Atlantis in Peril Read Free Page B

sometimes,
she added teasingly.
By being as stubborn as a herd of ox-wyverns.
    He almost grinned.
Just like you.
    Got me there,
she admitted. Cocking her head thoughtfully, she asked,
Can I ask you question?
    Do I have any choice?
    No. Here it is: Since you want to be on Earth so much—to be with Atlanta, which I truly understand—why don’t you just go down there to stay? Then you’d get what you most want . . . and also, if our father happens to be right, avoid any risk of tearing the veil.
    Promi shrugged.
Guess I just want to do whatever I want for a change! After all those years . . . I feel I’m owed that much.
    She nodded sympathetically.
    And also,
he added,
I like flying through the spirit realm. So many amazing places . . . and amazing desserts.
    He paused, eyeing her.
Besides . . . there’s someone up here I’d miss. Even if she’s much too stubborn sometimes.
    Jaladay smiled.
No idea who you mean.
    â€œPromi,” said Sammelvar, interrupting them.
    The young man stiffened and turned to him.
    â€œWe really do care about you, son. Even if you don’t know that. But we are talking about something here that’s bigger than any of us.”
    Promi gazed frostily at his father. “If you really cared about me, then why didn’t you ever come down to Earth after you sent me away, just to look in on me? To see if I was even still alive?”
    â€œBecause,” Sammelvar said through his scowl, “to do that would have thrown away all the protection we had won for you! That would have led Narkazan’s warriors right to your hiding place—and all would have been lost.”
    He paused thoughtfully. “Even so, let me say, it was hard not to visit you. Very hard.”
    â€œYes,” agreed Escholia. “As hard on us as it was on you.”
    â€œI don’t believe that.” Promi shook his head, swishing his locks against his shoulders.
    Escholia chewed her lip, then admitted, “In truth, Promi . . . I
did
visit you.”
    â€œYou
what
?” exclaimed her husband, eyes wide with surprise.
    â€œI visited Promi,” she declared. “In his dreams! I just . . . forgot to mention it to you.”
    Sammelvar’s scowl faded, replaced by a look of astonishment.
    Turning to Promi, Escholia explained, “Through dreams, spirits can visit those on Earth. In the same way mortals can reach us with prayers, we can reach them with dreams. And so I came to you, my son, every single night you were gone.”
    She turned to Sammelvar. “I know it’s strictly forbidden, for the same reason you barred any direct contact with the people on Earth—it’s just too intrusive on their lives, their free will. But my dear . . . I just
had
to see him.”
    Her husband stood in silence, then slowly nodded. Meanwhile, Promi stared at her, his eyes full of doubt.
    Moving with the grace of a floating tuft of mist, Escholia took both of Promi’s hands. Softly, she said, “How else could you remember that song? And my voice? I sang to you every night.”
    A wave of emotion flowed through Promi. He wanted so much to believe her . . . yet he still couldn’t be sure. Summoning his composure, he asked her a pointed question.
    â€œIf you came to me in my dreams, then why didn’t I have any memory of what you look like?”
    A shadow of sadness passed over her face. “It
is
possible for spirits to appear physically in someone’s dream. But only if they truly love that someone with deep devotion.”
    Though his throat felt suddenly dry, Promi swallowed. “So that’s not . . . how you love me?”
    Escholia’s eyes brightened. “No, that’s
exactly
how I love you.”
    â€œThen why did you only sing to me? You sent me your voice—but not the rest of you.”
    â€œOh, how I wanted to appear fully,”