Glow

Chapter Thirteen: Petra and Rae

Writing is like playing god. It's a more mature way of managing a doll house- you still move the characters, but you can control them with a fineness that you cannot get with a doll.

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Morning came much too quickly for Arvind's liking, and no matter how much he hid under the covers from the sun, it still shone him in the face, almost like an order to get up. With a reluctant sigh, he rolled out of bed and fell on the floor.

There came a knock at his door.

"Arvind? Are you up yet?" Came Samara's voice, tinged with tones of annoyance.

"Yes," He managed to call back, twisted up in his covers as he was. "I'll be out in a minute."

"Xef says you'd better be," She said, and he heard footsteps retreat down the hall. Wish a sigh, he looked over at the window, the blade of light slicing through the curtains into his eyes.

"I suppose it's time to get up," He said with a grumble, and rolled from the downy mattress.

Samara watched her disgruntled companion walk into the small room and immediately sit down and start to eat like a rabid animal.

"So what does Xef want to tell me?" He asked without meeting her eyes.

"What makes you so sure he wants to talk to you?"

"'Xef says you'd better be,'" He reminded her, reaching for a large turkey leg and dripping grease onto the large map Samara had rolled out on the table.

"Careful!"

"Sorry," He mumbled, tearing into the meat. "So where is Xefarias, anyway? If he's so intent on me getting up, he should be here himself."

"He went to speak with one of the Archers about the horses. Or so he says."

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"He took his money pouch with him."

"That could mean a number of things. We might just need more supplies."

"His other money pouch. For large purchases."

Arvind snorted. "And? He might just be buying another horse."

He finished off the turkey leg and threw the bone on the floor. Samara wrinkled her nose in disgust.

"What is it?"

"That's barbaric."

"Where do you expect me to throw it? On the table with your precious map?" He picked up a boiled fish and started to flake off the flesh.

A noise at the door ended their bickering. It was Xef, standing in the door-frame, holding a long, thin package.

"I have decided," He proclaimed after a moment, "That the two of you need something more suited to these exploits than a ceremonial dagger and whatever it is that Arvind has. We will have to travel through Kundarian territory soon, through the capital of Kunda itself, to reach Nore. I find that these," (Here he indicated the long package), "Are suited to your needs."

Without further ado, he laid the package on the table and unwrapped the brown paper to reveal two nearly-identical blades. One had river stones set in the handle, and the other held inlays of bones. Samara took the antler handle of the bone-sword and held it in front of her. Arvind took up the river stone blade and examined the hilt. He traced along the river stone inlays and looked up at Xef.

"These have a purpose."

Xef nodded. "Yes. The river stones represent energy. I found you, Arvind, to be lacking energy. Therefore, you received the river stone sword. It was forged by wind witches in the fire river of Virochan. It's name is Petra."

"What about my sword?" Asked Samara, stabbing the wooden floor with the tip of the blade.

"The bones and antler represent strength and health, which you had, but lacked in. Naturally, you were drawn to the magical elements in this sword. This was forged in the great elvish city of Nane, using the bones of the legendary water elk Alces. It's name is Rae. Take good care of both of these swords, as they will serve you, hopefully, well in the coming months."

Arvind sheathed the blade. "Speaking of travel, where are we going next, Sam?"

She glanced at the map. "It appears we're heading to just the place Xef has been dreading we encounter this whole time. The capital city of Kunda."

"When will we be there?"

"Half a day, if we leave now. What do you think about that, Xefarias?"

The knight was chewing a piece of bread and didn't respond for a few moments, but when he did, he said, "We cannot avoid it, I assume?"

Samara shook her head.

"Then we will have to stay in the shadows. There is doubtless to be some problems with our appearance, since Samara's disappearance, but hopefully we will be able to elude any trouble. In and out. Is that clear?"

Arvind nodded.

"In other news," Interjected Samara. "Has anyone else been having strange dreams?"

Arvind looked up suddenly. “I thought you couldn't dream.”

“I couldn’t, not until a night or two ago, anyway.”

Xef raised an eyebrow. "What dreams do you speak of?"

"I see a flower made of fire. But every time I go to pick it, it is extinguished. Then I see a boy standing before me and he tells me he can make another if I wager something. And then it's over."

Arvind nearly choked in his laughter.

"That sounds like complete horse dung," He managed to get out before a glare from Xef sent him silent.

"Have you ever seen the boy before?" Asked Xef, to Samara. She shook her head. "Then I suppose it's nothing," He said with a nod. "Dreams can be, at best, random."

"And yet lethal," Arvind pointed out. "That is why there are sacred dreaming monks to maintain the balance between wakefulness and dreaming itself."

Samara looked back down at the map. "I suppose you're right, Xef. It did seem, after all, insignificant."

Xef rose from his chair abruptly. "On an unrelated note, I must speak with Thengor," Were his parting words, before he threw on his cloak and stalked outside.

There was silence before Samara looked at the door where their guide had just left. "I wonder what Xef is speaking to Thengor about."

At that very moment, Thengor was in the stables, preparing his horse. Xef whipped the door to the place open and stalked over to him.

"What do you know of the current Balance?" He asked Thengor.

Thengor shook his head. "Nothing. The dreaming has been unclear to us all these past few weeks. It began with the dream of a Rose being planted, a dream that we all shared, and then no more dreams. Not until Arvind received our welcome, that is."

"Any news from the monks?" Asked Xef.

"None. Lord Xefarias, do you know the power of these dreams?" Asked Thengor, brushing the head of the horse.

Xef nodded. "Of course I do. And I also know that Samara has not dreamed since her childhood."

"It might just be her mind. And you must know that the more potent a dream, the more easier it can kill. Yet nothing like this has happened in an age. Nevertheless, if you find your dreams turning darker than ever before, understand that balance will once more be achieved. You will have better dreams. It is much like the current of a river. It moves in whatever direction and pace it wishes."

"But the balance-"

"Is maintained. And it will always be maintained, as long as the monks live and their dreamcatchers hang. Please, Lord Xefarias, eat. Regain your strength. You will need it in the days to come."

And with that, Thegor led his horse out of the stable, leaving Xef with only one question.

Then how is the balance broken?