‘Try me.’
Not a chance. I smile. ‘It’s where I thought dreams went to die. Instead, I’ve discovered it’s quite the opposite. How many people – Travellers – are here?’
His cheek twitches. ‘Here? Just over thirty thousand. Most Travellers seem to have inherited the talent. We often get whole families. What’s your family name? Perhaps you have some distant relatives here.’
‘That would be amazing! The thing is, I’m adopted. I have no idea who my biological family are.’ Sorry Mum, I add silently. Needs must.
‘I see.’ He knits his hands together. I glance at the blue veins on his skin and realise he’s even older than I thought. ‘And your adoptive family are...’
‘Simply wonderful people. Just wonderful. They’d probably think I was crazy if I told them about all this.’ I laugh. The Mayor chuckles back, a forced laugh.
I’m going to have to give him something though. If this conversation goes any further, it will be obvious that I’m avoiding giving away any personal information. If I’m going to find out what’s happening here, I need to be above suspicion.
‘My ex-boyfriend, Adam McDonald, would finally feel vindicated.’ I give an innocent giggle. That’s Adam’s real surname but he’s no longer my boyfriend, and I know from watching him Google himself that it’s a common name in Scotland. There’s little danger that the Mayor will be able to trace my real self through that titbit.
‘I can’t imagine why anyone would think someone as lovely as you is crazy,’ the Mayor tells me. ‘Adam McDonald, you say?’
I nod.
‘I’ll find him for you and tell him he’s missing out.’
‘Oh, I think I’m well shot of him,’ I say. My ploy seems to be working. ‘He never hit me over the head and knocked me unconscious though.’
The Mayor winces dramatically. ‘Let me apologise again for that.’
‘Don’t worry about it,’ I respond airily. Suddenly I hear angry shouting from down the corridor. I freeze, only relaxing when Bron bursts through the door.
‘What the hell’s going on here?’ he shouts angrily. ‘Why have you taken Zoe?’ he rushes over and envelops me in a hug.
The body contact is unexpected and I extricate carefully. ‘I’m fine, Bron.’ I give the Mayor a quick look. ‘It was all just a misunderstanding.’
‘I’ll say,’ he growls, his eyes spitting fire. His outrage appears genuine. ‘Come on. We’re leaving.’ He tucks my arm under his and drags me away. I shrug helplessly at the Mayor.
‘Some other time perhaps, Zoe,’ he murmurs.
I nod ruefully and let myself be led away. It’s probably a good thing; I need to create a better cover story before I meet the Mayor again. I don’t believe for one second that those goons acted independently of his orders. Something’s going on here and I’m going to find out what.
The corridor is empty. Whoever was lurking there has vanished. Bron sniffs as he marches along, muttering away; whether it’s to me or to himself, I’m not entirely sure. ‘Utterly ridiculous. How does he think he can get away with this? Abducting you in broad daylight!’
‘He says it was a mistake,’ I say mildly. What I really want to do is to start screaming at him to find out why I’m such a threat but I still don’t know who I can trust. I’ll have to rely on myself for now.
‘The man’s a fool.’
‘Is he really the Mayor?’
‘He’s in charge of the Department. The title is one he’s given himself. Ridiculous.’ He grimaces again.
We go up a flight of stairs and along another dull hallway. This building is an anomaly considering how fantastical the rest of the Dreamlands are. I think I know where it is and when we stumble outside and I turn round, I’m pleased to see I’m right. It’s the ugly building that I saw Bron sneak into earlier. The plot thickens.
I pull away from him and prod my head gently. There’s definitely a bump there but the queasiness has gone. Thank goodness for small mercies.
‘Are you hurt?’ Bron asks anxiously.
I smile reassuringly. ‘I’m fine.’ His worried frown doesn’t disappear so I change the subject. ‘The way the sunlight here bounces off your hair is extraordinary.’ I reach up and tousle it slightly. Bron looks taken aback. ‘It’s like spun gold.’
He coughs. ‘All natural, I assure you.’ He grins then, pointing over at the birdman statue and the multicoloured fountain below. ‘Have you seen our town hero yet?’
‘Actually, yes,’ I admit. ‘I’d been hoping to ask someone about it.’ We walk over and gaze up at the stern stone visage. ‘What makes him the town hero?’ I ask, hoping I sound casual enough.
‘Years and years ago, well before my time, there was trouble with the Badlands. That’s where all the nightmares of the world spring from.’