"Once Upon a Dream Come True [part 2]"
By;fernand jiro
The rest of them sat in silence, trying not to stare at her, but all their eyes kept flickering to her face, yet every time she looked at them, they would quickly look away, avoiding her dominant down-the-nose stare. Kaylee wondered if she would come up with a plan, or if they would be forced to be as what the girl called it, “sex slaves”. Kaylee rolled her legs out from under her, and pulled them to her chest.
Everyone jumped, as Zaer spoke up, her eyes looking to Reyelle for the answer. “So how often does he bring in new girls, or open the door? I bet we’d be able to push our way out.” She said confidently, there was no doubt she probably could too - provided there was only one person on the other side of the door.
Reyelle, who was sitting cross-legged with her elbows on her knees, and her chin in her hands, pushed a strand of her dark hair away from her face. “I don’t know, sometimes he will bring in four or five a day, and other days, he won’t bring any. And if a man wants to pay for us…he’ll open the door to bring us out, and there’s usually a guy wanting somebody every night.” She explained.
The girl rested her chin in her hand, thoughtfully. “So you’re saying there should be someone here tonight?”
“Yeah...unless he brings somebody in earlier.” Reyelle answered. “Did you think up a way to get out?”
“It’s really simple actually. I’m surprised none of you have escaped, or even thought about it-“
“Hey, I never said we hadn’t tried. We’re just not strong enough.” Reyelle defended the group sitting against the wall.
“Ok, ok, here’s what we’re going to do.” Zaer just took charge like it was the most natural thing in world to her - and it probably was - and like sheep, the obediently did as she told. “When he opens the door, I’m going to be the first one there, I’ll pull the door wide, and you all will run through. You’d better run fast too. Run out the exit, and find the most crowded street you can. I think if you go straight down the street, it runs next to the main street of this city - at least that’s what it sounded like when I was comin’ in here.” She paused, staring at the windows, where there was still bright daylight streaming through, it must have been around midday. “If he tries to stop you, kick, hit, punch, bite, do anything to make him let go. I’ll be the last one out, and I’ll try to knock him out, so he can’t follow. Find your house, a friend’s house, anywhere that you can stay until tomorrow as quick as possible, and stay there.”
Kaylee swallowed when she said that, she was going to the Palace, and certainly not back toward her house. She didn’t say anything though, she knew she would only be kept back.
Mary raised a hand partially, voicing a question with her accented voice.. “What about the other man that will be with? What if he tries to stop us?”
“Do the same thing, I don’t think he’ll be much of a problem though…He’ll be too scared.” She cracked a grin, “I bet if we came out yelling and screaming, he’d scare off like a cat.” She actually managed to laugh, and it echoed strangely in the small room, the thick walls quickly swallowing it up and returning it with an uncomfortable silence.
Zaer obviously moved fast, from getting in the room, to having a plan to get out within about a half hour. She sighed, and leaned back against the wall, closing her eyes. Leaning her head forward after about a minute, she said, “Can everyone do that?” She asked, finally allowing them to put in their opinions.
Kaylee and the other five nodded, seeing nothing else that they could do. The girl would probably defend her plan of action and make them follow it even if they didn’t want to.
Zaer lay down on the hard floor, flat on her back, stretching out her legs, and catching her feet in a small niche in the wall., not minding the fact that the dress she wore slid down to her knees, to reveal muscular legs. She put her hands behind her head, and said, “I don’t know about you all, but I’m going to sleep. Wake me up when it starts to get dark.” Then, to all appearances, fell asleep.
Kaylee locked eyes with Mary, who raised her eyebrows, and hid a smile behind a slim hand. The honey-haired girl slid over next to Kaylee, her fair skin making Kaylee’s look dark. She whispered, with a glance to see that she didn’t wake the sleeping girl, to Kaylee. “So what part of town are you going to?” She asked, green eyes looking to Kaylee’s dark coffee-brown ones.
Kaylee shook her head, “I’m not going home.” She said softly, looking down.
“You’re not - but then where are you going to go?” Mary asked, settling more comfortably down on the ground.
Kaylee clutched her arms tighter around her legs, looking up to meet the pale’s beauty’s stare. “The Palace.” She replied, even softer than before.
“Oh, my…why ever would you go there?” Mary continued to question, and Kaylee found herself confiding in Mary the whole story.
Mary smiled when she was done, sighing wistfully. “I wish I had a prince to want me like that. You’re so lucky!” She smiled again. “Only my sister is like that…she’s married to Prince Kahdar, I wonder if you saw her at the dance, she doesn’t look a bit like me, except for the green eyes.”
Kaylee gasped, “Did she do a dance, all alone?” She asked her eager to know.
“Yeah, it was a bit racy if you ask me. But then, she’s always been one to walk on the wild side.” She said as an afterthought. “Did you see her?”
“I did! I sat next to her at the table we ate at! She was a really good dancer.” Kaylee told her, “Every male at the dance wanted to talk to her after her performance. They wouldn’t stay away from her. You two don’t look much like sisters though.” Kaylee told her, wondering if she would explain that.
“Oh, we’re only half-sisters, but I’ve known her since I was born and we grew up together. Once she was married though, it seems like she completely forgot about our family.” Mary said almost bitterly. “She doesn’t even talk to us anymore.”
“I’m sorry…” Kaylee replied quietly. She knew how it felt to loose a family member, her father hadn’t been heard of since he left her mother, 16 years ago when Kaylee had been born. Kaylee looked down, unsure of what to say, but Mary filled the silent void
br.
“I think I’m going to try and get some sleep then…I’m getting tired. It’s probably only about two hours until sundown anyway.” Mary told her, laying down on her side facing the wall, pillowing her head on her arms. Within five minutes, she was breathing deeply, and Kaylee was sure she had fallen asleep.
Kaylee had dozed off, in minutes, leaning her back against a wall. She arose to somebody shaking her shoulder, whispering for her not to shout out. She blinked the sleep from her eyes, realizing it had grown dark outside the windows, and the room was little more than shadows. Reyelle’s luminous skin shone in the half-light, and the Zaer was but a shadow, as she crouched near the door.
Mary’s pale face came next to Kaylee’s as she said, “They think he’ll come soon, Zaer said that she heard him talking about leaving or something. Some ‘”job”.” Mary told her. “Be ready to run.” She turned and went back to near where Reyelle was behind Zaer.
