The Blue Moon by Madeline Gottlieb (top ten books to read txt) 📕

to go to the castle today.”

Zach could feel Teriha’s gaze on the back of his neck. “Well, we might as well return to Charles so he knows you’re okay.”

After that, they’d returned to her home and Zach was once again sitting on the bed. The old man was speaking to Teriha outside the door, both gazes glancing at him every now and then. The two walked in after whispering and sat down in the small wooden chairs next to Zach. “Darek, we know that you must return to the castle, but Teriha wishes to go with you.”

He glanced over at Teriha and met her silver eyes. "Why do you want to come?"

The old man cleared his throat. "Now is not the time for questions, Darek. I am certain your Protectors are searching for you."

He'd forgotten all about his friends. "You're right. Do you have horses we can use to get there?"

The old man laughed. "Of course, son, but you will have to ride bareback." He turned to Teriha and hugged her. "Take care of the boy, Teriha."

With a laugh, Teriha walked out the door as Zach followed and made their way to the horse stalls. There were two horses standing there. The one Teriha grabbed was a pure black horse. Teriha got on with ease and grabbed a hold of the mane, pointing at the pure white horse. "Get on, Darek."

He nodded and took a breath before hopping up on the horse's back and grabbing his mane. Smiling, Teriha dug her foot into the horse's side. Zach did the same and soon they were galloping through the lower town, making their way to the castle.
"So, Zach, why do you not wish to be called your actual name?" The horses were walking now, close enough we didn't have to yell at each other.

Zach raised his eyebrows at her. "I don't know. I've just spent the last 17 years with the name Zach. Darek just doesn't sound right to me, and Darek is the name of a great Warrior. Something I'm not."

He glanced back at the trail in front of them as Teriha nodded. "It seems as though you're torn between the duty of a Warrior and a normal life."

Zach lifted a shoulder as a shrug. "I guess I am."

After that, they rode in silence, listening to the sound of our horses. At least, they thought it was quiet. In a blink, Zach was on the ground and his horse was gone and he could hear Teriha screaming. He stumbled to his feet and looked around them, his eyes widening at the sight of five wolves, almost as big as he was, and one boy, who commanded them.

Zach pulled the hidden sword from its sheath that was on his side and spun it in his hand. "Teriha, get behind me!" She didn't hesitate.

"Ah, so you're the mighty Darek." The boy spoke, his voice quiet but full of power. Zach kept his eyes on the wolves as they edged closer. "I honestly thought this meeting would be more... fun." The boy's midnight eyes flashed white for a moment as he said something Zach didn't understand.

But the command wasn't to Zach; it was for the wolves. The nearest one jumped at him and he blocked, knocking it backwards. Before Zach could prepare himself, another wolf jumped on him, knocking him to the ground, the only thing separating them was his sword. Zach groaned as the animal snapped at his face before shoving it off and getting back on his feet, looking for Teriha.

Her blonde hair stood out in the night and she was being circled by a pure white wolf, who was growling at her. He ran towards her as the wolf jumped at her and managed to get between them. Pain went through his arm as the wolf locked its teeth into Zach's flesh. Holding back a scream, he took his sword and hit it with it so he was on the ground before taking the sword and stabbing it through the back.

Zach pulled the sword out and stared at the blood at it, not having time to think about how he was now a killer. "Zach, look out!" Teriha’s scream brought him out of his trance but not soon enough to get out of the way of an arrow.

Breathing heavily, he pulled it out of his arm, falling to his knees. "Teriha, get to the castle!" Zach slashed at the wolf that came close to him as Teriha climbed onto her horse and dug her ankle. As he blinked, she was gone but the boy was standing in front of him.

"You put up quite a fight, Darek, but not one worthy to be called 'Warrior'." The boy said, pointing his sword at Zach. "If you truly are a Warrior, then where is your power?"

Zach stared at the boy, blood on his face and hands, trying to figure out what to do. The boy grinned and kicked him in the side, knocking Zach onto his back. Groaning, Zach grabbed his side, and tried to get back up, only to be hit with the hilt of his sword. He staggered back and glared at the boy with narrowed blue eyes. Picking his sword up, Zach pointed it at him. He chuckled. "You truly believe you can kill me, Stephen, brother to Eiko?"

Stephen used the moment Zach hesitated to slash out with his sword, getting him in the side with the hilt again. Taking a breath, Zach got back to his feet and closed his eyes, thinking of Teriha and the castle, wanting to be there. When he opened them, he was no longer in a field with Stephen, but at the gate of the castle on his knees.

