The Reverie - Part 3

Sunlight spilled through the lace curtains of Abby’s window, warming her face. Forcing her eyes open, she realized she had nodded off again while reading. After silently slipping out of bed and stowing the book beneath her mattress, she decided she might as well head to the bathroom, since Ben showed no sign of stirring.

Her hand froze on the doorknob after she stepped into the hall when hushed voices drifted up from downstairs. Staying close to the wall, she tiptoed to the end of the hallway and listened. It was Danielle and Caleb.

“Dani, I’ve done all I can to make them understand. If I keep pushing them about it, it might cause more trouble for all of us.” Caleb’s voice was low but strained.

“But everyone saw it. They have to do something about it. We can’t just sit by and do nothing.”

Caleb sighed. “I know, trust me. The kid is a menace. But we have to keep our heads down for a little while longer. I’m sure we’ll hear something soon.”

Their voices blurred in her ears as Abby leaned against the wall for support and staggered back down the hall to the bathroom. Her heart hammered in her chest, and tears filled her eyes.

They thought she was a menace.

She knew it.

She didn’t know why she was so surprised. Usually, she braced herself for rejection so it wouldn’t hurt as much. But this time, she had held onto something she had never dared hope for before.

In the short time she had been in their home, Abby had allowed herself to dream of being part of a family again. But now, they wanted to send her away just like everyone else. No matter how hard she tried, she would never be wanted.

What about Ben?

His heart would break if they had to return to that horrible orphanage in the city. She couldn’t ruin this for him. Even if it meant doing the one thing she had promised never to do. If she ran away, maybe it would be easier for him. He could have a real home again.

When Abby turned on the shower, she let the hot water fall over her face and wash away the tears. She wished she were as brave as Valora.

Breakfast passed in a blur, her stomach tied in knots from the conversation she’d overheard. It was only when she heard Danielle’s voice saying her name that Abby realized she was staring blankly at her plate

.

She blinked. “Sorry, what?”

Danielle’s forehead creased. “Honey, are you alright? You look pale.”

Her pulse quickened. Was she alright? She didn’t feel it. What if she said the wrong thing and they threw her out on the spot? Her eyes filled with tears, and the pounding in her ears made her head ache.

“Abby?” Danielle reached over and touched her hand. “Would you like to lie down? It’s fine if you don’t feel up to eating.”

Abby could only nod. Relief flooded her when she escaped upstairs and sank onto her soft bed. Her mind urged her to get up and find a way to fix everything, but her body ached with exhaustion. Her gaze drifted to the window glowing with sunlight.

She found herself rising to open it slightly, letting a soft breeze brush her face before returning to the bed and pulling a quilt over her body.

She wished she could write stories that came to life in the Realm of Magic. Maybe then she could create a home for her and Ben, a place where they would feel wanted again.

Closing her eyes, she saw the image of a beautiful butterfly shimmering with the enchanting magic of Asherath.

Reaching over, she opened the drawer of the bedside table and pulled out a scrap of paper and a pen. Even if she ever did possess the magical gift of a reverie, how could she possibly create stories as lovely as the one she had read in the leather-bound book?

She sighed and began to scribble her vision onto the paper.

A brilliant butterfly of violet and blue slipped through the barrier between magic and humans to find me staring at the windows. It landed on my nose and said hello before fluttering out the window and back to the land of magic. 

Abby smiled to herself. It was more than a thought; it was a beautiful dream. Setting the paper and pen back on the table, she sat up when she saw Danielle entering her room with a steaming mug.

“I made you some peppermint tea. I thought it might help if you had a headache.” She smiled warmly before her eyes widened.

Abby followed her gaze to see the shocking sight of a butterfly of violet and blue flying through the cracked window. She held her breath when it fluttered right to her face and landed on her nose for a moment before disappearing outside.

Danielle laughed, “That was amazing! I’ve never seen such a beautiful butterfly!” She shook her head and moved to set the mug on the bedside table.

Abby’s heart was beating wildly. Was she a reverie? Maybe she had just imagined it. But Danielle had seen it, too. Before she could speak, Danielle mumbled about coming back later and left the room.

What could this mean if she were a reverie? The excitement of having magic flowing through her was both thrilling and terrifying. Reading a book was one thing, but having the power to write stories with real magic was entirely another. People had been dragged to Redmoor and never seen again for even the suggestion of having magic.

No one could know about her vision, for her sake and for Ben’s.

She sighed and leaned back into the pillows, the heaviness of her heart draining the energy from her body until she finally drifted off.

When she opened her eyes, the room was dark. The curtains were drawn, and Ben was fast asleep on the other side of the bed under a mound of blankets.

How long had she been asleep?

