Chapter 23

“So, what’s our plan?” Aspen asked, as Nienna left the tent an hour later.

“What plan?” She couldn’t meet his eye.

“Oh, I don’t know, the plan that says whether we go home to Solomon or return to Alturis?”

“I’d thought about returning home,” Nienna said. “But now that Owen can travel home with my father, I want to return to the university. I’ve already missed so much. The last letter stated how they’ve had to pull other teachers to cover my classes.”

She twisted the hem of her vest between her fingers.

“What about the strays?” asked Aspen, kicking a stone as they walked. “Are they coming, or can we finally ditch them?” He sounded hopeful about the latter option.

“I’ll ask them,” Nienna replied. “But I can’t predict what they’ll want.”

She hoped Teague would come. Given he still wanted to follow her after his conference with her father. Tellen was another matter.

Nienna never found Tellen, but she discovered Teague near the picket lines examining the hoof of a horse.

“You’re getting quieter, but you’ll still have to do better if you wish to surprise me,” Teague said as he lifted the hoof of the dappled gray horse he was inspecting.

He grinned back at her. The man who held the horse gave Nienna a tight wave.

“How did you know it was me?” she asked, coming to stand beside him.

“Everyone has a different way of walking. If you listen carefully, you’ll always know who’s behind you,” he said.

He rubbed his thumbs over the bottom of the hoof. The horse tried to pull away as he touched a spot.

“That’s what I was afraid of/” Teague sighed. “This poor fellow stepped on a nail. It’s hard to see, but I can feel it. Grab that pair of pliers there, will you?”

Teague pointed to a box of tools nearby. Nienna walked over to it, grabbed the needed item, and handed it over to him. He then straddled the leg of the horse and brought the hoof to rest on his thighs. She has to swallow back her revulsion as he extracted a long nail from the fleshy part of the hoof. Blood and puss followed.

“Good thing it wasn’t rusty,” Teague said, looking back at the man. “Otherwise, this fellow might have been rendered to soup meat.”

The horse lightly nipped at Teague’s back.

“I’m only speaking the truth, friend,” Teague said to the gelding. “Nienna, fetch me some water, and let’s get this cleaned out and bandaged.”

She sorted through his box of tools and found a full waterskin. When she handed him the water, he immediately uncapped it and poured it on the hoof.

“Now find me a new rag in that box if you can.” Again, Nienna did as he asked. Upon seeing all the bandages, ointments, and other supplies in the box, she decided it would be best to just bring the whole kit.

“Way to be a thinker,” Teague said as Nienna set the box by his feet.

She found a well-worn stump and rolled it over so she could watch Teague work. He cleaned the wound and placed a few drops of one of his concoctions into it. Then he spread some healing salve over top and bound the hoof with rags and leather.

“That should do it,” Teague said, straightening.

“Thank you very much, Master Demetrius. Ryle here is one of our best workers. I would have hated to lose him,” the man said.

“My pleasure,” Teague reassured him.

Teague twisted from side to side, loosening up his back as he asked, “I hear your brother is setting out for Solomon tomorrow, and you are heading to Alturis. Is that correct?”

“I take it you met with my father then,” Nienna said.

“Yep. He wasn’t sure I could handle being part of your guard, as you seem to be such a magnet for trouble.”

“And what was the verdict?” she asked, not daring to hope.

“I showed him my skills against your Captain Marks and was hired on the spot.”

“Just like that?” She couldn’t believe it. Her father never made such quick decisions.

His grin turned smug. “People usually say that once I disarm my opponent in under a minute, five times in a row.”

Nienna laughed to herself and shook her head. “I hope poor Captain Marks wasn’t maimed in the process.”

“I went easy on him. Even if I had hurt him, I could have fixed him up, no problem.” Teague gave her a wink.

“You still plan to accompany me wherever I go?” she asked.

“For as long as I can,” Teague replied. “Now that Tellen is back, I may be needed elsewhere, thought.”

Nienna tried to not show her disappointment at the thought. “Do you know what Tellen plans to do?”

“He’ll rejoin Aros, as he’s not needed for the group going to Solomon. He may ride with us for a time, but I expect him and Cyra to take their leave soon. The arrogant git is currently near Feltus. There’ve been more disturbances, and he’s gone to investigate, and demanded Tellen to join him.” Teague scowled at the tools in his kit.

