March 16th Two Days before Festival – 7:30 am
Sunny woke and found herself in her bed. She yawned and stretched her feet down toward the end of the bed. When her foot nudged a lump that shifted only slightly with it, she sat up and found Bracken rolled up in one of her hooded cotton jackets. She was thirsty and thought she could drink a lake dry!
She swung her feet out from under the sheet and lightweight blanket and stood up. She had only stepped a few paces when she felt the world shift beneath her--
She was standing on a hilltop looking down into a valley.
"Where have you come from?" came a voice from behind her.
She swung around and came face to face with an individual she had never in her wildest dreams ever thought to meet! He was tall and majestic – with smooth copper skin. As she studied him, she thought he almost looked like a falcon or hawk. He had fierce golden eyes that all but blazed from dark lash-rimmed eyes. He had high cheekbones and a straight nose. His hair was shiny black and was pulled back from his face and plaited in multiple thick ropes down his back. His black brows were knitted together as he studied her critically. From his dress, she decided he was not from Nu'Ada.
"I'm not exactly sure," she told him. "I was just in my bedroom and took a few steps and now I'm here."
"Do you know who I am?" He asked her, when she shook her head, he folded his arms over his chest and smiled. "I am Gaddis. If your elders were to know you were traveling --."
"Gaddis, you can't be!" Sunny declared. "How can you be here and now when – I saw you on the field with Eyru!"
He bowed his head in thought. When he looked back up at her, there was a momentarily odd look on his face. "You were spirit walking," Gaddis explained "Time and space move differently in the spirit world."
"Are you the same Gaddis?"
He stepped closer to her, and she felt pinned to the ground and caught beneath his amber glare. "Who are you?"
"I am Siobhan O'Neil." She whispered. "First daughter of the Dannan."
He inclined his head in a curt bow. I am Gaddis Anu, tenth Emperor of Ne'Media."
He was nothing like the creatures that had attacked Fury at the palace, but he was certainly not like any being she had ever encountered. The only physical reference she could attach to him was he comported himself with the presence of an Egyptian Pharaoh! Sunny looked around and sensed more than saw what was wrong. "Your people; they are sick."
Gaddis nodded sadly, "It is an illness our healers cannot cure."
"Perhaps the Dannan --,"
"You are the Dannan," Gaddis told her.
"No, my Aunt Fiona is the Dannan."
Gaddis smiled sadly at her. "You do not yet understand your powers; do you?"
"No, I don't."
"You invade my dreams." He replied and turned away from the valley to look at her. "Yet you do not even know how or why."
"I don't know how or why any of this is even possible!" She flung an arm out and pointed down at the valley. "How is this possible?" She wanted to know and followed him as he stepped away from the view of the valley.
Gaddis shook his head. "I do not question my dreams," he told her. "Especially when they seem to be prophetic."
"Then I am here for a reason," Sunny told him. "Tell me what has happened?"
Gaddis sat in a chair. Around them sprang a tent with lavish carpets on the ground and cushions heaped on the floor. Sunny sat on a cushion that seemed to float like a cork on the water.
"There is an illness that has claimed many lives of Ne'Medians," Gaddis said. "More in the cities across Nu'Ada. It crosses the Lyon River and takes hold in my fortress. My people grow sick and die. You call it in-flu-enza."
"I call it that?" Sunny repeated.
"You will come with a cure; but unless you come in time, many more of my people will die. Many in Nu'Ada will die." Gaddis told her.
"When I come, will you let me in?" Sunny felt her cushion begin to drift further from him.
"Yes," He told her. "I will remember this dream and I will try to help you."
"Will I remember?" she asked.
"I do not know if you will or not," Gaddis murmured. She began to grow smaller and fainter until she was just a dust mote in the air. "But I think that we shall know one another quite well – in time."
Sunny was in her bedroom standing in the middle of the room. Bracken was awake and standing on the bed screeching loudly. Suddenly the room was alive with activity. Fiona and Tully burst into the room and on their heels was Nicodemus with the largest knife Sunny had ever seen!
"What the hell!"
Bracken continued to shriek until Fiona tossed her shawl over the Watcher. He began to growl and pulled the shawl off and scowled up at them. "Baro Dook!"
"What happened?" Fiona asked.
"Traveling!" Bracken snarled back at them. "Traveling, traveling, traveling!"
