Book 1 Chapter 10: Dreams

Vero felt like he was climbing out of darkness and as he finally reached the light he could open his eyes. At first he squinted and tried to get his eyes adjusted. After a bit of a struggle he turned to look to the side. He noticed his master, Filtiarn and closed his eyes again. He was sure he was dreaming. Opening them again, he still saw the master talking with Ylva.

“Milord?” Vero asked softly as his blue eye and green eye gazed over at the Ulrika. Vero noticed that the Master seemed distant, as if he hadn’t heard Vero so he spoke again. “Milord? Are you alright? When did you get back?” Vero asked as he attempted to sit up. A sharp pain caused his strength to fail and he cried out as he fell back down again. He barely registered the sound of footsteps and barely made out the shapes of Ylva and some other man as they hovered over him. He heard them talking to him but he was too tired and it hurt to breath. At that point he couldn’t have answered anyway since he didn’t even understand what they were saying. Darkness crowded around his field of vision and he gave into the exhaustion that enveloped him before loosing consciousness.

A strange buzzing feeling began to fill his being and he wanted to move away from it. It was uncomfortable and then he felt a snap.

“Vero?” he heard and in the darkness he felt like he was looking around. After some silence he decided to speak.

“Who?” he asked.

“It’s me, Ylva,” the voice responded. Vero was confused and focused on the tones of the voice. It sounded like Ylva but why were they in the dark. There wasn’t even the light of stars or anything. Pitch black was all he could sense, and the buzzing had died down to a simple fuzz.

“Ylva, what is going on?” Vero asked. Hoping for a response. Perhaps he had been imagining things.

“You’re guess is as good as mine,” she replied. “How are you feeling?” Vero let a breath out as he sighed in relief. As he did so, he felt like he tapped into his senses and felt a numb pain. Familiar and not really enjoyable, but at least he recognized it.

“Like I just went through ten days worth of you training without rest,” Vero muttered with a grunt. She paused for a long time.

“Vero?” she asked. Her voice seemingly confident, yet questioning.

“What?” He responded.

“Nothing, I just wanted to see if you were actually speaking or if this was all just in my head.”

“What do you mean?” Vero asked. Before she could respond, Vero got the vague impression that Filtiarn was worrying over her. He wondered if this was some sort of space like in legends of old.

As a child Vero had read in the castle’s library archives. He wasn’t keen on venturing out after his experience with slavers that had preyed on his sisters and him as children. He eventually had lost his family and was beaten often. That’s when the Master’s father had found him and brought him back to the palace. After begining to work, the Ulrika of the past had lent him a key that let him access an old library. Many books he couldn’t read, but there were enough that he understood that he was satisifed. Finding the world of books, he would get lost in there often, and had run across a few that had mentioned powers that could connect others in a separate space. He had written them off as fairytales, but perhaps not.

“I wish I knew how to explain this, but Vero is talking, er well communicating to me through my head.” He heard her say after dragging himself from his musings, but it sounded hollow like it really wasn’t being directed at him. He thought on it for a bit and tried to reach out in the dark towards where he could feel Ylva. He found it odd that they were talking so differently. Had something happened while he was unconscious? How long had he been out?

“Are you sure you didn’t hit your head when you were attacked?” He heard Filtiarn ask Ylva as if concerned.

“I’m positive Filtiarn. This isn’t something I would joke about,” she responded sharply. He chuckled to himself. She was still Ylva.

He vaguely felt a buzzing sensation and then Filtiarn’s presence fully became a part of the darkness. Vero watched as the events unfolded around him. He could see the master sitting, but no chair, Ylva was looking at him, concentratedly.

“Filtiarn, can you hear me?” Ylva asked. He flinched, quickly rising as he looked about. Then looked at her with wide eyes.

“What,” he said in disbelief, no lips moving. “I heard your voice but you weren’t speaking out loud.” His words were more hollow as if perhaps they were his thoughts. He shook his head. “I think I need to lie down.”

“You weren’t imagining things, and your head is fine dear,” Ylva replied, folding her arms. This time Filtiarn jumped and Ylva chuckled. Vero also chuckled to himself. He felt her guide Filtiarn to sit down.

“So do you know what is happening?” Ylva asked. “Perhaps something from the old legends that says anything about this?”

While it was true that the Master had probably stuck his nose into too many of the sacred texts and legends than was customary for any Ulrika, Vero imagined he only had a vague idea about what was going on, particularly when the master sighed and raked his hands through his hair, flipping the ears back.

“How familiar are you to the legends surround the black wolf?” he asked. Ylva shook her head and he took a deep breath as if collecting his thoughts about the legends.

“It is written that when the world was in peril, a pure black wolf descended from the realm above with his friends, one of which had access to the realm of the mind, allowing for clear, quick communication between the friends and the black wolf so that they could easily accomplish the task of saving the world. They say that the power of this friend lead to the protection and safety of those they came in contact with and that this friend called it ‘telepathy’,” Filtiarn said softly.

