The lessons went well. She was now able to read some of the stories in the piles of books that the Trader had lugged up in great chests to her room. Stories about ancient times. Stories about strange people. Stories about Kings and Queens from ages past. She never had realized how many ages there had been. They went back into the dimness of time, uncountable thousands of years. Whole empires risen and fallen, and long forgotten, except in the books that The Trader, Master Hamar insisted she read. Why, there were even books that said that the very land had changed. Great upheavals of mountains and new seas being formed. Desare couldn't see how that could be, but the books said it was so.
One disturbing book told of a time so long ago that even the author could not place it when the battle with the Dark One had all but wiped all living things from the face of the world. Only vast scorched blank glass areas remaining where once large cities had stood. It had only stopped when there was no one left who knew how to continue the battle.
Desare eyed the pile of books, and piles of paper, and piles of work she had done.
"Oh well, it's more interesting than cleaning the stables." She thought. Why she was doing all this learning she couldn't even guess. There seemed no need in a small village, but Father and Mother wanted it, so it was done.
Desare knew she was of an age now to be welcomed to the Women's Circle, but so far no invitation had come. Perhaps all the turmoil of the last weeks and months had caused such a small thing to be forgotten for the moment.
Desare turned from the window to begin dressing. Just as her back turned to the window she heard a 'chink' sound from the yard. She spun around and peered out into the yard. There! It was that Jacklin's boy, she was sure. What could he be up to out there in the early dawn. Or was it? The shadow within the shadow moved, and seemed to flow with a liquid movement as it travelled away across the open space toward the north. It had no definite shape, and suddenly Desare realized that she was covered in goose bumps from head to foot. Even the hair on the nape of her neck was trying to stand up. She backed away from the window until she bumped into her bed. She wished Antonin were here now. What? Desare clicked her tongue. Silly girl. It was a dream, remember. Time to get dressed and go down to begin the day. Unnoticed, the air in one part of the room took on a crystalline shine like frosty fog on a subzero night, while unheard in The Inn of the Blind Man the box beneath the bed of Tallbar the Innkeeper was hammering on the floor fit to burst the floorboards. Antonin in far away Hua Guo suddenly clutched his head and groaned. His friends looked at him in alarm, but it passed quickly, leaving him blinking and wondering what had happened.
Desare continued to dress, unaware of all this, and finally ran lightly down the stairs to the kitchen.
The cooks were hard at work already, preparing the early morning meals. Had anyone seen anything near the hen house? No one had yet been outside, so nothing had been seen. Desare shrugged and forgot it. She didn't know it, but she was considered by many to be very beautiful. Long pale hair, uncommon in the region, fanned across her shoulders and hung almost to her slim waist. She had fair skin, like all the family. Blue eyes with the slightest almond shape and a small nose with just the hint of the curved bridge of the people from the East. Her wide mouth was quick to smile, and many a local boy delighted in the game of 'steal a kiss' on festival days. Desare herself enjoyed the fun of the games, and her slim build and long legs made her popular on the dance floor. Skirts swirling up to show trim ankles and calves, her chest rising and falling with exertion ensured every young man in the village sought her out. Desare had eyes for none, and enjoyed the attention of all. Except that Jacklins boy. She clicked her tongue in vexation this time. Why was that boy in her mind so much this morning. The head cook looked her way as she muttered to herself over the mug of tea she had made.
She banged the mug down and headed for the back door. If that boy was out there in the yard she would take a pitch fork to him this time. He had no right skulking about the place in the early dawn. Desare headed up the yard to the chicken pen. There was nothing there. A look along the wall where she had seen the strange shadow revealed nothing. No foot prints in the dust, nothing. Strange. She was sure she had seen something there. The sun was now just up, and the whole area well lit. No shadows to hide anything. Maybe it was just a left over part of her dream.
Desare walked across the yard and went back inside. Her parents and sisters were now all seated around the kitchen table, cook serving up the mornings fare of bacon, eggs, oats, milk and honey.
"Daga," said his wife. "You should have got up to see what was disturbing the chickens." Desare blinked, her mouth open about to speak.