There was a thump outside the door, and everyone twitched, growing tense, and Zaer’s voice whispered, “Don’t look back. Run as fast as you can.” And she set her hands on the side of the door.
Both the man’s surprise, all the girl’s yells, and Zaer’s strength contributed to the fact that the door was wrenched open, revealing the astonished man almost falling over as the seven of them streamed past him. He immediately recovered, and attempted to pull the door shut, yelling curses at them, but Zaer had managed to grab hold of his arm and wouldn’t let go.
“Go! Run!” She yelled to them, shoving the man into the room as best she could, her feet stepping on his, attempting to trip him, her other hand punching his face.
Kaylee took off, glad to be wearing the loose breeches, they were easy to run in. She was the last out besides Zaer, but stumbled as she left the door, apparently it was down a level, and there was a small step. It was Zaer’s dark arm that grabbed her own in a vice-like grip, hauled her to her feet, and pushed her back, telling her to run. Kaylee set her feet into motion, following the rest of the fleeing girls toward the doorway, leaping over flights of steps. Finally, they reached the door, Zaer was already hot on their heels, urging them to run faster as they broke into the night air outside.
There was a man right outside the doorway, obviously waiting for one of the girls, and he grabbed Mary’s arm as she shot out the doorway, making her slim form swing around into him. None of the other girls stopped, and Kaylee barely had time to see the man’s face, but it gave her chills - it was the fruit seller who had given her directions, and the smile on his face was far from pleasant. She grunted as Zaer bumped into her from behind, the dark girl’s voice still telling her to run, and Kaylee immediately turned, seeing Zaer go after the man who held Mary with two fists punching any part of him they could reach, finally making him drop unconscious to the ground. She grabbed Mary’s arm and Kaylee’s hand as she passed her, pulling them with her toward the open street. Her strong legs pounded against the ground, and Kaylee wondered how she could run so fast so far. Kaylee’s own legs were about to start burning, but Zaer propelled her along nonetheless, her breath coming in pants.
People shouted as the pushed past them, elbowing them out of their way, but Zaer’s momentum carried them most of the way through the crowd before they could stop. Zaer was breathing hard from the fighting and sprinting, and she leaned over with her hands on her knees as soon as they were in the middle of the crowded street. She looked up, her dark eyes filled with tired relief. “Go, find your homes, good fortune go with you, and next time, watch out in dark alleys,” She truly smiled at them this time, filling her beautiful face with gratitude and embraced them both briefly, before turned, and half jogging down the street, careful to stay out of shadows, her head turning this way and that watching out for herself.
Kaylee turned toward Mary, breathless with relief and weariness. “I guess I should say goodbye, I still have to find my way to the Palace.” Kaylee told her, turning to go, but Mary’s words stopped her.
“Come home with me, there’s no telling where those men are, they might find you again. My family will keep you for a night I’m sure.” Mary told her.
Kaylee could do little but give her a smile of gratitude, and follow her down the street.
Her house wasn’t that far away, only two blocks, and it was above a shop, as Kaylee’s house was, though Mary’s apartment was much more spacious.
Following her up the steps, all the European influences that had been added on the place overwhelmed her. A railing on the stairway, ornate handles on the doors, pictures on the walls, all were foreign to her, and made her feel a bit out of place. Mary opened the door, and Kaylee stood a bit back, as the perfectly English accented voices flowed out.
“Mary…? Oh, my darling! Mary!” A woman’s voice broke, and began to cry, while a man’s voice broke through.
“Mary! How - where…” He seemed at a loss of what to say, and Kaylee peered around the doorframe to watch.
A blonde woman was hugging Mary to her perfumed European clothes, attempting to blot her teary face with a handkerchief. The father, a dark haired, dark skinned man - quite the opposite of his wife - hugged her from the other side. It was Mary who finally broke the hug apart, pulling her mother to the door, motioning for Kaylee to step in the room.
“Mother, this is Kaylee…Kaylee, this is my mother, Elizabeth, and my father, Elijah. Mother, she was kidnapped with me. We escaped together. She had to go all the way to the Palace, and I told her to come here. She wouldn’t dare walk the distance in this dark.” Mary explained to her mother, who gave Kaylee a warm smile, and wrapped an arm over her shoulder. Kaylee shrunk in on herself, feeling uncomfortable, but the woman’s words were welcoming and kind.
“Indeed, please, welcome to our home. Kaylee, you said your name was?” The lady asked.
Kaylee nodded silently.
“Well, you two must be hungry, come, eat some food, and tell us what happened to you.” Mary’s father told them, ushering them all into the kitchen.
Kaylee floated through that night, not really a part of it, listening and nodding at the correct times, but not taking part in anything. The food was strange, and heavy to her, so she only at a little of what she was served, despite their urges for her to eat more. She listened to Mary recounting her adventure to her mother, and then followed Mary to her bedroom, where she was given an extra set of blankets, and nightgown to sleep in.
The next morning, she woke up quite early despite being dead tired from the day before. Nobody else in the house was awake, and Kaylee didn’t want to disturb them, so she silently rose from her pallet on the floor, and dressed, folding the nightgown and blankets properly and leaving them by the wall.
Soft motes of dust danced in the rays of sun that leaked though the window above Mary’s bed, catching her tawny hair spread out behind her, and turning it to gold. The room was small, with just a bed, beaureau, and wash stand, but they were all of good quality, and the place was clean. Kaylee was about to leave, when a thought occurred to her.
She glanced to Mary’s sleeping figure, curled up under the blankets on her bed, and rummaged around as quietly as she could in the small nightstand drawer. Finally, she found what she had been looking for - paper and something to write with - she quickly wrote a thank you to Mary, and her parents, and as she wrote the last line, she had the urge to scratch it out as she reread it. Don’t worry, I will try and talk to your sister. She swallowed, and folded the paper in half, and left it on the table.
She quickly stole out of the small house, and stepped out into the market street, which was already flooded in morning sunlight. Everything had been dipped in gold, since the street ran from east to west, and there was already a scramble of people out, trying to sell their wares, set up their stalls, and make their way through the street.
Kaylee pushed her way through, as fast as possible, going east, toward the Palace as best she could, trying to stay on main roads, and away from alleys and little-used streets. The incident from yesterday was still strong on her mind.
About an hour and half later, the tall golden spires of the Palace rose to dominate the sky, and Kaylee easily found her way from there. Soon, she was in front of the Palace, staring at the magnificent, pale walls, ornate decoration, and beauty beyond imagining of the place. Turned her head left and right, she looked for the stables. She saw men leading the horses toward the left, so she followed them, and found herself standing in the arched entrance to the stable yard, its gates wide open.
