“I took a little side trip to the market on the way to visit my family,” Brand told them.

Emerahl held out her left arm and eased the first of the nuggets out of her sleeve hem. She popped it into her mouth and swallowed, then began to push the next one free.

“So who wants some?”

The other girls leaned forward eagerly.

“I’ve never tried it before,” Tide admitted.

“It’s wonderful,” Charity whispered. “Time seems to slow down and you feel all light and floaty.” She accepted a nugget of formtane. “Thank you, Jade.”

A wave of dizziness swept over Emerahl. She worked another nugget out of her sleeve and gave it to Brand. She had to concentrate hard on removing three more nuggets for Tide, Bird and Star. Then she let herself relax against the seat back. Waves of delicious dizziness were rolling over her now.

“Have you got any more?” Star asked dreamily.

Emerahl shook her head, not trusting herself to speak. She thought about checking how close they were to the gate, but could not rouse herself to do so.

The other girls were smiling blissfully now. Such silly expressions. Emerahl felt a laugh bubble up and out of her. They grinned at her in surprise.

“What’s so funny?”

“You ’ll look s’ happy,” she slurred.

Tide giggled, then they all burst into lazy-sounding, breathless laughter.

“Feeling better now, Jade?” Brand asked. “Not so Jaded?”

Emerahl laughed, then leaned forward. She swayed. Her vision blurred.

“Ma’ mine li’l strong’r,” she managed.

Then she slipped into a comfortable, delirious blackness.

Time stopped, but she felt too lazy to care. She let her mind relax into the safe, warm darkness. Out of it a tower appeared. The sight of it disturbed her. She felt a flash of annoyance.

Oh no. Not again.

The tower stretched impossibly high. It tore clouds as they drifted past. She couldn’t stop herself looking at it. It captured her attention.

Where is this place?

The tower flashed out of existence. She looked down. A different building stood in its place. The old Dreamweaver House in Jarime. The one that Mirar had been buried under after Juran, high priest of the circle of gods, had killed him.

I’m dreaming. I shouldn’t be. I should be unconscious. This isn’t good…

She tried to break free, but the dream tightened its grip. Suddenly the high white tower loomed over her again, even more menacing than before. She wanted to flee, but couldn’t move. Once again she knew she would be seen if she stayed. She couldn’t stop herself looking. They had only to see her and…

“What’s wrong with her?”

…know who she was…

“She took formtane. She gets sick when she travels. I think she made it a bit too strong.”

…and when they saw…

“She certainly has. She should be unconscious, but instead she’s been caught in a dream.”