The Dreamer

Chapter 20

I spoke with the Chief, who also knows English and is more fluent in it than most of his men. "Thank you for your help. I don't know what I would've done if I lost him," I admit to him. "It is no problem, but I do have a favor to ask in return."

"Anything."

"But first, a question." I nod, waiting for his question as he stands up. "We must speak in private, however." I look around to see that everyone is busying themselves by chatting or eating. I nod and stand up, following the Chief into his hut which is larger than the rest.

"You are called the Dreamer, yes?" I nod while wondering how he knows. "Yes, I can sense it. There is something wrong with our land here."

"Wrong?"

"Yes, where water was full just yesterday is now almost empty. Where animals thrived now scarce." He moves around the room with an elegance and a walk that shows he has power. "I worry about my people. Can you help?" I thought about it. How could we possibly end a drought? I'd have to be a God to do that.

"I can't make any promises, but we'll try our best." His lips curve up into a small, but very grateful smile. "Thank you. Would you like anything while you stay here?"

"No, what you are doing is a lot already. I can't ask for any more than shelter, food, water, and to help Zeke heal." We walk back out and a plate of food is presented to me. I smile and gratefully grab it, not wanting to be rude either. It has already been hours since I left Zeke alone with the people's medicine man or doctor. I grow worried and Mia tries to keep me calm or occupy me. I was thankful for her help but whenever my mind found a way to calm down and thought of something else, it always found a way to go right back to Zeke.

I can't stand or sit still. When night fell upon us, everyone but the guards was already asleep. Mia tried to get me to sleep, but I refused. I stayed out, walking around. I grow more tired as each minute slowly crept by. I sit against the wall right outside of the hut that Zeke's in. Determined to see him, I stay up. The night goes by and when the sun starts to peek around the mountains across and landscape, the medicine man came out.

I quickly jump to my feet and wait for any news. "Is he okay?" He nods and allows me inside. I see Zeke laying on the floor with blankets covering him. I drop to his side and see that he does indeed look better. "He's a fast healer. Does that have to do with his curse?" I tense when he asks. The Chief knows, so maybe he does too.

"I don't know. He never told me about that." He hums in response as relief washes over me. "He has lived for over five hundred years. I'd be surprised if he didn't." I nod again. "Thank you." I finally tear my eyes away from the sleeping Zeke and look at the man. "Thank you so much."

He curtly nods then he leaves me alone with Zeke. I lay down next to him, feeling the past few nights of no sleep suddenly hitting me. My eyelids close and I take a short nap as I wait for Zeke to wake up.

********

"Eira." I feel someone shake me and I open my eyes to see Mia looking down at me. "It's time to wake up. We have to leave." I sit up, yawning. "How long was I asleep for?"

"You were asleep all day yesterday. Zeke wanted to wake you, but I told him that you didn't sleep at all ever since he got shot. He insisted that he stay beside you then. I gotta say, you are one lucky girl." I blush with a smile. "It's more than I deserve to be honest." We both stand up and Zeke wobbles into the hut. "What are you doing walking already? You should be resting."

He looks up at the sound of my voice and his eyes light up when he sees me. "You're awake."

"Was I really asleep all day yesterday?" He nods, limping to me. I quickly but carefully wrap an arm around his waist to help support him. "Yeah, but I heard it was much needed." Then his smile fades away. "Why didn't you sleep at all? That's not healthy."

"Neither is being on the verge of death. I wanted to make sure you were okay throughout the whole ride." His smile comes back and he rests his head against mine. "Next time, get some sleep." I laugh. "Next time? There better not be a next time. You scared me half to death."

"Sorry love, but I'd prefer I got shot and died rather than you. I wouldn't be able to live with myself." I pull away and start to lecture him like a child.  "Neither will I, so don't do that again." He laughs, raising his hands in surrender. "I promise." Satisfied, I smile and hug him as softly as I could, trying to not hurt him. "Yay, he's alive and well, you're both happy, can we go now?"

"Where are we going?"

"I think I found out what you're trying to look for. It's just as weird as how we got here." She then goes on to tell us about a shell that can create water out of the air. They call it the Blue Shell. "Do you think it's real?" She asks but I quickly avoid answering. I motion for Zeke to lift his shirt. He does and I gently touch his injury. The light comes back and heals his side, leaving nothing behind. "Did they say where we can find it?" I pull his shirt back down and turn to Mia.

"They're going to lead us there." I nod and we all walk out to see two horses ready to go. "Yeah, we're also going to be riding these on our way there," she says pointing to the horses. "Have you ever ridden?" Zeke asks but Mia and I shake our heads. "Why, do you?" Mia bats her eyes at him. "Maybe you can teach me."

I notice someone mount one of the horses and before Zeke could answer, Mia gets picked up and dropped onto the horse. She turns to the man who actually picked her up onto the horse to argue but she quickly shuts up, blushing. "Guess that means you're with me." Zeke got on easily which brings back the memory that he lived during the middle ages or medieval times. Of course, he would know how to ride a horse. He rode into battle on them!

Then the image of him riding into battle on a white horse while wearing the same armor I saw in my dream. I blush and quickly shake my head. "Eira." My head snaps up and I see Zeke holding his hand out to me. I quickly take it and he helps me up. I mount myself behind him wrapping my arms around his waist. Then we follow behind them.

I can't keep track of where we're going. It seems we only went straight leaving a cloud of dust and sand behind us. The sun beat down on us and I wish we brought drinks or water with us.

My head was resting against Zeke's back in exhaustion and thirst when we finally stop. "We are here." The man jumps down and he helps Mia down who was again blushing. I smirk at her when I caught her eye and she returns my expression with a glare. Zeke jumps down and offers to help but I jump down myself. Unfortunately, my ungraceful land caused Zeke to laugh.

When we look around, we don't see anything but sand and dead plants. "There's nothing here," I say. "You are looking with your eyes. Look with your soul." My soul? What does he mean by that? Then I remember what Rose told me about feeling the energy of magic. I close my eyes and take a deep breath. I feel calmness. I focus on my surroundings. The beating of my heart, the soft wind pushing sand forward, the heat of the sun. Then I feel it. It is a sudden pull on me. I froze, then feel it again. My feet start moving on their own and I follow where the pull is leading me.

I can hear Zeke call out to me, asking where I'm going, but I ignore him. I can hear him exchange a few words with our guide before he follows me. He tries to get my attention, but I'm too focused on the pull. I can feel it grow stronger and stronger as I get closer. I keep walking, ignoring the heat and thirst. Step, step, step, step, stop. I stop in my tracks and finally open my eyes to look around. Mia and Zeke stop right behind me, but they still can't see anything. As if instinctively, I look down. A soft wind blows over us and blows the sand away to reveal a stone slate.

I bend down and a symbol carves itself into the stone with light. It's the same symbol as before with the red and blue lines hooking around each other. I reach down and touch it. It glows ferociously before dimming back down, disappearing again. The wind blows over again, making the sand hide the stone again.

I stand back up and the ground rumbles under our feet. "What did you do?" Mia worriedly asks wobbling towards me, but I don't reply. I want to see what would happen. "Eira! What is going on?!" Then the ground in front of us opens. The sand slips in and a staircase forms in the seemingly sandy ground. "How did yo-"

"Not now Mia. We have to find the Blue Shell. I'll explain everything later." She blinks at me with shock written all over her face. She slowly nods and I turn around to face Zeke. "Ready?" He nods and we all face the entrance. Zeke and I walk down with a paranoid Mia tip toeing closing behind us.