‘You can do that?’
‘Sure.’ He looks me up and down. ‘And not a moment too soon, it would appear. Not only are you holding a conversation with a plant, but you look incredibly bedraggled.’
I glance down. I’m still wet from the river and covered in dust from the cliff top. ‘I’ve been busy,’ I murmur. Then a thought strikes me and I look around wildly. ‘Wait a minute! Can anyone just follow me around? What if the Mayor shows up?’
Dante’s face remains impassive. ‘You’re the only dreamweaver. I’m the only tracker.’
My fears aren’t allayed. ‘That’s why you worked for him. He wanted you because you can find people.’
His eyes narrow. ‘Everyone makes mistakes. When I realised he was looking for important people whose dreams he could observe and use against them, I stopped.’
‘You could have stopped him.’
‘Not when everyone thinks the Mayor is the only person holding the Dreamlands together. Public opinion is important, Zoe.’ His voice is tired. I wonder whether he’s trying to persuade me or persuade himself. I give him a break and change the subject.
‘How do you do it?’ I demand.
‘The Bubble. As long as I know what I’m looking for, I can sense traces and follow them.’ His irritation increases. ‘If you didn’t keep bouncing around from dream to dream then I’d have found you a lot quicker.’
‘I thought only the Mayor’s goons were allowed into the Bubble,’ I say suspiciously. ‘Are you sure you’re not still on his side?’
I receive a scornful look. ‘Just like only the Mayor’s goons were allowed into the house where the mares were being kept, you mean? We all have our means, Zoe.’
‘Why now? Bron said you didn’t start working against the Mayor until I appeared.’
He doesn’t meet my eyes. ‘Because up until now, there’s been a limit to what the Mayor can do. With a dreamweaver in his pocket, things would be different.’
‘I’m not in his pocket,’ I point out.
‘I’m going to make sure you never are.’ His voice is hard.
I sniff, not sure I trust him. ‘Well, as you can see, I’m fine. And I’m my own person, not yours or the Mayor’s. You can go back to the Dreamlands. Keep an eye on the Mayor and find out what he’s up to. I’m busy.’
‘I already know what the Mayor’s up to,’ Dante answers silkily.
My curiosity gets the better of me. ‘What?’
‘He’s looking for you, of course.’
My mouth suddenly goes dry. ‘Oh.’
Dante reaches out, his fingertips brushing against my cheek. ‘You’re hurt.’
‘It’s nothing.’
‘Bear?’ he guesses. ‘They’re pretty common in dreams.’
I pull away. ‘Then there’s nothing to worry about, is there?’ Against my own will, I reach out towards his scar. He seems to want to pull away but he suffers my touch, his body rigid as I trace the jagged line. ‘Perhaps now we’ll match.’
Dante opens his mouth to answer but at that moment the MailQuick man starts shouting for help again. His voice seems far away but his plaintive cries are still distinct. Dante raises his eyebrows. ‘I take it that’s the dreamer?’
‘Yeah,’ I say ‘So?’
‘Is he someone special to you?’
‘No,’ I snap.
‘So why are you here?’
‘I’m practising,’ I say. ‘And you’re getting in my way.’
I move as if to go but Dante gently holds me back. ‘You’re prickly again all of a sudden.’
‘Do you blame me?’
His shoulders stiffen and his voice drops. ‘After yesterday, I thought we were on the same side.’
‘We might have the same goals,’ I sniff, ‘but our methods are very different. I work better alone.’
He sighs. ‘You’re still upset about the plan to kill the mares. You have to understand that we were doing what we had to. If the Mayor took them to the Bubble and set all six of them onto someone...’
‘You knew I could approach Pegasus. Jesus, Dante, we made a deal that I’d show you how to do the same! You could have come to me first.’
‘Except,’ he says quietly, ‘I didn’t know if I could trust you.’
‘Yeah, yeah, whatever. I knew that much from bloody Somnolence.’
I’m aware of him watching me carefully. ‘That was you. I wasn’t sure. I only knew that someone had breached it.’
‘Yes, it was me.’ Then, unable to help myself, ‘And I saw what you wrote about me.’
For a moment he seems baffled. ‘What do you mean?’
I’m instantly embarrassed. ‘Never mind.’
‘Zoe, what did I write?’
I’m saved by Mr MailQuick. This time he gives a high-pitched scream. I take off. He might be having a nightmare but he’s provided me with the perfect excuse to get away from Dante. If only Dante thought the same – unfortunately he takes off with me.
‘You’re going the wrong way,’ he says.