The Dream Sifter (The Depths of Memory Book 1)

by Bundy, Candice

  "How ... wait, did Jesse tell you about that?"

  "She mentioned your nightmares might have been about Harper's Sorrow. When we spoke in the storehouse she told me that since we were coming up into the Barrow's Grove swamplands, we might as well check out the forest if it wasn't too inconvenient."

  Rai hadn't dared hope there'd be the time or cause to visit Harper's Sorrow and compare it to the one from her dreams. Leave it to Jesse to plant the idea and give her a chance to visit the place for herself. The timing was perfect. What better way to avoid questions from the Temple than to disappear for a few days?

  "Thank you, Ponar," Rai beamed up at him.

  "Now we just convince Meik to go along with our little plan."

  If her luck held, Rai thought, finding the source of the luna berry poisoning had Meik in an amiable mood. Amiable enough to grant her this one favor. She reckoned she was due one favor and an overdue lunch.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

  "I'll make you a deal, Ponar. If you can convince the Guardian to approve this side trip to Harper's Sorrow, we'll go," Meik said.

  Rai hated Meik in these moods. His confident tone of voice berated Ponar for even trying, and Rai didn't want to jump to her ex-lover's defense, not when she knew the men could work it out on their own. Yet she hated biting her tongue.

  The four Durmah stood next to their wagons in the Stime Sept's stable yard. Chieftess Stime had been cordial enough after the discovery of her poisoned bogs to feed them a late lunch once they'd returned to the farmhouse, but afterwards she wasn't interested in chatting about news from the city. She'd already had more news than she could bear in a day. Instead, she'd offered them her hospitality for the night, bid them well, and retired to private discussions with her Sept-mates, without even bartering for a fee. A few credits made no difference after the reality of having her farm shut down.

  After lunch, the Durmah ventured outside and prepared their wagons and mounts for the next day's journey.

  "Since we're in the area, I don't see why we don't go ahead and head up the road to Harper's Sorrow and fish out Rai's little dream forest mystery while we're at it," Ponar threw out, as if it were the most natural consideration on the planet.

  Meik heaved a heavy sigh. "I think we've had enough adventure for one trip, don't you?"

  Laan busied himself with currying his horse, Rai noticed. She bit her lip and checked over his wagon for loose fittings and bolts.

  "We won't get into any adventures, it's just another route back. Besides, you remember the mud on the roads we were bogged down in. I'd prefer to take another route myself."

  "There's no guarantee the higher route will be any smoother--and then we'd have to cut back through Raven's Call and the Baris Spine. We'd waste a nearly a good week or more!"

  "Since when is time on the road 'waste' to merchants?" Ponar laughed. "The more we move around, the more we trade. At least this way we'd make the trip worthwhile if we find something rare to trade. You never know what new farms have setup along the Northern Road--it's been a good year since I've run the route."

  "In backcountry?" Meik's eyes widened. "Yes, I know there are a few rugged souls who brave life outside city walls, but they are far and few between. I'm sorry, but we must resume our normal schedules. Rai's needed back at the Waystation. Do you know how Jesse would react to hear you going on like this?"

  Ponar hung his horse's tack on the side of his wagon from some strategically placed hooks, and then ran a hand through his hair in frustration. "Yeah, I can imagine how Jesse'd react. She'd want us to check it out and for Rai to know if she'd ever been to Harper's Sorrow before. What it could have meant to her. Jesse would want this matter laid to rest once and for all."

  Meik, Ponar, and Laan all turned to Rai, and she stared right back at them. They knew what she wanted. She wasn't going to beg. Listening to Ponar and Meik talking about her as if she wasn't even there had already made her more than a little uneasy.

  "It's pointless, and the Guardians will never approve the course change," Meik replied, throwing cleaning gear into one of the open side panels of his wagon.

  "We'll see about that, won't we?" Ponar answered.

  From the dubious look on Meik's face, Rai doubted he thought Ponar could get approval from the Guardian. He hoped to end the discussion. Perhaps he thought Ponar wouldn't be willing to debate the itinerary with the Guardian. That he'd be too intimidated by the Sept to risk their ire. Meik was wrong.

