The Book of Dreams by O.R. Melling

his own practice. His parents are really worried. So am I.”
    She returned to her pacing.
    “I thought it was over, but I’ve obviously been fooling myself. As soon as I heard he was missing, it was like an arrow in my heart. I thought I would die.”
    “So whatever has happened involves him too,” Gwen said, thinking. “But I thought this mission had to do with Canada, not Ireland.”
    “Ireland isn’t the common denominator here,” Laurel pointed out. “It’s Faerie.”
    That was when the penny dropped for Gwen; the bigger picture that loomed over the nightmarish vision of Dara and Granny.
    “How could I be so stupid? It was just … Dara … I … Yes, this is it. The great attack against Faerie that Granny foresaw. The darkest hour.”
    Laurel nodded. “We know what we must do: rescue Fairyland.”
    Again Gwen was heartened by the “we” but needed to know for sure.
    “You’ve changed your mind, then? You’re In this with me?”
    Laurel grimaced wryly. “That’s the way it goes, eh? Just like you said. You’re in over your head before you know it. Honor and Ian are the two people I love most in the world. I can’t bear the thought of losing them.”
    They regarded each other solemnly, two heroines who had quested once before for Faerie.
    “We need a plan,” said Laurel.
    Gwen agreed. “I’ll keep trying to find out about Dara and Granny. Hopefully Honor will contact you again, or maybe Ian. We’ve got to find out what’s going on. Meanwhile, our original task was to look after Dana. I have some protective charms and herbs. I was going to put them around her, secretly of course.”
    “Excellent idea,” said Laurel. “I have a few spells of my own that I learned on Achill Island. ‘Red thread tied round branch of rowan.’ Stuff like that. We should do ourselves as well.”
    “Of course. We could be targets too,” Gwen said without flinching. “I’ve got the addresses of Dana’s home and school. I’ve even applied for a job at her high school, as a teacher’s assistant. That would have been perfect, but no luck. We should get going on this as soon as possible. Today, at twilight or midnight. Threshold hours are the most potent. I suggest midnight. Less chance of being seen. Is that okay with you?”
    Despite the gravity of the situation, Laurel smiled at Gwen’s air of command. It was such a contrast to her friendly features and plump femininity. Here indeed was the captain of the Company of Seven. A warrior in pink.
    “The sooner we do it, the better,” Laurel agreed. “Something is on the move, working its way through the city. Have you read the papers? A crime wave is hitting the streets.”
    “I should’ve acted before now,” Gwen said with a pang of guilt. “The move and the job hunt have really slowed me down.”
    The same guilt struck Laurel. “It’s my fault too. If I had joined you when you asked …”
    Gwen dismissed the point with a wave of her hand. “I could’ve made more of an effort to win you over. You want to know something? I wasn’t really that happy that you were being called in. I liked being the only adult on this side of the water. It left me in charge.”
    Caught off guard by her words, Laurel let out a quick laugh. “Well, you’re the only American.”
    “Good thing,” rejoined Gwen, and they both laughed together.
    “You should laugh more,” Gwen said.
    “With you around I have a feeling I will.” Laurel’s features softened. “After things ended with Ian, I couldn’t go back, not to Ireland or Faerie, even though I wanted to. It was my fault, you see. We were always arguing and I just found it too difficult to reconcile our differences. He wanted to keep trying. He believed in us. But I said no.” She shrugged sadly. “I think I’m just one of those people who ends up alone.”
    Gwen reached out to touch her arm.
    “You’re not alone. We’re in this together.”
    • • •
    Later that night, shortly before twelve, Gwen and