Excerpt: Dream Trials 2

Copyright (C) 2010 by Kevin L. O'Brien

Day 9

Over the next three days, Eile and Sunny stuck to the same schedule. During the day, Eile would sit with Differel, while Sunny slept and Bettie cooked and cleaned. Sunny then took over at night while Eile and Bettie slept. Differel largely slept through the night, except for when she needed to urinate. During the day, she catnapped, but otherwise drank antibiotic tea interspersed with water, and for the first day broth, then after that soup. While feverish, Differel hardly passed any urine. Eile figured it was because she hadn't eaten anything, and sweated most of the water out of her. What little urine she did void was hardly enough to soak a tissue. Now that she was awake and drinking, however, she urinated frequently, but being too weak to get out of bed, Eile had to carry her to the cabinet to use the chamber pot. Otherwise, the days were quiet. Differel spoke very little, except to indicate when she was hungry or thirsty, or had to use the cabinet. Nonetheless, Eile found it interesting that during this time, she seemed a different person: more easygoing and friendly, more cooperative, with none of the arrogance and haughty aristocratic airs she had come to expect from her. She was still strong-willed, but not quite so stubborn. She even seemed somewhat uncertain of herself, even a little subdued, as if the whole experienced had overwhelmed her. Eile had read stories of brain injury patients who forgot every aspect of their former lives, and as they were being retrained, their true personalities, unhampered by a lifetime of learned behaviors, came to the fore. She decided that was what she was seeing in Differel.

Nonetheless, as she became more lucid, her old personality began to assert itself. Eile figured she had turned the corner when she woke up on the morning of the fourth day. She opened her eyes and squinted at Eile as she sat in a chair reading.

"Good morning," she said.

"Eile?" Differel asked. She reached out, picked up her glasses, and slipped them on.

"In the flesh. How're you feeling?"

Differel rolled over onto her back and looked around. "Where am I?"

"In our house, where else?"

"This isn't your home in Denver."

"Don'cha remember anything that's happened?"

Differel furrowed her brow and frowned as she concentrated. "I think . . . wasn't I injured?" And she lifted the sheet to look. Her eyes popped out and her jaw dropped when she saw herself.

"What the bloody hell is this?!" she shrieked as she clutched the sheet to her throat.

Eile started. "What, being naked? You were sick, feverish; you were sweatin' like a pig, and we had ta tend to yer wound. Yer clothes were a mess in any event —"

"What did you do with them?"

"We cut them off, including yer underwear. They were just about a total loss."

"What?! Get me some clothes!"

"No, you don't need 'em, yer still too sick ta go anywhere!"

"I said, get me some bloody clothes, now!"

"And I said no! So just calm down. What's the freakin' deal, anyways? Were all girls here."

"I want something to wear," she said through gritted teeth with a furious stare, "and I want it now!"

"Alright, alright, if it'll make ya happy! Geezus, but yer a pain when yer sick. Will a nightshirt do?"

"Yes."

"Fine, I'll go fetch one." And she stormed out of the room. Actually, they didn't have any nightshirts; she and Sunny slept naked, and used towels to cover up when not dressed. But Eile did have a caftan that she wore the first few times they came. She hadn't worn it in Dream-years, but it was the best she had.

When she came back, she found Differel sitting on the edge of the bed, trying to stand up.

"Hey! Get back in bed, ya butthead!"

Differel covered herself with the sheet. "Don't you use that language with me!"

Eile stormed in. "Tough bananas! Yer not gettin' out of bed until Sunny says you can."

"Sunny?! I want a doctor!"

"There are none, at least better than her. She saved yer friggin' life when the best physician in town nearly killed you! Personally, if you wanna commit suicide, I don't care, but we've all busted a gut tryin' ta save you, so the least you can do is show a little gratitude and a lot more cooperation! Got it?"

Differel glared at her, fuming, and Eile realized she really was uncomfortable and not just being prudish. She figured it was because she didn't like feeling vulnerable, or exposed, to people she considered to be servants.

Finally she looked away and said, "Very well. Give me the shirt and leave, I'll let you know when I've put it on."

Eile didn't like it, but she recognized Differel was trying. "Alright, suit yerself." She gave her the caftan and headed for the door. "I'll just be right outside; yell if you need help." Differel nodded, and she went out into the hall.

She waited by the stairs and saw Bettie coming up with a cup of antibiotic tea and a pitcher of fresh water.

"I take it she's feeling better?" she asked with a wry grin.

"Heh, you heard that, huh?"

"I think they heard it across the street!"

"Yeah, she's a real firebrand."

"You can come in now," she heard Differel call.

"Come on, I'll introduce you."

When they walked back in, Eile saw that Differel was sitting up against the headboard, with the sheet covering her legs and hips. She leaned her head back against the wall, her eyes closed, breathing heavily.

"You okay?" Eile asked, concerned.

