1 00:00:08,520 --> 00:00:22,280 Speaker 1: Hello, friends, and welcome to sleep tight stories. Esther left 2 00:00:22,280 --> 00:00:25,840 Speaker 1: the encampment with Tenton when the Chickalores came and they 3 00:00:25,920 --> 00:00:31,120 Speaker 1: headed off to follow the map. Esther didn't realize that 4 00:00:31,320 --> 00:00:34,000 Speaker 1: she was the only one who could see the map, 5 00:00:34,760 --> 00:00:37,559 Speaker 1: but when she asks gimbal or a Rayah about it, 6 00:00:38,240 --> 00:00:43,559 Speaker 1: they tell her they cannot see it. Now she knows 7 00:00:43,680 --> 00:00:47,680 Speaker 1: the magic has chosen her, and when she feels the 8 00:00:47,720 --> 00:00:51,640 Speaker 1: book get warm and sees the glow, she pulls it 9 00:00:51,720 --> 00:00:58,800 Speaker 1: out to see where they are going next. The Magical 10 00:00:58,840 --> 00:01:09,360 Speaker 1: Book of Dreams, chapter twenty. Esther woke with a start 11 00:01:09,840 --> 00:01:14,960 Speaker 1: and then immediately regretted moving so quickly her back hurt 12 00:01:15,160 --> 00:01:18,720 Speaker 1: from the most uncomfortable ground she had ever slept on. 13 00:01:20,560 --> 00:01:23,880 Speaker 1: That wasn't saying much, since she hadn't slept on much 14 00:01:23,920 --> 00:01:28,040 Speaker 1: other than her bed, which she missed almost as much 15 00:01:28,040 --> 00:01:34,600 Speaker 1: as her mother and stinky brother. She hadn't slept well 16 00:01:35,319 --> 00:01:39,880 Speaker 1: with recurring nightmares that included her father and chickalours and 17 00:01:40,040 --> 00:01:46,840 Speaker 1: other scary looking creatures that she imagined might inhabit the glade. 18 00:01:46,880 --> 00:01:49,960 Speaker 1: She opened her eyes to see that Ariah was awake 19 00:01:50,440 --> 00:01:55,040 Speaker 1: and standing near the cave entrance. Tenton was nowhere to 20 00:01:55,080 --> 00:02:00,480 Speaker 1: be seen. Oh, the princess awakes, Ariah said, with her 21 00:02:00,600 --> 00:02:05,080 Speaker 1: usual sarcasm. I hope you got your beauty sleep, because 22 00:02:05,080 --> 00:02:10,720 Speaker 1: we may have a long journey ahead. Is it morning, 23 00:02:11,520 --> 00:02:16,760 Speaker 1: Esther said, slowly, getting up and stretching her back. It is, 24 00:02:17,520 --> 00:02:22,000 Speaker 1: at least what passes for morning in these parts. I'm 25 00:02:22,040 --> 00:02:25,120 Speaker 1: sure you are more accustomed to seeing the warm sun, 26 00:02:25,760 --> 00:02:30,800 Speaker 1: but in our realm it doesn't get much better than this. Here, 27 00:02:31,200 --> 00:02:33,400 Speaker 1: you need to have something to eat before we leave, 28 00:02:34,080 --> 00:02:41,800 Speaker 1: Ariah said, as she passed something hard and unappetizing to Esther. Thanks. 29 00:02:42,320 --> 00:02:46,200 Speaker 1: Esther said, unsure if her teeth could handle biting on 30 00:02:46,320 --> 00:02:49,880 Speaker 1: something as hard as the dragon candy her little brother 31 00:02:50,000 --> 00:02:56,760 Speaker 1: loved eating. Where is Tenton? Tenton left before dawn so 32 00:02:56,840 --> 00:02:59,880 Speaker 1: the light wouldn't give away his position while he walked 33 00:03:00,080 --> 00:03:04,400 Speaker 1: through the marshy area at dawn, we aren't all that 34 00:03:04,560 --> 00:03:08,680 Speaker 1: stir and move about. The area you walked through is 35 00:03:08,760 --> 00:03:13,400 Speaker 1: quite defensible, but it's also easy to be seen, and 36 00:03:14,120 --> 00:03:21,080 Speaker 1: despite his size, he likes to be stealthy. Esther couldn't 37 00:03:21,120 --> 00:03:24,280 Speaker 1: imagine it possible that Tenton had much in the way 38 00:03:24,320 --> 00:03:28,760 Speaker 1: of stealth, or that anyone would dare challenge him, but 39 00:03:28,919 --> 00:03:34,800 Speaker 1: then she didn't know what lived in the marsh. I 40 00:03:34,840 --> 00:03:37,440 Speaker 1: would have liked to have said goodbye before, he laughed. 