Anne Bishop - Bridge of Dreams

Zhahar helped him up the steps and into sorrow’s room.

“Leave us,” Danyal said.

Lee felt her hesitate before she retreated, closing the door behind her. That was nothing more than a token gesture of privacy, since he could tell by the breeze that all the windows were open, and he didn’t think anyone was going to have to strain to eavesdrop on this conversation.

“Don’t need eyes to know you’re pissed off about something,” Lee said. “Shouldn’t you be dealing with it instead of chatting with me?”

“Maybe chatting with you is the only way to deal with it,” Danyal replied.

Lee felt the other man come closer, felt the way the song of the gongs seemed to vibrate against his skin. Judging by what he could sense of Danyal’s mood and temper, if the Shaman walked across a resonating bridge right now, he’d find himself in a dark landscape that had few, if any, connections to the Light.

“Things are happening in the city of Vision that have never happened before,” Danyal said. “I think you know why.”

Lee turned his head toward one of the windows, straining to hear. Was there someone out there besides Zhahar? Had he heard the scuff of a boot under that window? Could he have heard anything beyond the sound of the gongs?

Things were happening in the city of Vision. If he kept his voice low, would anyone outside be able to hear him over the gongs?

He waggled a finger, signaling for Danyal to move closer. When the Shaman was close enough that he could feel the man’s heat, he asked quietly, “My uncles told you about my sickness? About my delusions?”

“They told me,” Danyal said just as quietly.

“So you know you can’t believe any answers a madman gives you in response to your questions.” Lee paused. “But that doesn’t mean you can’t ask the questions.”

Did Danyal understand the message in the words?

Lee was fairly certain he wasn’t always being watched by those who had given their loyalty to the thrice-damned wizards, but he could never be certain that he wasn’t being watched. As long as Danyal—and Zhahar?—continued treating him like he was mind-sick insofar as what he said , he could tell them anything, everything , that might help them understand what was happening to their city.

And in helping Danyal, he might be able to do something for himself.

Danyal walked past him and opened the door. A moment later, Zhahar joined them.

“I’ve had a special cane made for Lee,” Danyal said. “I think, with some help, he can learn to navigate around the Asylum’s grounds on his own.”

“Oh,” Zhahar said.

Did she sound disappointed? Guardians and Guides, he hoped so. He’d like an excuse to be with her when she wasn’t taking care of him. And he wanted some independence so he could spend time with the woman instead of the Handler.

“Besides the daily session with the gongs to bring troubling emotions to the surface, where they can be released, Lee will also spend time talking about the events that brought him here,” Danyal continued.

“Ah…” Lee said.

“These talks can be combined with physical exercise, which will improve the body and promote healthful sleep.”

“Aren’t we a bundle of suggestions all of a sudden?” Lee muttered. He raised his voice enough to direct the words to Danyal. “If there is going to be talk, there will be a fair exchange.”

“Meaning?”

“In the city of Vision, you can find only what you can see. I’d like to know more about this city and how it works. I’d like to know more about this part of the world. So, an exchange. I’ll tell you what I know, and you tell me the equivalent. And you shouldn’t always be the one having these chats with me.”

A pause before Danyal said, “Really?”

“The Keeper can’t be spending that much time with one inmate. That won’t go unnoticed, and getting noticed right now isn’t healthy for any of us. Don’t you know anyone who might have an interest in the world beyond Vision who would give you an accurate report?” Lee asked.

“My sister Sholeh,” Zhahar said quickly. “She’s something of a scholar—or would have been if she’d been able to continue with her studies. She could do this, and she’d be very thorough in her reports.”

“Not to mention having her older sister nearby to keep an eye on her?” Lee asked sweetly.

A startled pause.

“Well, it’s not like you’re going to take her walking in the moonlight,” Zhahar said, sounding defensive.

“No, I’m not interested in taking Sholeh for a walk in the moonlight.”

Another pause before Danyal harrumphed. “I could arrange my schedule to have these discussions in the evening.”

“Wasn’t what I had in mind,” Lee said. “I don’t hear Zhahar offering an opinion.”

“Judging by her expression, that’s probably for the best,” Danyal said. “That will be all. Zhahar, escort Lee back to the porch. And ask your sister if she’d like to participate in these discussions.”

“Yes, Shaman.”

Lee felt her grab his arm and haul him to the door.

“Step,” she snapped.

He managed to get down the steps without falling. His longer legs made it easy enough to keep up with her, but he wasn’t sure she wouldn’t smack him into a tree. So he dug in his heels and yanked her to a stop.

“What’s wrong with you?”

“My sister is a loving, intelligent woman!”

“I’m sure she is,” Lee replied mildly.

“Any man would be lucky to take a walk with her in the moonlight.”

“I’m sure that’s true too— unless the man is interested in taking a walk in the moonlight with you . Going out walking with two sisters?” Lee shook his head. “That’s just asking for trouble—not to mention getting whacked with a spoon.”

“What?”

“Wooden spoon with a long handle. My mother’s preferred disciplinary tool. What does your mother use?”

“ My mother had daughters and didn’t need tools.”

She released his arm and walked away.

“Zhahar?” Lee called. “Zhahar! Daylight, woman. Are you going to just leave me here?”

He heard footsteps behind him and braced for an attack, until he recognized the resonance he now associated with Danyal.

“Are you usually skilled with women?” Danyal asked.

“Not so much,” Lee replied sourly. “Are Shamans celibate?”

“Not so much.”

“Then don’t sound smug. There’s a woman out there at this very moment waiting to tangle up your life.” He’d found the woman who was going to tangle up his—at least for the foreseeable future.

Another of those pauses. “Did you leave someone behind, Lee?”

“Not the way you mean.”

“Come,” Danyal said gently. “I’ll escort you back to the porch. We both have much to think about.”

“Yes, we do.”

After passing Lee over to a frowning Kobrah, Danyal intended to go back to his office and work. But he wasn’t used to this heat, and the room had little air at this time of day, so he headed back to the temple to think. Then he changed directions and walked along the main path, stopping when he reached the small plant and the black-veined white marble.

Light. Hope. Inmates and Handlers alike seemed to find their way to this spot at some point in the day in order to look at this plant. Just for a moment. And it seemed that another bud opened in response to that person’s presence.

Madman or teacher—which one was Lee?

He had started to turn away when a glint of gold caught his eye.

That pocket watch hadn’t been there a moment before. He was sure of it.

Crouching, Danyal pushed his fingers into the dirt and picked up the watch—and would have sworn that, in the moment when his fingers closed over the gold, he heard music.