"Yes, but you were right, I'm pretty knackered." She opened her eyes and focused on Bettie, but didn't look particularly surprised to see her.

"Who's this?" she asked as Bettie placed the pitcher and cup on the nightstand.

"Bettie Stivic. She's a friend of ours who's been helping us out. Around here, she goes by the name of Elvira."

Differel frowned with her eyebrows. "Why?"

"Because I like dressing up as Elvira, Mistress of the Dark," Bettie remarked.

Differel raised an eyebrow. "Who?"

Bettie laughed and handed her the cup. "Drink your tea, it's good for you."

Differel scowled, but she accepted the cup and sniffed at it. "I remember this," she said, smiling, and she took a long sip.

"It's made from herbs that have antibiotic qualities," Eile explained. "It's strong stuff, but it won't hurt you in moderate doses."

"I'll be back with your breakfasts," Bettie interjected. "We're starting you on porridge today," she told Differel before she walked out.

"I can hardly wait," she murmured in distaste.

"It's good, wholesome food," Eile replied, "and it's easy on the stomach. Besides, we figured you'd be wanting a change from soup."

"When can I expect a change from porridge?"

Eile grinned. "Tonight, actually, we're having stew. Nice soft veggies and potatoes, and juicy pieces of meat."

"I'd rather have a filet mignon."

"Maybe in a week, when yer stronger. No sense in making ya sick again. However, I should warn you, with a few exceptions, yer gonna find the food here fairly simple and basic, though filling."

"And just where is 'here'?"

"Yer in the town of Ulthar, in the Six Kingdoms."

Differel gave her a look like she questioned her state of mind. "The Six Kingdoms."

"Uh-huh. It's part of the Dreamlands."

Differel started, then furrowed her brow. "I seem to recall . . . Sunny mentioning that before."

"Yeah, when you first woke up after your fever broke."

"A . . . parallel universe, she said."

"Yeah."

"She was serious?"

"Sunny likes ta play games and kid around, but she's not a liar."

Differel flashed her displeased look. "I didn't suggest she was. I just couldn't be sure it wasn't a load of bollocks to put me off guard."

"Nah, it's true alright."

"So, what are the Dreamlands?" she asked as Bettie came in carrying a tray table.

"Well, opinions vary," Eile explained as Bettie put the table down over Differel's lap, "but the consensus is that they represent a plane of existence that the mind can travel to when the brain is asleep."

"That much seems obvious," Differel remarked as Bettie handed Eile a plate and a mug of coffee.

"Well, yeah, but Dreaming is not like conventional dreams," she tried to explain as Bettie left. "In fact, the brain continues to cycle through the sleep stages even while yer here. Lots of people believe this place was created by the first Dreamers, and some strong Dreamers can change it if they concentrate hard enough. Mayv believes that the magic that works here is simply a manifestation of people's ability to manipulate the Lands' Dream-fabric, or somethin'. I don't really understand it myself, but Sunny can do magic. In fact, she's pretty good at it." She took and bit a sausage in half.

"Mayv's here?"

"Yeah, but she's not the one we know. She's actually from a time in her life almost two thousand years ago."

Differel gave her skeptical look. "How's that possible?"

"Time works differently here. An hour in the Waking World — that's the universe where our bodies are — translates to roughly a week here. On top of that, though this place has day and night, changing seasons, the works, time doesn't seem ta pass. Nothing ever really changes here, and unless they're killed, people live a very long time; centuries, maybe even millennia. As such, it doesn't matter when a Dreamer lives, they always arrive in the Here and Now. There are people like Mayv who live thousands of years in the past; there are others that live decades, even centuries, in the future."

"Can you prove any of this?"

"Most of it, no, yer just gonna hafta experience it for yourself, and there are some things you'll just hafta take on faith. But we can show you some things. When Sunny gets up, she can do some magic tricks for you, and we've got a friend we'd like you ta meet. Give me a sec and I'll arrange it."

Eile put her plate and mug on the desk, then stood up and went to the window. Looking out, she spotted a cat resting on the top of the fence around their backyard. She figured it was one of the sentries the Council posted to guard the house. She whistled and it looked up at her.

"Hey!" she shouted. "Get a message to Shadow-stalker, will ya? Tell her ta come over as soon as she's free."

The cat stood, stretched, and jumped off, disappearing into a nearby alley. A new one took its place and settled in as if for a nap.

Eile drew her head back and turned towards the bed. Differel stared at her as if she had gone bonkers.

Eile smiled. "You'll see."

"Hmph. My problem is, how do I know this isn't simply an elaborate deception? Perhaps some form of drug-induced hallucination."

Eile shrugged. "I can't answer that," she said as she sat down. "Anything we show you, anything that happens to you, could be part of the delusion. I'd say trust yer feelings, but that could be faked, too. But once you start thinking like that, you can't trust anything. How do you know yer life in Britain isn't some kinda nightmare you can't wake up from?"

