“In other words, when we have no absolute chance, then Astor can do his magic?” Astor painted a smile on his face, looking more depressed than I’d ever seen him..
I leaned in and hugged him, whispering in his ear, “I’m sorry.”
“It is what it is, I guess.” Astor shrugged as Beru came back into the cave. “Just making a move on your girl.” Astor laughed as Beru stared at the two of us embracing.
“All set?” I asked, pushing away from Astor.
“Yeah, I cleared our tracks from the point of the road.” Beru entered the cave.
Sade and Iri came back into the chamber with several barrels of items. Beru and Astor helped them unload.
“There are makings for a bed here somewhere.” Sade poked around and opened the barrel.
“It’s here.” Beru pulled out the bedding. “Where would you like it?”
“Over here should be fine.” I picked the driest spot close to the opening of the cave.
Beru made up my bed as the others looked through all the items Sade had hoarded in the cave. Once my bed was made, I lay down and got comfortable. I didn’t want to wait any longer. I knew what the layout was, and couldn’t be sure it wouldn’t change if we didn’t move fast.
“I’m ready. I won’t be gone long. I’ll come back at any threat of danger. You all know how it is, but please be quiet to not disturb my body. I don’t want them to know I’m projecting. This may be the only chance we have.” I looked at each of them, waiting for a nod of acknowledgment.
“I’ll keep them in check.” Sade smiled as she placed a pillow under my head.
I closed my eyes and felt nervous. Dreamwalking felt normal to me now, but I’d been avoiding it because of the harm it has caused my body in the past- aches and pains I didn’t have at the beginning. I knew how dangerous what I was doing was, even if I made it sound like nothing to the others.
I let myself drift off, planning to start walking on the path and enter from the barn. I wasn’t sure where to find Widow, but I knew she’d come to me. I ran down the path, unafraid of being discovered. If I were found, it would save time. Then, I realized how far back on the path I’d started. I groaned. It would take longer than I’d hoped to get to the village on foot.
I picked up my speed as a drop of rain fell on my face. “Great.” I didn’t stop running, even after I ran out of breath. I kept going until I was in familiar territory. At the end of the village, I took to the woods. Back to where Sade and I were hiding as we’d watched Widow spin her web. I ran to the back of the barn and surveyed the area. The dome was completely covered now., I was unable to see inside but could hear the captured villagers crying and yelling.
The quickest way to Widow would be to show myself in the open. I had nothing to lose, so I ran out into the center of the village and tried to make my way to the dome. I was stopped before I reached it, which was exactly what I’d wanted.
Spiders surrounded me. I couldn’t see through the thick of all their legs until ahorn sounded and they all parted. A path appeared as they stood on each side of it and Widow walked toward me.
“Aria, finally.” She was in front of me so fast I barely had time to blink. “Come. We must dine.” She snapped her fingers, and the spiders skittered away.
“I heard you were here, so I came.” I smiled and pretended we were still on reasonable grounds, as she seemed to believe.
“I thought you might. Sorry about the village.” She waved her hand around. “I know you lived here at one time.”
“I hated it.” I smiled. “I wouldn’t have come if you weren’t here.”
“Oh? Don’t you have family or other here?” Widow raised an eyebrow as she looked down on me.
“I do, but they threw me out a while ago. You can’t please everyone.” I followed her into a large tent. Inside, there was a large bed fit for Widow and a table—which was set up for supper.
“Please sit.” She gestured to the smaller seat, and she removed her coat and sat in the larger seat. “I’ve been curious as to your adventure on the Islands.”
“It didn’t have the answers we were looking for.” I smiled as I dipped my fork in my food.
“Yes, I heard you were in search of the key?” Widow leaned in.
I wasn’t sure how much she knew about the key and if she knew it was Beru, but I’d play along to see if she would tell me more. “Yes, I was. But it turned out to be nothing more than a legend.” I tried my best to show disappointment.
“I was surprised that you hadn’t freed poor Dag'draath yet.” Widow started eating the food on her plate.
