Ten Crescent Moons (Moonquest) (49 page)

It was the
passing of almost a half season before Kalos and Adalginza, who had been too
long apart, met on the eighth anniversary of their wedding vows.

They were
back in the wilderness on the Mountain of Treasures, and the light of the
crescent moons was reflected off their bare skin as they sat in the shallows of
the clear lake.

Their arms
were wrapped around each other.

"I will
build our abode right there."

Kalos pointed
to a huge, flat area scooped from a hill overlooking the lake.

"A fine
place," Adalginza agreed.

"We
will have many rooms, to hold those who join us. The construction must be done
well, for this place will always be honored as the original abode of the founding
clan of the House of the Tenth Crescent Moon."

"I am
pleased."

"But
not entirely so."

"I had
always thought of us here together. Alone. Now there will be so many voices to
shatter the stillness."

Kalos
squeezed her close, and playfully nibbled at her ear.

"Think
of them as family. Besides, I have a surprise for you."

"Oh?"

"Another
abode is now ours as well. I purchased it from the new chief of the Tribe of
the Circles for a price of so many sturmons that it would qualify him as a
thief on the Prime Continent. It is the land and abode that once belonged to
Lady Donzala."

Adalginza
gave him a huge smile.

"The
Place of the Circles? The place where I grew up? Ours?"

"Yes. We
can go there to be alone. Whenever we can find the time."

Adalginza
sighed heavily.

"Time
is exactly what we do not have. You are the elected governor of the Tenth House.
And I am the leader Of The Blood for the tribes. I am deluged with all manner
of crises, from interpretation of tribal law to settlement of marital disputes."

Kalos
sighed, too.

"My
term is over at the end of four seasons. And you will turn over your power as leader
Of The Blood to Calasta, after she comes of age. It is only a few more seasons
for you."

"I hope
all is well by that time."

"Dearest
wife, haven't you learned by now?" Kalos asked teasingly. "All is
never well. We just do the best we can."

Adalginza
laughed gently and kissed him.

"I know
you. You will not sit still, even after your responsibilities end."

"Nor
will you."

"And
what is it, then, that we will do with ourselves?"

Kalos gazed
up at the sky at three crescent moons that were directly overhead. His face was
suddenly grave.

"We must
erase the lies that have been told about the House of the Seventh Crescent Moon.
Otherwise, someone else might discover the fraud. If that happens, the peace we
have worked so hard to achieve will be undone."

Adalginza
nodded thoughtfully. "You are right."

 "The
mystery has not been solved. And it is highly doubtful that the tribes here are
direct descendants of the missing Seventh House. We will find, instead, the
truth."

"And if
we do not like the truth we find?" Adalginza asked softly.

"We
will tell it anyway."

They gazed
at each other with the fullness of love that only trust can bestow.

And when
they reached out to each other, the moons discreetly faded away as clouds
drifted across their bright crescent faces.

Darkness
embraced this man and woman, giving them a gift of a moment in time that was
theirs alone.

The End