Fiona staggered backward and sat down on the chair that was by the door. Tully stepped toward Sunny and took her hands in his, "Where did you go, Sunny?"
She frowned, trying to remember where she'd been and what happened. The vision was beginning to fade quickly, but she did remember a name. "Gaddis."
Nicodemus lowered the knife and leaned against the door jam. "You saw him?"
"I spoke to him," Sunny said. "He told me ---," she stopped because now she couldn't remember what they had talked about.
"What did you talk about?" Tully asked carefully and slowly.
She tried to remember, but when she tried; her head hurt. It began to throb more painfully the harder she tried to remember. She shook her head. "I – I just can't remember now."
Fiona realized she was holding her breath and let it go slowly from her lips. Something was happening to her great-niece, and it wasn't normal, it was something dangerous!
"Gaddis is the equivalent of the Ard Ri – king of the Ne'Medians," Tully told her.
"King of the daemons?" Sunny said a look of confusion crossing her features. "He didn't look like a daemon."
"Gaddis is different, he is of ancient blood," Tully replied. "He is not a daemon."
"What does that mean exactly?" Sunny wanted to know. "I've heard that expression many times, but no one's explained it."
"Being of the blood, means you are from the direct bloodline of the ancient ones," Nicodemus said.
Sunny frowned and looked at each of them, "The Dannan is a descendant of the Ancients. That means we come from the same bloodline as Gaddis."
Nicodemus glanced over at Fiona. "Except for the Watcher, we all descend from the same bloodlines."
Tully shrugged, "The daemons can be controlled by those of the blood, by the ones of the ancient bloodlines. Gaddis is a direct descendent of the Ancient bloodline."
"Meaning the daemons cannot cross into this world – ever," Fiona said.
"Due to the geis that Eyru made to bring peace." Sunny replied then she frowned at them, "But they're still fighting and killing one another in Nu'Ada, how is that being peaceful?"
"The geis is in effect here," Fiona said. "Eyru made the pact to keep this world safe."
"The Partholan continue to wage war on the Ne'Medians – I seriously doubt that will ever change," Nicodemus replied.
"There are some who are trying to heal the wounds," Tully said and looked directly at Nicodemus.
"And failing miserably," Nicodemus muttered then drew a deep breath and expelled it. "If this catches the ear of anyone, we are all going to have questions we will be hard-pressed to answer without compromising our – relationships on the other side." He glared over at Bracken.
"I not say! I not tell!" Bracken snarled back at Nicodemus then drew Fiona's shawl closer around him as if he had suddenly felt a cold icy draft.
"Be certain of that!" Nicodemus said stabbing a finger at the Watcher.
"I do not say," Bracken said but waved an arm toward the window, "but others may."
"I'm hungry," Sunny said suddenly. "And thirsty!"
Fiona had been seemingly frozen in thought got to her feet, "This I can solve without a doubt! Come on, I could use a little help in the kitchen."
Tully followed her out and turned to look back at Nicodemus who continued to stand in Sunny's room. "You comin'?"
"I will be down in a moment," Nicodemus said then looked over at Sunny, "I have a question for our visionary."
Sunny smirked at Nicodemus but nodded to Tully that it was okay to leave. The blacksmith turned and went downstairs. Nicodemus came to perch on the end of Sunny's bed, "Tully thinks you may be a catalyst that you can see what has been – if I give you the story do you think you could see what has been?"
Sunny thought for a moment then nodded. "Yes. I believe that's how it works. Or if I am drawing sometimes that triggers visions."
"Then if you are up to it, let me tell you something I think you need to know."
"What is this about?" she wanted to know.
"You do not trust me," Nicodemus told her. "I need you to understand something about me and then we need not question each other ever again – agreed?"
She looked into his eyes and then nodded, "Okay, but I will know if you're lying."
He nodded. "That's what I'm counting on." He waited until she was sitting comfortably on the bed next to him. She pulled a pillow around and hugged it to her. She was open and receptive, and Nicodemus saw she was going to listen to his story. He nodded and collected his thoughts. With a deep breath he began, "It was the year I turned twenty years old. My father, my uncles, and I had come to trade and sell horses. It was the season I was to claim my bride."
That piqued Sunny's attention – she wondered if it had been Fiona. Nicodemus sighed heavily; he could see that she had guessed the woman he had in mind. "I had thought she would be a match, but my father had other plans."
"Go on," Sunny replied.
