A broach, shaped as a crescent moon, glowed upon his silver robes. He seemed ageless, his face unlined, his eyes wise.
"You… you're a shapeshifter too!" Mori said, her breath catching. "Are you related to us Vir Requis?"
The man nodded and spoke with a deep, soft voice like waves and mist and the sound of light. "I am Aeras of the Crescent Isle, a child of moonlight." He smiled softly. "We have heard of Requiem, our sister land, whose children dance in the light of stars. We watched you fly over our sea, then become a man and woman upon our shore." He reached out his hands. "Welcome to our land, friends of the night."
Bayrin took a step forward, frowning. "If you saw us fly, why didn't you help us? Why did you wait and only show yourself now, when you knew we were hurt?" He looked around him, but saw only shadows. "And where are the rest of you?"
Aeras bowed his head. "We did not know if you were friends or foes; we have never met the children of Requiem's stars. Our only knowledge of your people comes from old songs and older whispers." His face darkened. "When we heard you speak of fighting the Sun God, we knew that we share a foe. Once our people covered many islands, but the cruel deity of sunfire burned us." He sighed and his eyes softened. "As for the others, you will meet them. We will give you food and healing herbs."
Bayrin had many questions. He wanted to ask about the Moondisk, and how many other lions lived here, and how they had managed to survive the Sun God's attacks. But before he could ask, Aeras turned and walked into the mist, robes gliding around him.
Mori took his hand. "Come, Bay, let's follow him." She smiled. "He'll help us."
They walked in darkness over fallen pine needles until they reached a gateway cut into the mountainside. Two statues flanked the opening, twenty feet tall, carved as owls. Their silver wings spread above them, forming a lintel. Aeras led the two Vir Requis under the wings and into a tunnel carved into the mountain.
Silver arches supported the tunnel, carved with runes of moons and stars. Jars of fireflies glowed in alcoves, lighting the way, and the air smelled of soil, deep water, and pines. They walked for long moments. Mori tilted her head back, gaping at the silver columns, the fireflies, and the glowing runes. A soft smile touched her lips, and on a whim, Bayrin reached out and held her hand. She squeezed his palm.
I used to mock her hand for its extra finger, he remembered. Now the feel of her hand in his felt warmer than mulled wine.
The tunnel began to widen, and cold air flowed from ahead, scented of wine and fur. Silver light fell upon them, like moonlight between summer clouds. A few more steps, and the tunnel opened into a vast, glittering chamber.
Mori gasped and tears filled her eyes.
"Beautiful," she whispered. "It's so beautiful, Bay."
Bayrin whistled softly.
"Stars," he said. "Now this is something."
He had been in caves before, but this was more like a palace. The chamber loomed, larger than Requiem's royal hall. Stalagmites and stalactites coiled and glittered, a hundred feet tall, like the melting candles of gods. Some formed shapes like dragons, others like knobby people, and some like trees.
These columns surrounded a silvery pool large enough to bathe ten dragons. Upon its water rippled the reflection of the moon, larger than Bayrin had ever seen it; he could see craters, valleys, and hills upon it. The moonlight filled the chamber. Bayrin looked up, expecting to see the true moon shining through a hole in the ceiling, but saw only a rocky dome glowing with runes.
Hundreds of white lions filled the chamber, he realized. Some lay between the stalagmites, eyes shut. Others whispered in nooks. Some stood around the pool of moonlight, drinking from its waters. When they saw Bayrin and Mori, the lions looked upon them, nodded, and whispered blessings.
"Welcome," said Aeras, "to the Chamber of Moonlight. Welcome to the heart of our realm."
He walked between the stalagmites, silks billowing. Bayrin and Mori followed, gaping at the melting stones, the glittering pool, and the lions who followed them with silvery eyes.
Aeras approached an alcove in the wall. The stone here was smooth, forming a rounded nook like a basket. Aeras gestured at it.
"Sit and rest," he said. "We will bring you food and song and healing."
Mori