Dreamwalker

by J. A. Culican

  It had been about a week since I had been home, and for the first time, I was excited to go. I needed things to at least appear normal.

  I took one of the horses we kept on reserve for healing and headed to our homestead on the opposite side of Rilyo, taking as many shortcuts as I could to get home.

  As I came through the clearing, the site of the small house with smoke rising from the chimney immediately called for me. It was difficult to remember why I stayed away so often.

  When I opened the door, the small room was crammed with my parents, brothers, and some of their family waiting for me with a full harvest meal. Everyone was there for me.

  I first noticed a very pregnant Vinsha, my oldest brother Damour’s wife, and they had never seemed happier.

  “About time you showed up.” Damour rubbed my head, ruffling my hair like I was still a little kid.

  “I came as soon as I could.” My voice lowered. For just a second, seeing everyone together made me forget the pain from the past couple of days.

  “We get it.” Damour’s voice was forgiving.

  Raiding had been something we’d had to deal with over the years, but they’d killed more people in the past few raids. Damour lost his young shop boy just a few weeks ago.

  “My daughter is home after a round of healing people.” Mother squeezed me tightly as she held back tears. She pulled back from me, and we both shared a look. She knew I needed to be here, and she wasn't going to ask any questions.

  “Gavin.” I squealed as I ran toward him and knelt as I wrapped my arms around his body, careful not to topple over his wheelchair. It still pained me to see him in that chair after all these years. One stupid mistake because of childhood arrogance and a lifetime to pay for playing around with magic.

  “I missed you.” Gavin squeezed around me weakly. As I pulled back from him, something had changed, and it made me feel a little queasy.

  “Let your best-looking brother give you a hug,” Denny called from behind me.

  I was about to face him as he hugged around my waist and swung me around. He was well built from working the farm from sun up to sun down. His long blond tail whipped about as we almost fell over.

  “Let me down!”

  “Say it!”

  “Never.” I giggled.

  “That’s enough, children,” my father interrupted our play.

  Before I could say anything, he led me to the table. “Only the best seat in the house for our daughter.” He sat me at the head of the table.

  I grimaced, knowing how much of a failure I had been to them. This special treatment was likely the result of the gossip about the raids and healing I had done.

  It had been too long since all of us were under the same roof. But there was always one missing. My brother, Harov, had moved out without saying goodbye. Since then, everything had changed. With each of us losing friends in these raids, we were thankful we still had most of our loved ones left unharmed.

  “It is always a good day when my children are together.” My mother stood with a proud, strong expression on her face, opposite of her frail body and hunched back.

  “It’s good to be home.” Though it also felt weird to be here under the circumstances.

  “Let’s revel in today. Now, let’s all eat up.” Mother raised her glass.

  “There’s talk about the skirmish.” Damour settled in to eat. “The numbers were rather large this time.”

  “We won, which is the main point.” I somehow doubted that.

  “Just barely.”

  “You weren't there.” His tone irked me. He’d never been in battle.

  “No, thank goodness, I was not.” Damour was unapologetic.

  Mother gripped her spoon. “There will be no discussions of fighting at this table.”

  She never liked discussing difficult topics.

  “I’ve heard the old Greys no longer have an outhouse.” Gavin exchanged a glance with me, laughing to try and break the thick mood that had settled around the table.

  I could count on him to make me laugh when I thought it wasn’t possible. I needed to laugh right now, to not see the injured every time I closed my eyes.

  “It was old and shabby anyways.” I smiled back at him. He was not in favor of me becoming a healer. He’d wanted me to be a fighter, and he knew that was all I ever wanted to be.

  “We need to let Aria rest. I imagine she's had a very rough day today.” Father gave us all a stern look.

  How I missed that look. It reminded me of simpler times when staying out late was the worst thing I could do.

  We finished our meal, and my brothers helped clean up the dishes while my parents and I sat by the fire.

  “I’m proud of you.” My father reached over and rubbed my arm.

  They were words I once thought I’d never hear from my father. I had only given them one disappointment after another.

  I’d missed our late-night discussions and stories about his youth and his fighting days. We weren't allowed to discuss them in front of Mother, but he shared my love for fighting. He had been the one that had told me about the Dark War and how the ur’gel were created. The stories had been passed down from generation to generation. Dag’draath had tried to conquer the world more than two hundred and fifty years ago and had been vanquished. He’d planted the seed of distrust in the hearts of all who survived, and since that time dragons, humans, and elves had never gotten along. These stories had been special between us.

  “I know I’ve not said that many times.” He rocked in his chair as he fiddled with his hands.

  “There were lots of times when you couldn’t say it.” I flattened my hands over my legs, not wanting to copy him. Something he had passed on to me when I was uncomfortable.

  “Don't frighten her away.” My mother gave a gentle push to my father and smiled at both of us.

  “It's just been very tiring.” I wiped my eyes.

  “It’s not easy being the one who solves problems.”

  “I can’t stop thinking it. Especially the children.”

  Mother hugged me. “You’ll do just fine. Take it one day at a time. If you can’t, then one hour at a time.”

  I hadn’t thought I had a tear left in me, but I could hardly explain away the water running down my cheeks. “I think I just need some time to rest.”

