 
### Cube of Trevalia

### By L. J. Capehart

### Published by L.J, Capehart at Smashwords

### Copyright 2013 L.J. Capehart

Thank you for downloading this e-book. This book remains the copyrighted property of the author and may not be redistributed to others for commercial or non-commercial purposes. If you enjoyed this book, please encourage your friends to download their own copy from their favorite authorized retailer. Thank you for your support.

Names, characters, places, and incidences portrayed in this book are fictitious. Similarities to a real person, alive or deceased, locales, establishments, or events are coincidental and not intended by the author.

This book, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any form without permission from the author.

~ ~ ~

To my Daughters-Rachel, Beth, Melissa, and Emily, who have helped and supported me so much in my writing.

Other Books by L.J. Capehart:

Curse of Trevalia

Guardian of Maradon

The Call of Starfire

The Declanite Threat

### Table of Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Other books by L.J.Capehart

A Note from the Author

With Contact Information

### Chapter One

The lake had been calm early in the day, the sky a clear blue. It would have been perfect for fishing. Seth Tucker had been tempted to go out without Jeff but decided it wouldn't be fair not to wait for his friend to arrive the next morning as they had planned. He had hiked around the lake instead, enjoying the early summer day. Returning for a late lunch of sandwiches and ice tea, he felt a slight regret for the fresh fish he could have been eating instead. After clearing the small wooden table of the lunch dishes, he made a quick trip out to his parked car, bringing in a medium sized metal cube, about double the size of the toaster on the counter. He placed it on the table.

The light in the cabin grew dim as Seth sat studying the strange object in front of him, but he hadn't noticed, so engrossed was he in attempting to discover a clue to the origin and purpose of the metal cube. He'd been somewhat obsessed with it for most of his life, but he hadn't found a single clue about its origin or purpose.

A thunderous boom made him jump. The interior of the room lit up as if it was bright daylight. The deafening sound continued for several seconds. He moved to the door, surprised that he hadn't noticed the approaching storm. The rain hadn't started yet, but a strong wind blew the bushes and tree branches around in a wild dance, increasing dramatically as he watched. Leaves that had already been loose flew through the air, joined by others torn from branches being tossed about violently.

The tall, slightly husky, 36-year-old raced out to the deck to retrieve two folding chairs before they could be blown away. The strong scent of rain filled the air as he hurried, trying to beat the rain. After carrying them in and closing the door, he absent-mindedly smoothed his brown hair down while he watched the sky light up every few seconds. Large drops of rain pelted the large picture window facing the lake, churning the surface of the water beyond as those first drops became a heavy downpour in seconds.

A sudden change in the air inside the cabin caused Seth to turn back to the table, only to stop, astonished at what he saw. The square, metal box that he'd been studying so intently several minutes ago had undergone a dramatic change.

What had a short time ago been just a silver-gray metallic box with thin, circular disks spaced in five stacks of three decreasing sizes on each side, was now alive with a bright glow. As he watched, unsure of what was happening, small strings of electricity began playing across the surface of the box. They expanded outward, engulfing the small, interior room of the cabin in seconds, surrounding Seth before he could react. He found himself unable to move as they danced around him, causing an unpleasant tingling on his skin. He had the absurd thought that this might be what it would feel like to be inside one of the plasma globes that the kids thought were so cool.

The noise grew in intensity as the light grew brighter. The sound of a strong wind joined the crackle of electricity, as if a storm moved inside the cabin in conjunction with the storm that now raged outside, though there was no sensation of a breeze of any sort.

Seth wanted to run for the door, or throw himself to the floor, but was unable to move. He couldn't even close his eyes. All he could do was stand and watch as the light and sound became his whole world...

~ ~ ~

The next morning, Seth's friend Jeff Samuels arrived at the cabin—what was left of it. There was no sign of Seth, and the cabin had been burned almost completely to the ground. Knowing Seth had been there for two days already and seeing that his car was still parked beside the small storage shed where they kept the canoes, Jeff made a thorough search of the area with no results.

After searching everywhere that he could think of, questioning the few distant neighbors, and asking around the town ten miles down the road whether anyone had seen Seth, Jeff notified the sheriff. Since his car was still there and his keys and part of his wallet had been found in the bedroom area, it was a cut and dried case of another storm related death in Sheriff Watkin's book, with no need for further investigation. He filed the necessary report, dropped the incident from his mind, and went home to help his wife finish packing for their long-awaited vacation.

~ ~ ~

Ethan Tucker, Seth's younger brother, glanced over at his sister-in-law Kate as they sat listening to the preacher at Seth's memorial service. Her face was pale, and there were dark shadows under her eyes as if she hadn't slept for some time. She kept her eyes down, her dark blonde, shoulder length hair partially hiding her expression from him. He could tell she was fighting against tears.

Kate's son Danny sat between her and Ethan. Her daughter Susan was on Kate's other side. Kate had an arm around each of them as the service finally ended.

Ethan marveled at the calmness with which Kate faced this ordeal. He stood beside her in the foyer of the church while Kate was kept busy thanking people, accepting hugs and commiseration, as they told her in one way or another how sorry they were. It seemed everyone had good things to say about his brother. Ethan acknowledged introductions but felt intensely uncomfortable. At the best of times, he felt out of place around groups of people, especially when he knew no one. Here among Seth's friends at the memorial service, all he really wanted to do was run away. He gave an in-audible groan and continued to shake hands and extend thanks for well-meant condolences, determined to stick with his grieving sister-in-law until the end.

He felt relieved when the last person had told the family how sorry they were for their loss and they were able to leave. He drove them back to the house that Seth and Kate had lived in since they got married fifteen years earlier.

As soon as they got there, friends started arriving, many bringing food for the family. Mrs. Stockton from next door took charge, managing everything including feeding everyone who came to pay their respects. Small groups of people sat around telling stories about Seth. Ethan wondered why people always barged in on the grieving family like this so soon after the loss. Glancing over to see Kate talking to Jeff, the man who had discovered the burned cabin, he slipped out the back door to join Danny on the deck.

