Soul Healer

by J. A. Culican

  “You have a kind heart. A bad thing for a dreamwalker, unfortunately.” Runa half smiled. “It’s better to have a cold heart like mine.” Runa sat back on her throne and wiped the lone tear that fell from the corner of her eye.

  “I’ll be back soon. With the stone. I trust you with it and will do as you suggested.”

  “I’ll be glad to see you when you do. Be careful—you never know who you can trust when that much power is at stake.”

  I drifted off into a dreamwalk, back to my friends, and thought about her last words. Could I trust Runa?

  Chapter 23

  When I got back to the team, they were still in the desert looking for the entrance to the prison. The wind was fierce and whipped the sand around, which cut into our skin like tiny knives. We climbed through the sand dunes and moved at a slow pace as our feet sank into the ground.

  I used my shirt to cover my mouth and nose to prevent breathing in the sand, which only half worked. My friends had passed through much of the Blasted Lands without me and I knew they were more tired than I was. We needed to get to the Desert of Souls. Beru felt the pull of the stone bringing him there.

  All we could see around us was desert, which was odd, because it was ur’gel territory. It should have been filled with scores of ur’gel we had to fight our way through. Not that I was complaining. But something had e happened for them not to be there.

  We carried on, one trudging step at a time. It was hard work. In some places, the sand was up to our knees and we pulled each other through when we needed to.

  I waved for everyone to gather with me. Once they did, we huddled into a circle, tightly squeezed together, and used our arms as reinforcement against the howling sands.

  “I need a break.” I panted. “How far away are we?”

  “Not much longer. The winds will be much better once we make it over that hill,” Beru reassured us, pointing at something just over the next dune.

  “Can everyone make it there?” Iri looked at our group, squinting against the sand.

  We all nodded in agreement as we remained huddled together, taking a much-needed rest.

  “We need water.” Astor spit sand from his mouth with a grumble.

  “You won’t find it anywhere nearby.” Sade pulled out her flask. “Here. Take the last bit.”

  Astor grabbed it before anyone could stop him and drank it back. “Thank you.” He passed the empty flask back to Sade.

  “We can’t pass back through this again. You’re sure we’re going the right way?”

  “Yes. I can feel the pull getting stronger the get closer we get to it. But I’m not sure how far away it is.”

  “Where are all the ur’gel? Isn’t this place supposed to be full of them? That’s what I always heard in Western March.” Iri shaded his eyes as he gazed out toward the horizon.

  I felt so bad for Iri. He was practically bald, which meant his scalp was raw from abrasions caused by the sand and the wind. The blood dripped onto the ground as he stood stoically in the same place, not even flinching. “Can you cover your head with something?”

  “No use now. Are we ready to move? That hill isn’t that far.”

  We nodded and rewrapped our mouths and noses the best that we could. Then we broke away and ran as fast as we could to the hill, which was more of a stumbling fast walk. The more we moved, the farther it looked to be until we abruptly came upon it.

  Beru was first. Once he saw we were close behind him, he jumped down and slid to the bottom. “No wind down here.”

  We all took the leap and slid down the hill. At the bottom, it was calm but still very hot and dry.

  “This is so much better.” Sade stood first and wiped all the sand of herself the best she could.

  “I’m stuck.” Astor’s legs were deep in the sand. His slide hadn’t been as successful as theirs.

  “Let’s leave him here.” Sade started to walk away, then turned around to smile at Astor, whose mouth had dropped open. “I’m just teasing.”

  I smirked at Sade and her inappropriate jokes as I dusted the sand off myself, watching as Beru headed out alone to scope out the land. For a moment, I wondered if he would sneak off and try to find the stone alone then instantly scolded myself for even thinking it.

  I helped Sade and Iri dig Astor out and by the time we were done, Beru had reappeared.

  “The Desert of Souls is just over there.” Beru sounded excited and eager to take off again..

  Sade groaned. “Let’s get a rest before we go. My leg muscles are killing me.” Sade flexed her calves as best she could in the sand.

  Beru was opening his mouth to protest when I pulled him to the side. I wanted to talk to him about the next leg of the journey. “I’m nervous about entering the Desert of Souls.”

  “Okay.” Beru stood with his feet shoulder length apart, rubbing his chin with his hand as he considered my face, his expression thoughtful. “What can I say to make that change?”

  “You’re not in the prison anymore. You can die now.” I couldn’t think of any other way to put it to him.

  “I know. I’m going to be careful. Don’t worry about me.” Beru put his arms on my shoulders and leaned in.

  “I just wouldn’t want that. I don’t want you to die.” I let him know how I felt, in case it was the last chance I had.

  “And I don’t want you to go anywhere, either.” He smiled and bent his head lower to kiss me. I didn’t care about the others seeing us any longer.

  “This isn’t the end,” I whispered as I hugged him close.

  “It’s only the beginning.” He kissed the top of my head, but I pulled back and kissed him full on the lips instead.

  He looked surprised I would show affection in front of the others, butI needed that kiss to get me through the next part.

  Beru opened the pouch that hung from his hip and took out a small coin, handing it to me. “This was from our first heist.” He smiled. “Keep it with you for luck. I don’t need it anymore.”