The stable yard was clean, and shimmering horses stood everywhere, each perfect and expensive. Men shouted and lead horses here and there, some coming back swaety from exercise and ready to be given baths, some led out to be ridden. Kaylee stepped in the yard, and was immediately confronted by a burly, slightly pudgy man who had a riding crop stuck in his boot. He had dark hair, and rough leather-like tan skin, where it wasn’t covered by coarse beard and mustache. His voice was gruff, and his small black eyes hard under their thick eyebrows. “What’dya want?” He looked her up and down not caring about politeness. He spat in dirt next to his boot.
“A job, sir. I’m a groom,” she told him, nervously folding her hands behind her back.
“A job?” He scoffed, laughing in her face. “Why, a horse’d soon as knock you over. Naw, go get your daddy to apprentice you to some quiet profession, pretty boy.” He turned away, still laughing.
Kaylee bristled. Throwing caution to the wind, she retorted, half-yelling. “I bet I can handle any horse in this place! Any!” She stood there; legs braced, fists at her side, eyes burning.
The hostler turned, surprise in his features, but then he grinned and chuckled again. “Alright then, pretty boy, I propose you this deal: I give you a horse, you be able to ride it easily within fifteen minutes. If you can, you can work; if you can’t, you leave. And if you get hurt, it’s not my problem.” His small dark eyes scrutinized her.
“Deal.” She said squarely, trying to keep her nerves down. The man clapped, and there was a scream.
A pounding was heard at the barn door, and a stallion’s high-pitched sound echoed through the yard. Kaylee gulped, wondering what she had gotten herself into.
Two men appeared, each holding a rope on either side of the beast’s halter, and in a clatter of hooves he appeared, head high and defiant. The ropes were quickly unclipped, and Kaylee found herself in a suddenly deserted stable yard, facing the unhappy stallion. The other grooms and men had taken their horses, and stood behind the walls, and fences watching.
By the looks of the stallion, they had attempted to work him, but had only succeeded in agitating him even more. He was big, and black, and somehow familiar. His delicate ears were back on his head, and when he rose on his hinds to slash at her with his hooves as Kaylee approached, she knew him - Prophecy. His lightly feathered ankles hit the ground with a dull thud, as Kaylee extended her hand palm up for him. He snorted, lifting a little on his hind legs, and backing up a step, before tentatively extending his neck to sniff at her palm, his wide, partially white eyes watching her face, ears flickering undecided back and forth.
Kaylee murmured incomprehensible words, and his ears pricked to listen. She slowly raised her hand to touch his forehead, barely feeling the soft hair between his wide-set eyes. Precious seconds ticked by, until she was able to step closer to him, and run a hand down his strong arched neck. He even had the nerve to bang into her arm with his muzzle, snorting softly, rolling his eyes back to watch her.
Ten minutes.
Kaylee’s hands went back to his face, and she gently tugged on his forelock, bringing him toward a fence. He mumbled at her, but went with her, standing still next to it as Kaylee stepped on the bottom rung, so she could reach his back. Steadying him with a hand, she wrapped her other hand in his mane, and slid over onto his back.
As soon as she made contact with it, he started and took off. Her hand caught in his mane as she slid sideways off him, making him drag her a few feet before her hand came loose where she skidded a few feet in the hard dirt. She tasted the grit, as she slowly got up, spitting it out. The males sitting on the fence were laughing and she could hear some of them placing bets to see what would happen to her.
She growled to herself, flushing, and went over to the stallion, who more readily accepted her this time. She once more led him by forelock to the fence.
Six minutes.
This time, when she got on the fence, she pressed her hands down on his back, and quickly released them when he shifted his weight, preparing to take off. She crooned to him, rubbing his neck with her hands to calm him and tried again, and again moving each time he shifted to run.
Three minutes.
She knew she had little time left, so she quickly slid one leg over his back, her leg muscles screaming with the effort to not lean on him completely. Finally, she gently let her weight fall onto him, leaning forward over his neck to help her balance as he took off at a rocky trot, swerving every so often. Clinging to him, she attempted not to slide off, and called soft words to him. Rubbing a hand along his neck, she finally got him to slow to a fast walk, and then stop.
The clock stopped ticking, and the hostler walked out of the barn, arms crossed over his chest. He didn’t look very happy at having just been proven wrong. “Ok, so you can have a job.” Were his curt words.
He jabbed a finger toward the stallion, who backed up a pace, ears flat on his head. “He’s your first subject. Groom and water him. Then go get a key, and clothes. You have the day to set up your room, and get the things you need from your house. You start tomorrow.” He turned, and left, his boots making loud clunking noises on the hard floor in the barn.
Kaylee, slid a leg over his back, and rubbed Prophecy’s neck, praising him for being good. The two men who had led the stallion out threw the halter to her, wordlessly, before leaving. Kaylee picked up the halter, and gently put it over the stallion’s head, and led him into the cool interior of the barn.
The barn was by no doubt the best in the city. Its walls were of the highest quality sandstone and wood and cement, all the metals touched with either gold or silver lacquer, and its sweet smell of hay and clean horses was almost pleasing to the nose. There must have been over a hundred stalls, a third of the barn dedicated to mares, another to stallions, and one to geldings, in the middle - and that was only part. There was a whole other corridor of the barn for boarding horses to stay in.
His stall was obvious, one of the best in the stallion third of the barn, with a plaque proclaiming his name to everybody and varnished with gold on the door. She rolled the door wide, and led him in, and removed the halter from his perfect head. He snorted when she shut the door and shook his head as if riding himself of the feeling of the confining straps. She smiled and opened the crate outside his stall, finding grooming utensils, and another halter, and other such extras that a horse would need.
Picking out the appropriate brush, she opened his stall back up, to see him standing in the back, eyes flashing as if saying, “Don’t you dare step in here.” His head lowered slightly on its muscular neck.
Kaylee paused, and shushed him, holding out the hand with the brush for him to see, not yet stepping in his stall. He snorted, and reached his nose out to touch the brush. Once his eyes were distracted by it, Kaylee took a silent step in the stall. His dark eyes went back to her face, and he allowed himself to relax a touch, and allow her close enough to begin running the brush over his silken black-opal hide. Soon enough, he was calm and Kaylee moved around him to brush his face. He mumbled in horse language to her, half closing his eyes. Obviously that was his weak point.
