“The pointy end goes up.” “Somebody will get poked.” “Duh, that’s what’s supposed to happen.” “Is not.” “Is too.” “Hey, Akot, the pointy end goes in the ground, right?” Akot paused and smiled; there was a certain logic to the boy’s thinking, the pointy end would keep the pike from sliding around since the boys’ weren’t heavy enough to secure the pike when something big ran into it. “The pointy end goes towards the enemy,” said Akot. “Get a rock and dig a little trench to stick the flat end in so it doesn’t slide back.” Akot continued his inspection of the mini-pikemen. No two groups of boys had their pikes pointed in the same direction, and several groups were trying to have a sword fight with their pikes. One group had discarded their pike and were playing tag, while another group was playing some game that involved jump-frogging over the pike. This defense line couldn’t stop a charge of friendly raccoons, let alone a herd of three-hundred pound dinosaurs with ten-inch claws. Akot stopped to direct the latest group of arriving boys to a place in the line. The boys had been straggled out much further than Akot had originally thought – the boys coming in now were exhausted and all but one collapsed on the ground; the boys had just run five miles in an attempt to escape the attacking dinosaurs. The boy that didn’t throw himself on the ground had found the water barrel left out for them, and was now using the ladle to give water to his brothers. Akot knelt next to one of the boys. “How many more were behind you?” The boy’s eyes flicked to Akot, but he didn’t reply. He was too exhausted at the moment. The boy with the water ladle replied, “I was the last one. I was fighting with Jack, but he told me to run with the other boys and protect them.” Akot stared at the boy’s face, he had a fresh cut that ran diagonally from his forehead to his jaw; it would leave a ragged scar. And the eyes… were intense, with no hint of fear. Was it possible there were two groups of warriors? There was always a Warrior Dreamer in every Dreamer Generation, but never two warrior groups. Akot glanced at the groups of boys with the pikes and winced as one of the boys hit another on the head by accident. No, there wasn’t the slightest hint of a warrior in any of the boys, so what was different about this boy? “What’s your name?” asked Akot. “Cole,” replied the boy. Akot smiled. “I know that, but have you chosen a new name to set yourself apart from the other two-thousand Coles?” The boy shrugged. “I haven’t thought about it.” “What about, Scar?” The boy touched his fresh cut with the tip of his fingers. “Naw, that sounds dumb.” Akot thought for a moment and said, “You got that cut on your face by a dinosaur talon?” The boy nodded. “Yeah.” “How about… Talon?” The boy scrunched his mouth to the side and shrugged. “All talons are claws, but not all claws are talons.” “Does that mean you like the name, or not?” “Yeah, I like it.” Akot nodded. “Talon it is then.” Talon held the bucket up. “The water is all gone.” “There’s more water in those barrels across the road.” Talon jumped to his feet, and went across the road to the stack of supplies Alani had brought earlier. Akot hadn’t had time to look through the supplies, but hoped the crates brought with the water barrels had food in them – the boys were getting hungry. They were also tired. Three of the boys lying on the ground had fallen asleep, but they weren’t the only ones. Some of the boys in the pike positions had also decided it was nap time. Actually, it was more than nap time. It was the middle of the night. Akot was pretty sure they would all be asleep soon. Akot left the boys to sleep and stood as a portal that looked like a cave entrance appeared; the kind of cave a bear might hibernate in – it was Dr. Alani’s portal, the Dreamer of the Animal Kingdom. The young doctor was the youngest person to be certified a veterinarian on her planet, mostly due to working with her father, a farm vet. Akot smiled and began to greet the Doctor. “Hello, Doctor…” Alani made a short concealed chopping gesture with a hand to stop him. Jon Black emerged from the portal and pushed past Alani. The man’s eyes were cold and dark – and deadly. “Did these boys just arrive?” asked Jon Black looking down on the sleeping boys. Akot nodded. “Yes.” Jon Black leaned over the first boy and studied his face. “Were there any other arrivals since I was here last?” Akot’s eyes flicked to Talon standing behind the water barrels, then to Alani. Alani gave Akot the barest shake of her head. Akot looked back to Talon and motioned him to hide. The boy didn’t hesitate and crouched behind the barrels. “These are all of them,” replied Akot. “I think it’s the last group.” Jon Black finished checking each of the boys before turning back to Akot and speaking. “This can’t be all of them, he’s not here, and I’ve already checked every boy on the picket line.” Akot spread his hands out. “Who isn’t here?” One of the boys Akot thought was asleep sat up and sniffled, then