  I held it in my palm, thankful to have a piece of him near me, even if it was only money. I hadn’t known he had kept it. My cheeks reddened at the thought he’d done such a thing. “Thank you.”

  He leaned in and kissed me again. Behind us, I heard the others making gagging noises, so I knew it was time to break it up. We rejoined the group and started off in the direction Beru had scouted while the others ignored our romantic interlude.

  “It’s not far. I could see it just over that hill before.” Beru pointed to the small hill next to were we were walking.

  We pulled our feet through the sand and made it to the hill. The wind was fierce again, and we grimaced when it stung our skin..

  “There’s something sticking out of the sand.” Iri pointed toward a small object that looked like a triangle of stone. “Think that could be something?”

  “Only way to know is to check it out.” Beru went first.

  This time, we would have to walk downhill as the loose sand pelted us.

  We held hands as we walked down. It was a small hill, but hard to keep our footing on it as the sand moved under our feet. These dunes weren’t packed as tightly and made it even harder to see. The sand whipped and cut our skin on top of the wounds we already had.

  When we finally made it down the hill, the wind was worse. It was hard to breathe and there was nothing to hide behind. Sand packed my nose, and I tried to blow it out to no avail. My lungs were heavy from the thickness of the air. I was so done with the desert.

  Iri grabbed my arm, redirecting me. . I’d begun to veer off track, unable to see where we were going. I held my head low and tried to follow in Iri’s steps, but it was hard to keep up with his longer stride.

  I tried to look up to see where Beru was to see if he’d made it to the object, but Iri blocked my view. I carried on, as difficult as it was. The sand seemed to let up a little bit, and I was able to see farther ahead of me. Sade and Beru had made it up to the oddly shaped item by now and Iri was in front of me, w
ith Astor by his side.

  Without notice, I tumbled straight into Iri, who’d stopped abruptly. “How are you doing?” He turned and wrapped his arms around me so I didn’t fall and I took a few full breaths, using his strength to prop me up while I regained my own.

  “I’ve got this. Almost there, right?” I looked up at him with a weak smile.

  His entire face was covered in blood, but he didn’t complain. He never complained.

  “Ready?” Iri asked.

  I nodded and recovered my face, and he began to walk again. I stayed close behind him letting his larger form shelter me from the wind, hanging onto the tail of his shirt to guide me and walked faster to keep up. The wind calmed as we approached the spot where Sade and Beru had halted.

  The thing was larger than we’d thought from far away. We were able to use it as shelter once we arrived, as it blocked enough of the wind we were able to speak clearly.

  “What is it?” I asked, once I was out of the wind.

  “It’s a temple.” Beru sounded excited. “But it’s covered in sand. We’ll have to dig.”

  We formed a line and began digging around the object to first see which side the door would be. We got on our knees and used our hands to pull the sand out, having nothing better suited to the task. With each handful we removed, half of the hole filled up immediately from the wind. We kept on, but no door was apparent.

  My back started to hurt because of how long we’d been trekking through the sand and I’d sat back to stretch when I noticed a different pattern in the bricks in front of me.

  “Hey! I think I found something,” I called to the others.

  They quit digging got up and came over to where I was working.

  “Look at the change of pattern here.” I moved my hand to demonstrate the difference. “Do you think this could be the top of a door?”

  “Let me see.” Beru extended a hand and pulled me to my feet when I accepted. “Iri, want to help?”

  Iri nodded, and they both began pulling sand out at a more rapid pace than I was able. Before long, the next row of brick was displayed, with a dark brown layer beneath it.

  “Is that a door?” Sade leaned in to get a better look.

  “I think it could be.”

  Iri and Beru widened the hole in the sand. They made it much larger, so if it was a door, we would be able to open it if it swung out. They pushed the sand aside hard and fast, with extra strength and motivation at the thought of getting inside the temple.

  Sade, Astor, and I removed the sand they were pushing away to keep it from falling back into the hole and slowing them down. We kept up that team momentum until they had uncovered the entire door, then stood back and marveled at the ornate carvings on it.

  “Well, are we just going to look at it?” Sade glared through a narrow slit in her eyelids as the sand blew into her face.

  “Who should enter first?” Astor glanced around the group as well.

  “Beru,” I nominated.

  Iri seconded it.

  “Go ahead.” I gestured for him to open the door.

  Beru stepped down into the hole, grabbed the metal circle, and pulled. The door didn’t budge. He pulled harder the second time, and it still didn’t open. He stepped back and tried to kick the door but only managed to hurt himself. He looked back up at us.

  “Iri? You want to try to open this?”

  We all chuckled as Iri walked down and with one pull, the door opened. We stood back cautiously, as if something would come out or be released. When all remained still, Beru stepped in first. We waited for him to tell us it was okay to enter, but he didn’t come back out.

  “Can you see him?” I called down to Iri, who was crouched to look into the doorway,

  “No. It’s pitch dark inside.” Iri lifted up his hands, cupping them around his mouth and calling into the temple. “Beru!”

