The World of Myth Magazine

Dove awoke, her sheets soaked, and realized straight away that she had just had another one of THOSE dreams; the prophetic ones, the dreams that meant something. There was a storm, flickering lightning coupled with the cacophony of thunder, but through the thick grey clouds that conducted the show, Dove could still see and sense that Luna was looking down upon Her chosen one. This dream was real, or at least somehow it was going to be. Dove considered who to tell, Barracks Commander, Sargent Ithika Wurmtru still did not believe in the prophetic nature of Dove's visions. As a member of the King's Guard, Lord Gregory Josenburg, Head King's Guard was an option, but even he struggled to believe in anything that did not involve sword, shield, and militant strategy. No, Dove thought, neither of those men would take the time to listen to her, and likewise, it would be impossible to get an audience with the king Himself, King Frans de Tulip, equally Queen Isobel would not lower Herself to allow such an audience, soldiers, especially female soldiers did not hold favor with the monarch. Dove realized then that she would need to return to those who knew her best, Father Geraldin, Father Francini, Bishop Wannuluf, Sister Mary-May, and Sister Josephine, and of course Father Donnuns. They would welcome Dove; they would take the time to listen. Before she could speak with her friends from Luna's Temple, Dove needed to ready herself for the day. During this time, she thought back on the dream, not wanting to forget any detail that could be important.

There was the hill, the one that seemed to little Dove as if it were a mountain. It was located a mile or so beyond the main entrance gate to the Capitol. Dove had spent many a day just sitting upon the peak of that hill with the company of one of the sisters or brothers of Luna's Temple. The view from that height was spectacular, especially at night, when the moon was full, the face of Luna smiling down upon the world. The dream was not set at night, closer to dawn, or just after, but the sun was nowhere to be seen, instead, the moon, full, took the place where the celestial orb of fire normally resided. Dove recalled from the dream that she was looking down from above as if her spirit had left her sleeping body and given her a view of something important. Below, standing upon the peak of the hill, Dove could make out a number of figures. There was a pure white dove like the symbol sometimes used to depict Luna, or a follower of the moon goddess; Dove sensed that this bird was a representative of her and not the goddess. The bird was looking upwards, but away from the full face of the moon that stared down. It was searching the heavens for the signs of something else. It was worried, something deeply concerning was about to take place, but Dove had no clue what it could be, only that it would be coming from the sky. Beside the dove there stood a fox, a sleek creature with golden fur, Dove felt as though there was no fear from the bird, strange with such a hungry hunter so near. The fox dug, hurriedly, deep into the hill. Its white-sock paws were already quite dirty, but as Dove's dream allowed her to fly in closer she discovered that the darkness upon the fox's feet was not the earth from beneath the grass on the hill, instead, it was a strange, living, spreading darkness. This darkness threatened to rise up over the fox, the dove, and the other animals. This darkness needed to be stopped, Dove got the feeling that the darkness of this dream went beyond the hill, deeper, and further, though she could not be sure such a threat had reached the Capitol, nor if the grand city was its target, or if instead it were just another obstacle in its path. There was a bull that stood proudly upon the hill. It stood, solid and unmoving, turned away from the city, watchful eyes staring off into the distance. As strong as the bull seemed, it was wary, ducking its broad head for only moments at a time, taking up great mouthfuls of the affected grass, ignoring that danger as it sought for signs of another. In and out of the bull's legs ran a cat with a mouse clinging tightly to its back. Dove noted the strange vision but thought it no stranger than whatever else it was her vision wished her to see. Finally, buzzing about all of the other animals there looked to be what could only be described as a bee, with the exception that such an insect had no stinger, but instead wielded a tiny rapier.

*What a motley crew* thought Dove, and looking back upon the vision, the same thought drifted through her mind. It was not the end of the dream though, the most important, or what dove considered the most important aspect was what followed after. The sky grew darker instead of lighter, as if the rising of Luna's orb in replacement of the sun caused the world to drift into night instead of day. When the sky was a complete blanket of black, Dove noticed only a single star could be seen in the sky. It was tinged with green and looked like it was growing in size. The star grew and grew, until it was larger than that of the full moon, and then both moon and star fell. While the moon fell into the sea and spread its calming, healing light across the shore, the star's trajectory had it tumbling straight for the Capitol. Dove watched it fall and flew after it as the star came over her head. The pure white bird also flew after the star, seemingly not interested in the fallen moon. Dove and the dove sped together, faster than any bird could fly, but not so fast as they could keep pace with the fallen star. Dove could see, as she flew over the wall of the Capitol, that the star had vanished somewhere in the Slums District. It was at that moment she had awoken from her dream. Similarly, at that moment of review, Dove discovered that she was dressed and ready to venture out for the day.