"What is it girl?" Said her father. "You look like you've seen a dream walker."
"Er, no father. I also heard a noise by the chicken pen, but just now I could find no sign of anything or anyone."
The Trader, Annan Hamar walked into the room, holding the Seal of the Creator in his outstretched hand. It glowed and pulsed with a strange green light.
"What do you make of this Daga?" He asked the innkeeper. "It started just before dawn, it shone so brightly. It has almost faded now, and warmed to the touch. It had gone so cold when it woke me that frost had formed on its surface."
The hair on Desare's arms began to prickle again. She told her mother of her dream. Most of it anyway, but it still brought a rose to her cheeks. Jolin smiled kindly. Her daughter's dreams were her own, but what she told was interesting. She didn't mention that her own dream had also featured her daughter, wed in the yellow dress to the King of the Malachites, her daughter a Lady, a Queen.
Daga listened to his daughter's retelling and kept his lips sealed. He would not embarrass his daughter by telling how he had dreamt of her wed, in the yellow dress, to the lord of the Dragon Armies returned, to Antonin, son of a local farmer. He thought it strange that their dreams were much the same though. He would speak of it with his wife when they were alone, later.
Desare reached out her hand toward the Great Seal. She didn't dare touch it. She had seen what it could do. As her hand approached, it changed abruptly to give off a bright yellow glowing aura. She withdrew her hand and the misty haze surrounding the Seal changed to a deep blue and steadied.
The Trader looked at the Seal, and looked at Desare as if seeing her for the first time. He looked back at the Seal, now warm in his hand and glowing with a steady blue light.
"Something." He cleared his throat. "Something came in the early dawn. I believe it may have been... umm, er, " The Trader was actually shuffling his feet."Um, seeking out, um, your daughter Desare." He cleared his throat again. the Trader was a huge man by anyone's standards. To see him so ill at ease was as much of a surprise as what he had just said. Daga was on his feet, his tea slopping over and dripping down his fingers onto the floor. It must have been hot, but he didn't feel it. Desare's mother had gone as white as a sheet. Desare had just blinked. Antonin would take care of her. She blinked again. What was this madness? That was a dream. She stamped her foot. Perhaps she was still in the dream? It didn't feel like it though.
"Master Hamar, how do you know this?" She asked.
"I don't know," he replied. "I think the Great Seal tells me. I can - feel it - hear it. Like words in my head. that's what drew me down here. I could feel something drawing me down here with great urgency. As soon as you drew near it changed to a feeling of, well, safety. I could sense the young man Antonin in this somewhere. Has he returned?"
Desare nearly fainted. This was a dream after all. She started crying, the tears streaming down her face as she sobbed uncontrollably. What had she done to deserve this? A lovely dream within a dream was turning into a nightmare. Perhaps if she lay down again, she would then wake up and everything would be normal again. Desare fled from the room, up the stairs and dove into her bed, puling the sheets over her head to block out the light. It was only light in her dream, but it would still keep her awake. The bed shook from time to time as deep sobs gripped her. It was so unfair. Trapped here in a bad dream when Antonin in the good dream could rescue her, just like in the stories she had read. The hero and the girl living happily in their castle, lots of pretty children running through the halls. Finally Desare drifted into a fitful sleep again. Unknown to her, her mother had watched quietly from the door as the sobs subsided, and steady breathing told her that her daughter had gone back to sleep. This was not good. She would tell her husband of her own dream. The Trader, the keeper of the Great Seal should also be told. He was strangely linked to the Seal, and it was a guard against evil such as had not been seen. Her family must be protected. She would do it even if it meant never sleeping again.
