Dreamscape: Saving Alex

by Kirstin Pulioff

  She nodded and walked away, leaving me alone with my thoughts. The last place I wanted to be.

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  After Melody left, I wandered aimlessly around the camp, my mind jumping from insult to accusation, circling around the inevitable conclusion. His brother died for me. How could I even begin to make up for that?

  Dust swirled as I walked back towards the entrance to the Grove. I hadn’t recognized how far I had walked until I saw the abandoned wagon by the quaint cottage. The door to the wagon opened easily, allowing me to slink back into its far corners. I gripped the wooden bars, feeling comfort in the symbolism. Even with the door open, my feelings imprisoned me.

  I briefly thought about leaving again, then banged my head against the bars. I couldn’t do that. That would be the deepest betrayal. His brother’s death would be in vain.

  No wonder Cale didn’t forgive me. I could hardly blame him or the rest of the men for how they’d reacted. They’d lost their kingdom to Berkos, and then their king to bring me here. And I’d refused to help.

  I felt sick. No number of vines could heal the pit that opened inside me. I hadn’t really thought about anyone but me, and I’d never thought a game could be so complicated. I banged my head against the bars until the pounding dulled my thoughts.

  Then I remembered that Arrow wanted to talk to me. Whatever it was about, it couldn’t be worse than what Melody had already told me. I clenched my jaw and walked back into the village. The knot in my stomach twisted until my entire body turned into pins and needles. The slightest of sounds unraveled me, even though I couldn’t put my finger on what it was that worried me most.

  My feet guided me forward until I spied movement on the training field. I sighed and made my way over to the edge of the field, resting against the stacked hay bales. The dry edges of the straw scratched my arms. I pulled out the offending pieces, peeling them in half as I stared at the field where Arrow taught some of the youth how to shoot.

  A group of boys no older than ten crowded around him. Casually slung over his shoulder, Arrow’s black bow glinted. He walked in front of them and pointed to the different areas of the field. I tried to imagine what he was telling them, but I didn’t understand his gestures.

  That was okay. Watching him was entertainment enough.

  His deep laugh rang out as one of the smallest boys lifted a bow twice his size. Arrow tossed his bow to one of the older boys—I thought I’d heard them call him Ronan—and grabbed a smaller wooden one from the barrels. Ronan stared at Arrow’s bow in disbelief. I knew that look.

  Arrow didn’t seem to notice, fully involved with the younger child. He stood behind him, helping him string the arrow and aim at the end of the field. The muscles in Arrow’s arms tightened as they pulled back and released. I held my breath, watching the wobbling arrow strike its target.

  The boy jumped up and howled as he ran to retrieve it.

  The other boys scampered over to the barrel to find a bow their size. When they all had their new weapons, Arrow lined them up carefully, youngest to oldest, and waited for the other boy to return. The hay bales towered over him as he jumped to retrieve the arrow.

  Arrow ducked down and put his finger to his lips to tell the others to be silent. He tiptoed down the field and grabbed the boy, throwing him onto his shoulders. Even from where I stood, I could hear the child’s giggles. When they turned around, everyone cheered. Arrow lifted the little boy’s arm up in victory and handed him the arrow from the target.

  I couldn’t contain my laughter. Moments like these made Lockhorn feel like home. My heart grew watching him—that’s the only way to describe the ache that pulled me from within. The knots in my stomach seized. I didn’t have to worry about any of the things I had done when I first arrived. My biggest concern now was what I wanted to do, having heard Melody’s warning.

  He must have heard my laugh; he turned in my direction and smiled. My knees gave way, and I melted. He ran back to the line of waiting boys and dropped the child in line with the others. General Amos, who had been watching from the other side of the field, nodded and took Arrow’s place as he ran over to me.

  My hands scraped against the rough straw as I wiped my palms on my leggings.

  His hair bounced as he approached, falling in front of his eyes. I wanted to reach out and move it for him, but he beat me to it.

  “Did you come for a lesson?” he quipped.

