Dreamscape: Saving Alex (24 page)

“That’s a good question. I guess I do.”

“Then I hope you know what you’re doing. They
don’t.” I cringed as the whip lit one of the chairs on fire. “Turn the lever
off!” I yelled, waving my arm.

I turned around as the fire leapt to the next
chair. “Do something,” I said, pushing him towards the crowd.

Arrow laughed and covered his chest. “They have it
under control. And now, I have this,” he said, grabbing the wiggling ear device
from my hand.

“Arrow, no!” I yelled, chasing after him as he
darted towards the stables. “Give that back.”

“You lowered your defenses. That’s not a good
idea.” He couldn’t hold back his grin.

“It’s your home, I’m supposed to be safe here,” I
said. “Now give it back!” We reached the stables, and I leaned over to catch my
breath.

“I’m happy to hear that,” he said, lowering his
voice to a whisper. “I’m glad you feel safe here.”

“What?” The pounding of my heart threatened to
drown out his words.

“I’m glad you’re enjoying your time here. I was
worried it would be boring after all we’ve seen the past few days.”

“Boring? I don’t think anything here could be
boring, especially with your cousin keeping me company.”

Arrow flashed his charming smile. “Ah, Melody.
She’s a handful,” he said. “Come to think of it, that makes her a perfect fit
for you.”

“Hey, take that back,” I said, making a grab for
the hearing device.

He caught my hand and lowered it to his side,
pulling me closer. “I meant it in only the best of ways.” His voice deepened as
he looked at me.

“I… uh…” The words escaped me again.

“Let’s see what you’ve been doing this morning,”
he said, slipping the device over his head.

“Please, no,” I said, reaching for it, stepping
forward into his arms.

His grip on the device held and his body pressed
close to mine. I froze. The mischievous gleam in his eyes twisted my stomach.

“What are you afraid of?” he asked.

My heart drummed. At that moment, only him.

“I’m sure you’re mechanically inclined. It’ll
work. I’d bet my life on it,” he said, turning the lever on the bottom.

I couldn’t stop him. I could hardly breathe, let
alone move quickly enough to grab it.

“Alex, you did it! Want to give it a try?”

I grabbed it a little too quickly, bringing that
warm smile back to Arrow’s face. “I take it you didn’t get a chance to test it
yet?”

My head stopped mid-shake, and my eyes popped
open. I could hear everything down to my heartbeat, including its rapid
increase when Arrow touched my elbow. Nothing remained private under the
microscope of this machine. Flushed and embarrassed, I turned to see Arrow
smiling.

I pulled the piece off my ear, and everything
returned to normal. “That’s amazing. I’ve never seen anything like it. How did
you come up with it?”

“We have a collection department that scours the
countryside and forest for useful items, and our engineers are remarkable.
Anything from the most basic, outdated technology to the newest intelligence
devices that we are lucky enough to get our hands on comes back here. We try
not to let anything go to waste.”

“Clever,” I said, handing it back.

“And effective. These were originally used to help
the elders hear like they used to, but over the past few years we amplified the
acoustics and adapted them for reconnaissance.”

I put the earbuds back in and squinted in the
distance, weighing their value as I tried to recognize the distorted sounds.
The shuffling of feet blended with the electric hum, and the exaggerated
exclamations from the people at the tables melted into an indiscernible roar. I
imagined with time, sorting out the sounds would be easier, but it gave me a
headache. At least I finally understood how Deakon had heard me.

Booms echoed in my ears when Arrow tapped me on
the shoulder, and I pulled the device off. He brushed his hair off his forehead
and looked behind me. “I’m glad you’re settling in nicely. I just wanted to
check in to see how you were doing today, but I can see you’re in good hands.”

I turned to follow his gaze and saw Melody squint
as she watched us intently.

“I’d like to talk later, if that’s all right,” he
said.

“Oh? What about?” My cheeks felt warm. I hoped I
wasn’t reddening.

“I don’t want to go over it now, but there’s some
stuff I should tell you. Things we should’ve talked about earlier. Just come
find me when you get a chance,” he said, looking past me again.

“Yeah, sure, later,” I stammered. What did he want
to talk about? My mind raced, but couldn’t settle on anything specific.

I watched him run
off, and when I turned back, Melody stood behind me, a smirk on her lips as she
unhooked a device from her ear. “These things,” she said, “you never know when
they can come in handy.
So…you and my cousin…I was right.”

“What? No, it’s not like that,” I said, feeling my
cheeks burn again.

“You say that, and yet I heard something much
different. And my eyes don’t deceive. Look,” she said, leaning in. “I’m the
last to judge, and frankly, it’s none of my business.”

“It’s complicated,” I said, trying to find the
right word.

“Complicated?” She snorted. “That might be the
biggest understatement I’ve ever heard.”

