Dreamwalker's Bride - Chapter 277

Chapter 277: Sleepytime
Mia woke up with a deep breath to Anaisa’s tired gaze.

“Do you always have such nightmares?” The older woman asked as she stretched her shoulders. Mia colored.

“I’m so sorry–did I wake you?” She ducked her head in shame. Her aunt was suffering enough without Mia robbing her of her sleep.

“I was having nightmares, too…. I often do, without Trace. He guards my dreams for me,” Her eyes glazed over slightly as she looked down. Mia frowned.

“What are your nightmares?” She blurted out. “Mine are about darkness. The cave, and being trapped. I can’t get out, and I can’t reach anyone. My magic stopped working so I’m just groping about in the dark unable to find anything or anyone that could help me to escape. It’s terrifying and I hate it.”

“I held your hand, and you calmed a little bit,” Anaisa smiled slightly. “Now it makes sense, why. You were looking for something with your hands. Trace always said real world sensations and noises can affect dreams. I’m glad I could help yours, at least a little bit.”

Mia grimaced at the prospect of troubling her already troubled aunt. “Thank you.”

“My dreams vary,” Anaisa confided. “Last night, I was overwhelmed with the urge to search for the tree and demand magic from it. Anything to help me get Trace back. Its branches withered and each jewel I reached for shattered before I could touch it.”

The woman’s face held pain as she continued. “My children were crying behind me.”

Mia’s expression fell. That sounded much heavier, and much worse, than the burden she carried.

“Then let’s not waste any time getting Uncle Trace back.”

The women quickly dressed and took down their tent, packing it on the mule while Seth and Grandpa did the same. Mia stoked the fire and fried up a few eggs, quickly, while the men finished breaking camp.

Anaisa looked curiously into the distance.

“What’s our first landmark, Mia?” She asked quietly.

“Beyond the edge of the canyon country. It should take a few days to get that far. Instead of constantly going up and down the canyon walls, I think it’s likely we’ll be able to skirt most of the territory around the edge to save time. It will be a bit further, but not as difficult for the horses.”

That’s what Mia gathered from the direction of her pull towards the best path. As she’d seen it in her vision, it was slightly different, but of course her starting point had been a little different then.

The four ate breakfast quickly and then hurried on their way.

They were making good time, and the weather was quite fine for the season. Though summer was well on its way, the weather wasn’t too hot. The nights weren’t overly chilly anymore, either.

Mia thought about that cold night with Ford more often than she would ever admit to anyone, but when she mounted her horse and pointed in the proper direction, she tried to drive all other thoughts from her mind.

The way was straight for the time being, and Mia wondered whether it would change if the river moved course once again. It rained more often in late spring, so the waters would be less predictable.

Or maybe her power was taking her mostly around the canyons to avoid that predicament altogether. She didn’t know for certain, but she led onward.

Anaisa rode beside her, tired but determined. Mia tried not to look over her shoulder when she felt a flicker of pull behind.

She almost wished her power was limited in its range. That if Ford got far enough away she would no longer feel him, but she knew that wasn’t the case.

As it was, she was beginning to resent the fact that he stayed hidden so much of the time.

Where was he? Following them, or somewhere far off behind, headed in the opposite direction?

Mia yawned, again resisting the urge to look over her shoulder.

“Do you get the feeling we’re being followed?” Anaisa asked quietly around midday.

Mia’s heart stopped.

“Do you?” She deflected.

Anaisa looked over her shoulder. “Maybe not. Maybe I’m just worried about the children.”

“You think we’re being followed?” Seth pulled alongside them. He usually rode behind with Grandpa since the extra horses were tied to their saddles. “Are you sure?”

“I clearly just said I’m not sure,” Anaisa smiled wanly. “I might very well simply be paranoid given that my husband was recently kidnapped by dragons.”

“Should I loop around behind and check?” Seth glanced backwards. As he did, the flicker of the secondary pull tugged at Mia’s heart.

She frowned. Was it coincidence?

“Not unless you’re suspicious. I don’t know of any reason for anyone to be following us,” Anaisa explained.

Seth grunted with a significant look at his daughter.

“Mia? Do you know of a reason anyone would follow us?”

The girl narrowed her eyes, letting a bubble of resentment take hold of her mouth.

“Am I the kind of daughter who keeps important secrets from others?” She snipped. “Surely not, because I don’t know who would set such a terrible example for me.”

She saw her biting comment hit home in her father’s eyes, but rather than let the shame of hurting him again wash over her, she nudged her horse into a faster walk, leaving him behind.

That didn’t mean she couldn’t clearly hear the conversation behind her.

“Does she snap at you that way?” Seth asked Anaisa.

“No… Seth, I hope I’m not overstepping–”

“You’ll tell me what you want, even if it is overstepping,” He pointed out to his sister-in-law.

“That’s true. My father, as you know, was not a good man, and yet, he had the power to hurt me more deeply than almost anyone else, even after I realized he was no good. With all the walls I built, he could still cut me with his words and actions.”

“Are you comparing me to your father because I tried to protect my daughter from a terrible memory?” He asked incredulously.

“Not at all,” Anaisa assured him. “I just wanted to remind you how powerful a father’s influence can be. She likely had no walls around her heart when it came to you, and so may feel all the more wounded.”

“So what do you suggest?” Seth’s voice was strained, and a tear slid down Mia’s face.

“Patience, kindness, and letting her remember how much you love her.”

Mia urged her horse into a trot before sobs overwhelmed her.