The Lost Dreamer is the first book in my Witch’s Brew series. Check out the first chapter now. Copyright 2013 by Elizabeth Paradise. No form of this may be duplicated for use by anyone without permission of the author.

The marble inside the Temple of Dreams was cool under my bare feet. I walked up the stairs as calmly as I could while my heart raced with excitement, and entered into the great entry hall of the temple. Not many people are allowed to enter the home of the Dreamers, but all who do sit in awe of the towering mosaic stone pillars and archways. The white and silvery polished stone shone brightly, with early morning sun nearly blinding me through the high arched windows.

I stopped just before the two guards at the doors. “I’m here to meet with the Dreamers,” I said as calmly as I could manage. They did not appear to be alarmed by my presence. My floor-length white dress signified my status as a Priestess of Purity. There had been plenty of new assignments for Priestesses recently to keep the traffic coming and going on assignments to take on the evils of the world.

Some said it meant that a dark storm was brewing out there in the world. The whispers of an unknown evil taking root somewhere out in the world kept the gossipers occupied. We’d all been kept busy with new uprisings, but most were close to home here in Dream City. The world truly was becoming a much darker place, but there was still a feeling of safety in the Temple of Dreams, where the Dreamers warned us of coming disasters with their prophetic dreams.

The guard on the left gave me a wink and smiled. I’d never met him before, but his smile warmed me and helped to soothe my nerves. The one on the right stepped inside the door and announced me without so much as a nod in my direction.

A moment later, I was inside the private conference hall of the Dreamers.

The room beyond was more full than I expected it to be. The meetings to accept new assignments usually consisted of only one of the Dreamers and their guardian. Today, there were two Dreamers and a Mother Priestess, with their guardians standing at watch on the edges of the room.

The Priestess in attendance was Arien. She was the wife of Vladd the Dreamer, and mother to the Dreamer who’d been kidnapped as a baby eighteen years before.

All I could think as I looked around the room was, Oh no! What have I done wrong? I worried that I was to be punished for some unknown reason. They had sent my guardian, Braidan, off on a task that morning just before summoning me here, and that deepened my worry.

As a young Priestess, I’d spent a lot of time training with the Mother Priestesses. They were required to stay here in Dream City, and could not take assignments. So they helped train young future Priestesses.

Arien stood to greet me. “Celeste my dear, we are so happy to see you.” She hugged me tightly, and then walked me to a chair near her. Her tone calmed me a bit.

The meeting room was warm and spacious, with wide cushiony chairs and dark wooden tables. The lamps hanging from the walls were shiny silver, but remained unlit on beautiful sunny days like that one. It wasn’t a large room. Half a dozen chairs sat in a wide circle around a table, with a brightly colored floral arrangement on it. The north wall was lined with three nearly floor-to-ceiling windows with sheer wispy curtains. A few bookshelves decorated the other walls, but the simple comfort of the room, was soothing.

I sank down into the soft chair beside Arien, and waited for them to speak to me.

Garret, at seventy the elder of the two Dreamers in the room, spoke first. He was a white-haired, wise looking man. He wore a blue robe, as he always did. It had tiny leaves decorating the edges in silver embroidery.

“You can relax, Celeste. You are not in trouble.” He smiled, making the wrinkles at the edges of his eyes stand out. “You have been chosen for a very special assignment that we all wanted to be present for.” He winked at me.

My heart began pounding even faster than it had before. I’m going on a special assignment for my first one without another Priestess? Having been graduated to Priestess of Purity at a young age—I’d just turned seventeen—I’d spent the last few years accompanying others on assignments.

I looked around the room to a smile on all three of their faces.

“Celeste, as a Priestess with a specialization in purity, you are a valuable asset to the life cycle that we all respect and live by,” Garret continued. “There has not been another Priestess that can do what you can, and will have to do.”

My head swam with curiosity, excitement, and a little bit of fear.

Then Dreamer Vladd spoke to me. He looked very similar to his father, Garret, only he was thirty years younger and his hair wasn’t white.

He wore his usual red robe with his hands tucked neatly inside hidden pockets within the folds. “There is a small island to the south of here named Terelia. It is a secluded land, and ruled by only one King. Venian is his name. They know little of us because they have chosen to live with their own rules. We are only a story to them. They have lived in secluded peace since before our time.

“This King Venian has grown lazy in his post, and has opened his heart to a demon. This demon has taken over Terelia, and now spreads a chaos plague that has infected nearly the whole land. With your purity base you will be expected to go there, kill the demon, and begin the healing process with the people there.

“We can’t allow this plague to spread any farther than it has already. If this demon called Torpaz gets too strong, he will move on to take over other lands. We must banish him to the dream world before that can happen.”

Well, that is a big task indeed, I thought, but hardly worthy of Mother Priestess Arien attending this meeting. Something else must be going on here.

A multi-toned male voice entered my mind. It was the voice of the combined Dreamers. The two were linked together. Any of the Priestesses and Dreamers can communicate with each other in that way.

