“I agree with you. I think it may be an uphill battle, though.” I watched as Iri appeared to be trying to convince him to stay and fight while Beru kept shaking his head.
“There has to be something we can do. If it was me, I’d want to stay just for a chance to kick Vinug’s ass for doing what Beru said he did.” Sade looked over at the men, her jaw set with anger.
I was sure there was part of him that wanted to do exactly that—we just had to appeal to that side. I perked up as an idea followed that thought. “I think I’ve got it. Something he won’t be able to turn down.”
Chapter 8
“We’ll trap him,” I declared. “We’ll make sure to always have the upper hand. He won’t be able to refuse the bait.”
I might have been too enthusiastic with my idea, based on the looks of incredulity I was receiving from all directions.
“And I’m supposed to be the bait?” Beru pointed to his chest, eyebrows raised with disbelief at the notion.
“Sort of. And we’ll sweeten the pot with a dreamwalker. He won’t be able to resist. Don’t worry- we’ll stay in control at all times.” I knew he’d only go along with the plan if he knew I would go ahead and do it without him. He wasn’t one to sit on the sidelines, and he seemed to like to look out for me.
“That’s a crazy idea. You have no idea who you are fighting and I can’t go along with it.” Beru shook his head, crossing his arms as he pouted, looking strangely childlike in his refusal.
“Fine. You can sit it out, but I’m going ahead with or without you. He’ll still want a dreamwalker.” I stood my ground. I didn’t know if Vinug would want me, but if he was working for Dag’draath, I’d be the perfect bait.
Beru stood a foot away from me, not taking his eyes from my face, as if I’d cave in if he waited long enough. I wasn’t about to break now though, because I needed him to go with me. After growing up with my brothers, I knew I could outlast almost anyone when it came to stubborn. As if he’d finally realized it, his shoulders slumped, and he shook his head.
“I’ll do it,” he finally stated. “If Vinug knows I am here, he’ll come for me. Or send his ur’gel to get me.”
Guilt flooded back full force, as I knew, once again, I was pushing Beru to his breaking point. He wasn’t back to his full strength yet, but we needed him now. We couldn’t wait to do this, Beru needed to do it for his own sake as well.
“Let’s pack up camp before anything happens. The giants kept watch all night and didn’t see anyone approach, but that could change at any time.” Sade took charge of the practicalities, nodding once as she looked around.
“On it.” I saluted Sade, smiling. I was happy we’d had put our differences aside and were talking again, and the small order told me she was feeling more like herself again.
I walked over to my makeshift bed and began to roll it up. Beru followed me and began working on his. Neither of us spoke as we worked. He was moving slower than I was, so I took my time. I wanted to finish together to draw out the comfort of having him next to me..
I had packed everything carefully when I came across the stone Runa had given me. I wondered if she knew what we’d been through since the last time we’d talked.. I placed the stone in my pocket, wanting to have it close in case I needed her help if things went wrong.
“You sure about this plan?” Beru stood over his belongings, making a show over fiddling with a string, smoothing it out and unraveling it. .
“No, but are we ever? We have to do what we think is right, and it wouldn’t be right to leave these people now. Not when they need us.”
“That’s one way of looking at it.” He dropped the string to the ground, then began and looking for something.
“The barmaid said they sacrifice travelers. We’ll take advantage of that. Then, when Vinug hears you are here, hopefully, he’ll make his appearance.”
“And then what? What will you do once you’ve got him?” Beru looked like he still needed convincing. In order for my plan to work, I needed him to participate fully. I thought about the different angles, and how it could all go terribly wrong, but I knew none of that would help. I looked at him, giving him my best and most confident look. . “We kill him.”
“How?”
I was beginning to think I wouldn’t be able to convince him my plan would work until it did. I picked up my bedding, took it over to the carriage, loaded it, and walked back to pick up my pack.
“So, you don’t have a plan?” He followed me, loading his bed and pack into the carriage as he looked at me, eyebrows raised.
