All of the furniture had been moved to the sides of the room and all that occupied it was a wooden bench, two small tables, and a rocking chair. Along one wall was a bookcase filled with tomes of legend and lore. Briar was now eighteen. The silky waves of her hair cascaded down from her shoulders barely concealing her beautiful figure, adorned in a brand new suit of golden plate mail that fit her seductively in all of the right places, without losing any of it’s protective abilities. Around her waist was an emerald studded belt. From her belt hang a hand axe on a leather thong, a belt pouch of provisions, and a scabbard that was intricately decorated to match her sword. A morning star was strapped to her back with a leather harness, and she had a silver dagger in its scabbard laced to her left calf. She was fully armed except for her father’s two-handed sword, a spear, and a bow with a quiver of arrows that lay on one of the tables.

Briar turns to admire her appearance in a small mirror affixed to one end of the bookcase when a soft knock on the door interrupts her. Her father, Brark, enters and after a moment of proud appraisal of her beauty, he sits on the bench. “I can hardly believe that it has been two years since we began to train together; your progress was faster than I ever thought possible.”

“Thank you, Daddy.”                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   

“You now know everything that I can teach you and you are as prepared as I can make you for your journey. I am sorry to see you leave, but I know that it is for a greater cause that you are going.”

“Daddy, I know that your sorrow for my departure will be rewarded when I fulfill my promise to you and avenge my mother’s death!”

“Take the forefathers’ journals, all but one; they will help you to abide by their rules. When you arrive in Larso, present yourself, with my respects, to King Zoris and he will aid you in every way that he can.  When you have won the confidence of the regal family, prepare yourself for the quest at hand.  When I feel that you are ready to begin, I will bring the last of the forefathers’ journals to you.  The last journal holds the secrets to the powers of Tanscaberal.  Many have died, searching for this book!”

“I love you, Daddy! I will make you proud!”

“Go now; your griffon is saddled and waiting for you. I love you, Briar, and I am already proud of you, my child!”

She takes up her remaining weapons and leaves the cottage. She straps her weapons to her griffon, Starmon, and mounts up for her long journey to Larso.

 

                                                --------------

 

 

“The gladiators have begun to arrive, Your Majesty!” announces the king’s messenger.

 

“Excellent!” exclaims King Zoris.  “Go and announce the news to everyone.  Make sure the rooms on the east wing are ready for them.  Make sure the preparations for the festivities this evening are underway.  We shall give them a grand welcome!”

“Yes, Your Majesty,” answers the messenger, turning quickly to leave the king’s offices.  As he hastens down the hallway, Srandon passes him.  Zoris beckons the prince into his office.

“Srandon, I want you to go down to the east courtyard, and welcome the gladiators as they arrive.  Show them their quarters, and inform them of the festivities this evening.  Go quickly!”

“Yes, Your Majesty!”  Srandon responds, enthusiastically, and turns abruptly to hurry to the east courtyard.

 

                                                -------------

 

That afternoon, as they watch the gladiators practice for the tournament, King Zoris, Srandon, and Dryleria admire their techniques and superior talents.  The regal family sits in a shaded viewing area high above the arena floor.  The arena is fairly empty, except for a few of the palace workers and some of the other gladiators who are watching.  There are approximately twenty gladiators, ranging from knights to lords to legion trainers, who will be participating in the tournament.

“They are splendid, Grandfather!” exclaims Dryleria.

“At this tournament, we shall witness the most exciting battles, which I shan’t dare to miss any of,” returns Zoris.

The first two contenders fight like animals.  Weapons clash; Ronis’ iron spear challenges Lovier’s steel sword. Weapons pound against golden shields, and each man is wearing a complete suit of armor while they practice.  There was presently no need to worry that one might be wounded.  However, the armor would not be worn in the actual tournament because it was to be a fight to submission. The winner would be determined by his skill and cleverness alone.

“They are excessively good, almost as commendable to me as,” Srandon pauses, bowing his head in dismay at the thought of his deceased father.

Dryleria tries to comfort him, placing her arm around his shoulders. “Daddy’s here; you just can’t see him. Oh, but you can feel him, Sran!” The assurance in her voice is full of compassion and understanding.

“Yes, I know, Dryleria.”  Srandon’s hand moves to his forehead; he suddenly feels dizzy.  “I must excuse myself for a few moments.  My head aches tremendously!”

