeus words “Show them the ring”, resonated inside him. Flushing slightly Aloys fumbled with the string. With the ring revealed the guard’s eyes widened which was then followed by his eyebrows scrunching up in a frown of consternation. Suddenly the guards face went blank and he called “Open the Gate!” to those in the gatehouse.

The gate swung open quietly with only a slight creak. Turning to face Aloys again the unnamed guard simply said, “follow” before starting towards the house.  Aloys struggled to keep up with the guardsman’s long strides. The guard ignored the curious eyes of his compatriots. As he reached the Mansions heavy wooden front door he glanced back to ensure Aloys was keeping up. Aloys eyes were glued to the guardsman and he suddenly realised how worried he was. Before he had simply been trying to reach Sara but now that he was here he had no idea what would happen. Entering a simply but comfortably decorated parlour the guard said, “wait” and disappeared into a different room. Aloys could hear quiet conversation in the other room before the guard returned. The guard looked him in the eye before stating “Jason”. Aloys nodded in reply. It was another few seconds before Aloys realised the guard wanted his own in return, “Aloys”. They stood in a comfortable quiet before they heard the sound of footsteps approaching. Appearing, Lady Sara looked the same as she did the year before. Except this time the happy woman was crying an unusual mixture of tears of joy and pain. Seeing those tears Aloys felt his own breaking free. Before he knew it, tears were falling and his face was crushed in Sara’s embrace.