Glancing up at Teague, Nienna said, “You know Aspen isn’t going to be happy when he hears you are now part of my guard.”

“I’m counting on it,” he said, revealing pointed teeth. The ghost of the predator upon his face.

Sunlight was high overhead when Nienna next opened her eyes. It filtered through the willows’ graceful branches, swaying in the summer breeze. A small stream ran over smooth stones and birds called to each other among the branches. 

Nienna sat up slowly, feeling disoriented. Nearby, a young woman with dark hair, bound in a braid like the one Nienna often wore, was washing clothes in the stream. Her skin was a dark ivory and her eyes were the exact shade of ice blue as Teague’s. Fallon, for Nienna had recognized her from her time in Teague’s home, was kneeling on the bank scrubbing suds from a shirt. She pulled it from the stream and wrung out the excess water.

As she hung the dripping cloth on a nearby bush, she paused. “Hello again, Stranger,” she said. Fully awake now, Nienna stood up and asked, “Where am I?” Fallon did not respond. Her eyes were fixed on a dark shape moving through the trees.

The dark creature moved through the undergrowth with ease and soon was standing beside Fallon waging its long fluffy tail. A wolf the size of a pony stepped out and was now sitting on its haunches, tongue lolling out, looking Fallon nearly in the eyes. The wolf had black fur with flecks of gold mingled throughout.  

Fallon stroked the wolf’s head, and the animal leaned into her touch.  

“It has been some time since I saw you last,” she said, speaking to the wolf. The wolf only nuzzled her hand in reply.  

“I didn’t bring any food with me today. Papa caught me sneaking out some of the dried deer meat last time and it was not worth trying it again.” The wolf whined in response.  

“Oh, he didn’t hurt me, if that’s what you’re worried about. It was just quite a tongue lashing and reminding me that without that dried meat we could starve next winter and so on. So, I’m sorry. But if I can ever save some scraps for you, I will.” Fallon scratched the wolf behind the ears.

Nienna could only stare at the young woman in front of her. In some ways, it was like looking in the mirror. In others, Fallon was a completely different person. Her face was the same shape as Nienna’s and they both had dark hair. Their builds were slightly different as well, with Fallon being taller and more lithe.  

As Fallon gathered another shirt from her soapy bucket, the wolf lay down in the grass, eyes alert. The young woman finished rinsing the shirt and set it in another basket.

Suddenly, the black wolf growled and rose to its feet, staring at the opposite bank. Fallon stood as well, eyes wary.

“What is it, Friend?” She asked, but of course the wolf did not answer. The wolf stepped into the stream, hair raising along its back. A massive bear broke through the undergrowth, bigger than any Nienna had ever sceen with a squashed in nose. 

The bear charged Fallon, who screamed and fell back, nearly to Nienna’s feet. The wolf jumped in the way, barring the bear’s path. Jaws snapped at each other as the animals circled. The bear’s huge paws raking the wolf’s side. The wolf snarled before redoubling its attack. It bit the bear’s nose and face before finding the bear’s throat.  

The great beast shook the wolf off with a howl of pain before charging Fallon again. Nienna tried to help the other girl to stand, but her hands passed right through Fallon’s shoulders, leaving her to watch in horror as the bear advanced. 

As it was about to deliver a death blow, the wolf jumped back into the fight, driving the bear back. The wolf slipped in and caught hold of the bear’s windpipe again, refusing to be shaken. With a massive splash, the bear collapsed, nearly crushing the wolf beneath it.  

Once the wolf made certain the bear was dead, it turned to look at Fallon, blood dripping from its mouth. As it stared at the girl on the ground, its posture relaxed. It dipped its muzzle into the water, freeing it from the dark stain of the bear’s blood. Then, as the wolf exited the creek, it rose onto two legs and soon a young man stood before Fallon and Nienna.  

Fallon let out a scream and tried to run, but the man caught her around the middle.

“Calm down, I only wish to know that you are OK,” he said in exasperation. “I won’t harm you. I promise.” The man released her, not following as she back away from him.

“Who are you?” She asked. Her voice quavered. “What are you?”