  Rai followed Ponar over to the Guardian's at the far end of the stable yard. "Thanks for taking a stand for me," Rai said. "If you weren't fighting for this trip, I know it wouldn't happen."

  "Oh, don't underestimate Meik's curiosity." Ponar shot a frustrated glance back in Meik's direction. "I think a large part of his argument was geared at getting me to ask the Guardian so he wouldn't have to."

  "Ah. What do you think she'll say?"

  "I have no idea. I've never tried changing destinations mid-trip before." He winked, and Rai chuckled.

  Both grew serious when they came within earshot of the Guardians. The Guardians also stopped their discussion, awaiting the pair's arrival.

  "What do you need, Durmah? We are busy right now." Their Guardian appeared, in Rai's estimation, on the edge of an emotional outburst of the weapons variety.

  "Sorry to disturb you, but I thought it prudent to update our itinerary with you before we head out tomorrow."

  The Guardian nodded, and pulled out one of her many devices. "I assume you'll be heading back to Kiya's Grace, or do you plan to continue visiting swamp farmers?" she asked.

  "Actually, we plan to travel on to Resounding Cliffs, via the Northern Road." Ponar spoke nonchalantly, as if this were a perfectly normal request.

  Their Guardian raised an eyebrow. The other two looked at them both, curiosity evident.

  "Why?" She asked.

  "We have business there." He shrugged. "But I don't want to bore you with the details while you're so busy. Meik thought it'd save us time over the southern route, since we'd have to travel back through these swamplands southwards. After all, we're just within a day or so of the Northern Pass, right?" Ponar was cool as ice with the Guardians. If Rai hadn't been able to sense his anxiety with her gift, she'd never have known otherwise.

  "Yes, but it's rare for anyone to travel the Northern road." The Guardian keyed information into her device. Rai wondered what variety of uses her machine served. They had so many devices, she mused they were almost a natural extension of the Sept itself.

  As Rai watched the Guardian's movements, something made her think that this machine was a communications device, but she couldn't quite tell why.

  A few moments passed. "So that route's fine? We don't need to fill out any paperwork or anything?" Ponar asked.

  The Guardian looked up from her device. "I have submitted your request, and am now awaiting approval."

  "How long until you hear back?"

  "An hour, perhaps more. I'll find you ..." The machine beeped, and she studied the device. The Guardian's nose wrinkled in confusion for a second, but the moment passed quickly.

  "You're in luck. My replacement will be accompanying you along the Northern Road," she informed them.

  "Replacement?" Ponar asked.

  She looked at Rai and frowned. "Yes, since I discovered this poisoned swamp I've been appointed to lead the cleanup task force. In all likelihood I'll be here for the next few months." She didn't appear very happy at the prospect.

  "I bet our Uncle Meik will love to hear the good news," Rai said to Ponar, eager to change the subject.

  "I'm sure. Thanks for your help," he said to the Guardian.

  She glared in response and stalked off.

  They walked back to their wagons and Rai sensed unease from Ponar. "Did that go well?" Rai asked him.

  "Yes, much easier than I've come to expect from a Guardian." He looked puzzled.

  "But you're acting like this was bad news?" Rai asked.

  "I
t's just a bit weird she got an answer so quickly. I mean, whoever wrote that response replied immediately. I've always had to wait at least a couple of hours to get itinerary changes approved along normal trade routes."

  "That is weird," Rai replied. "Maybe, since she's coordinating the cleanup effort her messages are being read more often?"

  "Could be. Oh well, it's not as if I've ever been able to understand their Sept before. Why should the Guardians start making sense now?"

  "True enough. I wonder how Meik will take the news."

  Ponar barked out a short laugh. "Yeah, he was counting on the Guardian winning the argument for him. Now he's committed to the detour, whether or not he likes it."

  *

  "They approved?" Meik asked. Laan attempted to hide his laughter over Meik's reaction.

  "Indeed. I just explained we had business in Resounding Cliffs and didn't want to muck back south through the swamplands," Ponar replied.