"My father had selected a young woman, but it was not Fiona. There was something my father carried in his heart that would not allow it. That is what I want to know. He had traveled to the place of kings and when he returned, he had changed. He was a man turned cold with bitter knowledge."
Sunny felt herself slipping into that place where the present and the past met. It was easier and less taxing on her this time. She looked over at where Nicodemus sat, and she got to her feet and held out her hand to him. "Then let's find out, shall we?"
Nicodemus was alarmed because her whole demeanor had seemed to change. She was not a girl full of uncertainty, she was a goddess! There was a look of complete knowledge and assurance. He hesitated only for the time it took for his heart to beat a few times. He got to his feet and took her hand in his.
With the swiftness of thought, they were both transported between time itself. Then they stood in a place Sunny did not know. Nicodemus on the other hand recognized the time and the place.
"Are my horses ready?"
"Aye milord!" came a call.
Sunny looked around. There was a man not unlike Nicodemus. He was built heavier and was older and frail-looking – like a man who had been ill and never really recovered.
"This is Jacob, my father," Nicodemus said softly.
A man entered the room and came over, "Milord, your son wishes to see you before you depart."
"No," Jacob growled. He turned to the manservant. "Tell him I cannot see him."
The manservant hesitated, and Jacob stepped toward the man, "You heard what I said Declan?"
"Aye!" Declan returned and bowed. He turned away and went out the door, closing it softly behind him.
Sunny looked over at Nicodemus. He had moved away from Sunny and was studying his father with a mixture of hurt and anger.
"He would not see me," Nicodemus told her. "I could not understand why he refused. Now perhaps, I will find out why."
He watched as Jacob finished dressing. Jacob examined himself in the mirror and then turned to the door Declan had just left through. He suddenly began to shake, and he sat down in a chair, put his head in his hands, and began to weep.
Nicodemus frowned at the scene then looked at Sunny, "What is he thinking?"
Sunny shook her head, "I can't tell."
Another door opened from beside the fireplace. Nicodemus and Sunny both looked surprised. A cloaked figure entered silently. "Jacob, you need to gather yourself together!"
Jacob sat bolt upright and stared at the figure. He wiped the smear of tears away with the back of his hand and sniffed mightily. "What do you want with me, you bastard!"
The robed man lifted his hood from his head and Sunny gasped as she recognized him.
Nicodemus had a similar reaction. "You know him?"
"It's Gaddis!" she whispered.
"That's impossible," Nicodemus said coming closer to study the Ne'Median emperor standing in front of his father.
"You are still planning to tell the Ard Ri what you think you know?" Gaddis asked.
Jacob jumped to his feet. "Aye, and the devil take you to hell!"
Gaddis turned away seemingly unfazed by Jacob's outrage. "You would do well to keep silent, Jacob. It will do no good to spread such knowledge, not now."
"But the Ard Ri must know!" Jacob said through gritted teeth. "He must know the danger that lives in his own house!"
Gaddis sighed. "There is no danger," he turned away from Jacob and gazed for a moment out the window. He closed his eyes for a moment, pain etched on his features. "You will do more harm than good if you speak, Jacob Fury."
"I have to tell what I know!" Jacob growled low, "Others suspect – "
You are a great fool!" Gaddis snarled and turned toward Jacob. "Are you so caught up in your greed and guilt to prevent the happiness of your son?"
Jacob backed away from Gaddis in obvious fear. The Ne'Median king was of the blood – dangerous by any means.
"I cannot turn from the truth – even if it means my sons despise me!" Jacob railed at Gaddis. "The Ard Ri must know!"
"You are a hypocrite, Jacob," Gaddis muttered.
Jacob turned away and clutched his chest. "Leave me, I am not well."
"Yes, I believe you are right," Gaddis replied mildly. "Perhaps you have waited too long? This trip could be your ending."
Jacob glared over his shoulder, "As if you care whether I live or die!"
"You may not believe me, but I care a great deal, Jacob," Gaddis told him. "Not about what happens to you, but what happens to your children and more particularly, to my children. If you persist in this mission, I will be forced to reveal your truth."
"No!" Jacob groaned as if in physical pain.
Gaddis only smiled and inspected the jeweled rings on his fingers. "Oh yes, your indiscretions; and those results."
Jacob in a fit of rage lunged suddenly at Gaddis and the Ne'Median easily stepped around the man, who crumpled to the floor beyond Gaddis' feet. "Careful old man," he murmured down at Jacob where he lay panting in obvious discomfort, "You will be dead before you get to your meeting with your Ard Ri."