“Just trust me.” I regretted the words as soon as I spoke them. They would have been true before we dreamwalked, but no longer. I was keeping a huge secret from him. One I couldn’t share just yet.
Sade came over and brought the plates and washbowl to the carriage. She’d already broken down her bed and packed it up. “We ready to do this?” She looked at him, then at me.
“Yes. Let’s get this over with, so we can get on our way..” I wiped my hands on my pants and gestured for Beru to walk with me. “We’ll head down the road to the pub.”
“I’ll send a giant ahead as a look-out. Iri, Astor, and I will follow at a safe distance, but keep everyone within eyesight. If we lose sight of each other, this will go downhill fast.” Sade nodded to both of us, and we nodded back.
Beru and I took off on foot walking into the town and down the sidewalk. There were fewer people out than there had been the day before, but we tried to look like we were sightseeing. I pointed here and there, but Beru didn’t entertain my plan.
“We don’t need to pretend. As soon as he knows I’m here, he’ll come for us.” Beru kicked at a loose rock that had found its way onto the wood.
I’m sure, to passersby; he looked like he was pouting. He looked like he was pouting to me. But just like with a cranky child, I tried to keep the mood light as we slowed our pace. The giant was already at his post by the pub, and when I glanced back, I saw the others had just turned onto the sidewalk. Everyone was in position.
“You’re getting your appetite back. That’s good.” I tried to change the conversation. Who knew how long it would take for him to be noticed, and I had other questions. I may as well see what I could get out of him while we were alone.
“The dizzy spells are lessening, but I can’t seem to get my head right.” He looked tired.
“It will all come back. Just give it some time.”
I put my hand on his arm, and he stopped walking and turned to me.
“Will it?” The dark circles under his eyes were more predominant in the sun, and his eyes were shadowed with a deep pain.
I obviously had no way of knowing the future, but he needed kind words to get him through, and I owed him that much. But I couldn’t put two words together in that moment, as I saw his vulnerability shining down at me. .
“You’ve shown improvement each day, so it has to. It will.” Instinctively, I reached out for his hand. “We’re all here for you. Just lean on us.”
He took my hand, glancing at our entwined fingers. “Things will be different now.”
I nodded, unsure how exactly but not wanting to question him. I'd wait until he was ready to tell me what he meant. I pulled away reluctantly and continued walking, missing his hand in mine almost immediately.
“Should we shop? Or keep walking?” I turned toward one of the grocers, gesturing toward it with uncertainty.
“Walk. The sun is nice.”
We continued walking but crossed the street, stopping from time to time to look at some of the items along the boardwalk. We made sure not to enter any stores, and kept track of everyone else as we went along. The street wasn’t very long so we’d have to think of another way to get noticed soon if Vinug didn’t appear in the next few minutes.
“What did I miss while I was asleep? The dynamics seem to have changed.” He took a seat on a bench, and I sat down next to him.
“The ur’gel pushed through, as you’r
e aware. There were lots of raids. The only thing different was that we could retreat by ship.”
“I’m sorry I missed that.” He laughed. “How did you ever get Captain Rose to let Sade steer her ship?”
“To be honest, I have no idea! She knew what damage they could do. We had to fly within her schedule, but it worked out fine.” I reached into my pocket and pulled out a snack.
It was an odd day. The weather was bright and brilliant, yet the looming gloom of our encounter with Vinug hung over our heads. Time seemed to stand still. We kept up simple chatter between silences.
Beru looked like he’d nod off at any moment, so I tried to keep the conversation as light and engaging as I could. We said hi to everyone who passed by, so people would remember and talk about us. It was mid-day, and no one had come for us yet.
We’d never discussed how long it would take. I had assumed it would be quick and was starting to run out of safe topics to talk about. We ambled over to the fountain in the middle of the main street and watched as people threw coins in and made wishes. Such a childlike behavior, another reminder why we were there.
