@visualspice
It should have been the perfect hiding place.
Not Reajh--though she had to admit, she was a little proud of herself for actually managing to get all the way to the capital. Not even Connlaoth itself, though that had been her thought when she crossed the border.
No. No, tonight, Jasper was interested in something on a bit of a smaller scale: a particular shed out behind what appeared to be a smithy of some kind. Evidently it was all but abandoned; the tools around her had gathered a thick patina of dust, and the door had creaked so badly when she first slipped inside that she'd worried for a moment she'd be heard down the damn street.
But it seemed she'd just been paranoid. It was only for a night, anyway. She'd figure out a way to make or steal some coin in the morning and find a real inn for a couple of days--didn't have to be a nice one, just needed to be cheap.
Climbing as silently as she could manage over a few dilapidated crates, Jasper tucked herself into the small space behind them and curled up, cloak wrapped tight around her body as she finally,
finally allowed herself to sleep.
The dream started as it almost always did: with Idris, smiling at her, hands outstretched in welcome and comfort, calling her name in that laughing way that meant he was proud of her, while blood dripped from his fingers and the earth beneath his feet roiled, rotting fingers and creeping, thorny vines beginning to climb up his legs.
Jasper turned and ran. She knew it wouldn't matter, but she ran anyway. She couldn't help it. Nightmares were like that, always.
"Don't run from me, Jaz. You're too clever for that..."She gritted her teeth and ducked her head, running faster, even as the ground seemed to suck at her feet, slowing her progress to a crawl. Then...
Then it changed.
Something changed. Something that was simultaneously familiar and alien. It wasn't Idris at her back anymore, wasn't her teacher's voice in her ear, it was...
Something else. A shadow, a darkness she didn't know but somehow
did, eating up the sky and the earth and the air in her lungs, the magic in her veins--
"...Help me...Someone. Anyone. Please--!"She couldn't see, couldn't hear, couldn't breathe, couldn't
think. The shadows around her had merged into something singular and terrible, and she knew with a sickening certainty that in just a few more moments, it would consume her entirely.
By the time Jace was well beyond the mountains, the capital of Connlaoth finally came into sight, lit in the golden sun of a dying day. This land, he knew, would be difficult to cross. Even outside of dreams, it smelled of nightmares and blood. It was perhaps fitting the winds turned colder the closer he got to his target- for the great darkness that was after the dreamer, was cold and unforgiving.
But he had to get to this dreamer first. He had to protect them. No matter the costs. So much depended on it. And he hated to admit it, but he could feel it in his bones-
He was running out of time.
He knew he was in the right place. His dreams were becoming more interactive, more vivid. Ever since he'd gotten on the trail, he'd fall asleep and find himself in some kind of swamp lands, with grey, skeletal trees deformed behind a curtain of mist.
But he could always find the same place, even if the carved path in those dreams were different. His teacher had told him, as his powers grew, and the closer he got to 'that who is the host of these dreams', that his powers would grow.
One could never prepare for what such things mean- after all, it all happened inside his head. But the more these dreams became reoccurring, and the sensations, the memories, seeped into his reality...
He knew he was on the right path- and that the dream world was growing, making him stronger..
And that of the Nightmares.
It seemed his favorite reoccurring dream spot was a rotten old log, perched upon another log. It always looked the same, no matter where or how he found it while he searched his dreams. The mouth of this rotting log was always deep, and dark- perhaps more so than it ought to have been, and as he approached, the darkness would take shape. It was said he controlled these shapes to some degree, so it was strange that the figure he was becoming quite familiar with showed himself as a strange, matted silvery slug- one that was fat and the size of a small dog. It barely fit inside the log, and always wriggled and fought to get comfortable when poking it's head outside of the log to greet Jace.
"I swear, everytime we meet, Kadiddle, you've gotten bigger." The boy smirked as he rested one arm upon the log and bent down to be at the dream creature's level.
Kadiddle, or so the dream-like slug had come to be known, chuffed as he wriggled his fat body to a more comfortable location at the end of his rotting log home, and a small pair of stumpy hands, barely noticible to most, as they were well set within the rolls of his body, clung to the bark with a slight, shaky strength.
"That is because I am, dream walker," Kadiddle replied, moving his unresting eyes to fix upon Jace as they blinked a few times to adjust to this light. The pupils were large, as were his eyes' size, nearly taking up most of Kadiddle's head. Small, thick whiskers wriggled on either side of his head before they laid back flat.
"I grew fat as the dreams grow bigger. There is much terror to eat."
"Oh.. terror? You sure you're not eating all the dream pies?" Jace joked.
Kadiddle seemed not to understand.
"It is cold."
Kadiddle's messages were always crytpic. Then again, most dreams rarely had a direct path. The mind's world was ever wandering; vast.
"I've noticed. But it's always cold here."
"Connlaoth... it is cold." Kadiddle's whiskers wriggled again as his cheeks puffed. But he continued to look at Jace.
"You said that last time."
"I do not like it here. Too many nightmares. Too much food to pick from." Kaddidle shook his head and squeezed back into his log a bit, as if to keep himself warm, but it just appeared as if he got his fat rolls stuck in the opening.
"But you eat nightmares."
"Yes."
There was a silence between them. Jace didn't always know what to say. Kadiddle was rarely very direct.
"Have you seen anything.. different?"