She must have been more tired than she thought. Careful not to shake the bed, she got up and made her way down the hall to the bathroom. It was only when she was coming back to her room that she heard soft voices. Inching her way to the front of the hall, she saw light spilling from Danielle and Caleb’s cracked door.

“When Caleb?” Danielle pleaded.

“Tomorrow. We’ll tell her tomorrow. I promise.”

Danielle sighed. “Ok. We can’t wait any longer; we have to get them out.”

“I know.”

Abby tiptoed back to her room and closed the door, wishing she could just close the door to her problems. Rubbing her eyes, she tried to focus on a plan.

Maybe she could talk to them. Danielle was kind; maybe she would allow them to stay if Abby promised never to cause a scene again. For Ben, she could try. But that would have to wait till tomorrow. Right now, she needed to read what happened next in the book.

Pulling the book from underneath the mattress, she slid under the covers and opened the leather cover.

III.

Secrets of the Reveries

The soft winds from Lyrica Forest disappeared along with the distance, as Kirro flapped his golden wings. Blue sky and puffy clouds were all that surrounded them in the air, though the view of lush trees and winding roads stretched out for miles below.

Valora couldn’t stop looking at the green landscape, never having seen the vastness of Asherath. Even in her dreams, she had not imagined such beauty and wonder. A faint sound began to fill the air.

“Do you hear that?” She asked curiously.

Galien chuckled. “You’re in luck. Twilight Cove holds a festival of lights every year to celebrate the arrival of the fireflies from the northern region of Asherath. They stay during the winter months.”

Valora grew eager to see the famed creatures that spread magic throughout the land. She didn’t have to wait long, for in the distance, the twinkling city came into view. Her breath caught at the vision of the stunning falls pouring into the crystal blue waters of the cove.

As Kirro soared over the buildings, Valora couldn't help but gasp at the stunning cove. The soft roar of the falls grew louder when they landed on the outskirts of the city. Valora slid to the ground and stared at the fireflies hovering around the falls. “Wow,” she whispered.

Galien landed beside her and grinned. “Come on. It gets even better.”

Kirro waited for them while they hurried into the bustling city. Creatures of all shapes and sizes walked along the cobblestone streets, looking in beautiful shop windows and ordering food from street vendors. Laughter and music filled every part of the street, while Valora tried not to gape at the animated windows or trip over children weaving through the crowd.

“Is it always like this?”

Galien guided through the crowd into a smaller lane between buildings. “It’s busier now than I’ve ever seen.” His face became somber as they hurried through the lane.

“Is something wrong, Galien?”

“Villages near the border of Asherath have complained of attacks from the Isle. These people are probably seeking refuge.”

Before she could ask another question, Valora’s eyes widened when the lane opened into a large square full of dancing. A small band of musicians played joyfully on a platform at the corner of the square, while dancers bobbed around in glee. Beautiful shops towered around the square, with one ornate building of red and gold standing at least two stories higher than the rest.

“It’s just through there.” Galien practically shouted above the music.

Valora hurried to follow him, weaving through dancing couples to reach the red and gold doors of the tallest building. Galien clanged the brass door knocker on the intricately painted doors until a small panel opened, and a tiny face peered down at them in annoyance.

“Yes?” A gruff voice demanded.

Galien stepped closer to the door. “Is Dahagon in today?”

“Who wants to know?”

“Galien.”

The small face disappeared, and the panel slammed shut. The tall door creaked open just enough for Galien and Valora to hurry through before it shut once more.

Something pushed past Valora abruptly, forcing her to step to the side. When she looked at the cause, she saw the dwarf-like figure of a man stomping down the hall.

“I’m sure you can figure out where he is on your own.” The small man huffed without so much as a goodbye.

Her eyebrows rose. “Who—”

“He’s a scribby. They prefer books to people and can usually be found anywhere with libraries. They also happen to be very small and grumpy, in case you hadn’t noticed.”

Galien led her to a long hallway filled with doors of all sizes. “Don’t worry, for all their grumpiness, they can be quite helpful in finding answers for you. As long as it’s in a book, that is.”

At the end of the hall, Galien opened a door so small that they both had to duck to enter. Once inside, a cozy room with a fireplace burning welcomed them. Two worn chairs framed a velvet green sofa, while bookcases lined every wall. A small man with disheveled black hair and round spectacles sat in one of the worn chairs, with his nose in a book and feet propped on a stool. He didn't so much as look up until Galien cleared his throat.

The man’s eyes widened when he noticed them. “Oh!” In his hurry to stand, the book tumbled to the floor. “Oh no, I've lost my place!”

Galien bent down to retrieve the heavy book while the scribby stumbled to his feet. “I’m terribly sorry for dropping in unannounced, Dahagon. But it’s a matter of vital importance.”

Dahagon squinted at Galien. “How important?”