“Are you okay, Srandon?”

“I will be.”

 

                                                --------------

 

Briar traveled through the icy terrains of Kwisir, mounted on the griffon, Starmon.  The dryness of the falling snow made her muscles ache.  She buried her face in the griffon’s feathers, and pulled her hood down farther over her eyes.  She clung tightly to her cloak and the bearskin wrap around her shoulders, trying to block out the chill.  They traveled slowly through the snow, heavily burdened down with weapons, gear and food.  She could feel herself starting to dose off from the numbness in her limbs, but knew she had to stay alert.

Suddenly, Starmon stops in his tracks, flaring back on his hind legs.  The sudden movements of the griffon cause Briar to lose her balance and fall off his back into the snow, dragging much of the gear down with her.  She jolts suddenly to get out of the animal’s way, dodging the massive strength of his torso.

“Starmon!  Calm down!” screeches Briar.

The griffon squawks loudly.  Briar, trying to grab the griffon’s reins, then hears the deafening growl of another animal behind her.  She stops suddenly and stands very still.  Warm blood courses through her numb body as her heart starts beating quicker.  She sees her spear, which had been thrown to the ground from Starmon’s back, a few feet from her.  In one swift movement, she falls to the snowy ground and rolls to the spear, grabbing it.  Starmon flares up on his hind legs behind her.  Briar looks up slowly to meet the hungry glare of a ferocious white bear.

 

                                                ----------------

 

Srandon rises from his seat next to Dryleria, slightly faltering from his dizziness.  He closes his eyes tightly, shivering from the intense cold rushing through his veins.  He then collapses to the floor beside Dryleria and King Zoris.

 

 

 

“Srandon!” screeches Dryleria, rushing to his side as soon as she hears him fall to the floor.  King Zoris turns to the two of them.  She reaches to touch his shoulder as Zoris stops her.

“No, Dryleria!  He must endure this alone!”

Dryleria looks up at the king, confused.  “He’s ill, Grandfather!  We have to help him!”

“No!  He will be okay; this will pass.”

“Look at him!  Whatever this is that is happening to him is killing him!”  She reaches again to hold him in her arms, noticing that he is shivering uncontrollably.

“Stop!  He must endure this alone!” exclaims the king.

Dryleria stops, tears forming in her eyes as she watches her brother fight his pain.  “You know what is happening, don’t you?”  She looks up at the king.

“Yes, Dryleria.”

Srandon doubles over from the pain in his head, still shivering.  He is oblivious to everything around him.

 

                                                            --------------

 

Briar slowly stands, still crouching, as she grips the spear firmly with both hands.  She stands still as the bear moves closer to her.  She can feel her heart beating wildly and the adrenaline soaring through her veins.  The emerald dangling from the necklace around her neck begins to glow warmly beneath her cloak.  She closes her eyes briefly, feeling the power of it seep into her.  As the bear’s thundering growl echoes through her head, she flinches.  It moves closer to her, halting when it is standing only a few feet from her.  Starmon flees towards the trees when the bear stands on its hind legs, rising to his full height in front of Briar, towering over her.  She lunges at it with the spear, grazing its right leg.  As she falls toward the snow, the bear’s right arm swings at her, hitting her squarely in the rib and causing her to fly a few feet in the air to the snow.  She screeches in pain.

 

                                                -------------

 

Srandon falls over on the floor in pain, clutching his right side.  He grunts deeply, clenching his teeth to the sharp pain in his rib.

“Srandon!” screams Dryleria.

Zoris firmly places his hand on her shoulder, stopping her from assisting him.  “If you touch him, you will enter the vision, too.  Whatever is happening to him at this moment will also happen to you!  Don’t do it!”

 

                                                --------------

 

Briar pulls herself to her feet as the bear turns to her.  She grabs the spear again and thrusts at the animal, noticing the blood trickling from the wound on its leg.  The bear drops to his front legs and approaches her, growling angrily.  Briar stands, legs straddled and spear poised toward the bear.  She gasps as she lunges at it again, causing it to back away.  As the spear penetrates its side, it stands again on its hind legs, and claws at her with its right paw and then its left.  She dodges the right paw as she looses the grip on her spear, which is protruding from the animal’s side.  As she falls to the snow again, the bear’s left forepaw comes down to gouge her left thigh with his claws.  She cringes from the sting and screams in pain.