Kadiddle stared, then lowered his eyes to blink before looking up at Jace again. His face, Jace decided, reminded him of a pug combined with some sort of slug caterpillar. He knew no other way to describe such a creature.
"The dreams are changing faster. Much different."
Jace nodded, accepting that. Even he knew it was, even if this place that surrounded him and Kadiddle managed to remain almost the same.
"The dreams..." he went on, raking a hand through his hair as he sighed. "They're definitely getting bigger."
Kadiddle continued to look up at Jace with those big eyes, eyes that should have been more expressive than they were. The creature almost seemed as if being puppeted. Perhaps he was. Who knew what was on the other side of that log. Jace couldn't even recall if he'd ever seen Kadiddle's full body. Perhaps when the dream slug was smaller, barely a formed thought.
"Much to see," Kadiddle said. His eye lids lowered, as if tired.
"What much can you see?"
Kadiddle didn't move, nor say anything.
Jace changed the subject.
"Have you had any visitors? Last time you said-"
The creatures eyes went wild as it stiffened and let out a squirmy squeal.
"One that tried!"
Jace made a face.
"Tried?"
"I felt cold- much cold... much darkness... much over whelming need..." Kadiddle almost seemed to sweat, his form shaking. Jace figured he looked more like a pug, even then- and was that a pug like nose the creature was forming?
"Why couldn't this presence come to you?"
Kadidddle's small paws were gripping the log so tightly as his antennae, which were perked up, sagged down and clung against his rounded head.
"You."
Before Jace could ask just what that meant, something happened- some strange wave, like that from the ocean, but moved through the air like an unseen force, washed over the pair of them. It had so much feeling of power, of want.. of hunger...
Then it hit again, the entire world shaking like an awakening earth quake. Jace tumbled forward, holding onto the log to catch himself as he looked around, trying to sense from what direction this had been coming from-
But whatever world was around him.. he watched as it seemed to fall away, fall back- as if he were walking away from it...
And it turned into a fog of dark and listless shapes.
He saw trees fall, and curl, and be pulled away, as if they were being sucked into the darkness that loomed.
"It grows with more hunger!" Kadiddle squeeked. "It senses it! It senses her!"
Jace made a face, brows scrunching as he peered up at the creature to ask, "Her?"
WHen everything went to white, and Jace awokened in a sweat.
It was morning, the world was covered in a light fog, and the chill was not unwelcomed.
Jace lay there, taking a moment to let his heart calm down as he thought over the dream.
"Her."
He frowned.
"Not much to go off of Kadiddle." He pushed himself up from where he had been sleeping in a patch of decay below a large willow tree. He peered around. Not a swamp, but some areas, he supposed, could be swamp like..
Like his dream.
He chewed on his lip as he thought about it.
"So the dreamer is a she." He pushed himself to stand, cracking his neck to get the crick out as he stretched. "Guess that's a better lead than everything else I've got so far."
And just like every other day after his dreams...
he simply moved in whatever direction he felt the most pull. Occasionally he was wrong and found himself going in circles...
But as of lately..
He seemed to have some sort of intuition, and his feet always knew what direction he ought to be carried.
Jasper woke with a gasp that seemed to try to strangle itself out of her throat, her chest heaving and eyes wide as she looked around.
That...That was...
She hadn't had a nightmare like that in...a long time. Possibly never. Idris was expected, but the rest...
The young mage shuddered, drawing her arms tight around her body as she just huddled into her tiny hiding place and tried to get her breathing back under control. As she managed to get a hold of herself, she started to realize that it was dawn--or nearly, the crowded shed starting to filter in grayish light through gaps in the wooden slats.
With a soft groan she pushed herself to her feet and slunk quietly back out onto the street. She flipped the hood of her traveling cloak up, wrapping her fingers in the edges of the fabric to keep it close around her body as she set off. She really had no idea where she was going; she knew she needed some coin, and probably finding a proper place to stay for a few days would be good, but beyond that...nothing.
And she couldn't shake the dream from her mind. Not even the dream itself, but the feeling it left her with: cold terror and that haunting sense of familiarity. She kept glancing back over her shoulders as she wove her way through Reajh's lower districts, feeling like a hunted animal.
Well. Even more so than usual.
Reajh was a grand city, wide with squat, menacing boarders to protect it. But within it were bustling streets, brimming with life.
It had been sometime since he'd been to a city this size. He preferred staying on the less beaten path and preferred the company of those simpler folks. Even so, he let himself get distracted by the hustle and bustle of the busy streets. The sights, the sounds.. the smells..
"Oh, is that potato soup?" His eyes sparkled as he bent over a steaming pot. "Gods great gifts, does it smell amazing! How much for a cup?"
The young man was all smiles, but as the woman tending to the cauldron looked the boy over, she made quite a face, almost indignant. He looked a bit rough around the edges, even if his face was a kind, soft look compared to the rest of him. His attire..
he seemed to dress like some of the local street thugs! But when her eyes went to the pouch on his waist, she gave a sniff and said, "Two pence."
Nodding, Jace fetched the coin and handed it over, giving her twice as much and told her to keep the extra as he accepted his bowl and was gobbling it down- making a fuss with moans and other great expressions of delight, grabbing onto random passer byers and telling them, with much enthusiasm about the quality and deliciousness of the soup and they naturally had to try it!