41 00:03:38,080 --> 00:03:41,680 Speaker 1: Esther said, as she chewed the hard, sticky food she 42 00:03:41,800 --> 00:03:47,160 Speaker 1: tried to wash down with water. I'm sure you will 43 00:03:47,200 --> 00:03:54,320 Speaker 1: cross paths again, that is, if we start moving. After 44 00:03:54,360 --> 00:03:58,280 Speaker 1: brushing herself off and taking another drink of water, Esther said, 45 00:03:58,800 --> 00:04:02,880 Speaker 1: so where are we going going? Well, that's up to you, 46 00:04:03,040 --> 00:04:05,600 Speaker 1: isn't it. You are the one that holds the map 47 00:04:05,640 --> 00:04:09,520 Speaker 1: and the key. Only you can know if we are 48 00:04:09,560 --> 00:04:13,080 Speaker 1: to find your father. Well, I have a pretty good 49 00:04:13,120 --> 00:04:16,800 Speaker 1: idea where he might be, but we must rely upon 50 00:04:16,880 --> 00:04:20,440 Speaker 1: your map. We don't want to go through the trials 51 00:04:20,480 --> 00:04:23,240 Speaker 1: of the journey ahead only to find we are in 52 00:04:23,320 --> 00:04:27,279 Speaker 1: the wrong place, let alone unable to open the doors 53 00:04:27,320 --> 00:04:33,320 Speaker 1: when we get there. Setting down her bag, Esther took 54 00:04:33,320 --> 00:04:36,560 Speaker 1: the book out and opened the map that was placed inside. 55 00:04:37,640 --> 00:04:43,040 Speaker 1: It still glowed warmly, causing shadows on Aariah's face, making 56 00:04:43,080 --> 00:04:48,320 Speaker 1: her look tired and older than her years. Tracing the 57 00:04:48,360 --> 00:04:52,840 Speaker 1: map with her fingers revealed three points, but only one 58 00:04:52,960 --> 00:05:00,280 Speaker 1: showed a name, Whispering Glade. Do you know the Whispering Glade? 59 00:05:00,520 --> 00:05:04,200 Speaker 1: Esther asked? Esther wanted to ask why this was the 60 00:05:04,279 --> 00:05:07,520 Speaker 1: second place she had been to that had whispering in 61 00:05:07,560 --> 00:05:12,839 Speaker 1: its name. Yes, does it say how to approach the lake, 62 00:05:13,360 --> 00:05:17,279 Speaker 1: Ariah said, with a sigh. It gives an ending path, 63 00:05:17,360 --> 00:05:22,000 Speaker 1: but no more, no other waypoints. It seems to wind 64 00:05:22,040 --> 00:05:26,919 Speaker 1: through the marsh until we reach a forest's edge. Great, 65 00:05:27,320 --> 00:05:31,560 Speaker 1: the Whispering Glade was once a beautiful, serene lake just 66 00:05:31,680 --> 00:05:37,400 Speaker 1: beyond this place. It's not far, but first we need 67 00:05:37,440 --> 00:05:41,680 Speaker 1: to traverse the forest between, or what is left of 68 00:05:41,720 --> 00:05:45,839 Speaker 1: the forest. We won't be alone either, so we must 69 00:05:45,920 --> 00:05:52,160 Speaker 1: be very careful. Is nothing easy in this realm? No, 70 00:05:53,160 --> 00:05:58,120 Speaker 1: The queen makes everything difficult, that is, unless you agree 71 00:05:58,160 --> 00:06:03,160 Speaker 1: to join her. Legions of great legends say that the 72 00:06:03,200 --> 00:06:06,479 Speaker 1: depths of the lake at the Whispering Glade hold