-My life was a mess even before we met, so don’t take all the credit.
Soi tried to smile at her but she didn’t return it.
-You know, Nibbles was right, I’m not a common sight in these parts of the world. I doubt you have seen eyes like mine before, no matter how well travelled you are, Ana.
Their eyes met and Ana was the first to look away.
-No, I haven’t.
-With my looks I stand out and am bound to end up in some sort of mess anyway. The first mess was the one I created for myself. I was young and adventurous, took out a small boat out on the sea and thought I could handle it. But I ended up in a storm and got lost a sea, I almost starved to death when a cargo ship picked me up. And so I ended up in Sofara. I don’t know the way home, otherwise I would have returned long ago.
-If it’s any comfort, I don’t know the way home either. I grew up on an orphanage.
-At least you know where it is, right?
-Not only are you a bad guard, you’re also bad at comforting.
Ana glared down at Soi and he smiled weakly.
-You can’t be good at everything.
-You’re not good at anything.
-You’re still alive, aren’t you?
Ana snorted in response and in the corner of her mouth hid a smile.
-So, why have you been so…
-Edgy?
-Mmm, Soi agreed faintly.
-Let’s just call it nightmares.
-Nightmares?
Soi looked up at Ana who dangled with her right leg in the air, just like a little girl. Ana sighed and met his black eyes with her own grey which seemed to contain centuries of knowledge. Soi couldn’t grip that this young girl was such a know-how, not when she sat there with her blonde hair let loose and her cheeks red from tears.
-Do you need to know every little detail of my life? She said and raised one eyebrow.
-No, no, just wondered if there was anything I could do to help, Soi quickly tried to restore some pride.
-No, you can’t, Ana said firmly. –Help me down, will you?
She held out her hand which he took and she jumped off the rock and he caught her in the fall. He gave her the staff and she limped toward the camp.
-Are you ok now? He watched her tiny back.
She stopped and breathed in slowly and let out a long sigh.
-I’m fine.
They returned to the camp.
It was a wreck, all the blankets and their cooking devise were scattered across the camp and covered in moss and dirt. The horses stepped nervously with their whites showing. In the middle, around the fire, Nibbles and Sassa with her muscular guard were seated.
-What happened? Was there a monster? Soi watched the surrounding trees, anticipating another attack.
Nibbles and Sassa lowered their heads and didn’t answer.
-No, Ana answered instead. –They had their usual fight, that’s what happened.
She pointed at Nibbles and Sassa whose cheeks reddened.
-They’re like small children that can’t be left alone for three seconds.
Ana glowered at the two.
-At least you could have tidied up a bit.
-We did, but then we fought again, Sassa said and grimaced at Nibbles who raised his hand…
-Don’t you dare make another move! Ana raised her voice only by a little but Nibbles looked like she had yelled at him.
-Sorry, he said faintly and lowered his hand and eyes.
-So, are you going to fix this or not? Ana spread her arm across the scattered camp.
-Yes, both Sassa and Nibbles answered like diligent schoolkids.
They rose from their position and begun to pick up things, one at a time. Ana sighed deeply.
-Oh, this is a waste of my time. I’ll do it.
Ana closed her eyes, her forehead got a small wrinkle between her blonde eyebrows and her mouth was pursed in concentration.
-What are you doing? Soi asked but got hushed by both Nibbles and Sassa.
-Keep absolutely still, Sassa hissed.
Confused, Soi did as he was told.
And things began to move. Their blankets hovered above the ground and shook off leaves and moss. Their temporarily set up kitchen by the fire was set up again by itself, their frying pan came flying from behind a rock and landed in the fire. Nibbles one man-tent appeared and flied with high speed into Nibbles back so he stumbled a few steps, before it was set up. Sassa tried to duck for a saddle but was hit by a water bottle instead. In just a few seconds the camp was restored to its former state.
-You can move now.
Soi turned around and watched the whole camp.
-Where’s my sword? He asked.
Ana glared at him and something hard hit him in the back of his head.
-There it is, she said.
Soi looked down at his blue scabbard that lay on the ground.
-Thank you.
There was a moment of silence.
-Let’s sleep then, Nibbles cut in and crawled into his re-established one man-tent.
And Soi tried to sleep, but Ana kept troubling his mind. What did she mean with “let’s call it nightmares”? Wasn’t it nightmares? While the passing night swirled around in his head Soi span the ring Ana had given him between his fingers. Sam’s dream ring. Eventually he fell asleep.
-No, no, nooooo!
Soi sat up and looked around.
-Someone screamed, he said to himself.
-It’s Ana.
It was Nibbles that had answered him, he and Sassa sat by Ana where she slept. But Ana wasn’t sleeping, she was tumbling around, moving constantly and screaming. Soi crossed the camp in a few steps and kneeled beside Ana. Her face was covered in sweat and her eyes were firmly closed. Her forehead was in deep frowns and her lips were pursed, her breath was strained.
-What is it? Is she sick or something? Soi got nervous just watching her.
-I don’t think that is it, Nibbles answered sadly. –It’s nightmares, very authentic ones.
-Oh, is it a dreamer, you think? Sassa didn’t seem to be concerned but rather watched Ana’s struggle with genuine interest.
Nibbles didn’t answer but pursed his lips and scratched his beard, his eyes closely observed Ana’s every movement. Ana moved again and her mouth fell open, she panted heavily. She whined and her body shook.
-Is there anything we can do?
-Not if there’s a dreamer on the move, Sassa said gladly with a sparkle in her eye. –She’ll probably die.
-But… the ring!
Soi took off the ring from his finger and looked at it. Nibbles and Sassa watched him carefully. Soi turned to Nibbles with panic in his eyes.
-Do you think it will help? He asked.
-Is that what I think it is? Is that… Sassa leaned in closer to Soi to observe the ring.
-Yes! It should, I hope, Nibbles exclaimed and met Soi’s eyes, he equally frightened. –Please try. Soi took the ring and Ana’s hand, and slowly put the ring on her finger. And he was sucked into her dream.
He woke up at the same place where had been attacked last time. The fire was sparkling and lit up the dark room. He was on the bed and looked up at the roof above the bed. How did he get here? It wasn’t like he had meant to end up here. And then he heard her voice, screaming. He sat up and saw Ana cornered by the man with the silver dagger. She seemed so afraid, her eyes on the brick of tears, holding out one hand in front of herself to defend herself.
-Your magic doesn’t work here, Ana, the man said sweetly but chillingly cold.
-Please, don’t do this, Ana’s voice trembled and she fell on her knees.
-I won’t hurt you, Ana, the man said but Soi doubted his words.
-Then please, put away the dagger, please.
The man held up the dagger in light and it reflected the fire.
-Do you remember, Ana, you gave it to me. And I was so happy…
-Please Sam, please…
-I said, do you remember?! The man raised his voice and the dagger.
-Wait, you’re Sam?
Soi unconsciously spoke and his presence was revealed. The man with the silver dagger slowly turned around and watched Soi with surprise.
-Soi, Ana whispered weakly.
Sam’s eyes narrowed by Ana’s words.
-Soi. What are you doing here? How did you get into my dream?
-I don’t…
He didn’t get to finish his sentence before Sam was over him with the dagger at his neck.
-I told you to stay away from Ana, Sam whispered in Soi’s ear.
-Oh, so it what her you meant.
-Well, it doesn’t matter now, as you’re about to die, Sam smiled viciously showing his teeth.
To be continued...
By J.L.Frick
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