Jasper had been on her own long enough to know how to follow the smell of good food. She kept to the edges of the crowds, debating the merits of filching a few coins from unguarded pockets, but before she could really make a firm decision, someone had grabbed ahold of her arm and pulled her in close to a cauldron of soup.
She flinched back, losing her good in the process, and stared at the stranger with wide eyes as she stammered out an automatic, "Ser, I've no coin, just let me—"
Oh. Oh, he wasn't selling, he was...eating.
...Odd.
She ducked her head and tried to move by, a faint flush rising to her cheeks as her stomach loudly protested her moving away from the food.
Jasper's evasion caused him to lose his balance a little, but he managed to catch himself, and save his soup that threatened to spill and sighed with relief before hearing the protesting groan of the young woman's stomach.
Then he recalled her statement about no coin and his face lit up and he grabbed her hand again.
"Oh, but I must insist! Your stomach clearly wants some too- here!" he paused a moment, not sure where to place his own cup of soup before suddenly thrusting it into her hands, "Here, hold this!" and proceded to fetch a couple of coins from his pouch.
"Let me buy you some! You won't regret it!" But before she COULD protest, he was rushing over towards the woman and getting Jasper a bowl.
He was soon back at her side and all smiles, offering up the steaming bowl.
"Look! Look how good the potatoes look among the cream and carrots!"
"What are you—hey!"
Jasper nearly fumbled the cup he thrust into her hands, and only a desire to keep the hot liquid from soaking her front managed to save it. She opened her mouth to ask just what he thought he was doing, but before she could get the words out he was standing in front of her with another cup of the soup, positively beaming.
She blinked at him, lips slightly parted in bafflement. "You—what—what?"
She looked from him, to the cup he held, to the one she held, then back. Hunger flashed in her eyes, raw and instinctive, but she tried to force it back. She shook her head, trying to hand the other cup back to him as she muttered, "I don't want charity."
Her eyes narrowed and she added with an edge of danger to her tone, "And I definitely have no intention of paying you worth something other than coin, so if that's your angle please do kindly get out of my way."
Dear gods she was hungry. But nothing was really "free"—much as she wanted to, she didn't trust this.
Jace blinked at her, an almost puppy like expression between the steam that wafted up from the offered bowl of soup.
"But... I... wasn't asking for payment. I just really like this soup. It's so good."
He heard her stomach again before moving to offer the cup again.
"It's so good. Probably the best soup I've ever had! Heaven in a bowl! Why would you ever refuse? It's free! A gift!" he insisted, his easy going smile returning. "Unless.." His eyes went wide as he realized. "Oh... oh you're not.. you. you don't hate potato cream soup do you?"
He looked so crest fallen, his eyes, seeming to fill with an almost innocent sadness.
The poor soup!
...What in every possible circle of hell was he playing at?!
Ultimately, it didn't matter. People were starting to stare. Cursing under her breath, Jasper yanked her hood back up and quickly snatched the offered bowl, trading the one he'd shoved at her earlier before she grabbed his wrist and tugged him further down the street as she hissed, "Alright, alright, fine! Don't make a scene."
Once they'd gotten a bit of distance, she dropped her hand like his skin burned and curled herself around the little cup of soup. She looked at it, then back up to him. Why on earth had she grabbed him? It had been impulse—damnit.
"I'll pay you back," she muttered, not sure how she'd manage shuck a thing but determined to do it now. "How much?"
He was already happily eating up his own soup again and said through a mouthful, "Oh, nothing. I told you," he swallowed a half chewed bit before smiling, some soup stuck to his lip. "It's complimentary." His smile grew. "Go ahead! Taste it! You'll be happy you did!"
Jasper narrowed her eyes. "No," she said slowly even as she lifted the cup toward her lips. "I have to pay you back. If you won't take coin, then...I dunno, I could run errands for you?" She no longer harbored any suspicions this boy—was that the right word? He didn't look any older than her—was after anything else she might have offered in payment.
She sipped at the soup and fought the urge to groan. It was good. And it was hot, and she was cold and starving. She had to fight herself not to scarf it down like a wild animal.
"I know that look!" He exclaimed, pointing right at her. "You love it!" He was loud. "You truly love it, too!"
"Shhhhhh!"
Quick as a snake, Jasper lunged forward to clap her hand over his mouth. With the grace of a pickpocket, she somehow managed to keep them both the from spilling soup everywhere.
"Would you be quiet?" she hissed, exasperated. Her eyes sparked as she glowered at him, then slowly removed her hand.
"Yes, fine. I like it, okay? I'm godsdamned starving, I'd probably eat grass right now."
He was so happy she conceded but had to frown at her mention of grass.
"Oh, I've been that hungry before. Its awful. " He moved back to resume eating his soup.
"And you never know when one of those weeks will happen, so that means.. well, you know what that means, don't you?" He asked most seriously.
But he didnt wait for an answer.
"It means you got to enjoy the soup now!" He brightened. "Oh! Why don't I get you another bowl!?" But before she could protest he left to fetch both her and he another serving and was naturally all smiles when be returned.
"You—why—stop that!"
Gods all damnit, she should have just left when he went for another bowl. But she didn't. Because she may be a liar and a cheat and a thief, but go fuck's sake she was going to repay a good turn when she had the chance.
"Stop," she told the boy firmly when he can back with the second bowl. "Just stop. I already owe you too much, just... Shit." She looked away, scowling. "Just—just let me pay you back and we can both be on our way, alright? What do you want?"
