Dreamwalker

by J. A. Culican

  “I won’t dreamwalk,” I muttered for reinforcement. I closed my eyes, but I was still awake inside. My body was exhausted, but my brain was running on overtime. Beru claimed my headspace.

  I flipped over again, this time hard as if to shake him out. “Just let me sleep,” I said to anyone listening. I mustn’t see Beru tonight. Svan will be back tomorrow with Gavin. I repeated that line over and over until I finally began to drift away.

  Tomorrow I would wake, Gavin would be in Western March, and I’d never dreamwalk again.

  “It’ll be hard for them to get through.” Sade walked through the market with Iri and me.

  “They’d be fools to try,” Iri added as he picked up an apple from a vendor, and the woman flirted with him.

  “Do you ever pay for anything?” Sade poked Iri as we carried on down the road and looked for weak links as the city fortified its buildings for a possible attack.

  “It’s good for morale,” Iri huffed back at Sade.

  It was nice seeing them get along. Not long ago, they might had been on different sides. Just as Sade had been with the ur’gel. Iri stepped away from us to help a D'ahvol add metal poles to his windows.

  “You two seem much more comfortable together.”

  Sade shrugged it off. “He’s okay. But he’s not that okay.” She raised her eyebrows at me as a warning.

  “He’s kinda handsome.” I nodded my head toward him.

  Sade crunched up her nose.

  I laughed and decided not to push this any further. But it did make me wonder who Sade’s type was.

  “Over there.” Sade nodded at a young man who struggled to carry materials while wrangling his daughter at the same time. “Can we be of any help?”

  “Yes please.” The man dropped his basket and grabbed his daughter just before she almost ran in front of a horse.

  “Let me.” I picked up the little girl, who was no more than four.

  “She’s a handful.” The man pushed his basket of metal closer to his window.

  “She’s adorable,” I said.

  Sade knelt over and dug through his basket.

  “Are these for the windows?” Sade pulled out the most usable pieces.

  “Yes, I’ve gathered everything we had. I’m not sure what would be of most use.”

  “Are you alone here?” I tried to keep the little girl entertained in my arms.

  “Yes, it’s just my sister and me. My father is at the front line. It’s grim.” The man shook his head.

  “They’ll hold the line.” Sade placed her hand on his shoulder.

  Sade turned from me just as I thought I caught a glimpse of a tear.

  “I’ll take her now.” The man took the little girl inside.

  “These won’t work.” Sade knelt again and sifted through the metal pieces. “Too easy to break.”

  “Not if they are all together.” I bent over and picked up pieces of metal and looked at the window for size. I eyeballed it and pieced together a covering.

  “That’ll work.” Sade took my covering over to the window.

  I smiled and still hoped Svan would return today with his men and Gavin.

  “They should be back soon.” I stood and turned toward the direction of the desert.

  “He won’t make his move unless he is sure he can grab Gavin. It could still be days.”

  The man came back out of his house alone with more material.

  “That’s perfect.” He put his hands on his knees and inspected my work. “I’m afraid I’m too frazzled to have figured this out myself. I can carry on from here. Thank you.”

  Sade and I said our goodbyes to the man and headed back down the road to where Iri had been helping another family. As we approached, he walked off to meet us.

  “That family set?” he asked.

  “They are now.”

  “How are you doing? No dreamwalking last night?” Sade asked.

  “No dreamwalking. I swear.” I held my hands up.

  “Any connection to Beru?” Sade asked cautiously.

  “No. nothing.”

  “That’s a good thing.” Sade smiled as she bumped into me. “Right?”

  “Yes, a good thing.” I forced a grin.

  “Iri,” someone called from behind us.

  We all turned around to see a young boy as he ran to catch up with us. As soon as he was within a few feet from us, he stopped to catch his breath,

  “They made it to the front line.” The boy’s chest heaved up and down as he settled down.

  “How bad is it?” Iri stepped out in front of us to ask the boy.

  “I wasn’t there long before Father sent me back. They are stronger than expected.” The boy was visibly shaken.

  “What did you see?” Iri leaned down to eye level with the boy.

  “They made it through the desert. There’s so many. They just keep coming.” The boy trembled as he told what he had seen.

  “And our men? Were they able to hold them off?” Iri asked as he tried not to pressure the boy too much.

  “Yes, I mean, I think so,” the boy said with one quick head shake.

  “I’ll send more men down.” Iri patted the boy on his back.

  “You run along home to your mother. She’ll be worried for nothing. And let’s keep this between us.” Iri pinched the boy’s cheek.

  He nodded and took off running.

  “The ur’gel are strong. They must know Xagu has died if they attacked.” Sade crossed her arms as she watched the boy.

  “Or it may be the welcome from our front line,” I added.

  “We’re able to fight from further away. If our men can hold them back, there may be little upfront combat,” Iri advised.

  Sade and I nodded as we continued down the road.

  Iri led as we took a small alley to another part of the city. The buildings in this area were run down, almost forgotten.

  “What happened here?” I was confused at how upscale the city had seemed and then this.

  “What do you mean?” Iri turned to me, confused.

