Chewing my food slowly, I swallow, set down my fork, wipe my mouth, then look up to Father and ask. "I thought we were going to form our own team?" Looking to Amy to see her reaction, she nods at me in agreement.

Father stared at me with a raised eyebrow for a long moment before answering. "Miss. Reinhart told me you both already agreed to meet the young lady in question."

Amy glanced at me, confused, "Father means Katlyn." Turning back to Father, I ask, "when did Katlyn see you? We were with her in town this morning. That's when she mentioned her cousin to us, but I don't recall agreeing to meet with her."

Returning to his meal, Father ignored my question. As far as he's concerned, we are going to meet with this rogue.

Amy, seeing this, stuck her tongue out at her father just as he looked up. Frowning at her, he made a flicking motion, and a single pea flew off his plate, hitting her dead-center of the forehead.

While this had gone on, I had picked my knife and fork up and was about to take another bite. When I turned at the commotion, looking at the green spot on Amy's forehead, pain shot through my head. I immediately dropped my silverware, clutching my head as everything went dark.

When I woke up in my bed, I looked around for Amy but could only see Yuri asleep. With her head drooping off the side of the armchair beside my bed. Crawling over toward her, I shook her awake, "Why are you sleeping here, and where is Amy?" Then I felt my stomach rumble in hunger.

Sitting up straight than jumping to her feet, Yuri ran out of the room without saying a word. (Well, that was a strange reaction.) Looking out the window at the rising sun. I thought about the previous night and, with a cringe, got out of bed to get changed, as no doubt Mother will be here soon.

Walking toward the closet, I changed my mind and entered the bathing room instead. Shrugging off my nightgown, I ran water into the massive tub and sat down under the spigot, letting it massage my still aching head.

Less than a minute later, I heard Mother and Yuri return, but I didn't get up as I felt very comfortable under the water spout.

A moment later, I heard Mother enter the bathing room. "I take it your head is still hurting."

I just nodded and kept my eyes closed. I heard Mother removing her own clothes. After getting in the tub, she moved me in front of her and began rubbing my temples while humming an old Elven lullaby. As the pain ebbed, I dozed off, only waking when my Mother nudged me to get up as the water was getting cold.

After we got dressed, we sat on my bed, and Mother asked me, "how long have these nightmares been bothering you."

Shooting an accusatory look at Yuri, who unabashedly said. "I only promised to keep them a secret if they didn't put your life in danger. Since I have no way of knowing if there is a connection between your nightmares and that episode in the dining hall the other night, I decided it was prudent to let the masters know of them."

Taking all that in one thing stuck, "What do you mean the other night wasn't that last night?"

At this question, Mother wrapped an arm around me. "Oh sweetie, it's been three nights and two days since you collapsed. You nearly scared me to death and your father, who is even now trying to get an audience with Uncle Fenis."

Hugging Mother back, "I'm sorry I made you all worry so much, but this explains why I Am so hungry. I say while using my other hand to rub my empty belly."

With a light chuckle, Mother turns to Yuri, "have the kitchen prepare something light for Nalle, please."

Yuri, who is trying to hold back tears at the moment, hurriedly says, "yes, Lady Aleana," and rushes from the room, wiping her eyes.

Mother then turned back to me, "now tell me about these nightmares? I know you had them often as a small child, but I assumed you grew out of them as you got older."

So I told her everything, about my dreams of never-ending darkness with neither light nor sound, not sure whether I existed. Then the less frequent ones, 'thank goodness.', about unending torture and pain, as if my very soul was being wrenched and twisted out of shape and shattering my mind.

"What about the episode in the dining hall?"

"That's something different in a way, but I'm sure it's connected. Sometimes when something happens to or around Amy, I get these strange feelings of déjà vu. I always have as far back as I remember. But recently, it seems like memories are trying to push their way to the front of my mind, but some power is forcefully shoving them back down. At least that's how it feels. Does that make sense, Mother?"

Thinking for a moment, Mother looked down at the tattoo on my hand k"Tayna, do you know something about this?"

At the question, Tayna appeared with a scared look on her face. "I Can't Say I was made to take a vow never to speak of anything, from before Darnath and Tuathe handed over the twins to King Fenis and Mr. Freeden."

"Who made you take the vow," demanded Aleana coldly.

Shivering at Mother's look, Tayna flew to her ear and whispered something that made her freeze and immediately let it go, asking Tayna to return to the tattoo.

