--- In TheGothHouse@yahoogroups.com, "William Fielder"
<bridgewalker@e...> wrote:
> I handed the drink to the Ravenlord. "Of course you
> may
> tell me something. You have my full attention."


The Ravenlord accepted the black orchid from Winter. He looked
deeply into the drink that swirled within the living goblet. It did
this on its own, for the substance was like midnight on a moonless
night; it flowed and turned with hundreds of tiny, brilliant stars.
The Ravenlord lifted it and took a sip, then smiled.

*Still rich with imagination ...* he mused. The Ravenlord turned his
burning gaze back to Winter who, true to his word, had his attention
focused solely on the Nightmare monarch. The Ravenlord set the
orchid down on the bar, his thin hands clasped around the stem.
Winter felt the Ravenlord's hollow voice coalesce within the
darker
reaches of his mind.

*Some time ago, though not long but some reckoning, you thanked me
for helping you with a dream scroll ... Your gratitude was selfless
and true ... It is a rare thing for Nightmare to receive
gratitude ... We wish to show our appreciation ...*

Here, the Ravenlord reached into the shadows that formed his cloak
and withdrew two shining coins. One of these, golden in color, he
laid upon the bar.

*That is for the drink ...* he said. The other coin – this one a
shimmering silver – was dancing across, between and under his
pale
fingers.

*This ...* the Ravenlord nodded to the silver coin, *... is for
you ... I recall that you were wont to wonder if you were real, or a
dream, and that you held the same wonder for the realm from where you
wandered ...*

The Ravenlord let the coin flip up onto his fingertip. It spun
there, on its end. He continued to speak in Winter's mind.

*I know much in the ways of dreams ... I know that you have made your
peace and home in Arcadia, and you will always find your way to the
House ... However, should you venture out to Rogue Street, which runs
behind the House, you will find stairs leading down to a subterranean
way station ... A locomotive stops there from time to time ...
Usually, in time when you need it to do so ... This coin will gain
you passage on that train ... It travels in hidden ways ... Dream
ways ... Should you board it, and let it take you where it will, you
will have your answer ... If you want to know, here is the means ...*

The coin rolled down into the flat of the Ravenlord's upturned
palm.
It spun once, and lay still. He held it forth to Winter, and spoke
again.

*The choice is yours ... You have it, with my thanks ...*


Poe