"Dove why are you up and awake so early?" murmured one of many of the soldiers that also lived in the barracks. "Dawn duty is still hours away."

"I was awakened by the storm and now I cannot sleep," answered Dove. "I'm going for a brief stroll, hoping more sleep will follow."

"If anything, you should get a good show from the storm," said the voice, one that Dove recognized as Harrid de Paulus, one who was trying out that year to become King's Guard just as she was. "Maybe I should join you in your walk since we both are now awake."

"Best you see what rest you can get," suggested Dove, kindly, but in a way so that it was clear she did not require a chaperone. "I am certain Barracks Commander, Sargent Ithika Wurmtru has plenty in store for us all this day."

"So true," agreed Harrid.

He stifled a yawn, smiled, and then rolled over, quickly falling back to sleep.

"I wish you sweet dreams," murmured Dove before she left, quietly, creeping out in the hope she did not wake anyone else.

The guards that stood watch over the barracks gave Dove a nod as she passed through the arch.

"A touch early?" one asked.

"Woke up with the storm," Dove admitted.

She was waved through, without the need for any additional excuse.

The dawn was a cool one, still no sign of the sun. Dove could see the moon, at the Waxing Gibbous stage, peering through the bank of thick, grey, storm clouds. The full moon, when Dove felt most alive, that looked to be three to four days away. She considered her dream and the fact that in it the moon was full. Something else to discuss once she arrived at the temple.

The guards that stood at the main gate between the King's Palace and the Capitol were far more thorough with their checks.

"Papers, Miss Dove?" enquired one.

As requested, Dove presented her official papers which were reviewed and then stamped.

"And the reason for your early morning stroll?" asked the other guard.

Dove considered replying with some quip about Barracks Commander, Sargent Ithika Wurmtru, but Ithika had his favorites, and it did not bode well, even for a member of the King's Guard to annoy the barracks commander.

"Prayer," Dove replied. "And to visit some old friends."

"You don't seem to be the age where you'd have OLD friends," suggested one of the guards, causing the pair to chuckle.

"You would be surprised," replied Dove, choosing then to elaborate no further.

"On your way then, Miss Dove," said the guards, papers returned.

With a nod and a smile to both, Dove continued on her way.

The road that led to Luna's Temple was one that Dove could have walked with her eyes closed. She had grown up playing on those cobblestones, she knew by name each of the street sellers, and they too shouted a hearty good morning as Dove went by them. Dove enquired about family members, shared in joys and saddening news equally. Often she merely apologized that her time in the barracks had kept her so long apart from the people she loved. It was indeed a case of living so close, and yet existing so far from them all. When Dove finally had the temple gates in sight the sun had well and truly breached the horizon, it was easily the ninth hour of the morn. The storm clouds had thinned and the storm that had performed so enthusiastically during the previous night, was now nothing but a murmur.

"In Luna's name, could it possibly be?!" exclaimed the voice of Tom the gardener as Dove watched him take his eye off the hedge.

"Good morning to you, Tom," called Dove, happily.

"It really is you, Dove," Tom replied with a smile. "Just like me, you're quite a lot older than when we last met."

"Yes, Tom," agreed Dove. "I see you are still fighting that hedge."

The gardener laughed before giving the greenery another well-placed chop.

"Bishop Wannuluf wants the place to look perfect," Tom said.

"It does already, Tom, like Luna's promised paradise," said Dove. "I've always loved it here."

"You are too kind, Miss Dove," stated the gardener with a bow. "Please let me be the first one to welcome you back home again."

"Thank you, Tom, I wish I could stay," lamented Dove. "Alas, this is but a short visit."

"Aye, the king and queen would be lost without you," Tom suggested. "True?"

"No, I am just another body that they have handed a sword," mused Dove. "Lucky for me I've been shown how to use it."

"Lucky for all of us," said Tom as he waved Dove onwards, into the temple.

Dove was embraced like a daughter returned. Although up in the barracks she felt like just another one of the soldiers, the brothers and sisters of Luna's faithful knew and respected that Dove had been marked as chosen.

"We must prepare a feast," declared Father Francini, Sister Mary-May was quick to agree.

"Wait! Do not hurry yourself to the markets!" said the bishop, loud enough that all could hear. "We must first discover from our visitor just how long she can stay; I fear the news will not be to our liking."

The raucous crowd of faithful simmered to a murmured hubbub as all eyes turned then to face Dove who suddenly found she had grown red about the cheeks.

"Alas, Bishop Wannuluf, you are correct in you assumptions," stated Dove.

There was a groan from all present, including the bishop.

"I merely come seeking advice," the young soldier admitted.

