Dream Seeker (The Wise Ones Book 6)

Book summary

"Dream Seeker" introduces Jarek, a blind child promised the gift of sight and a place among the Wise Ones. Inside the protective walls of Lar's academy, he seeks knowledge and safety but is abducted to the realm of Marwen, thrust into a world of dark magic and political intrigue. This abduction triggers world-changing events, leading to unexpected alliances and the forging and breaking of bonds. Jarek's journey of transformation unfolds amidst the chaos of war, as he confronts challenges and seeks his true identity and purpose.

Excerpt from Dream Seeker (The Wise Ones Book 6)

Liri watched the boys from afar and shuddered. It was too much like her own pitiful past. She saw the younger boy rattling his dented tin cup to attract the attention of passersby. Most of the people of Wallward gave little heed to the orphan. His grimy hand gripped the staff that led him safely through the streets. Had he always lived on the streets tucked up against the solid Wall that bordered his entire world?

In his mind, Liri heard a curiosity to one day leave the market where he begged for scraps and coins to feed himself and his brother. No, this was his whole world. His ragged trousers showed his scabbed knees. He had split them at least a year since, and although he wasn’t large for his eight years, he was outgrowing the clothing some kind lady had given him when he was four.

At least he had his blindness to rely on. The poor older brother had no such handicap. Instead, the thirteen-year-old hovered nearby, protecting the younger. He survived scrapes that left him bruised, skittish, and not a little bit angry. He often ran errands for shopkeepers and raided the garbage of the kitchens beyond the market shops for his supper. Surprisingly, he wasn’t a thief. He always gave his little brother most of what he found.

How selfless, Liri thought.

Now something about them attracted Liri to this far corner of the Land. The incessant itch that lured her here resonated within these two. She couldn’t tell which one yet, but one of them would be a Wise One – a magician of great power. And she had come to Wallward to introduce that world to him.

Yet, she saw they loved each other with a fierce protectiveness that translated well on the streets of Wallward. Heaven help anyone who would dare come between them. Like her.

How could Liri break these two apart? The boys’ minds entwined so tightly that the magic that lured her here to them settled like smoke over the sandy streets.

Then there was a demon hovering above the city that gave her pause. So, she could not wait.

Liri conjured a small coin and walked out of the alley where she hid to watch the boys. She passed the blind boy, dropping the coin into his cup. Her magical wave of warmth registered as he heard the plink of a coin in his tin.

“Thank you,” he called out. Then the boy’s head lifted as if he scanned the sky.

Was he the one? Could he sense the demon that hung invisibly over the city? That reaction assured Liri she had chosen the right boy. She sat down right beside him on the curb. He gripped his cane in preparation to defend himself. Perhaps someone had given him a coin on a pretense of stealing his whole cup. What a nasty trick.

“You don’t have to be afraid of me,” Liri’s soft voice reassured. “I just saw you there and wanted to chat on this fine morning. What’s your name?”

The little boy didn’t reply, but instead rattled his can, ignoring her. Anyone who wanted to ‘chat’ was up to something, his thoughts screamed.

“Finn? Who is this?” The older brother shifted across the traffic to assess his brother’s predicament.

Liri smiled, grateful for the shortening of the blind boy’s name, especially with a demon around. Liri looked up at the older boy and did not react to his protective stance. She would have to handle both brothers.

“Finn? That’s a nice name. And you are?” Liri addressed the older boy.

“I’m his brother. And who are you?”

Finnick – for that was surely his whole name - – squirmed at his brother’s defensiveness. Liri put out the coals of suspicion with a smile and warm thoughts. “You may call me Lady Liri. I came here looking for you boys.”

The elder boy growled in distrust. Finnick’s chin lifted as if to glance at the sun overhead, again sensing the demon that stalked the garrison city. Liri dipped into Finnick’s thoughts to tell. No, he was a dreamer. He was wondering about her title and speculated about why a lady would seek him out. A lady? As in, from the Lord’s house?

Finnick knew of Wallward’s lord. However, he doubted anyone in that household would wander the crowded streets and strike up conversations with begging boys. Then Finnick’s thoughts drifted to her voice and warm scent. She was a nice lady, he had decided.

“She’s not going to rob us, Davos,” Finnick assured. Liri’s subtle spell had relaxed him at least.

Then Liri switched her mental focus to the elder brother, Davos. He was still suspicious. She was dressed as the other farmwives in the market. Her clear skin and shining golden eyes seemed out of place. Her hands, however, were as calloused as a dishwasher. She didn’t look like the darker people from the south, out of Marwen. Where was this lady from, Davos wanted to know.

Liri smothered a smile at his stubbornness. “You’ve been taking care of Finn for a long time, haven’t you? That’s good. I’ve got an offer for the two of you. I want to get you off the streets. If you come with me to the garrison, I’ll arrange work and a permanent home for you. You might even get some training. You’ll be safe, off the street.”

Both Finn and Davos scoffed. “Not in this world,” Davos muttered under his breath.

