“Ahh, you did it that time, didn’t you Aery? What did you see?” Her grandmother was so excited that she could hardly contain herself.

Aery chose her words carefully. There were times when having a royal advisor for a grandmother was a good thing. Not when trying to keep secrets. “It’s hard to remember now — like a dream after waking.”

Her grandmother looked at her sideways. Aery tried to look back innocently. Inside, she fought a sudden urge to study the mud she had walked into the rug as she came in.

The old woman watched her wrestle with her memories for a moment. “It can be difficult”, she said. “But you must remember a strong image or two, at least. Did you reach the forest? It’s OK if you didn’t; it’s only your first time. Well… what did it feel like?”

“I saw the forest, but didn’t go there.” Aery pieced the sensations together and sorted them as best she could. She couldn’t shake off that one moment of connection. She had never felt anything like it. She smiled. “It felt.. wonderful.”