the 73 00:06:06,560 --> 00:06:12,760 Speaker 1: key to understanding hidden truths. So obviously the map wants 74 00:06:12,760 --> 00:06:19,039 Speaker 1: you to learn something first, like what Esther asked. I 75 00:06:19,080 --> 00:06:23,000 Speaker 1: don't know. I'm a night, not a sage. If I 76 00:06:23,120 --> 00:06:25,960 Speaker 1: was to guess, it's to learn that your legs are 77 00:06:25,960 --> 00:06:28,359 Speaker 1: too skinny, and that you are going to slow me 78 00:06:28,480 --> 00:06:35,599 Speaker 1: down and get us caught by her marauding guards. Esther 79 00:06:35,800 --> 00:06:39,360 Speaker 1: and Eriah left the relative comfort of their hiding place 80 00:06:39,720 --> 00:06:43,720 Speaker 1: and started moving in the opposite direction to which Esther came. 81 00:06:45,279 --> 00:06:49,440 Speaker 1: The early dawn light filtered through the dense fog, causing 82 00:06:49,480 --> 00:06:54,120 Speaker 1: the area to look even more glum. The marsh was 83 00:06:54,160 --> 00:06:57,479 Speaker 1: waking up. The air was filled with the sounds of 84 00:06:57,560 --> 00:07:04,359 Speaker 1: bubbly water from creatures unseen. As they walked through the narrow, 85 00:07:04,800 --> 00:07:10,120 Speaker 1: well worn passageways, Esther took one last look at the wetlands, 86 00:07:10,200 --> 00:07:15,400 Speaker 1: scanning the horizon for signs of someone or something following them. 87 00:07:18,520 --> 00:07:22,440 Speaker 1: With Aryah leading the way, they moved towards the edge 88 00:07:22,440 --> 00:07:25,960 Speaker 1: of the marsh, the paths becoming wider and the ground 89 00:07:26,040 --> 00:07:30,280 Speaker 1: firmer underfoot, the mud flats giving way to a brown, 90 00:07:30,480 --> 00:07:36,560 Speaker 1: grassy verge. They had moved quickly. The tall, rocky monoliths 91 00:07:36,800 --> 00:07:41,360 Speaker 1: were now behind them. Finding a berm in the ground 92 00:07:41,520 --> 00:07:46,400 Speaker 1: created by what once was a tree, Ariah stopped. We 93 00:07:46,440 --> 00:07:48,640 Speaker 1: will rest here and wait to see if anyone is 94 00:07:48,720 --> 00:07:54,520 Speaker 1: following us. This ground feels more pleasant to walk on 95 00:07:54,680 --> 00:07:58,840 Speaker 1: than what we walked on in the marsh. Yes, I'm 96 00:07:58,880 --> 00:08:02,480 Speaker 1: glad we are out of whispering wetlands and can enjoy 97 00:08:02,560 --> 00:08:08,440 Speaker 1: some easier walking, at least for a time. But while 98 00:08:08,480 --> 00:08:12,640 Speaker 1: this area is better underfoot and has few hills. It 99 00:08:12,720 --> 00:08:16,960 Speaker 1: allows other creatures to intersect with us from many directions, 100 00:08:17,600 --> 00:08:25,280 Speaker 1: so keep your eyes open. Esther looked at Arah, wondering 101 00:08:25,440 --> 00:08:28,320 Speaker 1: what kind of person she might have been if she 102 00:08:28,360 --> 00:08:32,400 Speaker 1: had grown up in Shirewood instead of this monotme place. 103 00:08:34,200 --> 00:08:36,480 Speaker 1: She would have done well in the Kingdom with her 104 00:08:36,520 --> 00:08:43,760 Speaker 1: obvious strength and bravery. They might have been friends. Esther 105 00:08:43,920 --> 00:08:46,920 Speaker 1: touched the book in her bag. It felt warm to 106 00:08:47,000 --> 00:08:51,040 Speaker 1: the touch. What was I supposed to learn when I 107 00:08:51,160 --> 00:08:55,320 Speaker 1: arrived at the lake? I get the feeling that there 108 00:08:55,400 --> 00:08:58,040 Speaker 1: is more to this journey than me finding a way 109 00:08:58,080 --> 00:09:03,480 Speaker 1: to my father, Esther said, I believe so, but it's 110 00:09:03,520 --> 00:09:07,040 Speaker 1: not my place to say. The elder's job is to 111 00:09:07,120 --> 00:09:11,840 Speaker 1: sift through legend, magic and fact. My place is to 112 00:09:11,960 --> 00:09:15,280 Speaker 1: protect and lead the young people we find to safety. 