Dreamwalker

20- The Greater Good

Bell's happiness steadily faded. She should be thrilled that she was at last leaving to save her father. And yet, she felt more and more that perhaps Soutine didn't deserve her help. He wasn't her real father anyway. She had no obligation to him. Bell could just stay in Harenae if she wanted to, enjoying the sun and the exotic food for the rest of her days, and he wouldn't be any the wiser.

And what was that dream she had? She couldn't wrap her head around what it could mean. It felt so real, like the nightmare about drinking blood, she might as well be inside someone's head. But whose? Judging from the sound of her voice and her pale hands, she was the same person in all of her dreams. This person was a prince, or a king by now, who knew Soutine, and probably possessed some kind of magic. She wanted to ask someone if they could help her but she stopped herself. None of her friends would understand. Even Li and Aysal, who knew she had nightmares, just wouldn't understand how lifelike these dreams were. She might as well wait for another dream to find out who she was.

As it was nighttime, the rescue party didn't make it far out of the city before deciding to stop for a nap. Bell was slightly ashamed that she had slept through the day and now everyone had to waste precious time because of her. She agreed to keep watch while the rest of them slept. They rolled out blankets on the sand, fluffed pillows, and tried to get some sleep while Bell sat on one of the many dunes.

The desert was cold at night. Bell was almost shivering in her dress as she sat with her arms around her knees. She wanted to burrow like a snake down into the sand. Silence settled over the desert. Low whistles of wind and occasional bird calls distracted Bell from falling asleep once again. The intense quietude wrapped around her ears like a silk scarf, as if she were underwater, and the soft sand under her skin was a part of the ocean.

"I spoke to Soutine," a loud voice declared, waking Bell from her stupor. She nearly fell over with surprise, but seeing that it was only Morie, sat back upright and frowned.

"Morie, could you at least announce yourself? You scared me," she reproached, trying to regain her composure with her heart beating out of time.

"My apologies. Soutine is safe-- in case you were worried."

"I wasn't, really, but thanks anyway."

"He is in prison, secured by the finest guardsmen in the country. You must know the kind; witches and assassins and soldiers, all kinds of unpleasant people." Morie sat down next to Bell and dangled his legs over the hill of sand. "In short, you may not be able to break him out," he finished. "I suggest another course. You are one girl against an entire city."

"I can break him out and I will," Bell argued. "Besides, I have friends who are a lot stronger than I am. They can take care of all the hard work."

Morie simply shrugged. "If you say so. There is, of course, another, far easier option, that wouldn't force you to risk your friends' lives."

Bell scrutinized the carness. Another option? She had been so focused on forcefully taking Soutine back she hadn't considered anything else. "What do you mean?" she asked.

"You could bargain with his captor."

"I couldn't do that. If he really is locked up in Solancee-- he is, isn't he?"

"Quite correct."

"If he really is locked up in Solancee, that means Laurier has him, and I heard that Laurier isn't the type of man to take deals. He drinks witch blood and all that. It may not be true, but even so, what in the world would I have that he would desire? Surely not riches. I'd have to use Emeric's money since I don't have a cent to my name. I have bothered the entire royal family of Harenae enough."