by Tim Paulson
As she suspected, the boy was asleep but writhing, like a trout pulled from the river. He was having another of the dreams. It had to be stopped.
“Adem!” she yelled at him as she approached the bed. “Wake up!”
“Titi! No! I won't!” the boy yelled. “I want my father... I want my father!” Adem cried, his arms flailing around him. His covers were already on the floor, having been kicked off when the dream began.
The lights were starting to brighten again. She could feel the power emanating from him. It was incredible. Never had a child been like this.
Winnie grabbed the boys shoulders, shaking him gently but urgently. “Adem! Wake up right now!”
“Titi I don't want to!” Adem yelled, his eyes still tightly shut as his bedside veil lamp became like a miniature blue white sun.
Even with her eyes clamped shut the light was too bright.
“Adam! Stop it! Whatever you are doing! You must stop!” she shouted.
The boy's eyes opened. The lights dimmed to nothing. Leaving the two of them in the boy's darkened room, with just the morning sun showing through his brown curtains.
“Are you alright Adem?” Winnie asked him.
His lip quivered, tears grew in the corners of his eyes. He said nothing however, only sitting up to put his head against her chest. Winnie wrapped her arms around him.
“All is well little one. You're safe now,” she said softly.
The boy sobbed in her chest as she held him, letting him be. It was true that children required instructions, but there were also times when the best thing for them was to allow them to be as they were. That wasn't something she'd learned from the order, but from her grandmother, one of the wisest women to have ever lived in her opinion. Winnie missed her.
As Adem sniffled and rubbed his face against her nightgown, she leaned forward just a bit. A single line of smoke was coming from the floor beside the boy's bed. It took a bit of straining, but she saw what it was. The trainer had melted and fallen to the floor.
At least it hadn't set his sheets alight this time, being awakened by flashing light was far preferable to the smell of smoke. Still... this was the third one in three months, and the last was less than two weeks ago. Whatever was happening to this boy, it was getting worse.
“Everything is alright now. Everything is fine. It's all over.”
Adem nodded, his face still buried in her chest. “I know,” he replied.
“Can you tell me anything about your dream?”
The boy shook his head, the tight golden curls shook like bunches of wheat in strong wind. They were starting to grow long again.
“You're sure? Nothing? What about Titi?”
The boy stopped shaking his head, he stopped doing anything.
“Do you know who that is? Can you tell me?”
“No,” Adem said.
“I see,” she responded. “Well let's go downstairs and have some breakfast and maybe then you'll remember. Would you like some apfelkuchen?”
Adem's eyes appeared then, peering from the folds of her shirt. They were deep blue, like the deepest parts of the sea, a stark contrast with his smooth brown skin, but not unwelcome, not at all. The boy was a joy honestly. He'd been learning with exceptional speed, both the regular lessons, and those just for talented children, but more than that... he was sensitive and loving. She'd grown very fond of him.
“Yes,” he said.
“Well go on downstairs and wash up and I'll be down in a moment to cut you a slice. Nothing tastes better after a difficult time than something sweet, yes?”
He nodded.
“Good. Off you go.”
The boy slid from the bed and was gone from the room in a flash.
Winifred sighed. She would have to get yet another trainer bracelet from storage. Her right hand went to the brooch at her neck, the one that she could flip to reveal the form of a dragon.
The boy knew more than he was telling her, that much was certain. Something would have to be done, and soon.
Chapter 6
"They say Pallus is the city of love but I disagree. Duvin is far better if you're looking for a husband. It's a mining town and there are four men for every woman."
-Printer Geoffroy Desmarais, printed in his Duvin column Ma Vie Solitaire, 1612
Giselle pointed at Piotr. “Speak!”
He held up his hands. “All right, all right. I am... uh... associate of small guild here. We do various things of questionable legality.”
“So you're a thief,” Ina said.
Piotr held up his hands. “Eh... this is debatable. Do I sometimes steal? Yes, but I do for my guild. Is like big family.”