He leaned his arms on the rail beside his nephew, watching as Danny threw a small rock into Kate's goldfish pond, not sure how to talk to this ten-year-old version of Seth.

"Uncle Ethan?" Danny glanced up, then turned back to watch the fish in the pond again. "Do you miss Dad?"

"Yeah. Do you?" Well, that was a stupid thing to say. Of course, the kid missed his Dad.

"Yeah." Danny reached up with a cuff of his shirt to wipe his eyes quickly. Ethan looked away, pretending he didn't notice.

"Dad was gonna take me fishing next month for my birthday," Danny mumbled. Ethan had to blink away some tears of his own as Danny's words brought back memories for him.

"Your dad taught me to fish when I was little. I was about your age when he went away to college. That's where he met your mom." The two lapsed into silence. Danny pulled another pebble from his pocket and threw it into the pond. He jumped when Kate cleared her throat behind them, having come out onto the deck without them noticing.

"Danny, you and your uncle should come eat. Mrs. Stockton made up plates for you." She refrained from her usual admonition not to throw rocks in the pond.

Ethan straightened slowly and followed, as Kate took Danny's hand and led him into the house. There were few people left inside now. Several neighborhood women moved around the living room and dining area, gathering dirty plates and glasses. Ethan had a sudden flashback to his mother's funeral less than two years ago, seeing the living room of the farmhouse in his mind's eye as women cleaned up there.

Feeling a hand on his arm, Ethan turned and looked into Kate's eyes, seeing the same pain mirrored there as he felt. Kate hugged him, seeming to sense his painful thoughts. She turned away to make sure Danny ate something rather than sneaking it to the dog next door when she wasn't looking.

Ethan turned from watching them when someone cleared their throat beside him. Jeff stood next to him.

"I have something for you. I, um, found it at the cabin." Jeff reached to pick up a cardboard box from the floor. "Kate said I should give it to you, that it used to belong to your dad." Jeff held it out to Ethan. Opening the box curiously, Ethan looked in to see the gray metallic box that Seth had inherited when their dad had passed away three years before, from a heart attack.

"Oh. Thanks. Dad found this buried on our farm when he was having a new well dug. Seth was fascinated with it. We never could figure out what it is." Ethan closed the flaps back and set the box on the table.

"I wondered if you knew. I've never seen anything like it, myself. Strange thing--it didn't seem at all affected by the fire." Jeff held out his hand. "I'm glad I got to meet you, Ethan... just sorry the circumstances aren't different. Seth talked about you a lot. He was pretty proud of you, you know."

Ethan smiled sadly as he watched Jeff leave.

~ ~ ~

Everyone was finally gone. The house was quiet as Ethan sat alone at the dining room table. He had pulled out the metal box and sat looking at it, remembering all the times he and his brother had played guessing games about what it was. His favorite guess had been that it was left by a time traveler from the future, holding the key to knowing everything that would happen in the coming centuries.

"Ethan?" Kate came down the stairs. She moved through the living room to stand behind a chair and looked down at him. "Are you okay?"

"Sure." He hesitated a moment, and then blurted out, "I'm leaving in the morning. I need to get back to things at home. I left a lot stuff up in the air when I heard..." He left the sentence unfinished, still finding it hard to vocalize the loss of his brother.

Kate pulled out the chair and sat down, placing her hand on his.

"Ethan, please don't leave without saying goodbye to us. We're still family, you know. You spend too much time alone on the farm." Kate saw the look of withdrawal on his face but continued anyway. "The only family I knew growing up was my Aunt Ethel. When I married Seth, I was thrilled that I'd gained a brother and parents, as well. Now you and the kids are all I have left. We need each other. Please don't continue to isolate yourself like you have since your parents passed away."

Ethan heard the pleading in Kate's voice, and realized she was right. He had isolated himself. His business had filled his time and thoughts to the exclusion of everything else. He spent most of his time in his converted barn, with nothing but machines as companions, running his own software company.

She was right in guessing he intended to leave without saying goodbye, as well. Ethan had told people he loved goodbye far too many times. Goodbyes were not an experience he enjoyed much.

"I'll wait until after breakfast, okay?" Ethan promised. Kate studied him intently. Satisfied with what she saw, she stood and said good night, moving on to her bedroom.

After Kate's door closed, Ethan rose slowly, put the metal cube back in the cardboard box, and left it on the dining table. If he hadn't been so wrapped up in his thoughts, he might have noticed the faint glow that showed faintly through the cracks in the lid after he turned off the lights and made his way upstairs to the guest room.

~ ~ ~

True to his word, Ethan stayed until everyone had finished eating breakfast. Kate and the kids followed him out to his jeep and stood watching as he put his duffle bag and the box in the back.

Ethan turned to face them, dreading the moment. Kate tried to make it easy, breaking the silence as she hugged him and gave him a sisterly kiss on the cheek.

"We want you to visit as often as you can, Ethan. You'll have to come for Thanksgiving. That isn't very far away. The three of us will love to have you here."

"Sure, that would be great." Ethan smiled at all of them and hurried to climb behind the wheel of his jeep. A sudden thought occurred to him as he was about to turn the key.

"Kate, will you be able to manage? Financially, I mean?" He looked worried, realizing how little he knew about their situation.

"Oh, I think so. I'll have to go back to work, but we'll be fine." She smiled at him, touched that he'd thought to ask.

"Mom and Dad's house and land are half yours now. You'll always have a home there if you ever need it..." Ethan trailed off into silence, and then started the engine quickly. "I'd better get going. I have a long drive ahead of me. If you ever need anything..."

"Thanks, Ethan. That means a lot. We'll be fine, I'm sure. Drive safely." Kate stepped back and waved as Ethan put the jeep in reverse and backed out of the drive quickly, not wanting to prolong the goodbye.

As Ethan moved through the busy city streets and onto the highway, he breathed a sigh of relief. Refusing to think about Seth being gone like their parents, he concentrated on some problems he'd been having with a program just before he left. He distracted himself with it most of the way through the eight-hour drive.

### Chapter Two

Kate sat looking at the picture of Seth that she held. It had been two years since his death, but she still missed him as if she had just lost him yesterday.

