I came awake instantly with someone looming over me, his hand on my shoulder. Bolting to my feet, I shoved a man onto the bed, switching places with him. Wind raged in my ears. Shutters banged. A cold sweat on my skin. The man on my bed held out open hands, crooning words soft and low and in a strange tongue. I hesitated, not knowing who he was or why he was in my room.
He stood, took a step towards me.
I sidled away.
“Feraline Hope Swift, listen to me.” Gone was the soft tone. In its place was an order, demanding obedience right this instant. Mixed with my full name, I had to hear him, even as I searched for Railey and wondered how he'd gotten in. “You will wake up. Leothuwaceh.”
His emerald ring flared.
A jolt raced through my heart, stinging when it reached my fingertips. I realized, as the pain faded, that I stood opposite from Mordon, my heart thumping, my element howling through the open windows. I gasped, sinking to the bed, my strength gone.
I clutched my chest, taking myself through slow breathing exercises. The wind died gradually, by degrees, as I relaxed. I collapsed on the bed, hid my head in shame.
The bed dimpled as Mordon sat down beside me. “How are you?”
“Pretty embarrassed.”
“There's nothing to be embarrassed about.” He leaned back, putting his arm behind me, yet not touching my night shirt. The starlight surrounded us, rendering the room into a surreal scene. “You were deep in that nightmare. What was it about?”
“I…” I sighed. “It's one of those things that you'd have to talk about forever before you can even broach the subject.”
“I take it that it wasn't the walking animation?”
“No.”
He cocked his head to the side. “I'm listening.”
But I didn't know how much I wanted to tell. “What was that spell you did on me?”
“Just now? Leothuwaceh. I commanded you to become calm. It's one of the most useful spells I know.”
“It doesn't feel very calming.”
“I apologize. It is not a pleasant thing to awaken to, but it does feel soothing under normal circumstances.”
“It's fine.” I curled my legs up underneath me, wanting to be hugged but feeling too naked for it. “Someone was trying to kill me. A hag.”
Mordon raised a brow. “A hag in the true sense, or in the general terms?”
“What's a hag in the true sense?”
“They masquerade as humans, but they're a small form of troll in reality.”
I paused, wondering. “I don't know. How about wicked witch?”
“Sounds fine. What did this wicked witch want?”
“Me dead. Said it was her mission to fix me of my cure.”
“And the method of cure was execution?”
“Apparently so.”
A line formed between his brows. “Odd. I seem to have heard that before.”
A chill tickled my back. I shifted, rubbing my foot to restore life to the toes. “It was just a dream.”
“Are you certain?” Mordon asked, his eyes luminescent as they studied me.
I clasped my hands together. “What do you mean?”
“Are you certain it was a dream, not a repressed memory?”
“Of course it was a dream. How else would I be alive now?”
Mordon nodded. He stroked his chin with one hand, gazing off into nothing.
Eventually, I returned to my pillow, hiding under a blanket. Mordon didn't move from his spot, stroking his bare chin and thinking.