It was only a sneeze, but from down here it sounded like thunder from a firestorm.

"Hello? Can you hear me?" I jumped up and down, waving my arms madly and sending out a sharply tuned probe. "Hello?"

Maruman's eye twitched, but the old cat didn't seem to notice me. He slunk off the windowsill without pause. Large paws pushed against the lining of the sill as he sprang, tugging it forward and sending me sprawling almost off it entirely. My head collided with the ground from the sudden loss of footing.

"Ow--help!" I shrieked, clambering back to my feet. "Somebody!"

I'd woken like this. One minute, on the brink of unconsciousness in my bed at Obernewtyn, my mind floated up towards the dreamtrails; the next I was here, laying on the windowsill and about a hand's-breadth tall.

"If this is some kind of coercive illusion--not funny!" The door scraped in response as Maruman left the room. I hurriedly shot another probe after him, but our minds did not open to each other as they usually did with mental contact. They didn't even touch!

I swallowed thickly and accepted the fact that I might not be the subject of one of Zarak and Lina's pranks. This miniature state was not an illusion I'd heard of. It certainly felt real.

Peering over the edge of the sill, I noticed how unusually high up I was. There was no way I was dropping down. Scanning, I found a relatively easier descent by another shelf. The pitch of my stomach heightened my sense of panic.

I swung my legs over the sill and took a deep breath before pushing off. The fall was longer than anticipated. For a moment I was convinced I'd missed the shelf and was about to break my neck. Then my feet thumped on the wood, sending up a thick cloud of dust. I noticed oddly that they were bare, and extremely cold. I began to shiver. I was not able to see back over the windowsill, yet knew the pane was open. The morning mountain air assaulted me.

I needed shoes.

A creak reverberated across the room; the door opened again. This time it was Ceirwan, entering with a tray: breakfast. I tried in vain to send out a mental cry for help. Nothing. I was powerless, and I was tiny.

The farseeker ward glanced around the room, a puzzled look crossing his features. Not finding me, he placed the platter on the table near the fireplace.

"Ceirwan!" I screamed with all the breath in my lungs. "Help!"

Ceirwan paused. His eyes flickered to where I stood, signaling desperately, except moved on without focusing.

"Help…" I whispered as he too left the turret room. Why weren't my powers working?

You do notneed them here…

The suddenness of the strange echoing voice startled me. I jerked back, falling against the spine of one of the books I'd salvaged from the Beforetime Complex, so long ago. It caused a fresh sprinkling of dust to fall into my eyes. I blinked furiously before searching for the source of the voice.

"Who are you?" The speech pattern sounded like that of a beast, however I was positive the words had not been in my mind. Nothing answered.

I moved warily on. I thought my position above the ground was more advantageous: strength of height, I mused ironically. However I had to get outside, preferably to a healer who knew what was wrong with me. Edging to the rim, I realised the next drop would be far more dangerous than the first. Sure enough, it was more than twice the distance down than from the windowsill. To make matters worse, there was a considerable gap between the table and the shelf. I wouldn't make it.

I could do nothing like this! I gritted my teeth, knowing I would have to run and jump for it. There was no other way. I couldn't stay on this shelf forever. I had to get to Roland, or maybe one of the beasts who would carry me to the healer hall. I squeezed my eyes shut and took a few steps back.

I tripped.

The objects were small enough that I hadn't seen them. I steadied myself and found they were… shoes?

They were the very things I had wished for moments ago. Although they were a little absurd, purple clog-like things too big for my feet, they were comfortable and kept away the cold. I wondered as I put them on, not believing I had missed them. I knew I didn't keep miniature sandals on my bookshelf.

See/look/notice? You have everything you need…

The voice caused me to startle.

"What do you mean?" I challenged. This time it replied:

The will of need isgreater than the strength of size…

I pondered this before moving back to the brink. What I needed to get down was rope. A simple thing, I didn't even think of my need to return to my normal size until the voice spoke again.

This is a lesson not oft learned, Seeker. Think of this when you have small weapons against a large obstacle…

And just like that, a long rope began to uncoil from the shelf. It was like the cord was made from the wood itself. I didn't waste time, clasping the spiraling line and letting myself be guided down.

Think…

A jolt shocked me. I was lying in my bed. Maruman leapt onto my chest, claws sinking through quilt and into skin.

"Ow--Maruman, what was that for?" I sent reflexively.

"ElspethInnle wanders the dreamtrails. Dangerous there." Without further explanation he jumped away and curled up at my side. I gazed at his figure, asleep as suddenly as I had woken, thinking about the cat's words, and the strangest dream I'd been having.

A glint of purple caught my eye on one of the bookshelves. I dismissed it and got up, suddenly ravenous.