"Don't go back!" cried Sister Josephine.

All laughed at such a comment, all that is with the exception of Father Donnuns.

"Perhaps this advice you seek may relate to another dream?" the old artist enquired.

Dove nodded.

"Then perhaps the bishop will allow us a few moments in a quiet corner that I may capture the vision," Father Donnuns then asked, turning his attention to his superior, who nodded.

"And after such, we shall all break our fast with young Dove," announced Bishop Wannuluf. "It not being every day that we get to see such a precious child."

Dove considered answering back to the bishop's remark, she was grown, no longer a wisp of a youngling. But she had far too much respect for all whom she thought of as family.

"As you so suggest, Bishop Wannuluf," Dove said instead, giving the elderly figure a nod of thanks.

The hill was easy for Father Donnuns to draw, he had been up to the top of it on many an occasion, the view of the Capitol that could be seen from up there was etched permanently in his mind. Dove did her best to describe the different animals that she had witnessed atop the hill, as well as the strange black sky, the full moon that took on the role of the rising celestial orb, the strange star, and the fall of both star and moon from the blanket of black. "Slow down, dearest Dove," pleaded the cleric. "I can only sketch so quickly."

With patience, Dove repeated some descriptions and went into finer details, until she looked over the shoulder of Father Donnuns and gasped in surprise at how accurately he had captured her memory.

"Looks like age has yet to strip me of my craft," the cleric chuckled.

"You are indeed quite the talent," Dove agreed.

Over the meal that followed, Father Donnuns and Dove showed the finished sketch to the bishop and the brothers and sisters present. Much discussion took place between munching, with Dove retelling her dream a number of different times.

"You are definitely the dove," agreed all. "Do we think then that the other animals depicted are people too?"

"We may never know," announced the bishop. "What we do know though is that what is to come will be coming soon… The next Luna's Day, when the full face of our goddess shines upon one and all, that is merely in less than a week…"

"Please tell us again of the moon and the star, falling from the sky," begged Sister Josephine.

The starless, black sky seemed to trouble the two sisters the most.

Again, Dove spoke of what she had witnessed in her dream, the differing paths that the two bodies took in falling.

"The moon has returned to the sea, just as we all suspected She would," observed Sister Mary-May.

"But that troublesome star has gone into our Capitol, seeking something, or someone…" Sister Josephine suggested.

"Though I would hate to suggest it," announced Bishop Wannuluf. "It seems to me there is little in the Slums District that would attract a star, but for the abode of Seraphya del Ravenlock."

"Only the foolish approach Ravenlock Tower without an invitation," suggested Father Geraldin.

"Only a fool would wish harm upon a member of the King's Guard," stated Dove in reply. "Not even a sorcerer would be that much a fool."

"I sense, today then shall be the battle of the fools," muttered Father Geraldin.

Dove returned to the barracks after her visit to Luna's temple. She thought it best to dress in full armor before approaching the sorcerer's tower. Without consulting Barracks Commander, Sargent Ithika Wurmtru she made her way to the stables, it would be far too far to march from barracks to slums, regardless of the state of the moon.

*How I wish this task could be left to another*, Dove thought as she walked her steed Purity back through the main gate. She knew though that the vision was hers and thus so too was everything that came with it. The guards on the gate, the west gate this time, waved Dove through as she lifted her papers for them to witness. Nervous about confronting Seraphya del Ravenlock, it was a small relief she did not need to explain what she was planning. Dove asked a few that milled about the slum streets, asking the quickest way to the looming Ravenlock Tower. All were happy to help, all seemed to know the way.

"Be wary," advised some. "Sorcerer does not tend to look kindly upon new arrivals."

By the eleventh hour Dove had dismounted and stood, preparing to knock upon the tower door. She refused to use the door knocker which was shaped like a grinning imp. Before her gauntleted hand was able to tap upon the black wood, there came a great screaming from within the tower.

"Blast, and double blast again!" cried the voice.

Then came an explosion and the sound of pots and pans clattering. Following this Dove could not help but be drawn to the glass window that revealed the entrance hall of the great tower of magic. Scampering quickly up the entrance hall Dove witnessed what could only be described as a cat, a cat who seemed to have as a passenger a small mouse.

"I think they are the cat and mouse from my dream," gasped Dove. "How very strange."

What was stranger still was that the cat seemed determined to leave the tower. Instinctively, Dove tried the door. It opened with the merest of pushes, creaking noisily as it opened inwards.

"Meeeeeeeoooooooowwww!!" screeched the cat, seeming to say *thank you* and *get out of our way*.

Dove stepped aside as the pair shot out onto the street.

Without thought, she jumped onto Purity.

"Follow me," she cried.

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