Desare drifted in her sleep. She was dreaming again. She seemed to be in some kind of thick fog. It was suffused with a deep blue light that seemed to have no source. She could feel that she was drifting through this fog as though she had no body, only consciousness. Drifting toward something. She knew she was asleep again. It was as though she was conscious and in another place. It didn't seem threatening, so Desare decided to just drift, and see where the dream took her. She knew beyond any doubt that she could step out of the dream and back into her bed anytime she wanted. The fog began to thin ahead of her. Strange towers thrust up out of the cloud ahead of there. The stone work appeared to be ancient. The design was recognisable but old. Nothing like these towers had been built in any age that she know off. The towers were round, and seemed numberless, faint outlines of many more glimpsed through the fog. They were very high, all castellated at the top, some with smaller spires projecting from within the rooftop walls. These carried pennants of a jet black, with golden dragons emblazoned on them. The great five clawed beasts of legend seeming to be alive as the pennants stirred lazily in the wind. The stone work of the towers was a deep blue. Desare had never seen anything like it. She would ask Master Hamar about it when she awoke. At the thought of the Traders name, the fog cleared instantly. One minute it as there. The next not. With a start Desare realized she was far above the ground, floating bodiless in her dream. As if to test the dream state she thought of her own bed, and could actually feel herself asleep in her room. She could even sense that her mother stood watching from the door.
Something kept her in the dream though. Some feeling that this was important. Those blue towers were very important. Desare let out a yell of surprise as she suddenly found herself standing on the porch of one of the towers, a huge brass bound oak door in front of her. Looking around, she could see that this was all part of a huge castle. The deep blue of the stone work seemed to mute everything. All other colour seemed drained, as though looking through a shard of blue glass. The doorway was a double door, wide enough for two or three horsemen abreast to go through, and certainly high enough to give plenty of clearance to such.
Desare looked down at herself. With a start she realized that not only could she now see herself, she was also completely unclothed. With another squeal of embarrassment she wished she had some decent clothes on. Should anyone see her, she would die of shame. Her cheeks were burning even now, and no one was in sight. With a start she found that she was smoothing the folds of a skirt across her hips. She had dressed herself into her own plain working clothes. Brown long skirt that covered even her ankles. Stout shoes on her feet. Her white blouse buttoned up to her chin, and her long puffed sleeves giving her plenty of room to move about her tasks when helping in the inn. She never worked in the Common Room of course. Her father would not let her near the coarse types who frequented that part of the inn. She didn't think they were coarse though. Mostly farmers and village men, simply relaxing away from the strictures of family life and a life of toil and hardship that seemed to be as unending as the seasons that came and went. Father's word was law though, so Desare kept to the rest of the inn and didn't complain. She often found herself working though, where she could overhear the talk from the common room. Even as a child, she wanted to know everything about everyone. She stored up the knowledge as a dam stores water. Calm on the surface, but with great depth.
Finding herself in a blue tower, at least in front of a blue tower meant a chance to learn what was happening. "Perhaps Antonin was here?" She said aloud. Desare jumped, as at the thought of Antonin's name a deep boom had sounded as though the largest bell in the world had been struck. The very air vibrated. Desare could feel the deep waves of sound in the stone on which she stood. Even her eyes vibrated. Slowly, ever so slowly the sound died away. Nothing else changed. Unknown to Desare, every Wind Reader in the world stopped dead in her tracks, or sat bolt upright awakened from sleep as though the bell had sounded right in their heads. As did the others, Mei'An gave a cry and clutched her head in her hands, tears springing from her eyes. Such pain as she had never felt. Who could have struck the warning bell so loudly. No Wind Reader had such power, never since the beginning of time. Even then only legend told of the old powers. Luan was on his feet, sword out, looking for enemies. Mei'An rocked back and forth in her chair, clutching her head still. Luan could not help - only guard her.
To Desare it had only been a deep sounding bell, even if it had dislodged the mortar in the stone work about her. "Is anyone there?" She called out a little timidly. She was after all only a girl, and not yet even old enough to wear her hair up in the fashion of the older girls and women of the village. There was no answer. She noticed her cloths had changed again to those of a little girl. A short floral printed skirt that showed her knees. Sandals on her feet, and a rag doll in her hand. Desare giggled.
"So this is how I looked as a child." The clothes flickered to her best festival dress. this was fun. "If only Antonin could see me now." She said. Somewhere the huge bell boomed, more mortar dust drifting into the air. The huge doors in front of Desare swung open on silent hinges. Along with Mei'An, Wind Readers everywhere were almost prostrate with the pain of the bell's echo in their minds. Unnoticed by everyone else, Antonin himself felt as though he was in the middle of a wild electrical storm. The hairs on his arms were standing up straight. He could hear the boom of the bell, but although loud, it wasn't uncomfortable. He could not even begin to imagine what was happening.