 

                                                -------------

 

Srandon screams, rolling over to his back on the floor.  He is still shivering, drenched with sweat.  His cloak falls to the floor around him.  Dryleria stands slowly, watching him.  She notices the clumps of wet snow on his cloak and looks at King Zoris.  Both watch as Srandon grabs his left thigh in pain, and the blood pours out of his leg to soak his breeches.

 

                                                ---------------

 

Briar grabs at her thigh, instantly seeing the blood gushing from it.  She looks up to see her blood dripping from the animal’s claws and the trail of blood in the snow.  The animal approaches her again, slowly, with her spear still stuck in its side.  Its growl is even more ferocious now.  Briar can feel herself slipping into unconsciousness.  The emerald stone of Anton begins to glow with deeper hues of red and gold, and the heat from it fills her once again.  When its power meets the energy of Briar’s sword at her side, the scabbard begins to shake and the sword begins to glow with the same intensity as the emerald.  Briar feels the energy from her sword, and throws her cloak to the ground as she reaches for the weapon.  As she tries to stand, the bear bites at her.  She tries to crawl out of the way but she is not quick enough.  The bear’s teeth graze the back of her leg, making her jolt away from it.

 

                                                ---------------

 

Srandon arches his back in pain, reacting to the bear’s attack.  He, too, feels the power of the emerald and the energy coming from the sword.  “Help her!” he screams,  “You are killing her!”  His eyes are still closed tightly.  The blood is forming a pool around him on the floor.

Dryleria and King Zoris watch in astonishment.

 

                                                -------------

 

Briar rolls onto her back in the snow, and moves her hand to the handle of her sword.  As she pulls it out, the animal is blinded by the glow of it.  Briar, still lying on her back, holds the sword to her chest.  As it touches the emerald, sparks of energy surge through her, bringing her instantly to her feet before the great bear.  As the animal moves to lunge at her again, Briar closes her eyes, and thrusts forward with the sword, burying it in the animal’s belly to the hilt.  As the beast falls, she withdraws the sword and collapses to the ground.  

 

                                                --------------

 

Srandon jolts upright on the floor of the regal chamber in the arena.  His eyes open to the pool of blood on the floor beneath him and the king and his sister staring at him in confusion.

“I’m okay, Dryleria,” answers Srandon to the question in her eyes.

“Is the girl okay?” beseeches King Zoris.

Srandon looks at him questionably.  “Yes, she will be okay.  She has killed the bear.”

“What girl?” asks Dryleria, looking at both men for the answer, “And what bear?”

Srandon lifts his hand from the wound on his leg, which is still bleeding profusely through his breeches from the bear’s huge claws.  Dryleria helps him as he rips the seams of his pants, exposing the deep seething gashes in his leg.  Dryleria tears a strip of fabric from the hem of her gown to tie around his leg in order to stop the bleeding.

“Who is this girl, Srandon?” she asks him, peering up into his face.

“I don’t know who she is,” he answers, looking past Dryleria for the answer in King Zoris’ eyes.  The king turns away from them to look out over the arena at the gladiators still practicing for the tournament.  “All I know is that she is controlling my every thought.”

“I believe that this is Tedra’s evil, doing this to you.  I think he knows about you and he is trying to destroy you!” exclaims Dryleria.

“No, Dryleria, this is not Tedra’s doing.  This is something much more powerful!” answers King Zoris, his back still to them.

 

“How can there be an evil worse than Tedra, Your Majesty?” asks Dryleria.

“Dear Dryleria, the power, which your brother deals with, is not evil.  In truth, this power is good and pure.  As I grow older and weaker in strength, this power may be our only chance against Tedra.”

 

                                                            --------------

 

Later, that same afternoon, Srandon goes to the castle cathedral to speak to the Oracle, concerning his visions and the wounds that have been inflicted upon him because of them.

“Your savior….” A voice from the Oracle comes to Srandon as a distant incantation.

He turns quickly to face it, “You know who it is?”

“She will come….”

“She?” queries Srandon.

“A woman,” says the Oracle. “She will come here to you as a fighter from a very distant land. She will be young, an extremely beautiful girl, and a fair-skinned maiden. She will come fully trained in fighting with all weapons. Completely feminine will she be; yet, she will be more valiant than most men.”

“When will she come?” asks Srandon anxiously.

