Dreamworms Book 1: The Advent of Dreamtech by Isaac Petrov (drm ebook reader TXT) 📕

“And how is your human coping?” Yog says and steps closer to Edda. Yog has entered the dream with only one of her three bodies. The rest are probably inspecting elsewhere, Ximena guesses. Having many bodies seems very efficient.

“The human’s talent to control the dreamscape with her will has been remarkably easy to unlock. And her discipline is at par with some of my own marai apprentices. I can already certify her abilities as a Walker in the Path, Overseer Yog.” Ximena can almost picture pride in those empty alien eyes.

“Did I pass?” Edda says, her scowl flushed away in an instant by a radiant smile. “Am I really a Walker?”

“Your work has been fruitful, Redeemed van Dolah,” Rew says, again that pride almost leaking out of her alien eyes. “I do congratulate you on your passage across the Path of Light.”

“Yeah!” She jumps and pumps a fist in the air. “What’s next, huh? The final trial? I can sure as Dem take it. Bring it on, baby!”

“So it is possible, after all,” Yog says, still inspecting Edda. “A human Walker of the Light.”

“The first human Walker of the Path of Light,” Rew says. “The first of many, I do hope.”

Yog turns towards Rew. “We shall soon see how many, since some are already failing.”

“Which humans have failed?” Rew asks.

“There is this one you took a keen interest in. The one with the strong traverse halo.”

“Woman Speese,” Rew says. “That is… most unfortunate.”

“Aline?” Edda trots towards Yog, her feet crunching small twigs and pine needles that cover the forested ground. “What happened to her?”

“Walker Qoh did report inability to resist the rigors of the conflict of wills,” Yog says.

“Oh, poor thing,” Edda sighs, “Poor, poor Aline. I guess it was too much. It almost got me too.”

“That is most unfortunate,” Rew repeats. Ximena leans forward and squints at her white, elongated body. Is it shaking or is it the effect of the wind on the naked branches nearby? “I do believe it is a grave mistake to disqualify Woman Speese, Overseer Yog. Her potential is way beyond the reach of all other human candidates. Even beyond Redeemed van Dolah’s. Alas, her Walking potential can only be awakened in the Shadow. Thus, I do hereby officially request her reincorporation. I shall then take personal responsibility over her instruction.”

“Once again you do request a failed human back into the reseeding effort. First, it was Junior Elder Ledeboer. Now it is Woman Speese. And yet, at the end, only two humans shall be allowed to tread the Path in the Shadow, Walker Rew, and it is our duty to guarantee that only the two most worthy are selected. Alas, Woman Speese lacks worth.”

“She did indeed fail the conflict of wills, Overseer Yog. And yet you must admit that our human Walkers shall not encounter dream violence as they pursue our objectives.”

“That’s what I said!” Edda says, spreading her arms. “All this fighting, Elder Rew. I almost went crazy! And for what? It was all a pile of horseshit, and a waste of time.”

“I am intrigued,” Yog says, staring at Edda. “A human trained to fight back. It is a stimulating thought.” She turns towards Rew. “I do wish to taste the abilities of your human firsthand, Walker Rew, if you do permit.”

“What?!” Edda takes a step back.

“I do not permit, Overseer Yog,” Rew says. “Redeemed van Dolah is already a duly certified Walker of the Light, she does not need to be reassessed.”

“Do grant me access to your apprentice, Walker Rew, and allow me to confirm your appraisal. It is, after all, in our interest to guarantee that only the most capable humans do access the last trial.”

“I do not, Overseer Yog. Redeemed van Dolah has already proved herself adequately. There is no profit in risking her already gained success in a senseless confrontation.”

Yeah, bitch! Edda thinks, silently alternating glances between both mares.

“Furthermore,” Rew continues, “Redeemed van Dolah is still quite inexperienced and has considerable trouble controlling her strength.”

“Are you asserting,” Yog extends a long, boneless arm towards Edda, “that this human could best me in a conflict of wills?”

“Not at all, Overseer Yog. What I am saying is that Redeemed van Dolah’s lack of experience makes her unpredictable—and dangerous.”

“A human? Dangerous?”

“Not any human, Overseer Yog. This human.”

“You are stimulating my intrigue to a degree that I have not felt for a long while, Walker Rew. I shall most definitely fight your human now. You shall yield to my authority.”

“I shall not. Unless you do yield to my former appeal regarding Woman Speese.”

“What?!” Edda gapes at Rew.

Yog watches Edda in silence for a long while.

Considering.

Ximena feels Edda’s discomfort at the gaze, so eager, like a spider’s on a passing fly.

“You do bring Woman Speese back into the reseeding effort,” Rew says, “and I shall yield my instructor privileges to your authority.”

“No, Elder Rew! I made it already, yeah? I don’t want to—”

“I do accept your terms, Walker Rew,” Yog says, her voice drowning Edda’s complaints as it reverberates across the winter forest. “Thus, you are to take personal responsibility over the instruction of Woman Speese. If she, despite your whispering, is incapable of reaching adequate proficiency in the conflict of wills, she shall be confirmed unworthy.”

“I do accept your terms, Overseer Yog.”

“Pure sin!” Edda says. “I won’t risk my—” a tenuous image of Willem holding Hans on his knees flashes through to Ximena, “interests like that! In what, a fucking fight?! Against a fucking marai ninja? No fucking way, alien. Not even for Aline. What if I lose?”

“You shall surely lose, Redeemed van Dolah,” Rew says, floating over the undergrowth towards Edda. “But if you do resist Overseer Yog’s violence long enough, if you do not allow yourself to pierce the wake too early, not only shall you confirm your status as Walker of the Light, but equally important, Woman Speese shall as well.”

“No, Elder Rew. I won’t fight. Too risky—way too risky. Ah, I know!” Edda turns towards