Dreamwalker's Bride - Chapter 153

Chapter 153: Oversharing
“Yes, it’s a beautiful tree,” Trace nodded. “I showed a sort of imitation of it to Anaisa in a dream.”

“You showed her… in a dream,” Deborah repeated. “You can do that?”

“Don’t worry, I haven’t looked at your dreams,” Trace assured her hurriedly. “Or yours, Doctor. I did invade Anaisa’s without permission for a long time—”

“Trace,” His wife interrupted. “There is a fine line between having no secrets and oversharing unnecessary detail.”

“Oh. Of course,” He sighed. The freedom to say whatever he wanted after fighting against an invisible wall for so long was a bit intoxicating. He needed to be careful to stop talking quite so much.

“This gemstone tree gives powers?” Deborah ignored the aside and probed with her questions.

“I wanted to ask you about what kind of job you were being offered, what details you were given about what exactly he wanted you to do,” Anaisa put in.

“He mentioned travel,” Deborah began.

“To a cave?” Trace interjected before Anaisa gave him a slightly sharp look. He ducked his head and looked back as Deborah concentrated.

“My magic was going to have something to do with it, but he didn’t really specify what.” She continued.

“Modifying the tree’s gemstones? Maybe he thought if you saw them, you could create new ones and distribute magic powers for him?” Anaisa pondered the question.

“It seemed to me that no one would be able to get powers without going into the cave directly to the tree,” Trace recalled Sanders’ vision. “I don’t imagine Oakdown was terribly keen on showing so many people where the secret power-giving cave is located.”

“That’s logical,” Anaisa nodded. “Barnabas has always been scheming and secretive, he wouldn’t like having to reveal the cave’s existence and location. I’m sure he’d much rather have some way to carry the magic with him and distribute it at his leisure.”

“But what would have made him think I could do such a thing?” Deborah asked.

“You told me once that you learned more about your powers from Sanders,” Anaisa chewed her lip for a moment before continuing. “Did he say anything else that would make you believe you could influence these magical gemstones in any sort of way that would be useful to an evil mastermind?”

Deborah shook her head. “But if we find it, I could experiment and try? Would the tree have any influence in helping baby Ewan get stronger?”

“I have no idea,” Anaisa shrugged.

“It’s worth a try, and we need to try to rescue Emily anyway.” Trace nodded. “So, then, let’s head… towards home, I suppose. It’s rather convenient we’re already headed in that direction.”

“You’ve lived in that area your whole life and never found a cave like that?” Anaisa frowned. “Maybe we should move towards a different part of the border.”

“I meant as a general direction, not as a specific destination. I imagine the battlefields of war would be the best indicators of what area was being fought over specifically… especially if we aim for a place both sides avoided in direct battle so that all their soldiers would not find the cavern.”

Trace withdrew into deep thought as he mentally mapped out the battles and skirmishes he’d been involved in during the war. No large blank spots on the border came to mind immediately, and yet, he pressed on, trying to fill in the gaps.

“If we knew how large the entrance was, that might help,” Anaisa looked at him curiously. “Do we know?”

“I only saw inside the cave,” Trace frowned. “But… the sound of rushing water. Emily could hear water rushing sometimes. We should start along the river.”

“Who’s Emily?” The Doctor sighed. “I feel I need a written summary of all this to keep up with everything.”

“Sanders’ sister,” Trace clarified. “Ugh, let me start from the beginning and get you all caught up.”

He hesitated for a moment before launching into his story. On the one hand, sharing too much could put these people into danger, but really, they were already on the run with a sort-of-kidnapped prince, so if they weren’t to be trusted, it was a little bit late for that.

If they were somehow on Oakdown’s side, then they would have already known everything Trace knew, and more, probably. The only thing he hesitated sharing in full was the extent to which Sanders had exploited the loopholes, but then again, they already knew enough about that so that sharing the rest didn’t seem to do any additional harm.

Telling the entire tale took a good part of the afternoon as they rode onward. Trace paused when another traveler came within earshot, and then continued. His throat was quite dry by the end of it, and he was glad for the public well in the next town that allowed them to replenish their water.

They also bought food, and more supplies, including a large tent in case it were needed for inclement weather.

“If you come back within the Count’s range, will his orders automatically gain power over you again?” The doctor asked once Trace’s tale was finally complete.

“I don’t know.” He shrugged.

“If we find the cave and rescue Emily, what’s our next step?” The doctor eyed him.

“I don’t know,” Trace’s brow furrowed together.

“Do you have any plan to stop the marriage between the princess and the count’s son?” Deborah cut in.

“Not yet,” Trace’s answer was as optimistic as he could make it. “I’ve been thinking a lot about it, though, and I’m starting to form some of the pieces!

“Starting to form some of them,” The doctor repeated dubiously. “That inspires a lot of confidence that we won’t be stuck out here raising a child who should be next on the throne.”

It was the first time anyone had said it out loud that little Prince Ewan was the rightful heir. Sons had priority over daughters when it came to royal succession, so even if Denholm married Sapphira, this tiny child would cause quite a hitch in Oakdown’s schemes.

“Deborah,” Trace said after a moment. “Can you show me all the kinds of gems you can make?”