“The queen has sent us on a mission to rescue a reverie from Haliden,” Valora replied.

“A reverie!” Dahagon hurriedly buttoned up his mustard yellow vest before retrieving a red suit jacket and tall, black top hat. “Quickly now! We mustn’t keep the queen waiting!”

Valora and Galien raced behind the scribby as he darted out the door and down the hall, barely getting his jacket on without losing his balance.

Though the man was small, Valora marveled at his swiftness down the maze of hallways and up grand staircases. The scribby barreled through an elaborate set of doors leading to the greatest hall Valora had ever seen. Countless bookcases filled the long hall from floor to ceiling, with rolling ladders scattered everywhere.

Interrupted by the loud commotion of the three of them, angry scribbles glared at them from across the magnificent hall.

“It’s an emergency! The queen has sent them to save a reverie!” Dahagon shouted.

Gasps echoed in the hall before everyone dropped the books they were holding and raced to where they stood.

“How can we help?” one of them shouted.

“There are so few of them left!” another cried out.

Dahagon hushed them with a wave of his hands and turned to Galien. “What do you need from us?”

Galien answered, “The reverie is in Haliden. Is there a door where we can enter without alerting the guards?”

“And is there a way we can locate them within Haliden?” Valora added.

The scribbies nodded and broke apart in different directions, racing down halls and scaling ladders to search every shelf for information on reveries.

Even Dahagon turned to run to the long rows of books, waving his hand. “Don’t worry! If there’s a door to be found, we’ll find it!”

Galien paced back and forth on the intricate patterns of the blue tiled floor, eager to find something that might give them direction before time ran out.

Valora gazed out the tall windows overlooking the lively square, wishing she could stay in the city filled with such music and life. Though she loved the people of Arcane Valley, she suddenly found herself longing for something more.

“We found something!” Dahagon shouted.

Galien and Valora whirled around to see the group of scribbies carrying two thick volumes to a large table. The small men flipped open the dusty covers and poured over every page with a speed that made Valora wonder how they could possibly read the words so fast.

“Here!” Dahagon pointed to the pages in one of the books. “The reveries are truly mysterious creatures, holding magic hidden in power. They see glimpses of time and magic, deciphering visions into words and revealing them on paper. Their magic also fortifies the wall around Asherath, protecting it from the attacks of enemies in Haliden and the Isle of Chaos. A great many battles have been won with the help of reveries, and countless lives have been saved. Because of this, enemies have arisen to hunt them down and eliminate one of the last defenses Asherath holds against Haliden. If the reveries are not protected, Asherath’s walls will collapse, and the entire realm will be open to unimaginable horrors.”

The gravity of the words hushed the group into silence, fear clawing its way into their minds of Asherath’s ruin.

Valora refused to believe there wasn’t a way to find the reveries. “There must be a way into Haliden. Did you find anything about another entrance?”

The scribbles snapped out of their silence and rushed to open the second book, combing through the pages with renewed fervor until one of them shouted excitedly.

“I found it! Not an entrance, but an underground waterway was used many years ago when Haliden and Asherath lived in harmony. Torvius blocked all waterways from flowing between realms when he took the throne.” The scribby looked up at Galien and Valora. “Might that be a way to go under the wall?”

Galien nodded. “If they didn’t block off the entire thing, it might work.”

“Does it show where?” Valora asked.

“Yes! There is a crude drawing of a map.” The scribbler turned the book around to face them.

As they studied the markings on the map, a chill swept through the air, stirring the attention of Valora. While Galien and the scribbies continued to speak of potential routes to the waterway, Valora wandered to the window and looked down at the square. A curiously familiar feeling washed over her when she saw her breath.

“Something’s wrong,” she said with worry.

Galien’s attention remained fixed on the map. “Hmm?”

“The cold. It shouldn’t be this cold so quickly.”

All eyes looked up at her, suddenly aware of the drop in temperature.

“It happened before…on Hidden Mountain before I was attacked.” She swallowed nervously. “Is there a creature who could do this?”

“One.” Dahagon shuddered and wrung his hands. “One cursed creature so cold-hearted, warmth flees from him. Even the air and the ground become frozen in his presence. It is said that if you stare into his eyes, you will turn to ice.”

“What creature is this?” Galien pressed.

“Kroor. The Hound of Haliden.”

Valora’s mouth fell open. “Haliden? But how can that be? Torvius banned all magic from Haliden. How can a creature with magic live within its walls?”

Dahagon shook his head. “Kroor is said to be from the Isle of Chaos. There are rumors of an alliance between that dreadful place and the king, bringing about the collapse of the alliance between the realms. No one knows how the evil creature does the king’s bidding; they only know he hunts for the reveries.”