wiped at his eyes. “There was another boy, he saved us.” Jon Black spun on the boy with such ferocity Akot thought the man was going to attack the boy. “Tell me,” demanded the Gunslinger, his hand resting on the butt of his revolver. The boy sniffled again. “The dinosaurs were chasing us, he… he led them away.” The boy’s eyes began flowing with tears now. “I saw it… they ate him.” The boy curled up, wailing and waking the other boys. Jon Black glared at the boy. “We couldn’t be so lucky, but if I discover you’re lying, dog boy, I’ll skin you alive.” Akot forced the anger that was welling up inside him down. “I don’t know what’s going on, but if you threaten these boys again, it’ll be the last thing you do.” Jon Black’s arm moved so fast it appeared as if the gun materialized in front of Akot’s face. “If you can’t handle a few Sand Walkers, you can’t handle me. Don’t get in my way, Dreamer of Rocks. I will find the boy, and I will end him.” A shadow rose from the ground and wrapped around the Gunslinger as a voice like the cold northern wind spoke. “Lower your weapon.” “I knew you had something to do with this, Night Dreamer,” said Jon Black. The cold voice spoke again like a serpent whispering in the night. “There is little enough balance to the universe as it is, a 13th Dreamer is always required.” “Any of the other dark Dreamers, but not this one,” shouted Jon Black, his gun no longer steady in his hand, but shaking slightly. “The selection is complete and you cannot change it,” whispered the Night Dreamer. “Jon, your time is almost done. Cael has already slipped into a coma and your successor will be here with the new Lord of Chaos in a few hours. If you continue…” Jon Black lowered his weapon as he broke free of the Night Dreamer’s grasp. “I do not need your advice, nor did I ask for it. You will undo everything Cael put in place.” The Night dreamer partially solidified into somewhere between a person and a shadow, but there was a softness in her expression, a temporary understanding of the pain Jon Black was feeling; his boyhood companion and friend of ten thousand years would never again wake in this life. “We do not choose the 13th Dreamer, but there is a wisdom to the selection the House at the End of the Universe made.” The Night Dreamer’s gowns rippled in the cold night air – an air made even colder with the constant drizzle of rain at the edge of the Crystal Universe. The Night Dreamer continued. “The Jack army cannot be controlled by any of us, and especially not by the new Cael, or even your successor. There is only one Dreamer that will ever be able to control and manage their fierceness. The Universe chose well.” Jon Black waved an arm and opened his own portal. Through the portal Akot could see the House at the End of the Universe – Cael’s farmhouse. The windows were covered with black cloth. The little signs that had served for so long were gathered at the bottom of the porch, and on each one were pictures of tear drops. The little signs were silent in their pain, but Akot could hear their weeping as clear as he had ever heard anything. Jon Black staggered through his portal, and up the stairs and into the farmhouse. Alani waited until the portal closed before blurting out. “Oh wow! Akot, you were incredible. I can’t believe how fearless you were. Jon Black’s guns right in your face and you never flinched!” “That is the first time I’ve seen him draw his weapon, and I do not understand why everyone is afraid of him. His weapon had no sharp blade, no point to puncture armor, and even as a bludgeon weapon, it does not look effective.” Alani tipped her head to the side. “What?” The Night Dreamer raised a hand and brushed it against Akot’s cheek affectionately. “Alani, on your world the plasma rifle has not yet been invented, but you have a frame of reference with lesser firearms to immediately understand the danger of having one pointed at you. Akot is from the Bronze Age, he has no such frame of reference to understand the danger he was in.” Akot gently pushed the Night Dreamer’s hand away. “Which crayon does the 13th Dreamer hold?” “Ah, let me introduce you,” offered the Night Dreamer. Her eyes went to the water barrels. “You can come out now, boy, the bad man is gone.” Talon stood and the Night Dreamer waved her arm theatrically. “Meet Havoc, the Scarlet Dreamer – God of War,” and then sweeping her arm to include all the boys on the picket line, “and the Dogs of War.” The Night Dreamer looked down at the boy that had spun the lie about Talon being eaten by a dinosaur. “And I do believe this clever and loyal dog that defended his master from Jon Black is Cerberus.” The boy sitting on the ground screwed his mouth into a grin. “Cabus… Cerub… Berius… What the heck? I can’t even say that word. Can I be, Hunter?” Talon leaned forward on the water barrel and held up the Scarlet Crayon. “My crayon says those were our ancestors, not us. My name is Talon, and if he wants to be Hunter, then he’s Hunter.” Cole Dreamer had been standing off