“Here.” I took two coins out of my pocket and gave one to Beru. “Make a wish.”
“No. I have nothing left to wish for, but you go ahead.” He gently turned me toward the fountain.
I closed my eyes, but didn’t need long to think about what I wanted. I opened my eyes and tossed my coin in.
“Well, what did you wish for?”
“I can’t tell. It won’t come true.” I smiled. I couldn’t tell him my wish had been about him. I turned away from the fountain and resumed walking, Beru close behind. .
“How much longer is this going to take? I feel a sunburn coming on.” Beru rubbed his forehead, wiping away a faint sheen of sweat.
“We’ll break for lunch.”
I made my way back to the boardwalk. I stopped to investigate the windows of a few stores and motioned for Beru to come with me into the soap store. “Might as well get things we need.”
I picked up some soap to smell and placed a few bars in my basket. The store was beginning to fill up now compared to how few people were out shopping earlier.
“Get something for those giants while you’re at it,” Beru joked, picking up a bar about the size of my head.
I carried on smelling most of the bars. I’d never been in a store that carried so many different scents before. I decided to stock up while we had nothing better to do.
“Something is happening.” Beru leaned in and whispered in my ear.
I looked around and discovered everyone had disappeared, even the cashier. There was no noise. I walked to the window to see a ghost town outside as well.
“I don’t see Sade or Iri anywhere. We better get outside.” I grabbed his hand and we quickly exited onto the road, which was empty. A lone basket rolled down it, startling me with the noise against the eerie calm.
“Where did everyone go? I didn’t hear an announcement, did you?” Beru’s eyebrows were drawn together and he appeared just as confused as I was.
“No, there was nothing. It’s as if they all just vanished.” I walked a few paces away from him and searched the surroundings for any sign of life.
“I don’t see the others. This isn’t good. What if he has them and now we’re in his trap?” Beru sidled closer toward me. “Let’s keep within arm’s length of each other.”
I nodded and grabbed his arm. I wasn’t sure if he meant literally or not, but I was hanging on. Our plans had fallen through and now my friends might be at risk. We heard distant banging off in the distance. It reverberated in the silence, getting louder but echoing off the walls of the storefronts in a way that made it difficult to pinpoint. It sounded like drums, and was coming closer.
“They’re here.” Beru pulled me tight to his side, and I turned my head toward where he was looking.
A parade of ur’gel rounded the corner and marched toward us. They were stepping in unison to the beat of the drum as they chanted in their language. We didn’t bother to run. They greatly outnumbered us.
They surrounded us and we were held captive in their circle. As my heart raced, the ring of ur’gel parted and a single ur’gel entered the circle. He was large and exotic looking, and something about him mesmerized me so that I couldn’t turn away.
“Well, now. If it isn't Beru and the little dreamwalker.” He smiled so broadly the corners of his lips almost met his eyes.
“It’s Vinug,” Beru whispered through gritted teeth.
Chapter 9
“Thank you for freeing us.” Vinug directed his comment to me as he sauntered closer. “And I’m delighted to see my favorite plaything has come back to me.”
“I’d love to see what you’d have to say without an army behind you.” Beru stood at ease, but I could tell by the subtle tensing of the muscles under my hand he was as calm as he appeared as he waited for Vinug to respond to his implied threat.
“We want to talk.” I stepped in front of Beru, keeping my hand on his arm and gently pushing him back. “You need to leave this town alone and release the children.” My eyes darted around as I looked to see where Sade, Astor, and Iri were.
“Are you looking for your friends?” Vinug walked over to me.
His eyes and smile were mesmerizing and difficult to turn away from. I could feel my opinion of him shifting and I fought against it, knowing it was something he was dong to me and not really how I should feel. I wouldn’t give in. I had to fight his charm and mind control. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“I’m sure you don’t.” His smile pulled me in even as I fought to keep a straight face. “Would you like to chat over a drink?”