I looked around the room for any clues as to why she would be there. She apparently thought we were both on the same side, so why set up camp in my village?
“You like it?” She pointed her fork in the air and waved it around. “I had it ordered from the slave children.”
I coughed on my food. “Slave children?”
“Oh yes, a great new addition. I can get you one too if you like.”
“No, I’m good.” I smiled and focused on cutting up my meat. Widow rambled on about decorations, and I tried my best to look interested in what she was talking about.
“So, enough of this talk. Let’s discuss Dag'draath and how we are going to free him. How did you do it with that other one?” She waved her fork in the air again. “With that handsome piece of man meat.” She looked like she wanted to eat him.
“He was a test, of course. To see how I could get someone out. It was by mistake, mostly. I’ve not been able to replicate it since.” I lowered my lashes. I was a fair liar, but Widow was smart. I mustn’t be too arrogant in my approach with her. She could very well outwit me in my own game.
“I see. Will you make another attempt? Dag'draath is growing impatient. It’s hard to witness.” Widow shook her head, almost as if she was implying they were a thing.
“You have been in the prison?” I perked up at the thought. How could she have gone without dreamwalking?
“No, we communicate telepathically. I’m much more powerful than a dreamwalker. Oh, sorry. I didn’t mean anything by it.” She shoved a giant sausage in her mouth and moaned.
“I’m not offended. I know you have great power. That’s why teaming up with you makes sense.” I smiled as I fought back a look of disgust. I needed to know what she knew without her catching on that I was fishing for information.
“Of course, you’re not. Now, Dag'draath has felt you poking around the prison.” Widow pointed her fork at me as she narrowed one eyelid. “But he’s not felt you in a while.”
“I’ve been away on the Island, as you know. They have a ban on dreamwalkers there. It was impossible to get away from. Another reason we left.” I rolled my eyes to show my annoyance with their rules.
“I see. And have you dreamwalked since you left the Island?”
I filled my mouth with food and shook my head. I watched, as Widow grew curious at my activities. A little too interested. I had to turn this conversation around. I needed to find out why she was in my village and what she was doing with everyone. And where was Mother Ofburg? Had she made her dreamwalk to the prison?
All those questions raced through my mind. I needed answers, but I couldn’t pelt her with too many things at once. “That’s quite an impressive dome you built. A great way to hold people.”
“Yes, a prison.” Widow smiled, clearly impressed with herself.
I took a big gulp of water and hoped she would tell me more if I talked less. Instead, she waved to her servant for another plate of food. Once it arrived, she told everyone to leave the tent. “There, now we can talk without additional ears. I’m very interested in your visits to the prison.” Widow ate more from her plate but kept an eye on me.
“It’s not a happy place. I’m sure you have heard that. It’s dark and grim.” I hoped her line of questions would reveal her knowledge of the prison.
“And can you dreamwalk there at any time?” She changed her tone, so it was different tha
n the rest of her questioning.
I knew it was a baited question, and I had little time to think about how I was going to answer her. “It doesn’t work like that.” I wiped my mouth with a napkin.
“Go on. Do tell.” She sat back and brought her wine glass to her lips, her eyes steady on me.
“I was connected to Beru. I didn’t have a choice when I dreamwalked then.”
“And now? You’ve been back since you freed him. How?” Her tone grew darker.
“I’m connected to something there. But I’m not sure what.”
“Or who,” Widow quickly added. “Would you indulge me?”
I agreed, for if I denied her, our talk would be over, and I wouldn’t get any answers.
Widow got up and pointed to her bed. “Will you try to dreamwalk to the prison now?”
“I’m much too weak.” I blotted my lips again. Widow remained standing, and her gaze almost looked through me.
“Then will you do something else to show your allegiance to me and Dag'draath?” Widow walked around the table to stand behind me. She leaned in and whispered, “Kill Mother Ofburg.”