Jacob struggled to his knees then stumbled to his feet and faced Gaddis. "What – What do you want of me?"
"That should be obvious, Jacob. Your silence!" Gaddis said each word clearly and slowly, stressing the last word with a finger to his lips.
Jacob was sweating heavily from exertion and fear. "I must go, I have to go and make my report."
Gaddis sighed almost wearily, "Yes, I know. Go. Make your report, but you can easily leave certain details from that reporting."
Jacob frowned in agonized thought. He was torn from telling the truth and from his terrible secrets. Gaddis had him dangling over a precipice.
"What do I tell my family?" Jacob asked, not asking Gaddis for his advice, "What would they think of me?"
Gaddis looked at Jacob for a long moment. He felt sorry for the man, but he also saw a liability that could destroy the world they lived in. "You do what you think best for all of us – and not just for your avarice."
Jacob looked at the Ne'Median with hatred and rage, "Get out you --- you bastard!"
Gaddis remained unfazed by the outburst and strode to the secreted door he had come through. "Listen well to me, Jacob Fury – and you think on this journey you undertake – you say anything—anything; and I will not hesitate in turning my daemons loose on you, your household, and this land you hold so dear. I promise you that!"
Jacob turned away and Gaddis drew the hood of his robe over his head but just as he was about to go through the side door he stopped and looked directly at Sunny, "Have you learned anything at all?"
Jacob turned to Gaddis in puzzlement. Then he looked sharply in the direction Gaddis had focused his attention. He saw faint glittering images and cringed back in fear. Just as he opened his mouth to summon his guards, both the apparitions and Gaddis were gone.
Sunny looked to Nicodemus and the two of them faded from Jacob Fury's room and stood once again in her bedroom.
Nicodemus looked over at Sunny, "My father was hiding something from me and my family. I only wish I knew what that truth was."
"There are more questions unanswered!" Sunny grumbled.
"We must be careful," Nicodemus said. "Whether or not it is a truthful accounting or if somehow it is skewed by time and unknown influences. One thing is certain, my father did have powerful alliances with the Ne'Medians. Whether or not it was coerced or willingly made, he had certain alliances – some that exist to this day!"
"Good or bad?"
"Unknown," Nicodemus replied.
"Did you see that Gaddis knew we were there?" Sunny asked.
Nicodemus nodded slowly then looked at her with a mixture of suspicion and admiration in his eyes. "I suggest we keep this particular ability well hidden."
"That's what everyone tells me, including Tully," Sunny replied.
"For once he and I agree," Nicodemus told her. "I would keep this and the fact that you seem to have a connection with Gaddis under wraps."
"But how can that be possible?"
"I do not know," he said softly, "And that frightens me more."
"I'm starving!" Sunny said suddenly, "And I'm so thirsty!"
"Come let us find out what Fiona has prepared." Nicodemus held out his hand to her and she took it and together they went downstairs and into the kitchen.
They found Tully and Fiona just finishing up preparing a light meal. Sunny tucked into her food and quietly ate her fill. Nicodemus was unusually quiet as was Tully. Sunny and Fiona carried on the conversation but after a few minutes, they too fell silent.
Finally, Sunny put her fork down and looked over at each of them, Tully, Fiona, and finally Nicodemus. "Okay, there's a giant elephant in the room that none of us are admitting to – What is happening to me?"
"We do not know," Nicodemus replied. "That alone makes you a particular puzzle with no solution. But there is no doubt in my mind that you are dangerous, very dangerous in fact. You have a connection with Gaddis and that can be deadly to you if it should reach the wrong ears."
"And Gaddis?" Sunny asked. "He seems to be consorting with the enemy – with this connection too," Sunny pointed to herself then waved her hand vaguely around in the room, "I don't understand why it seems so important to him."
"Gaddis is the current Ard Ri of the Ne'Medians," Tully replied. He is Gaddis Anu the tenth emperor of Ne'Media."
"How can that be?" Sunny asked, "I've seen this person in many memories, and he looks pretty much the same in every recollection I've had."
"Being a direct descendent of the blood, he ages differently," Nicodemus replied. "We all age at a slower rate than -- humans."
"What you're saying is you, Tully and all the tribes that come from the other side are not -- human?" Sunny was confused, they all looked very human to her.