113 00:09:19,200 --> 00:09:22,240 Speaker 1: Just as Esther was about to talk, she heard a 114 00:09:22,360 --> 00:09:27,880 Speaker 1: distant sound and Esther's map started to glow. Get your 115 00:09:27,920 --> 00:09:32,080 Speaker 1: head down, Riah said, peering over the top of the berm, 116 00:09:32,760 --> 00:09:35,160 Speaker 1: I can see a herd of SCALEX in the distance, 117 00:09:35,480 --> 00:09:41,400 Speaker 1: and they are coming our way. As Esther huddled quietly 118 00:09:41,480 --> 00:09:45,320 Speaker 1: under the petrified tree route, trying to hide herself further, 119 00:09:46,040 --> 00:09:50,560 Speaker 1: the ground around her began to tremble. The vibrations of 120 00:09:50,640 --> 00:09:54,480 Speaker 1: the approaching scalex herd sent a shiver of dread through 121 00:09:54,559 --> 00:09:59,400 Speaker 1: her body. The sound was not soothing, but rather a 122 00:09:59,480 --> 00:10:05,240 Speaker 1: sinister whisper of scales sliding against one another. This hissing 123 00:10:05,400 --> 00:10:12,239 Speaker 1: cascade seemed to speak of malice and stealth. Ariah grumbled 124 00:10:12,320 --> 00:10:16,480 Speaker 1: something indistinguishable, but it didn't sound like a happy sound. 125 00:10:17,559 --> 00:10:22,720 Speaker 1: They are coming straight for us, she hissed. The light 126 00:10:22,760 --> 00:10:27,480 Speaker 1: from the map started to pulse more urgently. Esther held 127 00:10:27,559 --> 00:10:31,040 Speaker 1: her breath, praying they would not detect their hiding place. 128 00:10:33,320 --> 00:10:37,640 Speaker 1: If they see us, you must run. I couldn't leave you. 129 00:10:38,520 --> 00:10:42,680 Speaker 1: Esther whispered. They were close, almost on top of them. 130 00:10:44,160 --> 00:10:47,840 Speaker 1: Don't worry about me. Your quest is far more important. 131 00:10:48,600 --> 00:10:52,320 Speaker 1: If they find us, they will overwhelm us and all 132 00:10:52,360 --> 00:10:59,480 Speaker 1: will be lost. The scaleks weren't a loud creature. The 133 00:10:59,520 --> 00:11:03,360 Speaker 1: delicate patter of their feet was deceptive. The lying the 134 00:11:03,440 --> 00:11:11,079 Speaker 1: chaos they could unleash. Esther held her breath until they passed, 135 00:11:12,400 --> 00:11:16,079 Speaker 1: and the last of them slithered by the air itself 136 00:11:16,160 --> 00:11:21,120 Speaker 1: seemed to exhale in relief. We were lucky, Esther said, 137 00:11:21,520 --> 00:11:25,560 Speaker 1: Sweat dripping from her brow. I don't believe in luck. 138 00:11:26,440 --> 00:11:30,440 Speaker 1: Something led them to be right here, right now, to 139 00:11:30,559 --> 00:11:34,439 Speaker 1: be so close to us. If they had better senses, 140 00:11:34,720 --> 00:11:38,800 Speaker 1: they would have found us, Ariah said, her fist clenched. 