Times like this made her miss him even more. They always talked over problems like this together. Seth came up with solutions that made any situation work out. Sometimes Kate felt like all she wanted to do was to crawl into a corner and cry when the pressure from having to make all the decisions alone got to be too much.

She sighed and returned the framed picture to its place on her dresser. Even when you felt as if your heart was broken, life still went on.

Moving over to the phone on her small desk by the window, she lifted the receiver. There was no use postponing any longer. Deep down, she had already decided that this was the best thing for all of them. It wouldn't get any easier by waiting. She punched in the number, lifted the receiver to her ear, and listened as it rang...

~ ~ ~

Kate hung up, a relieved look on her face. She hadn't been at all sure how Ethan might react to the request she had made of him. She had seen some progress with her attempts to build a bridge over the self-made rift he had created around himself, but not enough to give her any assurance that he had honestly meant what he had told her after Seth's memorial service.

She moved into the living room where Danny was watching TV. Susan sat on the floor wearing headphones, doing her homework. Kate sat down beside Danny and glanced at the clock on the wall. With only a few minutes left of the current show, she might as well wait until it was over.

When the credits began, Kate snatched the remote from the coffee table before Danny could reach for it. She turned off the TV and smiled at the kids.

"I need to talk to you two about something. Susan!" Kate raised her voice in an attempt to gain the attention of her fifteen-year old daughter. Danny grabbed a pillow from the couch beside him and threw it at Susan before Kate could stop him.

"Hey, I'm trying to study!" Susan grabbed the pillow that had bounced off her head, sitting up to throw it back at Danny. Kate caught the pillow before it reached him. Susan pulled off her headphones when she saw her mother.

"He threw it first!" Susan jumped immediately to the defensive.

"Never mind that, honey. I need to talk to you both. I just finished talking to your Uncle Ethan. I told him about how we have to sell the house because I can't keep up the payments, and he—"

"Mom," Susan interrupted, "you can't be serious! Not Uncle Ethan's!" Susan looked less than pleased at what her mom was about to say. "He lives practically in the middle of nowhere! I'll never see... well, anybody!" Susan jumped up to face her mother, an outraged look on her face.

"She means Tyler Conrad," Danny piped up.

"Shut up, brat." Susan took a step in Danny's direction.

"Susan, sit down." Kate faced her daughter, a stern look on her face. Susan sat down in a nearby chair, a sulky expression on hers. Kate sat back on the couch.

"As I was saying when you interrupted, your Uncle Ethan says we are welcome to come live in the house. He stays in the converted barn most of the time. We both felt it was the best solution."

"Uncle Ethan doesn't even like us." Susan grumbled almost before Kate had finished her sentence.

"That isn't true, Susan. Ethan loves you kids. He wants us to come live there. He said we can live in the house while he'll stay in his barn. He's hoping to get to know you better. And I think he needs us. He's been without any family close for four years, ever since your grandmother passed away. When your dad died, Ethan was left with no one but us. We need each other." Kate put an arm around Danny's shoulder, and looked at Susan hopefully.

"So," Susan protested, "what you're saying is that you want to sacrifice me and Danny for Uncle Ethan. Well, I'm not going. You can't make me!" Susan raised her voice as she stood up. Turning, she ran out of the room, beginning to cry as she went up the stairs at a run. A moment later they heard a loud bang as Susan slammed her bedroom door.

Kate sighed. She had been pretty sure Susan would react in that way but hadn't come up with any great idea to make this move appealing to her. Turning to Danny, she studied the calm look on his face for a moment before speaking.

"Well, how about you?" Kate always found it difficult to figure out what Danny was thinking. "What do you think?"

"I think you'll be able to make her go." Danny grinned at his mom.

"That's not what I meant, and you know it." Kate ruffled his hair. "What do YOU think about moving?"

"Well, um... I don't know. Do you think maybe Uncle Ethan might be willing to take me fishing, like Dad used to take him?" Danny looked hopefully at Kate.

She scooted closer and placed an arm around her son's shoulders and kissed the top of his head. "You'll have to ask him, honey." Kate sighed inwardly, not at all sure how Ethan might react to such a request. "Now how about getting ready for bed? I'll come in to say goodnight soon."

Kate followed him slowly up the stairs, dreading talking to Susan again. Danny had already started brushing his teeth as she walked past the open bathroom door. Stopping outside Susan's door, she knocked gently.

"Susan, may I come in?" She called after a moment. After several more moments, the knob turned, and Susan opened the door. The young girl turned away, to sit on the bed, her legs crossed, a large pillow clasped in her arms.

"I'm not in the mood to talk, Mother." Kate tried not to smile at Susan's formal tone. It always amused her when her daughter called her Mother instead of Mom. Kate moved to sit close to Susan, and gently brushed the stray hairs from her daughter's face.

"I know this move won't be an easy one, Susan, but I have no choice. I can't earn enough to make the house payments anymore. Your Uncle Ethan..." Susan interrupted before Kate could finish.

"Uncle Ethan won't want us there." She buried her face against the pillow.

"Your Uncle Ethan offered the house to us before I actually asked, Susan. It'll solve all the financial problems I've been dealing with. Who knows?" Kate headed for the door, and then turned with her hand on the frame. "You might even discover that you like it there."

~ ~ ~

Kate took one last look around the empty house. The last boxes had been loaded on the moving van out front. Arrangements for a cleaning crew, and painters to ready the house for sale, were all in place. The only thing left was to turn over the keys to the realtor.

Finding herself alone in the house, everything done that she had needed to do, Kate felt almost paralyzed from a sudden wave of grief that hit her as she stood near the door and gazed through the rooms for the last time. Over there was where Seth had whirled her around with excitement when she told him she was expecting Susan... There at the base of the stairs was where Danny had lost his first tooth... Memories flooded her mind, flashing past rapidly.

Refusing to give in to the tears that threatened, she turned away. Moving resolutely through the door, she locked it. She hurried over to hand the keys to Mr. Pickens, who had just pulled up.

Moving away quickly, she went over to the car where Susan and Danny waited. Mr. Pickens followed her, leaning down a little to talk to her after she had climbed into the driver's seat and opened the window.

