Part 31 (2/2)
His eyebrows raised. ”And you think I will teach you this?”
”Yes, because with that knowledge I can stop Gaza from destroying Vrin.”
He a.s.sessed me with incredulous eyes. ”How?” ”How?”
”By entering the cognosphere.”
”You cannot change the past by using an event cell. What Gaza has done, is done.”
”No, I am not speaking of changing the past. I intend to enter enter the cognosphere itself.” the cognosphere itself.”
In the flickering light of the lantern, I wasn't sure if I saw horror, or surprise on his face. ”Th- that's not possible!” possible!”
”It is only possible if you help me. Your magic holds the key. Once in the event cell, there will be no way for me to find my way back to my physical body, unless you help me.”
”You would go mad in an empty event cell.”
”You are incorrect. I would not.”
”Everyone who has ever ever attempted this has gone mad, how are attempted this has gone mad, how are you you any different?” any different?”
I leaned forward, against the objection of my restraints. I looked him directly in the eye. ”Because, Arganis-- I am, am, Sam' Dejal.” Sam' Dejal.”
His face went slack. ”You are already mad!”
”Arganis, listen to me. I know know things that only things that only he he would know. I can tell you the conversation we had in this very cellar. We talked about the dream, and the world beyond Vrin. We drank together and chose to believe in Ethral. Then we traveled into Rath's castle. Ask me anything. I remember it all.” would know. I can tell you the conversation we had in this very cellar. We talked about the dream, and the world beyond Vrin. We drank together and chose to believe in Ethral. Then we traveled into Rath's castle. Ask me anything. I remember it all.”
He sat shaking his head slowly. ”How is this possible?”
”The body of Sam' Dejal still lies deep in the heart of the Citadel, but who he was, is now in this this body.” body.”
”If you are him,” He paused, ”then why do you not have his power?”
”I am no longer connected to the source of the power. I have the memories of Sam' Dejal, but in every other way, I am just like you.”
Again he examined me. His eyes narrowed. ”How did we enter Rath's castle?”
I suppressed a smile. ”First you showed me the map with the best place to enter, then I created a hole in the ground, and we went into the dungeon through the wall.”
He put his hand on his chin. ”If you are so interested in my magic, then why did you not ask me to use it in the dungeon?”
”Ah, but I did ask. You created smoke and a blinding flash to make my appearance to the guard more dramatic. And it worked quite nicely, if I remember correctly.”
”So...” His eyebrows rose. ”The G.o.d who would be man-- is now a man?”
”Yes.”
”A man who needs my help.”
”Most definitely.”
His whole face smiled.
I returned the smile.
”This is wonderful!”
”Not so much for me.”
”I'm sorry, no, of course not.” He crouched down and cut the bonds from my wrists and ankles. ”It must be very hard for you to be without your powers, but the implications of this are remarkable. It means the G.o.ds are human.” His head c.o.c.ked and his eyes focused on a distant point. ”You said you were sleeping. How could you be sleeping, in the dream.”
That was a very good question. One I wished I knew the answer to. ”I did not wake up where I expected, so I don't have an answer to that.” was a very good question. One I wished I knew the answer to. ”I did not wake up where I expected, so I don't have an answer to that.”
”This person you are now was not the one who was sleeping?”
”No. In fact, I met the person I am now while I was still in Sam' Dejal.” I started to rise.
Arganis helped me up and into a chair, his voice prattling the whole time. ”Amazing! When you were Sam' Dejal, you actually met this person you are now? Did he know you, or was he someone else before you inhabited this body?”
”He was frozen.”
”Frozen? Had Had he he always been frozen?” always been frozen?”
”No. I froze-- I mean-- this body froze while I was reading Davata Notrals at the capital. I had lived a whole life up to that point.”
”And when you left Sam' Dejal, you woke as Charm?”
”Yes, but it was not what I was expecting. I expected to awake in the place I was sleeping.”
”Are you still dreaming the dream?”
”I believe I am a part of the dream now.”
His furry brows danced. ”Amazing!” ”Amazing!”
”I'm glad you you think so.” think so.”
He brushed me off. ”I'm sorry for my enthusiasm. I must remind myself that you are in great danger in this body. Gaza himself is searching for you, and you are without your power. I should not be indulging my petty curiosities. Please, accept my apology.”
”I am humbled by your wisdom and restraint, Arganis. It would not be so with me, if I were in your place.”
”Your compliment brings me great honor.”
I gripped the table and stood. ”It is deserving, I a.s.sure you. Now, let's get down to business.”
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