"I see your point. I guess that's one of the things I have to take on faith."

"If you can accept that, the rest becomes easier. Besides, does it make a difference? Yer still trapped her, regardless."

"It could make a difference, but so far nothing's happened to suggest that's the case. But if this place is real, that raises another issue: how did I get here?"

"We're not sure, yet. Do you remember anything?"

Differel closed her eyes and rubbed her forehead. "It's all a blur, but I feel I can sort it out given time."

"You've got it. We can't do anything until yer strong enough ta get around on yer own."

She opened her eyes and looked at Eile. "What do you know?"

"Sunny and I found you in the Enchanted Woods some eight days ago. We were out hunting with the Zoogs, when we flushed you out of a thicket. You collapsed before we could find out what happened."

Differel flashed her an incredulous smile. "The Enchanted Woods? You've got to be kidding."

Eile grinned. "Heh, I know, it sounds corny, but believe me, it's the real thing. And don't let the name fool you, it's a very dangerous place. Don't worry, you've plenty of time ta learn all about the Dreamlands. There's not much else ta do around here. We've got some books and such, but the technology in this place is strictly pre-Industrial."

"Actually, that sounds pleasantly restful."

"Well, that's what Sunny and I want you ta do for the time being: rest. It won't be long, though, before yer bored outta yer skull. There's lots ta do in town, but you need to be able ta get around on yer own. This house is great for that. When yer able to walk up the stairs from the first floor to the third, you'll be able to go out on the town without tiring. But first things first. I've been carrying you to the John for the last coupla days. I think its time you started going on yer own. So starting today, we'll get you used ta crossing the room."

"Sounds fine by me." Differel scrapped the last of the porridge onto her spoon and swallowed it, then drank the last of the milk out of the bowl.

"Damn, girl, for someone who wasn't thrilled about porridge, you sucked that down in a hurry!"

"I guess I was hungry," Differel said as she put the bowl on the nightstand. Picking up her cup, she swirled the contents and drank the last of it.

"Could you ask Bettie for a refill?" she said, holding the cup out.

"Better stick with water for now. You'll get more with lunch, but antibiotics have side effects if you take too much, especial stuff as potent as this. It's also really expensive, and we don't have much of it left."

Differel nodded, then fixed her with a searching gaze. "Just who is Bettie, anyway? Is she your servant?"

"No, I told you, she's a friend. She knew Sunny and I would be busy taking care of you, so she volunteered ta do all the household chores."

"I've suspected for some time that you and Sunny are lovers. I wanted to make sure she wasn't part of your 'partnership'." She couldn't quite keep the contempt out of her voice.

Eile felt her temper smolder. "Listen you, first of all, it's none of yer friggin' business. And secondly, for someone as prudish as you are, you've got a really dirty mind, ya know that?"

Differel's expression indicated she didn't like being spoken to in that manner, but she looked more like a recalcitrant child resentful of a lecture than someone who had been insulted. "I meant no offense," she said as she filled her cup from the pitcher.

"Yeah, right; whatever." It wasn't lost on Eile that she didn't try to apologize. Still, she saw no point in beating her up with it. After all, she thought, opinions were like assholes; she was entitled to her own, or even to be one.

"Well, anyways, we can start you on regular tea tomorrow. What kind do you like? We can get you just about anything."

"I'm rather partial to Lady Grey."

Eile grinned. "No kidding! Sunny and I drink Girlie Grey. We've got some in the house, if you don't mind trying it. Bettie can whip some up this afternoon."

"Sounds fine. Meanwhile, I need to use the bathroom. Where is it?"

"Right there," Eile said, pointing to the cabinet.

Differel raised an eyebrow as she crewed her face into a look of distaste. "What is it?"

Eile actually enjoyed her discomfort after that crack she made. "Essentially an indoor latrine," she said as she stood up. "There's a chamber pot under the seat."

This time both eyebrows went up. "Chamber pot?"

Eile grinned as she pulled back the covers. "Hey, pre-Industrial technology, remember?"

"That's positively Medieval," Differel replied as she swung her legs around to sit on the edge of the bed.

"Whaddya expect from a sword and sorcery fantasy world? But at least there's toilet paper. Here, I'll help you up."

+++++     +++++     +++++

Eile found that as long as she supported her, Differel had no trouble walking, but when she tried to go back to bed on her own, she didn't have the strength to stand. Eile told this to Sunny after she got up. They were down in their kitchen, eating the stew Bettie made, while she sat with Differel as she ate.

"I think that's good!" Sunny said around a mouthful of potatoes, then she swallowed. "At least she's making progress."

"I'm just glad I don't hafta carry her anymore. She not a lightweight."

"You know, if it's just a matter of supporting herself, we could probably get a coupla canes."

