The Gift of Dreams

chapter III

"Oh good, you're here. I was beginning to suspect that you were not coming." A tanned woman clad in armour stood in the doorway, looking down upon Eloise. "I'm Nora, and you are Eloise I presume?"

She nodded in return, starstruck by Nora's appearance; her deep auburn hair was swept up into a singular elaborate braid, intertwined with gold chains. Eloise was wise to assume that the pins in her hair doubled as weapons, rather than being just for show. Her eyes travelled down to the lady's hips where a sword hung by her side, its leather sheath had pictures that she imagined told a very elaborate story. Probably one of death. Or multiple deaths.

She looked like a magnificent knight, one that knew what it was like to fight in battles and spy for kingdoms.

"Do you like my sword?" Nora asked. She reached down and took it out of the sheath, showing it to Eloise. "Forged by the greatest blacksmith to ever walk this plane. Master Hogdell." Eloise's eyes widened. She may not focus on the battle side of her dreams but she knew enough of this imaginary world to know of that name.

Master Hogdell had died in a battle some hundred years ago, leaving his vast armoury to his apprentice. To ensure that whoever came searching for his weapons was worthy enough, he had created a series of trials that tested the morality and fitness of the fighter.

In order to obtain the sword Nora had to have gone through multiple of those trials, and judging by the scars winding up her arms, they were not easy.

"Enough flaunting Nora, get in here." A deep voice trailed from inside of the room. One that exuded trouble, so one that Eloise immediately liked.

"Come on, we best not leave them waiting for too long." Nora told Eloise. Them? As in multiple? She thought. As they walked in, Nora in the lead, Eloise had to take a step back. The entire room was empty. Nothing but worn tapestries lining the walls and a rug covering the floor.

Whatever this room was used for, it had been long ago abandoned.

Where were the voices from before?

She went to look at Nora for an explanation, but she had already moved to a tapestry of trees on the far right wall.

Ushering her along, Nora pulled the fabric back and revealed a hidden tunnel. The castle kept getting more surprising by the minute and the tunnel was so dark that her eyes were struggling to adjust to the sudden change in lighting.

"Goodness, I can't see anything in here." Eloise whispered to herself. She stretched her hands out in front of her face and still could make her way around, the whole passage was pitched into darkness. The skirts of her dress caught underneath her feet as she struggled to maintain her balance. What in the Saints are these people doing in here?

A rough hand grabbed at her arm, eliciting a squeal, and steered her to a small opening, which turned out to be a room. The calloused hand left her arm as a lantern was lit, leaving her skin tingling from the absence of heat.

She looked around and noted her surroundings, she was in what appeared to be an unused meeting room. Dust lined the floor and abandoned cobwebs were dangling from the ceiling beams. Eloise was sitting at a large table with four Fae that she did not recognise. Three of them were females, including Nora, and the other was a man.

That must be him, she thought. The one that had called out to Nora.

The females all looked to be dressed the same; flowing white shirts tucked into pants with boots, layered on top with chainmail armour and sheaths at their sides. One made Eloise jump, her skin was green like Greer's! Horns stood out at the top of her head and peeked through her hair that was a couple of shades darker than her skin. The other girl was slight, her freckled face and wide eyes gave the impression of innocence. However, Eloise had a nagging feeling that these Fae were anything but innocent.