Dreamland

The last words were said with such gravity that the sergeant couldn't help but take notice. The stranger did not sound drunk, but why else would he be spouting nonsense about an attack? There were sentries keeping watch, and no one had alerted them to anything suspicious.

And vagrants would not be foolish to attack a well-armed unit like theirs. "I think you are exaggerating slightly. A few dozen nomads against a couple hundred soldiers... What are they going to do? Haggle us to death?"

The soldier laughed at his own joke. It was either that or be angry with the cloaked figure for interrupting his imminent sleep. He didn't even bother to hide his rude yawn.

"Is that what Borit told you?!" Silver spat.

The sergeant's indifference was giving him a bad taste in his mouth. Or maybe it was just the water. It had a metallic tinge to it that was not to his liking anyway.

"There are hundreds of men camping in the wheat fields. I saw it myself!" Silver pinched his nose, everything felt harder than it should. Even his explanation felt like it was missing a key detail. "They're not in the field anymore," he added. "They have you surrounded as I am pretty sure I said…"

"Slow down. You are talking very fast there. Do you understand him?" The sergeant turned to Jayce.

Jayce furrowed his brow, deep in concentration. "Why would Commander Borit lie to us?"

"Because Borit is a traitor. Your commander left so he would not get caught up in the slaughter." Silver's tongue felt as if it was made of lead. He had been speaking far more than normal, and it seemed his mouth was done with having so much exercise.

He spat again, trying to get his jaw working.

"Whatever you do, don't trust Borit!" Silver knew that maligning their leader was not the best move, but he couldn't think of a better option.

In fact, he couldn't think of much at all.

"What right have you to speak against our Commander? The king himself appointed him head over the army." The soldier sat down and leaned up against a stump. He was growing weary of the other man's prattle. "You could get charged for treason if the Commander hears about this."

"He has already tried that, you fool. Borit has tried to take everything from me. My home, my life. He killed my family just like he is about to kill you. You must prepare to fight, or it will all be over!" 'Why am I babbling like this?' Silver was confused by the words coming out of his own mouth. 'Tell them who you are and be done with it.'

The Guardian cleared his throat.

"I am a chosen of the Fates. I am a Guardian of the realm. I am...the Mighty Silver!" The cloaked man winced. 'That sounded better in my head.'

Jayce rubbed at something in his eye. "I think I believe him. We should wake everyone up…" He advised his leader.

All around them, people were already snoring heavily. It was amazing how fast men could doze when they put their minds to it.

"Who put you in charge?" The sergeant shook his head slowly. "I am top dog right now, and I say we will wake everyone else up in about five minutes. If what the 'Guardian' says is true, a little bit of shut eye will make us refreshed for battle."

'Is he serious?!' Silver could not believe his ears. "You may not have five minutes! Is your life worth such a small amount of rest?"

But somehow the Sergeant was already taking his five minute nap and nothing Silver could say could change that fact. Turning to address Jayce, who seemed the more level-headed of the two, Silver hoped to get the man to aid him in waking the others.

Unfortunately, Jayce was already carrying out his superior's orders, having leaned up against a tree and closed his eyes.

'The military is really an obedient bunch...' Silver sighed.

But then he got a sinking feeling. His eyes drooped as he considered the possibilities. Something was wrong. He moved forward and nudged his boot into the soldier's side.

"Wake up, Sergeant. It...it's been five minutes." The Guardian knew it hadn't been, but time was not on their side.

Not that it mattered. The sergeant slumped over and fell to the ground. He snored loudly.

The sinking feeling grew stronger. Silver moved to Jayce. and slapped him across the face. The young man's eyes twitched but did not open. "Wake up!" The Guardian screamed.

In his panic, he had forgotten to be quiet. Or he had stopped caring. Or he didn't realize just how loud he was being.

Moving from tent to tent, the Guardian found that each soldier gave the same non-response. They were all slumbering peacefully, unable to be woken.

"How is this even possible?" Silver asked to no one in particular. His inward thoughts were muddled as he puzzled things out. "They must have been drugged!"

But how in the world could the commander have drugged all the soldiers without them noticing? It didn't make sense. None of this did. If he was going to poison them, why not just kill them outright? Why put them to sleep?

"Maybe he used what he had?" Silver's brain was swirling. So was the ground for that matter. When had the terrain become so hilly?

"Think!" he screamed at himself. He wandered over to one of the many barrels of water and splashed himself in the face to clear his head.

He spit. "That water tastes even more metallic than what the sergeant gave me."

Then it hit him.

"The water! The water was drugged!" That was why he hadn't liked the taste of it. He had just assumed it had been stored in the water skin for too long and the metal rim had leaked its taste into the liquid.

But no, Borit had tainted the water they had brought up from the river in barrels. That is why he refused the sergeant's supplies when he left. He did not want to accidentally drug himself.

"Shouldn't I be immune?" Silver swayed and bumped into a tent. "Sorry!"

Obviously, he was not. At his core, he was still human. The effects might wear off quicker, but he was still going to suffer the consequences of the sleeping draught.

Silver tried waking any of the soldiers he could find. "Get up and fight. This is no time to sleep. Isn't there one who did not drink before he went to bed?"

But deep down, the Guardian already knew the answer. Staying hydrated was one thing that the army drilled into its soldiers heads. Passing out from lack of water was a far more likely enemy in times of peace than an unfriendly sword.

It was hopeless.

"I have to....warn the...palace!" Silver's thought came in and out of focus like an ever moving target. He could not help these men. Not in the shape he was in, at least.

Frustrated and exhausted, Silver stumbled from side to side. He used a tree for support. He looked for the next tree. Then the next. Like a bird fluttering from branch to branch, Silver awkwardly thrust himself from trunk to trunk, resting a little longer with each labored movement.

'I can do it!' he forced his eyes open as he smashed into yet another tree. But this tree, unlike the rest, moved with the collision. Falling to his knees, Silver grasped onto the soft bark. the tree began to laugh menacingly.

"I think you are a little lost," the voice said with glee. "Let me help you find your way to dreamland."

The Lakilian soldier lifted his blade, and unceremoniously hit Silver across the head with the hilt.

The world went black.