Eile nodded, thoughtful. "Yeah, that could work."

"So, what'd you guys do all day?"

"Well, we talked most of the morning; she thinks Bettie sleeps with us."

Sunny's eyes nearly popped out of her head from shock. "She actually said that?"

"Yeah, she's convinced we're a coupla of dykes."

Sunny's face screwed into a look of disgust. "You know how much I hate that word."

"Sorry. Anyways, I put her in her place for now, but I wanted ta warn you in case she brought it up again."

Sunny smiled and crinkled her eyes. "Thanks, partner, you're the best!"

"Yeah, yeah. I also told her about the Dreamlands again."

"How'd she take it?"

"She doesn't really believe it, she thinks someone's playing a hoax on her, but she's willing to accept it for now. I think part of the problem is that she still doesn't remember how she got here. I think once that happens, she'll believe it's all real. Oh, and I also walked her around the room a few times."

"Good. The more exercise she gets, the stronger she'll get sooner. Don't over do it, though."

"I know that! I'm not a ditz like you, ya know."

"So, what else?"

"After lunch she took a nap, then we talked and exercised some more. She wants ta know as much about the Dreamlands as she can. Just before I came down I gave her Ladan's book."

"'The Dreamlands for Dummies'? Good, that'll give her the basics. You know, I've been thinking. I think she came here bodily."

"Bodily? How do you mean?"

"Like this is her Waking body, not a Dream body."

"What makes ya say that?"

"Well, think about it. The way she was dressed, for one; Caerleon Order fatigues. She wouldn't have gotten those in the Cavern of Flame."

"I wouldn't have thought so, no."

"Have you checked her clothes lately, or what's left of them? I did last night. Their material isn't synthetics, its feels like cotton and linen."

"Synthetics couldn't exist here." It wasn't an objection; Eile was starting to see where Sunny was going.

"Exactly! It's like her clothes changed as soon as she arrived. And that pistol she had. I don't know what kind it is, it looks like a flintlock, but it's certainly not a modern semi-automatic."

"I haven't seen any kind of firearms around here, not even old ones."

"Kuranes has matchlock guns in his arsenal, but not many, the longbow is still superior. As long as her gun design dates from before 1500, it can exist here, but my point is she wouldn't have had it in the Waking World. I think her clothes and stuff were altered when she crossed over."

"Is that even possible?"

"I don't know, we'll hafta ask Ladan, but it's the only thing that makes sense, unless someone's playing a hoax on us!"

Bettie came in, holding an empty bowl. "She wants seconds."

Eile grinned as Sunny gushed, "Great! That means she's definitely on the mend!"

"Can she have it, then?"

"Um, no, not tonight. Let's see how her stomach handles it overnight. But unless you hear otherwise from me, go ahead and fix her a regular breakfast in the morning."

"Will do. By the way, will you guys be needing me this evening?"

They shook their heads and Eile said, "No; why?"

"I thought that after I cleaned up, I'd go out for a night on the town. I could use some relaxation."

Eile and Sunny grinned at each other. They knew what kind of 'relaxation' she was probably referring to. "Go for it," Eile said.

"Yeah, we'll be fine. Oh, and while you're out! Could you get a coupla canes for Differel?"

"Sure, no sweat."

"Okay! Then have fun!"

"Thanks, guys, that's really swell."

"Come on," Sunny said as she stood up, "let's check on our patient."

Eile followed her upstairs, and they found Differel reading the book and sipping the last of her tea. She looked up when they came in the room, and she placed the silk mark in the book, closed it, and laid it aside.

"Good evening," she said, looking pleasant.

"Hi!" Sunny said. "How're you feeling?"

"Better, I believe."

"Bettie told us you're still hungry. We think that's great! But, for now, we wanna be careful not to overdue it. If you're still this hungry tomorrow, you can eat as much as you like! But let's see how things go tonight first."

Differel nodded. "Fair enough."

"I wanna check your wound. Is that okay?"

"Certainly," Differel said. She scooting down until she was lying prone,  and Sunny pulled back the covers.

"Isn't that your old caftan?" she asked Eile.

"Yeah, Miss Royal Pain here had a conniption fit when she found out we took her clothes off."

Differel gave her an angry glance, but she said, "Actually, a baronet is a commoner."

Eile grinned. "Touché."

Sunny pulled up the caftan and arrange the sheet to cover Differel's pubic region before cutting the wrappings covering the bandage.

"Huh. How come you were so shy with me?" Eile asked.

"I was taken by surprise, and you're not my doctor. Speaking of which, Sunny, I understand I have you to thank for saving my life."

Sunny tittered with embarrassment. "I didn't do all that much," she said as she carefully removed the layers of cloth.