Jace laughed.
"Really, there's no need to feel you have to owe me anything! And if you keep this up.. I may have to get you a third bowl."
Jasper's lip curled. "Who are you?" she demanded, voice caught somewhere between a whisper and a frustrated shriek. "Why are you—why are you doing this?"
People didn't just give you things. Everything came with a cost, even if it wasn't always immediately apparent.
He was about halfway through another spoonful when he nodded and answered her question.
"I guess that's fair to be wary when you don't know me. But you can call me Jace," he told her, all smiles as he extended a hand for her to shake.
She eyed his hand like it was some heretofore undiscovered species of poisonous spider for a long moment, then relented with a sigh and took it. "Jaz," she replied curtly as she snatched her hand back. "And I really don't like owing people, Jace. So. What do you want?"
Her frown deepened another few degrees and she added, "And you never answered my other question: why are you doing this?"
He barely had a chance to shake her hand before she snatched it away.
And at her questions, he simply smiled.
"I already told you, I was just so excited about how good the soup tasted I wanted to share!" he laughed and gave his nose a little scratch. "Although I guess it does seem strange.." he admitted. "I suppose most people share with friends." Which he didn't have.
Well, not here.
Then he had a thought... and turned to her, taking her hand suddenly.
"Oh, did you want to share some of this with your friends, too? I could buy them a bowl if you'd like!" Wouldn't it be rude not to?
Jaz stared at him, then down at their joined hands, then back again.
Why did he keep touching her?!
Trying to draw her hand back, she muttered sullenly, "What part of this--" she gestured vaguely toward herself with her free hand-- "makes you think I have friends around here?"
Jace's expression got very serious as he stared at her, almost as if he felt pity towards her- which he did as he asked, "You... don't have any friends?"
And it sounded like the saddest question in the world.
Quite despite herself, Jasper felt her hackles raising, almost...offended by the pity in his tone. Which she knew was ridiculous, but she couldn't help it.
"I get by just fine on my own," she snapped, not caring how true it was in that particular moment. She gave another halfhearted tug at her hand. "Would you please let go of me? Seriously, what do you want?"
He couldn't help but still pity her. And she was trying to be so brave and hide it!
At her questions, he shook his head.
"I told you, I don't want-"
He paused, something strange occurred- a brief flash, a day dream...
An image of the fallen log from his dream...
But it was gone as soon as it came, leaving his face to contort oddly before he finished his sentence.
"...anything."
He glanced away a moment, wondering what the heck prompted that. That never happened before.
Was... something wrong? Was who he looking for.. in trouble? Did he need to go back to his dreams?
Jasper gave him an odd look. What was that all about?
"Look, just...just gimme a day to get you the money I owe you or whatever, alright?" she grumbled as she finally managed to extricate her hand from his grip and took a sharp step back, nearly fetching up against the alley wall.
She was so intent on getting away from this odd boy that at first she didn't notice the gentle tingling in her fingertips, growing steadily stronger until it actually began to heat the interior of her gloves.
"Pay?" He shook his head. "Now you gotta know I won't allow that." He was all smiles again. "But if you really wanted to make it up to me, maybe you and I could journey together through town? I mean, we're both not from around here so.." he gave a nonchalant but friendly shrug about it. "And whose to say I don't offer you some dinner later for your time?" It seemed she was hard on money. She could probably use a nice day to be treated well! And while he was here... it couldn't hurt to help the young lady. She was cute too, so that always made it a plus. A pretty companion and a dinner date- sounded good to him!
"Okay, was I too subtle before? I'm not interested in whoring myself," Jasper snapped, folding her arms as she glared at him.
Because sure, maybe that was a genuine invitation—but to her, coming from where she did, leading the life she had, well...the odds of that didn't seem so great in her eyes.
She was fairly confident in her ability to defend herself, if it came down to it, but she wanted to make sure she'd driven her point home first.
Jace was taken aback. That was NOT what he expected her to say.
"I... think we somehow got off on the wrong... foot?" he asked, still uncertain how things escalated. "I would never trick you into something like that, or am trying to woo you into such things," he danced around the word, clearly not saying it. "I was genuinely seeking a companion since I'm new in town too."
He frowned. Perhaps he was being too forward. His over eagerness and friendly demeanor didn't always come across as such or was always welcome. Infact, one time, an old lady beat him off with a broom!
He raised his hand, as if in surrender. "I'd never force you into it. You're free to go about your day without me."
But... but..
He had offered her dinner.
Didn't she like food? It seemed to be a trend with her...
At least, well, the other person paying part.
What sort of life had she left where she was so against accepting gifts?
Jasper stared at him for several long moments, gears turning behind her eyes.
“Oh my dear sweet gods.” She exhaled heavily and closed her eyes, pinching the bridge of her nose. “You’re serious. You were being serious. Sweet fuck, how are you even real?”
Despite herself, despite everything, she could feel an incredulous giggle bubbling in her throat. She tried to swallow it down, giving her head a brisk shake before she looked Jace up and down again.
“Alright, little dove. Let’s go for a walk,” she acquiesced with a sigh. Because she couldn’t pay him back, but she didn’t want to be in his debt either, and if all he really wanted from her was some company and conversation—hells. Why not. It wasn’t like she’d be sticking around town long anyway.
He tried to tuck back his smile, but it was hard to contain it.
