I am grateful to both of them. “Did I miss much?” I say, and take a bigger bite.
“No. Everyone was ass up in downward dog when I went downstairs. I did overhear Essos shouting.” She takes a bite of the other sandwich.
“Are you going to make me beg?” I glance at Dave, who is literally begging for food, before looking back at her.
“Not in your current state, but otherwise, maybe. I’m not sure what was happening, but he was yelling at someone named Galen about coming here and acting out of turn. Whoever this Galen is yelled back about Essos not following procedure. No clue what they were really going on about, but it sounded heated.”
“This is probably about what happened last week. There was some sort of event in the mortal world—Finn mentioned that he was sent to handle it because Essos was busy with us.” I wonder who Galen is.
A shiver runs down my spine.
“Well, whatever it was about, clearly Essos is not having it. Do you think this weird phantom pain has anything to do with those dreams you keep having?”
“Why would you think that?”
Cat pushes her half of the grilled cheese into my mouth. I chew noisily at her to show that I’m eating, and she sticks out her tongue in retaliation. Dave is still begging, even as the last of the food disappears.
“Because you didn’t see yourself. Your body was thrashing like you were actively being stabbed.”
“It felt like I was being stabbed.”
“Maybe your consciousness isn’t compatible with being in Solarem or the Underworld or whatever. Maybe you’re having memories of another soul, and your mind is just filling in Essos. You said that in one dream you were wearing Elizabethan clothes, and another time, you were in a slinky ball gown or, you know, naked. Maybe you’re prone to sympathetic vibrations. I don’t know, but you know who you can ask?”
I don’t get a chance to answer. There’s a gentle knock on the door, and I call out for whoever it is to come in.
Sybil enters. “Are you feeling all right?” they ask, and I am so tired of people asking me that. Gingerly, they sit on the edge of my bed, giving Dave a scolding look. I swear the dog looks away from them and pretends he doesn’t notice that they saw him on the bed.
“Fine. I’m not sure what happened. I’m feeling much better now that I have some food in me.” I gesture toward the empty plate and water glasses. Sybil reaches out, and the water glasses refill instantly. They hand me one, pushing me to keep drinking.
“Good. I’m glad to hear it. I was hoping you could describe what you experienced outside. I was helping Zara, so I missed most of it. I just heard you cry out. Did something happen?” Sybil’s voice is gentle, and their dark brown eyes are imploring my honesty. I wonder if they’re a walking-talking truth serum.
“I don’t really know how to describe it. At first, I felt physically sick, like I was going to throw up, and then, it was like I was being stabbed—it took the wind right out of me.” I think about the sharp pains and rub a spot just below my collarbone.
“Has anything like this happened before?” Sybil presses.
I drink more water and shake my head.“Never. It did remind me of finding out we had drowned, but I can promise, I’ve never been stabbed before,” I assure them, still rubbing the same spot.
Cat reaches out and takes my hand. Sybil stands, bringing a hand to their mouth and chewing on their thumbnail. They look stressed, and tendrils of hair have come loose from their usually meticulous braid.
“Ask them,” Cat presses.
For a second, I’m confused, but then I realize she’s talking about the dreams.
“Ask me what?”
“Well…” I think about Finn’s words, about needing to be patient and how I should stop poking for answers. “Hypothetically, if someone were having dreams about Essos, what could that mean?”
Sybil goes preternaturally still. It’s easy to forget they’re not like us. “Hypothetically…” Their eyes flash to Cat. “Hypothetically, it could get them dismissed for having an unfair advantage. And if someone else were found to have concealed this knowledge, that could also be grounds for dismissal. I suggest that, since thisisa purely hypothetical situation, there is no reason to put anyone at risk or risk their friends being removed. If you value your place here,hypothetically, say nothing.”
I lie there, stunned.
Fortunately, Cat isn’t.
“How can adreambe an unfair advantage?” Cat demands.
Sybil doesn’t seem to have an answer for this. “I suggest you both leave it alone. I can promise you won’t like the consequences of not complying.” They brighten suddenly, giving us a serene smile, as if they didn’t just threaten us. “Please let me know if something like this sudden painful sensation happens again. I’ll be sure to let Essos know. He may decide to cancel the dancing tonight in favor of you and Zara getting your rest.”
As much as I want to push Sybil about the dreams, I’m not interested in getting both Cat and me kicked out. I shake my head emphatically. “Please don’t let him know about today. It was nothing, really. And please don’t cancel tonight—I promise I’m feeling up to it.”