"Don't you let her fool you!" Eile countered. "You were first tended to by Aescalypses, probably the best physician in all the Dreamlands, but he's got an aversion ta surgery. He couldn't feel anything in yer wound, so he just cleaned it out and gave us an ointment to encourage healing and deaden the pain, but yer infection wouldn't go away. Sunny finally went in and pulled out a projectile, and after cleaning it thoroughly, yer fever broke before the end of the day."

"Then I owe you my life, again. I'm not sure how I can repay you."

Sunny was gently probing the wound and massaging the skin. "There's no owing or repaying between friends, Differel."

"Interesting. I didn't consider us friends."

Sunny giggled. "Eile said much the same thing a few days ago."

Differel glanced at Eile again, and it seemed to her she was appraising her anew. "Really? I would say that makes her a very intelligent young lady." Eile wasn't sure whether to feel embarrassed or proud.

Sunny laughed. "You two are such phonies!"

Differel cracked an amused and puzzled smile. "Is she usually this ingenuous?"

Eile grinned. "Yeah, but when she gets too annoying I just sit on her face."

Differel cast her a glance that indicated she wasn't sure if she was kidding, but she didn't pursue it.

"So, what's the prognosis, doctor?" Differel asked Sunny. "How is the wound healing?"

"It's coming along nicely! The swelling's all gone, there's no redness or tenderness, it's all closed up, and there's no discharge or bleeding. I think you're gonna be just fine!"

"I guess those maggots really did the trick," Eile remarked.

"Maggots!?" Differel shrilled, looking traumatized.

"Ooops! Heh, sorry, that just slipped out."

"We used maggots to clean and debride the wound," Sunny explained. "They're the main reason you didn't get gangrene and die of septic shock."

Differel propped herself up on her elbows and twisted around so she could see the wound for herself. "Hmph. Well, I guess it worked."

"Look it up when you get back home, they work wonders!"

"You did remove them all, didn't you?"

"Yep! Six in, six out."

"I thought you used seven," Eile said.

Sunny looked pensive. "Now that I think about it, though, I only remember removing five."

A look of horror came over Differel's face as she considered the possibility there might be a few still in her, but then Sunny giggled as Eile chuckled, and she screwed her face into a snarl.

"Sod off, you wankers!"

Eile and Sunny laughed as Sunny stood up and went to get fresh bandages and the ointment. "We're just messin' with ya, Differel," Eile said.

The aristocrat collapsed back onto the bed. "You two will be the death of me yet."

"All kidding aside," Sunny said, grinning, as she poured the oily liquid on a cloth square, "now it's just a matter of building up your strength and letting it heal all the way. How much of the antibiotic is left?"

"About another day's worth," Eile replied as Sunny went back to the bed.

"Go ahead and have Bettie give her the rest tomorrow. This is the last of the ointment, but I still have that salve I made." She laid the cloth against the wound and layered dry ones on top. "We'll keep treating the wound for another six days, but if nothing changes, I think we can stop after that, but we should check it for another week just to be sure. Eile, bring over the gauze. Differel, sit up and lift the caftan."

They did as she asked, and with Eile's help she wound it around Differel's hips to secure the bandage. Then Eile helped her over to the cabinet while Sunny watched.

As Differel sat inside, Sunny said, "I see what you mean. Yeah, I think the canes will help."

Differel stepped out and held onto the door frame. "What canes?"

"We asked Bettie to get you a coupla canes when she went out this evening," Sunny explained. "We think they'll help you get around on your own sooner."

"I don't know," she said, "I can barely stand on my own as it is."

"Let's try something," Sunny said. "Eile, help her out into the room. Okay, now just stand next to her." And Sunny came up on her other side.

"Now then, Differel, you put your hands on our shoulders and she if you can hold yourself up while Eile let's go."

"I doubt this will work," Differel objected.

"Don't worry, we're strong, and we'll catch you if you start to fall. Trust us."

"Very well." She placed a hand on each of their shoulders and Eile felt her press down.

"Okay, Eile, go ahead and let her go."

Eile dropped her hand from around Differel's back, and felt her slump as she put more pressure on her shoulder, but she didn't collapse.

"You see?" Sunny gushed. "This is wonderful! It means you can support yourself as long as you have something to lean on!"

Eile looked at her face and saw Differel grimace from the exertion, but she was also grinning. "Yes!" she said, gasping. "I think you're right!"

"Easy," Eile said, "don't get cocky."

"Let's try walking her back to the bed," Sunny suggested.

Eile kept pace with Sunny, shuffling her feet in a slow manner as Differel took careful, deliberate steps and shifted her weight from one foot to the other. She could feel her press down on her shoulder with each alternate step, but as they got closer to the bed she seemed to catch the rhythm and that made it easier.

Finally they reached the edge of the mattress. They turned her around as they held her up, then gently sat her down. She sat, panting for some moments, but while she looked fatigued, Eile could also see an expression of triumph on her face, from the satisfaction of accomplishing an important milestone on her recovery. As she caught her breath, she looked up at them and said, "Thank you."