“My name is Tellen. I am a Guardian,” he said, holding his hands out to show he had no weapon. Not that he’d need one after killing the bear a moment ago. “Are you hurt?”

“A Guardian?” Fallon asked. “They’re supposed to be myths.”

“I assure you I am no myth,” Tellen said with a slight smile. “But your ‘Stranger’ is concerned about you. Did that bear touch you?”

Her breathing slowed. “No, you saw to that.”

Tellen relaxed. “That’s a relief. A Vabin Bear has poisonous saliva, and can give infection with only the slightest scratch.”

“Where did that thing come from?” Fallon asked.

“It is a creation of my sister, Fiora. She enjoys taking things that are whole and twisting them to her own ends,” Tellen said.

“Why have you been coming here and sitting with me while I do the laundry these past months?” Fallon asked.

“I spotted you as I was passing through, and you intrigued me. I stayed so that I might observe you and get to know you better,” Tellen said. His eyes were bright as he spoke. Nienna had seen that look before on her brother, Owen, every time he saw Rivkah. Fallon, however; only stared at Tellen with suspicion.

“Do I still “intrigue” you?” she asked.

“I’ll admit, this isn’t how I had hoped to show you who I really am. I just thought it might frighten you more if I spoke from the wolf’s mouth,” Tellen said.

“It likely would have.” Fallon looked away. “Can you really speak in your wolf form?”

“Yes,” said Tellen, slipping easily into his other form.  Fallon cringed. “Some words are harder to get around because of the long snout, but I can usually get by. A horse’s mouth is possibly the hardest to speak from.”

“You can turn into a horse?” Fallon asked in surprise. 

“Of course. Which color do you like best?” Tellen asked.

“A blue roan,” Fallon said with a smile. Tellen effortlessly transformed into a great blue roan. It was the most beautiful coloration Nienna had ever seen on a horse, and his conformation was flawless.  

“What do you think?” Tellen said, tripping over the word “do.” Fallon gave a small laugh and came to stroke his nose. “I would say that having square lips probably makes it hard to speak properly.” The horse’s eyes sparkled.  Tellen soon stood in front of Fallon again.   

“Will you forgive me for not being forthcoming with you?” Tellen asked. “I only did it to keep from scaring you.”

“I’m not sure if I can trust you yet, but this is a start,” Fallon said with a shy smile. Tellen smiled back at her.

“What can I do to earn your trust back?”

Fallon tossed the wet shirt in her hand at Tellen’s face. He stared at her in surprise.

“You can help me finish the laundry, for starters,” she said, trying to hide her smile. “You’ve been watching me work for the past three months without ever once offering to help.”

Tellen wiped the water from his face, a large grin spreading across his face. “I’d be delighted to.” 

When she entered through the canvas flap, a small oil lamp on the small table was glowing faintly. As she set her saddlebags on the ground, a tail twitched out of the corner of her eye.

“Hello, Teague.” 

Nienna recognized the tail immediately as belonging to her companion in his barn cat form. Chunks of fur were missing, and angry scabs covered one side of his body.

“You look terrible,” she said.

“You look beautiful as ever,” Teague said with a wry smile.

“Is there something you need? I’m ready to sleep,” she said with exaggerated weariness.

All she wanted to do was wrap up in a blanket and forget the last forty-eight hours.

“I came to answer your questions if you still wanted to know them.”

“Oh,” Nienna said, taken back. “Yes, if you are willing to divulge, I will gladly listen.”

“What is your first question, then?” Teague asked, closing his blue cat eyes. Nienna came to sit beside him on the cot.

“Well, I suppose my first question is, how did you become a skin-changer?”

Teague smiled as a purr rumbled in the small tent. “Tel sent me into the mountains to gather some herbs,” he began. “We had been diving deeper into my training as a healer, you see. Well, as I was working, I came upon a snow leopard who’d come down to the lower elevations due to lack of food.

“I’d developed enough of the Earthspark to communicate to this mountain cat I was no threat and was not after his meal. He was curious about me and what I was doing, so I showed him. He watched me from a distance for some time. Then he came closer. He eventually came close enough to touch. He reached out a massive paw to touch my arm, stopping me from picking a poisonous plant, when it happened.”

“What?” Nienna asked when Teague didn’t continue.