Chapter 16
Before I even had time to answer Widow’s question, she rang a bell that sat on the table. As the ringing echoed through her tent, I heard muffled sounds coming from a little room off to the side that was covered with a blanket. Two human servants brought out a chair with a person tied to it. As they entered the room, the chair was facing backward. Once they got closer, they turned it around, and Mother Ofburg sat on it, her mouth taped shut.
“We were just speaking about you.” Widow patted the side of the table, and the two humans placed Mother Ofburg in that spot.
Her eyes widened when she saw me, but I turned away. I didn’t want Widow to know I loved her. She would use it against me, so I needed her to believe she meant nothing. “Kill her. I don’t care. I’m sure you have heard she threw me out of her house. More than once.”
Widow broke out into evil laughter, and one of her hands came down hard on the table as she slapped it. “I’ll leave her to you, then, to get your revenge.”
I glanced over at Mother Ofburg, who, with her eyes, told me it was okay. I didn’t acknowledge her. I paid all my attention to Widow. “That’s generous of you.” I finished my meal and tried to leave it be, even though Mother Ofburg sat along with us.
“I’m curious as to how you will do it? She is a healer. I’m sure she will somehow try to stop you. Maybe play on your sensitive side.” Widow poked her fork at Mother Ofburg, who screamed as loud as she could with her mouth confined.
“I’ll think about it later. Beru may want to help, since she refused to heal him.” I couldn’t look at Mother Ofburg.
“Is that so? I love a good gossip.” Widow laughed out loud again with her evil laugh and poked Mother Ofburg harder with her fork. “I heard healers make good meals.”
“Too spicy for me.” I laughed for Widow’s benefit. “But she may be of use for Dag'draath when he is freed. He will need some healing. She has the most experience. If you didn’t want her dead.” I took a sip from my wine glass.
“You make a good point. But I am in the mood for some entertainment.” Widow laughed again and brought her glass up for me to clank mine against hers.
“I’m up for either.” I took a sip.
“Let’s get back to Dag'draath and how we will free him. I need you to dreamwalk to him, preferably tonight. I can arrange for whatever you need to do so.” Widow leaned in. “I don’t know why I’m being so quiet. You won’t live to tell our plans.” Widow caressed Mother Ofburg’s face with one of her poisonous tentacles.
Mother Ofburg leaned back as much as she could to get away from Widow. There wasn’t enough room on Lynia for her to be that far.
“I can’t do it on command. It will take time. Perhaps I could try later tonight when I’m tired. The wine may stop my ability . . .” I hadn’t time to finish my sentence when her hand slapped my wine glass out of my hand.
“There. We can scratch that problem off.” Her face was serious but then she broke out into huge fits of laughter. “If you could only see your face.” She coughed from laughing so hard.
I laughed but was afraid it was too delayed. I wondered if she was also playing with me and if Mother Ofburg and I would both make it out of there alive. I’d tell her I could take her to the prison if she wanted to be with Dag'draath—to be his partner. I’d have a fighting chance to save Mother Ofburg if Widow needed to keep me around.
“I have an offer for you.” I leaned in, and out of the corner of my eye, I could see Mother Ofburg’s eyes widen as she shook her head frantically. I had to think for both of us now.
“Yes.” Widow leaned in and exaggerated the word. Her eyebrow popped up as she waited for me to divulge my offer.
Just as I was about to tell her, I felt a pounding sensation in my head, as if someone was squeezing the sides of my head together. I grabbed onto my seat to steady myself and soon found myself being called to another dreamwalker—Runa.
“Are you out of your freaking mind!” she screamed at me as soon as I was pulled into her world. “What are you thinking? Are you even thinking at all?” Runa paced up and down and flailed her hands in the air.
I was on her floor, coughing and dealing with a pounding headache. “I had everything under control.”
“You had nothing under control. How could you entertain conversing with Widow? She’s well over your league. You don’t actually think she was buying what you were selling do you?” Runa kept on her rant. I stayed quiet on the floor because I was weak, and I figured it would be best to let her go on before I spoke again.
