World of Night

Author's Notes: I had posted the beginning of this story quite some time ago, when I suddenly got stuck on the plot. I deleted the story from the archive, reworked what I had already written and continued where I had left of.


Prologue: A Meeting Decided


The whole day mist had lain over the heath like a thick woollen blanket and now, as the sun slowly set in a swirl of fiery clouds, the blanket thickened to a seemingly endless wall of grey.
It was absolutely windstill, the foggy wall lay unmoving upon the sleepy landscape.
And yet, close to some juniper bushes, the fog stirreed, swirling around the feet of a tall hooded figure, parting like shadowy curtains in front of it as it slowly moved withoit a sound upon its design.

Some frogs were ribitting in the disatnce and a nightingale was singing nearby but apart from thar no sound disturbed the quiet that lay over the figure’s path. It was the quiet before the impending storm, the holding of breath before the plunge.
Today the decision would be made. The decision that would shape the fortunes off them all. The decision whether or not to meddle in the affairs of others. For centuries they had stayed aloof, silently observing the toils and troubles of the worlds, refusing to be drawn into the wars and quarrels of others.

But hings had changed. And tonight they would have to make their choice. The figure’s cloak brushed against a bush, a keening squeal echoing over the heath as a frightened sparrow rose into the invisible sky, quickly merging with the mist.

It’s call, however, remained unnoticed since there was no one near who could have known its meaning.

Some hours later the strange mist still smothered the heath, except for a small circle in the middle of the clearing. Within this circle stood three hooded figures, all of them dressed in the same dark blue robes and cloaks with golden embroidery on the hem.

“When shall we three met again?” Liv asked, sliding back her hood, blue eyes glittering in the fog-muted moonlight. “In thunder lightning or in rain?”
“When a decision has been made,” Miranda, the oldest of them, answered also revealing her face as was custom among them.
“T’will be if the dragon falls,” Cate chimed in, her blond shimmering silver in the pale light, “If in vain for help he calls.”

“It’s agreed upon then,” Liv started again as a silent understandung passed between them. “We will stay out till our help is sought by them.”
“So be it,” Miranda finished, “When the moon has waned three times nine we shall meet again and decided will be the fate of them.”

Darkness fell, a cloud obscured the moon and as its pale light once more succeeded in fighting its way through the fog, it shone upon a deserted heath.
Only three echoes of laughter lingered on the wind that kissed the bushes with a tender breeze, swiftly carrying the mist away.