"Zach!" Teriha 's voice made him look up and Zach saw her trying to get to him, but Christian was holding her back easily, pain in his eyes. Zach groaned as John and Chris grabbed his arms and lifted him up, dragging him inside through so many of doors until he was finally on a bed.

"Zach, buddy, what happened?" Chris' voice was the loudest out of the others but he couldn't reply.

He heard Christian mutter something to John, who spoke. "Zach, there's something going on that will happen at dawn." His voice got quieter as he whispered, "It was an honor serving you."

Zach tried to reach out and grab John's shirt to ask him what he was talking about, but his arm wouldn't move. "John... what..." Zach trailed off but Chris answered for him.

"They're going to hang John at dawn, Zach." Chris' voice was full of pain and when he spoke Zach wanted to hit him for lying, but he knew Chris wasn't. Unable to take it anymore, Zach struggled to sit up. "Zach, sit back. What's done is done." Zach stared at his best friend, wondering how he could think that. Chris was never one to just give up, never. He always fought back until it was over. But this, this wasn’t the old Chris.

Zach shook his head. "Who... ordered the... murder...?” He gasped, grabbing Chris' arm to hold him up. Zach stared into his eyes, begging Chris to help him, but it seemed that nothing Zach did affected him.

Chris' eyes were wide as he answered. "Eiko did."

The Black Hills

Zach shoved Chris away from him and staggered out of the bed, ignoring John and Christian. He found Eiko in the throne room with Cara, who was arguing with her. When the two saw Zach and all the blood on him, they stopped talking and Eiko stood up. “What happened to you?”

“Why is… John… hanged…” He gasped, ignoring the sharp pain in his side. “Why…?”

Cara came over to Zach and caught him before he fell to his knees. “I’ve tried reasoning with her, Darek. But John is being hung because of his love for a girl in the lower town.”

His best friend was going to be hung because he loved someone? Zach glared at Eiko. “You hang him… I will return… my realm.” He coughed out, blood hitting the floor.

Eiko simply waved him away. “You do not order me, Warrior. Cara, take him away.” Her green eyes were dark and the silver had turned black, and showed no emotion. As Cara dragged Zach out of the room, he spat blood on the floor in front of Eiko, glaring up at her.

He didn’t struggle against Cara because he knew she didn’t want John to die either. “Zach, listen to me. When Chris gives you the drink, drink it quickly. He used his wizard magic on it and made it so you would heal instantly so you can get John out of here.” Her voice was rushed as she whispered to him before walking Zach into the room where Chris was holding out a golden cup.

Not hesitating, Zach snatched it and chugged it. For a moment, there was no difference; he could still see fresh blood coming from the wounds and feel the pain, but when he let out a groan, it all stopped. The pain was gone and when Zach lifted up his shirt, the cut on his side had disappeared. Not wanting to ask exactly what just happened, he turned to Cara. “Where is John?”

“He is in the dungeons in the lowest floor of this castle. But Mere is still in the lower town and the knights are looking for her to so they can hang them both; we need to get her out.” Cara’s normally emotionless eyes were full of hatred and pain.

“Chris, find Meri and take her to the Black Hills, I’ll take Zach and Cara to the dungeons.” Christian ordered. At once, Chris had disappeared. Christian turned to Zach. “The knights will be all over the lower levels.”

Cara pulled her hair back and Zach stared at her pointed ears, still wondering what she was. “Well, they’ll need something to chase.” She turned her attention to him. “You know, elves don’t like it when people stare.” She had mischief swimming in her eyes.
Zach's eyes widened. “You’re an elf?”

Christian laughed and kissed her cheek. “Be careful.”

Cara nodded and smiled at Zach. “Follow me, Zachary.” Christian and Zach ran after Cara. As they came to a corner, the three stopped and Cara smiled at Zach. “Well, here it goes.” He watched as she stepped out and yelled something to the knights, who at once went running after her. They passed the two boys quickly and Christian stepped around the corner and ran down the hall. Zach followed him quickly as they ran down the stairs and into the dungeons.

It was like any dungeons you’d see in those old time movies with the castles and stuff. It was damp and cold and there was old bloody hand prints smeared on the walls as if someone was being dragged. Christian had gotten quiet as he walked past all the cells where many people sat, their eyes distant. Zach stayed close to him, wondering why he was acting like this. They finally reached the last cell and Zach stared at John. His face was bruised and one of his eyes was shut. His shirt was torn and there was dry blood all over it.

“John,