Sunny grinned and replied, "Aw, shucks, twern't nothing. You did all the hard work. Now, let's get you tucked in." That earned her a look of exasperation, but Differel scooted back into the bed and leaned against the headboard as Eile lifted and swung her legs onto the mattress. Sunny then covered her with the sheet and blanket, and finally poured her a cup of water.

Differel looked at the book she had been reading as she took the cup from Sunny. "Who is this Aislinn Síle? Does she really know her stuff?"

"It's pronounced 'ash-leen shee-luh'," Sunny corrected. "I'd say so, yeah. She's probably the most famous sage in the Six Kingdoms, and beyond. Even Kuranes consults with her on occasion."

"Who?"

"He's king of the Land of Ooth-Nargai across the Cerenarian Strait," Eile explained. "He's suppose ta be the greatest Dreamer that ever lived. People claim that before he was made king, he visited every part of the Dreamlands, including places most people believe are just legends, even places the cats haven't gone. No one is suppose ta know more about the Dreamlands than him."

"Then why does he consult this Síle?"

"Even Kuranes can't know everything," Sunny said, settling into the chair. "He's got the largest library in the whole world and a legion of scholars, but Ladan's made a special study of the nature of the Dreamlands, not just its physical nature, but metaphysical as well. She's probably the foremost expert on the cosmology of the Dreamworld."

Differel shook her head in obvious frustration. "Who is this Ladan now?"

Sunny popped out her eyes in surprise, then she grinned and giggled. "Sorry! Ladan is Aislinn's nickname. Mayv started calling her that after they became friends."

"Aislinn was a university professor in the Waking World," Eile said, "specializing in Medieval and women's studies, and she was a Dreamer who used her time in the Dreamlands to study its culture and the way women Dreamers like herself adapt to it. She became a permanent resident when she was killed in an automobile accident, and she decided ta set up a university of her own here in Ulthar, which she paid for by offering her services as a sage."

"Just a moment. You're saying a 'Dreamer' can live here after death?"

"Yeah," Sunny confirmed, "she's got a whole chapter about it in her book."

"You can pretty much trust anything that's written in there," Eile added. "She only prints facts she's verified, though she also has an appendix that describes legends and rumors that seem to have a strong basis but haven't been verified yet. When she speculates, she clearly says so."

"But how can this be the Afterlife? It certainly isn't Hell, and I doubt it's Heaven, not with bodily functions and chamber pots."

"Well," Sunny said, "if you wanna get eschatological, it's more like the Greek Hades, or the Irish Otherworld, or the Jewish Sheol, or even the Dante's Limbo. You know, a netherworld where the dead relive their former lives."

Differel grew pensive. "There is a belief in some forms of Anglicism that the sanctification of the soul continues after death. I suppose that could necessitate a duplicate of the living world. I never really paid attention to that idea myself, I was taught that the soul experienced an immediate and particular judgment after death."

"Ya know," Eile said, "it's also possible that yer notions of judgment, heaven, and hell are too simplistic, or even wrong."

Differel gave her a cross look. "A possibility I'm not willing to entertain, or discuss."

"Hey, that's fine," Sunny said. "Different strokes for different folks, as they say."

"Then we'll leave it at that," Differel agreed, in a tone that suggested Eile not pursue the subject.

"Suit yerself." Eile didn't care, she just figured all that theological stuff probably didn't apply.

"You mentioned cats earlier," Differel changed the subject, "as if that was something significant."

"The cats are major players here," Eile explained. "They're the most powerful force in the Six Kingdoms, quite possibly the whole of the Dreamlands."

Differel flashed her a skeptical leer. "Surely you jest."

"Cats are Dreamers like Humans," Sunny broke in. "They are highly intelligent, conscious, self-aware beings, with a powerful intellect. They're masters of analysis and mathematical logic."

Differel actually laughed. "Now you are pulling my leg."

Sunny glanced at Eile, and the look on her face indicated she was just as frustrated as she felt. "Look," Eile tried, "I realize this all new ta you, but being pig-headed about it ain't gonna help! Cats are highly organized here. They have a queen and a council of elders here in Ulthar, they have a messenger service that ranges throughout the Dreamlands, they have a standing army of 100,000 warriors . . . they go wherever they like, do whatever they damn well please, and they answer ta no one. Even Kuranes defers to them, and he's the most powerful king of all!"

Differel shook her head and gave them a patronizing look that made Eile's temper flare. "If you expect me to swallow this load of tripe, you're more daft than you sound. I like cats and all, but the idea of intelligent, civilized felines is a cliché that went out with fairytales. Next you'll try to convince me they can talk!"

"Oh, poo on you!" Sunny pouted. "I wish Shadow were here, she'd settle your hash!"

