As we followed Robert out of the tree, I noticed a fire below, and over it a huge animal roasting. I realized just how hungry I was just as I heard Keegan’s stomach growl.

  I laughed and hugged him briefly. At least one thing was still normal. We were given seats near the fire and served plates of steaming meat and vegetables, and mugs full of something hot and sweet that tasted similar to apple cider.

  About two hundred men and women gathered around, eating the evening meal. They talked and laughed, enjoying one another’s company. Several of them approached us to offer us welcome, but mostly they left us alone.

  Robert explained that he, and the others who looked so much like him, had fled to Drevalecia from the mountains. There, they made their homes as farmers and miners, fighting the ground to take from it both food and treasure. The fairer warriors lived in the forests and swamps, always in the protection of the trees. They lived simply, hunting the woodland animals for their food and clothing.

  “Do you eat every meal together?” asked Donavan.

  “Yes,” Robert replied. “It’s good to gather with people. It keeps spirits up.”

  “Is your family here?” asked Keegan. I was impressed that he had been able to discern that from Robert’s feelings.

  “How’d you know about my family?” Robert asked.

  “You love them a lot,” said Keegan. “I felt it.”

  “They’re not here,” Robert replied, his voice full of sadness. “They’re hidden deep in the south of Jubrail, near the edge of the mountains that are the border of the world. There’s another camp there.”

  “Most of us have sent our children there,” Robert explained. “It’s too dangerous for them to be here, or anywhere else that Cyrus can get to. If any of us was captured,” he gestured towards the group of villagers, “our families’d be in extreme danger. They’re safer far away from us.” Robert’s sadness was so extreme that, even though I had my guard up, I could feel it reaching through.

  “Trader,” a woman said. I looked up from where I was sitting to see a young couple standing in front of me. They were not any older than I was. Her dark hair was cut short, and her shoulders were wide. He towered over her, one of the woods people with fair hair and skin.

  “We’re getting married tomorrow,” she said in the same accent as Robert. “Would you be willing to do an Exchange for us?”

  I looked at Robert, confused.

  “Traders used to do an Exchange of Feelings at some weddings,” he explained. “It was a great honor to have a Trader in attendance. It also was a sign of how much the couple loved and trusted each other to be willing to have a complete exchange of emotions, with no feelings left hidden from the other.”

  “Of course,” I said to the girl as soon as I understood what she wanted. “Are you sure, though?”

  She looked up into the young man’s eyes for a moment, then turned back to me. “We’re sure,” she said. He nodded his agreement.

  The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

  “I will be there,” I promised. The couple thanked me and drifted away.

  “The Imager won’t be happy that you’re not leaving tomorrow,” Robert said.

  “Why do you call her that?” asked Keegan.

  “I remember the way it was before Cyrus began to use the Dreamers, before Soren brought so many here,” replied Robert. “There were very few of them, and when they came, they were highly respected. No one would’ve dared to call a Dreamwalker by their name. Even Cyrus, when he first came, was called Immortal.”

  “Cyrus is a Dreamwalker?” asked Keegan, shocked. I was surprised as well.

  “Oh yes,” said Robert. “You didn’t know?”

  “No,” said Keegan. He turned to Donavan. “Did you know?”

  “I did not,” Donavan replied. “And he was called “Immortal” because…?” Apprehension filled his voice.

  “He can’t be killed,” Robert stated flatly. “And he won’t die.”

  “That would have been a good thing to know before we agreed to help rescue Soren,” said Keegan. “You people are not very good at fully disclosing all of the details of a situation."

  “I thought the Imager had told you,” said Robert. “Maybe I shouldn’t have said anything.”

  “Robert, what else is going on here?” I asked. “With me, I mean.” I made the sign of respect I had seen so many times since arriving.

  Robert looked uncomfortable. “If the Imager doesn’t want you to know at this time, I can’t tell you.”

  Keegan tried to get him to talk, but Robert would say nothing further on the subject. As I listened, I wondered if I could make him tell us. After all, what use was having a power if I didn’t get to use it?

  I could feel that Robert wanted to tell us. I tried to mirror his emotion in myself and magnified it as much as I dared. Very carefully, I sent it to him, taking away a large amount of worry over what would happen if he did.

  “It’s the prophecy,” he blurted, surprising Keegan and Donavan. He looked at me with widening eyes, but seemed unable to stop himself from speaking. “It was given long ago by a Seer. She foretold that an evil force would overwhelm Wendellia, bringing great trouble and destruction. A Trader…” Robert struggled to a stop.

  “What?” demanded Keegan. “What about the Trader?”

  “Enough!” Emilia’s voice was low and full of anger. She had walked up to us, unnoticed. “Robert, how dare you speak of this to them, when I expressly forbade it?”

  “I…I don’t know,” Robert stammered. He would not give me away.

  “It’s not his fault, Emilia,” I interjected. “I made him tell me.”

  Emilia walked right up to me and slapped me across the face.

  My head jerked back in shock. Keegan jumped to his feet, but Donavan pulled him back down and shook his head.

  “You will never use your power in that way again,” said Emilia sternly. “You manipulated an honorable man into doing something against his will. And you did it just to satisfy your own curiosity.”

  If my face weren’t stinging, I would have felt more ashamed of myself. As it was, I was mostly feeling furiously rebellious.

  Emilia’s voice softened. “You must be careful, Maria, more than other Dreamwalkers. Your power can be used for evil so easily. Once you begin using it for selfish reasons, it is difficult to stop. The closer you get to Cyrus, the stronger this will be.”

  I wanted to argue that I was not just curious, but as I looked at Robert, who was staring at the ground, my anger drained away, and I felt ashamed at what I had done to him.

  “I’m sorry, Robert,” I said quietly.

  “You are forgiven, Trader,” he said and walked away.

  I watched him go for a moment then turned to Emilia. “I agreed to attend a wedding tomorrow,” I said, apologetically.

  To my surprise, Emilia smiled. “Ah, I knew Tressa would find a way to get you there. She does sincerely love Ethan. It is good that you should do this for them. It is a thing that a Trader should be doing, instead of fighting,” she said sadly. “It is not right, the way things are now. If only the Creator…” she began, then grew silent. I was afraid to ask her about her thoughts.