He moved to walk with her, gesturing for her to tag along as he moved towards the inner part of the town.
"You sure about this?" he asked, feeling a bit guilty she just caved and all. He leaned towards her, giving a charming but sheepish grin. "I mean, I know some girls fancy I can be good looking.." he teased...
Hopefully the jest wouldn't scare her away, but he liked to poke fun at others, and it's been a while he could jest around with someone and..
part of him felt comfortable with her, even if she was..
well, a bit grouchy on the outside!
Jaz glared at him, but didn't hit him, which for her was actually almost affectionate. "I'm sure they do," she drawled laconically. "Forgive me if I don't see the appeal."
That was a lie. He was adorable—boyish, but with a few sharp lines to his form and features that belied the kind of man he may grow into.
But thinking about that was hardly a protective use of her time, so she ignored it. "So. Jace." She said his name like it was a foreign word she didn't quite understand the meaning of. "Where exactly are you planning to go from here?"
And boyish he was, as he smiled at her while they walked and gave a casual shrug.
"I don't know. I don't exactly have a particular or set plan." Which was true. He just knew his goal was close and the dreams would continue to point him in the right direction...Or the trail grow cold if he had gone the wrong way. So he may as well enjoy companionship on his long road where he could. He never knew where he might show end up next.
"I just intended to enjoy the day. See the sights, that sort of thing." He turned to her, curiously. "What about you? Got any time to join me for dinner after our stroll?"
Somehow, his conversations tended to lead with food. Then again, he did like to eat!
Well…in for a penny…
Plus, free food. How often did she get that?
Well, almost free. Bought with conversation, apparently. She supposed she’d done worse for less.
“Sure,” she answered with a shrug. “Why the hells not.”
Her eyes kept flitting about warily as they walked, but she had to admit that so far it was just…a nice day in town. No sign of danger, aside from the general oddness of her companion. But she was starting to believe that was just how he was.
Jace laughed.
"So it's a date?" He teased, then offered out his arm in the most gentlemanly manner.
Jasper groaned even as she cautiously took his arm. "I knew it. I knew I was going to regret this," she grumbled—though by now it seemed it was almost more for the form of the thing than because she was truly annoyed.
It was just one day. She could spare that; it wasn't as though she had any particular destination in mind herself, and she highly doubted her old teacher would simply pop up on the next street at any given moment.
He couldn't help but laugh.
"You're making it sound like my company is such a bad thing. But I can assure you, I'm no more crazy than the next person you'll meet!"
Was that even a compliment to himself? Either way, he was having fun, and a part of him sensed.. or rather hoped, that she was having fun, too.
"Come on," he tugged her along. "Oh, look! An antique shop!" He spun to her. "Wanna look inside and check out all the old stuff in there?"
"Do I have a choice?" Jasper sighed, but she allowed him to pull her along without any resistance.
Antiques. Huh. Okay.
Maybe she could actually find something useful in here. Sure, Connlaoth had cracked down on magic hard in recent years--decades--whatever, she couldn't keep up. But that hadn't always been the case. Maybe...maybe she could find something to help.
Help with what? a cynical voice asked in the back of her mind. Did she really think she could ever go back home?
Did she even have one anymore?
Jasper's steps slowed slightly and her brow furrowed as she tried to shake that thought away.
Jace laughed and joked as he took her hand, "I guess not!" and playfully pulled her along, opening the door for her and gesturing insid, "After you, my lady." And as he did so, something tensed when the scent of this woman (a strange smell of sun and something sweet) mixed with the musty, dusty air of the Antique shop...
And his mind went to the swamp in his dreams...
To the running in the bog and....
He shook it off and smiled more broadly.
"I bet there's a lot of neat stuff in there." He tore his eyes away from her and looked within, and as his eyes adjusted, he noticed some cool brass trinkets.
"Oh! Look at those!" And he moved passed her to scoop them but- not with his hands, but his eyes- taking in all the ornate details where intricately cut holes were bunched through the metal and small, faded gems lined along the sides. It looked like some strange trinket box, circular in shape with a latched lid that Jace poked with a finger.
Once again, Jasper felt her magic flare as though in response to--to something. But it couldn't be Jace, could it? He was so harmless it was almost unreal!
She had to pull her hand back from his, fearing that he would feel the rising heat of the power at her fingertips even through her gloves. She wrung her hands together, hoping to pass the movement off as a nervous tic rather than a rejection of contact.
"Hm? What is it?" She was so distracted by her own thoughts that she actually had to give her head a brisk shake to refocus on what had captured her companion's attention. Her eyebrows crept up once she had, and she gave a low whistle. "Aw, damn, I haven't seen one of those since I left Ser--home." She winced as she stumbled over the words, but barreled on in an effort to hide the slip, "I mean, if it's what I think it is. Might just be a pretty box, but it looks like..."
She narrowed her eyes, cocking her head as she took a step closer. "It looks like an old Serenian puzzle box. See how the latch has those three grooves on either side of it? You're supposed to be able to spin the lid to get them to line up so it'll open. I think."
"Really? Woah.."
Jace looked the thing over, tugging here and pulling there before something clanked to the ground.
"Whoops. " He bent down and picked up...
"Is this a key?"
Jasper knelt automatically and started to reach for the thing before quickly snatching her hand back. She wasn’t sure what exactly was happening when she touched Jace, but she knew she didn’t want to encourage her magic, not here, not ever.
