I was dancing with in the living waters of the core of the the living tree ship when I felt my father and mother arrive in the ship’s core room. I finished my dance and dove outside of living waters and rolled to my feet. My attendant and nurse passed me my towel first and then after I had dried off I slipped on my robe turned and bowed to my parents.
“A raise, Moon Dancer. We have news to report.” Father said in tired quiet voice.
I got to my feet glancing once at my mother to see her pale and guarded she was watchful of me and sad. Father was dressed in his offical white suit with a black sash across his chest and mother stood beside him bare foot dressed in glimmering white dress.
“Something bad has happened.” I said.
Father stared at me as he fixed his focus on my face. “It is reported to me by Empiral Herold that Crowley Krull was found guilty and sentenced to death. The Krull have also disappeared and abandoned their lands. The Empire is seeking them out to bring them back to their lands and barter a new peace agreement with them.” He said and he studied my face.
“That is bad news. Well we will have to wait see what happens next.” I said carefully. An uneasy quiet followed my words.
My father stared at me saying nothing. I could almost hear his mind turning and thinking on the meaning of my simple speech. He cleared his throat.
“I understand your not interested in his death whether or not you believe it was warranted.” He said and paused. “Was it warrented?” He asked me directly on what I knew happened to him.
I noticed father was looking at me differently again. He was looking at that other side of me. “I’ve met Crowley a few times and I’ve heard a bit of his dealings in business. I believe he possible got himself in trouble for his life to end. He lived dangerously and cost his tribe to be in a bad way with the empire.” I said carefully not investing in giving anything more of what I knew or what I had seen in Crowley and in what the living waters revealed to me.
Mother sighed and I saw she seemed to be more relaxed though still watchful of me. “What do you see…no what do you believe will happened next?” She asked and corrected herself half way.
I clasped my hands together and then I released then let them go. I combed my hands threw my blond hair twice behind my back. I took in a slow inward breath and exhaled out slowly to steady my nerves.
“I believe we should wait for the Prince of the Krull to arrive here.” I said. They stared at me shaken. I smiled to ease the tension in the room. “We made a promise to the Krull to agree on a marriage to join our houses so that we can grow stronger. The Krull keep their word.” I said.
My father straightened his back up and he nodded to me. “Thank you. We will leave you to your duties. When the Krull arrive we will let you know though I suppose you will know.” He said with a sigh but he smiled and he bowed to me.
He turned to leave but mother was still staring at me. “Moon Dancer. When did you know Crowley was going to die? Why didn’t you tell us? We could have saved the tribe more time and married you off to the one who you saw you were going to marry.” She said in rush of words and emotions.
“Mother please. I-I did not know Crowley would die so soon after we finalized the engagement plans.” I said honestly.
“You knew he would die though. You knew he wouldn’t be the one you would give the living waters to. What else aren’t you telling us?” Mother said and then paused. My mother smiled at me but she was still staring at me not seeing me but desiring to know things I couldn’t tell her. It would only lead to her destruction. “You can trust us. You don’t have to hide what you’ve seen from us. We can assist you better in knowing what you know and have seen. I command it of you.” She said holding out her hands.
My heart hammered inside my chest. I could feel where this conversation was going and I knew what I was about to lose her. But, I had to obey her. I opened my mouth.
My father held up his hand toward me and I froze at the sight of his Silver blues staring at me with intent. His gaze made me feel like his daughter again. “Do you feel uneasy continuing this conversation?” He asked.
“Yes.” I said.
Father nodded. “The conversation is over. You told us what we needed too know. You will speak no more of this to anyone. Am I understood?” He asked.
I bowed to the floor before him with my head lowering to the floor. “I obey.” I said.
“Hawks! We need to know. The Empire is against the match. You know they are planning. We need to know the future.” Mother said in a pleading voice.
“Era. No more talk. We leave. Now.” Father said to mother. I heard them leave the room and only got to my feet when I was sure I was alone with my nurse. She was dressed in a white dress with vail over her lower face and turban.
I turned to her and she had her head bowed. “Mai. What do you thinking about? Do you believe I was over reacting?” I asked.
Mai shook her head. “I live to serve you our blessed Princess Moon Dancer. I am not one to question your judgement.” She said in a quiet voice.
I sighed and looked into the living waters that flowed upward from the center of the room. Already I could see visions of Cre on his journey up the mountain. He was an interesting man. Tall. Dark. He had a coldness about him but a deep sense of loyalty and honor were woven in the fabric of his nature and tied closely to his soul.
I saw Cre dressed in leather pants and white shirt with only his Iron Fang knife strapped to his side. He wasn’t alone. Another Krull was traveling him as they worked their way up the mountain. Cre was quiet as usual with the elder of the Krull at his side telling him of the item he would need to seek out in the fires of mountain’s core. This wasn’t the first vision I had seen of him.
The first vision had been the day he had become the Twelveth prince of the Krull on the day of Crowley’s demise.
