Quicksilver Dreams (Dreamwalkers) (19 page)

“Kind of like a natural apartment complex with plumbing benefits. Are there any traditional neighborhoods like we have on Earth around here? You know, like
Leave It to Beaver
style?”

“No,” he said firmly. “Makes us too vulnerable. Over the last twenty or so years, we’ve blended our homes and businesses into the natural structures that make up our environment. It helps to keep us out of sight and protected. We build around the trees within our forests, within our caves carved out from erosion over time, within the hills and mountains that surround us. To the north, the homes have been built underwater. To have a home out in the open shows your enemies right where you are. It’s foolish. We learned our lessons in the past.”

“When was the last time you guys were attacked?”

“It’s been twenty-five years since we won our last battle, but there have been skirmishes over time, and more recently, acts of violence we are still investigating that cost hundreds of lives.”

My eyes closed. “You guys sound like you’ve made yourselves prisoners. Don’t you all miss the sun? Freedom?”

“Now you sound like my sister.” He sounded disapproving.

“A sister. I always wished I had a sister. How many siblings do you have?”

He paused a moment, and I caught sight of two different girls in his mind, one with dark hair and one with red. “Just one. Her name is Shandria.”

He’d forgotten to up his mental shield, so I knew he wasn’t giving me the full story. It must have meant that something horrible had happened to one of them. “So how do I sound like her?”

“She chooses to live outside the boundaries of the province as an outlier. For her own protection, she was sent to live there with my grandmother when she was a child, but as an adult, she refuses to return.”

“What’s wrong with that?”

“She has a house aboveground where anyone can know where she is and know what she’s doing. Anyone can get to her.” He scowled his frustration. “We’ve all tried to reason with her, but she refuses to move. She listens to my grandmother, who is also an outlier.”

“The grandmother who made this blanket?”

“The very same.”

“Why is that so bad? Shouldn’t they be able to choose how they want to live? Women have been fighting for their rights for hundreds of years on my planet.” I giggled, hearing myself say that aloud. “My planet.”

Ryder ignored my humor. “We have no way of protecting either of them.”

“Can’t they protect themselves? Maybe use some of that mylunate to beam out or something?”

“They choose not to have any, though my grandmother was offered its use by the high council, our governing body. She insists on using the transfer unit that was built near her region, saying the walk is good for her. She argues that if she doesn’t have it around, then there won’t be a reason for anyone to attack. So no, there are no defenses that would be strong enough to hold off even one Brausiian warrior. It’s well-known that the Brausa have vowed to exterminate every one of us.”

“She must be important, if your government is trying to protect her.”

“She’s highly important to our...spirituality.”

There was so much. It was hard to process it all. Hearing Ryder talk about spirituality was showing me yet another facet of his personality. I wondered what this big, tough guy believed in, really.

“So were you referring to your sister and grandmother when you said you were familiar with stubborn women?”

“Yes. They play with their lives.”

“But freedom’s important.”

“Only if you’re around to use it.”

“It must be nice to have a grandmother and sister.” It was the last thing I remembered saying before darkness settled in.

Chapter Nine

Powerful gusts of frigid wind were rushing over my body, but I wasn’t cold. I was feeling absolute exhilaration. Riding on the back of an amazingly large bird, I felt part of him, as free and limitless as the bird itself, able to predict the movements he was going to make. The powerful wings pumped effortlessly, creating the
whump...whump
rhythm of our travel, propelling us over the vast countryside. Dipping and coasting, we punched through cottony clouds, and pure joy spilled unfettered from my soul in great gasping peals of laughter at the magnificence of the experience.

What a gift to be alive!

I saw that the countryside was lush and green, vibrant with varying colors of wildflowers. There were beautiful forests amid the mountains, and beyond that, in the far distance, yellow hilly grasslands. They called to me! They looked soft and welcoming. They needed someone to lie down at the top and just start rolling sideways until a body was dizzy with silliness.

Before long, a large lake sprawled beneath us, reflecting our rapidly soaring undercarriage, and I knew when I looked up, the two moons would be hanging, pretty as a picture, in the blue sky. To skinny-dip under the moonlight sounded sinfully sexy. What I wouldn’t do to get Ryder on board with that plan.

Meeting him had changed my whole view on myself. Before, I would have considered myself a less sexual creature than many of the girls I’d known who gossiped about experiences in the ladies’, but lately, I’d had a number of creative wishes and fantasies that involved his beautifully sculpted body. Definitely wanted to try me some of that.

Where are we going?
I asked, running my hands affectionately over the downy, burnt-sienna feathers under my fingertips.