“Looks like it,” she muttered, rocking back on her heel and looking around the shop. Her brow scrunched up slightly. “Hey…does it seem weird to you that we’re the only ones in here?”
Jace paused, key in hand as he glanced around. He remained quiet and heard a noise and signaled her to remain, still and quiet. Then he snuck down the aisle of trinkets and peered around the edge to see...
He chuckled and glanced back in her direction.
"Seems the shopkeep is asleep!"
Jasper rolled her eyes. "Of course he is." Was it something in the water around here? Why was everyone so trusting?
"In that case, let's head out before he wakes up," she said with a shrug and a nod toward the key he held. He'd solved the box, so it was basically his, right?
Jace apparently thought differently, moving towards the shopkeep's table and gently placing the key and box ontop of it. It was a subtle noise, and their talking was significantly louder than it- but it seemed that was enough to wake the man up as he gave a garbeled snort of a snore and sat up.
"Oh!" He blinked his wide, orange eyes at the pair, shaggy grey eyebrows raising. "Customers!" And he paused a moment to look down, adjusting the spectacles half falling down his nose at the box.
"Ah, so you're interested in this trinket here?" he asked, gently picking up the antique in a cupped hand, leaving the key still resting upon the table.
Oh, for fucks sake!
Jasper swallowed down a groan and let her shoulder lean up against the shop wall, arms folded and tapping her fingers irritably against her own elbow. It would have been so easy to just take the damn key, but no. Of course not.
Kid was too nice for his own good.
"The trinket's worthless without whatever it is that key goes to," she pointed out, carefully bored.
Jace's dark eyes danced, amused. But he didn't look her way and asked the shop key the price.
"For this? Yes, hrmm , let's see here. Should cost at least two silver pieces."
Jace smiled at the price and hesitated before he leaned back and scratched at the back of his head.
"That much, huh?"
"It's rare, that it is. But it's been on my shelves for some time. Afraid I still can't sell it for less. Price on its firm."
"Are you kidding me?"
Jaz stared the shopkeeper down. "You're not even offering whatever it is that key unlocks. That's a rip and you know it."
The old man shrugged.
"Price is firm."
Jace was tempted, but that would be the last of his silver and well, he would need to eat!
"It's okay, we were just looking anyway." He gestured to Jasper. "We should probably continue our date, " he said with a playful grin.
Jasper sighed and rolled her eyes. "Yeah, yeah, date. Sure. Come on."
She stepped forward to herd Jace toward the door, throwing the shop owner a dirty look as she did—and slyly pocketing the puzzle box and key both.
Growing up on Ketra's streets had taught her master pickpocketing, if nothing else.
Once they stepped outside, Jace stretched his lean and lanky, lightly muscled body.
"That was fun. Wonder what almost trouble we can find next?" He asked, flashing her a boyish grin. "Maybe the book store next? "
Jasper fought the urge to roll her eyes yet again--and fought harder to keep a smile off her lips. Damn, the kid was infectious.
"Fine," she drawled with a shrug. "Not like I've got anyplace special to be."
Jace's grin widened.
"Well, now you do!" He gestured toward the street, and pointed up the winding town street towards a wooden sign that looked like a book.
"Looks like the book store is up that-a-way." He turned to her, smirking again, his eyes dancing with a light, playful mischief. "Up for a climb?" He examined the road with a whistle. "Impressive to have such steep roads in this town."
"Oh, great." Jasper gave him a baleful look as she trailed along after him. She honestly had no idea why she was still humoring this, but she couldn't seem to make herself stop. "You're one of those people who actually likes exercise, aren't you?" she grumbled.
Jace blinked.
He was pretty skinny, but he had muscle on him, solid, but ones that indicated he was built more for endurance, running- than brute strength. She might have judged correctly.
Then he laughed, tossing his head back, and it seemed others didn't understand what was so funny, and why this young man- dressed like a thug or gang member, was laughing so loudly. An older woman ushered her horse drawn cart much more hurriedly up the hill- she definitely didn't want to stick around some crazy kid.
"I guess you could say that. I mean, I can't say I exactly exercise, but I don't sit around like some rock stuck in a stream." He paused to consider and laughed while adding, "I'm more like the river itself!"
Jasper snorted, rolling her eyes yet again--and cutting an exasperated look toward the older woman who hurried herself along as she did. She'd been on the receiving end of more than one such similar experience, and while she couldn't say it bothered her, exactly--she knew better than most that people had a right to be wary--she didn't like the feeling it inspired either.
"Alright, River Boy," she muttered, unthinkingly reaching out to take Jace's arm and start up the hill. "Sooner we get going, sooner I don't have to climb anymore hills--"
Her voice cut off in a sharp inhale as the...the whatever it was she had felt before when they touched flared up again. Her magic crackled at her fingertips against the inside of her gloves and she snatched her hand back quickly, cradling it to her chest as though she'd burned it.
The reaction was strange, and Jace jerked too, his face scrunching with uncertainty as he peered at her.
"Oh.. sorry I..." he raised his brows though, not sure what to apologize for. "Did I.. hurt you?" because truly, he was confused if he had!
It seemed the lady with the cart may have heard whatever that exchange was too, for she was urging her horse to go faster up the hill. Steepness be damned. She didn't want a dangerous thug to rob her of her goods- she had just gotten here!
