DreamCrafter | ONC 2023 | DISCONTINUED

Chapter 8 ~ On the Hunt

I have been assigned my next target. Lady Aine was only killed yesterday. Everyone has moved on so fast. The blood has been cleaned, and the market has returned to normal. It feels taboo to walk over the spot where my deceased Lady was killed.

But I have been summoned, and walking through the maze of market stalls could have my head rolling next. So I shudder at the slight red stain on the bricks and continue on.

I know exactly why I have been summoned, and what I must do. Coming to peace with what I do didn't take very long. Some of the minds I entered were truly twisted, and by reforming their personality through their memories, the isles were left a better place. Unfortunately, most don't see it that way.

I hurry through the bustling foyer, past the kitchen, ballroom and dining area, into the throne room.

"They await you in the Circle," a servant informs me, dropping his head out of respect.

I smile, thank him and make my way there. If a meeting is in the Circle, it is of utmost importance and cannot be shared among the public. The threat must be something to do with last night.

"You have joined me, DreamCrafter." The High Lord is seated by himself. Despite the room being called the circle, and being the shape of a circle, the table is a rectangle. The High Lord sits at the head, and I sit one away on his right.

Today, he points at the chair on his right. The chair normally occupied by Tarragon.

"Where is everyone else?" I ask, because I'm certainly not early. In fact, I'm quite late.

"This topic does not call for anyone else. The threat is purely to my reign. I already discussed it with my seneschal, and we both agreed it was best kept under wraps."

I nod. Now I have no clue what this target could be, or who.

"You need to find this lady, and remove a memory. Replace it with a copy of a normal night for my maid," He slides some parchment across the table. "You'll know what you're looking for when you see it."

I study the parchment. Charcoal smeared across the page shows a beautiful faerie. A name has been printed across the top. I recognize it, and I know where I can find her.

"You are dismissed. Not a word of this to anybody." The High Lord waves his hand, and I leave.

What dirty little secret is our ruler hiding? I can suspect a few things, although I do not wish to make a mountain out of an anthill. Maybe the maid just saw the inside of the letter, or was the one who passed it on to Lady Aine.

The tapestry covering the servant passageways has already been swept aside, so I close it after I go through.

Sparsely lit by flaming torches, and built before the castle was home to only the royals. Back when all Inenara fae lived under one court. Servants use them to travel between rooms faster, I use them to hide from my target.

Tucked into a little gap is a cloak. I pull it on and cover my head. The maid should be eating lunch about now, and I know the perfect alcove to hide in.

~*~*~

All the serving staff are seated at the massive table. I can see everyone in the room from where I hide. The maid I'm looking for is fortunately seated very close to me. All the easier to do my job.

No one can see me, and nobody knows I'm here. I scan the table one last time, I'm not sure why, but something is pulling me to. Time to focus.

I shake my head, imagining all the loose thoughts falling out, and focus on my target.

She laughs, covering her mouth with one hand. So polite, yet she managed to discover something that she should not have.

Deep breath, and I'm in. Her head swirls with memories, thoughts, and dreams. First, I have to find what a normal night looks like for her.

I've never copied a memory while in someone's head, so I have no clue how this could go. I find the memory from last night, and try to replicate it.

The memory splits into two, and one floats away. I grab the copy, and tuck it away. Now, to find something, I don't know what I'm looking for.

Sorting through all the maids' memories is painstakingly slow, but at least I know it happened at night. Every night looks almost the same, bring the High Lord whatever he needs for the night, eat dinner, then sleep.

I'm about to dismiss the current memory, but then when the maid enters the High Lord's room, someone else is there. The maid isn't just overhearing some secret conversation.

Another female fae is in his bed. The High Lord and his mistress, I presume. I wonder why he wants this gone. Having a mistress isn't entirely forbidden.

Then I see the female's face. That's why the High Lord needs the memory gone. Can't have any more scandals around Inenara.

Before it progresses any further, I swap the memories and leave.

I jolt back into my body, breathing heavily. I put the memory in my bag and take it to my apartment.

There, I turn it into an orb and wrap it in a cloth. The High Lord will be wanting this. My satchel is sitting on the bench, I grab it and put the orb inside.

Time to go face the High Lord. I could just sneak it into his room and leave it there. Maybe he would've preferred me to release the memory into the stream, like I used to.

Before making, the orbs became my way of remembering each mind I stepped into.

I duck into the tunnels and almost immediately smash into someone.

"Oh my stars, I'm so sorry." I know that voice.

Not that voice, please be someone else, anyone else. I'm more thankful for the cloak I wear doing this more than I usually would be. It gifts me anonymity, and right now that's exactly what I need.