  “Then you must sleep, my child, please.” My mother pointed toward their bedroom, the one good bed in the small house. Our beds were made from straw.

  “I can't.” I shook my head at my mother as she stood and directed me from the floor into the room.

  “We’ll take your bed. You need a good rest. I'll close the curtain and make sure the noise is kept down.”

  I didn’t argue with her as I rubbed my burning eyes. I desperately needed to sleep.

  She kissed my forehead, and then pulled the curtain closed.

  I turned toward the bed and took off my shoes. The murmurs in the kitchen were like a sweet song.

  It didn't take me long to fall asleep. The aches and pains of my body simply drifted away as I sank into the bed.

  Reality mixed with dreams.

  ***

  The land of living trees and plants had all died. The sky was dark without a sun. The ground was moist with a very unpleasant smell. My feet were firmly planted in the mud, without any wiggle room. I knew where I was, but how could it be? The Barren Wastes?

  There was someone far in the distance. I called out to him, but it was as if he couldn't hear me. I began to walk toward him as I dragged my feet in the mud, then suddenly it was like something took over my body, and it was forcing me toward the stranger. He turned around and saw me. The look on his face was pure agony. His hands reached out to me, and a surge of energy connected me to him.

  I felt his pain, and it was shocking. His anger at his condition shook me to my core as the sensation terrified me. Someone had hurt him. They wanted him to die.

  He wasn’t handsome. He had rugged features and was tattooed with man
y battle awards. His body was muscular yet thin from lack of food. His wrist showed signs of detainment, and his body was covered in dirt and blood.

  I tried to get to him faster, but there was no sun, moon, or stars—just darkness. As I got closer to him, I could see another large figure walk toward us. I began to feel frightened, but I wasn’t sure why. Everything began to happen in slow motion. I knew what was going to happen to the man, but I couldn't move anymore. I couldn't help him.

  In the distance, an ur’gel grew closer. I wanted to scream out to warn him, but he stood there, staring at me. His eyes welled with tears as if he had been waiting for me for an exceptionally long time. I felt like I had been waiting for this moment as well.

  As our eyes connected, I felt his pain, his fear, his wants. Tears flowed from my eyes as the pain in my heart became almost unbearable. I needed to get him out.

  I was unable to do anything as the ur’gel attacked the man. The fight was intense and life-giving. The man tried his best. However, he was very weak, yet he blocked every attempt. The ur’gel swung at him fiercely, and the man avoided his sword by mere inches each time. My body shook in frustration. I wanted to run to him, but I was stuck in the mud, still unable to move.

  The tip of the sword swiped the man on his side and pierced his skin. It was only a flesh wound, and if I could only get to him, I could heal him. I tried with everything I had inside of me to move. I lifted one foot. I squealed in delight, and the man looked my way. The ur’gel saw his window of opportunity and raised his sword, bringing it down, cutting into the man’s hand.

  I felt the most excruciating pain in my left hand. My gaze dropped to my left, and all I saw was blood. Panicked, I glanced back to the man and saw him on the ground, his hand reaching toward me . . .

  A scream shot through my head.

  I sat up, shaking with fear.

  The scream had been mine.

  I was light-headed and felt wet. I looked down at the sheets, and they were covered in blood.

  How had I hurt my hand? In the dream? That didn’t even make sense. I must have hit it on something while I had that dream. That made sense.

  But that was a lie. I wished more than anything that it was all just a dream.

  That he was okay.

  That it wasn't real.

  But it was real.

  I pushed my thoughts far away and got ready for work. I hid my injured hand from my parents and my brothers the best I could. They’d worry about me, and I didn't dare tell them about my dream. I wrapped my hand and squeezed it into my leather glove. It throbbed, and I cringed at the pain. I just had to make it to the door.

  I placed my hand over the wound and forced as much energy as I could into it, but the cut was too deep. I’d ask Noble for his help as soon as I returned to Mother Ofburg’s.

  Damour was in the kitchen when I peeked out of the bedroom, making breakfast. I pulled the curtain back, not wanting him to realize I’d awakened. I walked quietly toward the front door and touched the doorknob, hoping for a quick getaway.

  “Aria,” Damour’s gravelly voice called, “where are you sneaking off to?”

  “I didn't want to wake anyone.” My stomach grumbled at the smell of pig bits being cooked, and it won out over the throbbing pain in my hand. I walked over to the pan and grabbed a few bits, then turned back toward the door.

  “They didn’t want to wake you, so they went out to pull some corn for later today.” Damour turned his attention back to cooking but the hint of annoyance in his voice lingered.

  “What’s your problem?”

  “You.”

  “Me?”

  “The way you prance in here, expecting whatever you want. Head of the table, the best bed.”

  “I didn’t ask for either of those things.”

  “You didn’t turn them down either.”

  Damour never had a problem calling me out. He thought I was spoiled being the only girl in the family. But I wasn’t about to feel guilty. Luckily, he was never hard-core about it.

  “You’re almost ready to be a dad.” I smiled at the thought and sat down at the end of the table, facing him.

