In “The Forgetting Moon”, we are first introduced to the world of bloodshed and war by witnessing the scene where a woman is fleeing with a boy, a thin boning knife lodged hilt-deep in her back. We see Shawcroft, a soldier, who later fights off two assassins atop a glacier, saving the boy. The boy is then identified as Nail, after he and Shawcroft arrive in Deadwood Gate. In the second chapter, we see Nail set off on a grayken hunting trip with his friends, without the permission and knowledge of his master, Shawcroft. It was supposed to be a normal trip, but after seeing his friend, Zane, drop into the sea, Nail decided that he would not abandon his friend, even after the Baron had said,
“Any man goes overboard fends for himself or he is lost to the sea!”
Nail jumps into the sea, unsure of what he’ getting into. The merfolk claw at him and leaves a wound on his arm, which his friend helps him tattoo to his skin as a trophy. Baron Bruk offers him a spot on Lady Kindly, the ship, after being amazed by his bravery, and Nail is excited. However, when Nail tells Shawcroft of his adventures and Baron Bruk’s offer, Shawcroft refuses. The two get into an argument which ends shortly after.
“In life, as in war, more is lost when hope dies, than by a cold steel and slaughter.”
-The Chivalric Illuminations Of Raijael
In chapter four, we see Gault Aulbrek, Aeros’ Knight Archaic Bodyguard, in the middle of a battlefield, with corpses laying around, including Torrence Raybourne, now an almost dead king of Wyn Darre. Upon further investigation, Gault yells for his prince, Aeros, to come. They attempt to pull the king from under his horse, however he suddenly sucked in a deep gasp of air, he is still alive.
“Where is it?” Aeros shook the king, “Speak, damn you.”
The king refuses to hand over what he calls a useless trinket, which leads to Aeros asking about the boy that King Torrence’s brother stole.
“A ghost you chase, that one. You don’t even know what you’ve brought upon yourself.” Torrence answered, his voice trailing off, “You will never destroy… the Brethren… of Mia.”
And with that, he is now dead, leaving Gault and Aeros with their own thoughts. The rummage through the king’s belongings, finally revealing a smallish object, wrapped in black silk. Aeros unfolds the cloth, and buried within was a green stone.
