Dark Moon

Again Ryhe

The dark unicorn wheeled. “Resemble—? What do you mean?”

Ryhe

The dark unicorn felt his limbs go cold. He recalled the image before which the daïcha and her followers had bowed that first night upon the beach. He recalled similar figurines seized by the chon’s purple-plumes in the square as well as the unicorn-headed figurines that had so enraged the chon. The coppery mare spoke on.

“When the great streak of fire hurtled out of the sky on the first day of fall, the daïcha declared it a sign from Dai’chon and set out in search of the firegod’s gift.”

Memory welled up in the dark unicorn’s mind of standing soaked and exhausted upon a silvery, windswept beach and seeing a red plume of fire plunge out of heaven.

“Weeks later,” Ryhe

The coppery mare watched him as she spoke, as though in hope of either confirmation or denial of her words.

“Many,” she continued, “even dare to say thou art the god himself, openly calling thee ‘Dai’chon’ in defiance of the chon’s edict and bowing down before images of thee instead of those of the real Dai’chon. Perhaps it is the daïcha’s fault in calling thee a name so close to the god’s—for now the people have confused the two, and the chon is furious.” A moment later, as in afterthought, she added, “Furious, too, that thou hast delayed so long in taking up thy duties as First Stallion.”

“What do you mean?” the dark unicorn asked again, baffled. He had lost her thread.

Ryhe

“The First Stallion exists to get foals and fillies for the sacred stable,” she exclaimed. “Yet I and my sisters frolicked daily with thee for weeks, and thou madest not the slightest advance.”

Tai-shan shook himself, staring at the coppery mare. “You mean the chon intends you—you and your sisters—to be…my mates?”

Ryhe

Tai-shan fell back a step, appalled.

“What are you talking about?” he demanded hotly. “Surely the chon knows—must guess—I have always meant to depart as soon as spring arrives, to seek my homeland and my people once more. I must leave this place!”

“No! The chon considereth thee no more than a strange sort of da,” the coppery mare replied. “He will never let thee go.”

“Ryhe

“By the same means he holdeth all my race,” the da mare answered softly. “With ropes and tethers, locked stalls and barred gates. With whips and bits and hobbles—and with tainted feed that taketh away even thy will to rebel.”

Her eyes flicked to his empty feeding trough. Following her gaze, Tai-shan felt a sudden chill.

“Tainted?” he said slowly, stupidly. “Tainted feed?”

The coppery mare avoided his eyes, her voice a whisper. “The sweetmeal the chon ordered for thee is laced with dreamroot. A healing herb, it speedeth the mending of wounds and numbeth pain—yet it can also induce trance, making the rebellious docile to the firekeepers’ will.”

The realization reverberated inside his skull like a thunderclap. The black unicorn stood trembling, stu

“So many times,” the da mare whispered. “So many times I longed to tell thee—yet feared to rebel against my captors and my god.”

Violently, Tai-shan shook himself. “The daïcha,” he gasped. “The daïcha would never…”

“The daïcha hath no choice in the matter! The chon is her master as well as ours.” Ryhe

Despite his belly’s insistent rumbling, the dark unicorn felt his gorge rise. He’d not touch another mouthful of that tainted meal! Tai-shan ramped and sidled, scarcely able to contain his agitation. His mind raced.

“I must find a way to flee this place!”

Ryhe

“Too late?” the dark unicorn murmured.

Ryhe

“I am no envoy of this Dai’chon,” the dark unicorn protested. “The two-foots’ confusion of me with their god is none of my doing!”

“Such mattereth nothing to Dai’chon,” the coppery mare snapped. “One may hide one’s inmost heart from one’s fellows, Moonbrow, but mighty Dai’chon recketh all. Twice yearly he cometh to judge the sacred daya. None can ever hope to escape his judgment—not even thou! I have seen his vengeance. It is swift and terrible. Dost thou not understand thy peril? The equinox is coming!”

Tai-shan shook his head, not following. “The equinox?”

Ryhe

“Drive forth?” Tai-shan interrupted. “You mean they are exiled, sent into the wilds beyond the city?”

“Not banished,” Ryhe

The coppery mare fidgeted, unable to stand still.

“A place in that select company is considered the greatest of honors, a glory outshining all. I think the chon would rejoice to see thee among that company—for without progeny to redeem thee in his eyes, thou art more trouble to him than thou art worth. Yet the people adore thee. Were Dai’chon to claim thee, however, the folk could raise no protest. It is an honor to die for Dai’chon.”

The dark unicorn could only stand staring, amazed at her sudden fire. His belly growled again. He ignored it angrily. Ryhe

“My lord Moonbrow, thou hast but one real hope of returning from the white cliffs alive: fulfill thy role as First Stallion. What other choice dost thou have? Even a life imprisoned is better than no life at all! Sire progeny upon thy brood mares. If thou wilt not, I fear Dai’chon will claim thee at equinox.”

Tai-shan shook himself. His skin twitched. Fear beat against his heart. “You think this Dai’chon means to kill me?” he breathed.