"Don't worry about anything, Mrs. Tucker. It's a good house, in an excellent location. I believe we'll have no problem finding a buyer at the price you're hoping for in no time at all. I already have several interested buyers lined up." He smiled down at her.

"Thank you, Mr. Pickens. I know the house is in good hands with you." She glanced at the street as the moving van pulled away.

"We'd better get going. We have a long drive ahead of us." Mr. Pickens stood up and moved back a bit. Kate gave a short wave that was returned by the man. She started the engine and pulled away from the curb.

The plan was to drive for a couple of hours, then stop at a hotel for the night, since it was already early evening. Fortunately for Kate, Danny was bubbling over with chatter, excited about moving to the farm. It helped Kate not to dwell on the memories that still threatened to overwhelm her.

~ ~ ~

Kate turned into the long drive that led to the farmhouse that had been in her husband's family for generations, grateful to be at the end of the trip. She'd spent six hours listening to Danny wondering when they'd be here, and Susan complaining about them coming.

Parking in front of the two-car garage that Seth and Ethan had helped their father build one summer, Kate stretched. She slowly followed Danny and Susan up the steps of the front porch that stretched across the length of the house.

Danny was already ringing the doorbell as she moved up behind him. Susan stood at the porch railing, staring glumly out across the front yard to the line of trees along the edge of the road.

After a minute without an answer, Kate opened the screen and knocked on the door. When that also failed to yield a response, she tried the knob. She felt a little odd just walking in, but reasoned that it was their home now, so why not? Besides, Ethan had said he spent much of his time in his barn workshop.

"Ethan, are you here?" She called loudly. A moment later footsteps could be heard from the floor above. In a very short time, an older woman came slowly down the stairs.

"Oh, my, you'll be Ethan's sister-in-law, I'm guessin'? I would've come faster if I knew it was you instead of some pesky salesman! I never had a chance to meet you before, at Hannah's funeral. That was when my husband had just hurt his leg, and I couldn't leave him. And this must be young Danny! Where's your girl? Susan, I think Ethan said her name was?" She smiled as Susan came into the entry hall. "There you are, dear. Well, and here I wasn't expecting you 'til tomorrow! I haven't half-finished sweepin' away the dust and all for you, Mrs. Tucker. I'm afraid Ethan has been neglectin' household chores. But that's to be expected I suppose, what with him bein' a young bachelor, and livin' out in that fancy barn turned house of his."

Kate smiled at the seemingly endless flow of words, finally managing to break in.

"Please, call me Kate. I'm sorry, Ethan must have gotten the date wrong. Surely we can take over here."

"Dear me, there's no need for that, Kate. And there isn't that much left to be doin'. Besides, Ethan has already paid me to get the house in shape. I bring in a little extra money helpin' when someone needs a hand cleanin'. Hiram, that's my husband, is retired now, on account of his injured leg. It never did heal right, though the doc did his best. Oh my, I haven't even introduced myself!" She laughed. "I'm Millie-Mildred Wilson. Everyone just calls me Millie. You poor dears must be worn out from ridin' in the car all mornin'. Just come on into the kitchen with me and set yourselves down at the table. I have a big pot of stew simmerin' on the stove, and some homemade bread I baked yesterday." Millie paused in her cheerful monologue, to reach into a cabinet and pull out a stack of bowls and some small plates.

Kate glanced at each of her children, wondering if they were thinking the same thoughts as her. She wondered how Millie managed the constant flow of talk with barely a pause for breath. Kate had to work to smother a smile of amusement.

Millie soon had steaming bowls of stew set in front of each of them, all the while carrying on a cheerful monolog about nothing in particular. She expertly cut slices from a delicious looking loaf of homemade bread and set some butter within reach. Kate's mouth watered at the wonderful smells of home cooked food.

"There you are, dears. Now, I'll just fetch Ethan. Sometimes I think that boy would starve to death if he wasn't reminded to eat! Hiram and I live just down the road. I have the boy over for supper, when I can drag him away from those computers, that is. I promised his mother that I'd keep an eye on him after she was gone." The door closed behind her, shutting off any further speech.

"Wow!" Danny stated. Susan giggled and leaned over her bowl as if deeply interested in the contents, as Kate turned to look at them. She couldn't help the smile that tugged on the corners of her mouth.

When Millie returned, Ethan was right behind her. Millie crossed to the stove to get a bowl of stew for Ethan.

"Kate, I was sure you told me tomorrow." Ethan looked a bit sheepish about getting the dates wrong. Kate stood and hugged him. She cut a piece of bread for him before she sat back down to resume eating.

"No problem, Ethan. Millie, this stew is great. I'd love to have the recipe, if you're willing to share it." Kate commented.

"I'd be glad to. Now you all enjoy your lunch, and I'll just finish up the bedrooms upstairs. I'm sure you all have a lot to talk about." She smiled at Danny and Susan. "When you kids finish your stew, maybe you'd like some homemade cookies. I filled up your grandma's big cookie jar with some oatmeal raisin cookies. They're my husband's favorite, and Ethan's too, I'm guessin', by the way he empties that jar every time I bring him a batch." Millie winked at Danny and smiled fondly at Ethan before she headed up the back stairs that led off the kitchen near the back door. Soon the distant sound of a vacuum cleaner could be heard.

"Uncle Ethan, would you show me your barn-house after lunch?" Danny asked eagerly. Ethan looked at his nephew, a look of doubt in his eyes.

"I don't know if that's such a good idea, Danny. I've got quite a lot of delicate equipment in there." Danny looked crestfallen. Ethan, feeling a little guilty, looked to Kate for help.

"I'd like to see what you've done out there, too, if you wouldn't mind. After all, it was still just a barn when we were here four years ago. I'll make sure Danny and Susan are careful." Kate reassured him. Ethan still seemed a little doubtful, but relented when Danny looked back up, hope in his eyes. After Kate rinsed the bowls and spoons, they followed Ethan out to what Danny called Ethan's barn-house.

On the outside the barn didn't look much different, at least in the front. The large doors of the big red barn were closed, as well as the ones to the hay mow above. Ethan led them to the small door beside the bigger doors, opening it to allow Kate and the kids to precede him.