“We have found the kidnapped Dreamer, Celeste. He is in that plagued land, Terelia. We need you to bring him home, and purify whatever curse the witch that took him put on him. It is nearing the time for a wife to be chosen for him. We need to ensure he is safe and uncorrupted.”

I closed my eyes. I was only a year old when Trelian, the newborn Dreamer, was taken from us by a witch. I remembered what a stir it had caused for years. Normally around this time all the young Priestesses who are of the right age to be chosen as a wife are excited and hoping to be picked. This time there had been no excitement, only whispers of what would happen if he never returned.

Vladd spoke aloud to me again. “Celeste, this is obviously a very sensitive assignment, which we would like to be kept quiet until we know the state that my son is in. We pray that he is whole, and that he has only been shielded from us by the witch all this time.”

I reopened my eyes and tried to relax my body, which was tense with nerves and excitement.

Vladd continued his instructions. “You will take your bonded guardian, of course. Guardian Aileena will also be joining you. I believe you know her?” I nodded. “Good. They will meet you at the docks. You will leave as soon as possible.” He stood and paced the room behind the circle of chairs. All eyes in the room were on him.

I wanted to ask about everything they knew about him, but I knew they would only tell me what I needed to know to complete my mission. There was one question that burned inside of me so much that I just had to get it out. “How did you find him? I mean … it’s been such a long time. Why now?”

“We only know where he is now because, somehow, the defenses the witch had in place are breaking down. Perhaps she has been forced to flee because she is not immune to this chaos plague like he is. We have seen him only briefly in dreams. The family he knows is in danger. The chaos plague will soon reach his village, and there will be chaos after. You may have trouble finding him if you don’t get to him before he is forced to flee. We really don’t know who the witch is, or why her defense is faltering, but we are thankful to have found him after all this time.”

Arien sat up straight in her chair which pulled the attention of the room to her. “The only question now is, which Priestess we can pull off of an assignment and send to meet Celeste at the castle to assist with the demon?”

Garret cleared his throat. “We don’t really have anyone close by that could go. She may have to wait there for whoever we can send.”

Vladd looked concerned at the thought of making me wait. “Any number of things could go wrong while she waits there for help. Let us hope that we can get someone there in time.”

I studied Mother Priestess Arien. She was like a mother to me with my family being so far away. I was the only one in my family ever to be born with the Priestess talent. Her concern for me, her son, and the land of Terelia was clear in the look of fear on her face. “We can’t let her wait that long. What if I go with her? I am capable of dealing with a demon. It has been years since I’ve been active in the field, but we can’t leave a demon on the loose for an unknown amount of time especially when we don’t know what condition our son is in.”

I hoped that I wouldn’t mess this up. I couldn’t let her risk her life for me. I made a difficult decision right then that I knew was risky, but was the safest option for everyone. I put on my bravest face and spoke up.

“We will be swift, and leave at once for Terelia. The two guardians I will be travelling with are some of the best there are. We will head straight for Trelian’s village, and get him to safety.”

I knew what I had to say next would be the hard part, but I had to show them that I was truly up for this task. “I can’t let you come with me, Mother Arien. I don’t think it’s safe to wait for another Priestess either. There are a few ways to take care of a demon who has taken over the body of another. My base in purity makes it a little easier than some other bases might be. My suggestion would be that I try to teach Trelian on the way. I will try to show him how to reconnect with you. When we get to the demon, I will take the demon Torpaz into myself the way we purity-based Priestesses usually do.

“I would then use a ceremonial dagger to pin it there inside me. Then, if I can get our young Dreamer even a tenth of the way towards believing in himself and using his abilities, the rest of his task will be manageable.” I took a deep breath. I could not let the fear of my plan overcome me.

Garret spoke to me in his quiet, speculative voice. “Your plan is risky, Celeste. You would have to make my grandson care if you live or die to make that option work. I don’t wish to risk the life of my wife, Arien, either, but that may be our best option. We don’t know what state Trelian is in, or how he was raised. We have only had a few glimpses of him, and know only that he is alive.”

I braced my hands against my legs. “Sir, I understand your concerns, but this is how I see it. He must know that he is different from the people around him.” I looked into Garret’s eyes. I wanted him to feel my confidence. “Think of how differently you behaved growing up than the other children here on the Isle of Life, mostly because what you see when you close your eyes is different from what the rest of the world sees. Imagine that magnified by being surrounded by people who have only heard of people like us distantly. They don’t know that people who dream about what did, and will happen, truly exist.

“He must feel alone in so many ways. He needs people who understand where he comes from. We can be that for him.”

I stood and paced some because I couldn’t stand sitting still any longer. I ached to get out there and start my mission because I knew that delaying even a little could be risking too many lives. When it comes to demons, they only care about death and destruction. The others watched me in silence. I could sense them linked together, sharing their thoughts with each other. It was a benefit I had with a specialization in purity. In order to purify something living you must tap into its mind, and cleanse the part that has been corrupted. I knew the ins and outs of a person’s mind better than any other Priestess had in a long time.