“Do you have anything to say for yourself?” She stopped a foot in front of me.
I looked up to see if she was foaming from her mouth. She was not, so it was probably safe to try to conserve with her. “I needed to see why she took over my village. I have to find my family. She must have them.”
Runa sighed and crossed her arms. “Get up.”
I took her order and stood. I shook from weakness and the pounding headache that worsened with each scream. A chair appeared out of thin air, and I gladly sat on it. “It was the only option we had.”
Runa’s tone lowered. “And the others? Where are they now?”
“They’re in a cave. Waiting for me. If I don’t get back soon, they’ll go into the village.” I placed my hand over my eyes to shield them from the bright room.
“I’ll send a message.” Runa snapped her fingers.
I squinted as I looked up at her again. I had to get back there. Mother Ofburg was not safe with Widow, and each moment that passed became even more deadly for her. I had to get back there, but how would I explain why I left? My head pounded even more as I tried to come up with a plan. Unless she’d already killed Mother Ofburg because I left.
“You’re not to do anything without talking to me.” Runa practically stomped her feet.
“Mother Ofburg. Did she die? I need to know,” I begged.
Runa snapped her fingers, and Mother Ofburg appeared next to me.
“You played that a little too convincingly.” Mother Ofburg pulled the ropes off her body.
“Mother Ofburg!” I screamed and hugged her as tightly as I could.
“I’m fine.” She pushed me off her. “I just need a good bath.”
I couldn’t contain my excitement. I grabbed Mother Ofburg again, and she let me hug her. She wrapped her arms around me and rocked me back and forth. “It’s alright. There, there.” She patted my back.
“Thank you.” I pulled away from Mother Ofburg and thanked Runa though my tears.
“We have a bigger issue to solve now. It can’t wait any longer. We need to plug the prison. Many creatures have already escaped. I’ve managed to place a temporary shield over the prison, but it won’t hold for much longer.” Runa paced back and forth.
“Why hasn’t Dag'draath found his way out, if other monsters have gotten through?�
�� It didn’t make any sense. They were his men. Surely, they would have brought him back with them.
“They must not want him out.” Mother Ofburg brushed the dirt off her arms.
“I expect you’re right. After staying two hundred and fifty years with the guy, they want to get fast and far away from him.” Runa snapped her fingers, and a chair appeared. It was much more comfortable than ours.
“Can you do that?” Mother Ofburg appeared astonished.
“You’d know if I could.” I sighed. My headache had subsided after my hug with Mother Ofburg. I expected she had healed me without even knowing.
“There is talk that these creatures also haven’t let him out because they are stealing energy for him—enough so when he’s ready, no one can defeat him. For now, he hides in the prison.” Runa lay back in her chair and crossed her legs.
“And no monsters have gotten out in a while?” I wanted confirmation. The ones that broke out must be the reason for the raids.
“No. Not since I put the shield up. But it’s weak. It won’t last long. We need to find a solution now. It can’t wait.” Runa snapped her fingers, and a glass of wine appeared in each of our hands. “What?”
“I’m not complaining.” Mother Ofburg took a drink of the wine.
“How do we plug the prison? We don’t even know what will work.” I sat at the edge of my seat. I was ready to help. I’d do anything to have the walls of the prison fixed so we could all go on with our lives. It had taken up too much of our time already. I was tired of thinking about it. Tired of living my life for the prison.
“You tell me. You broke into it and freed Beru.” Runa leaned over so she was closer to me and waited for me to respond.
I didn’t have a magical answer. It had been a fluke I’d even got Beru out of there and even then we’d just barely survived. “There’s no way to plug the prison. But we do have a key.”
“A key?” Mother Ofburg looked confused. “I have never heard of this key.”
“Not many people have.” I paused, unsure if I should reveal Beru was the key. I feared they would hunt him down and his life would be retaken. But I also had no one else to turn to. “It’s Beru.”
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