Read The Crystal Keepers, An Overseers Novel Page 16

Tannis retreated to his room, overcome with exhaustion and discouragement. The visions required a lot of physical strength and could prove to be dangerous if one was to get too drawn in to the other reality. It required a constant balance, keeping enough energy in the body to stay in the present moment while allowing some of one’s vital life force to leave the body and bring the other reality to life. If one let too much attention and energy enter the vision, it might be a one-way trip.

  He had high expectations that today’s vision would reveal the information they needed. He was certain that he’d be giving Markus good news. He had felt it in his bones. More than anything, he hated to see that look of disappointment on Markus’s face. Plus, he wanted to gain Noya’s trust. It was all too obvious that she didn’t agree with Markus’s decision to involve him but he was determined to prove her wrong.

  Tannis lay down on his bed and almost drifted off to sleep when the door opened. Anton, his roommate, entered the room.

  “Hey, brother. Are you sick?”

  “No. Just tired.”

  “It’s almost time for the evening meal,” Anton said.

  “That’s okay. You go on ahead. I’m not hungry.” Tannis closed his eyes again.

  Anton stood in the middle of their scanty room, which was plainly furnished with two beds, a small desk and even tinier table with a washbasin sitting on it. He folded his arms across his chest and studied Tannis.

  “What’s bothering you? Oh wait...” Anton dramatically put the back of his hand to his forehead, as if it helped him read Tannis’s thoughts, “let me see. Could it be? Nah, it couldn’t. Well...maybe.” He lowered his hand and looked at Tannis more seriously. “The hunt for the infamous crystal of power! Geez, it’s got everyone on edge, including our fearless leader.”

  “Let me be, Anton. I need some rest.”

  Ignoring his request, Anton sat on the edge of his own bed and faced Tannis, his elbows resting on his knees with his hands clasped. “I’m starting to think it isn’t real, Tannis.”

  Tannis opened his eyes and studied his roommate. “You don’t mean that!”

  “Why not? After all, they’ve searched every square inch of every lake and pond in these mountains. In fact, we’ve been in this drought for so long, the lakes are so low, they’ve probably searched more area than what was visible when that text was written, long, long ago. Personally, I think Markus is about to give up on it.”

  Tannis glared at his roommate. He didn’t want to believe it although, to be honest, the same thought had crossed his mind but he wouldn’t allow himself to give it much credence. He wanted to help Markus succeed. He wanted it so much it occupied his thoughts all the time. Tannis rolled onto his side, facing the wall.

  “Go eat, Anton.”

  His roommate shrugged and stood up. “If you insist.”

  After Anton left, Tannis realized he didn’t feel like sleeping anymore. He rolled onto his back and stared obliquely at the drab ceiling overhead. He thought back to the vision. It was so real! The person writing the journal truly believed what he wrote. Tannis felt the author’s conviction with all of his being.

  He’d enter another vision in the morning. Hopefully it would reveal more pertinent information. There had to be something that was overlooked. Even though some of the written words in the journal had faded over the years and certain pages had pieces torn out, it revealed enough information to let them know the entrance to the cavern was near the base of a mountain, above a lake; that part was certain.

  He tried, in vain, to look at it from a whole new perspective – to see it with new eyes. He thought back over everything he knew and something stirred at the back of his mind; some small detail that wanted to surface. Maybe it was something that Anton said, but as he thought about their conversation, he became agitated at how easily Anton gave up. He saw that Anton didn’t have the faith in Markus that he did and he wanted to judge Anton for that. It was critical that all members of the Guardians keep positive thoughts and openly support their leader, without question.

  The more Tannis thought, the more his mood soured. He realized he was too tired to be putting his energy into this now. Irritably, he rolled onto his side and drifted off into a fitful sleep.