The Land Between The Seasons
an excerpt

Chapter Three
The Way The Sky Curves
The leaves that had settled around the Autumn temple kicked up and clung to the two wind-figures that glided toward the cave like entrance. They were defined only by that which clung to them, dust and pollen and a few stray leaves caught in twin whirlwinds in the shape of human beings.
At once the a gargoyle and two other creatures stood up, blocking the path from any intrusion. The gargoyle was a sight to behold, a giant, winged beast made of marble and onyx with glimmering, intelligent eyes. His lips curled back in a snarl and his stocky body rippled as he stood in position for attack.
The two wind creatures stopped short and gestured to the two things that flanked the gargoyle. They were odd creatures in the shape and size of humans. Their heads were faceless rocks with moss grown over like hair. Their bodies creaked and crumbled as they move, like clods of dry clay and rock sitting atop legs that were tangles of roots. For a moment it was a stand off. The winds beckoning the earthy creatures and the autumnal trio watching them.
Finally, one of the gnomes spoke. It's voice sounding like the rumble of rocks sliding against each other. "What is it that Mistress Spring and Master Ovi wish to convey, Beltane?"
The windy sylphs looked at him for a moment then spoke. Their voices in unison sounded like someone calling from a long way off. "The children of Terraluna are tricked. Mistress Spring is no more. Your Lord and Lady ask of you your assistance between the wintry traitors."
The gnomes nodded gravely and began to shamble in the direction of Watchtower Rock, the gargoyle following behind still foaming at the mouth and looking for a fight. The sylphs disappeared into a breeze leaving their collected dust and pollen behind. As soon as the earth creatures were out of sight the came back slowly. Forming themselves again at the cavernous opening to the temple.
In almost an instant a rush of wings was heard and something massive and feathered swooped by dropping a woman to the ground in front of the temple. She looked ancient but got to her feet without complaint and brushed back her festively braided grey hair. Her thick fur coat seemed out of place in the cool fall noon as she looked up at the now abandoned holy place. A smile played cruelly across her lips.
"Perfect," She said softly, walking between the two sylphs into the dimly lit entrance. "It couldn't have gone better."
Yule took a moment for her eyes to adjust to the dim lighting inside the temple. She was very familiar with this place. It was home. The five year's she'd spent as Lady Autumn had sealed that for her. She cared nothing for spring or the east temple like she did for this place.
The entirety of it smelled of pumpkin and spice with a hint of earthy dampness that made it feel like a den. She closes her eyes and wandered through the halls, a maze-like labyrinth with twists and turns leading into anti-chambers and living areas. But Yule knew where she was going.
Passing by so many open and abandoned rooms she breathed in the familiar air and traced her fingers over the pictures carved directly into the granite walls. As turn and turn presented itself she felt eager for what lay ahead. The middle-most room in the bottom-most part of the temple.
Reaching her goal she stopped in the doorway to take it all in. The walls glimmered, polishes smooth through layers of granite and precious stones and metals making a marbled mosaic of color running the length of the circular room. But that paled in comparison to the life-sized statue of the Goddess Terraluna that stood on a dais in the center of the chamber.
Her features were carved from smooth ivory with gold gilding her hair and dress. Her eyes were a pair of vibrantly red garnets that looked over the room with a surprising life-like quality. It was a simple carving.Terraluna standing straight with her arms out in offering, holding in them the Scepter of Mother Earth.
The scepter, however, was not part of this rendering. It was the actual article lain carefully atop the ivory hands of the goddess where it was kept in all but the autumnal season, when Lady Autumn would take it to The Outside and use its peculiar magic to turn the leaves and chill the world.
Yule tried to steel the last bit of her bravado so she could but touch the scepter. Reaching out for it, she let her fingers run down the grain of the wooden handle. The scepter was a living thing. The handle was a living branch of mahogany leading to a large rounded oval of smooth obsidian. Vines of ivy encircled the head giving the scepter a mystic feeling.
Yule took a breath. She could remember the first time she took it in her hands as the newly appointed Lady Autumn. She could do this. It was her birthright to wield this, and the Crown of Grandmother Moon that Mistress Spring so greedily guarded. Her painted lips curled into a snarl.
A familiar tingle spread through her hand and down her arm from where she grasped the scepter. Taking it down from the goddess's delicate hands, she clutched it to her chest. The tingle spread through her body. The power of it making her drunk with sensation.
She threw her head back and laughed; it was all so easy. Turning around, she went to the door and leaned against it's frame for a moment. Taking a slow and steady breath she began walking the halls back the way she came, picking up her coat where she'd left it and smiling to herself. Winter would be ecstatic when she told him.
The last touch was to go to the boat shed to place the scepter in it's innocent looking protection. That was a stroke of genius that she'd not told Winter about, but she had to hand it to him that his spectacular display of Summer's artifact was stunning. If anyone tried to get at the scepter, they would fail and die. The undines were adamant guards and they would relish protecting such a relic. That's the way she wanted it. There would be no hope for the lesser children of Solciel and Terraluna if they tried to save their lovers.
As Yule left the temple and set about her plan, she couldn't help but take a moment to breath in the fresh autumn air. It was going to winter soon. The air seemed a just tad colder as she walked with the two sylphs. Cold enough for a heavy coat.