The Last Mage

Chapter 4: A Dream

Brielle waited in the hall watching for the Guardians. They'd come down this hall plenty of times at night and she was sure they would this night. It was late, Requel, Amber, and Eryn having already fallen asleep. She had decided not to tell them of the horse until they started communicating with the Guardians. Besides, the others seemed more interested in Eryn's kiss than what Brielle might have done.

She was tired of waiting so she decided to take a walk. Just up and down the hall. That way she could watch and keep from falling over asleep. She kept replaying her dreams in her mind, trying to pick out every detail and keep the dreams fresh. Not that she was likely to forget those vivid scenes. But she wanted to be sure to recognize the Guardians when she saw them.

She found herself straying farther from Eryn's room than she had intended. She could hear her father snoring and she slipped into her room to gaze out the window. The chill air smelt of the city, not pleasant but living in it all her life it was tolerable. Her eyes caught a movement below and she strained to see through the shadows. She knew there was a street watch at night. No one was allowed to go wandering. Now she made out the forms and all her fears bubbled to the surface. The dark bodies shambled along below. She remembered the terror of her dreams as the demons surged forward toward her.

She tried to wipe away her fears. She wasn't outside. She was safe as she'd always been. Had she always been? Were they just waiting till she made some mistake then they would rip her to pieces like in her dreams? She rocked back and forth on her cot. Sleep was long gone. She imagined them coming in through the window, evil eyes twinkling as they tore toward her.

She opened her eyes frantically to check the window. There was nothing gazing in at her, nothing getting ready to pounce. She forced herself to breath normally. She got up, not wanting to be alone. She peeked out into the hall. It was empty as far as she could see. She closed her eyes for a second and then scurried next door. She crept over her father, careful not to wake him, and sat next to her mother. She touched her hand and her mother's eyes came open. She sat up and pulled Brielle to her, sensing her daughters fear as only a mother can for a child.

"I saw them, mother. I saw them in the streets from my window." Her mother held her and whispered comfortingly. Brielle could not seem to calm down. "They want to kill me, mother. They're hunting me. Waiting for me to slip." She surprised herself saying this. Why would the demons be hunting her? She was nothing. They were looking for the Guardians, not her. That's what was going on. But the Guardians were dead. No they weren't dead. Her mind was so confused. Her mother put her at arms length, looking her in the eye.

"The demons are out there. You're here Brielle. They can't get to you here. You're safe, you're safe." Yet there was something in her eyes that made Brielle nervous. Brielle fell asleep on her mother's lap, her dreams drifting through the day. She got on a golden horse and it took her over the hills to a place where the wind blew sweet and clean, the smells of clover and blossoms filling the air. A huge silver moon illuminated the whole world in a bright glare. She got down from the horse's back and knelt by a pool of fresh water. The water trickled over rocks and she heard night birds singing. Not the raucous coughing of crows and magpies but sweet whistles and hoots of small birds that flew overhead and hopped about in the branches of the tall trees. The horse nickered and pushed its soft nose into her back.

It then ambled off to graze on the soft green grass. Brielle layed on the grass and gazed up at the clear sky. She could see the twinkling of stars. There were no dark clouds of smoke and grime. Nothing that might disturb this place. She noticed other animals then. A big rabbit sat under a bush chewing leaves. Four smaller bunnies bounded into sight kicking their heels in the air, twisting and turning in mid leap. Smaller creatures ran through the leaves overhead, disturbing the hidden birds from their limbs. They flew high into the sky and out over the fields where more horses grazed and romped about in the bright moonlight.