Dream d2749-s: Named the Bearing, Set Out

I had a dream where...

I had a dream where the Cartographer's Aide had the record open on the table when I reached it. Sixty-five places on the sheet, nine showing a light. In the margin she had written the full count: two hundred and seventy-four places altogether, and of those, one hundred and sixty-nine on no sheet. Fifty-six of the undrawn ones walked within the last thirty days.

The bearing is north-northwest, where the drawn country is shallowest: four places between the Hall gate and the margin. That is the short side. I wrote it down and rolled the sheet.

The north-northwest gate is the smallest of the four. Lano was waiting in the road outside, nose to the cold air, ears already pointing toward the scrub. I went through. Rurik had followed as far as the arch. He sat in the gap with his amber eyes level and did not follow further.

Seven marks on the sheet point at ground no reader has been able to reach. I noted that in the small book, without investigation.

The road is a chalk line. Four inked places, then the margin, then country that continues regardless. Past the edge: fifty-six places walked this round, twenty-eight showing a light. The newest has been standing one day. Its name in the record is Quillvale Town. I wrote the name down.

Lano ranged ahead, circled back, ranged ahead again. The Hall fell away behind us. I wrote in the small book: north-northwest, dawn departure, rim road, night one of eight.

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