141 00:11:39,760 --> 00:11:45,679 Speaker 1: But how it's you you attract them, Ariah said, starting 142 00:11:45,679 --> 00:11:50,920 Speaker 1: to relax. Look, I don't know what is happening, and 143 00:11:51,040 --> 00:11:53,600 Speaker 1: no one has been willing to explain much to me 144 00:11:53,720 --> 00:11:57,439 Speaker 1: since I arrived. All I did was find a book 145 00:11:57,440 --> 00:12:02,319 Speaker 1: of travels, a travel diary. Then I followed a map 146 00:12:02,360 --> 00:12:08,320 Speaker 1: to this place, hoping to find my father. That's it. 147 00:12:08,320 --> 00:12:11,320 Speaker 1: It's not my place to tell you, but it has 148 00:12:11,440 --> 00:12:15,920 Speaker 1: chosen you. The good magic in that map has chosen you, 149 00:12:16,559 --> 00:12:20,040 Speaker 1: and you will bring about something good. That's all I 150 00:12:20,080 --> 00:12:24,240 Speaker 1: can say. When we arrive at the lake, perhaps more 151 00:12:24,280 --> 00:12:28,280 Speaker 1: will be revealed to you, But for now, we must 152 00:12:28,360 --> 00:12:34,439 Speaker 1: go in case the Scalics double back and see us. 153 00:12:35,280 --> 00:12:38,760 Speaker 1: Esther wasn't happy with the answer. She got up and 154 00:12:38,920 --> 00:12:43,040 Speaker 1: followed Aryah as they left their hiding place and continued 155 00:12:43,080 --> 00:12:47,680 Speaker 1: along the brown grass like field towards what was supposed 156 00:12:47,720 --> 00:12:53,360 Speaker 1: to be a forest. As they walked, the ever present 157 00:12:53,520 --> 00:12:57,640 Speaker 1: fog started to clear, and the view that stretched before 158 00:12:57,720 --> 00:13:03,560 Speaker 1: them was one of stark contrast. Tall dead trees, looking 159 00:13:03,640 --> 00:13:07,480 Speaker 1: like the jagged teeth of some great creature, rose toward 160 00:13:07,559 --> 00:13:13,320 Speaker 1: a sky still heavy with gloomy clouds. The ground underfoot 161 00:13:13,440 --> 00:13:17,480 Speaker 1: was hard and brown, its grass twisted and writhing, as 162 00:13:17,520 --> 00:13:22,040 Speaker 1: if frozen in the midst of great upheaval. Eternally captured 163 00:13:22,080 --> 00:13:28,440 Speaker 1: in the throes of an unseen turmoil, their feet crunched 164 00:13:28,480 --> 00:13:32,199 Speaker 1: across the surface, making it impossible to be silent. As 165 00:13:32,240 --> 00:13:38,760 Speaker 1: they walked, a Aryah was constantly alert, looking for any 166 00:13:38,840 --> 00:13:44,760 Speaker 1: sign that they weren't alone. Walk faster, Esther, she whispered. 167 00:13:45,200 --> 00:13:48,560 Speaker 1: The trees give us cover, but it also affords others 168 00:13:48,600 --> 00:13:55,199 Speaker 1: a hiding place. The air held a chill, which felt 169 00:13:55,400 --> 00:13:58,840 Speaker 1: like no matter how many clothes Estra wore or how 170 00:13:58,880 --> 00:14:02,079 Speaker 1: hard she walked, it would always cause her to shiver. 171 00:14:06,160 --> 00:14:09,760 Speaker 1: Other than the sounds of their own feet, howls and 172 00:14:09,800 --> 00:14:13,400 Speaker 1: shrieks and grunts far in the distance, and the wind, 173 00:14:14,160 --> 00:14:19,360 Speaker 1: it was silent. They walked in silence for what seemed 174 00:14:19,400 --> 00:14:25,680 Speaker 1: like a cycle. Then Esther spoke, this is the weirdest 175 00:14:25,760 --> 00:14:30,560 Speaker 1: forest I have ever seen. It's monochrome, but it's also 176 00:14:30,760 --> 00:14:38,800 Speaker 1: so quiet. Where are the birds, fairies, insects or anything? 