“It was like a bolt of lightning struck me and I was knocked to the ground. As I recovered, I noticed I had paws instead of hands. The snow leopard looked at me, as though he knew this would happen all along. I was in a panic and raced back to Peroma. I thought I was stuck as a predator for the rest of my life until Tellen explained that some of his followers developed the ability to transform. Some choose the animals they become, while for others, the animals choose them, as it was in my case. Once I had calmed down enough, he showed me how to change my form at will and that is how I became a skin-changer, as you call it.” Teague said this as though nothing could be simpler.

Nienna had another question, though.

“What about the barn cat form you’re in now?”

“Oh, well, one night I was in the stables when the grizzled cat who took care of the mice ran past me chasing a particularly fat one, and I thought, ‘It would sure be convenient to have a smaller, less alarming form as well as the large and powerful one.’ So I caught that old tomcat and I tried to capture his essence. To my surprise, and everyone else’s, it worked. Only a few ever achieved more than one form.”

“Do you look like the creatures that you touched?”

“I look a great deal like the snow leopard, but I have my own pattern, just as they all do. With the barn cat, however, he was pure black, and I wanted to keep the pattern from my larger form, so I concentrated on that and I got what you see here.”

Teague sounded so pleased with himself that Nienna couldn’t hide her smile.

“What about Tellen?” she asked.

“What about him?”

“Can he transform into more than one animal?”

Teague barked a laugh, which seemed odd coming out of a feline mouth. “He is the master of all living things. He created animal life. The Guardian can take any form he pleases.” 

Nienna wrapped her blanket tighter around herself. “Who is he really, Teague?”

Teague’s tail twitched back and forth as he thought of how to answer her question. “It’s not my place to give you a full account of who he is, but I can tell you one thing. We stand a much better chance of survival now that we have Tellen back on our side.”

“I have another question.”

“I doubt it’s just one,” he said, eyes closed with his paws tucked under him.

“Back in the stable at Waldorman, you mentioned you were a Pathfinder. What is that?”

“Now you’re getting into the heart of things,” Teague said as he readjusted his position. “A Pathfinder works under the direction of a Guardian to help guide the people. With Tellen and I, we helped teach the people how to care for the earth, how to care for the wildlife and each other. The practice of healing was common among Tellen’s followers. We also served as Tellen’s army against those who wished to destroy life. We became skilled warriors, simply because we had to. Other forces were set on domination and Tellen believed all should be free to choose their own paths so long as it did not harm another.”

“So Tellen is a Guardian then,” Nienna said.

“He is.”

“What does that mean, though?”

“It means that he created the world with the help of the other Guardians. He created the animals, the plants, the mountains.”

“Did he create humans as well?” she asked.

“That’s where it gets tricky. Tel and his siblings were allowed to build this world and everything in it, except humans. That was left to the Great King. The Guardians were given a charge to teach the humans and provide experience for them, but they were never given the power to create them or anything similar. Surely you have read this in the ancient tomes. It was taught religiously when I was still connected to the world.”

“I have heard about a Great King, but all the rest of this is new to me.”

“The world lost more than the Earthspark when Tellen disappeared,” Teague said.

“If the Earthspark had been lost when Tellen disappeared, then how did I get it before finding him?”

“That’s the real mystery. It shouldn’t be possible, and yet here you sit. There is something special about you, Nienna, and I feel that we have only scratched the surface of what you’re capable of.”

“What if I don’t want this?” Nienna asked quietly. 

“Then I suppose you shall have to choose the near future. Will you pursue the course laid out before you or will you shun your gifts?” Teague posed.

“What do you think I should do?”

“That’s not my place to say. But you should think long and hard about what you truly want and whether you are willing to fight for it. Light does more good when it is shared.” Teague stretched. “It is getting late. I shall see you in the morning.”

“Very well. Thank you, Teague, for answering my questions.”

“My pleasure, Princess.”

He hopped off the cot and sauntered out of the tent. Nienna pondered his words as she stretched out on her bed. How was she supposed to make a decision when she knew so little of the world she had been thrust into?

