The Sketch: The Voyage of Soal

Retna's Vision

That night, the kiwi military was camping behind the dull, flat hills surrounding Meinhaym. Retna had joined Soal in his tent where he was sleeping, as she wanted to talk with him about something. "We haven't had a chance to talk in a while," a disconcerted Retna sighed. "There's something I need to tell you. But we must keep it secret, keep it safe. Do you understand?"

From the tent, they could hear Porter shouting something, yet he was strangely silent. "Lights off!" he cried. A majority of the tents' lights had turned off, and Retna turned off theirs. A pair of larger-than-normal Dark Soldiers were peering over the ridge, guarding their claim, but despite their glowing, evil red eyes, they could not even see the shadowy outlines of the tents. Scampering back to the city, they reported to their masters within the ruins. Lights were circling the city through the night, looking to destroy any intruders. Thankfully, the army was safe. Though Retna kept the light shut off.

"Something is growing," she told Soal. "Something large. Behind our backs, Articulus is growing more powerful. He's giving that power to his armies, but he's hiding his identity. After all, Articulus is a shape-shifter. But he always retains the form similar to a Dark Soldier- black and oozy, evil red eyes. So that's why I know you've already met him."

"But how have I met him? Do you know what he looks like? He can't be one of the Dark Soldiers. If he's leading Shadow Hand, he's sure to be miserable, but I can't tell where he is in relation to our army. All I know is that we're severely outnumbered," Soal responded with confusion, but soon understood. He, after all, had met a shadowy form unlike the Dark Soldiers during his time in the Great Sea.

"Articulus is hiding," Retna whispered, "in the form of an owl I call Showl. Clearly you've met him. His haunting who's are nightmare fuel, especially for me. In my sleep I dwell in the Land of Dreamers, where I can communicate with fellow Dream-Walkers and envision trouble in the seas, although in a more vague way than Interlopers. But they are rare among the seas. I know only one other dream-walker, Kiwi. But it seems you aren't, which is funny, because Moth was. If you die in the Land of Dreamers, you die physically. I know you've met Showl. He's the reason you're here with us now. But it's all a trick- he's using us to lead his own armies!"

"I know Showl. He dropped Kiwi and I into the sea from a cave, as you were scrambling to the Outlands without me. But what do you mean by his trick? I knew he was taking advantage of us, but I didn't know he did that. By the way, I've been having visions too. I saw a wall breaking, and flowing water. I saw a cliff, and I saw the fortress. I think we're going to break the Dam." Soal could relate to Retna's experiences in the Land of Dreamers.

"Well then, we better not leave anyone behind. Looks like dangerous times ahead. But Articulus is using us to lead him to the fortress. He knows that if we find the secret weapon before he does, then Shadow Hand's weakness will be exposed. So that's why his invisible troops are following us every step we take, in the city over the hill, and at the fortress. However, finding the secret weapon will give him an advantage. The Dark Hands have a secret. And Shadow Hand owns a terrific power if he's defeated. A power that will benefit the Dark armies. But now, get some rest. We have some rough battles ahead of us," Retna didn't even stop for Soal's response. She just left back to her own tent, leaving him to his own worries. And he knew that Dam would be useful in the end. For now, though, he went to sleep.