The inside in no way resembled a barn. The finished walls were just what you'd find in any normal house, finished in a soft bluish-gray. The floor was covered with large tiles colored in a swirl of soft grays and creams. Wide stairs covered in gray carpet led to an upper floor where Kate glimpsed what looked like a living room. She thought the effect was very relaxing.

Danny wasn't paying any attention to the color of the walls or tiles. He only had eyes for the tables and large desk filled with computer equipment in the front of the large room, separated by a low wall from a comfortable seating area.

"Wow! What a setup!" He moved closer, avidly taking in the multiple computer monitors, scanners, printers, and other electronic equipment. "Larry's brother has a really nifty computer system, but this beats his to pieces." He said approvingly.

Ethan couldn't help but feel pleased with both Danny's and Kate's responses. Even Susan seemed interested in looking around. She wandered over to some shelves to look at Ethan's rock collection. He'd been a collector since he was young and had some impressive specimens.

"The kitchen is there." Ethan pointed to the door at the back of the large room they were in. "Upstairs is a small living area, a bedroom, and a full bath. Davie Peters became an architect. He used this plan as an extra credit project for one of his classes. I liked it so much when he showed it to me, I had the barn converted." Ethan turned to face the large center monitor as a beep notified him that something required his attention.

"Feel free to look around. Excuse me. I need to take care of this." Ethan sat down, activated the screen and immediately began typing rapidly on the keyboard. He hardly seemed aware of their presence now.

Left to their own devices, Kate and the kids checked out the kitchen first. It was a fair-sized room. Sunlight streamed in through the windows that ran the length of the back wall. A dark wood table was centered beside the windows. Kate noticed it was half covered with computer magazines. Looking around the well-planned room, Kate suspected that Millie had been here first. Everything, except for the magazines sprawled across the table, was clean and tidy.

From there, they moved upstairs. Danny, not caring much about the living area, drifted over to stand behind his uncle as Kate and Susan walked up the stairs.

"What are you working on?" Danny asked Ethan. Glancing at Danny, Ethan finished typing, clicked send, and turned his head to glance at his nephew.

"I was just sending an e-mail to one of my customers...nothing that would interest you."

"Was it to someone who bought some of your software?" Danny persisted, despite Ethan's attempt to brush him off. Ethan had turned back to his computer and opened another program. Without pulling his attention from the screen, he answered.

"Yes." Ethan started typing rapidly again, not even noticing when Danny shrugged his shoulders and wandered off to study first the rock collection, and then other things sitting around.

Before long, Kate came back down, Susan trailing along behind her.

"Ethan, I never would have imagined a barn could be made into such a nice home." Kate complimented him as she came near. "And you keep it so clean."

Ethan looked up to see the mischievous look in Kate's eyes, and realized she was teasing him. He turned slightly red, and then grinned.

"I admit it, Millie cleaned here this morning. In my defense, I'm very busy most of the time. Millie can use the money since Hiram had to retire early when he injured his leg, so it works well for both of us. She seems to like taking care of me." Ethan suddenly realized Danny wasn't with Kate. Standing quickly, he looked around. He found Danny near the shelves with the rock collection. The boy was on his knees in front of some other shelves, deeply engrossed in something in front of him. Ethan moved swiftly over to him.

"What are you doing, Danny?" Ethan spoke more sharply than he intended. Danny, unfazed, grinned up at him.

"This is the cube my dad got from Grandpa, isn't it?" Danny had his hands on the edge of the shelf, a short distance away from the metal box. Ethan barely glanced at the box.

"I think it's time to leave your Uncle Ethan to his work, Danny." Kate jumped in before Ethan could speak again. As Danny stood obediently, Kate reached out and took his hand. "Thanks for letting us look around, Ethan. Come on kids. Let's see if Millie will let us help her finish up in the house. And we'll need to unload the car before it gets too late."

As the three of them were moving through the door, Ethan called Kate's name. She waved the kids on and turned back.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to snap at Danny. I'm not used to having kids around. I guess I'm not used to having anyone around, except Millie when she comes to clean for me."

"No harm done. I'll try to keep Danny from making a pest of himself. I suspect he's going to try. He doesn't say much, but he still misses his dad terribly. I think he may be hoping you can fill, at least in part, the gap left from Seth's passing." She turned and left quickly, trying not to think about the gap she felt.

Ethan turned back to his keyboard again, but he didn't immediately start working. He stared, un-seeing, at the screen in front of him, thinking about what Kate had said. He wondered what he may have gotten himself into by having them come live here.

Un-noticed in the corner on the shelf where Danny had been kneeling, a soft glow emanated from the metal surface of the metallic cube.

### Chapter Three

They had only been at the farm for a week, and Kate was finding it more and more difficult to keep Danny from gravitating toward the barn-house, as her son had dubbed it their first day here. Kate had tracked him down there twice in the last two days, and Susan had intercepted him three times just before he knocked on Ethan's door. Ethan had been fairly tolerant of the interruptions, but Kate was worried that Danny was sorely trying his uncle's patience.

Today had been particularly hectic. The moving van had finally arrived with the things Kate had chosen to keep from their old house. She was kept busy telling the men where she wanted the furniture and boxes put. Millie had helped her find two men earlier in the week to carry some things into the huge third story attic to make room for her favorite furniture after she had double checked with Ethan to make sure he didn't mind. He'd been very agreeable, even insisting that his mother would have wanted her to have the master bedroom, though she hesitated at first. She had been sleeping in the guest room where she and Seth had always stayed when they came for visits.

"Millie, I can't thank you enough for your help today." She slid into a chair at the kitchen table, sighing as she kicked off her shoes.

"Think nothin' of it, Kate. I'm just glad the timin' worked out so well. A day later, and we would've been gone to Iowa to help my Charlotte. That new grandbaby of ours will be a comin' any day now, and Mike can't take off work to be watchin' the other kids. She had a bit of trouble with the last one, you know. I think they'll both feel a mite easier with me and Hiram there to look after things. We'll be gone for at least a couple weeks, maybe more. Are you sure you can manage okay, dear?"

