Torv had to admit that the tea was excellent. He sipped it quietly in the comforting warmth of the strange old man’s house, waiting for him to say something. But the old man said nothing for a long time, only training his eyes on Torv as if waiting for the boy to remember something. Torv was down to the dregs of his tea and drained his mug.

-Beautiful mug, Torv said, looking at it.

-Yes yes I fired it in my own kiln. Made with river mud from just steps away.

The old man suddenly spoke quickly, and not a little irritably.

-Have I done something to offend you? Torv asked.

-You don’t remember do you?

-I’m sorry. Remember what?

-Damn. I owe Icarus some fresh mice. How does he always win these little wagers? Bleeding nocturnal piece of…

-I’m sorry sir, but I don’t really understand what you’re talking about.

-Yes, I’ve realized that by now. Would you like some more tea?

Before Torv had the opportunity to answer, the old man scooped up the mugs and filled them both. Torv remained seated by the fire and took the hot mug gingerly.

-What I was hoping you would remember, the old man said. Was our first conversation.

-But this is our first conversation. We’ve never met before.

-Wrong!

The old man evidently took much joy in this as he slapped the side of his chair in apparent glee or anger; it was no longer very easy for Torv to tell which.

-This my boy, is our second conversation. Which explains how I know your name.

-But I don’t know yours.

-Yes, because I suppose you are too exhausted to remember your dream from inside that lovely tree hollow. I must commend your choice, I often nap there myself. Oftentimes when people are physically worn down they are unable to remember their dreams. We spoke first while you slept and I will tell you, as I told you then, that I am Wendell and I welcome you to my little patch of forest.

-I’m still not sure I understand.

-What are you, thick boy?

-Pardon?

The old man let out a rather exaggerated sigh, stood up from his chair, and retrieved the stave which the owl had used to wake Torv up. Wendell rapped Torv on the knee hard.

-Pay attention, he said. I’ll not explain it a third time. We spoke in your dream. You evidently can’t remember your dream. You spoke to Icarus as well, but he rightly predicted you would not remember, and he was correct, which is a great annoyance, and which he will hold over me for weeks.

-I wasn’t awake when the ow...Icarus spoke to me?

-Birds can’t speak boy. I must ask again, are you a bit slow? I was given to believe by the number of Island Guards following you that you were a danger to them somehow but I’m wondering if they were mistaken.

Torv stood up from his chair, dropping his mug. It shattered on the hard-packed earthen floor. He was fully awake now and full of tea.

-I am tired! I’ve been running for ages. Now, I thank you for the tea but I’m afraid I must be going.

-Oh, don’t be a ridiculous boy, sit down.

Torv sat back down a little ashamed.

-I’m sorry about the mug.

-It’s okay. I lied anyway. I bought it from a trader for nothing. No harm done. I do suppose I was a little hard on you. You have to understand, I always lose my wagers with that feather bag.

-If...you don’t mind me asking, Torv ventured hesitantly. How can you make wagers if the bird can’t talk?

-We speak in dreams, of course. Just how you and I first spoke and you told me about how long you’ve been running and how tired you are and how you don’t really have any plan to speak of. We’ll have to work on that.

-You speak in dreams.

-Indeed. Makes Icarus a very good companion, if a remarkably irritating one at that. He’s gloating terribly as we speak. He’s asleep in his roost just outside the door. You see, he sleeps all day and I sleep all night so we’re more or less always able to chat.

-Can all owls talk in dreams?

-Gracious no. I taught him, of course.

-When did I wake up?

-I suppose when you were walking at some point. You must be very tired.

-The tea helped a great deal.

-Special brew, Wendell said with a wink. Now, since we’ve both calmed down considerably and are the best of friends...should we discuss your plan? From what they told me during their drunken stupor last night, your Island friends are getting quite testy about your continued evasions. I will of course need some more granular details from you, but I do have one or two ideas for an old codger...and Icarus claims to have a few as well though let’s not worry about that just yet.

Torv looked down into his cup of tea, his flickering, candlelight reflection dirty in the dark brew.

-Where do we begin?