Suddenly, Prophecy jerked his head up, and gave a shrill neigh. Kaylee jumped back, expecting him to turn mean again, but surprisingly, the horse’s ears were pricked, and his features almost happy. Kaylee jumped again, when a voice forced it way into the stall.
“Who is touching my horse? I do not know you, and only I assign the grooms for my horse.” The accented voice was strong and commanding, and Kaylee shrunk back against the wood paneled walls. The latch opened, the door rolled back, and a pair of hands - the color of warm brown sugar - took in the eager nose searching them, and caressed the nose with a gentle touch. The prince stepped fully into the stall - whose space had not yet become crowded - and turned to look at her.
He was the same, wearing rich clothes, no shoes, and no jewelry but managing to look important. His voice once more ordered her. “Who are you-” He stopped his words in mid-speech, blinking and looking harder at her. “Kaylee?” His voice went down a notch lower to a whisper. “What are you doing here? How in the heck did you get into the Palace? Why-“
She stopped him in mid-sentence with her soft voice. “You said to at least try. You’d not believe what I went through to get here, but I’m here. Now what?” She asked him, looking up at him. His eyes were wide, his mouth still partially open. She smiled, and reached up a hand to push his jaw together.
He grabbed her hand as she dropped it, looking down at it. “I don’t know…I’m scheduled to be married today! At sunset! There’s no possible way we could get away. What if we don’t find away out? Oh! I don’t know anymore…” He said miserably, looking down at the straw.
“We’ll figure something out, leave it to me…if that is, you still want to try?” She asked him, frowning. At the dance he had been so excited, so intrigued by the few lines that hooked their fates together, and now he was willing to drop it in a heartbeat. It just didn’t make sense to her. There was a sound of loud footsteps outside in the barn.
Kai glanced out through the bars topping the stalls, before quickly bending down below where the paneled wall was whispering fast. “Ok…Send me word of where in the Palace you are, and I’ll try and find you, if I haven’t sent you anything by two, come to my room. It’s-” He looked up and dropped her hand like it was a hot coal, as somebody cleared their throat outside, his eyes wide.
“Excuse me, did you need help?” It was the hostler.
Kai straightened up, and Kaylee suddenly felt his coldness, his air of authority over the other apparent. “I was instructing this groom how to care for my horse. And now we need to discuss how often his groom changes, apparently I am not involved…?” He stepped out of the stall, and began to step down the aisle, stopping when the man didn’t come with him. He looked back, as if impatient. “Master Jaahl?”
Jaahl’s eyes snaked toward Kaylee, who was looking toward Kai, before he turned back to the prince, and gave a short bow, hurrying after him, already spluttering out words in explanation.
“Whoa, whoa!” Kaylee said, holding out an arm to stop the stallion from exiting the stall to go after Kai. He snorted in rebuke, but backed up a pace. Kaylee herself gave him a last rub on the nose, and left the stall. She put the brush back away in the crate and checked to see if his water bucket was full. Lucky enough, it was, and she was free to find the way to the Palace from the stables.
Bumping into a groom as she turned the corner, she was almost surprised when he let out a mumbled, “Excuse me.”
“It’s ok…” Kaylee replied, before she remembered to ask him. “Where do you get a key to you room? I’m new here…” She explained herself, looking up to see his face.
He had a long thin face, surrounded by ear-lobe length black hair, and dark eyes. He was lanky, and seemed about six and a half feet tall. There was an easy, no-hurry way about him as he replied. “Go t’ the laundry room, and th’ lady in charge there’ll find you a room.” He told her, with a simple smile, before hoisting the bucket more comfortably in his hand, and disappearing into the barn.
Kaylee half-smiled to herself, before continuing on through the courtyard to the Palace, wiping her brow. The sun was hot and it was just past midday, for the first time, she was almost glad her hair was gone. The barley felt breeze that usually just danced around her face now cooled her neck, and enshrouded her before leaving.
The servant’s entrance wasn’t very hard to find, and from her experiences at the Palace with her mother, once she got her bearings, she was able to find the laundry room with a little more ease. The laundry room was in a secluded hall, and as she went down the hall, it got hotter and hotter. Finally, she found the door marked “Laundry” and when she opened it, a wave of heat, and stream poured out the top. Kaylee coughed, blinking.
She could feel the sweat begin to bead on her forehead, and she wiped it away, searching for somebody. A woman walked by, and gave her a strange look, but paused when Kaylee raised her hand a bit, in question.
The lady was robust, and motherly, with sweaty olive skin, and thick dark hair tied in a bun. She had a mole on her cheek below the outside of her eye, and when she smiled, it stuck out as her cheek wrinkled. “What can I do for ya lad?” She asked, planting that overbearing smile on her face, and wiping her moist hands on her uniform, leaving darker streaks.
Kaylee backed into the door, as she lady spoke, a bit unnerved. The lady’s use of the word ‘lad’ confirmed her a boy, but she was at a loss of words for a moment, before she managed to stutter out, “I…I need a…a room…” She put her hands behind her and swallowed as the lady bent her head toward her, and clapped her on the shoulder.
“No need to be afraid lad, stand up straight now, I’ll go get the mistress, and she’ll give you your key.” The large lady clapped her once more on the shoulder, before disappearing in the thick steam.
Kaylee stood motionless by the door, waiting until she could escape back into the cooler hallway. It was about five minutes, before another large form came through the steam carrying a book under one arm. This lady was solid, probably couldn’t see her feet, and her eyes stared down anyone who came in her line of vision. Her voice was harsh when she spoke.
“Boy, you the one be wantin’ the key?” She peered at Kaylee, scrutinizing her.
Kaylee looked at the floor. “Yes’m.” She said to her feet.
“Boy! Lookit me when you talk! You kin read right?” The lady’s breath was overwhelming and Kaylee had the urge to gag. Swallowing, she looked into the lady’s face, and nodded. “Alright, here’s your book. Map, etiquette, it’s all in there. Read it. You’re key’s in the front.” She shoved the book in Kaylee’s chest, and grunted. “Guess you’ll be needin’ a uniform too. Wait here - gotta see if I kin find one small enough.” She disappeared laughing.
Kaylee frowned, watching her go.