"What? No. No, of course you didn't." Jasper scowled, but it was more at her hand than at him.
Just what the hells was going on?
"I'm fine," she huffed, tossing her hair and shaking her hand out subtly and let it drop back to her side. "Let's just...keep moving."
Jace frowned.
"Are you sure you're alright?"
He would feel bad if he had somehow done something to her but...
What had happened?
He stared at his hand a moment, the zinging sensation fading. He turned his hand over, still pondering when a SNAP and a scream tore him from his thoughts-
His dark eyes widened as a bulky cart burst free of it's latches and came barreling their way!
Without thinking, Jace shoved all of his weight at Jasper- shouting, "WATCH OUT!" before the damn cart was nearly crashing upon him.
He wasn't sure what he was thinking. He wasn't some man with super human strength-
He was just Jace. Power only weilding in his dreams...
powers that only he could weild in this dreams....
But be it because he was chivalrous, and had this insane urge to protect screaming inside his head, he had grabbed the nearest thing to him- some rinky dink shovel compared to a barreling cart- SHOVED it clean towards the cart wheels to help off set it's balance when theshovel cat, snapped, didn't do a thing before it smashed into Jace's form, which was enough to off set it and send it wobbling into a nearby shed, (ironically not occupied) before it went crashing through it, and clammered to a halt at it's back walls- leaving the majority of it open, and ruined.
Where as the young man who had been the thing to offset it's rampaging direction-
he laid a bloodied heap upon the hill side road.
Everything happened too fast for her to properly see any of it. She heard the snap, the panic, was just turning her head to see what was happening when suddenly Jace knocked into her and sent her sprawling over the ground--
Out of the way.
For a long moment, Jasper could do little more than stare at him as a crowd slowly began to gather, murmuring. Then a strangled cry caught in her throat and she lurched to her feet, nearly tripping over herself to kneel next to him, muttering, "Don't be dead, don't be dead, please don't be dead..."
She wasn't heartless--she'd never have been able to watch someone be hurt, hurt because of her, and not at least want to help. But a lifetime of "look out for yourself" had taught her to weigh the odds, the cost and benefit, and this... Yes, Jace, had saved her, but she hardly knew him. She had no real obligation; she could have easily slipped back into the crowd and disappeared, left someone else to help.
But she didn't. She couldn't. And the worst part was she didn't even know why
Jace didn't stir, blood coating his lips and face, and a large nasty gash ran up the length of his leg.
Jasper looked around, growing desperate, as the people around them murmured and shook their heads—and most began to move on.
He was just a street kid. It was unfortunate, but...not worth their effort to stop and help. Not when he's die young anyway.
Jasper gritted her teeth against a surge of helpless rage and scooped her hands under Jace's arms, trying to keep his head steady against her shoulder as she began to drag him down a side alley, out of view.
Healing spells had never been her strength, but if she could just get him stable, then she could get him to a real healer. One who wouldn't be arrested for magic if she got caught.
This is so, so stupid.
Darkness all but consumed him, pulling him into the fog of his dreams. He was in the swamps again,but he couldn't make out much details for the whole place was enveloped in a red fog.
A purplish light pulsed somewhere in the mists, so he moved towards the beacon of light, not knowing what else to do. It was then he saw the figure of Kadiddle, the strange sluggish caterpillar type guide in this world of dreams. It seemed the strange light came from the whiskered dream slug but as Jace approached... something seemed... off.
"Kadiddle?" He asked, hesitating with each step as he drew nearer, only to pause when he realized.. "You're bleeding."
The lethargic slug turned to him,breathing slow, breathing labored.
"No," came his voice. "I do not bleed." He waggled his whiskers as unfocused eyes peered around. Then he turned to Jace. "You bleed. You are dieing. "
"C'mon, wake up, wake up, please..."
Jasper was crouched over Jace's body, one hand spread over the center of his chest, the other hovering above what she assumed were fractured ribs. She was no accomplished healer, but as best she could tell, the worst of his injuries were a broken rib that had punctured his lung. If she could just get that healed, just do enough to keep him conscious until she could get him to someone who actually knew what they were doing...
"Jace, please, wake up," she breathed, feeding magic desperately into his body. It didn't occur to her to worry that, if simply touching his hand had been enough to spark some strange reaction from her power, actually using her magic to heal him might do...something similar.
She didn't have time to consider it. He was dying, and if her magic wasn't enough to get him stable...she didn't know what to do.
That's when something bloomed, a sound, an image of color.. a light. Jace looked up at the sky, then the world around him, reality seeming to shift and bend like a kaleidoscope.
"What.. what's going on?" Jace stammered, eyes only tearing away from the ribboning scene when he heard Kafiddle speak.
"She's near," the worm like creature gurgle and croaked and was suddenly vomiting out some strange cloth like substance that he began to frantically knit with the series of rippling arms and legs down his segmented body.
Jace's face skewed, his confusion clear before he turned back to the world, light streaming down warmly into it. The light.. it.. it was strange, as if it were made of silk as it touched him lightly and he regarded it for a moment before reaching his own hand out and touching the light.
And his world hissed white.
And the young man suddenly jetked back into reality, pale and sweating and shaking in his own blood. And for a moment he couldn't see. And for a moment he could still hear the echoing clattering of Kadiddle 's frenzied knitting before a strange sigh escaped between the world's and Jace could see the earth abd sky and woman before him.