Kate smothered a grin at Millie's typical chatter, and assured her they'd be fine, especially after all the help she'd given them settling in.

"I'm glad, dear. I almost feel like I have another daughter to love, with you here. Now there's the roast, ready to perfection!" She continued to talk as she pulled the pan from the oven after turning off the timer. "My mama's recipe sure does justice to a good roast. I left a copy of the recipe on the counter, in case you'd like it. People are always askin' for it. Don't forget to call Nate and ask for him to deliver more milk in a few days. Those kids of yours sure drink a lot of it! I always had to force my Charlotte to drink it. Well dear, I must scoot. Hiram'll be wantin' his dinner about now, and I still have some odds and ends to pack." She patted Kate's hand and hurried to the door. Kate followed her out onto the porch.

"Bye, Millie. You two have a safe trip. Bring back pictures of that new baby."

"Count on it, dear. 'Bye, now!" She waved before climbing into her old blue pickup truck.

Kate went back in, calling Susan and Danny to come down for dinner. She told Susan to set the table, and then went out to fetch Ethan herself, rather than risk sending Danny. She'd learned the first time she did that that it could take a long time, with the draw of Ethan's computers to distract Danny's curious mind.

~ ~ ~

After the leftovers had been put away and the dishes washed, Kate took some time to relax in the cooler evening air, on the front porch swing. She'd always loved summer evenings on this porch. Seth's dad would sometimes make homemade ice cream, and they would sit and enjoy it out here. The grownups would sit and talk while watching Danny and Susan catch fireflies and play with Shep, the old sheepdog, who was now long gone as well.

Thoughts of Shep being gone made her think of Seth being gone too, not that he was ever far from her thoughts. Kate rose quickly before she had a chance to start with the tears again, moving into the house. She locked the front door behind her and went upstairs to check on the kids. Danny's room was empty, so Kate moved on to Susan's open door.

"Honey, have you seen Danny?" She asked Susan, who was busy putting up her poster of her current teenage heartthrob.

"He was unpacking a box of his stupid junk, last time I saw him." Susan put a tack in the last corner of her poster and turned to face her mom.

"It's getting late. Would you go see if he's bugging your uncle again? Tell him it's time for bed; no ifs, ands, or buts."

"Sure, Mom. He's probably looking at that stupid cube again. Lately it seems to be all he thinks about."

"Cube? What cube?" Kate wasn't sure what Susan was talking about.

"You know, that thing that Grandpa found. Danny calls it a cube and says its magic. He says he thinks he knows how to use it."

Kate wasn't sure she liked the sound of that. A shiver crept down her spine, and she decided she'd have to have a talk with her thirteen-year old son.

"I think I'd better come, too." The two of them went down the back stairs and out the back door. Out of habit Kate locked the door behind her, making sure the key was in her pocket.

They crossed the back yard to the barn, and Kate knocked on the door. Feeling a sudden impatience, she barely waited before she opened the door and walked in. Susan followed her.

"Danny, are you in here?" Most of the lights were out. They started through the large room, only to stop in surprise as they spotted Danny. He was standing beside a small table near the kitchen door. The metal box was on the table in front of him. It was lit with a strange light that emanated from the box itself. As Kate and Susan watched, Danny's hands moved across the different sides of it.

Kate barely registered the sound of a door being opened upstairs, followed a moment later by the sound of someone coming down the stairs rapidly.

"What the heck?!!" She heard Ethan yell as he started down, and recovered from her surprise enough to move forward, dragging Susan with her even though she hadn't been aware of grabbing her daughter's hand. The three of them reached Danny at about the same moment.

"Danny!" Kate cried out her son's name as Ethan grabbed Danny's shoulder.

"What are you doing?" Ethan sounded as shocked as Kate felt. Susan stared at the box, a look of fascination on her face.

At that moment, streams of electricity started playing across the surface of the box and Danny's hands. Ethan tried to pull him away, but an instant later both the light and electricity had spread out to fill the air surrounding them, as first a crackling sound began, and then the sound of wind.

The four of them watched in amazement as they stood unable to move, their senses being bombarded by the sights and sounds. It seemed to go on forever, but the light and electricity finally faded away, and there was silence. They stood unmoving for long moments. There was nothing but darkness now.

"M...mom?" Kate heard Susan speak weakly beside her. She squeezed Susan's hand gently, trying to give assurance that she was far from feeling herself.

"Don't move." Ethan ordered. He reached with his free hand, unwilling to let go of Danny. Finding his keychain still in his pocket, he activated the small flashlight that hung on it. The beam wasn't very powerful, but Ethan breathed a sigh of relief to find that he hadn't been blinded by the bright light. That had been his first worry.

Shining the beam in front of where he and Danny stood, he had trouble identifying what he saw. He expected to see the table with the box on it, but it no longer sat in front of them. Instead, he saw uneven ground. Ethan moved the light further, to reveal rocks and grass.

"Are you seeing what I am?" Kate spoke softly, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Danny, what did you do?" Susan's voice rose on the last words, panic rising. Kate put an arm around her daughter, pulling her close.

"Susan, calm down. Ethan, turn off the flashlight for a minute." When he did, she closed her eyes for a second, and then looked again in the direction that she thought she had seen something.

"There! Do you see it? Behind you, Ethan..." Ethan and the others searched until they found what Kate had noticed.

"It looks like the sun is coming up. But that's impossible! It just went down an hour or so ago." Ethan felt Danny push up against his side. Ethan put an arm around the boy's shoulders without thinking. Kate found Ethan's other arm and linked her arm with his.

"Where are we? What's going on?" She voiced what they were all thinking. No one had anything to say, and they just stood huddled together silently as the sky lightened.

That happened quickly, more quickly than Ethan thought it should. As it became light enough to see their surroundings, Ethan looked around curiously. They were standing in a barren countryside, surrounded by nothing but rocks, dirt, and some pitiful looking grass. That and some dry, sad looking trees were about all he could see.

When the edge of the sun pushed up over the horizon, they saw that in one direction the ground rose gradually, to meet some hills in the distance. He turned to Kate.

