A warm pressure on my lips.  My eyes snapped open.  Framed against the planked ceiling, Axtilla gazed down at me.  I made a muffled noise, but her hand pressed tighter against my mouth and her eyes warned me.  Rolling my head to the side, I saw that Klasco was asleep, curled on his side, facing me.  His mouth was open and with each intake of air his throat made a tiny popping sound.

Pulling her hand away, she smiled and motioned for me to follow her.  She turned her back to me allowing me to get out of bed and slip on my trousers. Then, I followed her to the door on tiptoes.  It was my heartbeat, though, that I was afraid would awaken Klasco.  She opened the door and we went out into the hallway.  Without taking my eyes off her, I closed the door gingerly, so as not to make a clicking sound, and stared at her, shaking my head.

"Axtilla, I don't know—how did you—"
 
She shushed me with two fingers across my lips and then, without warning, she fell into my arms, quietly sobbing.  I held her tightly to me until her breathing became more regular, with only occasional spasms.  "Oh my Doc—trex, my dear, dear Doctrex.  Why—why did you leave me?"

"Let's get away from the door, Axtilla," I told her, escorting her down the hall, my arm across her back and my hand gripping her arm, probably too tightly—so afraid was I of losing her again.  When we were far enough away, I spun her around and embraced her.  Tentatively I pressed my lips against hers.  Then I pulled back enough to look into her eyes, but she guided me back to her lips.  Her mouth opened to receive mine.  Her lips and tongue were hot.  Her breaths came short and rapid.  Her nostrils were like a furnace blast against my face.

"Yes!  Yes, Doctrex—but, no!"  She pulled back from me and shook her head frantically side to side.  "Why, why did you leave me?  Where were you when I woke?  I thought—"  Tears sprang to her eyes.  "I thought the Pomnots had taken you—had killed you!"

I told her of the voice I had heard as she fell asleep, of the child, hanging from something above and calling to me for help.  I went on to explain how I attempted to leap out and pull her down but how she, instead, latched onto me and effortlessly pulled me through to another place, the place where I now was—where—thank God—she now was!

"That was little Sarisa," she interrupted to tell me.

"Yes!  Yes, but how did—"

"It was she who pulled me up and through.  I had been searching for you from below, frantic, abandoned to my fate that I'd never see you again.  I saw her, the same as you did—hanging from something above—only she told me that you were with her daddy and that she would take me to you.  She explained what you had done and I repeated the process.  When I leaped up near her I felt her grip my arms and some power—it had to be magical power—dragged me up to her world."

"And, you met Metra and Klea!  Oh, Axtilla, what a blessing!  And Metra told you that Klasco and I—"

"Had gone to Kabeez."

"And you—and you—but how did you know to stop at the inn?"

"Darling, look at us," she laughed.  "With everything we have to do to make up for missed opportunities—"  She sprang back into my arms directing short, hot, staccato breaths along the side of my face.  "I've missed you so much, my precious Doctrex.  We need to leave these halls, my love.  We mustn't be seen.  Let's go.  We must go outside where we can find a place to be alone."  With that she grasped my hand and led me, half dragging me, down the hallway to the door leading outside.  She thrust open the door and we ran out into the darkness.

Darkness!

I looked at her, helplessly.

She grinned, but it elongated into a fiendish sneer.  Her mouth twisted at its corner into a grimace.  "Brother," she said, but her voice was deep, cavernous.  "Your journey is so slow.  How long must I wait for our reuniting?"

At that very moment I felt a tightening in my side. 

There was a growling next to me.  I turned my head in that direction.  Klasco snorted, and flopped with a knotting of covers to face the wall away from me.

Axtilla!  I moaned, and closing my eyes tightly, I felt the tears trailing from either corner of my eyes, down to my ears.  
Klasco shook my shoulder.

I had been aware of his moving about the room for some time.  My back was to him, but I acknowledged him by raising my arm.

I could not go back to sleep since the dream, but lay there thinking of how cruel it had been.  Why would I have a dream so vivid that I could still feel the softness of Axtilla's skin, could inhale, at this very instant, the warm scent of her breath, could taste her sweet mouth?  Why?  To have it all evaporate to a wisp, a phantom!  Why?  Dreams could be useful.  I knew that, somehow.  But, why was I left with only this useless cruelty?

"I must leave soon," Klasco said in a voice just above a whisper.

I rolled to my back and sat up, trying a smile.  "The four of us will need to leave soon, too."  I got out of bed and slipped into my trousers.

"I have something for you," he said. 

"You are giving me so many things, Brother.  I shall repay someday."

"These are gifts and gifts are never repaid.  When you get to the camp you will be given clothing to wear.  And, from that moment on, as long as you are in the militia, your food and lodging will be supplied.  Also, you will be paid nicely.  But, since it will be a while before you receive your militia pay, you will need some credits for odds and ends.  From his pocket he took out some folded bills.  "This is also a gift, so I will hear no more about it.  Here are ten credits."

My math brain told me that ten credits were the equivalent of three hundred and fifty dollars! I tried to protest. 

"No!  No!  A gift," he said, adamantly.  "You and the brothers and Zurn may need some food in Kabeez before you go to the camp.  You will need oats for the crossans, perhaps boarding for them.  The other three may have some money, but they weren't expecting the cost of caring for their crossans.  They are doing Kabeez a great honor.  As are you!  So, you may help them with their shortages.  See?  You will be able to feel good about gifting them as well."

"Thank you, Brother."

He waved it off.  "We will say our goodbyes now.  While you are getting ready I'll be explaining to Klynch that he'll need to give you some private instruction on taking care of your crossan.  Go to him before you meet with the others."

I told him I would.

"Now, it's time to put formality aside."  He laid his hands on either side of my shoulder, giving them a squeeze.  "You are my Brother, truly.  I feel that part of me is going into battle with you—as you.  Don't be reckless!"

"Reckless?  That's a strange thing to say."

"Use the direction from your brain.  Use your powers of persuasion—even deception.  That is your strength."

"Why are you telling me this?"

"I wasn't going to.  I'm not sure I should tell you."  He was studying me, looking from one eye to the other."

I laughed.  "Tell me what?"

He was silent a moment, staring in my eyes.  "I had a vision in my sleep, brother."

The remnant of my laugh froze to my lips.

"I envisioned that Glnot Rhuether, himself, was in our room.  He told me he was waiting for you."  He blinked rapidly, and I felt the grip on my shoulders momentarily tighten, then release.  "Yes … he said that."

"What else did he say, Brother?  Klasco, tell me, what else did he say?"

He sighed.  "He wants you to be reckless."

"That's what he said?"

"No, that's what I'm saying.” 

"Then, what did he say?"

"That he has your love—your Axtilla—there with him.  There … there is a marriage planned.  But, don't you see, he wants you to be reckless!"

"It was a dream, Klasco!  Just a dream."  But I felt a cold shiver invade my body.

"It's a vision," he said, summarily.  "But the vision was of Glnot Rhuether.  He told me about your Axtilla.  He wants you to be reckless!  You mustn't be reckless!”