  "Business! What business?" Meik demanded as his face turned red. "This is just another of your wild trendar chases!"

  "Well, I picked up some knit shawls from the cotton root farm we passed on the way up here. Personally I think there might be a market for them at the Cliffs, what with the cooler, windy nights up there," Ponar explained.

  Rai remembered his purchase, how odd it had been at the time. She wondered if Ponar'd been planning this detour all along. He must have. Rai again felt badly for keeping him at arm's length while he'd been going out of his way to help her.

  "Hmm, you might be right," Meik replied, beginning to cool off at the promise of a profit. "Still, no one goes that way! We have no idea what we might run into!"

  "I doubt the Guardians would allow us to travel into danger," Laan interjected, always the mellow voice of reason. "I'm sure the road's reasonably safe. Besides, we'll get to look at this Harper's Sorrow grove, and we'll find some clues into Rai's past. Far as I can tell, it sure beats mucking southward through these swamps."

  "Well, I won't miss that either," Meik replied. "Let's just hope our Chieftess finds our course agreeable too, or we'll all be answering for it!"

  *

  The following morning ushered in a bright and clear day, a welcome change from the hazy, humid norm of the swamplands. Rai stretched her legs, reveling in the sunny warmth of the morning while the men secured their wagons for the trip. None of the Stime Sept bothered to see them off. They had their hands full with a few dozen Guardians. However, true to her word, the Chieftess had shared her rooms, baths and a hearty breakfast with her guests without asking for so much as a credit.

  "You ready for this?" Ponar asked her.

  Rai felt uncertain. "I guess so. It's hard, I mean, even if we find the place from my dreams, that's no guarantee it'll answer my questions."

  "True, but it might help stop the nightmares. I've found facing your fears can make them go away."

  "Is that so? I wonder if that holds true if you can't remember what the fears are about." Rai chewed her lip. "What's the use of feeling guilty when I don't even know what I feel guilty for?"

  "I can't help you there. All we can do is hope and find what we find."

  "You're right. Thanks again," Rai said, smiling.

  "Hey, that's what brothers are for, right?"

  Rai flashed back to their interlude at the Waystation in Kiya's Grace and almost blushed. "Is everything ready to go?"

  "We're just waiting for our escort, then we'll get going. Meanwhile, Meik and Laan are debating the asking price for a cottonroot shawl."

  Rai looked around, and spotted the two walking down the path from the swamp boat pier, discussing, Rai assumed, the price of shawls. Ponar flashed them a thumbs-up, signaling he was ready to leave. They waved and started back toward the wagons.

  "Now all we need is our Guardian escort ...," Rai said.

  "Who is here," answered a familiar voice.

  Rai turned, coming face to face with not just any Guardian, but one she'd come to dread. One she'd most recently tried to gut with a knife. How did he sneak up on me? She'd turned away from the road for only a moment.

  "What are you doing here?" Rai asked, irritation straining her voice. The Guardian raised an eyebrow.

  Ponar shot Rai a quizzical look. "You know him?"

  "Not really. I mean, I've run into him around Kiya's Grace a few times."

  "I was recently posted there, and was on my way to a posting in Barrow's Grove when I received this reassignment. As you can imagine," he gestured to the other Guardians walking around, "we're a little short-staffed in the swamplands at the moment."

  Meik and Laan reached them in time to hear his last sentence. "I'm sure we'd understand if this trip is too much of an inconvenience to the Guardian Sept," Meik replied, seeking an opportunity to avoid the unfamiliar northern passage.

  "Whichever way you travel, it's no difference to us," he replied.

  "Then perhaps we should be off?" Ponar redirected the conversation.

  "The sooner the better," replied the Guardian. "With any luck we'll make the Northern pass by sunset."

  "We'll get the teams hitched up," Laan replied. Meik followed him, looking slightly disgruntled.

  "How long will it take to reach the Cliffs?" Ponar asked the Guardian.

