Plain of Sorrows

Author: Milady Dragon

Disclaimer: isn't mine, and I've even wished on a star for that to change…

Author's note: Another chapter, although it's short. Thanks to everyone who've encouraged me and have had such extreme patience!


Chapter Thirty

What is the child doing?

Morgan tried to ignore the voice. It was beginning to seriously get on his nerves, asking such stupid questions. He vaguely wondered if it was the voice had always sounded that paranoid, or was this something new?

He glanced toward the Dune Rail. He'd seen Uly climb up beside Solace, then began to talk to the pilot and Danziger, who'd been walking alongside the vehicle for a while now. The voice had been equally curious when Devon and Julia had been in on the conversation, but without being right there Morgan couldn't even begin to guess what they'd been discussing, and had said so.

Now Uly was actually curling up in the passenger seat, and to all appearances had fallen asleep. Poor kid, always had been weak…

That excuse seemed to placate the voice. Morgan had learned that he could push his true thoughts down so far that they'd be private, so in that place he was also wondering just what Uly and the others were up to. Danziger's ghost was still hanging around, and Morgan took that as a good sign.

In his own way, Morgan was trying to do something about his own "ghost." He tried to keep the front of his mind as blank as possible, and deep down he was very glad he'd learned to multi-task at such an early age. He'd played with the idea of trying to lose himself in VR, but decided against it. That would be too obvious, and he didn't want the voice to know he was plotting against it.

He moved his active mind back to the forefront of his thoughts, even as he threaded his arm through Bess's. He glanced at his wife, the love of his life; she smiled back up at him, but there was something deep in her expressive eyes that Morgan didn't like to see. She was worried about him, and while he wanted nothing more than to tell her everything was all right,and while it would be just one more lie he found it stuck in his throat like a bone.

You would not be lying, my friend. Everything will be well. Wait and see.

Would it really?

Indeed. The voice had lost is paranoid tone. Tonight, you shall see the result of your trust in me. The others cannot stop your Change, and you will have the strength and power you so rightly deserve.

But did he deserve it?

Of course you do! Do not doubt it. I've done well in choosing you, and you shall not fail.

Morgan wasn't so sure.

As I say: do not doubt! You are the future, and you have the foresight to see it. Those who would leave you do not have the wherewithal to take your people to their proper destiny, as rulers of this world!

And what about the Terrians?

The Dreamers have no place in your brave, new world. Do not trust them, my friend, for in the end they will betray you, and trap you, and make you their slaves! No, not slaves… pets, to play with as they choose.

Well, if the voice said so…

I do indeed! You shall see just what your trust has brought you. Tonight, you shall see.

Morgan let his outer mind echo with curiosity, though in the deepest place he was afraid that he'd done something incredibly stupid…

"Morgan?" Bess's voice caught his attention.

He squeezed her arm reassuringly. "What is it?"

"You looked…I don't know…so lost, I wanted to make sure you were okay."

"Don't worry about me, Bess. It's going to be just fine."

She bit her lip, then nodded. "If you say so, sweetie."

"Of course I do. You trust me, don't you?"

"You know I do."

It was all Morgan could do, to stuff his shout of denial back into its hiding place before the voice was aware of it. "And you know I love you, don't you?"

This time she smiled. "And I love you, too. More than anything."

Morgan hated this. He hated misleading his wife, the only person who truly had faith in him.

Wait, my friend. Soon you shall be able to tell your beloved everything. And how proud do you think she shall be, to know you have taken such an important step toward your ultimate destiny?

Not very…echoed so deep inside it was a whisper across his unconsciousness.