  “It’s something I’ve always wanted.” Damour stirred the pot. “That’s why I know how Mom and Dad feel. They need to be tougher on you.”

  My face flushed with embarrassment. He was right. I needed to get over the resentment I had for them pushing me into being a healer.

  “And this fighting thing? It’s over, right?” Damour’s expression challenged me to respond.

  “No fighting.”

  “I made yours to go.” He nodded to a bowl wrapped in leather. “I figured you would eat on the way to work.” His attention diverted back to the steaming pot.

  “Thank you.” I got up and almost used my left hand to push myself up. My legs wobbled in anticipation of the potential pain I just avoided.

  I grabbed the bowl, giving him a peck on the cheek before heading to the door. It swung open, and Mother, Father, and Denny walked in.

  “Are you leaving already?” Mother hugged me for a brief moment, then continued into the house.

  “I’m sorry. I overslept. I’ve got to get back to Mother Ofburg to see what I can do to help.” I moved to slip through the door.

  “She will be needing all the help that she can get.”

  I hugged my father and nodded at Denny who was already at the table stuffing his face with food.

  “Where’s Gavin?” I didn’t want to leave without seeing him.

  “Not far behind us.” Denny’s arm flung out and pointed toward the door as he spoke around a mouthful of food.

  The sun hit my face and brought on an immediate smile. I loved this land and the peace that came with it.

  A shriek coming from the barn startled me, followed by a few curse words. I glanced toward my horse, and for a mere second debated jumping on and pretending I didn’t hear anything. I shook my head and headed to the barn, wondering what stupid thing Gavin had done now.

  As I entered the barn, Gavin sat in his wheelchair with broken glass all around him

  “Gavin.” I chuckled as I came up to him. “What are you doing?”

  “Don’t bring any more attention. I don’t want the prying ears to find out.” Gavin leaned over in his chair as he grabbed the glass.

  He was practicing magic again.

  “A spell?” I knelt over to help pick up the glass.

  “I may have found a way.” Gavin shifted his head from side to side as if he was debating on how much he could trust me with. “You can’t tell anyone. Promise me.”

  “I promise.” I stooped in front of him, waiting for him to tell me more.

  “Something just happened to come to me by some means.”

  I rolled my eyes at the thought of him keeping a secret from me, especially with how many things we kept hidden from everyone over the years. “What is it, and where did you get it?”

  “It was given to me, but I can’t tell you from who, and don’t think you can pressure me to tell you. I don’t even know if it will work.” He pulled at the wheels of his chair and moved past me.

  I stood. Perhaps I could help him with what I had learned from Mother Ofburg. “I can help.” I followed him out of the barn.

  “No. You can’t get involved.”

  “But I can help more now.” Goosebumps tickled my arms at the thought of Gavin not being able to trust me.

  “No. You need to act like you know nothing. That’s how you can help me.” Gavin’s cheeks flushed, and his jaw tightened.

  I nodded in agreement. It still bothered me he wouldn’t share this new development, and it was all because I was too busy with my apprenticeship. I hadn’t thought he would hold that against me.

  “I know nothing.” The thought of our close bond not being there hurt.

  “One day I will tell you everything. I promise.” Gavin threw some hay at me with a devilish grin.

  “Deal.” We both linked our thumbs together in our secret cod
e.

  “Now, you better get off to work, because I hear that Mother Ofburg can be something fierce.” He smiled almost like he loved the idea of me getting into trouble.

  I leaned over and hugged him. “See you, little one.” I ruffled his hair and ran off before he could grab my hand. “Gotcha.”

  He swung his arms out to catch me, but I was too quick.

  I ran at a steady pace and managed to get up on my horse without hurting my hand more. The ride back to Mother Ofburg’s healing hut in Rilyo took longer, and each pounce of the horse made my hand throb. I had never been so happy to see that little hut.

  As soon as my feet hit the ground, I made my way to find Noble. He was still in the hut tending to the wounded, which seemed to be dwindling. When we made eye contact, he dismissed himself from his case and walked over to me.

  “How is your mother doing?”

  “Better. She’ll make a full recovery.”

  “What’s wrong?” He grabbed my arms and I winced.

  I lifted my gloved hand. It was twice the size of my other.

  He slipped his hand under my elbow and guided me to a room off the main hall. “How’d this happen?” He skillfully cut the glove off in one swipe.

  “On the farm. I was stupid. Not paying attention.” I held my breath as the pain intensified as my hand throbbed.

  Noble brought my hand up to his face to examine the wound.

  “This is not a farm wound. It’s from an ur’gel sword. You promised me you wouldn’t go off and fight.” He pressed his lips together and frowned.

  “Can you help me?” I didn’t want to go to Mother Ofburg for help. She would demand to know the full story.

  He pointed at a chair for me to sit down in.

  I obeyed. The less talking, the better.

  He brought over a bowl and placed my hand into it. He stepped out of the room and, a few moments later, returned with a bucket of hot water.

  “We have to disinfect first.” Noble mixed some cooler water in with the hot. He poured the water into the bowl, and my hand became submerged. It stung and burned. I sat still and didn’t move. I just wanted this over with. Every time I closed my eyes, the man from the dream reached for me.