“She has begun her journey, though it is a long and perilous one.  It will be a test of her strength.  It is unknown as to how long it will take her to complete the journey here.  It could be a few weeks, or as much as a year from now, but she will come.”

 

“Will I know her?  When she arrives here, will I know her as our savior?” asks Srandon.

“In time.”

“Can you not tell me anything else about this woman, or about what or whom she is to save us from?”  questions the prince.

“She will deliver you and your people into a time of peace, where there is less evil and less corruption.”  The Oracle’s lights flicker.

“How?” asks Srandon.

“She will come with distinguished powers,” answers the Oracle.

“Will these powers help her to save our people?” 

The Oracle does not respond. 

“Tell me!” he demands.

“They can help her, and they can destroy her!” says the Oracle.

“How?” asks Srandon. “What are these powers that she possesses?”

“She possesses very rare powers of the mind.  She will be able to influence men into doing whatever she pleases.  She possesses the powers of mind control, love, and healing.  She is also able to see glimpses of the past and the future.  There is one who will come after her who will learn the secrets of time travel.  That one will show you true happiness.”

“I’m confused.  Whom are you speaking of, this one who will come later?”

“All of your questions will be answered at the right time.”

“About this savior, how can these powers destroy her, and can it be prevented?” asks Srandon.

“The power of love can destroy her, if the love is forbidden.  The mighty spirits of her ancestors have forbidden her to ever love any man who is not related to her being. Her ancestors, the forefathers of our world, have sent her here in that she never falls in love. It is forbidden; therefore, it can destroy.”

“Does she know about this?” inquires Srandon.

“When you meet her, she will know that love is prohibited to her, but she will not know about all of her rare powers.  She is only now beginning to discover them.”

“So these powers can destroy her in the end, if she doesn’t die in battle.”

“You are correct, Your Royal Highness.” The Oracle replies.

“But she will liberate our people, from Tedra?”

“She is the only one who can… if she can manage to live that long.”   The Oracle’s lights begin to fade away slowly.

“She will survive, for I have seen her strength in my visions,” whispers Srandon.

“We have empowered you to be her guide.  Through her thoughts and dreams, you are guiding her here, to Larso,” responds the Oracle.

“Guiding her?  How?  She controls my thoughts!” exclaims Srandon.

“You are guiding her by giving her the will to continue.  You are the part of her strength that allows her to overcome her obstacles.  And by taking a portion of her pain, you replenish her strength, which replenishes her power.”

“I do feel the pain that she feels, and I see the things that she sees.  We share the same visions, don’t we?” he asks.

“Yes, Your Highness, you share her visions and her pain.  You have become a part of her.  You and she are one, in that you share the same thoughts.  Imagine the intensity of her powers, as she was able to bring you into her world, even when you resisted.”

“I resisted when I did not know what was happening.  Now that I know, I can’t resist her.  She is in danger though.  Can you not make her journey safer?” asks Srandon.

“She must face this journey alone.  I have already done everything that I can do; I have given you the power to guide her here. Everything else is up to her.”

 

                                                -----------------

 

“Patience, Apprentice.  Patience is valuable.  The perfect opportunity will present itself in due time.  The king is a worthy adversary, so I must plan my next attack very carefully.  Zoris has been very careful not to leave the palace unattended as he has done in the past.  He is very suspicious of my actions now, which is why he guards the palace well.  There are only three ways by which I can get inside the palace gates.”  Tedra smiles at his apprentice standing before him.  The apprentice has only been there for a short time, to briefly report the happenings at the palace. 

The figure pulls the hood down over his eyes.  “I’m curious, Master,” he says.

“I can only enter the gates if Zoris is not there, or if I am invited, which is unlikely at this point.”

“You said there were three ways, Master.”

“The only other way is by the knowledge of Tanscaberal’s secrets.  The secrets to the sword’s powers can gain me access to King Zoris and to the throne.  But I must first figure out a way into the castle.”

“How can we discover these secrets, Master?”

“Zoris is the only one with the knowledge.  His son, Anton, knew of the powers, but I took care of him a long time ago.  Therefore, I must be patient, for the king grows old and weary.  I must either catch him unguarded, or discover another way to force this knowledge from him.”

“It this the reason why you have sent me into the palace, Master?”

