‘The title “Sleeper” is just a rank. You start out as a novice, then after certain years of studies, you get promoted to Night Watcher, and then to Visualiser, and then to Sleeper which is what I’m currently on. There is another rank beyond Sleeper, but no one has been able to achieve that rank for countless centuries. The actual name of the rank and the powers needed to acquire the rank have also been long since forgotten. Some Sleeper’s a while back foretold that the next and ultimate rank was to be revealed to someone within the art, and that there would be no one other like him, or her, after them. So, after a novice reachers a Sleeper, they are sent out into the real world to fend for them selves using the powers they have learnt. It’s been a custom. The Reverend Sleeper’s, who are the teachers of this art, keep a mental track on you until you die. If you use this art for bad, then they strip any knowledge of the studies from your head, and you don’t even know about it.’ ‘So how does this “Oneiromancy” work?’ ‘It’s all to do with the mind. We have learnt how to get into, and manipulate other peoples minds into doing things that they normally wouldn’t do.’ ‘So, your like a mind reader?’ ‘No, not really. We can’t do that while someone’s awake. They have to be asleep for us to do anything to them. If they were awake, their mind would totally screw up our minds - which have been so delicately moulded. Our minds are more advanced than most others. We’re able to send our thoughts to each other.’ ‘So your smarter than anyone else.’ ‘Not smarter. I didn’t say that. I said advanced.’ ‘Then how are you able to tell if someone else is asleep or not?’ ‘We send our thoughts out to that person, and before we enter their mind, we can sense whether or not he’s awake or asleep. It’s just one of those things that you learn to feel. There’s two sides to a person’s mind; when they’re awake; and when they’re asleep. A person always dreams when they’re asleep, even if they can’t remember it. A mind needs to be doing something at all times or else it becomes lazy. The reason people toss and turn during sleep is because they are physically reacting to their dreams. A dream is just another way to occupy your thoughts. You can tell when someone is awake by all the muttering and raving in the brain. But when their sleeping, the mind is more calm and it isn’t sending as many messages through the body - so theirs less stress on it. Once we know they’re asleep, we enter their minds and change their dreams. But we can’t just change them all together. We have to work our manipulation into their dreams because if we suddenly change what the brain is thinking, it will get suspicious and wake up it’s owner. You need a lot of imagination to slightly add your insights to the brains thoughts without it realising. It’s kind of like lying on the spot, but it’s easier than fibs.’ ‘Complicated stuff.’ Power shook his head They reached the court - yarded house. They rain hadn’t ceased, nor had it increased. It was just the same dull rain that had been present throughout the day. ‘Work yourself into a hysteria and let me do all the talking.’ Power told her. He too began to work on a false sadness and rage, and soon, they were ready to complete their pre - prepared plan. ‘Ready?’ ‘Ready.’ They stormed into the house, the door banging heavily against the wall of the hall way. They sobbed out loud, yelling curses for all to here. A great panic arose with fumbles and crashes of servants responding to their sudden outburst. ‘Good God, what’s happening!’ Yalon demanded of them as he and Elibom prematurely adjourned their meeting. ‘Trahal.’ Power sobbed the name. ‘He’s been killed. Had awoken in the church. It was a miracle. But as we were returning, we heard some shouts and then we were attacked. Trahal was the first to be taken but we fought and got away. Trahal was taken down the street somewhere and we heard his screams but weren’t game enough to follow. Eventually, when we did follow, all the we could find was his blood. I think it was some of the Emperor’s guards.’ He comforted his emotional partner. ‘Did you see which way they went?’ ‘Left.’ They stormed to their room, slamming the door shut signalling the end of the conversation, the beginning of a fake mourning, and the start of a hunt for imaginary soldiers. Elibom barked commands and slowly, the courtyard filled out into the street with the Backwoods Criminal Corporation agents that were closest on hand. Power quietly chuckled. ‘He’s dead A.J.’ he said with a mocking blubber. Gently, they let their sorrows die down to nothingness and they were alone for the next hour. There was a knock at the door. ‘May I come in?’ It was Elibom. Ice walked over to the door. She had powdered her face to give a kind of pale look, bringing tears about herself to streak down her face. ‘Yes?’ she said as she opened it. ‘I just thought you might want something to eat.’ ‘That’s very kind of you.’ she took the two plates of food Elibom had brought and layed them on the table. Power was bathing in the next room. ‘If you need anything whatsoever, just call and we’ll provide it for you.’ The was a long pause ‘Well, I’ll just leave you alone then.’ ‘Don’t worry to much about us. We’ll be right by morning.’ Elibom nodded, ‘Just take all the time you need.’ Then quickly he left. * * * They had retired early that night. A larger bed had been replaced with the previous one since they were gone. As they settled in snugly, it had returned. ‘No.’ Power shook her head. ‘No, not again.’ Once more, they physically felt a deathly evil presence around them with the rhythmic sound of heavy breathing. Although it was only faint, it was louder than ever. Ice, who had been sleeping rather peacefully suddenly awoke with a big gasp of air. ‘Quiet.’ Power chided her. ‘I don’t know who you are,’ he said then to the unseen presence, ‘but if your a criminal or if your thinking of robbing the place, I could have ten thousand Backwoods Criminal Corporation agents in here at the yell of a command.’ The breathing stopped momentarily, and, to Power’s knowledge, it sounded as if it were laughing at him. It continued laughing under it’s breath, and then faded, leaving behind a chilling echo. Ice was first to break their stunned silence. ‘Don’t you think ten thousand was a bit much?’ ‘Maybe so.’ Power admitted. ‘It seemed to be laughing at me.’ ‘I wish I knew what that thing was. That’s the second time it’s done that. What ever it is, I don’t like it. I just, don’t like it.’ * * * They were allowed to sleep in the next morning. No breakfast summoning’s or wake up calls like they had experienced previously. The time was used wisely. They entered Yalon’s private study after a quick breakfast to discuss certain matters. ‘We really have a problem.’ Power was saying. ‘The Emperor’s soldiers have somehow, already tracked us down. They’ve probably been around us the whole time. We can’t really go anywhere from here without you because we’re sure to get re - captured.’ ‘How would the Emperor’s soldiers find out about you coming here?’ Elibom asked. ‘There’s two possible way’s; one, they could of had descriptions of us and a price on our head in ever city and someone could have given word to the nearest group of soldiers; and two, they could just been really lucky. ‘That could explain it.’ ‘Now, in the next couple of days or weeks, soldiers shall fill this city in search of us. That’s going to put you and your men in a lot of danger.’ ‘We could always stand and fight. Our men love a good scuffle.’ ‘No offence. The Emperor’s soldiers would just be a little more skilled than your agents in a fight. They’ve been trained hard, plus their biggest and best warriors are eight feet tall and they wear armour made of stone.’ Power exaggerated a bit for effect. ‘Wait a minute.’ Ice interrupted. ‘Didn’t one of you say you practically controlled cities wherever your business was established in?’ ‘That was me.’ Elibom raised his hand. ‘What if the Emperor’s soldiers, and whoever else is looking for us, were distracted in just a little away that their attention would be diverted?’ ‘What are you getting at?’ ‘Just wait one moment. Does Orem attract many travellers?’ ‘Yes, mainly for business though.’ ‘Great!’ she exclaimed. ‘Then we’re okay.’ ‘You’ve lost me.’ ‘Can’t you see it? We’d been with the Emperor for quite a while back when we were his slaves, and we’ve learnt that he’s very cautious when it comes to his personal servants. He’d chase them to the ends of the earth if he lost one of them - like he’s doing with us. To add to that, they’re not so bright. The only description about us would be two men and a women. The Emperor doesn’t want to give too much about our talent away in case someone else inherits us. So, the soldiers are going to be looking for two men and one woman only. I was told that people respect your organisation, and they do just about anything for you. What if, for every traveller leaving Orem, you paired them up to fit that description?’ ‘You mean like decoys? That would take far to long. How would we persuade the people to go to destinations they didn’t want to go?’ ‘Maybe you could make a survey of every traveller who comes into town of their name, occupation, sex, and home origin as they walk into the gate saying that it’s confidential and that your trying to catch a wanted man.’ ‘What if there’s only one person from a certain origin?’ ‘Then you’ll have to keep them in the city and say that they’re suspects and deliver fake investigations. If it comes to the stage that there’s two men and no woman or a man and a woman with out the second man, you may have to hire somebody. When we send these people out, the soldiers patrolling the highways shall be looking for three people. But because were only two people, they’ll just over look us. We can get the group to split up at their intended destination and if the soldiers haven’t caught them yet, they’ll disintegrate once they realise their mistake and go into a panic. You could even order your other business heads in other city’s here to do the same. Then they wouldn’t know where we are.’ ‘But why would anyone want to go to so much trouble just to help out a couple of commoners?’ Power was quietly listening to Ice’s plan with a stunned looking on his face. He hadn’t realised how observant she really was. ‘You under estimate us.’ Yalon said. ‘It was Trast’s orders to make sure that you were safe, and we’re going to follow those orders through.’ ‘I just thought of something else.’ Ice continued. ‘If the soldiers do in fact capture a group of three, when they find out that they’re not us, the respected threesome will be so enraged at the Emperor’s wrong doing that they’ll spread word around about his mishaps, and in the processes, embarrassing him heaps.’ ‘But isn’t it illegal for someone else’s army to cross the state border?’ ‘The Emperor wouldn’t know what that word meant. He thinks that he can do anything, when he wants to and where ever he wants it.’ Ice’s silence had been lifted off her shoulders. She had forgotten herself. ‘The ruler of this state could declare war if it wanted to.’ ‘Then it’s settled then.’ Power concluded. ‘We follow those plans, and we go further south with out endangering anyone else’s lives - except for the decoy’s, but then again business men and women like that are criminals anyway.’ They all laughed and disperse their meeting for the morning. * * * They set out again several mornings later, by themselves this time with horses that were given to them, along with one pack horse for inventories. The storm had blew itself out the previous day and the sun was left to flourish to it’s hearts content. They weren’t really following a particular road, but instead, cutting across fields and paddocks in a Southern direction. ‘I think I asked you this before,’ Power said a couple of hours out of Orem, ‘but where exactly are we planning to go.’ She pursed her lips. ‘I suppose I can trust you now. I was thinking about going across country to the Blood Caverns. We should be pretty safe there from any harm. I’m sure they’ll let you in. Once we get to the Greater Inland Sea, I’ll ask one of the Sleeper’s for a boat, and we’ll travel across the lake to the caverns.’ ‘Are you sure that they’ll accept us? I certainly don’t want to be left out to dry if there’re a thousands soldiers chasing us.’ ‘I think I can convince them.’ They rode in more of a southerly direction than of a south westerly direction. By the week out, they had crossed well in to the state of Gardna, and were travelling at a fair pace. The weather held good most of the time except for the early mornings where frost was bound to reign. They were travelling towards the equator so the chill should have decreased to some extent, but Autumn was always a funny season in Gardna. They crested quite a large hill to be blinded with the much talked about shine, of the Revai River that wound through three states. Adult trees surrounded it’s banks on it’s northern side where birds nested and deer and other wild animals fed and played. It was a river that attracted life. ‘Pretty.’ Power murmured in awe at the wonder. ‘Very.’ Ice murmured. As Power gaped at the spectacular scenery, a slight movement caught Ice’s eye. ‘Oh no. Look.’ Off to the east, a large body of men on horse - back came riding at full gallop towards them. They were at least fifteen minutes away. ‘Dam it. How could they catch up so fast? Let’s ride!’ Power booted his horses flanks, forcing them to pelt down the hill towards the river. Once they reached it’s shores, they followed a path parallel to it. Power took an occasional glimpse over his shoulder now and then. Eventually, the army spilled over the hill and down it’s steep side. There would have to be at least two full battalions chasing after them. They flogged their horses West. A deep rumble and vibration was heard and felt under foot. ‘It’s a waterfall.’ Ice confirmed. The pace of the currents beside them hastened. They slowed and came to the very edge of a vast cliff with a seemingly endless drop. ‘What now?’ Power dismounted. ‘Get down off your horse.’ Power helped Ice to the ground and then surveyed his position. ‘We’re going to have to jump down there.’ ‘What? Are you kidding? We’ll get ourselves killed if we jump over the edge.’ ‘We might not. It’s better to take a chance when we have one, then to not have a chance at all. We can’t return north again because they’re too spread out and can easily catch us. We can’t cross the river because we’d get swept over the edge any way. We are going to have to jump.’ ‘If you kill me doing his, I’m never going to forgive you.’ ‘I can live with that.’ Then with Ice in his hands and the Emperor’s soldiers in his sights, they leaped into the rushing waters, prepared for the immeasurable fall that awaited.