“What do you know about it?” I retorted, rubbing
my fingers together. “Like you said, it’s none of your business.”

“You got me there. But how much do you know about
what you are?”

“What do you mean?”

She sighed heavily. “About being the Golden Hero.
What do you know?”

“Not very much,” I admitted, feeling a lump gather
in my chest.

“You see,” she
said, leading me to the edge of the stables. “We know more about you than I
think you know about us.” She sat down and picked at the flaking paint on the
edges of the stables beside her.

“What do you mean?”

“I don’t know how
to say this in a way that will make sense,” she said, changing positions to
fidget with her feathered fringe. “You see, Lockhorn has a long history of
summoning the Golden Hero when we need help. In the past, the Hero appeared at
each crisis point to aid us.” She stopped tugging on her vest to look at me.
“We’ve been waiting for you for years now.”

I tried to ignore
the accusation in her eyes, but my stomach dropped. How was I supposed to know?

“So when we heard
that you were finally here, Arrow went out in search of you. Didn’t he tell you
this?”

“We didn’t really
talk much,” I said, pulling handfuls of grass out of the dirt so I didn’t have
to look at her.

She leaned back
against the wall. “Do you even know how you got here?”

“I won’t be forgetting that anytime soon,” I said
with a scoff. Being eaten by light pixels wasn’t the sort of thing I’d easily
forget.

“Not what happened to bring you here, but how you
were summoned?”

“There’s a difference?”

“Yes, a big difference. No matter how you get
here, one thing is always the same—the summoning. There’s only one way a hero
enters our world.”

“And that is?”

“By a death spell.”

“A what?” I asked in a whisper.

“A death spell,” she said. “It’s our strongest
magic. It’s the only magic we have left, really. We didn’t have the foresight
to preserve the wisdom of the ancients. But the death spell…it transcends all
worlds and all rules. When it’s cast, nothing can stop it.”

I stared at her, feeling my face pale and a piece
of grass fall from my shaking hands. “How does it work?” I asked, although I
didn’t really want to know the answer. Anything called a death spell couldn’t
be good.

“That’s the tricky thing. It only works for some,
and only with a sacrificial death. Only in the direst of situations has anyone
tried to cast it.”

“So to get me here…” My voice trailed off as my
mind wrapped around the meaning of her words. “Someone had to die.”

“You’re starting to understand. But not just
anyone died.”

“Who?” I asked, closing my eyes to avoid the
answer.

“King Helio,” she said, “Arrow’s brother.”

I inhaled sharply.

“Yes, so before you get too close to him, try to
remember the price he’s already paid,” she said, a bit too pointedly. “And
there’s one more thing we know about the heroes.”

I looked up.

“They never stay.”

I stared at her, letting the implications of her
words sink in. “Thanks, Melody. I wouldn’t have known.”

She nodded and walked away, leaving me alone with
my thoughts. The last place I wanted to be.

After Melody left,
I wandered aimlessly around the camp, my mind jumping from insult to
accusation, circling around the inevitable conclusion. His brother died for me.
How
could
I even begin to make up for
that?

Dust swirled as I
walked back towards the entrance to the Grove. I hadn’t recognized how far I
had walked until I saw the abandoned wagon by the quaint cottage. The door to the
wagon opened easily, allowing me to slink back into its far corners. I gripped
the wooden bars, feeling comfort in the symbolism. Even with the door open, my
feelings imprisoned me.

I briefly thought
about leaving again, then banged my head against the bars. I couldn’t do that.
That would be the deepest betrayal. His brother’s death would be in vain.

No wonder Cale
didn’t forgive me. I could hardly blame him or the rest of the men for how
they’d reacted. They’d lost their kingdom to Berkos, and then their king to
bring me here. And I’d refused to help.

I
felt
sick. No number of vines could heal the pit that
opened inside me. I hadn’t really thought about anyone but me, and I’d never
thought a game could be so complicated. I banged my head against the bars until
the pounding dulled my thoughts.

Then I remembered
that Arrow wanted to talk to me. Whatever it was about, it couldn’t be worse
than what Melody had already told me. I clenched my jaw and walked back into
the village. The knot in my stomach twisted until my entire body turned into
pins and needles. The slightest of sounds unraveled me, even though I couldn’t
put my finger on what it was that worried me most.

My feet guided me forward until I spied movement
on the training field. I sighed and made my way over to the edge of the field,
resting against the stacked hay bales.
The dry
edges of the straw scratched my arms. I pulled out the offending pieces,
peeling them in half as I stared at the field where Arrow taught some of the
youth how to shoot.

A group of boys no older than ten crowded around
him. Casually slung over his shoulder, Arrow’s black bow glinted. He walked in
front of them and pointed to the different areas of the field. I tried to
imagine what he was telling them, but I didn’t understand his gestures.