“I must know everything about the king’s actions and his whereabouts, and about the Princess Dryleria.  Without the sword, she will be weak.  Zoris is an intelligent man; he is doing something to prepare for his successor.  That is what I need to find out.  He is not going to let his granddaughter take the throne, powerless.  Something is going to happen soon; of this, I’m sure.”

“I will keep my eyes and ears open, Master.”

“Excellent.”

The apprentice turns and leaves Tedra alone to ponder his next move against King Zoris. 

“You will make another mistake, Your Majesty, and I will be waiting,” Tedra thinks aloud.  Two times in the last ten years, Tedra had attacked the palace.  Both times, King Zoris had been away on urgent business.  During the last raid, which had been completely unexpected, Tedra had snuck into the castle, undetected, knowing that Zoris was not there.  Unlike the first raid, Tedra had entered the castle alone and quietly.

He remembered gliding up the winding staircase to the king’s private chambers late one night.  Invisible to anyone he might encounter, he snuck into the private rooms to find the beautiful Queen Mankia sleeping soundly.  As she slept, he cast a spell over her, which would keep her from waking.  He did not wish for anyone to know he was there.  His only purpose was to leave a message for the king.  As the queen slept, Tedra slit her throat and with his fingers, spread her sweet blood over the entire room.  He wanted Zoris to know that he could penetrate the castle walls and that the royal family would never be safe.  With his blood-soaked hands, he ran his fingers along every piece of furniture, every luxurious gown that the queen owned, and every personal item that had been precious to her.

 

                                                ---------------

 

As Briar reached the southern edge of the Kwisir Valley, the snowfall began to ease and the air became warmer slightly.  She would follow the Ralmir River to the west, staying close to it until she reached the small city of Eton.  As she ventures towards the river with Starmon carrying her, she begins to feel a strange sensation overcome her, almost like an intense energy reaching out her, wanting to engulf her.  She closes her eyes, feeling this unfamiliar power surge through her.  She tugs on Starmon’s reins, motioning for him to stop.  Then she dismounts him and takes a few steps.  In her mind, she can hear a woman’s voice calling her name.  She instinctively ducks to the ground, looking all around her, as she grabs the hilt of her sword.

“Did you hear that, Starmon?” she asks the griffon.  The griffon remains calm, not sensing any immediate danger.  Again, Briar hears her name being whispered in her ear. 

As she closes her eyes, she sees the vast, luxurious castle at Larso, in the moonlight, and then the towering staircase, which winds its way up through the center of the elaborate structure.  Then, suddenly, she is standing before intricately carved double doors, which open to reveal the royal suites of the king.  Almost instantly then, she is standing at the foot of the king’s master bed, which is surrounded with soft, translucent curtains.  Magically, the curtains part as Briar raises her hand.  All she can see is the blankets in disarray and the lifeless form of a woman.  Then suddenly, the blood begins to appear around her, on the pillows, on the blanket, on the floor, and on the walls.

Briar opens her eyes quickly, breathing heavily.  She looks around her again, but there is nothing.

 

                                                            ------------

 

As Srandon nears the ballroom, he stumbles.  He can hear the laughter and the celebration coming from the ballroom through the brief, silent flashes of the bed and the lifeless figure of a woman, and the blood that race quickly through his head.  Then the visions end abruptly.

He shakes his head, closing his eyes tightly, trying to bring back a more vivid picture in his mind.  There is nothing.

“Open your mind to me,” he whispers.

At that moment, Dryleria appears around the corner.  “Srandon,” she says, gaily, “Come join us in the festivities!”  She tugs at his arm, pulling him inside.  Willingly, he goes with her, again hearing the sound of laughter and music coming from the ballroom.

 

                                                ----------------

 

“Soon, my love, your death will not have been in vain,” mutters Brark, alone in the small cottage.  He sits in the rocking chair, blankets bundled around him, in front of the fire.  In his lap, his hands rest on a large, thick book, made of aged leather and crisp sheets of parchment.  “The time of revenge is near, and all who have suffered at the hand of Tedra will once again find peace.  The prophecy will come true.”

