Dream Wakers: The Veiled Prophecy (Book One)

Prologue

Henry closed his eyes and repainted the night sky. Each constellation tilted and adjusted as time went on, lending encouragement for the future he faithfully held on to. His fingers reached out to the glittering guides above as her lives passed before him. A day would come when he would no longer hide the truth. He would no longer have to be the guardian of her secrets.

"Papa, Papa!"

Henry smiled as his dream faded.

"Papa! Wake up! I want to play the game. I want to play Fire in the Head!"

"Okay, Emmy."

He chuckled and smoothed down his granddaughter's wild hair before rising. His old bones felt heavier and more tired than usual. He guessed it was the price he paid for past failures, though he couldn't shake the feeling that this body felt less infinite than the last ones. Her abilities had shown a lot sooner than before, too, and Henry felt ominously hopeful that this time would be different.

"Papa, why do you call it that? What does it mean?"

"Ah, it just means you've got magic, my love. Do you remember what I've taught you? What do we call it for short?"

"F-I-H. Feh!"

"And why is that?"

Emmy was already losing interest as she walked down the hall, tracing her fingers along the symbols her grandfather allowed her to paint on the wall.

"Emmy."

She stopped abruptly, staring at a spiral she'd painted just the other day, it was her new favorite.

"F is for Finn who ate the salmon. I like him, Papa. He's a warrior."

"That's right. He had to be brave, didn't he? With all the knowledge he gained from the salmon, his own Fire in the Head, he had many enemies. Do you remember anything else about him?"

"The little man in a hood let him eat it."

"Finnegas, yes, what else?"

Her little fingers graced the spiral as it wound inward.

"He never died, he's asleep in a cave, and he'll wake up one day."

"Very good, Emmy, and as his name bears the letter F to guide him on the right path, what tree is linked to that letter to teach him the meaning of the path?"

"The Elder's tree."

"Alder," he corrected.

Emmy whipped her head around, eyes ablaze with impatience.

"I want to play the game, Papa, you tell me the story. You're better at it anyway. That way I can focus on playing. Can we go to the horses now?"

She didn't wait for an answer, but walked to the front door. Henry tried to hide his laughter. It was a lot to expect of such a little and restless girl. He didn't see the harm in reciting the information another time. There would come a day when he would no longer be able to and he wanted to savor the moments he had; while she was still full of innocence and joy. He opened the front door and watched her run to the barn where the horses waited just as impatiently as she. The light was already beginning to emit a radiance on her skin as she synchronized with her beloved creatures. Her old lives were showing again. Henry reached her in a few long strides, folding his hands behind his back as she pulled at the latch on the red horse's stall. Sometimes it was hard to water down the stories she'd either experienced, or learned in previous lives.