  Silence. Iri called for him again, and this time he reappeared. I exhaled a shaky sigh of relief at his dirty face. “You won’t believe this.” He waved us to come down then turned back into temple. Iri went first, followed by Astor and Sade, and I went last.

  It was black as ink pitch initially, but once I entered, the whole inner chamber lit as bright as day. It was hard to focus our eyes against the light, used to the sand hitting our faces, followed by the dark inside the temple. Once my eyes adjusted to the different, I saw many objects in the room, but none I recognized. Some shone with the glint of gold, and there were several barrels and boxes. Blankets shrouded some items, and at the other end of the room was a door on the opposite side of the room.

  “What is this place?” Astor breathed out in awe, reaching out to touch the closest piece of gold, but Beru grabbed him by the wrist, stopping him just before he made contact.

  “Don’t touch anything. It could be a trap. No one would leave this in the middle of nowhere without it being some kind of trap.”

  “There could be food in here. We have to have a look.” Astor pleaded with him, then strategically walked in the opposite direction.

  “Just don’t touch anything.” Beru was stern.

  “I’m sure we’re fine.” Astor grabbed a gold spoon off a box without warning.

  Iri grabbed Astor’s shirt and pulled him back, as a knife thudded into the floor where he’d been standing seconds earlier.

  Chapter 24

  With Astor hauled off to the side and being reprimanded by Iri, we all remained motionless in place until Beru told us to move.

  “I remember these things.” Beru rubbed his head. “I can’t think of from where.”

  “What do you remember?” I tried to coach him through it. He’d led us there for a reason. To find the random temple buried in the sand. Maybe he knew what to do to keep us safe now.

  “That box. If you open it from the top, it will catch fire. You have to open it another way.” Beru stepped around the object in question, trying peer through the crack in the lid. He pulled a lever and the boxed opened easily from the side.

  I held my breath, waiting for something bad to happen, but nothing did.

  “How did you know that was there?” Sade looked impressed.

  “These were the tests. In order for me to have the stone, I had to pass them. It’s all here.” Beru spun around, as he looked at everything in the room.

  “Do you remember how to do them all?” It had been over two hundred years since the last time he was there. Even if he had his memories, it would be a long time for anyone to recall.

  “I don’t know.” Beru examined everything from a safe distance, not approaching anything at first. “I remember this one. And this.” He began to point out different objects in the room.

  “Does that mean the stone is in this room?” Iri sounded hopeful.

  Beru shrugged one shoulder. “It might be. We’ll have to pass each test again to find out.” Beru started at the beginning of the room, near the entrance. “They went in order. The box was first and was the easiest one to figure out.”

  “What’s next?” I looked around the room as if they would be numbered or something.

  “The Barrel.” Beru stood before it and scratched his head. “I don’t remember that one quite as well.

  “Take your time.” Astor patted his back heartily.

  Beru shrugged Astor’s hand off his back with a growl, startling Astor, who took a step backward and bumped into a crate. It fell to the ground.

  None of us moved, barely breathing, waiting for the fire or knives to appear.

  Nothing happened.

  “Don’t move. Just stand there and don’t move,” Beru snarled at Astor, who was frozen in terror already.

  “What about the barrel?” I tried to move his focus back to solving puzzles.

  “It’s not the top. I think maybe it’s one of the panels?”

  “How do you know which one? They all look the same to me.” Sade examined them, tilting her head from side to side.

  “Look for a small number. I think it’s black. A number t
wo. There will be other numbers on it as well, though, so don’t touch it until you’re certain.” Beru looked over the numbers and let out a grunt when he found the panel. “It’s here.”

  “How do you open it?” Sade squinted at the panel.

  “I don’t remember.” Beru exhaled a large gust of air as he struggled to figure it out.

  “We need to stay calm. We have as much time as we need.” I tried to be the voice of reason, but had no idea if what I was saying was true.

  Beru was normally calm and I didn’t want him flipping out on this challenge.

  “Stand back.” He stood next to the barrel, placing his hand on the top of the numbered panel, and pushed down. The barrel opened, and a small metal object appeared inside. He took it out with a steady hand.

  “What is it?” I leaned in to look.

  “This will help us with the next puzzle. We need to find a green box. But don’t touch it if you find it.” Beru began to search.

  We scoured the room for the green box. I was, leery of knocking over anything or touching more than the floor in case it would start off a deadly chain reaction.

  “I’ve got it,” Sade called from the left side of the room. “It’s under this yellow box.”

  “Don’t move it,” Beru yelled as he ran toward the box. “I remember this one, and it needs to be done perfectly.”

  “Or what will happen?” I wasn’t sure I wanted to know.

  “It will explode.” Beru moved around the box, stepping lightly as if avoiding even moving the air next to it. He stopped when saw a hole, then stuck the metal object in. With a tiny ‘pop’ the box opened.

  “There’s nothing inside.” Astor leaned over to look, slumping with disappointment.

  “There isn’t supposed to be.”

  “What are we looking for this time?”

  “I can’t remember. But it’s red.”

  “This is red.” Sade pointed to a small box under the table.

  “So is this.” I pointed to another small box that sat next to a cage. They were both red, and judging from Beru’s face, he wasn’t sure which was the right one.