Before she knew it, Minx was straddling that line between dreams and reality. Her head bobbed on her shoulders as sleep threatened to overcome her. She threw her eyes open wide and took in her surroundings. Nothing had changed. She settled back down and felt the heaviness in her head doubling, then tripling.
Somewhere in this grey area between sleep and waking life, she heard the voice.
The Silence needs you.
Her mind was filled with images of Heilo Lake; crystal blue waters lapping the sandy shore, verdant growths springing up along its banks, beautiful fish with shimmering scales darting through its depths in large schools. Minx meditated on this gorgeous scene for a long while. The voice returned before too long, seeming to rise up from the depths of the lake. She listened to it closely, though the cloud of fatigue drifting around her head made it difficult to comprehend what was being said.
You must protect...
The Silence...
Needs you to...
Protect the lake...
This was not the first time she had been visited by Heilo Lake in her dreams. The previous time, while camping with Kaleb, the waters had reached out to her with a similar message. Earlier, in Karn, Vevne the seer had asked them if they had ever had visions of their own. Giving it further thought, these messages from Heilo Lake certainly seemed to fit the bill. Her body was flooded by a great warmth as she listened to the voice; she found herself nodding, agreeing with what was being said even as she bounded deeper into sleep.
In an instant, her view of the calm waters passed away. Silence prevailed.
And then, something intruded upon that fresh silence.
Minx startled awake at the sound of leaves rustling. She looked to the log across from her, finding it empty. Alla had crept several steps away, and was on the verge of slipping into the woods. “Hey!” she barked, grabbing up her bow and nocking an arrow before she'd even cleared the sleep from her eyes. “Stop right there!”
The prisoner had been caught red-handed trying to escape. She'd been smart to wait until Minx had drifted off, but now that she'd been spotted she stiffened at the treeline and put her hands up. She knew she couldn't outrun an arrow to the back and returned silently to the log.
“You're lucky I promised not to kill you,” spat Minx, setting down her weapon.
At this, Alla smirked. “You're not going to kill me, and I've told you everything you want to know. Why keep me here? Why not release me? I don't want any trouble, and I'll be happy to disappear if you'll let me. I don't think your friend will mind, either.”
“My friend doesn't get to make the final call,” was Minx's rejoinder. “Your fate is an open question; I may yet convince him to let me take your hide.”
Now, now, offered Mau. Don't antagonize the prisoner. You don't want to do something you'll regret, do you?
Minx chuckled. Regret? What, you think I care about Kaleb's feelings on the matter? About disappointing him? Nothing could be further from the truth.
Sure could have fooled me, replied the dozy Faelyr. The Minx I know doesn't take no for an answer—least of all from a dragon.
It stung her pride to hear Mau speak so candidly. Yeah, well, I owe him one. He helped me find you. He's actually very strong.
How did things go that day, when we were separated? Did you take him on? Decide to spare him? Finally earn the title of Dragon Hunter?
Minx blanched at the remembrance. No, not exactly... Memories of her being bested by Kaleb came roaring back to the surface of her mind. The dragon had resisted her every volley, had knocked her arrows out of the air and nearly crushed her with his stony tail. The fight, she hated to admit, had been anything but close.
Mau got the picture easily enough. Ah, so he's not just handsome—he's a force to be reckoned with, too, huh? That transformation of his isn't just some cheap parlor trick, I take it?
From the edge of the woods came Kaleb, running a hand through his hair and dusting off his armor. “Nothing to report, I'm afraid. If this dark army is on its way, I must have missed it.”
This news should have gladdened her heart. It meant they had a bit of time. Instead, her reflections on losing to Kaleb and her having to deal with the mouthy prisoner left her in a poor mood. “I need to rest,” she said, motioning to Alla. “You keep an eye on her. She tried to run while you were gone.”
With Mau in tow, Minx strode a few dozen yards into the woods and found a fine tree to climb. Tucked against its gnarled old branches, she drank in the breeze and did her best to calm down.
We're going to find a way through this. Some way... somehow... we'll deal with what's coming.
Chapter 14
The night proved tense.
Minx, Mau and Kaleb were forced to take turns throughout the small hours to ensure their captive wouldn't attempt another escape.
Alla, to their surprise, stayed put, managing to sleep in the simple woodland camp they'd hastened to construct as night had reared its head. They'd enjoyed a simple fire, whatever food Minx had been able to catch during a quick twilit trip through the forest, and had each managed a few hours