to the side with Boss and Spike. “Excuse me, am I still the Dreamer of Roads and stuff?” The Night Dreamer floated across the ground like a shadow to Cole. “Of course you are, beautiful boy, and the very reason the Scarlet Dreamer always appears in this group. Eventually, all roads lead to war.” “I thought the Jacks were the dogs of war?” said Akot. The Night Dreamer flicked a hand dismissively. “Cry Havoc, and let loose the dogs of war. No, the Jacks are soldiers, perfect soldiers, Cael’s pets, but left to themselves, they would bring unchecked war on the Universe as did their predecessor. Young Havoc here will keep the Jacks in check.” “My name is Talon.” Akot held up a hand. “I understand, and I understand war will happen no matter what. I think what you’re saying is that Talon’s job is to manage war so that it does not destroy everything, and I agree with this. The Jacks have already proved they cannot be controlled by any of us. So, what do we do now?” “Give me the Coles to raise and teach to manage war.” “Didn’t Cael banish you from the Crystal Universe?” “He lifted the ban and allowed me to choose one Dreamer. I only want what is mine.” Akot waved a hand and a Crystal portal opened, and from the portal Akot the Wise emerged. “Greetings, Ancient One,” said Akot the Wise. “Your claim is easy to make with Cael on his death bed and unable to verify.” The air turned even colder in the Night Dreamer’s rage. “You were spying on me!” The Night Dreamer whipped her head around, searching for the Crystal window. Akot the Dreamer pointed up at the sky. “Oh, you devious boy, you hid it in the night.” “Was this a private conversation, I wasn’t aware,” asked Akot the Dreamer. “Enough of that,” scolded Akot the Wise. “There is no need for rudeness.” Akot Dreamer bowed to the Night Dreamer. “My apologies.” Akot the Wise gave a nod of approval. “Very good, you must show respect in all things you do, now open a window to Jon Black.” Akot Dreamer did as he was bidden and a Crystal window opened onto a room with an old man lying in a bed with his eyes closed, sleeping the sleep that proceeds death. Jon Black sat on the bed next to the old man, holding the old man’s hand and softly weeping. The old man was dressed in a bright green night robe, and on the breast of the night robe was the ever present yellow patch of a sun with a smiley face. Akot Dreamer turned his head away, it was not for him to witness such a strong man as Jon Black lost in so deep a grief. “Am I not to have even an hour of solitude to grieve before this happens?” asked Jon Black. “It has already happened, he is gone and will not wake again,” said Akot the Wise. “You must now preserve not your wishes, but his. Did Lord Cael lift the Night Dreamer’s banishment?” Jon Black heaved a final involuntary sob for his lost friend. “He did, and allowed her to choose one of the Dreamers to partner with, but he did not know the Scarlet Dreamer was the dark crayon that would come. He thought it would be the Dreamer of Famine. That is why he selected someone so strong to be Father Nature; Bran would have had the strength to fight such darkness.” “And isn’t it that no Lord of Chaos may know who the 13th Dreamer will be – and that they must plan well all their Dreamer selections?” asked Akot the Wise. “That is true, but… the Scarlet Dreamer is perhaps the strongest of all Dreamers. You will come to regret protecting him from me.” “It would not be the first regret I have had in my life,” said Akot the Wise. “Did the Night Dreamer choose Cole?” Jon Black turned his head towards the Crystal window and laughed. “No, she too believed it would be the Dreamer of Famine that was coming, and now she wants to change her choice to get the Dark Dreamer.” “Who was her original choice?” Jon Black lifted the box of crayons from the old man’s hand and held it up as he spoke. “The dark crayons always go each to the same group – War to the Dreamer of Roads, Pestilence to the Dreamer of the Wind, Poverty to the Lone Dreamer, Greed to the Living Flame, Sloth to the twin Dreamers of Hope and Inspiration, Neglect to the Protector of Children, Cruelty to the Dreamer of the Animal Kingdom, and…” Jon Black grinned, but not a pleasant grin. “…Famine to the Lord of Crystal and Stone.” Akot the Wise turned his head to the Night Dreamer and frowned. “I see.” Jon Black was obviously enjoying this bit of dark revelation and continued his taunt. “The Dark Dreamer didn’t come to your group as we thought would happen, so she has no further use for you and wants to trade up.” Akot the Wise looked back to Jon Black. “And who was Cole supposed to partner with?” Jon Black shrugged. “The Yellow Dreamer and Protector of Children, the Tarlock.” “They are my sons,” shouted the Night Dreamer. “I watched over them for two-thousand years while they slept in Limbo. I demand you give them to me.” Akot the Wise only glanced at the Night Dreamer from the corner of his eye. “Lady Night, do not think you can demand anything of me, and compose yourself, the