I wasn’t even holding on. There was no fear of falling. My whole body felt enveloped in a cloud of protection, as though I were a cherished being to my animal friend.

No words were spoken, but projected into my mind from my feathery companion was the understanding that someone was waiting for us and that we would be there soon. Within moments of this communication, I saw a little house in the distance. It was like an old farmhouse, with a wraparound porch and fields and fields of white, iridescent flowers, tall and swaying with the breeze, surrounding it.

The flowers! That’s where they came from. So beautiful. There were rows and rows of them here. Magical. Shimmering. An energy field that wrapped around me with pure contentment. What a rush.

How had they ended up in my dreams?

Standing outside, at the bottom of the front steps, was an older woman. She was turned away from us, shading her eyes against the sun and squinting up at the sky with a frown. She seemed to be looking for something up high. She angled herself more toward us and relaxed.

She waved and smiled, a gesture and expression I returned eagerly.

Is this who we’re visiting?

My friend told me that it was and wished me well. The next thing I knew, pretty seamlessly, I was in the middle of the field of flowers. The soft floral scent washed over me, almost like that of night-blooming jasmine. I aimed in the direction of the farmhouse. Skipping lightly, I bounced down the row of blooms, my arms outstretched like those of a tightrope walker, touching the soft petals as I went.

Hallooo!
Over here
,
dear!

Finally at the edge of the field, I broke through the flower line into the front yard, where the older woman stood on a patch of wild grasses. A big, welcoming smile lovingly nurtured the creases around her eyes and mouth. I felt warmth humming through the air surrounding us and in every practiced line of her face. Her dark gray eyes peered out at me under a snowy white bun.

I’ve been waiting for you.
The woman came forward. Pere’seiunat
told me he was bringing you.

He...did?

It’s a long story
,
not made for a single telling.
It’s enough to know that it was time.
You were expected.
Let’s walk.
She had a soft voice, a melodic voice that belied what seemed to be her advanced age. With purpose in her steps, she followed a path around the side of her house under what looked like a very old grove of oaks. A beautiful garden greeted us.

My name is Dreya.
There was an expectant look to her face as she stuck out her hand and silently willed me to speak my name. Power swirled through the air between us, so much so that I could almost feel it crackling, but in a nonthreatening way. She was a protector. I knew instinctively I could trust her.

I’m Taylor.

Thank Pere
’
.
As though she’d had some doubt that was just now erased, Dreya seemed to become overwhelmed with emotion and enveloped me in a tight, spontaneous embrace, which I couldn’t help but return. How could I not appreciate someone who was, for whatever reason, this glad to see me?

How is it you were expecting me?

We pulled apart. She held on to my upper arms a moment, staring deeply into my eyes. A somber expression smoothed the joyful lines from her face. As though satisfied with what she was looking at, she nodded and ran my hand through the crook of her arm, holding it tightly.

Our origin story is quite a curiosity
,
Taylor.
How we came to be on this planet would interest you.
Would you like to hear it?

Sure.
I wondered if she was trying to put me off from my question or if she hadn’t really heard it. Either way, I was determined to reask it.

Come and sit.
She led the way through a winding path in the garden to a pair of comfortable Adirondack-style chairs.
Our people came from Earth about five thousand years ago.
They lived in a tribal society in what you would now call Austria and Italy.
They hunted food and fought off enemies to protect their territory and resources.

Dreya paused as we sat.
Pere’ told us that the tribe was feeling desperate and grief stricken.
Neighboring enemies were getting stronger.
Sitting together in worship to the sky god
,
they wished for their home
,
their forest and mountain
,
to be bountiful and peaceful
,
praying for that time to come so they could heal their sprits.
Unbeknownst to them
,
they were sitting over a large deposit of mylunate.
It brought them here
,
to these mountains
,
which were calm and peaceful.

Mylunate?
The stuff Ryder told me about?

Yes.
There were eight major clans that arrived.
They were visited by the Great Spirits
,
and each was guided to the different provinces of Sunan.

Sunan
means seven
,
though.
Doesn’t it?

Yes.
The eighth clan refused to join with others
,
believing it would make them weak
,
and decided to forge an independent path.

They were the Brausa?

Yes.
There’s more to the story
,
but it’s a lot to take in for one sitting.

To say the least
, I agreed.
I
still expect to wake up at home in bed and find that all of this was a dream.

Tell me about growing up on Earth.
She leaned toward me with a curious expression, seeming to be genuinely interested.
What was your life like?

Some of the time I lived with my grandmother and some of the time with my aunt.

What happened to your mother?
The woman paused, curiosity marking her face. I thought I caught a glimpse of some concern there, but that didn’t make sense.

No one really knows.
She had problems.
I didn’t want to make my mom look bad, so I chose to gloss over things.