A long, thin, smoky gray cat with green eyes jumped onto the window sill, and after balancing itself, it sat on its haunches and stared at the three Humans.

"Well, speak of the devil," Eile said.

Sunny's whole face lit up as she beamed a wide grin. "Shadow! I'm glad you're here. Differel, this is our good friend, Shadow-stalker the Huntress. Shadow, this our guest, Sir Differel Van Helsing."

The cat turned its head to stare at Differel. She eyed it with a mocking smirk, but she nodded her head.

"I'm pleased to meet you at last," Shadow said.

Differel's eyes popped out of her sockets as her jaw dropped with shock. "Bloody hell!" she breathed.

Shadow looked at Sunny and Eile and remarked, "She's a rude one, isn't she?"

Differel scowled in irritation as she replied, "I'm sorry, but I've never met a talking cat before."

"Actually," Shadow contradicted, "you've met several already, in the Waking World. The latest is the ginger tom who has taken up residence in your stables."

"Butterscotch?! Wait a minute, how can you know about him?"

"He too is a Dreamer, and comes here whenever he sleeps. He keeps us informed of your activities."

Differel narrowed her eyes. "My activities? Why?"

"The things the Caerleon Order does impacts our Waking brethren and active Dreamers. Though The High Queen of All Cats Great and Small and her Council reside here, they have jurisdiction over cats everywhere. As long as you do no deliberate harm, we are content to let you manage your affairs as you see fit, but if you interfere with ours, we will not hesitate to destroy you."

"I do not take kindly to threats."

"It was not a threat, only a statement of plain truth."

Differel flashed her a grim smile. "You may find it difficult to carry out that truth."

"We know of Vlad Drakulya, and how to circumvent him. And we know your habits well enough to catch you alone and isolated from your troops."

Differel frowned, and while Eile saw anger in her expression, she also saw anxiety as well. Shadow's point had hit home.

"If your people are conscious, self-aware beings, why has no one discovered this?"

"Because we keep it a secret. We would rather live as pets or strays than reveal our consciousness to you Humans. A cat would die before being forced to give it up."

Eile remembered when she and Sunny rescued Snowshoe Kitty from Mabuse. All the cats before her had been killed under excruciating torture because they wouldn't demonstrate their intelligence.

"Surely some humans must have found out."

"A few, yes. Those who have tried to exploit that knowledge have been destroyed. Those who have kept our secret —" And she glanced at her and Sunny. "— have been left alone. And those who have aided our cause have been rewarded. Some have even joined themselves to us; to those we have revealed all, and have treated as friends and colleagues. Mayv Hair-rayn is one such. She is the last living High Priestess of Bast, initiated in the Central Mysteries of the Great Mother millennia ago, but none else have been so honored since the death of Cleopatra."

Eile exchanged a knowing smile with Sunny. That wasn't strictly true, though not technically a lie either. Joyce Luasaigh, Kitty's vet, was the current avatar of Bast, but she had asked them to keep that a secret even from Medb. She wasn't actually a priestess, but she performed similar duties.

"You don't seem to take any great pains to conceal your consciousness here," Differel pointed out.

"Here we have the power to defend ourselves and avenge wrongs done against us. Besides, who in the Waking World would believe a person who's only proof was her Dreams?"

"Hmph. I see your point. But why explain all this to me?"

"You could not remain here for any length of time without gaining some inkling of our true power. If you return to the Waking World, what little you knew could endanger us there. We would rather take you into our confidence, in the hope that you would act sensibly, than keep you in the dark and take the risk. Besides, —" And she glanced at her and Sunny again. "— we suspect that you would have been told all in any event."

Differel looked away from Shadow. Eile thought she almost looked embarrassed, but she had a pleased smile on her lips. "I'm honored," she said, glancing back at the cat.

"You needn't be. This is not a matter of esteem and respect, but of cold practicality. And his Face Name is Mooneyes."

Differel gave her a confused frown. "I beg your pardon?"

"The one you call Butterscotch; his real Face Name is Mooneyes."

"'Face Name'?"

Sunny laughed. "You need to read your T. S. Eliot!" Then she cleared her throat. "'The naming of cats is a difficult matter, it isn't just one of your holiday games; you may think at first I'm as mad as a hatter when I tell you, a cat must have three different names.'"

"Stop showing off, ya ditz!" Eile scolded, but in a facetious tone. Sunny crinkled her eyes and giggled.

Differel smiled herself. "That's from 'Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats'."

"And you stop showing off, too!"

"You know it?" Sunny squeaked in a gay tone.

"My father used to read it to me all the time."

"Eliot was one of those that knew our secret, but his poems were so good, we decided not to punish him for revealing what he knew. As he described, our three names must include a common, a unique, and a mysterious one. The Face Name is that by which we are known to all. It is the name Humans are permitted to learn. My Face Name is Shadow-stalker; I chose it when I became a huntress because I preferred to stalk prey from the shadows. Mooneyes received his when he came of age, because his eyes glowed especially bright in moonlight.

