Page 29 of Search for the Lost

Crispin snuck across the floor of the bedroom with exaggerated care, the large green ceramic tiles cold against the soles of his feet, and climbed the bed with all the stealth of a pleeth on the hunt. He peered over the edge of the bed, and there it was, a puddle of inky blackness that looked as soft as a piwati’s stomach fur. He reached the top and was thrilled to see it was still there, apparently unaware of his approach. He gathered himself and leapt, landing on top of it and grasping it in his arms.

Sleep resisted him at first, trying madly to escape. Soon enough, though, it settled down and gave in to its fate, purring softly as he petted its sable fur.

And at last, Crispin settled into a semi-restful sleep of his own.

Still, Sleep was not entirely happy with him, possibly nursing some sore feelings from being accosted, and so Crispin’s rest was checkered with restless dreams. At first they were inchoate, but slowly they assembled themselves into something clearer, almost real.

* * *

“Come on. It’s in here!” The little girl—Lucy was her name, he seemed to remember—gestured inside a huge, blocky piece of wooden furniture crammed full of winter coats. “You must see it.”

He blinked. Beyond her name, he had no idea who she was or what she was talking about, but it was a boring, rainy afternoon outside, and he had nothing better to do. She climbed into the wardrobe, and he followed her, quite sure he’d find nothing for his trouble but old leather and mothballs.

“It’s just ahead, Leo. Keep going!” Her little hand reached out to grab his just as he was considering going outside to play, rain or no rain. She dragged him past a thick black trench coat and a sad, faded women’s jacket lined with pink fur and into the…

Snow.

He blinked. They were standing in a forest at night, snowflakes falling all around them, the trees heavy and white. “What… is this place?” It practically sizzled with magick.

She put her hands on her hips and glared at him. “It’s Narnia, my little fussbudget.”

* * *

Crispin blinked again and found himself in bed—a much smaller bed than the one he’d gone to sleep in—staring up at a woman with the kindest brown eyes he had ever seen and red hair that fell in waves to her shoulders after having been freed from a bright blue bandana that lay on his nightstand.

“That’s enough for tonight,” she said and then leaned in and kissed him. “My curious little Leopold.”

Little Leopold. Crispin stared at her. She must be Leo’s mom, the one he had adored until the ill-fated camel incident. But why am I dreaming about her?

Of course. Because he was in Leo’s body, using his brain.

“Tomorrow I’ll read you a book about another magical place.” She showed him the cover: a desolate snowy place with a gray castle perched on a high ridge. The White Horses of Anthor.

Crispin’s eyes flew open as Sleep slipped out of his grasp and slunk off into the darkness, apparently done with him for the night.

Anthor. The same place Cypher had mentioned. It couldn’t be a coincidence.

And then an idea so ridiculous, so beyond the pale came to him, and he knew what they had to do next. He shook Leo’s shoulder. “Leo, wake up!”

Leo groaned, then sat up, his Crispin face staring back at his partner, his blond hair adorably mussed. “What? Did you figure out how to switch us back?” He rubbed his eyes with his fists, blinking owlishly.

If only. “No. But I saw your mother. In a dream.”

Leo’s eyes narrowed. “That’s nice. Good night.” He turned to lie back down.

Crispin grabbed his shoulder. “Leo, she mentioned Anthor! The same place Cypher said he was going to. There was a children’s book….”

Recognition dawned on Leo’s face. “Ah yeah, the horses one.” He got a faraway look on his face, his eyes unfocused. “I haven’t thought about that book in years. I liked that one.”

Crispin nodded. “Exactly. I think it’s a sign. We have to find her.”

Leo frowned. “Sorry, not following. Find who?”

“Your mother. Leo, I think she might still be alive.” He couldn’t say how he knew it, but he felt the truth of it in his bones.

“No way! Are you serious?” Leo seemed suddenly fully awake.

Crispin pushed his Leo brain to work on the problem. “Think. Did you ever see the bodies, after the… accident?”