Read Online Dreamseeker by C.S. Friedman - Free Book Online

He reached up a hand to rub the bridge of his nose, as if the spot pained him.
    â€œCould have been worse,” Rita said gently. “He could have thought you were crazy.”
    â€œHe may still think that,” Devon said. “Granted, I hadn’t really expected him to believe me, but damn it, I’d hoped . . .” He shook his head as his words trailed off into silence.
    â€œSorry about the Rohypnol,” Tommy muttered.
    I blinked. “Say what?”
    â€œIt was my idea to add that to our cover story, so that we didn’t have to explain too much about our disappearance. Only now, Devon’s dad won’t believe him because of it.”
    â€œThat’s not the only reason,” Devon assured him. “And if you hadn’t come up with that idea, we’d still be in the police station answering questions about what happened to us the week we were gone. Sooner or later one of us would have gotten the story wrong, and then all hell would have broken loose. So don’t you
ever
regret that suggestion. Ever.”
    Tommy bit his lip and whispered, “’Kay.”
    Rita turned to me. “I’m really sorry about your mom, Jesse. Didn’t get a chance to say that before.”
    I sighed. “Yeah. Not much hope on that front, though Dr. Tilford was nice to pretend that there was.”
    She hesitated. “Jesse . . . you know . . . there might be Healers who could help.”
    I stiffened. “You mean from Terra Prime?”
    Eyes wide, she nodded.
    I leaned back in my chair and shut my eyes for a moment. Yes, there were Healers in the other world. Sebastian had used a fetter to heal my leg, and fetters were created by binding someone’s Gift to an object, which meant that there were Healers in Terra Prime, probably a whole Guild full of them. Could someone with that kind of Gift help my mother? Possibly. But w
ould
one of them help her? That was amuch bigger question, and one that Tommy and Devon and I had been debating all week.
    The mere thought of dealing with someone from that world filled me with dread. It would be best for all of us if Terra Prime just forgot we existed. But if there was someone who could help Mom? I sighed. “Even if a Healer was able to help, why would she? It’s pretty clear that Guilds don’t give two squats about outworlders. And how would I even find one to ask? It’s not like a Google search will turn up ‘Healers from Terra Prime.’”
    Rita shrugged. “No clue how to find them, but once we do, the rest isn’t a big mystery. They sell their Gifts, remember? There were fetters for sale all over the place in the other Luray. All we would need is money.”
    â€œI’ve got some savings,” I mused. “But who’s to say that would be enough?”
    â€œI’ll chip in,” Devon offered.
    â€œI’ll throw in what little I’ve got,” Tommy agreed.
    Rita snorted lightly. “I think you can guess the state of my finances. If I had anything, you know I’d offer it.”
    I was so moved by their generosity that it took me a moment to find my voice. “Even if that added up to enough, we’re still left with the problem of finding someone. I can’t just go the Greys and ask for help in hiring a Healer, not after what we did to their Gate. They don’t strike me as the forgiving type. And they work for the Shadows, who we
really
need to avoid.”
    â€œWell,” Rita said, “forgive me if you’ve already discussed this—I’m playing catch-up here—but what about Miriam Seyer?” She raised a hand to forestall my objection. “Yeah, I know you don’t trust her. I don’t either. But all you need is someone to set up a meeting, right? Can’t you use her for that?”
    For a long time I said nothing. In my mind’s eye I could see my house burning, that black-haired Seer standing