I’m proud of myself. I have enough self-awareness to know that I’m an arrogant prick. That’s who I am and I won’t apologize for it. But this is a real accomplishment. I’ve worked hard for this.
I’ve curbed some of my more brutal tendencies, studied tactics and strategy, learned how to talk to people, and even occasionally listen. I even swallowed my pride and took orders from that insufferable bitch Tia. I put in effort to become a leader that is acceptable even by Commander Travess’ strict standards.
I want more, but this will do for now.
“Okay, what am I looking at?” I ask Kari as she points at the wall triumphantly.
It's a map, signs Saki.
“It's a map that I stole… rrrrhem… borrowed yesterday. But now it's back.”
And it's different. This map has all the updates that Penny made yesterday, only not written by hand. It's like it was printed professionally last night.
“And the originals are still in the library,” adds Kari.
“So what are you trying to tell me?”
Let's show you one more thing and then we'll talk about it.
The two girls lead me down the hallway into a cul-de-sac. “How many doors do you see in this little hallway?” asks Kari.
I count carefully. “Four. One on the left, two on the right, and one at the end.”
“Yesterday there were six. Three on each side and nothing at the end. And no, I'm not in the wrong place or just imagining things.”
We started noticing a couple of days ago. The Palace changes shape and size every day. Not in the places with a lot of people, but in places like this where nobody goes.
“Yesterday I went into a room and, uhh, accidentally broke some furniture. When I went back today, the broken furniture had been replaced with brand new identical furniture.”
“So spit it out. What are you trying to tell me?”
“Remember Nix’s theory that every Hex has a Dungeon at its center?”
The Palace is at the center of this Hex.
“We discussed it with both Rio and Nix. We think the Palace is a Dungeon.”
“This doesn't match what I was told about Dungeons. Dungeons are always underground mazes or labyrinths,” I say.
That's true. But some Dungeons, the biggest Dungeons, have a zone they control outside the maze. We think that the Palace we live in is that zone.
“So where’s the actual dungeon part of the Dungeon? Where's the underground maze?”
“Good question,” Kari praises me. “One that I somehow feel you're going to ask me to find the answer for…”
The reward for good work is always more work!
“You guys know me so well! Let me know what you find,” I say, giving my best big fake smile.
Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.
I pull the stone pyramid out of Sylvester. I concentrate on it for a few seconds, casting Identify.
[Stone: Enchanted (energy load limit ward), pyramidal, black marble, slightly damaged, 1 of 6]
Then I cast another spell: Search.
"Well?" I ask Nix.
"Hmmmm.... Not sure. I think I saw something. Dim twisting lines. Connections to other things?"
"Do you see that when others cast magic?" I ask.
"Kind of?" He shrugs. Why does it sound like a question? "Usually I see Spirit energy more as a continuum."
"Hmmm, so a spell can change the way you see Spirit energy? Or does it solidify a connection somehow to make it visible? How can I leverage that to actually find things?"
"Good questions all." Nix nods sagely.
"You don't have a clue, do you?" I ask.
"Nope!"
I need more info. Time to talk to Penny. Why do all paths lead to Penny? Or should it be all Lanes? Hehehehehe…
There's a Spirit here. In this crazy-huge Palace. Somewhere. Trapped.
I can feel you. Calling to me. Needing my help.
I will search for you. I will find you.
Don't be afraid.
I sit on the stool in front of my dresser. Looking at myself as I sit in my soft flannel nightgown and brush out my hair. The look in my eye is a little scared. I want to try something but I have doubts.
I’ve got a crush on Nix. This is clear to me and I both like and don’t like it. I’ve never been close to a man before. I don’t know if I want to be. I also don’t know if there is any chance that Nix will return my affection if he knows.
That’s the thing, isn’t it? We dance around each other, afraid to tell each other how we feel because that makes us vulnerable. We hide our true selves behind a mask because it’s less scary to show someone the self they want to see instead of the self that is. I’m not sure I’m making sense.
The struggle I’m feeling isn’t just my own. I’ve come to understand that I don’t know myself. There is a me that is hidden from my eyes. There is a long white scar down the center of my chest. There is a terrifying dream that comes with it. There is so much that I don’t understand.
But I’m resolved. I’ll take a step that cannot be undone. I will knowingly use a power that terrifies me so much I’m shaking even now thinking about it. I’m going to create a dream. I’m going to bring another into that dream with me. They’ll see me for who I really am. I want him to know. Even though I’m hidden from myself, he should know.
I move to my bed and lay down. Taking a deep, shaky breath, I pick up my wand. With swift sure strokes I draw lines and curves of Spirit energy in the air above me. The spell takes shape, I pour my energy into it, and with one small wish I activate it. It flashes and splits in twain. One half descends on my own head. As I lose consciousness, the other half of the spell disappears through the wall. It will seek him, find him, bind him and bring him to me…
It’s late. I’m alone somewhere in the corridors of the Palace.
In my hand, I carry a rough piece of fabric made from something kinda like bamboo. At least that’s what Saki told me. In my other hand, I have a little brush that I’m using to draw my map on the cloth. I’m a cartographer. Yeah! Four syllables there. Suck it Rio!
So, I’m making a map! Been working on it for a coupla days now. So far I’ve mapped all the parts of the Palace where people are living or working. Almost all - I couldn’t get into the section where the King and stuff are. Or the Treasury, dammit!
So each day I check on what’s changed. I know what yer thinkin’. The stuff on a map shouldn’t move around. But here it does. Some places anyways. There’s a pretty clear zone where everything stays the same. That’s only about a quarter of how big I think the Palace is, though. Kind of from where the public entrances are to the edge of where people normally go.
It’s kinda weird. Even the guards don’t go into those areas. Not very far anyway. It’s like they just avoid it without even knowin’ they’re avoiding it.
Out beyond that, things shift around. Not a lot. Leastways not a lot in any given day. There’s a zone where the structure stays the same but the doors and windows shift around. Or the furniture changes color or design. Then out beyond that, things get really weird. I haven’t been out there much yet.
Pffffttt!!! It’s not like I’m scared to go in there or anythin’. What are you sayin’? Ima dragon so nothin’ can scare me! ‘Cept for maybe lawyers… And forensic accountants. Definitely something scary about forensic accountants.
I’ve walked around the edge. That’s easy because there’s a big, tall wall going all around the whole thing. That doesn’t seem to change much but there’s guards patrolling along the top of that so I gotta be a bit sneaky.
So I’m making a map. There’s cool stuff out here to find, I know it! And if it’s cool and if it’s stuff it belongs in somebody’s Hoard. Might as well be mine!