The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

"What did she say?" I ask, confused at Mother's sudden shift in mood.

However, before Mother could say a word, the door burst open, and Amy rushed in, took one look at me, and ran over before throwing herself on top, burying me in a hug.

I noticed Mother's sigh of relief at the interruption and promised myself to inquire further later.

After a few seconds of struggle, I got out from under Amy and said. "I told mother about my dreams. I think you should too."

Amy shrugged, "I told her about mine yesterday. Bet they didn't shock Mother near as much as yours." She said and poked my side, making me squirm.

With a sigh, Mother stood, "I'm going to inform your father you woke up. Amy, help your sister to the dining hall to get something to eat."

I quickly stood up and wrapped my arms around her. "Thanks for spending the morning with me and listening to my dreams." Then I jumped lightly, kissing her cheek, making Mother smile warmly at me.

"Next time, tell me about them sooner," she admonished, pinching my cheek. Then she turned around and left the room.

Grabbing Amy's arm, I began dragging her out of the room toward the food I could faintly smell. Amy tried halfheartedly to pull her arm away then asked, "what's your hurry, anyway?"

"I haven't eaten in forever. I'm starving now, hurry." When I entered the dining Hall, I practically drooled at the sight of a bowl of oatmeal and a small stack of toast and rushed forward to eat. Making Amy laugh as she sat beside me, grabbing a piece of toast, buttering it, and handing it over. The oatmeal is perfect: boiled in milk with diced apples and a hint of cinnamon, my favorite.

While I enjoyed my breakfast, Amy began telling me about her meeting with the rogue. "I didn't want to go without you, but Father was afraid if we put her off too long, she would chicken out, and it would be a tremendous loss. Boy, was he right? This chick is amazing."

There was a cough behind us from the old lady that served Mother and took propriety somewhat seriously. making Amy stop, turn to her, and apologize, "I meant this girl is amazing. She actually awakened two classes simultaneously. That's why she is scared to join anyone. She thinks if a noble or someone else with authority found out, they would take her away from her family. But since Father is Guild-master of our branch, only under... whoever is head of the entire adventurer's guild. He is already privy to her information, as she had already joined last year."

I stare perplexed at Amy. "If this is all so secretive, should you be talking so openly about this?"

Amy blinked in confusion, "it's just you. She would have to know that you would get the information as well."

I sighed while poking my thumb behind me at Mother's personal maid. Who smiled and said, "I didn't hear a thing. However, Miss. Amelia, be more careful in the future."

"Anyway," Amy said, still blushing slightly. "Since you were sick yesterday Charlotte, and I ran the beginner dungeon to get a feel for each other. No, we didn't go alone. Father put a notice on the job board for a Light mage to run through it with us."

Sighing in relief, I went back to my oatmeal, remembering how Fredrick took two arrows. If he didn't have a team, that could have gone terribly for him.

When I finished my meal, I stood and asked, "so what the plan for the day? Are we going to meet your mystery rogue?"

Amy laughed, "hardly Mother's orders. You are to stay inside for the day, and we can go meet up with Charlotte in the morning to discuss when we're going to dive next."

"Or you can go discuss that today, and we can go into the dungeon first thing tomorrow, don't that sound better," I say with a grin.

"Sure, I'll do that, so what about after? What do you want to do for the rest of the day?" Asks Amy.

"Well, since I'm supposed to stay, I am indoors going to read the book. That I bought the other day, I haven't had time to open it yet."

"Okay, then I'll head to the communication room to tell Charlotte our plan and see if she can make it. Then I'll find Mr. Jacks to train some before dinner. Also, don't forget to do your meditation. It's been three days."

Sitting down in the Library to read, I ended up falling asleep only to be woken later by Father shaking me to tell me it is dinner time. Looking around, I see an entire stack of new papers on his desk. He must have been there awhile working. Smiling up at him, I grab his hand, and we head towards the dining hall.

Walking down the Hall, I ask, "Father, do you know why I Am having these strange episodes lately?"

Father stopped before the door and looked at me. "I'm sorry I do not understand why these things are happening or why the dungeon seems so interested in both you and Amy. There are people I believe know more, but they all seem to have taken vows not to speak of whatever is going on."

Then he wrapped his arms around me while saying. "I promise I will continue to look into whatever is going on, and when I figure something out, I will tell you both. But if anything happens, you must tell your Mother and me even if it is just a nightmare, okay."

Only after I nodded agreement did he let me go, opening the door and holding it while I stepped inside.