  “Melody taught me quite enough—or at least reminded me that I can’t claim archery as a skill.”

  “I thought you did pretty well,” he said.

  “Pretty well won’t save the rebellion.”

  “Good thing you have other tricks, then.” He winked, then glanced back at the boys, who continued practicing under the general’s guidance. “What are you doing here?”

  “I, uh, was looking for you,” I said. “You said you wanted to talk.”

  “I did. I mean, I do.” He scrunched his face as he looked behind him at the field. “I think General Amos can handle it from here.”

  “Are you sure?” I asked, looking back as the boys ran in circles around the old general.

  Arrow chuckled and grabbed my hand. “It’ll be good for him. Are you up for a walk?”

  I bit my lower lip and nodded.

  His smile lit up, and he pulled me forward towards the cottage where the ladder led up to the bridge. “I haven’t had a chance to relax since we got here. I hope you don’t mind the bridge.”

  I couldn’t hold back my grin. He had read my mind. “It’s perfect,” I said, walking in front of his outstretched arm to climb up first.

  The planks creaked under our weight. I stopped when I reached the first bridge. It hadn’t changed, but it seemed so much more alive. The planks didn’t just creak; they rejoiced under our steps. The vines swayed with their own mysterious breeze, and an echoing silence surrounded us. Before, I had concentrated on the Grove below and had missed the beauty of the bridge and the canopy of the woods.

  The cool vines slid under my palms as I walked forward, making room for Arrow to climb up behind me. I peered through the wooden archway leading away from the tree. “How did I not see this before?”

  “It’s amazing what we miss the first time we see something,” he said, right behind me.

  “I’m glad I get this second look then,” I whispered, my eyes flitting between his face and the trees around us.

  “Me too.” He pulled me forward. “Follow me.”

  “Where are we going?” I asked as we passed under the archway.

  “I want to show you something. Remember? I promised to show you all the wonders of this world.” His boyish grin charmed me. How could I resist?

  “Wait up!” I yelled as he ran further ahead. His long legs skipped multiple planks as he conquered the bridge in a few leaps. I followed, more tentatively, refusing to let go of my grip on the railing.

  He didn’t stop, only slowing down briefly each time he crossed onto a new bridge. We climbed through the canopy and around to a part of the Grove I hadn’t seen.

  The view below me was dizzying. Without the reference points of people and places, the ground seemed miles away.

  “Arrow,” I called out. “Can you slow down a bit?” I wasn’t afraid of heights, but the thought of getting lost in this tangled web of bridges and trees unsettled me.

  “Sorry, I’ll wait for you here. I just wanted to make sure we got there in time.”

  “Where?”

  “I’m not giving up the surprise that easily,” he said, reaching for my hand as I struggled with my steps. “It’ll be worth it, I promise.”

  “Didn’t you say that about the Pits of Wonder, too?”

  “Oh no, you can’t blame that on me. You discovered that one all by yourself.” He smirked.

  “Fine, but how much further?” I asked, leaning against the railing to catch my breath.

  “We’re almost there.”

  “Okay, let’s do this,” I said, wav
ing him forward.

  I stumbled behind him, wearily moving from bridge to bridge until we stopped. “Are we there…” My voice trailed off as I looked up and lost my train of thought.

  “What do you think?” Arrow asked, moving to the side to give me a clear view.

  I stepped slowly, brushing past him without a glance. My gaze focused on a long staircase that led up to a delicately carved gazebo overlooking the top of the forest.

  The bark was cool under my fingertips. I caressed the smooth designs carved into the side of the tree and the handrail. The scent of pine came through more strongly as I climbed closer to the tree. Boughs of pine needles swooped over the staircase as a natural cover.

  I stopped at the top of the staircase and turned around in awe. I wanted to speak, but I had no words.

  “You can come in,” Arrow said, stepping around me, pulling me in with him.

