The glass moon

First the glass-like moon, and now the stars were gone.  Not a good sign.

The fellow looked up at the sky with a slight twist to his mouth.  He was in full view of the main part of Hollow, but he didn’t seem to realize that he was the center of attention. 
The peasantry had never seen another man like him before.  His eyes were large and luminous, ice green and cutting, while his skin was so pale as to almost seem alabaster.  His thick dark hair cut across his forehead like a razor, the length falling between his shoulder-blades mimicking the sharp angles of a raven.  And like his name-sake, his claws were sharp and deadly; hanging from his waist his peculiar weapons glinted under the strange moonlight.
From behind him, through the swinging doors of The Hand and Heart, a tavern and inn renowned for its hot ale, a small shape darted forward and clung to the stranger’s leg.
“Raven… I can’t see anything!  I still… can’t see… anyt-t-thing…”  The young girl began to cry, pressing her face into his cape, seeking comfort.

Not a good sign.  Raven repeated to himself.

…………………………

Inside the inn waited Raven’s companions.  A woman shrouded in veils and silks, covered with a heavy cloak, was looking toward the entrance to the tavern with mild interest.  Next to her sat a boy at the cusp of manhood, his sandy brown hair standing almost at attention, more or less do to it’s unkemptness, while patches of facial hair grew sparingly on his jaw.  His clothes were more suited to a stable hand then to an apprentice Star Charmer, one of the rare people in the world who could travel the night, using the powerful light given off by the moon and stars.  The last person at the table was an old man, his face covered in tattoo’s and scars.
After the girl had left the woman’s lap to run out to Raven, the companions fell silent, waiting for their unofficial leader to return and share his thoughts with them.
They didn’t wait long.
Carefully opening the door, Raven walked in slowly, one hand on the girls head in a gesture of comfort, the other holding the door wide to give them space to enter.  The girl continued to cry until they reached the table, where, after a glance at the woman in veils, Raven picked her up and set her gently in the woman’s lap.  After snuggling into the folds of her veils, the girl quieted.
The boy looked at Raven anxiously. “Are they really gone?  Elsa said she couldn’t see.”  He glanced at Elsa and then returned his gaze to Raven. “If she’s a child of the stars, truly, then her abilities were tied to The Agreement of the Stars.  She should be able to see when the stars are out.”  He suddenly stopped talking and turned bright red, realizing that all he said had been taught to him by Raven.
Raven grinned sardonically at his apprentice, “Well at least you’ve been paying attention, Frawnt.”  The boy grimaced at the sound of his childhood nickname.  As a young boy he had been sickly, thin and fragile looking.  When he was allowed out to play, the children of his village were cruel, calling him, “Frawnt”, which was a mixture of frail, and fawn.
“I always listen to what you teach me, Raven!”  He protested.
Raven’s eyes stared into the depths of the boys blue eyes. Unable to look away, the boy felt his master’s power surging through him, leaving an imprint of knowledge behind as it quickly withdrew. 
“Always remember where the power comes from.  Always keep it safe.  The knowledge you have is dangerous if you do not treat it with respectful silence.”  Finally looking away, Raven sighed.  “Gorlo,” He began, using the boy’s true name, “The stars have disappeared.”


                            ……………………………………

Her song started as a low hum, almost as pure as light.  Those in the tavern looked up from their food and ale.  The veiled woman began to sing, her words unknown to those in this part of the world, but the meaning was undeniable.  This song was a lament, pain, anguish, regret, loneliness… All were represented.  The few women present began crying.  All felt a strong sense of loss as she continued her sad, unknown tale.
Raven joined her song, his voice soft as the glow of the moon.  Gorlo listened aptly; knowing that he was hearing a prophecy shared between the two singers, and did not want to be chastised later by his master for inattention.

She saw the moon in the waters
She saw it’s light drowning
The girl who could see nothing
The girl who was blind

She saw the moon in the waters
She saw it’s light drowning
The girl reached down to save it
The girl tried to save the moon

The stars were blinking
The sister’s to the moon
The stars were blinking
Until they could not see

She saw the moon in the waters
She saw it’s light drowning
Until the stars could not see
And then neither could she

With his gift, Gorlo committed the song to memory, it’s sad melody haunting his thoughts even after silence blanketed the room.  He glanced at Elsa and knew the prophecy was about her.