Galien shook his head. “The beasts on the Isle are said to be created from nightmares, but I don’t know what kind of magic brings that about. Only the ancient creatures of Asherath do.”

Valora looked to Galien. “What do we do?”

Galien pursed his lips and turned to the small faces staring at him expectantly. “If Kroor is here, we must warn the city. Dahagon, is there a way to signal the watchtower?”

“Yes! The torch!” Dahagon hurried to the door, followed by a group of scribbies. “We’ll light the torch on the roof! Wait for the bell to ring!” The scribby turned to them suddenly and nodded. “Find the reverie.”

Galien grabbed Valora’s hand and raced through the building the same way they entered, waiting for the bell to ring.

Dahagon and the other scribbies raced up the staircases and halls leading to the roof of the building. Lighting a torch, Dahagon looked at the watchtower over Twilight Cove and slowly waved the torch back and forth. “C’mon! Ring the bell!”

Finally, the bell in the watchtower began ringing loudly, echoing throughout the city. Dahagon paused to look down at the square of people, now stopping to look around in alarm. The music came to a halt, and fear struck their faces. Dahagon shouted, “Run!”

Galien and Valora sprinted out of the door and into the square, now erupted in chaos as everyone dropped their wares and fled. Screams filled the streets, making it impossible for the two of them to hear each other through the crowd.

The people flooded through the streets and into the safety of any door they found open, while others bolted every window. A howl filled the air, terrifying those remaining on the street and spurring them to move faster to safety.

Galien led Valora through the winding streets until there were no more people around them, and their chance to escape notice of the hound disappeared. A door flew open on a side street, and an older man waved at them to enter.

The two entered the building right before the door was slammed shut, and others barricaded the door with a large table. Everyone stood silently, hoping the hound would run past without noticing them.

A low growl came from the other side of the door, causing them to back up to the opposite wall. The growl disappeared, but no one dared move. One by one, the drawn shutters of each window rattled, as if they were being tested.

The older man in the group ushered everyone up the stairs of the house, filing them into the last room of the hall. The barricaded door began pounding as the creature rammed into the door to gain entry. The older man tried to usher Galien and Valora to join them in hiding, but they refused.

“Go inside, hide. It’s us he’s looking for. We’ll lead him away,” Galien said firmly. When the man opened his mouth to argue, Galien pushed the man inside and closed the door. “Quickly now, bolt the door and don’t make a sound.”

The pounding downstairs grew louder, while Valora looked up to see the edge of a rope hanging from the ceiling. She jumped up to grab it and pulled a hideaway ladder down, leading to a large attic. She hurried to climb it, with Galien closing on her heels, just as the crash of the front door being broken down filled the house. Before Galien could attempt to pull the ladder up, the thunder of the hound on the stairs was heard.

“Galien, hurry!” Valora found a window and climbed out the rooftop window, holding her hand out to him.

He darted across the attic and jumped out the window on the roof just as the hound made it to the bottom of the ladder.

The two of them scurried across the rooftops and jumped the small distance between buildings, trying to put distance between them and the beast.

Valora spared only a glance back at the attic window but wished she hadn’t. The monstrous hound burst through the window to chase after them, but the small size of the frame prevented it from fitting.

They heard a horrible snarl before the hound disappeared back inside the house, where Valora hoped the people in hiding would go unnoticed. She didn’t have to wonder for long, for she heard howling from the streets below.

She followed Galien as he leapt from one building to the next, desperately trying to reach the end of the city. When they had finally reached the last rooftops, they could comfortably leap onto them; they looked down to find a way where they could get to the waterfall without notice.

“The houses down there are too small for us to jump to. We’ll have to go down,” Galien stated.

Valora shook her head. “There’s no way of doing that without Kroor finding us. Can you signal Kirro from here?”

“I don’t know—”

The door to the roof burst open with such force that they both whirled around in surprise. Valora’s stomach dropped at the sight of the hound staring back.

“Don’t look into his eyes,” Galien said sternly.

Even without staring at the creature’s eyes, his massive frame was chilling to behold. His black fur was on edge as he stood on his haunches, poised to leap at them in attack. A low growl rumbled across the roof while he took a slow step toward them.

“Take my hand, Valora.”

“What?”

Galien slowly reached out with his hand. “Trust me.”

Valora managed to grab hold of his hand, right before he yanked her backwards, over the edge of the roof. A scream escaped her as they fell toward the ground.

Their fall stopped suddenly, with soft feathers surrounding them.

“Kirro!” She exclaimed.

The loud screech of the beautiful eagle was followed by the enraged howl of the creature they had escaped from.

Galien helped Valora move to sit on the back of their friend, while they breathed a sigh of relief at seeing Twilight Cove become smaller under the sweeping golden wings they flew on.