That was okay. Watching him was entertainment
enough.

His deep laugh rang out as one of the smallest
boys lifted a bow twice his size. Arrow tossed his bow to one of the older
boys—I thought I’d heard them call him Ronan—and grabbed a smaller wooden one
from the barrels. Ronan stared at Arrow’s bow in disbelief. I knew that look.

Arrow didn’t seem to notice, fully involved with
the younger child. He stood behind him, helping him string the arrow and aim at
the end of the field. The muscles in Arrow’s arms tightened as they pulled back
and released. I held my breath, watching the wobbling arrow strike its target.

The boy jumped up and howled as he ran to retrieve
it.

The other boys scampered over to the barrel to
find a bow their size. When they all had their new weapons, Arrow lined them up
carefully, youngest to oldest, and waited for the other boy to return. The hay
bales towered over him as he jumped to retrieve the arrow.

Arrow ducked down and put his finger to his lips
to tell the others to be silent. He tiptoed down the field and grabbed the boy,
throwing him onto his shoulders. Even from where I stood, I could hear the
child’s giggles. When they turned around, everyone cheered. Arrow lifted the
little boy’s arm up in victory and handed him the arrow from the target.

I couldn’t contain my laughter. Moments like these
made Lockhorn feel like home. My heart grew watching him—that’s the only way to
describe the ache that pulled me from within. The knots in my stomach seized. I
didn’t have to worry about any of the things I had done when I first arrived.
My biggest concern now was what I wanted to do, having heard Melody’s warning.

He must have heard my laugh; he turned in my
direction and smiled. My knees gave way, and I melted. He ran back to the line
of waiting boys and dropped the child in line with the others. General Amos,
who had been watching from the other side of the field, nodded and took Arrow’s
place as he ran over to me.

My hands scraped against the rough straw as I
wiped my palms on my leggings.

His hair bounced as he approached, falling in
front of his eyes. I wanted to reach out and move it for him, but he beat me to
it.

“Did you come for a lesson?” he quipped.

“Melody taught me quite enough—or at least
reminded me that I can’t claim archery as a skill.”

“I thought you did pretty well,” he said.

“Pretty well won’t save the rebellion.”

“Good thing you have other tricks, then.” He
winked, then glanced back at the boys, who continued practicing under the
general’s guidance. “What are you doing here?”

“I, uh, was looking for you,” I said. “You said
you wanted to talk.”

“I did. I mean, I
do.” He scrunched his face as he looked behind him at the field. “I think
General Amos can handle it from here.”

“Are you sure?” I
asked, looking back as the boys ran in circles around the old general.

Arrow chuckled and
grabbed my hand. “It’ll be good for him. Are you up for a walk?”

I bit my lower lip
and nodded.

His smile lit up,
and he pulled me forward towards the cottage where the ladder led up to the
bridge. “I haven’t had a chance to relax since we got here. I hope you don’t
mind the bridge.”

I couldn’t hold
back my grin. He had read my mind. “It’s perfect,” I said, walking in front of
his outstretched arm to climb up first.

The planks creaked
under our weight. I stopped when I reached the first bridge. It hadn’t changed,
but it seemed so much more alive. The planks didn’t just creak; they rejoiced
under our steps. The vines swayed with their own mysterious breeze, and an
echoing silence surrounded us. Before, I had concentrated on the Grove below
and had missed the beauty of the bridge and the canopy of the woods.

The cool vines slid
under my palms as I walked forward, making room for Arrow to climb up behind
me. I peered through the wooden archway leading away from the tree. “How did I
not see this before?”

“It’s amazing what
we miss the first time we see something,” he said, right behind me.

“I’m glad I get this
second look then,” I whispered, my eyes flitting between his face and the trees
around us.

“Me too.” He pulled
me forward. “Follow me.”

“Where are we
going?” I asked as we passed under the archway.

“I want to show you
something. Remember? I promised to show you all the wonders of this world.” His
boyish grin charmed me. How could I resist?

“Wait up!” I yelled
as he ran further ahead. His long legs skipped multiple planks as he conquered
the bridge in a few leaps. I followed, more tentatively, refusing to let go of
my grip on the railing.

He didn’t stop,
only slowing down briefly each time he crossed onto a new bridge. We climbed
through the canopy and around to a part of the Grove I hadn’t seen.

The view below me
was dizzying. Without the reference points of people and places, the ground
seemed miles away.

“Arrow,” I called
out. “Can you slow down a bit?” I wasn’t afraid of heights, but the thought of
getting lost in this tangled web of bridges and trees unsettled me.

“Sorry, I’ll wait
for you here. I just wanted to make sure we got there in time.”

“Where?”

“I’m not giving up
the surprise that easily,” he said, reaching for my hand as I struggled with my
steps. “It’ll be worth it, I promise.”

“Didn’t you say
that about the Pits of Wonder, too?”