  I looked around him at the woven limbs that encircled us in the wooden structure. They intersected seamlessly, creating a natural barrier above and around us. Tucked between the leaves and branches, nature painted a masterpiece. Patches of moss filled deep crevices in the bark, and portions of gnarled wood twisted into spirals around us. Yellow flowers grew along the outer edges of the roof.

  I gasped.

  “You like it?” he asked, reaching for my hand.

  “I’ve never seen anything like this before,” I said, tightening my grip on his hand.

  “Then it’s perfect,” he said.

  “I don’t understand.”

  “You don’t have to. I just wanted to share it with you,” he said, pulling me to the far edge of the gazebo to see an unrestricted view of the forest. We leaned over the edge of the railing, and the tops of the trees swayed in rhythm in the breeze. I exhaled and propped my arms along the woven branches, watching the blue of the sky lighten to orange.

  In a world of so much beauty, I wondered why I had been in such a rush to leave, to get home. Melody’s warning flashed in my mind, but I brushed it aside. I might not be able to stay, but I wasn’t leaving anytime soon. Winning the game, finding my way home…it no longer compelled me.

  I placed my hand atop his and looked him in the eyes. “I might not have to understand, Arrow, but I want to. I’ve pretended long enough that what I know from my world explains this one. It doesn’t. I want to know the truth about this place, about you.”

  He searched my face for a moment and then settled his gaze back over the forest. “This is one of the old guard towers.”

  “From before Berkos took over?” I asked, trying to fit it into the history I knew.

  “Yes, from a long time before, even before my parents and grandparents ruled. These forest lookouts served as resting places during hunting parties or long travel. When Berkos came into power, this was the only place I could think of that he wouldn’t find me. Even in his youth, he was always more interested in staying in the city, attending parties and banquets than roaming the wilds.”

  “So you ran here? It’s a long way from Flourin.”

  He nodded. “It was the only chance I had. I had to go somewhere Berkos wouldn’t look. This tower was the one place that I knew I’d be safe. It became my second home, or rather, my new home.” He sighed. “All of that seems so long ago.”

  “So how did it all happen? I’ve heard bits, but no one’s really put it all together for me.”

  “You really want to know?”

  I nodded and placed my hand on top of his. “Yeah, I mean, I was brought here to help you. It’d be nice to know.”

  “Well, I guess I’ll start with my parents. They died when I was young, too young to really know what happened. There was some sort of accident, the doctors told me, but I still don’t know if that’s the truth or not. At six, I didn’t think to question it, and I don’t know if my older brother Helio did either. Even if he suspected something, he would have had to focus on the new pressures of leading Lockhorn, for the good of the people.”

  “Was he as young as you?” I asked.

  “He was thirteen, barely old enough to take care of himself, let alone a kingdom or a brother.”

  “I can’t imagine how hard that must’ve been for both of you,” I said.

  “It was, but we had some help. Helio connected with my father’s advisors and continued their policies and ordinances for seven years. Life was good under my parents’ reign; he didn’t see the need to change any of that. Unfortunately, Berkos didn’t feel the same way.”

  “So you knew him? I mean, I know he’s Melody’s dad, but how close were you?” I asked.

  “We weren’t close. I don’t think my father ever really trusted him, to tell you the truth. But after our parents’ death, Helio reached out to him. Berkos presided over a territory to the north as a governor, but I guess it wasn’t enough for him. He turned my brother’s kindness into an opportunity. He sat in on all of Helio’s council meetings, offering his own experience and advice. In the beginning, he had great ideas, but over time my brother became more uncomfortable with the direction Berkos wanted to take the kingdom. Helio shut him out, but not in time. Berkos had already planned his coup.”

  “I am so sorry,” I said, taking a moment to squeeze his hand.

  “I escaped, but only by luck. I’d been running around the forest all day, and he didn’t recognize me under my soiled clothes. One of Elin’s maids hid me as Berkos went on his rampage. Before he had a chance to detain me, I had run off. By the time I made it to the outskirts of Flourin, the news had spread. Only a handful of servants and villagers remained, and Berkos had claimed sovereignty.”

