Dreamwalker's Bride - Chapter 168

Chapter 168: Spelunking
Anaisa watched as everyone bedded down for the night. The cave boasted a lot of smaller rooms and alcoves, but most everyone wanted to stay near to the others after suffering isolation in the darkness.

Some central lamps burned, keeping the atmosphere from becoming too eerie.

The most worrisome aspect was Martin. He seemed drained, and unable to open the cave entrance just yet. He assured everyone breathlessly that he would be able to by the time morning came.

Anaisa hoped that was true.

She also hoped that the other guards didn’t try to murder them in their sleep. Anaisa whispered her concern to Trace, who squeezed her hand.

“It’ll be all right,” He promised. “Somehow, we’ll make it through.”

Things did seem much less complicated, trapped in a cave, than in the palace where all manner of drama and lies and intrigue reigned. The goal for now was simply to survive the night, if it was night, and have Martin let them out.

The men decided to take turns sitting up, in case anything should happen. Seth, Trace’s brother, took first watch, but Anaisa couldn’t sleep.

“Is it even time for rest?” She murmured to herself, though Trace was laying out a bedroll. There were not enough to go around, and so the married couples were squeezing into them together, and the children shared as well.

The prospect was not wholly without its allure, but Anaisa also didn’t quite like the fact that so many people would be around the first time she slept in her husband’s arms… even though nothing else was going to happen while she did.

Oh, for a night–a week!–of perfect privacy to get all her nervousness out of the way.

“I’m going to explore the cave a little,” She cut her eyes over to Trace. “I’m curious about the tree.”

Trace looked at her with a complicated expression. “I’ll come with you,” He decided, picking up a lamp. “We should ask Frank or Gary if either of them know the way.” The other man, that he’d knocked out and tied up on his way in, sat sullenly next to Martin, unsure of how to behave with the sudden change in dynamics.

“Can they be trusted?” Anaisa’s brow furrowed. She didn’t like the idea of getting lost in the cave without a guide, but she liked even less the prospect of one of the guards turning on them and murdering them.

“We won’t bring him with us, I just want to ask directions.” Trace explained. Anaisa’s nerves eased slightly, but not all the way.

“Frank,” He said a little louder, “Come here a minute.”

The man hopped up to his feet, and Trace took out a couple of coins to hand him.

“Thanks for your help earlier,” He smiled. “Do you happen to know what’s deeper in the cavern?”

“I don’t know, exactly. There’s only one way further down that I’ve seen. Martin claims it’s where his powers came from. He was the first one of us to start working here, said he racked up enough trust for the boss to take him down into the cave where the magic comes from. I tried to go down a few times and see, but I think Martin can feel stuff through the rocks cause he always closed it up when I did.”

“Why wouldn’t he just keep it closed all the time?” Anaisa whispered. It didn’t make much sense for Martin to go through the effort of opening and closing it when he’d already gotten his power.

“He’s not as strong when it’s closed. Gary noticed first. Martin doesn’t punch us with rocks or anything while it’s shut, so we both think the magic in him isn’t as powerful when he’s separated from it.”

Anaisa’s eyes met Trace’s. He looked contemplative.

“Thanks, Frank. Get some good sleep,” Trace encouraged, and began walking away. Anaisa skipped a step to hurry after him.

They turned the corner out of the room to go deeper into the cave’s depths. The occasional sound of dripping water from stalactites was the only thing other than their footsteps and breathing to break the silence.

It was eerie. The lamp flickered, and Anaisa wondered if she should go back for a second one.

Trace reached back with one hand, and she took it. They walked for some time, steadily descending through the uneven tunnel. He supported her as the ground occasionally became slippery.

Trace paused at one point, and looked back up where they had come from.

“Strange…” He blinked several times and took his hand from Anaisa’s to rub his eyes.

She looked backward and saw nothing but the roof of the cave. The light of the lamp flickered slightly, making the shadows of the rock formations dance in a disconcerting way.

“What is it?” She squinted, but the darkness behind them was too great for her to see well. There was nothing her eyes could detect.

“They’re sleeping,” He whispered.

“What is?” She cringed. She’d heard talk of bats, and didn’t especially care to wake any just this moment.

“Not what, who. I can see their dreams, back in the room…” Trace pointed.

“But you’re awake,” Anaisa frowned. “Aren’t you? I thought you could only see dreams when you were asleep, too.”

“That’s how it’s always been,” Trace looked at his hand for a moment and flexed it. “Well, I can’t create or change things here as if I’m in a dream, so at least I know I haven’t accidentally fallen asleep.”

“How hard did you try?” Anaisa asked. “If you can see dreams… maybe you can make a waking dream and change things here?”

Trace looked at her carefully, and set the lamp on the ground. “I’m not sure about this, but I’ll try.”

Anaisa backed up against the wall of the cave and watched. Trace’s brow furrowed as he held his hands in front of him. After half a minute, he shrugged.

“No, I guess the only thing in common with this place and my dream world is that I can see people’s dreams.” Trace turned towards her and his eyes widened slightly. “Well, not the only thing. You’re here, after all.”