“Oh no, you can’t
blame that on me. You discovered that one all by yourself.” He smirked.

“Fine, but how much
further?” I asked, leaning against the railing to catch my breath.

“We’re almost
there.”

“Okay, let’s do
this,” I said, waving him forward.

I stumbled behind
him, wearily moving from bridge to bridge until we stopped. “Are we there…” My
voice trailed off as I looked up and lost my train of thought.

“What do you
think?” Arrow asked, moving to the side to give me a clear view.

I stepped slowly,
brushing past him without a glance. My gaze focused on a long staircase that
led up to a delicately carved gazebo overlooking the top of the forest.

The bark was cool
under my fingertips. I caressed the smooth designs carved into the side of the
tree and the handrail. The scent of pine came through more strongly as I
climbed closer to the tree. Boughs of pine needles swooped over the staircase
as a natural cover.

I stopped at the
top of the staircase and turned around in awe. I wanted to speak, but I had no
words.

“You can come in,”
Arrow said, stepping around me, pulling me in with him.

I looked around him
at the woven limbs that encircled us in the wooden structure. They intersected
seamlessly, creating a natural barrier above and around us. Tucked between the
leaves and branches, nature painted a masterpiece. Patches of moss filled deep
crevices in the bark, and portions of gnarled wood twisted into spirals around
us. Yellow flowers grew along the outer edges of the roof.

I gasped.

“You like it?” he
asked, reaching for my hand.

“I’ve never seen
anything like this before,” I said, tightening my grip on his hand.

“Then it’s
perfect,” he said.

“I don’t
understand.”

“You don’t have to.
I just wanted to share it with you,” he said, pulling me to the far edge of the
gazebo to see an unrestricted view of the forest. We leaned over the edge of
the railing, and the tops of the trees swayed in rhythm in the breeze. I
exhaled and propped my arms along the woven branches, watching the blue of the
sky lighten to orange.

In a world of so
much beauty, I wondered why I had been in such a rush to leave, to get home.
Melody’s warning flashed in my mind, but I brushed it aside. I might not be
able to stay, but I wasn’t leaving anytime soon. Winning the game, finding my
way home…it no longer compelled me.

I placed my hand
atop his and looked him in the eyes. “I might not have to understand, Arrow,
but I want to. I’ve pretended long enough that what I know from my world
explains this one. It doesn’t. I want to know the truth about this place, about
you.”

He searched my face
for a moment and then settled his gaze back over the forest. “This is one of
the old guard towers.”

“From before Berkos
took over?” I asked, trying to fit it into the history I knew.

“Yes, from a long
time before, even before my parents and grandparents ruled. These forest
lookouts served as resting places during hunting parties or long travel. When
Berkos came into power, this was the only place I could think of that he
wouldn’t find me. Even in his youth, he was always more interested in staying
in the city, attending parties and banquets than roaming the wilds.”

“So you ran here?
It’s a long way from Flourin.”

He nodded. “It was
the only chance I had. I had to go somewhere Berkos wouldn’t look. This tower
was the one place that I knew I’d be safe. It became my second home, or rather,
my new home.” He sighed. “All of that seems so long ago.”

“So how did it all
happen? I’ve heard bits, but no one’s really put it all together for me.”

“You really want to
know?”

I nodded and placed
my hand on top of his. “Yeah, I mean, I was brought here to help you. It’d be
nice to know.”

“Well, I guess I’ll
start with my parents. They died when I was young, too young to really know
what happened. There was some sort of accident, the doctors told me, but I
still don’t know if that’s the truth or not. At six, I didn’t think to question
it, and I don’t know if my older brother Helio did either. Even if he suspected
something, he would have had to focus on the new pressures of leading Lockhorn,
for the good of the people.”

“Was he as young as
you?” I asked.

“He was thirteen,
barely old enough to take care of himself, let alone a kingdom or a brother.”

“I can’t imagine
how hard that must’ve been for both of you,” I said.

“It was, but we had
some help. Helio connected with my father’s advisors and continued their
policies and ordinances for seven years. Life was good under my parents’ reign;
he didn’t see the need to change any of that. Unfortunately, Berkos didn’t feel
the same way.”

“So you knew him? I
mean, I know he’s Melody’s dad, but how close were you?” I asked.

“We weren’t close.
I don’t think my father ever really trusted him, to tell you the truth. But
after our parents’ death, Helio reached out to him. Berkos presided over a
territory to the north as a governor, but I guess it wasn’t enough for him. He
turned my brother’s kindness into an opportunity. He sat in on all of Helio’s
council meetings, offering his own experience and advice. In the beginning, he
had great ideas, but over time my brother became more uncomfortable with the
direction Berkos wanted to take the kingdom. Helio shut him out, but not in
time. Berkos had already planned his coup.”