Chapter 43
We started towards the West as the rising sun began to cast a glow through the valley. Frost spattered the colorful leaves, refracting the early morning rays. I breathed deeply, inhaling the crisp taste of winter air.
Formations changed this morning. Three guards were positioned at the rear of the unit, and three were in the front. Laryk was amongst the latter.
I couldn't even glance in his direction as we mounted the horses. Now that his back was to me, I could finally breathe.
I had entered another person's mind…
Had this happened before?
The dreams that had plagued me for the last year rushed in, and the realization dawned that none of them were from my perspective. It’d seemed innocuous at the time, but now, seeing them from a collective point of view… the pattern was certainly there.
In the dream that took place at the river, I was looking down at my friends from the top of the bridge, but when the event actually occurred, I was on the river’s edge with Osta, both of us moments away from jumping in ourselves.
Was I seeing it from the perspective of the second guard?
Did that mean I was seeing a memory? A dream of a memory? I couldn’t wrap my mind around it.
The settings of my dreams were often places I had never seen or even imagined during my waking hours. The darkened landscape of the falling dream, the fiendish blacksmith–were these real places? Real people?
Heat rushed over my body again. The dream from last night was certainly real. And I knew that wasn’t a memory. Even still… I had felt his passion through the connection.
Hadn’t I?
I couldn’t help but wonder how the mind really worked in a dream state. At this point I was questioning everything. Most people couldn’t control their dreams, but that had to have come from somewhere in his mind, right? It couldn’t have sparked from nothing…
Or perhaps it all was random. Perhaps he was just as surprised by the content. Embarrassment flooded me. That was probably the last thing he ever wanted me to see. Albeit unintentionally, I had completely invaded his private thoughts, whether there was any merit to them or not.
I sighed, wondering if we would ever talk about it, or if we would pretend it never happened.
My head snapped up as I heard the sound of a horse approaching.
Suddenly, I felt like he was reading my mind.
Laryk’s face was relaxed, collected, his posture stoic.
Any walls he had taken down had clearly been reconstructed.
I tore my attention away, focusing on the mountains in the north. It hurt to look at him.
I stayed silent as his horse fell in step beside mine. I could almost feel the chill radiating off him.
“Another gift from your focus, I presume?” he said casually. I swallowed hard. Why did I feel so uncomfortable?
“I honestly have no idea.” I nearly choked on the words.
“Relax, please. There’s no reason for you to behave like this. I assure you, I’m less interested in discussing the context, and much more fascinated by the fact that you were able to enter my dream at all.” He nudged my arm, offering me an apple. “You didn’t eat this morning.”
After hesitating for a second, I took it from him and sighed.
“I still don’t understand how it happened. Or how I did it. Now I’m rethinking every dream I’ve ever had.” My tone was quiet.
“It seems like your focus is growing more vast by the day. Give it time, and you’ll adjust.” He bit into his apple, staring at the path ahead.
How was he being so casual ?
“Sometimes it feels like I’m losing my own mind,” I admitted.
“I wouldn’t even know how to train you to enhance this ability. I mean, I’ll certainly try. Imagine what you could do…” his voice trailed off.
A part of me sank inside.
He didn’t need to finish his sentence. I knew what he was going to say. I was simply an asset to him. The dream had meant nothing.
I looked up to see the shimmering towers of Emeraal in the distance.
It was late morning when we reached the border of the city. The sun had since taken shelter behind a layer of clouds, and in its absence, the wind had adopted an icy chill.
The road through the city was rocky and unstable, cracking and falling apart in patches. The city was made up of predominantly simple dwellings, stately with timber-framed walls and steeply pitched roofs with asymmetrical gables.
The homes were all connected by a shared characteristic: emerald stained-glass windows set in diamond patterns—an homage to the vast emerald deposits that ran through this land. Chimneys billowed smoke all across the city, creating dark and foggy air that reeked of coal and wood.
The streets were sparse, and I noticed quite a few boarded windows and doors. The few people who did move through the city did so in a hushed fashion, hurrying to their destination.
As we approached Emeraal’s center, a cathedral came into perfect view.
It loomed over the town, with tall spires reaching into the sky, its facade adorned with intricate stone carvings and detailing, depicting scenes of the mighty Esprithe.
The same stained glass windows lined the exterior, reflecting the moody sky.
It seemed to be the busiest place in town with Aossí filtering in and out, leaving offerings on the front stairs.
Some huddled close to their families, holding candles and humming softly, almost in a trance.
The singing of hymns could be heard from the streets as worshipers filled the cavernous space, begging their Esprithe for salvation.
The shining towers of the Fortress beckoned us forward as the road began to incline. The path spiraled up a hill encapsulated by evergreens. We reached the first gate, and the entry guard immediately recognized Laryk.
The metal bars screeched open, and we passed through. I couldn’t help but steal a glance at the city behind.
I returned my attention ahead, taking in the Fortress of Emeraal. Banners flew violently in the wind, secured to tall watchtowers that dotted the perimeter. Beyond the ramparts, I could make out towers in the heart of the commotion.
Down the hill, on the northern side of the Fortress, a cluster of shimmery blue and violet crystals protruded from the ground, high into the air. Slivers of light ran through them. The stones were surrounded by their own set of watchtowers.
Arcanite.
I hadn’t realized there were stores of it here as well.
We neared a massive gatehouse, flanked by portcullises and iron bars. I squinted to see past, finding narrow alleys winding between what must have been barracks, armories, and storerooms.
“General Ashford, welcome back to Emeraal. Our commander is awaiting you in the briefing room,” A man called from the tower above, motioning for the gate to be lifted.
I stole a glance at Laryk, who still wore an uninterested expression as he nodded toward the soldier who had spoken.
We rode through the gate and dismounted. Base Guards came to collect our horses. Another set of guards came to transfer our belongings to our quarters.
“Show Initiate Riftborne to her room, please,” Laryk said without looking back at me. My eyes darted around to the men who were now staring at my left hand.
“Erm–General, a word?” I said, attempting a respectful tone that was perhaps not as practiced as it should have been before coming here.
“Make it quick,” he said, sauntering over. He arched an eyebrow and tilted his head for me to follow.
“I’m not going to the briefings with you?” I said, my brow scrunched.
“Only officers, lieutenants and generals are granted access to briefings at Emeraal,” he said as if I was supposed to have somehow already known.
“So, what am I supposed to do?” I asked, irritation mixing with nerves in my gut.
“I don’t care. Whatever you want. Just stay out of trouble,” he said, turning back towards the entrance.
“Why am I here, then?” I hissed.
“Just do as you're told, Fia. This is a warzone. Be happy we’re not under attack and that you even have the ability to wander freely today.” He paused before taking a few steps back in my direction, lowering his voice.
“But don’t go making any friends. The Base soldiers here are wild and unpredictable.
” His eyes held an intensity that had me shifting, despite the anger that simmered just under my skin.
I glared at him and walked past, approaching one of the Emeraal guards. “I’d like to be shown to my quarters now, please.” I tried to hide the disappointment in my voice. The useless feeling had returned.