“Excuse me!” A voice protruded through the back round, and Kaylee had barely jumped aside, when somebody pushed a wheeled cart through the door and left it by the doorway, bustling into the interior of the laundry room. Kaylee peered into the cart, and found it full unfolded servant’s uniforms. An idea popped into her head, and dug cart for the smallest uniform, which upon finding, stuffed under her shirt and smoothed it out as much as she could.
A cough behind her made her whirl around, but the solid lady was just standing there, holding out a pile of clothes. “Wear ‘em, don’t tear ‘em, bring ‘em back on Sunday for wash.” She abruptly turned, and left Kaylee standing there.
Kaylee sighed a breath of relief and hugged the clothes close to her, so the ones underneath her shirt wouldn’t fall out as she walked back to her room through the immaculate halls. Of course, the woman had put her in the men’s apartments, and Kaylee felt a bit out of place, as she walked down the hall, searching for number eighty-two. It was around a few corners, but when Kaylee unlocked the door, she found a serviceable room - not that she planned on staying there long.
It was empty of little decoration except a wooden bed, desk and bureau. She dumped the pile of clothes on the bed after closing the door, and took out the small servant’s manual the laundress had given her. She would have sent Kai her room number, but two thoughts entered her mind, which made her decide against. It was almost one thirty, and he wouldn’t be allowed in the servant’s hall anyway.
She found the proper dress, which for stables was very basic - Palace uniform and dark boots, and the etiquette, which was also basic for stable hands, be polite, and do as you’re told. The etiquette for Palace servants however, was a bit more involved, and Kaylee merely skimmed it before tossing the book down to change her clothes.
The uniform was stiff, pale gray, with ghostly white trim and fit none too comfortably at first. She washed her face and hands in the small washstand that she found in a corner of her room, and looked down at herself, with a raised eyebrow. She didn’t think she could ever work in the Palace, if they had to wear that everyday.
She found a common room, where males and females were allowed to congregate, and paused at a chair, as words caught her ears. Two women were talking.
“Oh, the dress is so beautiful! Have you seen it?” One voice said.
“I know! I can’t believe she’s finally getting married…I wonder what her family thinks.” A woman replied.
Kaylee turned, and was at the doorway, when another group of voices sparked into her ears.
“Are you going?”
“Yes. I wouldn’t miss it. I heard it was post-poned though…?” A voice questioned.
“I heard that too. It’s supposed to be around five now, instead of four. Did you hear that the prince wanted to leave on horses? I heard the soon-to-be princess was interested in that, but with the devil the prince rides, there’s no way.”
Kaylee left the room, finding refuge in a small corner for a moment to think. She had to stop the wedding or else get away with out anyone the wiser. Cramming her head in her hands, she closed her eyes to think better.
The first thing that popped into her mind was fire, but one glance around told her that the place would burn fast, with all the layers of materials everywhere. She didn’t want to be a murderer. Destroy the dress, all the clothes, and the room? She shook her head again, they would just have it anyway, there were enough rooms in the Palace that they could just shift it somewhere else, and nobody would know. She scowled to herself, and stood up. She wasn’t getting anywhere, and she needed to find the Kai.
Once she had stolen her way out into the hallway again, she found her way to the main hallway, and made her way to the guest quarters. It took almost fifteen minutes to get there, considering it was on the completely opposite end of the Palace. Finally though, she reached it. They only had about six guest apartments, and she wasn’t sure which one was Kai’s, so she started at the beginning, and softly knocked on the door, keeping her eyes down, as a servant should.
She heard the door open, but before she had a chance to say anything, a cool voice said, “Please, come in.” It faded away, to the interior of the room, and Kaylee stepped in, daring herself to look up.
“You!” She blurted out, not meaning to. “But…how?” She kept going.
The old woman smiled, ageless face serene. “Forgetting servant etiquette are we dear?” She asked, eyes twinkling.
Kaylee blushed, and immediately tore her eyes from the woman’s face and stared at the carpet. “Sorry ma’m, but how did you know?” She kept her voice low.
“I know many things.” The woman replied, her coffee skin glowing as the light shone on it. “Most things are dreams, and wants, but sometimes, a thing will come to me, and I know it is true, even though it is not my own thought. I know this because I look.” She motioned Kaylee over to a table, “When I look, ah, see? It reveals itself because it knows you.”
A pale, almost white leather book lay open on the table, settled magnificently on cloths of silk and velvet. It was the Book of Prophecy that Kai had read to her out of at the dance. The pages were open to his prophecy, which covered one page.
The woman spoke again, “Flip, to any page you wish, and you will see why this prophecy is true, why this one has held on, and is willing to wait for its tasks to be completed.” She said, her dark, unreadable eyes watching Kaylee.
Kaylee, unnerved by the stare, picked up a page and turned it, to find nothing, and the next page, nothing, and the next, and next. Finally, she skimmed through the whole back half of the book, and found nothing. Blank, pale, and smelling of oriental preserving scents, the pages ominously flipped. And the front as well, blank, not a thing written upon them.
“But…why?” Kaylee asked, “Why are they blank? Even I know there have been prophecies before this one.” She flipped back to the prophecy, its curled, perfect writing stark on the page.
“Because it is true.” The woman told Kaylee, her voice powerful, full of wisdom. “It will work, and it is true. Now, you must go. Three doors down.” She took Kaylee’s upper arm in a surprisingly strong grip, and ushered her to the door, pushing her into the hallway, she shut the door behind the astonished girl.
Kaylee stood a moment, dumbfounded, before what the woman had said sank in. Three down. Suddenly, the excitement that had filled Kai half a year ago, hit her, and why he had believed it so much. It was their prophecy, and it would be fulfilled. She hurried to his door, and didn’t even bother to knock, just pushed it open.
Kai jumped, pulling a blanket over whatever had been by his feet, and stepped in front of it, eyes at first hard, but then, seeing it was her, let out his breath, and almost fell onto the bed next to him.
His rooms were spacious, with a king-size feather bed, heaped with pillows and blankets of rich, silk material. Gilded mirrors, and picture frames were hung on the wall. The floor had the finest carpet, thick and plush, and Kaylee could feel her feet sink into as she walked across it, after shutting the door.
She looked over at him, eyebrows creasing. She sat down on the bed next to him, scooting back so she could cross her feet beside her. “What’s wrong?” She asked him, he looked upset.
He shook his head, “Nothing…what are you wearing?” His strong hand touched a sleeve of the servant’s outfit.
“Servant uniform…don’t you ever see them?” She replied, her eyes staring at the blanket beneath her.