Desare connected the bell's sounding with the saying of ... her friends ... name. Could it be? A very intelligent girl, Desare decided to test it one last time to be sure. She didn't want to bring down the whole stone tower accidentally after all.
"Antonin?" She called aloud, the question in her voice. This time she got a real fright. The bell sounded as though it had broken loose from where ever it was secured and was now rolling down a grassy hill. Some muted, some loud enough to shake the foundations of the towers.
"oops." Gulped Desare.
Mei'An was on the floor, chairs and tables scattered as she howled in pain. Her eyes were squeezed shut, but the tears leaked out regardless. Luan cradled her in his arms until her writhing stopped. She was gasping for breath. Panting, she was trying to speak. The common room was in uproar. The look on Luan's face enough to freeze blood in veins. No one knew what was happening though, not even Luan. In other parts of the world it was chaos. Antonin was staggering on his feet, the Wind Reader Sarweio, only moments before calm, though clutching her head for some reason, was now writing on the floor and howling in pain. The Maidens were on their toes, poised to strike in any direction, if only the danger would show itself. The Companion, after a quick appraisal of any likely danger, was cradling Sarweio so she didn't hurt herself.
Desare decided not to do that again. For some reason using her friends name caused that confounded bell to start ringing. Well, she didn't want all this stonework down on her head, so it would be only wise not to repeat the experiment again. She stepped into the gloom of the great hall that opened out from the door. The silvery tinkle of wind chimes could be heard coming from a brightly lit doorway she could see across the chamber. Well, dream of not, Desare wanted to see what was there. She quickly crossed the rather forbidding chamber and went through the door. She found herself in the most beautiful garden she had ever seen. Sitting on a pale blue stone bench was a young woman, at first glance seemingly quite unclothed. Desare blinked in surprise. No, she was wearing some very fine material that was just opaque enough to hid all but the outline of the girl's body. She would never be allowed to wear that in Xu Gui. The young woman was looking at Desare with an amused smile. Desare looked down and went as red as a spring rose. She had dreamed herself into similar clothes. Quickly she dreamed herself back into her festival best.
"Who are you?" Asked Desare in a small voice. The girl had strange almond shaped eyes, almost no nose bridge and was very dark eyed. Her hair was the blackest of blacks, and her skin was a soft golden colour. The woman was of very slight build, indeed there didn't seem to be much to her at all. She seemed to flow to her feet and came toward Desare. There were obviously no men in this tower. Just as well Antonin ... too late ... was not here. Desare had only thought of his name, but the bell boomed again, though not so loud this time.
"Please," said the young woman. "Will you stop doing that. You have frightened away all my pets." She didn't sound angry, just slightly exasperated, as though talking to a child who insisted on being naughty.
Desare regained her composure. It was difficult to feel any fear of a young woman, little more that a girl really, who went about half naked.
"I am Desare, from Xu Gui. This is my dream, and I would ask who you are, and what you are doing in my dream?" Desare realized that it sounded a bit silly, but she was still not sure what sort of a dream this was.
"I am Ellenaria, the Keeper of the Blue Tower, and you are Desare of Xu Gui. You must be very near to the Great Seal of the Creator." She looked questioningly at Desare.
"Um, I think the Trader put it by my bed, on the night stand, to protect me as I sleep." Desare was a little apprehensive now. This was no ordinary person. She had read the stories. They all spoke of the Keeper of the Blue Tower. None describer the Keeper though. Was this really her?
"Of course it's me girl. Why else would I wait here alone through a million years or more. Well, your years at least, short as they are."
Desare thought the young woman must have spoken aloud. She hoped she had.
"Well Desare, come sit with me and we will talk of Antonin who you think so much of." Desare waited for the tolling of the bell, but it never came.