Tully cringed at the word 'human' and shrugged his shoulders, "Well, I guess so..."
"We are not of this realm," Nicodemus replied carefully indicating himself and Tully. "Some millennia ago, we co-existed together but were not 'human'."
"Some of us," Fiona could make herself say the word, 'human'. It made bitter gall boil in her stomach. "Some of us on this side of the arch also carry bloodlines of the Ancient Ones." Sunny looked at Tully and then at Nicodemus, then she felt suddenly fatigued and wanted nothing more than to sleep. "I'm too tired to think straight."
Nicodemus studied Sunny for a long moment then his gaze fell on the locket that hung around her neck. "That locket does not seem to be doing its job."
Fiona frowned at him and then at the locket in question. "Maybe it is and without it, Sunny would be in even more peril."
Tully shrugged, "Cassie's spell is the strongest she could conjure. I do not think anymore can be done."
"We should arrange to sit vigil," Nicodemus said, "Should you dream, you could travel, and you would not be able to find your way back."
"I sit!" it was Bracken. The Watcher had come into the kitchen undetected. "I sit, I watch."
"I will take the first watch," Fiona said, "Then the rest of you can sort it out among yourself."
Sunny started to protest but decided against it. She went upstairs, bathed, got into her bed, and stared up at the ceiling then felt herself beginning to drift. When Fiona arrived, Sunny was already asleep. Fiona drew the light cover over Sunny, then made herself comfortable in the chair next to Sunny's bedside. She set a small lamp on the bedside table and settled in to read.
By the time Fiona was feeling sleepy, Tully came in and relieved her, silently giving her a nod and mouthing "Good night."
Fiona went to her room and quickly fell asleep. Tully sat and watched Sunny sleeping. He wondered if she began to travel if he would be able to stop her or if he would be compelled to follow. It was tempting to follow her on whatever trail she found open to her. It was also dangerous! She would not be able to decipher the memories of an enemy from a friend. Still, he wondered if she could pick up the thread of anyone's memories and follow it.
As he was deep in thought he felt something different in Sunny's room. He sat up in alarm! "Don't be alarmed, Tully,"
He looked over at Sunny she was sitting on the side of her bed. The room was bathed in golden sunlight. The room melted away and they were in a room that was unfamiliar to him.
"Where are we?" he asked her.
Sunny looked around. "I don't know. I think it's a memory from Aunt Fiona."
"What was it?" Tully asked then got up from the chair and looked out the window. He made a soft expression of surprise and looked over his shoulder, "We're in Nu'Ada."
"Was Aunt Fiona ever in Nu'Ada?"
Tully nodded, "She spent her thirteenth summer in Nu'Ada. As most children belonging to the clan do."
Sunny joined Tully at the window. Down below in the courtyard, riders were coming in. She recognized a much younger version of Nicodemus and Fiona. Tully pointed, "There, that's me!"
A young dark-haired boy came riding in on a horse. He was in a jovial mood and greeted the young Nicodemus heartily. Fiona was a solemn young girl, but she was very happy in this memory. Sunny could feel concern from Fiona, but also happiness at seeing her friends together.
Tully watched the scene. "We were so young, and carefree."
"This is before the illness struck."
"Aye," Tully said and looked over at Sunny. "Everything changed when the sickness came."
Sunny frowned, "Why would Fiona be so concerned that this memory would surface?"
"Perhaps because the three of us were always together in the old days," Tully told her. "Having us together again brought back memories of those days when we were so young."
"Maybe so," Sunny murmured. "What place is this?"
Tully started to answer but the door burst open and young Fiona came in her face flushed and eyes sparkling happily. She threw herself onto her bed, rolled over on her back, and stared up at the ceiling. A few moments later a young woman came in. Tully frowned. "Cricket."
"Cricket, when did you arrive?" Fiona jumped up and ran to the young girl and threw her arms around the girl. The girl was cool and pushed away from Fiona. Fiona drew back and looked at her. "What is wrong?"
"I saw you just now," Cricket said frostily, her dark brown eyes narrowed angrily, "He is a prince and not for the likes of you!"
Fiona stepped back as if struck, "What are you talking about? We are only friends!"
Cricket scoffed lightly, "You eat him up with your eyes! Only the blind would not see that!"
Fiona flushed in embarrassment and turned away from the girl. "Yes, I like him very much, but not that way!"
Cricket flung herself in the chair. "So, you say, but I know different! But it can never be. I am more his match than you."