Liri dove into his mind and heard all the other well-wishers who had tried to help the boys. Davos hated to be reliant on others. He immediately distrusted anyone, suspecting ulterior motives.

“You won’t be answerable to anyone if you don’t want to be,” she tried again. “You will still have your freedom.”

Liri remained in their private thoughts over her strange offer as it hung like smoke from a smothered campfire. Finally, when they could not imagine anything else to say, they both spoke.

“Why?” the boys said in tandem, but Davos continued without his brother’s input. “Why would you do this for us?”

Liri looked down at her hands, chapped with fire. “I have a gift for Finn. I might be able to give him his sight.”

For a long moment, Liri heard the stunned silence of disbelief in their thoughts. Finn regained his tongue first. “I’ve never been able to see. No one but God can do that.”

Davos scoffed. “Only a huckster would promise him his vision. Not even magic can do what you’re suggesting, and we don’t trust magic…unless you count this Wall. And all it does is protect us from invaders.”

“Nevertheless, I want to try,” Liri responded.

Now the older brother grew testier. “I don’t see how following you to the garrison will bring his sight. The two aren’t related,” he pointed out logically. “Besides, we do well enough, and he earns more than I do by being blind. We don’t need your help, lady.”

Liri looked up, checking on the unseen presence. No demon in range, Liri judged, and then quickly answered, “You’re clever, aren’t you? Very well, I cannot give this gift to your brother until he’s older and fully grown. For that to happen, he’ll need you to protect him. That means you both need a safe bed and decent food for several years to come. Otherwise, neither of you will reach manhood. Someone will see to that. However, at the garrison, you will enjoy protection so that you both can grow up in safety. Then when he’s an adult, I can give Finn his gift, but not until.”

Davos’ mouth closed before he let out his bitter words. He peered over at his little brother to see some sign of how he felt. The younger boy rattled the two coins in his cup instinctively and then said, “It sounds like one of my fairy tales.”

“That’s because it is. Magic like that doesn’t exist,” Davos said, although the hope in his tone came easily to Liri’s ears.

“Oh, it exists. What do you think built this Wall?” challenged Liri. “What do you have to lose?”

As if it were decided, Liri stood up, dusted herself off, and looked up the crowded street. “Tell you what, I’ll go over there so you two can discuss my offer.”

She didn’t wait for them to agree but walked off to the nearest vendor of bread down the road half a block. She could have overheard the boys from miles away, but they did not know that. She easily sensed Davos’ keen eye on her back as she surveyed the bread at a baker’s cart.

“What do you think of her proposal?” asked Davos.

“It’s magic she’s offering,” Finnick affirmed, “but I think she means it. You’ve always wanted to be a soldier. I bet at the garrison you’d be able to learn.”

“In other words, we’ve got nothing to lose, if we can be together. She did say that we could leave if we didn’t like it,” countered Davos.

“In other words, we’ve got nothing to lose,” agreed Finnick. “I might like stories of magic, but I don’t think I believe she can give me sight. I’m not going to believe it…until I see it.”

“Ha, ha,” Davos muttered sardonically then added, “Well, let’s see what it’s like at the garrison before we reject her offer. She doesn’t seem the type to abuse us or lie. She looks too nice to have anything but an honest offer. If there’s no magical sight for you, we’ve lost nothing.”

As if she had heard their decision, Liri crossed back over the street bearing two thick rolls and a hunk of cheese, which she held out to them as a trust offering. Warily Davos took a bite, and then he told his brother it was good, and they both ate greedily.

“Well, gentlemen, what have you decided?” Liri asked in a careful tone. She dared not frighten them away. Demons overhead might make that clear, and she dared not alert them to the importance of their decision.

“We’ll see what the garrison has to offer, but we won’t agree to stay if we are not satisfied,” Davos announced for them both.

“Agreed.” Liri held out an upturned hand to seal the deal. Davos slapped her palm. “And you too, Finn?”

Finnick didn’t understand what was done until Liri reached out and took his hand off his stick, opened his palm, slapped it, and then gave him back his cane.

“Now, if you’ll follow me…” Liri led them off through the city streets, confident that they willingly came after her.

Both boys knew of the garrison, but from their thoughts, Liri could hear they had never been inside. Wallward boasted a large contingent of men because of its spot on the border, but although it was well-armed, the magic of the Wall was the town’s finest defense. Nothing had come over the Wall since the days of the first Founding when Owaillion, King of Creating had teamed up with Vamilion, the King of the Mountains, to build a barrier so impenetrable that nothing but great mages could cross it.

Or flying demons, Liri reminded herself.

While the legend of building the Wall grew misty with time, Liri personally knew the Wise Ones who had built it. The edifice remained a massive witness to their continued power. Still, in Davos’ mind, she heard the simple sentiment; Wallward needed to rely on swords, shields, and the garrison. He didn’t trust magic to protect the Land. Instead, Davos’ thoughts dwelled on this new opportunity.