“A family of thieves,” Ina said.
Piotr shrugged.
“What does this have to do with my home?” Giselle asked. “You said you knew something about Aeyrdfeld.”
Piotr nodded, his long whiskers twitching. “Yes I am knowing things. Being part of guild, is important. We share knowings.” He pointed to his chest. “I am knowing that republic guard was sent weeks ago to attack Ganex at Aeyrdfeld.”
“So the war isn't over!” Giselle replied. “But I thought-”
“You were supposed to thinking this. Printers print lies to keep secrets for those who run country.”
“You mean the Prime Minister?” Ina asked.
“No... Prime Minister is just lackey for Veil Company. Everyone knows. How you not know?”
Ina pursed her lips. “That's what my mother always says.”
Piotr nodded. “Smart lady.”
“So they might liberate Aeyrdfeld from the Ganex Imperials?”
“I am hearing that is assured. Republic army has new goliaths, very powerful. Cousin of mine saw them doing testing. They have golden eyes!” Piotr said, pointing to his own eyes.
Giselle jumped for joy. “Ina! Ina! I can't believe it. They'll be liberating Aeyrdfeld! Surely Aaron, Mother and Mia will come home then.”
“I'm not sure about that,” Ina replied, a single claw to her chin.
“What do you mean?” Giselle asked.
“Well... they passed those resolutions making your family criminals. If they take back the castle...”
Giselle's heart sank. “They'll just put them in the dungeon.”
“Or maybe in tree,” Piotr said, putting a hand around his own neck, making sure the girls knew what he meant.
Ina hit him with the rag. “Stop! That's her family!”
Piotr frowned. “You think I not lose family? We all lose family. That is how it is!”
Giselle's lips formed into a line. “No.”
Ina raised an eyebrow, looking back at her. “Huh?”
“I said no. I mean it. We need to go to Aeyrdfeld and save them before the republic gets there.”
“Are you mad?!” Ina snapped. “I need you here to help me, mother's sick! Not to mention how are you going to get... oh no.”
Giselle smiled. “Oh yes.”
“What? What is happening?” Piotr asked as he watched the two girls stare daggers at each other.
Giselle went to a storage closet and pulled out a wooden box. Ina ran over and put both hands on it, digging her claws into the wood.
“Giselle no! Mother said he's unpredictable and dangerous!”
“He is not! Well... a little. But let's be honest, she's just mad because he hit on her.”
“She's not just mad because of that... but I'm sure it's part of it,” Ina replied.
“See? Then her opinion is biased!” Giselle said, yanking the box from Ina's hands as the claws scraped against the wood.
“Giselle!” Ina said, pouting.
“Seriously... girls.. what you talking... Whoa. What that stink? Is worse than the skull thing!”
In the corner, Daniel's skull drooped again.
Giselle had opened the wooden box. From inside she extracted a doll. This one had been handcrafted by Ina's expert hands. It was shaped like a little man and fashioned from a patchwork of s
everal fabrics, each with a different pattern, but they worked well together. The effect was quite striking actually, especially when paired with the two blue glass eyes and the orange stitched mouth. On the back Ina had fabricated a little pocket, just the right size for the second item Giselle extracted from the box, Harald's green stone.
“Please, think it over,” Ina said, hands pressed together, begging.
“I have,” Giselle replied. “It's time I stop waiting around for Aaron and mother to come get me. I shall take my life by the horns, no offense Daniel, and find out what's happened.”
Daniel threw up two tentacles, looking exasperated.
“This is dangerous,” Ina said. “Haven't you had enough of being frightened? I know I have!”
Giselle placed the stone inside the doll, pulling the strings at the back together and tying them, then she put it down. “I know Ina... I won't take you with me.”
Harald sat up immediately, causing Piotr to emit a little screech and jump back, bumping into Daniel, who shook his head.
“What a menagerie you have here Giselle,” Harald said, standing up on the floor and inspecting his multi-colored hand. “At least there isn't a dragon.”