Fiona grew angry and turned to the young woman. "What assurances has your family received from the Fury family?"
Cricket flushed red and waved Fiona's comment away with an eloquent hand. Fiona looked down at her own hands, she still chewed her nails, she curled her fingers to hide them from view, but Cricket took that move as combative and stepped closer to Fiona.
"You have nothing to bring to the Fury family! Not even that Partholan bastard of Reynes would be foolish enough to try and claim you!"
Tully stepped toward the girl but even before he could say anything Fiona's hand had connected with Cricket's cheek. The slap sent the young woman to the floor and Fiona drew herself up and leaned over her, "If you ever speak out against any of my friends again, I will set a curse upon you that cannot ever be broken!"
Sunny watched as Cricket's face drained of color and Tully's face cracked into a grin that rivaled Bracken's feral smile. Fiona moved away from Cricket and went back to the window and looked down into the courtyard. Both the young Tully and Nicodemus waved up to her and she returned the salute. She looked over her shoulder at Cricket who had gotten to her feet and was rubbing her cheek. "Get out of my room and do not ever speak to me again!"
"Good for you Aunt Fiona!" Sunny cheered then looked to Tully, "What family was that little bitch from anyway?"
Tully shrugged, "Her father was Mag Aodha (MacGee) married into the Partholan clan." He looked over at where the young form of Fiona was standing in the shadows of the balcony window. "I knew Cricket was envious of Fiona, but I never realized how cruel Cricket had been to her. She never let on."
"Who did this Cricket wind up marrying?" Sunny wanted to know.
Tully shrugged again. "She never married; she entered some nunnery. As far as I know, she's still there."
"Since she couldn't marry Nicodemus; she ended up there?"
Tully chuckled. "Nae, she was a wild girl, looking to bag any eligible young man, her family was so scandalized they had no choice but to put her away."
Fiona then turned away from the window, her tears glistening on her cheeks, but she scrubbed them away and splashed water from the pitcher on her face. She forced a smile on her face and ran downstairs. Both Tully and Sunny went to the balcony window to watch. There the young Fiona, Tully, and Nicodemus hurried to the waiting horses and clattered away leaving the castle far away and the scene faded, depositing Sunny and Tully back in her bedroom.
The blacksmith looked at Sunny with a wry smile on his face. "You are going to have to get yer travelin' under control…. This could be quite embarrassing if you were to walk into a memory best left private!"
Sunny blushed and looked around the room, it was still the middle of the night. "Nicodemus planning on spelling you?"
"I haven't seen him," Tully replied. "I begin to think Bracken is a better watchdog than anyone else. He does not have memories, and seems to know when you are about to travel."
"But he bellows it to the world," Sunny said wincing at the memory of the watcher's massive screeching fits. "He'd alert all the wrong people."
"I think Nicodemus is right; Cassie's binding spell does not seem to help you," Tully replied. "You are way beyond her brand of protection."
"Tully, I need to know about Gaddis and Eyru."
"I do not know the truth, only what I have been told as a child and what I have read." He told her. "There are written accounts of what was supposed to have happened, but it happened so long ago that it is now legend."
Sunny sat on her bed and found that her energy levels were depleted again. She wasn't thirsty like before, but profoundly tired. "I'm going to rest," she told him. "I don't expect to be going anywhere after this last go!"
Tully nodded. "You get some rest then. I am going to call up Bracken. He will sit with you until morning."
He went to her bedroom window, pushed up the window, and leaned out. He put his fingers to his lips and blew a strange warbling bird song. Sunny thought it sounded sweet. The trees rustled outside the window and Bracken swung in to sit on the ledge of the window. "Come in laddie," Tully instructed.
Bracken angled a suspicious look at Tully then looked to Sunny. "Dark eyes, been travelin'!"
"Aye," Tully replied. "I want you to sit and make sure she does not do any more traveling. Call out if you see a change."
Bracken nodded gravely then remembered his bag of candies. He opened the chest at the foot of Sunny's bed and rummaged around until he found what he was looking for. Sunny's eyes were already drooping but she managed to wag a finger in Bracken's direction. "Don't eat too many…. Bellyache!"
Tully turned and left Sunny sleeping soundly. He glanced at the Watcher and nodded at the creature. "Watch close."
"I watch!" Bracken murmured and made himself comfortable on the end of Sunny's bed and began to carefully unwrap his candies and eat them one by one.