Unresolved pain?

I frowned, thinking about it.

Maybe.

Dreya seemed to understand. A look of empathy passed over her face during the moment of silence.
And yet you’ve done well for yourself.
It couldn’t have been easy.
It speaks to your strength that you have found a way here.

Yeah
,
about that
...
How did you know I was coming?

I
promise we’ll talk more.
Your questions will be answered in time.
This was a meeting for us to learn of each other.
Let’s not make this uncomfortable by revealing too much too soon.

Okay
,
but did you put those flowers in my dreams?

We all serve a purpose
,
Taylor
...

The gentle words echoed through my mind, reminding me of another time.
It was you!

Sleep well
,
dear.
There’s a lot for you to learn
,
and the one who is set to show you isn’t known for his patience.
Keep that in mind when you wake.
Don’t be too hard on him.
There are reasons for the behavior he’s about to show you.

She stood and again looked expectantly at me, willing me to stand.

With a hint of frustration, I did, but I kept up the questions. I didn’t want this to end quite yet.

What do you mean
,
the one who is set to show me?
Are you talking about Ryder?
What’s he going to do?

Welcome home
,
Taylor.

Welcome home?
Why
...

With a final smile, fragile-looking, elderly Dreya gave me the most amazingly Herculean shove, and a power beyond my control took over my body and yanked me away from her at a faster and faster rate. I fought the pull, struggled fiercely to try and stop the momentum that was taking me away.

Wait!
No!

But the black void enveloped me and I felt myself return to the present. The dream was leaving me. I couldn’t hang on to it no matter how much I told myself to remember. I wanted to shout my frustration, not wanting to lose the warmth and sense of comfort and security I’d been submerged in.

Beep.
Beep.
Beep.
I heard some kind of alarm, followed by Ryder’s low murmur. As I lay there, reality rushed at me like a freight train. I remembered everything from the previous day and night. Someone trying to kill me. Transferring to another planet. Really? Another planet? Could I just go back to sleep?

“Taylor.” A gentle caress over my arm was followed by a quick squeeze. Momentarily, I was distracted from my worries. “I’m getting a shower. I’m being called to the border.”

“You’re leaving?” I mumbled, blinking up at him blearily. He was looking down at me from behind the sofa. He’d taken his call in the other room and come back with his device still in hand.

“Pretty soon. I’m sorry about this. An emergency has come up. If you get up, I can make you some food, and we’ll have time to talk.”

“Okay.” But I really wanted to pull a pillow over my head. Wasn’t going to happen.

He left me alone on the sofa with the blanket still tucked around me, squinting into the light that was pouring through the large window. Pulling the blanket off my body, I realized my damned high heels were still on my feet. Muscles, stiff and sore, protested their movement, and it took a moment for me to fully come out from under the blanket and set my aching feet on the floor. I winced as I stood and put weight on my cramped feet.

Taking pity on myself, I unbuckled the heavy platforms and stepped down from them, appreciating the extra-soft, cushy floor covering that my feet sank into. I even took a few minutes to rub the balls of my feet, gritting my teeth with the pain of it. But before long, I had to face my reality.

The window called to me, and I went to look out at the valley of absurdly lush, overgrown trees, feeling like I was in an episode of
Land of the Lost.
Next I would expect a Sleestack to come after me.

A series of blaringly loud, hornlike
caw
-caws jump-started my heart just as several boat-sized birds in vibrant peacock colors smashed up through the tree canopy. They soared over the trees with crazy-enormous wingspans before disappearing one by one beneath the canopy once again. Awe inspiring. A
Nat Geo
moment.

And I was back to breathing rapidly, wondering what else could be out there. At least on Earth, I knew where the dangers were. In Africa, I would be aware of lions. In South America, I would be aware of panthers. In the deserts and mountains around California, I would be aware of mountain lions, bears and snakes. What was I supposed to be aware of here? Maybe those great big birds were actually carnivores. Who knew? I didn’t.

Most areas of the forest were so dense that it was impossible for my eyes to penetrate the canopy and see the forest floor. We were so high up! I looked left and right but didn’t see any kind of road or village. There was nothing that would even hint that we were near any form of civilization. Where were the people?

WTF!
What am I supposed to do now?

The edge of a panic attack threatened, and I tried to just breathe my way through it. Ryder had my back here. He wasn’t going to let anything hurt me. I’d be back home soon.

It didn’t help that his arms looped around me from behind when I wasn’t expecting it. I jumped a mile high and almost swallowed my tongue. Okay. I needed a vacation after all this excitement. When the drama was over, Taylor wanted a trip to the Bahamas or something.