  "I can't say for certain, because this isn't my usual route." Rai wondered what his usual route was, besides doggedly trailing her, time after time. "According to the maps we're about a full day's travel to the upland pass. After that it'll take us seven or eight days to reach the eastern coast, assuming the weather is fair."

  Ponar sighed. "Well, that's still shorter than heading south and then east from Kiya's Grace. Thanks. I better get my team hitched up too." Ponar walked away, intent on the task.

  Rai stared up at the Guardian, wondering if his showing up could be a coincidence after all. "How long before we reach Harper's Sorrow?" she asked. Was it just her imagination, or did his look harden in response to her question? Between the acrid odor of the thallium in the air and the few feet separating them, Rai couldn't begin to get a reading off him.

  "That grove is relatively close. Once we hit the Northern Road, I'd guess about two days. Why do you ask?"

  "They have giant trees, where they're so tall you can't even see the tops. Will we get a chance to stop and take a look around when we get there?"

  His expression was grave. "What exactly do you think you'll find amongst a bunch of trees?" Rai detected none of the sarcasm in his voice she'd come to expect during their prior encounters. This, together with the seriousness of his gaze, made Rai feel distinctly uncomfortable. Although she couldn't sense his emotions, her common sense told her she was treading on dangerous ground.

  Rai considered trivializing her interest in Harper's Sorrow, but thought better of it. "A bit of history?" Rai dared to speak honestly, if vaguely. "Isn't that what old growth forests are good for? Learning about the past?"

  "I suppose, if you go for that sort of thing. I'd say the past is history, and best left alone." She knew he was waiting for some sign from her, but she had no idea what that might be, or what consequences such a signal might bring.

  "It's not always that easy," Rai replied.

  "No, no it's not," he agreed.

  Rai couldn't shake the impression they were discussing more than an ancient grove of gigantic trees. Did this man know something about her past? Is that why he kept showing up? Watching and waiting to see if she remembered anything? No, surely she just being paranoid, looking for subterfuge where there was none? Rai resolved to try to satisfy her curiosity during this trip by finding out all she could about this mysterious Guardian, including his name.

  The teams hitched, Ponar's wagon pulled forward to where Rai and the Guardian stood. Meik and Laan's wagons followed close behind.

  "We're ready," Ponar announced. Rai stepped up onto Ponar's wagon and took the seat next to him.

  "Let's go," replied the Guardian. He mounted his horse in a single, fluid motion, and turned to
lead the way.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

  Journeywoman Camille looked up from her desk in the Matriarch's offices at Raven's Call Temple to face an Elder standing in front of her. She couldn't tell which Elder, as her brown veil and robes totally obscured her form. Had she fallen asleep for a moment, or had she been too engrossed with paperwork to notice the woman's entrance?

  "Excuse the wait, Elder. How may I be of service?"

  "No worries, child." Camille instantly recognized Elder Natre's voice due to its grating quality. "I know these past few days have been very difficult on you, to say the least. Actually, it is I who is here to help you." Elder Natre handed her a scroll.

  Camille took the scroll, and paused a moment to reflect. She knew what this meant, and knew her world would change forever upon the reading of it. Why did it have to be Elder Natre?

  Resolutely Camille unfurled the scroll and read. She scanned through the text, quickly locating the key information.

  ... This document confirms the appointment of

  Elder Natre

  as

  Matriarch-elect of Raven's Call Temple,

  until such time as Matriarch Bauleel can be located.

  The Matriarch-elect is granted all rights and privileges accorded to her station from this point forward. She has the full faith and goodwill of the Elder's Council of Raven's Call Temple ...

  The signatures of every Elder within Raven's Call Temple followed this.

  Camille stood and genuflected. "It appears congratulations are in order, my Esteemed Matriarch," Camille said, surprised how easily it rolled off her tongue.

  "Oh now, let's not dawdle on pleasantries and chit-chat. Up, up! I have not only the job of running this facility, I must also solve the mystery of Matriarch Bauleel's disappearance."

  "Indeed. How can I be of assistance?" Camille wondered if tendering her resignation on the spot might come across as overly helpful under these circumstances.