Book 2: Chapter 15
Thinking about it for a moment, Carraway nodded, his eyes sharp.
An introduction, I can do. Though, youll have to manage the arrangements on your own. I typically dont handle the negotiations, but I can at least set up a meeting as long as you can get into the swamp.
Perfect. If possible, schedule the meeting for some time next week.
Nodding, Carraway thought for a moment and then spoke cautiously, watching Garrett carefully for his response.
I take it that you have a path out of the city, is that right?
It was a silly question, and both Carraway and Garrett knew it, but Garrett played along, curious about what was on the merchants mind.
I cant confirm anything, but I might. What is on your mind?
Licking his lips, Carraway showed an uncharacteristic hesitation to speak, but Garrett just waited quietly, not giving him an out. Finally, Carraway coughed lightly.
Ahem. There is a group in the city that wishes to get back to Port Reverie, on the other side of the swamp. Theyre in a bit of a sticky situation, however, since they cant afford to be found by the guards and the gates will be heavily watched once they open. Theyre paying well, but so far, they dont have any leads. Will your passage be able to accommodate a group of ten?
Sharing a glance with Ryn, Garrett slowly nodded. The first group that came to mind was the Black Raven assassins that had participated in the killing of the royal family and were now hiding in the city. Ryn had spotted them looking around one of the markets, and Garrett knew that they operated in teams of five, so it made sense that they would be looking for a way out of the city. Additionally, Carraway had been one of the merchants who had smuggled them into the city in the first place, so it made sense that they would have talked to him about leaving.
Potentially. We still have some work to do, but talk to me in a week or so.
Looking relieved, Carraway nodded and said his goodbyes, leaving Ryn and Garrett alone in the office. Rubbing his forehead after the merchant had gone, Garrett found himself tired. While staying up all night in the dream wasnt typically a big deal, he had used up a lot of his energy controlling Viper to fight and it was starting to weigh on him.
Do you think that Carraway was talking about the Black Ravens?
Ryns question shook Garrett out of his thoughts and he nodded.This chapter is updated by nov(e)(l)biin.com
I do. They are the only group I can think of who would be asking Carraway to help them find a way out of the city. Have you managed to find out where they are staying?
Looking troubled, Ryn shook her head.
No. I havent. Ive been trying to find them, but I havent spotted anyone since I first saw them. Besides, Ive been too distracted with the thought of awakening.
Oh? Have you made up your mind?
Curling her leg up under her, Ryn hesitated for a moment and then nodded.
When I was, um, recruited into Black Raven, I went through their awakening program. It was awful. They thought that by bringing us close to death, they could cause us to awaken, so they did. Repeatedly. Half of us really died, a couple of people actually did awaken and were taken off to become assassins, and the rest of us were trained as thieves. That was a terrible time and I have no desire to repeat it, so if your method has to do with something like that, Im not interested.
That makes sense, Garrett replied, his expression serious. But the method that I am considering, while not without danger, shouldnt bring you close to death.
After they had been gathered back up, Garrett quickly re-sorted them and then put them away in their proper piles while Ryn fidgeted on her chair. When he was done, he looked across the desk at her and cupped his chin in his left hand.
You have seen that dreams have an influence on reality, both through the mysterious artifact that you possess, and through the effect of studying how to read and write. But the reason that this is the case is because you carry the blessed mark of our family.
The flower? Ryn asked, pointing to her silver pin.
Yes, though really, the representation of the flower in the dream world. It is what allows you to awaken to that world when you fall asleep in this world. Like you, I walk in the dream world, and I have a suspicion that the flower could be used to awaken. In fact, your mysterious artifact might make it even easier for you.
Sitting up straight, Ryns expression grew serious, a rare enough occurrence that Garrett knew he was on the right track. Considering his words carefully, he spoke softly, as if afraid someone else would overhear.
The flower grows using the energy that the dream contains, but what if, instead of simply existing alongside the flower, you took its energy? I think that it would be possible for you to absorb the energy that the flower is gathering, using it to awaken your soul spark. But it would require working together. I can guide you in it if you wish.
Biting her lip, Ryn hesitated, clearly torn about something. After a moment of consideration, she asked Garrett a question.
Would that harm the flower? I I dont want to harm the flower.
So long as you dont harm the root, I think it's fine, Garrett replied. The flowers energy is stored in its petals, and its life is stored in its root. In fact, I think that you will find that the flower will be quite willing to help you. But it wont be easy to do. Well probably have to try a lot of things to figure out how to get it to work. And youll need to figure out what sort of soul spark you want to have.
This time, Ryns silence stretched for a full two minutes. It was evident that her previous experience had scarred her badly, but she was also attracted to the idea of awakening. This world was brutal for those without power, and though her position seemed stable right now, there was no substitute for personal power. Finally, after taking a deep breath, she exhaled loudly, as if she was expelling all her doubts and worry with the stale air in her lungs.
Fine. Ill do it.
Good, Garrett said, smiling. Spend the rest of the day thinking about what it is that you might like your soul spark to be, and we will begin tonight.
Wait, we?
Yes. Ill see you in your dream, Garretts smile deepened. But prepare yourself. It's going to be hard work.
Nothing to be afraid of in hard work, Ryn said, clapping her hands together in excitement. But how do I figure out what I want my soul spark to be?
Think about what you want to achieve with your awakening. Focus on a symbol that can represent it, and Ill teach you how to begin the process tonight.
Garrett had been debating on this move for a long time, and had finally decided that the advantage was worth the potential risks. The main concern was that Ryn was not under his control in the way that the other members of the gang had been. Her dream seed had started off differently and it had just grown naturally, turning into a three bloom flower by absorbing the ambient energy of the dream. Though the flower had a natural bewitchment effect, it only extended as far as making her accept the flower itself, rather than tying her to Garrett and the main root of the flower planted in the Dreamers Inn.
He had considered encouraging her to awaken through the dream, without indicating that he was connected to it, but he also knew that she was smart enough to figure out what was going on, an assumption that had been proven correct. Closing his eyes, Garrett sat in the silence of the office, mentally reviewing the gangs strength. At the top of the pile, there was Viper, his guardian. Close to the shaper level and absolutely loyal, to the point that he could act almost as a secondary body for Garrett, he was Garretts strongest asset. Under him were the two red masked awakened, Pax, and the new young man named Vale.
Both were strong and the number of blooms they carried ensured their loyalty, making it so that Garrett didnt need to be worried about being betrayed. Next came Obe and the other awakened that had just been recruited to the gang. They carried four blooms apiece, and Garrett had accelerated the growth of all of them, which granted an increased sense of loyalty, ensuring that they wouldnt simply abandon the Family at the first sign of danger. Finally, there were the four awakened dreamers, who were in a similar situation to Ryn. They carried blooms, but only so that Garrett could keep track of them and communicate with them, rather than controlling them directly, or even by suggestion.
He wasnt sure if he was doing the right thing by allowing people around him to retain their own sense of self, but he had his own qualms about the flowers that he grew. As convenient as they were, he occasionally wondered if he was really the one in charge. His birth in this world had been accompanied by the merger of two souls, and it was hard to tell if acquiring the Dream Seed ability had changed him further. He was just thinking about what to do if he lost control of the dream flowers when he felt Obe running toward the office at full speed. Frowning, Garrett put away his depressing thoughts and scanned for danger, immediately finding an area where there were a lot of worried people gathered. The door slammed open and Obe stepped into the office, breathing heavily.
Boss, we have a problem! breathing heavily, Obe took a moment to catch his breath before continuing. It looks like a rogue mysterious artifact has started killing people nearby.