Magic exploded behind her eyes in a kaleidoscope of color, forcing her to choke back a cry as she reeled back from her prone companion and waved blindly in front of her face, as though trying to clear smoke from her vision.
"What the hell are you?" she breathed as the color slowly faded back to a familiar pulse of power in her fingertips, unaware that Jace seemed to be regaining consciousness. "What...how...?"
Shit. Was he even still breathing? She was close to panic, not sure why her magic was reacting the way it did and now terrified that someone might have seen.
"Jace, please tell me you're still breathing."
Jace lay there in a heap, breathing and wheezing hard before he croaked a weak reply, 'Okay "
He managed a small smile.
"I'm.." he wheezed. "Still.. breathing." And he closed his eyes, as if speaking wore him down to the bone.
"Oh thank gods." Jasper bent forward, panting. Her vision was spinning—she hadn't used magic that draining in months. "Can—can you stand? We need to get you to a healer..."
Jace groaned, breathing still labored.
"Not... sure, " he winced when he tried to move, the pain catching the breath in his throat.
"Easy, easy." She put a hand on his shoulder, grateful that her gloves were still working—even if this odd boy seemed occasionally immune to the distance they provided. "Here, lemme help..."
Carefully, she tried to get to her feet and bring him with her, one hand against the wall of the alley in an effort to steady them both.
But as she did, Jace felt whatever strength remained gave out as he toppled against her with a gasp.
"Whoa, whoa." Jasper staggered under his weight, just barely able to avoid dropping to her knees. "Steady on. Just breathe. You still with me?"
Jace groaned but managed to give her a boyish grin.
"Naturally, " he flirted. "Even death can't keep me from making a pretty girl smile."
And did he ever look like hell.. but hey, he wasn't dead. And he also hoped he could atleast get a smile out of her.
She snorted at that, rolling her eyes heavily. "Gods save me from sweettalkers," she grumbled, fighting to keep a tiny smile from her lips. "Come on. If you can flirt, you're well enough for us to get you to a healer without me having to carry you the whole way."
Jace beamed but most of his energy was spent. But he helped the best he could, grimacing with each move until the pair were standing.
"You know..." he wheezed, smile still pained across his lips. "If I knew you liked injured men, I might have tried to hurt myself earlier," he croaked a joke.
"You hush. You don't have the strength to be making jokes." She glanced back out of the alley where she'd rushed with him when he'd first been injured, trying to figure out...well, what to do.
"I don't know this city," she cursed quietly. "I don't know where to find a healer..."
Jace closed his eyes painfully, but somehow managed a laugh. But he felt that familiar pull.. a sleepy lull....
He thought back to Kadiddle and stiffened suddenly. He said the Dreamer was close, real close.
Could it be possible....? He opened his eyes to study Jasper.
Is it possible this young woman is the one he sought?
But then he grew tired, eyes remarkably heavy.
"Heh.. would be a shame to die now."
"Nonononono, no dying," Jasper snapped, and had to resist the urge to grab for him. She didn't want to accidentally make him worse.
Damnit, they needed a real healer.
"Okay." She took a breadth. "Okay." Adjusting her gloves, she shuffled her grip on him him and started to tuck herself under his shoulder cautiously. "If I can...get your arm around me, help you stand, do you think you can walk?"
Jace only smiled. It was hard to tell if he was listening, his eyes distant, mind fogging in and out.
"I've had dreams..." he mumbled, eyes seeming to glaze. "Did you know not everybody dreams? Some are lucky not to..."
He suddenly coughed. Blood.. he had coughed up blood. He winced, blinking and his eyes registered her.
"Do you dream?" he asked, eyes meeting hers.
"What—yes, of course I dream."
What in all hells was he talking about? Oh gods, she didn't know what to do if he went properly delirious.
"Hey, focus, huh?" She took a few steps, trying to guide him along with her. "C'mon, let's get you to a healer..."
She needed to keep him moving, keep him properly conscious.
"Why don't you tell me about these dreams?" she said quickly as she tried to guide him along.
Jace couldn't tell if he was walking, staring, drifting.. dreaming...
"Sometimes we dream to protect... " he laughed..smile weak. "I guess I lived that one.."
And he began to fall away. The darkness was too strong, too hungry...
And he felt so very tired.
"Hey! Keep your eyes open, c'mon!" Jasper shook him gently, staggering along with him down the road. "You great lump, I can't carry you all the way by myself! C'mon, Jace, work with me here..."
He slumped against her, eyes barely cracked open. Yet somehow he managed a wide smile.
"You know.. you're really beautiful," he murmured, lips barely able to mutter the words. He closed his eyes. "Thank you.."
"Wh-what are you—Jace!"
She sank down with him as his weight dragged at her. Desperate, she looked around wildly.
"Help! Someone, help!"
The healer they'd been escorted to by one of the few kindly passer-by ushered Jace onto a bed and shooed Jasper from the room.
"B-but—!"
"Out, until I have him stable," the healer snapped, and slammed the door in her face.
When the healer returned, they looked weary to the bone. They waved Jasper forward and sighed.
"He's as stable as I can get him. He's in pretty rough shape. I was afraid to let him rest but I think a concussion is the least of his worries. "
And that didn't bode well.
"He actually seemed to be fighting off sleeping.. even after I got him to down some herbs. But he's in there sleeping now if you want to see him."