“No…they don’t usually come out in the day, they’re confined to the servant’s halls during the day, and they clean at night.” He explained. “You’d better not get caught…” He cautioned her, his eyes staring at the top of her head. “I can’t believe you did that to your hair…” He added, fingering a lock of the almost black hair.
“I had too…they wouldn’t hire a girl here. Especially in the stables.” She said, looking up at him. “It’ll grow back anyway.” She shrugged; it wasn’t that much of a loss to her. She had didn’t hate her hair, but then, neither did she love it, especially during the hot months of summer. “I saw the lady again, the one who keeps the book…I accidentally walked into her room. I understand it now…” She said the last part of her words softly, looking over at him.
He leaned back on his hands, and his eyes found the ceiling, before he looked out of the corner of his eyes at her. “It’s unnerving isn’t it?” He said, shifting backwards on the bed.
She nodded silently, and her eyes found his, but his didn’t see her. Their dark almond depths were lost in thought, and it was only her voice that brought him back to reality. “So how are we going to get out of here?” She asked, she might as well get to the point; they didn’t have all the time in the world.
He shrugged, pushing the hair that dropped down over her forehead back, leaving it parted to each side of his face. “I don’t know…my parents told me, when the prophecy first appeared to the woman, that if I ever found her, before my seventeenth birthday, I would be allowed to marry her, regardless of race, age, or class. That’s why I was so excited when I found you, my parents control almost everything in my life, and I had the chance to prove to them I could do something worthwhile…But you turned me down, and nobody else ever showed up, and so they chose for me this girl. Her name is Leila, she’s nice, but she’s not somebody you can spend more than ten minutes with without wanting to tear your hair out.” He shook his head, causing his hair to fall down again, but he didn’t bother to move it this time. But anyway, we need to get out of here soon…or find a way to stop it. They moved the wedding back, but the servants will be here soon to help me get ready.” He told her.
“That’s an idea…leaving. What if we ran away?” Kaylee asked him thoughtfully.
“We’d have to go fast, the guards at the Palace have spies in the city and at the gates. They’d spy me in a minute.” He told her.
An idea came to her, and she spoke before she knew what she was saying. “The horses. You said you wanted to leave on horses, remember? You could go for a ride…to…get rid of pre-wedding nerves or something. Couldn’t you get outside the city walls that way?” She asked him, leaning on an arm.
He nodded thoughtfully. “I bet I could - but..dammit.” He frowned, biting his bottom lip. “They won’t let me out without an escort….” His eyes sought out hers. “Who can we trust enough that wouldn’t tell?”
Her lips curved up in a grin. “How about the only stable boy your horse will let near him?”
He did the most unexpected thing, taking her face in his hands and giving her a quick kiss on the lips. “You’re a genius! No wonder you’re the other half of the prophecy!” He stood up off the bed, “Come on, no better time than the present.” He bent down, and picked up what had been under the blanket - a small pack, and slung it over a shoulder. He held out a hand to Kaylee.
She took it, and stood up, straightening her uniform, before he opened the door, sticking his head into the hallway to make sure no one was coming. He motioned her out in front of him. She slipped out into the hall, and waited for him to shut the door, before following, just a step behind, eyes downcast, steps quiet, as a servant should. They had gotten out of the guest quarters, and were crossing a threshold, when a quiet voice stopped them.
“Excuse me?” The person stepped closer as they turned around. It was another serving woman, and on her breast was a small silver star, denoting her one of the overseers. She had her brown hair pulled tight into a bun, and severe makeup outlining her eyes. “Excuse me, but servants aren’t supposed to be here during the day.” She took Kaylee’s arm in an unbreakable grip hissing to her, “You should know that!”
The lady pulled Kaylee a pace away, ducking a bow to the prince, “We’ll just be going then…excuse us.”
Kaylee gave Kai a desperate look, attempting to jerk her arm away from the woman. Kai cleared his throat, and gathered himself, “Excuse me. I requested for her to help me. She cannot very well do that, if you don’t let her go.”
Kaylee closed her eyes. She wasn’t playing a boy for nothing! The woman hold her arm gave her a raised eyebrow, and tightened her grip on Kaylee’s arm, her nails beginning to dig in. “Her?” she questioned Kai, who blinked, looking between them, then recovered faster than Kaylee thought he would.
Kai raised his eye brows, becoming the dignified royal prince he really was. “I did not say such a thing.”
“You did sir, you said she, and her.” The woman persisted, taking a step back, and pulling Kaylee with her.
“You dare say I said otherwise? Excuse me, I requested a servant’s help. Whether you disgrace your position anymore or not is up to you, but I need that servant now, and you will let me have him.” Kai stared down his nose at the lady, who finally shrunk back, and shoved Kaylee over toward him, watching him.
“Here.” The prince shoved the pack into Kaylee, making her take a step back, and abruptly turned, stalking off. His stride was so long Kaylee had to trot to keep up with him.
They were finally past a few corners, and Kaylee was positive the lady hadn’t followed them, when she almost bumped into Kai. He had stopped, to lean his head back against a wall, and ran his hand through the thick hair, sighing. He glanced down at her, and rolled his eyes. “I hate doing that. It’s so stupid. Why should being a prince give me any reason to get away with lying?” He glanced at his hands, and then to the pack Kaylee carried. “I didn’t hurt you…did I? I didn’t mean to shove it that hard, I was just angry.”
Kaylee shook her head, “No…we should probably go, before someone else stops us though…” She suggested. “Oh. Wait. I have to talk to the princess…” She looked up at him, predicting his confused look.
“The princess? Since when do you ever know her?” Her asked, crossing his arms across his chest and raising an eyebrow.
She looked at the floor, “I don’t..” She admitted.
“Then why do you need to talk-”
“I know her sister.” Kaylee cut him off. “Her sister asked me to talk to her if I could. I need to, for her sake.” She tried to explain. “I’ll understand if I can’t, but it’s just something I need to do.”
He blew out his breath, “I’ll take you to their rooms…I can’t guarantee she’ll talk to you though.” He cautioned her. “And you’ll have to make it fast, you don’t even have twenty minutes to talk to her. Do you still want to go?” He asked her.
She nodded, a small thanks escaping her lips.
