Prelude to a Dream Read Free

her
slipper-clad stomp could cause. The action caused a moment’s
distraction, and the next thing he knew, his cheek was on fire.
    She had struck him―hard, but before he could
say anything, she was already stomping across the yard.
    Sighing loudly, he took a moment to lean
against the building he had been standing next to. Using the
opportunity, he quietly started to observe the people around him,
which was one of his favorite things to do. Sometimes, it was nice
to watch what he knew he could never have…normalcy.
    There were children running and laughing, a
man was pushing a cart full of bags of flour into the bakery, the
blacksmith was pounding on metal while his small son played next to
him, and there was a man climbing through the window of the
building across the ally from him…. Wait! There was a man climbing
out a window?
    In shock, Malachi watched as a large figure
threw his legs over the side and hopped down to the ground. As he
turned, Malachi caught his breath on a gasp when he saw who it was.
What was Gemariah doing here in the village, where anybody could
see him?
    Still staring, Malachi watched as Gemariah
approached him, but walked around him at the last moment with
nothing more than a nod and a, “Hey, kid.”
    Now, Malachi was glaring. How dare he? “The
name’s Malachi and I am no kid,” Malachi yelled at his back. When
Gemariah turned around, Malachi continued. “I also know who and
what you are, so I’m only gonna ask this once. What are you doing
climbing out of that window, in my village?”
    Gemariah had a contemplative look on his face
before obvious realization dawned. “Malachi? You must be the
exalted one that everyone up the mountain is raving about.”
    Malachi pushed out his chest, and tried to
stand taller than he actually was. “And what if I am?”
    Gemariah put his hands up, palms out in a
placating manner. “Easy. I was just stating a fact, nothing
more.”
    Malachi’s body had just started to relax,
when Gemariah continued.
    “I could ask you the same question, you
know.” Cocking his head to the side, Gemariah smirked. “But I’m
assuming from the mark on your cheek that it was for the same
reason… a lady friend. Except, I think, mine ended a lot better.”
He finished the sentence by looking back at the window he had just
come out of, and nodded.
    Malachi looked at the window as well, and saw
a buxom woman closing the shutters of the window, with a smile on
her face. It was then that realization dawned, and Malachi felt
color flood his cheeks. “Alright, but why leave out the
window?”
    Gemariah slid his arm around Malachi’s
shoulders and guided him in the opposite direction. “It’s the best
way, when the husband is coming through the front door.”
    After a few moments of just talking with
Gemariah, Malachi realized that Gerard was both right and wrong
about the man. Yes, he never missed an opportunity to have fun,
even to the point of risking exposure, but he took his fighting and
battles very seriously. In fact, he was headed out the next day to
reach Narva, inside the Swedish Empire. If the rumors were true,
and the Russians were indeed planning a full scale attack, he,
along with a larger group of nephilims were leaving to join in the
relief to help Charles XII.
    What Malachi wouldn’t give to go with him,
but even Gemariah had said it was too soon, but promised that there
would be many more battles after he had gained his immortality.
    After close to half of an hour talking about
random things, Gemariah stood from where he had been sitting on the
edge of a well. “Listen, I’ve got to be going, but take care of
yourself, Malachi.”
    “Yeah, you too.” Malachi stuck his hand out,
and Gemariah didn’t hesitate to grasp it.
    “See ya around, kid.”
    “I already told you… I’m not a kid.” Malachi
couldn’t keep the laughter from his voice, or the smile off his
face.
    With a matching expression, Gemariah held up
his hands in surrender while