"I have silenced the bell Desare, so that we may speak in peace. Truly, you were giving me a headache. You shouldn't have called his name aloud. I warrant every Wind Reader in the world will have an aching head for a week." She chuckled. Desare couldn't help smiling. Ellenaria had sounded quite mischievous with that small chuckle. Desare decided that she could like this young woman.
Ellenaria added. "You may use his name now without fear, while you are here with me."
As they sat on the stone bench by the pool, Ellenaria took Desare's hands in hers.
"Desare, you are in a real dream. A dream that you can come and go from as you wish. You can only enter when you sleep in the real world. Do not confuse it with your ordinary dreams. This one is different. You are really here. Your body of flesh is in your bed in your room. But you are here. As you wished it. You don't know yet who you really are. Soon though. Would you like to see Antonin? Look here." Ellenaria casually waved her right hand in the form of an arch, and Desare nearly cried out in surprise when she found herself looking at Antonin, almost face to face across an inn table. He was rubbing his arms as though cold. There were two warrior maidens by his side, obviously very agitated, although she could not hear want they said. Suddenly Antonin was looking directly at her, surprise quickly followed by a frown crossing his face. He opened his mouth to speak and the whole scene winked out.
"You were looking through the eyes of a Wind Reader called Sarweio who is right now recovering from a splitting headache." Ellenaria giggled again."For a moment, Antonin saw you sitting there, and not her." She giggled again.
"I should not have done that I suppose, but it has been a long time since I was able to have a little fun, and it hurts no one. Your friend needs to realize that he carries the world on his shoulders. He needs to know that you alone can help him. If he cannot find you. If you cannot reach him." Ellenaria hesitated for long minutes. "If you cannot bring him into this dream, then all is lost, and the Dark One wins."
Desare took it all in. She had grown used to solving problems, and she studied Ellenaria's words carefully. This girl might enjoy a humorous moment, but she was very serious now. By her own words she had waited an age beyond ages for this moment.
Suddenly Desare's eyes went as big as saucers. Her cheeks were crimson in an instant. She would have fled from the dream if Ellenaria had not held her hands a grip that gave no sigh of relaxing. If Antonin was to accompany her into this dream, he would have to be asleep right beside her. In fact, holding her, entwined in each other's arms. Only together could they enter the dream world. He had to come with her. She knew this beyond doubt. Only the Keeper of the Blue Tower could teach him what he needed to know.
"Oh girl," said Ellenaria with a smile. "I didn't mean that. I know what you think. No. You can visit him in his dream, and bring him into your dream, and so lead him here." The look on Ellenaria's face was slightly scandalised. Desare blinked furiously and tried to sputter protestations. Ellenaria held up her hand, silencing Desare's sputtering.
"Come, let us see what is happening. The tolling of the bell has, I'm afraid, alerted every Wind Reader in the world. When they recover that is. Normally, when a Wind Reader is seeking the attention of all others of their calling, they are able to cause the bell to be struck. Even the strongest of them though can only cause it to give one soft chime as though struck with a muffled hammer. This is enough to alert all. None know where the bell is, only that by a certain thought, they can cause it to ring. One thing they will all know now is that someone of great strength has emerged. That someone is you Desare. You are more than an innkeepers daughter. You are more than a Wind Reader. There is only one like you in all the world, and the Dark One would give much to see you dead."
Desare stood frozen at the words. her mouth formed in a silent 'oh', eyes as big as saucers.
"What do you mean?" She whispered. Her dress was flickering through a multitude of styles like a Music Mans lantern show, but she hardly noticed.
"Come with me please," said Ellenaria. "I will show you something." Ellenaria started toward the doorway to the central room.
"Do not worry. You will not be visible to those gathered, any more than I will be. The Wind Readers now gather in the Great Hall, the only part of the tower that they may enter, or even see. Each believes it to be a place of their own creation. To them, there is not 'outside'. Only the Great Hall, drifting in a void." The two girls stepped into the hall. It was brightly lit now, strange lamps blazing from the high arches in huge chandeliers. There were many women already in the hall. Their dress told of the many lands that they came from. More arrived each minute, simply appearing in the midst of the throng.
