Jason shook his head. So much for secrecy. WHY WAIT SO LONG TO TALK TO ME?

I presumed you were hesitant to trust me, so I waited for you to make the first move.

I AM HESITANT.

You should be. But I have told you the truth. In fact, the last time you tried to contact me, I could not respond because I was on the run. I fled south to a different town.

WHAT TOWN?

A minor village. I will tell you as a token of trust. It no longer has a name. Once it was called Truek. I do not plan to linger here for long.

I AM IN TROUBLE.

Explain.

A DARK CREATURE IS FOLLOWING ME. LOOKS LIKE A LIVING SHADOW.

The hand convulsed. Is it with you now?

I AM IN A PANTRY. IT IS OUTSIDE THE DOOR. I HAVE KEPT YOUR HAND OUT OF ITS SIGHT.

Good policy with the hand. You are in supreme danger. A lurker has found you.

I THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE A LURKER.

None of Maldor’s servants are more powerful. This is calamitous. Do not provoke it. Do not touch it.

I ALREADY LEARNED THAT THE HARD WAY.

Unless a torivor appears bearing swords, it will only attack if provoked. How long has it been with you?

THREE DAYS.

It shows itself openly?

IT JUST FOLLOWS ME AROUND.

Has it visited your dreams?

Jason felt chills. IT KEEPS GIVING ME NIGHTMARES.

It will bring ruin upon you. Lurkers communicate mind to mind with those capable of hearing. Do you hear it while awake? In your thoughts?

NO.

Maldor may already know of your whereabouts. I assume you are in a remote village or farmhouse?

HOW DO YOU KNOW?

You are in a pantry, but the lurker remains near you. You must hasten to a large town. It will not follow you there.

WHY?

They are secretive beings. They have been known to enter remote outposts if on a mission. They almost never venture into a city. Certainly not openly. Do you know where to find a town?

Jason hesitated momentarily. He supposed with a lurker tailing him, his destination would be no mystery to his enemies. I AM GOING TO ITHILUM.

Perfect. How near are you?

I AM MOVING EAST ALONG THE NORTHERN COAST OF THE PENINSULA.

Hurry. You cannot be far off. Contact me again when you arrive. Keep both eyes open. Try to resist the torivor in your dreams. Expect an ambush at any time. Maldor is undoubtedly moving against you.

THANKS.

Jason returned the hand to his backpack. Even without good news, the communication left him in higher spirits. He had underestimated how alone he had been feeling. At least he had confirmed that his mysterious companion was truly a lurker. And it was good to know that it probably wouldn’t follow him into Ithilum.

He looked at the small window at the rear of the pantry. Leaving that way might seem predictable, but it was worth a try. He opened it and found the lurker waiting for him. Instead of trying to squirm out, he returned to the kitchen through the pantry door. Again he found the lurker waiting.

“You can really move when you’re in the mood,” Jason said. “I think we’ve done enough harm here. How about we get out of town? Any objection?”

Jason scavenged around the kitchen, stuffing bread and cheese into his backpack. He left several drooma on the counter, along with a couple of jewels. He would not be surprised if the suspicious villagers threw the payment into the sea, but he wanted to try to leave some reparation for what had occurred, even though he was painfully aware that no amount of money could replace a lost life.

After exiting through the back door, Jason turned to the dark figure. “Now I know you’re a torivor. No need to pretend otherwise. Can you talk to my mind?”

Jason sensed no thoughts besides his own.

“Come on.” He saw no one as he returned to the gate and climbed over.

Jason tramped through moonlit snow up to his knees. The still, frigid air seemed almost brittle. His hooded parka, gloves, and snow pants kept out the worst of the chill. He moved along a slope populated by tall pines shrouded in white, his breath pluming frostily with every exhalation.

A long howl reached his ears from farther down the mountainside, the mournful notes echoing hauntingly. A louder howl answered from higher up the slope, making Jason pause, frozen by primal, instinctive fear.

Where was he going? Somewhere important. How did he get here? It didn’t matter. Or did it? If he didn’t hurry, he might end up as wolf chow. Or would he?

Jason put his hands on his hips. Why would he come alone into snowy mountains? He wouldn’t. Hadn’t he been hiking along a beach in Lyrian? This was another dream!

“I’m not playing,” Jason announced, sitting down. He stared at the snow in front of him, willing it to melt. Nothing happened. The icy air felt real in his lungs.

From higher up the slope came a distant, thunderous rumbling.

“Avalanche,” Jason mumbled. “Didn’t see that coming.” He remained seated. If he could learn to endure these dreams without panicking, maybe he could finally get some sleep.

“You should not be here,” said a male voice behind him.

Jason looked over his shoulder and found Drake standing there, taller than he should have been, hand on the hilt of his sheathed sword, eyes black. Resisting his fear, Jason stood and faced the phantom seedman. “What’s with all the snow? Is this the Christmas special? Let’s do the roller coaster again.”

“You are going to die.”

“True, sooner or later. You’re the annoying shadow creature following me. I’m glad we have a place to talk. You shouldn’t have killed that guy back at the village. Now I really don’t like you.”

“You have brought destruction to all you love.”

Jason could hear the avalanche building momentum as it drew nearer. The oncoming roar was terrifying, but he tried to think of it as nothing more than impressive special effects. “Another spooky warning. Honestly, after today, this dream feels sort of minor league.”

Drake cocked his head, as if perplexed, then pointed up the slope.

Jason could now see the avalanche coming, a massive tide of whiteness devouring everything in its path. It was seconds away. The ground began to tremble.

“I get it,” Jason said, deliberately making his expression bland. “I also get that it isn’t real. Smell you later.”

Drake held up a hand. As the avalanche reached them, it forked, devastating everything to either side, but leaving Drake and Jason untouched. The uproarious sound was unnerving, as was the quaking ground, as were the few stray bits of snow that peppered Jason. Eventually the avalanche passed, leaving a bare field of white to either side, all trees swept away.