He turned, and came back the way they came, leading her through many hallways and corridors until Kaylee was lost and confused. They finally arrived at a pair of ordinary doors at the end of a long hallway. Kai knocked softly on them, and stood back, waiting for them to be opened. A minute later he turned to her, “I don’t think they’re in there…can we-” The door opened as he finished his sentence, and a woman stood there, the same one Kaylee had seen at the dance, except her green eyes were older, and a bit tired. She didn’t open the door all the way, but stood behind it, peering out. “Yes? Can I help you?” Her voice was soft, and an almost whisper.
Kaylee spoke up, surprising Kai. “I need to speak with you…” Kaylee wasn’t sure what to call her so she just trailed off, keeping her eyes respectfully to the floor.
“But I do not even know you?” It was a question that fell from her succulent lips. She stepped out from behind the door and shut it behind her. “He gets angry if you wake him during his nap.” She smiled behind her hand, and Kaylee looked up. The girl had stayed the same, except now there was a bulge in her stomach, obviously the heir to the kingdom. “What do you need to tell me?” Her green eyes penetrated Kaylee’s dark ones and made her look down.
“My name is Kaylee.” She saw the girl’s eyebrows crease in confusion, eyeing her clothing then her face. “I know your sister, Mary.”
The princess’s breath went in sharply, and she looked intently at Kaylee. “My sister? Oh, how is she? I’ve wanted to go see her so bad!” She sighed, putting a hand to her forehead.
“You have? Mary thinks you hate her, since you haven’t visited, or even written to her at all since you got married.” Kaylee tried not to sound too accusing, watching the other’s face.
The green eyes girl put her hands over her face, giving a soft moan. “Oh, I don’t hate her, I miss her so much! Once I became pregnant, they won’t let me leave the palace.” She explained. “I completely forgot about writing!” She clapped a hand to her forehead. “You must think me an idiot! Don’t worry though, I will write to her tonight, a very long letter.” She surprised Kaylee, by reaching foreward to give her a small hug. “You don’t know what a help you’ve been, thank you so much! I really must get back in now, farewell.” She smiled, and slipped her slim form back inside the doors and shut them softly.
He stood up from where he had been leaning against the wall, and blew out his breath, before looking to her, “Ok, let’s go to the stables before we run out of time.” He began walking again, this time at a normal rate. It wasn’t long before they reached the stables, and Kai stopped her again.
“I’ll wait here. They usually don’t let me ready my own horse.” He rolled his eyes, and she grinned at him.
“Another one of those ‘prince’ things, huh?” She joked, handing him the pack back, and walking into the stable yard.
She was halfway, through the cool barn interior, when somebody cleared their throat behind her. She turned her head, looking to see who it was, and saw Jaahl, giving her the oddest look. He looked about ready to say something, when she her hand flew to her mouth and she gasped out a small, “Oh!” She ran back down the aisle and the bewildered prince, straight to her small apartment. There was no point in trying to explain.
In her apartment, she ripped off her clothes, and picking out a groom’s uniform from the pile she had left earlier. The breeches were plain and serviceable grey material, but the cream colored linen shirt was emblazoned with the Palace seal. Grimacing, she put on her own shirt and that over top. The boots were her own, dusty leather ones, and her breeches she tucked under her arm.
She set the key in the middle of the bed, next to the clothes, and when she shut the door, left it opened a crack. They would find everything when they got curious enough. She dog-trotted back toward the stable, dropping her breeches with the prince’s pack at his feet as she went by, and entered the barn to be greeted by Jaahl’s unhappy face.
“What are you doing?” He whisper-yelled at her, “The prince is out there waiting for his horse! You’re the groom! Get in there!” He shoved her toward the stallion’s stall with final words, “At least you had the sense to dress decent this time!”
Kaylee shook her head to herself, opening the stallion’s stall. As usual, he was in the back, but with soft words and a gentle touch, he soon let her give him a quick grooming, and tack him up. She choose not the gilded and hand stitched saddle and bridle she had seen on him last time, but regular, dark leather ones used everyday by people. There was no use in standing out when you were trying to hide.
She led him out into the bright sunlit yard, feeling the soft breeze pick up her short tufts of hair. She stopped him at the prince’s side, and began to fasten the pack on the rear end of the saddle. She gave him a leg up, and stepped back a pace.
Kai gave her a formal, “Thank you.” She gave a small bow in return, as was required, and took another step back as Jaahl walked by, pausing to speak.
“Sir, it’s my orders not to let you out without an escort, you know that.” He sounded almost disappointed he had to remind him.
Kai turned in the saddle to look at him. “Why doesn’t my groom escort me then?” He suggested.
“Him?” Jaahl glared at Kaylee, “Sir, he’s lazy, you wouldn’t want him. Might I sug-“
The prince cut him off, “Sir, you would not hire a lazy groom for my horse, as I am well aware of, now, why don’t you go get him a good horse yourself. He will escort me.” He turned his head, his words final, and his eyes impatient as he waited for the horse for Kaylee.
Kaylee was just glad Kai had gotten the ‘him’ part right this time, but she didn’t miss the snide glare Jaahl placed in her direction. He gave the prince a curt bow and disappeared into the stall.
Minutes later, he came out leading a dainty chestnut mare. She was clean cut, and tossed her head when she stepped down the small step out of the barn with spirit. He handed Kaylee the reins, “Her name’s Spice.” Was all he told her, before leaving.
Kaylee smiled, turning to the mare and holding out hand for her to scent. The mare had a lopsided star splashed on her bright forehead, and Kaylee rubbed it, before mounting her. Kai was waiting by the stable yard exit, and surprisingly, Prophecy didn’t fight the mare, in fact, he gave a small neigh, before the prince turned him out to the city streets.
“My parents aren’t going to like this you know…” Kai turned to her after moments of silence, as they went down a random street headed in the general direction of the city gates.
Kaylee nodded a bit uneasily, she replied, “I know, I’m poor, we don’t even know each other…” She sighed, looking dejectedly down at her hands. She wasn’t sure about this whole thing anymore.
Kai frowned, glancing at her out of the corner of his eyes. “But that’s the excitement of it all, don’t you think? Don’t you dream anymore? You used to be so…bold.”
Kaylee blinked. “Bold? When I was kidnapped, and escaped, took the job, rode the beast you’re on, stole from the Palace, snuck to your room, and you just stood there?” Her voice had risen slightly. “Don’t tell me I don’t dream either. When you muck stalls ten hours a day, you have plenty of time to dream. Believe me, I even dreamed of you, and how we would ride off into the sunset to live happily ever after. But never, never did I dream it would be like this, stealing and lying, and cheating!” She half-yelled at him, making his stallion’s ears lay back, and her own mare’s stride to get jittery. She rubbed her hand down the mare’s mane, trying to calm herself as well as the horse. Kaylee was tired, and she knew it.