  “What did you do from there?”

  “The only thing I really could do. I rallied my men and found loyal supporters that were willing to fight against Berkos’ tyranny. It’s been a long five years. Every day, I recount that devastation and plan for our revival.”

  “I have no doubt you’ll succeed this time.”

  “I don’t doubt it either. Not with you here. You’ve brought back the hope that had dwindled.” I saw the conflict in his eyes.

  “I don’t know about that.”

  “I do. The moment we heard you had arrived, the whole atmosphere in the Grove, in all of Lockhorn, changed. Everyone knew that your appearance revolutionized everything. One way or another, this’ll all be settled. Only with you here, our fight doesn’t seem so futile.”

  “I didn’t know that,” I said, feeling even worse for the way I’d acted. I needed to change the subject. “So, since this was your hideout, you must know what we’re looking at, right?”

  He smiled at the redirection. “Uh-huh, you see that hill over there?”

  I followed his pointed finger to a set of jagged mountains and nodded.

  “Well, I used to hunt horned-bits in those foothills. The mountains beyond them separate the north from the south. From here you can easily track the movement of any giants or armies. That over there,” he said, pointing off another direction, “is the Loude River. It passes right by Lindle and handles most of the trade.”

  “You can really see it all from up here,” I said. “What about…”

  “Berkos’ castle?” he asked. “Do you really want to know?”

  “No, probably not,” I said, shaking my head. “I’ll face it soon enough, and I don’t want to ruin this. The rest of the view, it’s beautiful.”

  We stood in silence, watching the slow transition of the sky from sunset to twilight. Only the sharp chirp of a bird and the pulsing hum of insects broke the silence.

  Arrow looked at me and then turned back to the forest. A sense of anxiety grew between us the longer we stared at the view. I didn’t know how to articulate what I wanted to say. Conversations like this baffled me. Too many raw emotions threatened to take away my control.

  I nudged him with my elbow, the friendliest gesture I could make without trembling. “You wanted to talk?”

  The sides of his mouth lifted, but he didn’t look at me. He rubbed his forehead and pick
ed at the leaves from the railing. “These have been some of the longest days.”

  “You’re telling me,” I said. “I can’t tell you how much I am looking forward to a full night’s sleep.”

  He rubbed the back of his neck. “I wish I could give you that, but I’m afraid there are even more sleepless nights in our future. I can give you a roll though.” He pulled a piece of bread and a couple of strips of jerky out of one of his vest pockets.

  “Do you just walk around with packages of food?” I asked, though it didn’t stop me from taking one.

  “Sometimes,” he said with a small smile. “It’s seemed to work to my advantage recently.”

  “I can’t help it if I’m hungry,” I said. “It’s not like we haven’t crossed this entire kingdom in the last week.”

  “I’m just giving you a hard time. Although I won’t lie, it’s been nice coming to the rescue. Even if it’s just with food.”

  I bit my cheek. What could I say to that?

  “The real reason I brought you up here though,” he said, exhaling deeply. “I wanted to tell you some things before they slipped out again.”

  “Like the whole prince thing?” I asked, raising an eyebrow.

  “Yeah.” He laughed. “Like that. I meant to tell you. I really did.”

  I looked at him. “Why didn’t you?”

  He sighed and stared thoughtfully into the distance. “When we met, it didn’t seem to matter. There were more important things we needed to do, and then when you lied about being from the north… well, I guess it seemed like our backgrounds weren’t significant.”

  “I’m sorry about that,” I said, embarrassed. “I didn’t know what to say at that point or what was really going on. You have to see why I thought it would sound crazy.”

  He gave me a reassuring smile. “It’s not a big deal. In fact, after a while, I was happy you’d lied.”

  “Really?”

  “Sure. It meant I didn’t have to tell you who I was. And for once it was nice having someone treat me like a normal person without hidden agendas or expectations. Sometimes it’s just nice to disappear.”