177 00:14:40,800 --> 00:14:44,600 Speaker 1: They have all left this place, Riah said. All that 178 00:14:44,720 --> 00:14:50,600 Speaker 1: is left is what you hear in the distance. Esther's 179 00:14:50,680 --> 00:14:55,000 Speaker 1: legs were starting to hurt again. How did Riah keep 180 00:14:55,080 --> 00:15:01,280 Speaker 1: walking so quickly for so long? Looking up towards the sky, 181 00:15:01,880 --> 00:15:05,160 Speaker 1: Esther noticed that the fog had returned and it was 182 00:15:05,280 --> 00:15:09,720 Speaker 1: still like it was waiting for something to happen. Her 183 00:15:09,800 --> 00:15:16,440 Speaker 1: throat hurt, She was parched and needed a drink. I'm sorry, Ariyah, 184 00:15:16,680 --> 00:15:18,560 Speaker 1: I need to stop for a moment and have a 185 00:15:18,640 --> 00:15:21,680 Speaker 1: drink of water. We have been walking so long that 186 00:15:21,800 --> 00:15:28,200 Speaker 1: we must be very close, but I still need a break. Okay, 187 00:15:28,200 --> 00:15:32,600 Speaker 1: but quickly. We are at the worst possible location. If 188 00:15:32,640 --> 00:15:35,840 Speaker 1: we can get through those trees straight ahead, we may 189 00:15:35,920 --> 00:15:38,640 Speaker 1: have the high ground which will allow us to see 190 00:15:38,680 --> 00:15:43,840 Speaker 1: all the way to the lake. Now that they stopped, 191 00:15:44,320 --> 00:15:48,520 Speaker 1: Esther felt her legs shaking from exertion. Will I ever 192 00:15:48,600 --> 00:15:55,240 Speaker 1: be as strong as Ariah? Esther started gulping down the 193 00:15:55,280 --> 00:16:00,120 Speaker 1: stale water, trying to quench her thirst. This land was 194 00:16:00,160 --> 00:16:05,760 Speaker 1: far drier than the marsh, almost like a desert. That 195 00:16:05,880 --> 00:16:10,040 Speaker 1: water has to last, Princess Ariah said, with an edge 196 00:16:10,040 --> 00:16:15,640 Speaker 1: to her voice. She still felt thirsty, but the drink 197 00:16:15,720 --> 00:16:20,440 Speaker 1: made her feel energized. Let's go, Ariyah. The path ahead 198 00:16:20,520 --> 00:16:23,800 Speaker 1: doesn't look too bad, but for all these hard stone 199 00:16:23,960 --> 00:16:26,800 Speaker 1: like branches that would like nothing better than to try 200 00:16:26,800 --> 00:16:31,920 Speaker 1: and poke my legs. Ha ha, that's the spirit, Princess, 201 00:16:32,320 --> 00:16:36,360 Speaker 1: Ariah laughed, taking the lead through a choke point between 202 00:16:36,360 --> 00:16:42,440 Speaker 1: a group of stone like trees. Then they heard footsteps 203 00:16:42,480 --> 00:16:47,160 Speaker 1: to their right. They weren't close, but they moved towards 204 00:16:47,200 --> 00:16:52,440 Speaker 1: them with a purpose. Ariah changed their direction and picked 205 00:16:52,520 --> 00:16:57,040 Speaker 1: up the pace until they heard more steps to their left, closer, 206 00:16:57,960 --> 00:17:01,560 Speaker 1: heavy steps from something big that didn't seem to mind 207 00:17:01,600 --> 00:17:09,399 Speaker 1: the sharp branches. Ariah changed direction again. What is going on, 208 00:17:10,240 --> 00:17:14,320 Speaker 1: Esther said, not trying to whisper, as it was obvious 209 00:17:14,359 --> 00:17:18,399 Speaker 1: that they had been found. We are being trapped, is 210 00:17:18,400 --> 00:17:23,480 Speaker 1: what's going on, Riah said. Then in a thicket of 211 00:17:23,560 --> 00:17:29,520 Speaker 1: stone just ahead, there was a low gurgling sound, a 212 00:17:29,640 --> 00:17:38,480 Speaker 1: warning something was right in front of them waiting. That 213 00:17:38,560 --> 00:17:43,040 Speaker 1: doesn't sound very friendly. Esther said, what do we do? 214 00:17:44,880 --> 00:17:53,840 Speaker 1: We run and that is the end of this part. 215 00:17:54,880 --> 00:18:54,720 Speaker 1: Good night, sleep tight U.