"The Heart Name is that by which we are known to our family and circle of intimates. Mine was given to me by my mother. Humans are not permitted to know this name, except for a special rare few; I have not told the Girls mine. The Soul Name is that given to all newly created souls by the Great Mother. It is the name no one else may know, not even another cat, for to know it would give another control over one's life and destiny. Few of my people know their own Soul Names, because we all forget them when we are born into our first lives. Most of us never learn them until after our ninth, but some are lucky enough to discover them before then. I have not yet learned mine, but I am only a few years into my second life."

"It would seem your people have a rich cultural heritage," Differel said. "I wish I could learn more about it, but as you say, no cat will speak to me in the Waking World."

"That isn't necessary," Shadow countered. "I travel with the Girls as their guide, escort, and counselor. Wherever they may take you, I would be happy to tell you all I can."

"Thank you. I would appreciate that."

"My pleasure." She then looked at her and Sunny. "Was there anything else?"

"No, thank you!" Sunny twittered.

"We'll need ta meet with the Council later," Eile added.

"Of course. Just get word to me when you are ready." And she jumped off the sill without a word of goodbye.

Sunny leaned out the window and shouted, "So long!"

"Cats don't stand on ceremony," Eile explained to Differel.

"I see," Differel replied. "Eile."

"Hmm?"

"I apologize for the way I acted this morning. I was rude, disrespectful, and ungrateful. I really very much appreciate everything you, Sunny, and Bettie have done and are doing for me, and I shouldn't have treated you like that.

Surprised, Eile didn't know what to say at first. It was not only unexpected, but also heartfelt; she really seemed to mean what she said. She managed a smile as she said, "Hey, no problem, I understand. Yer sick and outta sorts, you didn't know what you were saying."

"That's no excuse."

"Yeah, it's not, but believe me it's no big deal. Now, try it again when yer well, and I'll clobber ya good!"

Differel chuckled. "I'll let you have the first blow."

Eile stifled an unexpected yawn. She suddenly felt really tired.

"You should get to bed!" Sunny said in a stern tone. Then she turned towards Differel. "And you need your sleep, too, Missy!"

"Yes, dear," Eile said in a facetious manner.

"Yes, doctor," Differel replied with a mocking grin.

Sunny laughed. "Oh, go on, you two!"

Differel took a drink from her cup, took off her glasses and laid them on the nightstand, and settle herself on her side. She closed her eyes as Sunny pulled the blanket up to her shoulders.

"Goodnight," she whispered.

"Goodnight," Differel murmured back.

Sunny walked Eile to the door. "You gonna be okay?" Eile asked her.

"Sure thing, partner," she said, crinkling her eyes and smiling, "I'll be fine. Sleep tight."

Eile kissed her on the lips before going to their room. Once inside she lit a candle.

"Eile."

Startled, she jumped and spun around, but it was only Shadow sitting on the bed.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to surprise you."

Eile waved her off. "Forget it. What's up?"

"I received your message, but that isn't why I came."

For a moment, Eile panicked, fearing the worst. "Something wrong?"

"That depends upon how you define 'wrong'. We still have not been able to locate Mayv Hair-rayn."

Eile relaxed a little. "You don't think anything's happened to her, do you?"

"No. Crèmedevoyager would have gotten word to us unless he was captured or killed as well, which is unlikely."

Eile understood what she meant. Medb could be on the other side of the world, and Crème could still get back to Ulthar in only a couple of hours. He was one of the few cats that could leap to the Moon by himself from any elevation.

"It does, however, mean that you cannot count on her help. Wherever she is, it will most likely take her months to return, by which time you and Sunny will have either returned Sir Differel to the Waking World, or discovered that she is trapped here forever."

"Yeah." That had been their secret fear, especially now that they believed she had crossed over physically. "Was there anything else?"

"We have reason to believe Sir Differel is in danger."

"Well, it's obvious she was attacked, but that was in the Waking World."

"Her attacker may have followed her, or it may have allies here. We do not yet have enough information. Our presence and the wards placed by the priests of the Great Ones should protect her for the time being, but she cannot stay in this house forever. We wanted to warn you so you could be on your guard."

"Thanks. I appreciate that."

"Think nothing of it," Shadow replied, and she turned and bounded out the nearest window.

Eile considered telling Sunny the news, then decided not to. Sunny couldn't be caught by surprise, and for all her scatterbrained flightiness, she was level-headed. As long as the cats gave sufficient warning, Eile figured she could handle whatever tried to get at Differel. Besides, she expected to be awakened by the resulting tumult.

Eile retrieved a sword from the closet and laid it on the nightstand. She then blew out the candle, got undressed, and crawled into bed. She worried that anxiety might keep her awake, but before she realized it she fell asleep.