I stopped pacing in front of Garret. “If the plan fails, and he truly does not care if I live or die, then I will have to take the demon into myself anyway. There are no other Priestesses here on the Isle who could take on the other role. It is him, or it is no one. I refuse to risk Mother Arien. I will not take her with me. The cost is too great if something happens to her. No matter outcome, the demon must be dealt with, and Trelian must be opened up to the idea of who he truly is. In the end, if I must die, then Aileena can finish the task of bringing him home. The risk will be worth it, if it only my life I’m chancing.”

My decision was made. I was nervous about the consequences I may have to pay for ordering around the Dreamers, but I knew that if I didn’t show complete confidence, they would never let me go without Arien. Varied looks of concern shown on each of their faces. I took one last deep breath. I opened my mind to them without word. I pushed  my resolve, clarity, and confidence in this decision through the mental link. There would be no denying that I intended to follow this through  my own way.

Arien wrapped her arms around me. She directed her gaze at Vladd, her husband. “If this is her decision, I think we should let her follow through with it.”

His hands fidgeted with his robe. Garret looked just as nervous beside him.

Vladd turned to his father. “We did see her there without another Priestess. I suppose this is the way it is supposed to be. We don’t always have to like what we see in the dreams, but we can’t deny the truth of them either.”

Garret only nodded.

Arien squeezed her arms tighter around me. “You are truly as strong as I always believed you were child.” Then she pulled back, and looked into my eyes. “You bring my son home safe to me, and you come home safe with him. Do you hear me?”

I forced a smile. “Yes, Mother Arien. I promise to return the both of us to the safety of the Temple of Dreams.”

The multi-toned voice of the Dreamers popped back into my head. “It is decided then. You will go with a ceremonial dagger at once to Terelia, recruit the boy to our cause, cleanse the demon Torpaz from King Venian, and return to us.”

“I accept this assignment, my Fathers.”

Each of them stood, came to kiss me on the cheek, and bade me farewell. “I will keep you informed of my progress.” With a formal curtsy, I left the room.

I felt very alone in the city as I rode out to the docks without my guardian by my side. I knew Braidan was needed to help Aileena prepare for this assignment, and I would be safe enough within the walls of Dream City for this short ride. It felt like the ground beneath me was holding its breath, just waiting to see if I would fail. The air around me whispered to me like a flock of soft gossipers. The clouds above seemed to question my ability to save Trelian and banish the demon Torpaz to the dream world. I knew that it was all in my head, but that didn’t keep my skin from tingling and the hairs on my arms from standing on end.

The younger Dreamer is alive, and I have been chosen to rescue him!  The thought that I was chosen for this task was exhilarating.

The cool clean wind picked up a little as I neared the ship at the end of the pier. My black cloak whipped around, showing glimpses of the long white dress that signified my station as a Priestess of Purity. A young man greeted me at the boarding ramp. He took the reins of my horse, and led him onto the ship. I followed him on board.

“Good morning, Priestess,” said a weathered older man. It was Borin, captain of the ship that took the Priestesses off the Isle of Life, and out to their assignments. It wasn’t a large ship, but it was big enough for anything needed at the Temple of Dreams.

“Good morning, Captain Borin.” I shook his outstretched hand that felt like stiff leather in my palm. “How long before we reach Terelia?”

“It should only take about seven days. Your escorts are below deck waiting for departure. My boy Slade here will show you to them.”

He motioned his hand toward a very young boy, who jumped up energetically and pranced toward me. He bowed and smiled. “Right this way, Priestess.”

He led me through a series of dark, barely lit cabins, and showed me to one that he said was my room for the trip. Aileena and Braidan were waiting inside for me. I smiled when I saw them, and hugged each of them.

Aileena was a highly skilled archer. She had an earthy tone to her skin and hair that blended right in to her surroundings. She always wore a skintight brown leather suit that let her slip around stealthily in just about any environment.

Braidan was a strong, bulky warrior, skilled with many different weapons. He preferred big two-handed swords. His hair was dark brown almost black, his skin tanned dark.

“I’m so glad you two are with me.” I sat on the little hanging cot. “Aileena, I know you must be excited to finally see your bonded Dreamer again.”

Aileena gave me a sweet smile. “I am interested in seeing what lies in Terelia waiting for us. I’ve been hoping for this for a long time.” She hung her bow on a rack on the wall, allowing herself to relax some now that I had arrived.

“It will all work out. I just know it will,” I announced with my most confident smile.

“I am excited for you to get to prove yourself, dear heart,” Braidan said in his serious, fatherly tone.

“I really just want all of us to make it through this in one piece.” I fidgeted with my hair, tugging the curls down in front of me. I let out my held breath to release some tension. “And I know that we will. I have the best help with me.”

“Don’t let doubt in, Celeste,” warned Aileena. “We have only just begun.”

“I know.” I changed the subject. “You have both been briefed on the situation?” They nodded. “Good, then our mission begins.”

Braidan went to make his checks throughout the ship while Aileena waited inside the cabin with me.

I relaxed back into the hammock and watched the city grow smaller on the horizon through the tiny round window.