  “Nothing.” Sade slapped my arm as she walked past us. “Are you coming?”

  “It’s just over here,” Iri stated as he entered a building. Sade followed him with me hesitantly behind them.

  Once inside, it was much nicer. Someone played an instrument in a back room, and it bellowed through the halls. A group of D'ahvol stood around a large table at the back of the room as they leaned over what appeared to be maps.

  “Iri.” The men appeared happy to see him, then stepped in front of the maps when they noticed us.

  “They are with me,” Iri said, and the men relaxed.

  Iri walked over to the table as Sade and I held back. Iri leaned over the maps and moved some of the papers around.

  “We need reinforcements here and here.” Iri pointed his finger to several places on the map.

  “We have a group ready to leave soon. We can split them up.” One of the men took note of where Iri pointed out.

  “The ur’gel have reached the line, my friends,” Iri advised grimly.

  Both men stood back surprised, no other words needed. It was understood what this meant.

  “I’ll gather more men.” The quieter of the men trampled out of the room.

  “They’re days ahead of us.” The man looked back at the map with Iri.

  “We mustn’t spare anything. The ur’gel can’t make it back to our families,” Iri stressed.

  “Understood. I’ll check our stock of weapons and send everything we can,” the man said as he started for the door.

  “Leave some for the city to use, just in case,” Iri called after him. The man stopped just before the door and nodded to Iri before he left.

  “You think they’ll breach?” I asked Iri, whose back was to me as he studied the maps.

  “We can’t hold that many men back for long.” Iri gazed over the map to strategize.

  “Do you want us to stay here or go to the line?” Sade asked.


  “You’ll both stay with me. They want Aria. We must protect her. If they get what they want, there’ll be no Western March or Low Forest.” Iri took a break from his maps.

  A knock on the door startled us. Iri jumped to his feet to open it.

  “I have grave news.” A young man stood at the door as Iri waved him into the command center.

  “Svan and his team were killed early this morning.” He held his hat in his hands and wrung it as he delivered his message.

  Time seemed to stand still. Everyone froze as the impossible had happened. Svan was dead, and my only hope for getting Gavin back was gone.

  “Are you certain?” I broke from my group, and I grabbed onto his arm.

  “Yes. They’d almost made it out with the boy but were attacked in the woods by a sorcerer.” The man’s eyes were wide and watery.

  “Aria.” Sade was by my side, but I couldn’t lessen my grip on the man.

  “Who told you this?” Iri gently removed me from the man and placed me in a chair.

  “Moran did, sir. He told me to find you right away to tell you.” The man stood at attention as he looked for approval from Iri.

  “Did he tell you anything else?”

  “Just that you would know what to do. Do you have any messages for me, sir?” the young man asked.

  “No. Not now. Go see your family, then return to the line after you have eaten,” Iri directed as he walked back to his maps.

  “Yes, sir.” He turned on his heels and left.

  Sade closed the door behind him.

  “Svan is dead.” I sat in my chair, unable to move.

  It took a few moments for us to gather our thoughts and process our loss. The loss of a great dreamwalker who had been advantageous to Western March. One of few left.

  “What do we do next?” I stood as I broke our silence.

  Iri scratched his head as he leaned on the table.

  Sade crouched down in front of the fire. Neither responded.

  “There has to be something.” I walked to the middle of the room, about to have a meltdown.

  Iri took to the map and located where Svan and his crew had been going to rescue Gavin.

  “This is the area,” Iri added. “Our scout said there were few ur’gel there. Just enough to look after your brother.”

  “Plus, the sorcerer,” Sade chimed in.

  “Have you ever fought a sorcerer?” I turned to Iri.

  “No. Sade?” he asked.

  “Nope.” Sade walked over to the map. She leaned over to look at the area where they had Gavin.

  “Do you have a plan?”

  “I don’t know yet.” Sade studied the maps. “I’ve traveled these areas quite a bit over the years. I know I can get us there unseen.”

  “But?”

  “The sorcerer,” Sade replied. “That’s the missing piece.”

  “Can we bring Idok?” I grasped at any possible plan.

  “He won’t leave,” Iri stated as he folded his arms across his chest.

  “Astor?”

  “I like Astor, but this is too dangerous.” Sade took a seat at the table with the maps.

  “He’s not ready for something like this.” Iri nodded toward Sade.

  “Then who?” I needed an answer. There had to be someone in the Western March that would be willing to fight a sorcerer.

  “We’ll do it.” Iri nodded his head.

  “We need someone with magic.” Sade plopped down on a chair next to the table.

  “I’ll find a way. Stay here.” Iri headed out into the city.

  Sade sat back and lifted her leg to the arm of the chair and swung it back and forth.

  I laid my head back on the chair and debated what we should do. It wasn’t right of me to ask Iri and Sade to put their lives on the line just so I could get my brother back. If I brought Beru back and he was the man I thought he was, then all this was for nothing. If he was not and he was pure evil, then we were in a worse situation than we were in now.

  “I know what you’re thinking,” Sade interrupted my thoughts.

  “What’s that?”

  “You want to free Beru.” Sade kicked up her feet on top of the table, making herself comfortable.