Desare could hear and see them, but they remained unaware of her. Some would suddenly look directly at her, but be looking right through her, as if having just glimpsed movement in the corner of their eye. It appeared to be as disconcerting for the Wind Readers as it was for Desare. She found herself holding Ellenaria's hand, but didn't let go in any case. The women were all talking about the tolling of the bell. Who had struck it with such force? Some still rubbed at their temples. Some appeared with tears still in their eyes, dabbing at them with lace handkerchiefs. There were even a few being helped to seats along the wall by others. It was clear that most were hurting still, and Desare felt a little guilty, but truly, she had not know what was happening.
"Ellenaria, why does my mention of Antonin's name cause the bell to toll so?"
Desare almost didn't want to hear the answer.
"The blood of the ancients is very strong in your small village. It is to that village that the last ones fled at the end of the last age. The Dark Lord had been imprisoned in the Wheel of Sara Sara, but his hoards still roamed the world, destroying everything in their rage and frustration. You are descended from those of the living world to who I gave power in a past millennium. It is part of your very being. To be rid of it would be as easy as being rid of your own bones. And what was given cannot be taken back. It will pass on from you to your daughter, as it was passed on to you. By the Dragon Lord himself originally. Beware in the real world though. An arrow from the bow of a Dark Follower, or even breaking your pretty neck in a fall from a horse will end it all. I cannot protect you from that." Ellenaria paused.
"The bell, and Antonin. You and he are linked in this place. A link I set in place when the last Malachite King was dying. His lady in waiting gave birth to a daughter. Her husband was the kings last true friend. The boy child of the king had been lost in the flight across the plains. So they thought. He had been found that terrible night, safe in his swaddling by the wagon track. The farmer who found him was the ancestor of Antonin's family. The boy had grown, and continued the line. I knew though. I linked that small boy to the daughter from who you are descended. The link is a bond to me. To my bell. The link was to be activated only when the Great Seal of the Creator came to be close enough to you in the flesh, and it had already been activated by the Traders." Ellenaria continued.
"I was truly amazed when I heard the bell strike so loudly. You had found your way here before using the name of the person who formed the other end of your link. Antonin, the Malachite King reborn. Lord of the Dragon Armies. He cannot fight the last great battle without you."
Ellenaria finally wound down. Desare wondered if the girl had had anyone to talk to in this place. She smiled. It really was too much to take in. All these crying women, angry women, quiet women who now crowding the Great hall seemed to have no purpose. They were just milling about. They had been summoned by the bell. So loud had it been they had not been able to deny the call.
Mei'An was there, Desare recognised her from her village. There was another, Desare thought she recognised her, and pointed her out to Ellenaria.
"Sarweio. You looked at Antonin through her eyes but a moment ago."
Antonin was on his feet, the two maidens flanking him. The Wind Reader's companion was carrying her limp body from the room up to their chambers. She seemed to be in a deep sleep. From the look on the face of this Companion it would not be well to cross his path. Antonin was at a loss to understand events. He thought he was having visions himself, and peered suspiciously at his wine. How could he possibly have seen the innkeepers daughter from Xu Gui sitting there? There was obviously no threat. No danger that he or the maidens could see. Slowly he retook his seat
Ellenaria lay a hand on Desare's arm. "Desare, let us get a message to Antonin. He must be told of your presence. He cannot hear the bell. No man can, but he must wait where he is until you can reach him on your own. Let us give Sarweio a little surprise."
Saying this, Ellenaria guided Desare through the throng and stood behind Sarweio. She leaned forward and whispered in Sarweio's ear."Sarweio, I need you but a moment. I am the Keeper of the Blue Tower."
She could not have said more. Sarweio whirled around, trying to look in all directions at once. Her cry had alerted those around her, but with nothing visible, a slight widening of the circle around her became evident. Ellenaria clicked her tongue.
"No discipline anymore. There is nothing for it. Desare, strike the bell lightly."
Desare knew immediately what was needed. She whispered "Antonin" and the single deep boom of the bell rolled through the hall. All sound and movement ceased. Not even feet shuffled. Every ear had heard the word 'Antonin' whispered, followed by the toll of the bell.