"I don't know what happened, and I can't begin to guess where we are, or how we got here. I think we'd better head toward those hills. Maybe we can see more of our surroundings and try to find out where in the world we are." Ethan's voice sounded slightly shaky.

"Okay, I think that sounds reasonable." Kate had taken a deep breath before speaking, feeling none too calm herself.

"Umm...Uncle Ethan?" Danny had been scanning the sky. Ethan turned to look absently at Danny, his mind already moving to what they might or might not find when they climbed one of those hills.

"I don't think we are."

"Don't think we are what?"

"I don't think we're IN the world...our world." Danny was looking up again. There was awe in his voice as he spoke the words.

"What?" Ethan, startled, focused on Danny, and then followed the boy's gaze. At first, he wasn't sure what Danny saw, but then it hit him.

"The sky, it's not blue." Ethan spoke slowly.

"That's the exact shade of light green I painted my room back home." Susan stared upward, too. She added, "I don't think I like it anymore."

"That is SO awesome! I've always wanted to see what it would be like to have the sky a different color." Danny sounded more excited than scared.

"Come on. We had better start." Ethan encouraged Kate. They walked together with Susan and Danny following. As they walked Ethan kept glancing around, hoping to see something there that would show that they were mistaken, and this was home after all.

It took quite a while to reach the base of the nearest hill. By then Kate, who had been up and down stairs numerous times through the day, was in serious need of a break.

"I really need to rest for a few minutes. It's been a very long day, even if it is morning." She glanced in the direction of the recently risen sun.

"That's okay, Kate. You kids stay here with your mom. I'll scout ahead a little. Keep your eyes open, though. Until we know more, I think we should be very careful." Ethan didn't want to alarm them, but he also didn't want them to be too trusting of this place. He shied away from calling it 'this world', feeling almost as if referring to it as a planet other than their earth would make it an unchangeable fact. He just wasn't ready to accept that, yet.

Kate sat by a large rock at the base of the hill. Telling Danny and Susan to sit down too, she leaned back and closed her eyes wearily.

Ethan studied the hill in front of him for the best route to climb up. Once he'd decided how to tackle it, he waved to the two watching, told Kate he was going, and started up. He'd steered them toward this spot because it looked like this particular hill was a little taller than the other nearby hills. He hoped he might have a better view from the top.

He had to revise his route several times, but he finally completed the climb, finding himself on a small rocky plateau. He stood in the center, to slowly turn in a complete circle, trying to make sense of what he saw.

Shielding his eyes from the glare of the sun, still low on the horizon over the desert behind them, he saw only flat, sunbaked earth, spreading away as far as the eye could see.

Ahead and to both sides of the hill he had climbed were more hills. Taking the route straight ahead was out. What he could see was very rocky and forbidding. The left view was even less promising, hills increasing in size to what he would truly describe as mountains, to the northwest of them, figuring direction as he would at home, east being where the sun had risen.

Only to the right was there any promise of moving on. The hills didn't seem as tall, and he caught what looked like the glint of light on a large body of water, in the distance. It looked to be quite a way off, but he reasoned that where there was water, there might be more chance of locating some form of assistance.

After studying the terrain in detail, Ethan thought he saw a break in the hills that might provide an easy route through to the water. He finally retraced his steps back to Kate and the kids.

Ethan slid the last couple of feet down to level ground, causing a noisy slide of gravel. Kate opened her eyes and sat up straighter. She looked up at Ethan expectantly.

"There's what looks like an ocean, or a very large lake, on the other side of this line of hills. It's too far off to see what lies in that direction, but there may be a town on the shore there." He sat on the ground near Kate and Susan, leaning against the rock as well. He sat catching his breath for a minute, realizing just how tired he himself was.

"Where's Danny?" He suddenly realized the boy wasn't there.

"He went in search of water." Susan answered. "I warned him not to go far. Mom was asleep." Ethan stood up quickly and searched the area for a sign of the boy.

"Danny!" Ethan stood called out loudly. The sound echoed off the hills eerily, and he realized how quiet it had been before he called. He yelled several times before he finally heard an answer.

"Here!" Kate and Susan had joined Ethan, and Susan pointed to a figure some distance away at the base of the hills. Danny was waving, signaling for them to join him. Ethan and Kate both let out sighs of relief as they started toward Danny.

When they got closer to him, they realized that he was wet from head to toe. Kate started to move faster, breaking into a jog, reaching her son first.

"Danny, where did you go? And how did you get wet?" Kate's voice was full of worry.

"Aw, Mom, I'm not a baby! I can take care of myself. I found a path between the hills. A little way in there's this pool with strange looking fish. It's really neat." The thirteen-year old seemed to be enjoying himself exploring.

"Daniel Everett Tucker, you are not to go off by yourself like that again!" Danny lowered his head to gaze down at his feet. He knew when his mother resorted to complete names, he was in trouble. Ethan took pity on him and broke in.

"So how DID you get wet? Did you go for a swim?"

"Well, I sort of...fell in." He looked up at his uncle a little sheepishly. "I was leaning over, trying to guess what kind of fish they were, and I lost my balance."

"Serves you right. I told you not to go so far." Susan threw in her two cents worth. Danny stuck his tongue out, and then turned to start toward a narrow break in the rocks nearby.

"Come on, girls," said Ethan, "Danny, show us that pool. I for one am hot and thirsty."

Needing no further encouragement, Danny slipped between the rocks. Following him, the other three entered a corridor between stone walls. It was narrow, and they had to walk single file. After several minutes the path widened out. They entered a small valley. Danny's pool spread out before them along one side.

Ethan knelt at the edge of the water. It was clear all the way to the bottom, several feet deep. He could see the rocky bottom clearly, easily spotting the fish Danny had mentioned. It was easy to see why he had been interested in them. They were oddly shaped, unlike any fish he had seen before. Some of them were a dull green, with streaks of brown running down their sides. There were three or four of another kind; he had trouble counting them because they darted in and out so quickly. The fast ones were smaller, colored a shade or two darker than the sky.

