A Warrior of Dreams Read Online Free PDF

likely short. Prison is going through that life being a Dreamer and not knowing how to dream. You'd found some little bit of it, Joslyn. We saw that. But there's so much more. Remember last night, when your Nightsoul stepped out of your dream for a moment onto the Nightstage?"
    Joslyn thought about it. "You mean the place of mists? What of it?"
    The Dream Master chuckled softly. "What of it? Joslyn, do you think just anyone can see beyond their own dreams, free the Nightsoul to wander and explore? Or enter the dreams of another? To walk the mists of sleep as something outside of all dreams, including your own? No. You are truly blessed by Somna. Or don't you believe in the Dreamer?"
    It was as if someone had questioned her acceptance of solid earth beneath her feet, or the sky above. "Of course I do. She's the Creator."
    Tagramon smiled, nodded. "Just so. The one who dreams the Greater Dream of which we are all a part. Are we then trapped in Somna's Dream? Should we try to escape? No, Joslyn, because this is where we belong. The Temple is where you belong. We need you, Joslyn. Dreamers are not so common that we can afford to lose one. You're young, I know. You don't remember when the Emperor brought his armies to the west. The Temple of Somna was at Darsa then, and I one of the humblest of the Temple Dreamers there. Orders were relayed, but it seems they were forgotten when the walls were finally breached. The Temple was destroyed, most of the priests and Dreamers slain. We've been years recovering from that."
    Joslyn frowned. "I thought the Temple was always at Ly Ossia."
    He smiled ruefully. "It would have racked the Dreamer's sleep to rebuild at Darsa, with such evil memories lingering there. So I came here with one other priest, and with the Emperor's help by way of atonement we rebuilt the Temple. But it's taken a long time. There are only a handful of Temple Dreamers now, compared to what we had." Tagramon seemed to hesitate, then continued. "I can't force you to join us, girl — an unwilling servant is hateful to Somna. And there's more than enough to disturb her sleep now, more than enough to make her dream so troubling that she finally wakes from her ages-long sleep. Do you know what happens then?"
    Joslyn nodded. Her lips and throat felt dry. "The Dream is the World. When the Dream ends, the World ends."
    Tagramon nodded. "Just so. It's the responsibility of the Temple and the Temple Dreamers to help keep that from happening, Joslyn. It is our mission to sooth the dreams of the Faithful, give auguries and guidance, cast out nightmares and summon bliss. In short, girl, to ease the collective pain of our world! Do you think everyone has a chance to make such a difference, to matter as much as that? Is it really such a poor way to spend a life?"
    "No," Joslyn said, because she knew what he said was true.
    He smiled at her. "No, indeed. But it is not an easy road I offer, Joslyn. As a Temple Dreamer you will be part of Somna's defense against the demon Gahon, perhaps the most important part. By your work on the nightstage in the realm of Lesser Dreams, you will make Somna's world a better place. But for your trouble sometimes you will swear that the lowest servant in Ly Ossia has more freedom than you. In some ways you will be right. You will be guarded well, and kept closer to hand than miser's gold, but only because you are rarer and more precious than gold. Do you understand?"
    "I think so." Joslyn didn't say anything else for a long moment, but when she did she couldn't quite keep the eagerness out of her voice. "Can you really teach me to visit another person's dreams?"
    Tagramon chuckled softly. "Bless your innocence, Joslyn. That's the very least of what I'll teach you."
    *
    Feran stood alone in the mists rising from the nightstage. By looking very carefully he was able to make out the ghostly outlines of the valley where his daysoul and physical body both slumbered together. For a long time he had thought of the