“I’m so-” Kai tried to speak.
“No, it’s my fault, I’m sorry. Forget I said anything. We need to find a place to hide or something. It’s getting too close to wedding time. They’re going to start looking for you.” Kaylee tried to keep her voice level.
Kai nodded, “You’re right, I know somewhere that we can go.” He moved his stallion into a trot, and Kaylee followed, winding her horse around people as they got in the way. Luckily the horses were surefooted, and not many people got bumped.
Kai stopped out side a modest looking stable, and was about to dismount, when Kaylee gave a disgusted sigh. “This won’t do. We can’t be recognized.” She turned her horse, giving him instructions to follow her.
She led him to her own apartment, leading the horses into the side yard beside the building. “Here, hold the horses while I go get a few things.”
She went through the carpenter’s shop, with nothing more than a wave to Freckle - obviously he thought she was Jahrahd. She went into her room, and took two plain cloaks, and a thick blanket from her bed. In the kitchen, she found a loaf of bread, and cheese. She took them, and wrapped them in a small case, and bundled it all together with the blanket. She took the Palace’s shirt off, and stuffed it into the bundle as well, leaving only her own linen shirt on. Once she got back out into the yard, she tied the pack to her saddle, and turned to Kai. “I hate to ask, but do you have any gold at all with you?”
He nodded silently, and handed her a small coin-filled pouch. She thanked him, and ran back inside with a two word explanation for him. “My mother.”
She set the bag down on the kitchen table, and pulled a charcoal out of the fire pit. Wiping away a tear that threatened the corner of her eye with wetness, she bent over to inscribe, “Love Kaylee” onto the wood of the table below the pouch. She threw the charcoal back in the pit, took a deep breath, and went outside.
One glance at the horses told her they would have to be changed. “We have to put dirt in them, burrs in their tails, they look to expensive.” She said, once she had explained to Kai why.
She herself bent to pick up sand from the yard, and began working it into her mare’s coat.
When they were done, she gave Kai one of the homely cloaks she had brought out, and told him to put it over his shoulders. They themselves had gotten sufficiently dirty just disguising the horses, and had no need to change.
Once more astride the horses, they left the yard, a dusty pair of people astride an older looking dun mare, and a grey touched stallion. She led him to the gates, and they were let through, proclaiming themselves just as travelers, and into the hot desert they went.
Kaylee pushed their horses into a trot, straight into the heart of the desert, following a randomly marked path only known by few. They rode for about an hour, until the horses were sweated, and they themselves cringed from the barest idea of walking. A small building came into view, and then a couple of palm trees, and then a spring.
It was a small oasis, with palm trees bent over the pond, and sparse grass shoots growing at its edges. A small shack-like building was next to it.
“This is it?” Kai asked her dismounting and looking around. “It’s not much.” He commented.
“Mm…” Kaylee said noncommittally, “But nobody’ll find us here.” She pulled the mare over and tied her to a tree, giving her slack to reach her head down to the grass. Kai did the same, and went to go look in the building while Kaylee untied the packs from the horses. She was bringing them into the building, when Kai reappeared with a deep pot, and a bucket.
They filled the bucket with water, and set it near the horses, and filled the pot to take back into the little hut. Inside, Kaylee found tinder, and flint and dried food that hadn’t spoiled yet. They brought the horse’s tack inside, so it wouldn’t rot in the sun, and then went back outside, and sat beneath the shade, companionable in their silence. Every so often, Kai’s hand would inch over, his fingers mingling with hers inch by inch, and he’s glance out of the corner of his eyes, and she couldn’t help but smile, flushing and looking down. Then he’d drop her hand, and a few minutes later, start it all over again.
The sun soon reached the Earth, and left its path marked boldly in the sky with red and oranges. Pinks and golds streaked near the horizon, magnificent in its beauty. A chill wind picked up, resettling sand where it lay, and pulling invitingly at their hair.
Kaylee shivered, and got up to go get the cloaks.
Too soon, they were forced inside the shack by the cold desert air. Kai managed to light a fire in the small fire pit, and Kaylee watched him from the corner of her eyes as she sat next to him. His large eyes were fathomless, dark spheres staring into nothing, his face sensitive and shadowed. He blinked only when small embers jumped near him.
Both were too tired to say much, and soon Kaylee found herself drifting to sleep. Kai shifted, so she could lean on his shoulder, and she mumbled incomprehensible thanks.
An hour of so later, she felt someone’s arm wrap around her, and a heavy woolen blanket enclose both of them with warmth. It had gotten dark, as the fire had gone out, and the moon could just be seen out the door. Kaylee turned in her sleep, pressing her face against his chest, scooting closer to his warmth, and sighing.
She was asleep, but somehow, the words punctured her dreams, and though she never repeated them to him, or he to her, they forever imprinted themselves on the two’s souls as they were spoken, and permanently bound their fated souls.
"And in the night you shall find her
Deep colors and exquisite metals her hue
One shall be the rich, while the one the poor
One a royal born and bred,
The other trying to escape her ways.
Find her, and she shall be yours
For it has been said."
Kai’s voice drifted into silence, the deep rumbling Kaylee felt in his chest soothed her shifting and she mumbled in her sleep, quieting as he held her closer, his words continuing.
“Find her and she shall be yours
For it has been said.
She will loose everything
And he even more,
But in the desert,
They won’t be known.”
Kai rested his head against hers, eyes closing in sleep, unconsciously pressing his lips softly against her smooth, short hair before falling asleep. Above the small hut, a crescent moon shone in the velvety sky, and stars danced alongside it pushing clouds away with the wind their dancing created. The air was hushed and silent, and the Earth still.
* * * * *
Somewhere, deep within the dark chambers of the Keeper of the Book in the Palace, a book’s pages became empty; the script so permanently engraved disappearing like a shooting star, to leave the page stark and blank. There was the soft whisper as pale pages flipped, and soft thump as the heavy leather cover closed, quite unaided. Ageless features turned into a smile, as if she knew what you could only wish to, her teeth bright against her black complexion. She stood, from where she had been sitting, and slowly began to ready herself for her own sleep, with a knowing glance at the Book. Tonight, dreams had come true, and tomorrow, a new dream would arise, ready to be believed in, and fulfilled.
* * * * *
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