“Do you think that this ‘telepathy’ is what I have?” she asked at length. Filtiarn nodded.

“Sadly, though, much more about the specifics have been lost or where never told to us,” he said. Ylva sat there as if in contemplation. Then he felt her shake her head and the stillness of the dark pervaded his sense and he sat back, ignoring the pain and tried to register what he had learned.

Was there more to this telepathy? It was odd that it allowed them to connect without the surroundings, but just with their beings. Also, he almost sensed what Ylva’s condition was along with Filtiarn’s. Perhaps he could instigate it? He tried to reach out multiple times but to no avail. He gave up and allowed the darkness to crowd around him.

Time, that’s what he needed now. His body would heal at it’s pace and he allowed himself to sleep.

As he arose, he knew more time had passed. Besides the fact that Ylva and the Master were not nearby, he couldn’t even hear them. He gently attempted to sit and found to his delight that the pain was gone. Vaguely, he wondered if the injury would scar. He was certain that the two had called in healers, so he perished the thought. He heard a gasp and looked over to see a yowlume in healer robes. This confirmed his thoughts. She looked happy and ran out. He waited, wondering what that was all about.

Suddenly there were footsteps pounding down the hall, coming towards him. He looked about for a weapon of some sort, perhaps they were under attack again. Just as the sound approached the door he pulled at the bedding. The door that had been partially closed flung wide and in relief he saw the master. The bit of concern on Filtiarn’s face faded to relief as he looked Vero up and down. A few paces after appeared Ylva. She looked like she had been training and had dashed over as soon as possible. The master stepped to the side and Ylva entered. Vero’s ears piqued in curiosity.

Surprisingly, she smiled and then he felt her arms as she embraced him. Now, he was concerned. Was this a dream or did she hit her head?

“Are you alright? Milady?” he asked, worried.

“Don’t you ever do that to me again,” she scolded, pushing him back and he could see a silent tear in her eye. “I was so worried,” she whispered, turning her head down, as if to hide the fact of her tears.

“I’m sorry,” Vero mumbled, bitting his lip. He wondered yet again if that who conversation had just been a dream or had it really happened.

“How are you feeling?” The Master asked, grabbing their attention.

“Better. Though, when did you get here?” Vero asked.

“About a week ago,” Filtiarn chuckled.

“Wait, have I been out that long?” Vero asked a bit surprised. Ylva and Filtiarn chuckled.

“Yes, but it could have been worse. Just be glad you are still here at all,” Ylva said.

Vero looked at her wanting her to tell him more. He almost was at the point of begging, but she shook her head and steered away from that subject. It was probably still too much for her at the moment.

“Oh, now that I think about it, I had a weird dream that you were talking to me in a strange place,” Vero said, looking at Ylva. “Filtiarn also appeared there,” Ylva and Filtiarn looked at one another, a knowing look passing between them. Vero cocked his head confused. It had been a dream, right?

“Vero, that was no dream. I did speak to you through your mind,” Ylva said, as if she was still trying to get a grasp on the implications of what it meant.

“Wait, so that means you’re a telepath! Does this mean those legends of the black wolf god are true and not just religious dogma or fairytale,” Vero asked, his ears perking up in anticipation. Her expression at that was, to be blunt, confusing. If he had to place some word on it, there was an ounce of relief, but surprise and a look that seemed to ask about him.

“I guess so, but Vero how do you know about the legends and prophecies?” She asked. Vero looked down for a second. Embarrassed. He knew mainly because he had heard Filtiarn, but due to his childhood The black wolf god and his followers were inspiring.

“I read about them in the library. They intrigue me,” he responded, wanting to give as brief an explanation as possible, but it quickly changed as a numbing pain raced across his back.

“Ow,” he muttered as he laid against the pillows to help prop him up.

“Just take it easy for a while Vero. You were injured in that last skirmish,” Filtiarn said as he walked over to them.

“Does this mean I won’t be able to do training with Ylva?” Vero asked, a bit disappointed and yet relieved.

“Nope,” Filtiarn said. Vero felt him ruffle his hair and he flattened his ears against his head. “For now, I will be enjoying her company, so you just rest.” Vero noticed another knowing look pass between the two and the Master motioned for her to leave. She smiled, giving Vero a goodbye hug, then discreetly left.

“Master, you better follow her or else she will head to the lists and bangle up all the guards,” Vero warned. Then as an after thought he looked at the master. “Assuming we still have guards… What happened?”

“About what?” the master asked and Vero slouched as he stared at the man.

“When we were attacked,” he prompted.

“We’re still investigating that. But somehow they got in without killing any of the guards. We think it has to do with the strange drowsiness that befell right before the attack.”

“Poisons?” Vero asked, serious. Filtiarn chuckled.

“Who knows. But don’t worry about that for now. Just focus on getting back your strength and health, or else when you do leave this room, my wife will run you ragged.”

Vero gulped and nodded in agreement. He knew all too well the extent she trained and he would need all his energy to keep up with her after having such a long unabated leave of absence.