Nienna lay fitfully on her bed. The hurt and anger Aspen’s eyes this evening as she refused him were eating her from the inside.  She had toyed with the idea of one day joining with Aspen, but his behavior ever since they had come into the mountains had changed that. He’d become different, irascible, and their time in Alturis had only widened the gap between them. The bruises forming on her arms where he’d gripped them were proof to that.

Giving up on sleep she went to her rooftop balcony and stretched out on the divan. Teague had gone to bed some time ago, after escorting her back to the dormitories. He’d had an arduous day in the infirmary. She knew he would be at her side in an instant, should she need him though.  

The warm summer air soothed her as she stared up at the stars. The constellations she had memorized during her tutelage at the university came back with force. There was Reina, Queen of the Night. She had been spurned by a lover and the stars around her were her tears. There was Kytrel the Sphinx. She never seemed to appear where you would expect. And then in the very center of the sky stood the Four Pillars of the Earth. One for each of the cardinal directions. The purple-black of the moonless sky was mesmerizing. As her mind watched the stars turn above her, her eyelids finally began to close.

Firelight danced on the other side of Nienna’s eyelids. As she opened them, she looked up at an arched ceiling with torches in sconces. She felt hard stone beneath her instead of her plush divan on the rooftop.  

Looking wildly around the room, she saw a dark-haired man cowering away from the pedestal that held the stone slab. No. Nienna looked down in horror. It was a marble coffin. In her haste to get away from the byre, she fell off the coffin and landed hard on her right arm. It burned with pain. Cradling it in her left, she found her way to her feet and peered over the coffin at the man still on the ground holding a hand up as though to ward her off. From this vantage, she could read the lettering inlaid on the lid.  

    “Here lies 

Fallon Dimetrius

  Adoring sister and friend.  

She was to be the queen of the earth.”

Fallon. The name Tellen had called her in her dream with the knife. Nienna felt sick. She backed slowly away from the sarcophagus, placing a hand against the wall as she slid away. She could now see clearly that the dark-haired man was Tellen. Nienna could feel tears of frustration welling up in her eyes. “Tellen, where are we?” Nienna said in a hollow voice.  

Tellen peered around his hand to look wildly at her. “How is this possible? I’m not in direct contact with you. I didn’t summon you. You don’t even have a summons ring. How can you be here, of all places? This is not a place I wanted you to know.” His voice broke.  

“If you didn’t bring me here, then why I am here?” she asked.

“I don’t know,” Tellen said bitterly. He hid his face, but Nienna could see that he was weeping. Taking a deep breath to calm herself, she moved around the sarcophagus to come to kneel before Tellen. 

There she stayed until his tears subsided. As he calmed, Nienna brushed his unruly hair from his forehead. Noticing a stray tear, she wiped it gently away. Tellen’s bloodshot eyes studied her.

“Why are you being kind to such a wretch as me?” He rasped. “I have done almost nothing but treat you poorly and even nearly killed you.”

“I’ve never met someone so lost, or alone in this world as you. Besides, I can’t seem to get rid of you, so I might as well make peace with you,” she admitted. Tellen only frowned. He looked so miserable. Nienna watched him as he seemed to cave in on himself, looking more pitiful than she had ever seen him.

“We do seem to be running a parallel course,” he replied. Tellen straightened and leaned against the wall, looking curiously at her. Looking down at herself, she saw she was wearing her purple and gold teaching robes. She even had her leather sandals that went all the way up her calf and the gold bangles on her upper arms that signified her rank as a new professor.

“Where is this?” Nienna finally posed, tucking a piece of hair behind her ear.

“It is in the catacombs of the Peroma Fortress. Where Teague healed your wounds from the Grimmole,” he added when Nienna looked confused.

“I didn’t know he had buried his sister there, here,” Nienna replied solemnly. “I suppose that’s why he didn’t visit it often.”

“Most of my home is in ruins and is virtually unreachable for all except who know its passages. You would have never found it on your own.”

“Teague told me there were secrets held there, not meant for the casual visitor. Would this chamber be one of them?”

“Possibly. Peroma holds many secrets.”

Tellen took a shuddering breath and then closed his eyes. Gradually, as the rising of the sun, Nienna began to feel a change around herself. A breeze and sunshine were touching her skin. The air was fresh.  

Within moments, she and Tellen were sitting on the edge of a narrow lake with columnar rocks extending up at various heights along its length. The water was a brilliant blue and clear as glass. The pair sat on a wide flat rock nestled among the columns.  

