This chapter is sort of short, so I might post the next chapter later on tonight. But I'm not positive because I still have to study for a killer health test and finish the 1000 worksheets we got. Fun fun.
Clark was shaken awake the next day by Viren. It was impossible to tell the exact time, which annoyed Clark a little. Still, he pushed himself to follow the instructions Viren whispered to him over Noam's extravagant snoring in the corner. Within the next ten minutes, Viren, Clark, and Lana were completely cleared out of Noam's home and on the road again.
"Not to sound pessimistic or anything," Clark suddenly stated, watching the sleeping Lana attentively as she road with him on top Elsu, "but I read a book back in the real world that's kind of similar to the situation we're in right now…" He paused before adding, "…and it didn't end too well."
"Really? I'm intrigued," Viren exclaimed happily, glancing over at Clark. "What was this book?"
"It's called The Time Machine," Clark explained, looking up at the road curiously. "This guy traveled so far into the future with this time machine that he invented it was almost like he was in a completely different world. He met this girl, Weena, and at one point, he takes her into the forest to try to get his machine back so he can go back to the past. These really evil creatures called warlocks are the ones that stole his machine and they come out in the forest and try to capture the traveler and Weena. Weena faints and the time traveler gets separated from her." Clark looked down at Lana sadly. "Eventually the forest catches fire and the time traveler realizes she was killed because she wasn't awake to run away."
Noticing that Clark was making a very depressing comparison, Viren spoke up quickly. "First of all, as far as I know, we have no warlocks here."
Clark smirked a little, but not completely shaken from his thoughts.
"Master Clark, I assure you, I've been here forever. I've seen many things happen, and I've seen many other things happen instead. And one thing I have concluded is that too many times we try to predict the course of our lives and too many times we are wrong in those ways of thinking." Viren shook his head as he added, "Lana isn't Weena and this isn't the future. So, the way I see it, that book has nothing to do with our current situation and even if it did, we have the ability to change the course of future events. Dwelling on something yet to happen is just as bad as dwelling on things that have already passed. Focus on now, Master Clark. That's all you can do."
After this speech, Clark concluded that he would keep quiet and concentrate on less depressing thoughts for the rest of the ride. He kept close to Lana and rode on the unknown pathway in silence
Riding along the twisting paths of Sogni Dromen was an experience that was both very creepy and fascinating for Clark. They would trot past small farms and ponds and a second after they passed, Clark turned around and they were gone. Occasionally, they would pass another fairy tale creature who would almost always end up being a friend of Viren. Clark met fairies, wizards, gremlins, ogres, trolls, and even a four-headed dog. Each creature he met was so much more amazing then the fairy tale stories he'd read about them. He somehow felt that he was meeting a celebrity.
He also noticed that on each side of the small road they were traveling grew small patches of beautiful wild flowers. The colors were vivid and bright and had a certain glittery aura to them. It wasn't until closer inspection that he realized the glitter was from a herd of fairies that had dubbed the flowers as their home. Each one was only about the size of Clark's ring finger and each bore a set of tiny wings that fluttered silently. And not only were they all extremely stunning, but they all had a refreshing and contagious laugh. Clark couldn't help but giggle at them as he passed…and he couldn't also help but think of Lana's laughter which sounded almost identical to the fairies…
He gazed upon the lumpy hills that lined the road next to the fairy-covered flowers. The lush grass that covered them blew heavily in the wind and created a wave like effect on the hills. It made Clark feel like he was in a huge green-colored ocean.
He wished Lana was still awake to see all of it. He told Viren this, but the elf promised that she would see enough creatures when they arrived at the castle.
For hours it seemed like they trekked the road until Clark noticed a hill to the right that seemed larger and taller then the others. When they got closer, he noticed the hill was carved out on one side and a series of earthen steps lead into the lair of the hill.
"Is this how we get into the tunnels?" Clark wondered, beginning to feel a little claustrophobic himself.
"That it is, Master Clark," Viren confirmed as he slid off Anstice's back. "We'll lead the horses down the stairway."
Viren went first into the muddy entrance and Clark followed with Elsu and Lana. It took some time, but the horses eventually got into the tunnels and Viren and Clark hopped back on them again.
The first thing Clark noticed when he swung himself on to Elsu was the seemly never-ending tunnel he, Lana, Viren, and the horses were now in. The walls were made of dirt like Viren's home, and every few feet a torch poked out from the wall, it's flame burning strongly. As far as Clark could tell, there were no other pathways or doors. It was then that Clark became extremely envious of Lana who was going to miss all of this.
"So you're positive we can reach castle by going through this place?" Clark asked, leaning forward so as to not hit his head on the ceiling.
"I'm completely sure of it, Master Clark. We will arrive before tonight."
Clark looked behind him, watching the light of the entrance slowly diminish.
Noticing Clark's gaze, Viren smiled. "You will see daylight again."
Feeling embarrassed, Clark quickly turned back towards the front. "I-I know…"
"I know what you're thinking," Viren stated matter-of-factly. "You're thinking something will happen in here and you won't be able to get out."
Clark was silent before answering. "It's not exactly out of the realm of possibility."
"Of course not," Viren admitted truthfully. "Nothing is out of the realm of possibility here."
"Then how do you know Amon or the Phantom or one of those other creatures can't come down here? Or an earthquake will rupture the tunnels and make it collapse?"
"My, my…you are very paranoid, aren't you?" Viren said with a bit of a laugh."Master Clark, I grew up in these tunnels. Even if the passageways moved a thousands times I would know where to find my family as well as the entrance."
"Right…" Clark retorted, only half listening. "So, when will we wake Lana up?"
"We won't," Viren corrected with a smile. He noticed Clark's confused look, but continued anyway. "She will be awoken as soon as we reach the other side of the tunnels. We must visit my parents first, however…they live not but a few feet from the exit so it shouldn't be a problem. They'll need a horse for the ride to the castle and I'm offering them Anstice."
Nodding, Clark supposed that was a good enough answer. At least he knew where he was going and why.
But why had Viren said 'we won't' wake Lana up? If they didn't, who would?
He looked down at Lana longingly – it was probably the twentieth time today he had looked at her…wishing that things weren't like they were between them. It was like a rubber band relationship: one minute they were angry with each other, the next they were questioning the idea of being broken up. The worst part was that before he even heard of Sogni Dromen, he'd convinced himself he was going to go to Lana and convince her to be with him – maybe even let her in on his secret.
But then this…this crazy universe happened…and it just didn't seem like the best thing to do anymore. He sighed, cursing whoever decided to make life so complicated.
"No…what's happening…mmm…no…"
Astonished, Clark leaned his ear down to Lana, trying to make sure if what he just heard had really come out of her mouth. But all he now heard was exhales and inhales. He looked back up at Viren.
"She just said something," Clark informed quickly.
"Probably just dreaming."
"Do you think whatever she's dreaming will come true here?" wondered Clark curiously.
Viren looked over at Clark lazily. "Oh…maybe…depends on where it goes in the Line of the Coming."
"But it will come here?"
"Into Sogni Dromen, yes. In to this specific part of it, maybe. It just depends on where it wants to go," Viren explained as they continued down the path. "Why? Did it seem important?"
"Mmm…I guess not. Just kind of," Clark searched for the right word, "scary."
"Well, I'm sure it won't find it's way here anytime soon. Now hurry up we're running behind," Viren urged as he kicked Anstice into a quick trot.
Afraid of being left behind, Clark also sped up Elsu's pace and hoped that he and Lana would reach the safety of the castle soon.