children are watching, is this the example you wish to set.” “How dare you attempt to scold me, mortal. I am as old as the Universe itself.” “The Universe considers himself nine-years old, what should that tell me about you?” Akot the Dreamer bit his tongue and wondered what happened to showing respect. But then, maybe the Night Dreamer was too much for even Akot the Wise to stomach for long. Either way, it wasn’t for him to judge. The Night Dreamer sputtered an incomprehensible reply as she lost the illusion of shadows around her and stared at Akot the Wise with her mouth dropped open – no one had ever spoken to her like that. Akot the Wise glanced back to Jon Black. “The dynamics of the situation have changed, and Cael is not able to make the needed adjustments, nor are you in a fit mental state to make any decisions.” Akot the Wise glanced at Akot the Dreamer. “Open a portal, I am tired of speaking through this hazy window.” Akot Dreamer removed the Crystal window, and replaced it with a Crystal portal. Akot the Wise stepped through to the room beyond. Jon Black did not rise, but only sat holding the box of crayons in his hands. Akot the Wise reached down and took the box from Jon Black before he could react, then placed the box back in the hand of the sleeping old man. Jon Black’s expression was one of shock. “How… how did you do that? No one but The Lord of Chaos, or myself, can touch that box without being destroyed.” “The box knows I have no desire to possess the power it holds, and so it allowed me to put it back in the hand of its master. Do not touch it again, it wasn’t intended for you.” Jon Black stood. “You knew what I was considering?” “Yes, and temptation is natural, but anything you attempted with those crayons would be an act born of grief and fear and hate, and it would not go well, for us, or you.” “Once again you show us why you are called, Akot the Wise. What do you want to do about Cole, and that… abomination?” “That is beneath you, Sir, Talon is still yet a child and can be taught.” Jon Black gave a nod that he accepted the rebuke with grace. Atok the Wise continued. “I have been to the Yellow Dreamer’s world. The Tarlocks are monks, and I have no doubt the children they care for will be loved and taught to be productive adults, but Cole and Talon would rebel under such a life. They are not the kind of boys that can live with the cold stones of a Temple beneath their feet. Cole needs the soil of the earth beneath him, and Talon needs plenty of time to till that earth and learn what he would destroy if he engages in senseless war. I will take all the Coles with me and raise them among the Akot.” Jon Black was silent for a long moment before replying. “And the Night Dreamer?” “I will permit her to visit the boys, and perhaps she will learn to be a mother.” “She was a mother, of two immortal boys, and it ended in terrible tragedy. One stole his brother’s immortality, and the other stole his brother’s powers and imprisoned him in hell for eternity.” Jon Black waved the matter away and looked to his sleeping friend. “That you did this here for Cael to witness tells me you are sincere. I think he would have approved. Very well, you have custody of the Coles.” Akot the Wise called out to Akot Dreamer. “You and Alani take the Coles to the purple world, Akot the Patient is waiting to receive them, and make it quick, I want you to gather all the Dreamers to assemble here within the hour, Lord Cael does not have much time left.” Both Alani and Akot were peeking around the edge of the portal and replied together. “We’re on it.” Akot the Wise sat down on the edge of the bed with Jon Black. “Is there something else?” asked Jon Black. “Tell me of the first time you met Cael, I should like to hear the story.” Jon Black smiled and tried to swallow that lump in the throat one gets when someone does something particularly nice for you. “We were nine years old and he was standing on a bridge. Some older boys had stolen his satchel of crayons – even then he understood the importance of a crayon. And oh could he draw, beautiful drawings on old newspapers. I fought the older boys, it was my first real fight, and I got his crayons back… and we played for the rest of the day… there was a log across the river and he tried to show off by crossing it, and fell in the river… and then we found a hollowed out tree next to the water and pretended it was a fort and we had to fight off hordes of river trolls… and when we got here to the Crystal Universe, we used to play tag with the little white picket signs… the new Cael probably won’t want them, he’ll bring his own things… don’t let him destroy the little signs, take them to the purple world, they would be grateful to guard your wheat fields… oh, and I remember this one time… Akot the Wise sat silently listening as Jon Black recalled his and Cael’s youth together.

When I use stock images for chapter covers, they always come from pixabay. Pixabay License: Free for commercial use No attribution required