Clouds, interspersed with sunshine filled the sky. It was extremely pleasant and Nienna began to feel herself relax. She looked over at Tellen who still had his eyes closed. She could see streaks of tears fresh on his cheeks.  

“Why are you here?” He asked evenly.

“I don’t know. You didn’t bring me here and I didn’t want to be here. And yet, here we are.” A tear rolled down his cheek. Another tear escaped and Nienna caught it before it reached his jaw.  

“You’re not even aware that you are using it,” Tellen spoke, glancing over at her.

“Using what?” She asked in confusion.

“The Earth Spark. Every time you touch my skin I can feel it. You can’t bear to see my agony so you are trying to heal my heart.”

“How can I be using it without knowing?” She asked, startled.

“There is so much raw spark in you that if given even the smallest outlet, it will take it. That is why you shine so brightly. Why you have become such a target for creatures of darkness.” His voice trailed away as he said his last words.  

Tellen stood up. Nienna watched as he walked to the edge of the water and looked out. Coming to stand beside him, she asked, “Is this place real?”  

“Very much so,” he said turning to look down at her. “It is north a good many miles from Silverlen, where you found me.” 

“The Northern Reach has not been well explored,” Nienna commented. “That may be why I do not know of it.”

“Perhaps. This would be a difficult location to get to in any case. But it would be worth the trip. Feel the water.”

Giving him a quizzical look, Nienna reached down and touch the water. It was warm.

“Is it thermal water that feeds this?” Nienna asked in amazement.  

“Yes,” he responded. “I wanted to have glacial water so that it would be clear and a brilliant blue, but Serene chose warm water. So we managed to compromise by getting the color and heat.”

“Who is Serene?” She asked.

“My younger sister. She is the embodiment of water. Calm, peaceful, and destructive all rolled into one.”  

Nienna smiled as she imagined the argument over warm or cold water. Unlacing her sandals, she stepped in and watched the ripples spread out over the water. Once the movement had dispersed, the water returned to its glass-like state. She reached into the water with her hands and watched as it trickled off her fingers. Stepping into the water up to her waist she began to slowly swim.  

“What are you doing?” Called Tellen from the rock.  

“Enjoying a swim,” she said. She closed her eyes and enjoyed the feeling of the water moving over her skin. Her hair and robes billowing around her as she drifted from the shore.  

“Do you plan to come back?” Tellen’s voice sounded slightly concerned.

In response, Nienna swung her arms high over her head and propelled herself further into the channel, watching the columnar rocks as they towered above her. The sun began to come out in earnest, banishing the clouds to the fringe. She felt weightless, as though swimming in the air. The water was warm and comfortable. Her worries over Aspen drifted away from her.  

She rolled onto her stomach when she noticed a small disturbance in the water. Then she saw the whiskered face of an otter slipping up beside her. She smiled again and continued to move forward. They swam until they reached a wide spot with columnar steps slipping into the water.  

She climbed out, feeling the sunshine whisk away the moisture from her clothing. The otter was replaced by the dripping wet form of Tellen.  

“Well that’s a new one,” he said as he climbed out of the water. “I can’t say I’ve ever gone for a swim in my mind.” Nienna laughed. It was such a light-hearted sound that even Tellen gave a small smile.

“I can’t say I have either,” she responded.  

“How does everything feel so real if this is happening in my mind?

“It is the nature of the Dreamscape. It is an alternate existence if you will. Our minds can perform more superior acts than we realize. Your body has experienced everything you have seen here at one point or another. Your mind supplies the necessary details to your senses to make everything real.”

Nienna tried to take that in. It still didn’t seem like it was possible.

“You can control where we are?” she asked.

“Yes. The first one to enter the Dreamscape is who controls the atmosphere. As long as my physical eyes have seen a place I can change our scenery to anything. The Dreamscape has made for a convenient way for me to keep in touch with my men. Or at least it did.”  

“Teague looked for you after you ran off in the forest,” Nienna commented. Tellen looked down at her.

