Every single person in the room was shouting. Some were bellowing profanities while others howling prayers on top of their lungs, so much so that I was afraid that at least one of them was going to damage their vocal chords. On the other hand the king was silent. For a whole two minutes he did nothing apart from of staring at Kirigan. He looked like the personification of rage. I'm guessing he didn't believe Kirigan. And as much as I want to believe Kirigan, I too found myself in a puddle of doubt.
A Moon Summoner. This word was not even in the dictionary of this universe. Who would believe someone like that existed, and that's something coming from someone who had somehow made it inside a TV Series.
" SILENCE " the Kind bellowed. He was standing now, looking down at everyone with warning in his eyes
"What is the meaning of this General?" His face mimicked someones who had eaten something bitter
"Do you take me for a fool" he scoffed walking closer to the stairs
"No moi tsar" Kirigans voice held submission that his eyes failed to express "I would never think of you, My King, in that way" the flattery seemed to have worked its wonders, the king slowly sat back down on his gold throne with his head held so high that I was afraid he was going to pull a muscle. I had pulled my neck muscle one night while I was in the bed trying to sleep. It had been the most painful three minutes of my life. I had yelled for someone to come, even though I knew that they could not fix a pulled muscle I just wanted someone to be there for me. After those three agonizing minutes I had not slept, I didn't even try to. I just sat there with my knees against my chest wishing to just disappear
"She is indeed a Moon Summoner" Kirigan stopped and looked back at me
"She is The Moon Summoner" he corrected himself turning to look at the king
"And why had I never heard of the existence of this Moon Summoner " he sneered
"That is because, while The Sun Summoner had been someone Morozova truly believed existed, he only speculated the existence of The Moon Summoner" Kirigan explained as walked around the circle that had been cleared for us
"He only insinuated the existence of one" He stopped just as he reached me. Turning around to face the king he continued "The Apparat can corroborate my inkling" Kirigan finished tilting his head to the king, to be more apparent, to someone behind the king
The king lifted his right hand that rested on the armrest of the throne and wiggled his index finger, at the same time a figure moved in the shadows behind the throne. He moved forward and stood beside the throne his hands interlaced in front of him. The man was old with dull brown hair and a matching beard. He wore loose jute colored robe, standing there he looked shrewd, sickly and scared. He looked like someone out of a horror movie. The character who warned others about the ghost but always ended up dying first.
"Tell me" the King started "Is anything The General had said true?" he asked and it was clear that he was expecting The Apparat to say No
"No moi tsar" The Apparat started his voice quivering and his back bending further as he spoke. The king sat up straighter pluckily "See General. Next time you should solidify your presumptions before dispensing it "
Kirigan put his head down. To others it would look like he was embarrassed, humbled by the Kings remark but from my angle I could clearly see that he was anything but. He was smiling almost chucking to himself. It felt wrong to see him like this. Dangerous. A ticking time bomb ready to blast. Ready to kill everyone here including me that's what it felt like watching Aleksander Kirigan smile. My brain was telling me to be scared of him to maintain my distance, but my heart had something else to share. It fluttered watching him like this. If one didn't know the context behind his smile they would think that he was smiling out of gaiety. Looking at him now that was all what my heart made me think about. Aleksander gazing down at me, in his arms, smiling out of sheer happiness.
I looked away and shook my head removing the mental image of me and Kirigan out of my head. This place is making me have weird thoughts.
"No moi tsar" The Apparat repeated but this time with a little more conviction. "You said that already. I'm afraid age is catching up to you. Go take a rest" the King laughed slaping his knee with his right hand
"Moi Tsar " The Apparat started shrinking to half his size, his voice trembling "Everything The General said was true" he finished glancing at the king
The king seemed to have stopped working for a second. He was looking at the empty space in front of him not focusing on anything in particular
" ARE YOU MOCKING ME? " the King screeched making my timpanum hurt. The Apparat kept his head down taking small steps back trying to hide in the shadows. The King stood up stalking towards the Apparat while shouting at him. He was just going to reach him when Kirigan spoke up
"Moi Tsar. The Apparat had made a grave mistake. If you will be kind enough to forgive him " He said bowing his head slightly. The king stopped in his tracks, dusted his suit and sat back down. Out of the corner of my eye I saw The Apparat walk back into the shadows
"Of course" he gave an unsure smile "Tell me, what had Morozova written about this Moon Summoner in his little book " he finished sourly
Kirigan watched him for a second too long and started "He has not written much. But he did hint at the possibility of the existence of a being who bridged the gap between the light and the dark" he glanced at me "and hence the name The Moon Summoner " he finished
"There is Light and Dark in this world but those alone will lead to its ruination. They cannot coincide, one day they will lead to the eradication of one another and everyone with it. To stop this there must exist a balance, a bridge between them and if there is none, May The Saints Be With You " The Apparat had once again emerged from the shadows his eyes held resolution and his back straighter than ever. He was looking at me.
I tore my eyes away from the ghostly man and looked around
Everyone was looking at me.