The Forgotten Way (Champions of the Crystal Book 6)

Chapter 12.1

Sabrina came awake sitting up, her hands clutching at her throat as she gasped for air. Before she could make herself move, the door opened and Ford flung himself through it, looking as wild-eyed and adrenaline-filled as she felt. He landed heavily on the edge of the bed, and they fell into a desperate embrace.

"What was that?" Sabrina panted, her voice scratchy with remembered pain.

"I don't know," Ford said, clutching at her even more tightly. "Shards. I don't know. I don't think that was me."

Sabrina swallowed and achieved a more recognizable voice. "I don't think it was me either."

"You don't?" Ford leaned back enough to see her face.

She shook her head. "I've never seen that boy before. I've never seen that Tree before."

"Yes, you have. That was One Tree."

"No, it wasn't."

Ford frowned. "No...maybe you're right. It didn't look like I remember it. But I was sure...." He shook his head. "What were you doing before you went to sleep?"

"Nothing. I mean, I had last watch. Nothing happened, and Stecklan relieved me. I had something to eat and I went to sleep. I wasn't thinking about anything in particular. Certainly not the Trees or anything like that. The watch reminded me of my first college job, with campus security. It was hours of boredom enlivened by a few minutes of excitement at unpredictable times. But I don't see how that could have led to anything like that dream!"

Ford let go of her and sat back. "I was meditating on the Crystal, hoping to access some of Mother's memories about the Kyan. But I wasn't having any luck. The current Guardian rarely deposits memories while she is still alive, so I knew it was a long shot."

"That wasn't one of Mara's memories," Sabrina said with certainty. "Though...I don't know, maybe she's had a dream like that?"

"Maybe," Ford said. "Something rang a bell. I should have paid more attention in history class. I know Llyrwyn Tree was destroyed in a battle, but I can't remember which one. Wait—it was very early on in Miahn history. It was one of the things that united the planet. The invaders destroyed the Tree City when the inhabitants wouldn't reveal the leader's location."

"That...thing...didn't look familiar?"

"No."

"Funny." Sabrina rubbed at her forehead. "It looked a little familiar to me. But I can't place it." She sighed. "Dreamsharing with Mara was never like this. I could sometimes watch her dreams, like watching television or something. I was never involved in them, even when she dreamed about me. This felt like it was really happening to me. It was terrible."

"Sorry, darling."

"What for?"

"It must have been my fault—you were the Guardian in that dream. It had to have come from the Crystal. Unless you've retained something from your last connection with Mother?"

Sabrina expelled a voiceless sigh. "I don't think so. I was dead for most of that, you know."

"I didn't, actually," he said grimly. "They told me I killed you, reviving Mother. But then Cynthia made me bring you back."

"From what Cynthia said, there were at least two distinct personalities at work in you during those two events. At any rate, you only revived my body. My mind, my soul, whatever you want to call it, got stuck in Mara. It took her a little while to get well enough to figure it out and put me back where I belonged."

"I'm glad she did."

"Yeah, just imagine a little ghost of me in partial control of the Great Crystal," Sabrina said wryly.