“Dragons are a myth... I read a book about it years ago,” Giselle said. “I remember because it made me quite sad.”
“Heh... that was probably written by one,” Harald said.
“Do you see what I'm saying?” Ina said. “He's not awake four seconds and he's already spouting nonsense.”
“Ah! Miss Ina... I see your mother's gotten to you. Nevertheless, I assume this new colorful body is your doing.”
Ina looked down at him. “Well... yes...”
Harald bowed low. “Why thank you my dear. Most charitable of you.”
Ina appeared to be blushing. “It's nothing... I just thought... it would look nice.”
Giselle poked her arm, smiling.
“What the heck is that thing?! Am I becoming crazy? Why is a doll... oh... oh...” Piotr said as something was dawning on his weasel face.
“That's right... he's a demon,” Giselle said, a wide smile gracing her features. “That's what the dierlijt call them right? I'm sure you've heard about it.”
Piotr's eyes were wide, they looked from Giselle to Harald and back again, scandalized.
“I think maybe, if you think he's scary, you should consider going back to your cousins because Harald is my only way back to Aeyrdfeld,” Giselle said.
“We're doing what now?” Harald asked.
Ina crossed her arms. “She's mad.”
Piotr studied the doll closely, leaning in, his beady eyes narrowed. “So this is demon of tale,” he said.
“Yes... it is. He's terrifying. You should go before he turns you into a newt,” Giselle said.
Harald waved his arm. “That's preposterous! I would never do such a thing, not on purpose anyway. However...” His arms clasped behind his back, he looked up at Piotr and Ina. “I'm interested to know about this tale. It's been three thousand years since sorcerers like myself have existed and you're telling me you have an oral tradition centered on us?”
Ina looked to Giselle, “A what?”
“It's a kind of story, one passed down from person to person... well, in your case dierlijt to dierlijt. We're getting off the trail here. Piotr, I'm going with Harald. Your people hate creatures like him. You wouldn't even come near the forest of whispers where Vex was living. Obviously you should take your leave.”
“Fascinating,” Harald said.
Piotr ignored Giselle, instead he addressed Harald. “Yes. We are having a story. All the kinds of us tell. Bad humans do bad things, gods force them into green stones. Always smash stones.”
Harald's eyes widened. “Now, now. Let's not be hasty.”
Giselle grumbled. Why wasn't Piotr taking her many hints?
Piotr pointed at Harald. “I will not... at this time. But I know stone can be smash,” he said, nodding slowly. “Do not forget demon doll.”
Harald gulped. “Yes... well... So where did you want to go?”
“I also coming,” Piotr said.
Giselle frowned. “Why! I don't need your help.”
Piotr shrugged. “I know this... I want to go. You are look for Aaron. I like him. He is good man. We need good people here, people who are friend to dierlijt. You disagree?”
She sighed. “No, you're right but-”
“No but! I go.” Piotr said.
Ina threw up her hands. “So you're going to leave me here all by myself taking care of mother and running the shop?”
Giselle smiled at her and took the bone necklace from her pocket. “Daniel, could you stay and help Ina?”
Daniel nodded.
Ina pursed her lips, one clawed finger going to her chin. “Well I suppose I could keep him in the back and he couldn't be any worse than you are at the baking.”
“Hey!” Giselle responded reflexively before realizing that Ina was just telling the truth. “Never mind,” she added, handing the necklace to Ina, who looked at it doubtfully before clasping it around her neck.
Harald trundled around the floor, waving one of his new patterned arms while the other was behind his back. “The last instruction I was given from Christine was that I was to find your king and stop what that gentleman Buckley was doing to him. I didn't actually stop his death, but I was able to heal him, albeit the effect was a bit odd, but it did work. That's all well and good but you see, I'm bound. I can't just take you somewhere to go find your sweetheart. I'm sorry.”
“He's not my sweetheart, he's my husband!” Giselle said.
