To James he says, “Take your dreams. They start out nice, but when you are about to make contact with Cassie, shadows and other things work to stop you. Finally thrusting you from the dream altogether.”

“That would explain a lot of things,” agrees James.

“So what should we do about it?” Stig asks. “Wait for more dreams?”

James shakes his head. “No. In the morning we are going to head to the City of Light, find the room with the pedestal, and discover why Miko must go there.” He glances at Jiron and says, “I know this will take more time before we can begin the search for Tinok. But with everything going on, I feel we must.”

“Then tomorrow we make for the City,” agrees Jiron. “You haven’t steered us wrong yet. If you feel this is what we must do, then so be it.” Behind his eyes the others can tell he wants nothing more than to head straight into the Empire to find his friend. Circumstances seem intent on keeping him from that goal.

James stands up and says, “We all need to get our sleep. It’s a long way to the City from here.”

Miko nods and lies back down on his blanket, the Star already having been returned to his pouch.

James makes sure everyone is returning to their blankets, everyone but Stig that is, it’s his turn at watch. Once they are, he lies down and churns over the events in his mind. He’s amazed by the fact that he was able to enter another’s dream and wonders if he could do it again. He can’t help but wonder if someone had a hand in supplying Scar with that information, wouldn’t be the first time such a handy piece of information crossed his path at just the right time. Trying to still his troubled thoughts, it’s a long time before he’s finally able to fall back to sleep.

Chapter Five