Dreamwalker's Bride - Chapter 175

Chapter 175: Explaining the plan
Trace outlined his plan tentatively, laying out the various elements and strategies that could be employed based on the magic users they had access to.

“A lot of this, unfortunately, depends on Sanders,” He grimaced.

“Why unfortunately?” His father narrowed his eyes. “Is the man untrustworthy?”

“He is under the thrall, at least somewhat, of Barnabas,” Anaisa cut in to explain. “On top of that, although we can communicate to him, through Emily, there is no way for him to tell us whether he is able to accomplish the tasks we’re asking of him. So we have to have backup contingencies.”

“This is very complicated.” Deborah rubbed her forehead. “I think I understand most of it, but I’m not entirely certain what to do about it.”

“You can leave, if you wish,” Trace told her. “You can go, and keep Ewan safe. You have a part in this, of course, but we can try to make it work without you here.”

“If I’m of any help, I want to stay,” Deborah told him. “Although… if the tree works as you described, I’m not sure what my powers will do to it, or around it.”

“You experimenting with the tree is likely the reason Barnabas wanted you in his employ,” Anaisa responded, “It should hasten his journey here.”

“And when he comes, he’ll either have to leave the king behind, and the distance will break the command’s efficacy, or he’ll have to bring the king with him, which would definitely hold off the wedding with Sapphira,” Trace added. “We can adjust the plan based on what happens with you down there.”

“So… for now,” Emily asked tentatively. “You just want me to tell Sanders that I’ve been rescued, and that he should warn us if Barnabas comes to find us?”

“He can’t lie to a direct question Oakdown asks,” Trace sighed. “So we have to be careful about what information we relay to him. He’s a master of conversation and implications. If we can tell him words that he can repeat or summarize to Oakdown, that would be ideal. He can twist or use them however he will, but we still need to make sure he understands what we actually need him to do.”

“And what do we need him to do?” Emily frowned.

“We need a magic user that can control the weather, or water.” Trace gulped, frozen in thought over how to get that done without tipping Oakdown off to the plan.

“Can you tell him the farmers near here are suffering, and the land needs rain or irrigation?” Trace’s father put in. “It’s not a lie, we’ve been in a bit of a drought.”

“That could work,” Trace brightened.

“Please give me the exact words or phrases,” Emily closed her eyes. “I’m so afraid of messing it up.”

“Tell him that you’ve been rescued, and he can act without fear of you being hurt,” Trace decided. “Ask him to find a way to warn us if Oakdown comes, and that we intend to stay here and conduct experiments with Deborah… and then, as if in an afterthought later on, tell him that the farmers a short way from here need help with their crops, and could he please find a magic user that controls weather or water to bring rain?”

“I think that sounds perfect,” Anaisa nodded. “The conversations I had with him were so fascinating. He’s so good at not ever directly saying what he wants you to know. It’s a skill most nobles have, but I’ve never seen it quite so honed before.”

“What’s next on the list of preparations?” The doctor asked from one side. “I suppose I don’t have any real role in all this aside from my care for Ewan.”

“Hold that thought,” Trace smiled. “I think first, you and Deborah need to take a hike down to the tree.”

“We’ll stay up here and guard the entrance while you do,” Trace’s father said. “Maybe even trap a rabbit or something for dinner.”

“That would be wonderful,” Trace nodded. He hadn’t had much capacity for hunting while searching for the cave in the past weeks, and the preserved food he’d bought for the journey wasn’t exactly sitting well in his stomach. “I figure we have about a week’s journey from the capitol for Oakdown to get here, a little less if he hurries, a little more if he delays. We should get to work as quickly as we can.”

The party going down into the cave consisted of Anaisa, Trace, Deborah, the doctor, and the baby. There was some discussion about whether Ewan should be brought at all, but once it settled into their minds that the doctor’s powers would be magnified at least tenfold in the large cavern, the possibility of strengthening the weak young prince outweighed other considerations.

Though he had been kept alive, against all odds and the doctor’s predictions, he wasn’t thriving. The child was barely being kept in this world by sheer force of will, it seemed. If the doctor’s medical supplies ran out, Ewan would surely die. Thus, the possibility of healing him was something that no one could set aside lightly.

Trace had extensive reservations about going back down into the cavern. He hated the feeling of that much power, but he felt he should be there just in case things started going South. The doctor and Deborah needed a guide, and he didn’t like the idea of Anaisa down there without him, either.

At least the entrance was watched in case the former guards decided to make some kind of return.

This journey, the little group each had a lamp or torch to carry, and so the way was much more tolerable than it had been before. The cavern felt less like a dark tomb and more like a magical world, with the formations holding a beauty that Trace had ignored before. There was even color! The stone walls were not a uniform grey, but held all sorts of sparkles and colors and elements that interested Deborah a great deal.

Around the next corner, however, was a sight that made Trace shudder.

A deep hole in the cave’s floor.