 

                                                ----------------

 

As Briar makes her way down the Ralmir River toward Eton, walking alongside Starmon, the warmth of the sun washes over her.  All around her, there are rolling hills of green grass and towering trees that outline the water’s edge.  The brilliance of the sun bounces against the still blue water, almost inviting her into its depths.  Briar is almost mesmerized by the water.  Starting to feel a little fatigued, she decides to accept the water’s invitation.  Looking around her to make sure she is completely alone, Briar begins to take her cloak and weapon belt off.  Her long blond hair falls around her face as she bends over to untie the straps around her boots and slip out of her tunic.  As her body is exposed to the sunlight, she stands for a moment, basking in its gentle warmth.  She glances around again before she briefly examines the bruises on her ribs and the huge claw marks on her thigh, which have soaked the strip of bearskin that she had wrapped around it with blood.  She carefully loosens the wrapping, clenching her teeth at the enduring throb in her leg.  Holding the blood-soaked bearskin, she slowly walks into the water, relishing in its coolness.  When the water rushes into the gashes on her thigh, she flinches slightly from the sting, then relaxes.  The cleansing water refreshes her as she allows it to caress every inch of her tired, sore body.

 

                                                ----------------

 

As people start leaving the festivities, staggering to their rooms in drunken stupors, Srandon decides to retire for the evening.  His mind is exhausted from the last few days’ events.  Without anyone noticing, he slips away, having not been in a very festive mood since earlier that afternoon.  His mind is preoccupied with the mysterious pain in his thigh and the unsightly gashes there, which he feels he needs to tend to before the blood soaks his clean breeches and people start asking questions. 

Once Sradnon reaches his private suites, he immediately lights a few candles and lies down in the comforting folds of his bed to relax.

 

                                                --------------

 

Briar emerges herself in the water, closing her eyes and enjoying the fresh warmth of the ripples around her.  As the muscles in her body relax, her mind starts to wander to a dark, elegant bedroom, dimmed only by a few candles, and the softness of a grand bed.  She feels the prince’s presence in her thoughts; she sees him resting peacefully in the warm blankets.  As the waves wrap around her body like a warm blanket, she imagines herself lying in the softness of his bed.

 

                                                -------------

 

Srandon’s mind starts to relax as his thoughts take him to a peaceful stream surrounded by full trees and green hills.  The sound of the water trickling across the stones eases him, allowing him to feel the warmth of the sun on his body.  He breathes in deeply, smelling the sweet aroma of the grass and flowers and enjoying the tranquility of the scenery in his thoughts.  As his eyes follow the length of the river, his gaze brings him to the beautiful golden hair rippling on top of the water, and the peaceful face and body of a goddess, who appears to be asleep, floating on the water almost magically.  In his mind, his eyes and hands follow the contours of her firm, luscious body, gently caressing her fair skin.  Then he sees the seeping gashes on her thigh, and gently massages around them, wiping the blood away into the water.

“You are so beautiful,” he whispers to her mind.

 

                                                ---------------

 

Briar relaxes, allowing her body to float on the water, completely lifeless.  In her thoughts, she is laying next to this strong, handsome man in the warmth of his plush bed.  Her fingers are tracing the contours of the muscles in his shoulders and chest, as she watches him breathe in deeply with each delicate caress.

“Who are you, sweet stranger?” she whispers to his mind.  “Why are you in my dreams?”

 

                                                ---------------

 

“We are connected; I am in your dreams as you are in mine, like one spirit.”  He thinks the words, hoping she can hear him.  “Can you hear me?”  He inhales deeply beneath the warm covers.  In his dreams, his fingers move to stroke her cheeks and her brow.

 

                                                --------------

 

“Yes, I can hear you,” she answers, “But who are you and are you real?”  Her arms glide atop the water surface to extend to her sides as she inhales deeply.  Her breasts heave with each breath; she can almost feel his fingers caressing her body.

 

                                                -------------

 

“Can you feel me?” he asks.  He hears a soft reply.  “What you feel is real.”

 

                                                --------------

 

“Where are you?” she asks.

 

                                                ----------------

 

“I am waiting for your arrival, in Larso.  I will guide you here.”  Srandon opens his eyes and stares at the ceiling above him.

 

                                                ----------------

 

“Then you know who I am,” Briar whispers softly to his mind.  Then, she opens her eyes, and lets her feet drift to the rocky floor of the calm waters.

 

                                                ---------------

 

“Yes, I know who you are.  I am here to help you.”  The vision of her has faded, but he can still hear her soft voice in his head.  He glances around his room at the stillness, and then rolls over to his side, trying to recapture the vision of her in the water.   He sighs deeply.  “What are you doing to me, sweet goddess?”