He was flirting with me to make Beru mad. He'd do anything to annoy Beru. He had us captive and possibly Iri, Astor, and Sade and the giants. My plan had turned upside down.
“No, neither of us are interested in having a drink with you,” Beru growled.
“You’ve changed. I can’t quite put my finger on it, but something is definitely different.” Vinug walked closer to us and eyed my hand wrapped around Beru’s arm. “No! It can’t be. You and the dreamwalker?” Vinug clapped his hands with delight, and then stroked his chin as he glanced between us.
“Let’s go somewhere alone. Just me and you.” Beru cracked his fingers as he inched closer to Vinug.
I stepped between them. Beru was going off-track and I needed to bring him back. This wasn’t meant to be a revenge encounter. We had to focus on the saving the village. Either Vinug came on board with our plan or we had to kill him, but we needed to discuss it first.
“Let’s go somewhere for that talk.” I focused on Vinug and hoped he would do the same and leave Beru alone.
“It didn’t take you long to get over your wife, did it?” Vinug smiled at Beru as he took a deep breath in.
“You can say whatever you want with all those ur’gel behind you. Let’s see what you say when you're alone with me.” Beru didn’t hold back.
They clearly had a history together but playing into that right now would not help us. We didn’t need to make Vinug mad. We had to convince him to work with us. Help us defeat Dag’draath. Somewhere deep inside him, he had to have hatred for him. Before I could say anything else, Beru stepped up and stood chest to chest with Vinug. Something in his stance caused me to pause. For the first time since he’d slipped into his unnaturally deep sleep, he appeared confident. He was ready to take on Vinug, even without our crew.
“I accept your challenge.” Vinug backed away from Beru and strode back to his army.
“What does that mean?” I grabbed Beru’s arm, afraid of what he’d just set himself up for.
“I guess we are going to fight.” Beru looked around as if searching for something. . Maybe he was looking for a weapon? Vinug had come armed, but we couldn’t exactly carry around swords and bows as we walked about town. We were barely prepared for hand combat if it came to that.
“It won’
t be a fair fight.”
“I wouldn’t expect it to be. I just need a stick. Something from a hard wood.” He looked toward the storefront. “One of those posts would work nicely.”
I focused on the pole he was pointing to and stared at it dubiously. It would work of course, but it was attached to the building. It would be hard to separate it with the army surrounding us and without any tools. I swiveled my head, looking for anything I could throw to him if it looked like he needed help. Besides fruit, there was nothing to help.
“He won’t fight you with a weapon if you don’t have one. It would make him look bad for fighting an unarmed man. He’ll want to fight you fairly.” I hoped I was right.
“He’s not a fair man. But you may be right. We’ll have to wait and see. He’s coming back now.” Beru’s back straightened as Vinug approached us.
“Are you ready, old man?” Vinug called to Beru as he unbuttoned his sleeves.
“More than you will ever know.” Beru pulled off his shirt and flexed his muscles as he walked in a circle. He stretched out his arms and cracked his neck.
“Good. We fight in one hour. By the town’s fountain. Bring any weapons you have, as I will. The winner gets the town.” Vinug nodded his head to Beru to confirm he understood the rules.
“Got it.” Beru shook out his hands as Vinug retreated to his army.
“Oh.” Vinug turned back. “And we fight to the death.” He smiled and continued.
“You don’t have to do this.” I pulled at Beru’s arm. He wasn’t ready for anything physical yet. He’d just woken from a deep sleep and he hadn’t built up his strength to more than a fraction of what it had been. . He needed more time.
“I’ll do it. What do we have back at camp?”
“A sword or two. Mostly small knives. And anything Iri and Astor managed to find on their supply run yesterday.” I jogged to keep up with him.
“I’ll take it all.” He broke out in a run, and I struggled to keep up.. When we turned the corner to the camp, I was relieved when I saw the others sitting by the fire. They looked agitated and just as happy to see us, as I was to see them.
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