He must not have searched hard, otherwise, he would have found me. I didn’t go far. I couldn’t believe what I had almost done. I nearly took your life. You were so much to take in all at once that I didn’t know how to handle it. You are so like Fallon in many regards. In others, you are entirely your own. I struggle to find purchase on who you are. I want to keep you close and yet very far away at the same time, and…”

“And you are drowning in your grief,” Nienna finished.

He was quiet for a time. “Every time I look upon you, all I see is what I lost. Especially seeing you with Teague,” his voice trembled and he looked out over the lake. “He treats you just as he did his sister. I had never been in love before I met her. And losing her is still fresh upon my heart. I have not been able to face what happened. Now it’s like that wound was slashed open anew. I come face to face with you, and you appear to be her in all but name.”

“Teague has said much the same,” said Nienna, following Tellen’s gaze over the lake. “He nearly cut my throat when he couldn’t tell me apart from his dreams.” She put a hand to the thin scar on her neck.

“He seems better though,” Tellen commented.

“We have been through much in only a few short months.”

“I hope to find peace like that one day,” Tellen murmured.  

Looking down at her again he said, “I know I can’t take back what I’ve said or done, but if you would allow me, I should like to make amends.”

Nienna pondered his words thoughtfully. “I am not Fallon,” she said seriously.  

“I know that,” he said quietly.

“You will always be disappointed should you continue to look for her,” she said.

“I…I know,” Tellen said.

Nienna extended her hand to Tellen. “Then let us start anew.” Tellen inclined his head and took her hand. “It is a pleasure to meet you,” he said with a slight bow.  

“Charmed, I’m sure,” Nienna said, trying to fight a smile. Tellen released her hand with a slight smile of his own. They gazed out over the lake again. Then Nienna turned her eyes opposite the lake to a mountain range she did not recognize.  

“What mountains are those?” She asked.

“Hinduri. Though if that name still exists I have no idea,” Tellen responded, seeing the range she indicated. “Would you like to see them up close?”

“Can we do that?” Nienna asked in surprise. He gave her an annoyed look.  

“We are in the Dreamscape,” he said flatly.

“Right,” Nienna said, her cheeks flushing.

The air around them shimmered and Nienna found herself near the summit of the Hinduri mountains. The view was stunning. She was surprised to find the landscape dotted with small lakes. Some seemed to have been carved out with a hoe while others looked like they were molded into the shape of a bowl.  

Nienna took a step forward and peered over the ledge she and Tellen were standing on. 

“Where are we?” Nienna asked. “In relation to Silverlen.”

“This is northwest of Silverlen. It’s part of the Mountain Veil range, but these are not so jagged and treacherous to cross,” Tellen said, gesturing out at the view.  

Gazing out across the mountains Nienna breathed in the thin air.  

Standing there, Nienna could see the sun was setting. Tellen caught hold of her hand and led her down to a rocky shelf. He sat down with his legs dangling over the edge, Nienna sitting beside him.

“I enjoy the setting sun from this spot best, due to the way the sun hits the trees below. It arcs the light high into the sky like beacons,” Tellen said.

After a brief pause, Nienna asked, “Tellen?”

“Hmm?” 

“Why do you think we were brought here? To the Dreamscape, that is,” she asked.

Tellen looked thoughtful. “Perhaps it was a sign for me. That I need to move on. Stop trying to reclaim what I lost and forgive myself and those around me.” He turned his moss and oak eyes towards her. “I am not fit to be a Guardian when I am drowned in the depths of sorrow and guilt. If I can’t help myself, I can’t help anyone else either.” Tellen continued. “I don’t think it was a coincidence that brought you to me. Though it is still painful to look at you at times, it reminds me that there is still life, and joy, to be found.”

“Thanks, I think?” Nienna said.

“Perhaps a better way to say it is, thank you. This day, night, whatever you wish to call it, has been a gift. I feel as though I have shed much of my burden. So thank you.”

“What have I done to earn such gratitude?” Nienna asked bemused.

“You were here,” he said. Nienna’s vision was beginning to fade and she knew it was time to leave. She wanted to stay, but she could feel herself coming back to her body. She looked out over the landscape once more as the Dreamscape faded away. When she next blinked, she was back on the divan on her roof in Alturis.  

A strange heaviness fell upon her as she thought about Tellen being alone again. Nienna stared at the brightening sky for a long time. She wondered if she would see him again.