"Let me try again." Muttered Ellenaria.
"Sarweio, excuse the intrusion. You are with Antonin now?"
Sarweio was as rigid as a tent pole. Eyes like dinner plates. Not much ruffled a Wind Reader, but nothing like this had ever been heard of. Sarweio tried twice to reply. On the third attempt she said . "My Companion has carried me to my room. I have fainted." Everyone's attention was now on Sarweio, apparently talking to someone none could see. More tongue clicking from Ellenaria.
"Humans, really. You must return to where Antonin is and sit opposite him. Quick now girl."
Sarweio didn't appear to move in the room, but she did in the real world. She had only just been placed on her small bed when she suddenly opened her eyes and sat bolt upright. Her Companion had not yet left the room.
"Help me back to the Common Room. Quickly. I must go quickly." She appeared very agitated. The Companion, M'belie, raised an eyebrow. He was not given to displays of emotion. He looked at Sarweio. She appeared to be awake, yet her body moved as though in a walking dream. Well, he had carried her up, he would carry her down. Within moments, she was in the chair facing Antonin across the inn table, and blinking her eyes as full consciousness returned.
"Desare, stand close to me." Said Ellenaria. She raised her arm and described an arch through the air. Suddenly Desare could see Antonin. All the room as though again sitting opposite Antonin.
This time his eyes were nearly popping."Desare! What ..."
"Be quiet Antonin, only listen. I am with the Keeper of the Blue Tower. I beg you, you must not leave the inn. This inn, until I can meet with you in your dream. Promise me now. Quickly."
Antonin was so surprised he said without question or hesitation. "I promise."
Desare smiled. She knew he would keep his word, however hastily given to her.
"I must go now. " Said Desare. Ellenaria was beginning to grimace with the strain of holding open the portal. "Antonin..." The room at the inn started to fade. "I love you." Came whispering to Antonin from the lips of Sarweio, yet with Desare's voce.
Only moments ago it had been Desare. Antonin was stunned. Desare? He couldn't believe it. She had said that she loved him. It hadn't been Sarweio. She was now slumped in her chair, head almost touching the table.
No one was more surprised than Desare. How had that slipped out? Where had it come from? Why, she hardly knew the boy. Well he was older than her, but hardly a man for all his swaggering about the village with his friends. He had always caught her eye though. He always danced a lot with her on festival days too. Those recent dreams had been nice too. Desare blushed to the roots of her hair. Ellenaria looked at her and smiled.
The whole thing had taken but a moment. Not a soul stirred in the great hall.
"I am out of practice." muttered Ellenaria conversationally. "That sort of thing is disruptive at the best of times."
Sarweio stood with her eyes squeezed shut, and hands clasped by her side.
"Sarweio, hear me now." Said Ellenaria. "I am the Keeper of the Blue Tower. I tell you now, so you will tell the others. The Malachite King, The Lord of the Dragon Armies, the Lord of the Morning Sun has returned. He sits opposite you in the inn. You will tell your sisters. You will assist him in all ways. You will hear me and obey. I AM the Wind." With this a gale swept across the hall, sending leaves and dust swirling up to the high arches. People were staggering before its strength. Sarweio walked calmly through it all and up the steps into a pulpit like enclosure at one end of the hall. She raised a hand. The wind stopped as suddenly as it had come. All eyes were on her. A pin could have been heard falling as she recounted her message. Nervous glances from those in the hall said she was believed and understood. It began to dawn on faces that here they perhaps stood in the heart of their very existence. The source of their power. The daughters. The unbroken line over countless ages. This was a part of the Blue Tower. They were a part of the Blue Tower.
"Desare, you must return to your room, your daytime comes again. Your mother worries. You have slept a day and a night in your world. I must give these sisters a few more surprises yet. Go now. Shoo..."
Desare stood looking at her. How? She realized she had no idea how to get back to her room. Back? Desare closed her eyes a moment. When she opened them, she was looking at the brown beams on the ceiling of her room. Her mother was dabbing her face with a damp cloth and crying.