  “If he’s innocent of what they say, it could be the answer to everything.” If Sade agreed, I would be more comfortable in my choice.

  “He’s in prison because he worked for Dag'draath. You seem to keep forgetting that little bit of information.” Sade rolled her eyes as she flipped her head back on the chair to rest.

  I wouldn’t test her anymore today. I needed to talk to Beru again. To confront him about everything. Then I’d decide if I should bring him back or not.

  I slouched down in my chair as I eyed Sade, who had closed her eyes.

  I knew what I had to do. Tonight I’d visit Beru and find out once and for all why he fought for Dag'draath.

  I marched to Svan’s using the excuse I needed food and sleep. As I entered, I went straight to my bed, plopped down, and willed myself to dreamwalk.

  Nothing happened.

  I sat up and pushed myself back against the bed, angry I still had not mastered the ability to will myself into a dreamwalk. The little voice inside me reminded me I needed to calm down. I had to be in control to dreamwalk. I shook my arms out and relaxed my body by taking several large breaths through my nose and out my mouth.

  I felt weighed down. This was a sign I was about to slip into a dream. I put all my attention into Beru’s energy and concentrated on being with him in prison. My muscles spasmed, and when I opened my eyes, I was in the prison.

  I scoped out the area I first appeared in. Normally I’d be close to Beru, but this time I was alone. I wasn’t familiar with this location, but I knew it was somewhere in the prison. I walked down the hallway, cautious of any movement around me. It was grim, the walls painted a dull grey, a hue from the color of the floor. It was windowless, and most of the candles had burned down to their wick’s stem.

  I caught my reflection on a shiny surface and figured anyone could see me. I needed to be invisible, and there really was no time like the present to practice.

  I brought my hands to my chest and thought about my image disappearing in the reflection. I stared at my reflection and concentrated on vanishing. Within a couple of tries, I was no longer visible. I tried to contain my excitement at how quickly I was able to dreamwalk now and control being in both worlds.

  I explored the hallways and came across where the prison cells were. The men had been held in small cells, where they showered, ate, slept, and used their chamber pots. They were not in good shape at all. Why had Beru been able to walk about on his own?

  After I walked around for what seemed like forever, I heard chatter on the far left of the hall and a familiar voice. As I neared the cell, Beru spoke to two other men.

  “Give it to us.” One of them threw his hot water at Beru, barely missing him.

  “Now.” The other man pretended to poke him with a stick.

  I stepped into the cell to see what the men wanted. Beru sat on his bed with a plate of food, not enough for a man to survive on, and these men wanted it.

  “Take it,” Beru growled as he threw it on the floor. “I can’t die anyway.”

  The men scrambled to the floor and grabbed at each piece as they shoved it in their mouths.

  Beru lay back down in his bed, not caring who got what.

  As soon as they finished, the men left his cell.

  It had been a few days since I had seen him last. I had just about lost my nerve to ask him those tough questions, but I reminded myself Gavin was my reason for being here. I had no choice but to get more information before I made my decision.

  “I know you’re here,” Beru said quietly, not moving on his bed. “You can’t show yourself in here. It’s not safe.”

  I froze and wondered how many times he had known I had been here when I thought I was invisible.

  “Follow me.” He flipped his feet over the
edge of his bed and stood. He wore only a thin, ripped pair of pants. He reared tall as he stretched his arms out and showed off his lithe, muscular body.

  Beru grabbed his white fur and threw it over his shoulders. The only bright thing in his cell. He walked out of his cell and down the long corridor as the other inmates yelled obscenities and tossed their garbage at him. He acted as if none of it happened.

  As we reached the door to leave the prison, he pushed it open, and fresh air hit our faces. He walked till we reached the pit where I had visited him before. He got down on his knees and rubbed two sticks together to create a fire. It lit within a few strokes, and he added kindling to the fire.

  “You gonna show yourself or just watch me?” He sat back as he waited for me to appear.

  I concentrated on him seeing me and managed to transition quickly.

  “I told you not to come back here.” Beru pointed the stick he had in his hand at me, then tossed it in his fire.

  “I came back to tell you why I have been coming here to see you.”

  Beru didn’t move or give much of a reaction. He simply kept watch over the fire.

  “Are you interested to know?”

  “No. I’m not, Aria. Because it doesn’t matter. This is my life, and I’m condemned to it for eternity.”

  “I need to know why you’re here, with them.” I pointed back to the prison. He wasn’t one of them.

  “I’m a prisoner.” Beru slid his leg out in front of him, reached down in his boot, and pulled out a piece of bread.

  “Why did you give most of your food away? You need it.”

  “You don’t understand how it works here, and I don’t care to explain.”

  The conversation turned sour quickly. I had to get him to see me as a friend. To want to talk to me before I made my decision. I would have to hit him hard with a question he wouldn’t like.

  “Then explain this. Why did you work for Dag'draath? And how did you get put in a cell?”

  Beru grumbled and shifted in his seat.

  “Don’t ever mention that name again.” Beru threw a log on the fire.

  “You were his Lieutenant.” I stood and wanted to stomp my feet on the ground like a child.