Free Lunamae by April Sadowski Page A

we will go back in peace. The Teacher gave his
life as a sacrifice for us all so one day we can, as he did, return
to the Creator. The Text of Illumination speaks of his return to
Orinda sometime in the future. Perhaps that is why the Kyrians rely
so much on the stars.
    Lunamae always liked hearing about the
Teacher. I did as well. The words he speaks that are presented in
the Text seem always so calm, gentle, and loving. I almost had got
to the next part about the followers spreading the words of the
Teacher when Angharad stopped us.
    “We are nearing Moir Awin so put down the
Text and get everything in order,” she said, brushing her hands
past her hairs on either side of her head. “There is not much we
can do with the way you look since everything is loaded up in
chests.”
    “They know we have been traveling, sister,”
my mother said affectionately. I knew she was trying to be overly
nice since she called her sister. I peeked out of the coach and
noticed a couple walking towards us and a younger girl behind. The
coach stopped abruptly by their presence.
    “Angharad, is that you?” I heard the older
woman shout out.
    “Freyja, there is no need to shout,” I heard
a man nearby say, he came next to the woman to stand by.
    “Yes Mother, it is. We thought we would visit
since we are on our way to Fanarion,” my aunt answered. The older
man Freyja was with offered the chief dame a hand to get out of the
coach and then helped the rest of us out. We were on the outskirts
of the village of Moir Awin. It was nearly the same size as Feyris
but much less protected. Instead of a moat, there was a trench with
sharp poles protruding out, forcing travelers to enter only one
way. I noticed the solis was starting to head downwards into the
earth so I assumed we would also spend the night in the
village.
    “What brings you so far south?” the woman
asked curiously.
    “My daughter, Lunamae. I think she is old
enough to be paired with a suitable match— if we can find a
decent suitor. I would have thought to come here but I think the
bloodlines in our families will run too close. We don’t want
Lunamae to be barren,” the chief dame explained. She drew Lunamae
from my side and presented her. “This is Lunamae. Lunamae, these
are your grandparents, Freyja and Chieftain Bothildr. They are your
father’s parents.” Lunamae uttered a shy hello and a proper curtsey
to which the rulers nodded with approving eyes.
    “This is Rika, our dalta,” Freyja said,
motioning to the girl. “We figured that at our age there would be
no more children and we were getting lonely. One of the clansmen
suggested we take her in next. She has been quite a blessing.”
    “Have the monks of Bexweth been by?” my aunt
inquired.
    “Yes with their new variety of beers for the
winter season. Have you tried them yet?” Freyja asked and the chief
dame shook her head. “Oh you must. Let us get you all in our lodge
and cleaned up and then we will all sample some.”
    My mother drew Lunamae and me back and
escorted us to the lodge while Freyja talked with Angharad. My
father helped with watering the horses instead of coming right in
although he said he wouldn’t be too long since his presence was
important.
    “Chieftain Bothildr doesn’t speak much,” I
said.
    “He doesn’t have much to speak about,” my
mother said. “The last time we were here he said it was much easier
for Freyja to do all the talking. He would handle the business end
of things and she would handle the social. Right now there isn’t
anything business going on—at least I would assume that given his
silence.”
    We were led into the lodge. Unlike the keep
in Feyris which was all made of stone, this was made of large logs
and some kind of filler between. The logs I assumed were from the
Oycos forest of Fanarion or perhaps from the jungles of Chalos.
When we entered the lodge we looked up. Instead of arches of stone
to greet us, there were arches of wooden beams. The whole