Harald waved his arm. “I hate to inform you but my three-thousand-year-old binding doesn't exactly care how important he is to you. I can only execute what I've been instructed to do and then return to the one who gave me the instructions.”
“That's Baroness Halett right?” Ina asked.
Giselle nodded. “Right! So... you have to return to my mother! That's fine, I'm sure she'll know where Aaron is, and Mia, well... and my brother too. Just take me with you.”
“And me!” Piotr added.
Harald looked at Giselle. “She did say to go to you, I suppose I ought to bring you back when I return, but I can't take the other one. Unless, of course, he's your guardian now that the sour-faced girl who used to follow you around appears to have taken her leave.”
Giselle sighed. She hadn't wanted Piotr to come. She loathed weaselman, even now watching his long neck crane and whiskers twitch was making her skin crawl, but the creature had a point. Aaron was in danger, and it made sense to have someone along who knew how sneak around and use weapons.
“Fine... Yes. Piotr is my protector,” Giselle said.
“Goodbye Giselle,” Ina said. “I hope you find what you're looking for.”
Giselle hugged her. “I know I will. Don't work too hard here. You're only sixteen, have some fun sometimes.”
“Easy for a rich girl to say,” Ina replied, but she hugged back, tightly. “I'll miss you. It was nice having a sister again.”
Tears formed at the corners of Giselle's eyes. “Yeah,” she replied.
“There is one problem remaining,” Harald said.
Giselle rolled her eyes. “What now?”
“Well... Christine doesn't keep a sataru alaku on her person, as a measure of security.”
Giselle looked at Ina, Ina looked at Giselle. Both shrugged.
“So?” Giselle asked.
“So we're forced to go to that run-down heap of rocks she calls Aeyrdfeld. That's where she instructed me to come back to if I don't know where she is.”
Giselle smiled. “Perfect.”
“It would seem I have enough power for such a trip. We can go immediately,” Harald said.
Piotr's eyes widened. “How... How we go?”
Giselle smiled. “Pick up Harald and you'll see.”
Piotr bent down, snatching Harald up by one arm.
“No you imbecile! How am I suppo
sed to use my arms like this?”
Piotr put his other hand to his nose. “Doll stinks.”
Giselle shrugged. “You wanted to come,” she replied as she stepped in closer to the weaselman, ducking under his twitching whiskers. Then she took Harald from Piotr, holding him by the waist.
“Alright, here we go,” Harald said as he began moving his hands rhythmically in the air.
Ina stepped back, waving. Behind her Daniel was waving a tentacle. Giselle felt for the poor boy. Still trapped in that inhuman form, unable to speak. Once she found her mother she'd have to bring her back here and see if they could fix him. He deserved a real life, they all did.
The kettle on the stove began to whistle, there was a flash of blue-white light, and they were gone.
* * *
Kev slid under the boards and back into the warehouse. Going from the bright of the morning sun to the dark building was a challenge even for his eyes. He didn't notice he was surrounded until clawed hands grabbed both of his upper arms.
“What have you been doing?” Seena asked. She was one of Risha's sisters, the meanest of them.
“I was... I was.” Kev couldn't think. The only thing that filled his mind was sewing the head back on to Celia's doll, the green gem, and Vex.
A clawed hand slapped him on the side of his muzzle, leaving four red slashes. The impact was enough to make him stumble, putting a hand to the floor to steady himself.
“I told you if I caught you leaving again, you would not be welcome here,” she said, lips curled back to reveal thick yellowed canines.
“I... don't remember that,” Kev replied. He did though, he remembered it well. She'd kicked him when she told him last time. She would again, for sure. In fact, as he thought it, he saw her right foot rearing back to swing into him. He put his other hand up to shield his head.
“What's going on here?” Vex asked as he dropped from Kev's shirt.
Seena shrieked and jumped back several feet, landing on all fours. She wasn't the only one either, the four others backed off as well, baring their teeth in fright.