"Those remind me of goldfish." Danny was on his knees beside him. "And those," he pointed, "Are a little like catfish, don't you think?"

Ethan looked where Danny was pointing. There were two reddish-orange fish floating in the water. They had whiskers, very similar to catfish. Ethan glanced up at Kate, who stood beside Danny. He stood and moved a few feet away. signaling Kate to follow him.

"The more I see, the more I'm certain that this isn't earth." Ethan sighed. "I guess I'd been hoping I was wrong. I hoped that whatever it was that caused us to be here had somehow affected our eyes, making the color of the sky look different."

"I don't understand. How can we be on a different world? None of this makes any sense whatsoever. I keep thinking I'll wake up in that beautiful four poster bed that belonged to your parents, and Danny will be telling me he's hungry." Kate spoke softly, watching as Danny and Susan pointed out the odd fish to one another while they discussed the differences between them and the fish they knew.

"I have no clue what's going on, Kate. But that box my dad dug up when Seth and I were young is the cause of this. It has to be, even though that makes no sense, either."

"Danny calls it a cube, Susan says. He told her it's magic, and that he thought he knew how to use it. Are you saying that he's right, and it brought us to another world?" She still sounded unbelieving. Ethan could almost hear the hope that she'd wake up any minute. He placed a hand on her shoulder.

"Try to stay calm, Kate. At least we're together. We'll figure this out somehow." Ethan stiffened in surprise when Kate threw her arms around his neck and buried her face against his shoulder. He put his arms around her awkwardly, trying to offer the comfort she needed.

"Ethan, I'm scared." She whispered. After a very short time she backed away, pulling herself together quickly. "I'm sorry. This is just so unreal!"

At that moment, Danny leaned over to cup water in his hands and take a drink.

"Danny, don't!" Ethan warned, and hurried to stop his nephew. Danny, a surprised look on his face, let the water fall back into the pool.

"We don't know if it's safe to drink." Ethan explained his concern.

"But I already drank some, Uncle Ethan. It tasted fine to me." Kate stepped to Danny's side, peering worriedly into his face. She placed a hand on his forehead, typical mother fashion.

"How does your stomach feel?" She asked.

"Gosh, Mom, I'm fine. I'm starting to get hungry, though. We've been walking a long time, and that supper was a long time ago." He grinned mischievously.

"Well, what do you think, Ethan? If we don't drink the water, that certainly won't turn out well. I'm not sure we have much choice." Kate reasoned.

"I guess you're right." Ethan knelt, and tried it cautiously. "He's right. It tastes pretty good."

They all used their hands to scoop the water up. Once they were done, they sat on the grass by the pool. Ethan studied the area carefully. Across the pool, there was a small opening in the valley wall about twenty feet up. A small stream of water issued from it, sliding down the slab of rock into the pool. The water extended to the end of the valley, but it wasn't clear from where they sat whether there was a continuation of the path there.

"Does this continue on through the hills, Danny?" Ethan asked, suspecting this might be the break in the hills he saw earlier.

"I don't really know. I figured Mom would worry, so I headed back after I fell in the pool."

Ethan's gaze wandered to the narrow end of the valley again. It looked as if the walls met. But to be sure, Ethan got up and started for the far wall where the pool seemed to come to an end, Danny trailing him closely.

As they got closer, the pool narrowed, becoming more of a stream. They followed it to where it met the wall, seeming to disappear into the rocks.

On further examination, Ethan saw that it only looked that way. The wall on one side extended in front of the other wall but not quite meeting it, forming a narrow entry into another corridor. The stream flowed through it. Several feet in, the corridor widened. The stream ran along one wall, leaving a path of sorts on the other side.

"Mom, Susan, c'mon!" Danny called back. When the other two caught up, Danny, excited at the prospect of more exploring, started forward, wading through the water to reach the dry path.

"Whoa there! Young man, I want you to understand before we go any further that you are not to wander out of my sight. Got it?" Kate called after him. Danny stopped at the serious tone, knowing she meant business.

"Yes, ma'am, I won't." He looked slightly disappointed. Kate, Susan, and Ethan all elected to slip off shoes and socks before wading through the water to join Danny. Once they got their shoes back on, Kate faced Danny again.

"Honey, I'm not trying to be mean or spoil your fun. This is a foreign place that we know nothing about. We'll be much safer staying together." Danny looked over to see the worry in his mother's face and stepped over to give her a quick hug.

"I'm sorry, Mom. I'll stay close. But let's go! Uncle Ethan, you lead." Danny suggested, grinning over at him. Ethan grinned back and started along the new path.

It was easy walking for a while. The path took several minor turns. They stayed on the dry ground, the stream meandering along beside them, offering a cheerful gurgling to keep them company.

The ground had a slight but steady downhill slant. Still, the walking was easy until they came to another sharp turn. After that, the ground quickly became steeper. They had to slow down and walk with more care. To add to the difficulties, the flow of water became stronger as it was joined by a much larger flow of water that came through another small cave in the hillside. Aided by the steeper grade, the water splashed up onto the rocks, making the path wet. In some places there was only bare rock which became slippery, and they found it hard to maintain their footing.

"Ethan," Kate raised her voice to be heard over the noise that the water now made. "Maybe this isn't such a good idea. Don't you think we should turn around?"

Just as Kate finished her sentence, Susan slipped on a slick patch, sliding into the water. Ethan heard her scream and tried to grab her as she went past, only to fall in himself. The water was deeper than he realized, and the current had become quite strong. The two were swept downstream, disappearing from view as they were swept around a curve.
Chapter Four

"Take it slow, Danny. Let's get to where they're going in one piece." Kate grabbed Danny to keep him from going into the water.

"Don't worry, they're both good swimmers, Mom." Danny reassured her as they continued along the slippery path.

"I know. But we don't know what they might run into further on. That's what worries me." Kate walked first, moving as quickly as she dared. They travelled in silence, saving their breath for the difficult descent. The further they went, the noisier the water grew. Kate became more and more worried.

As they came around yet another curve in the path, Kate stopped short, causing Danny to bump into her. Several yards ahead the walls ended, and the water rushed over the edge, to disappear from sight.

Kate took a deep breath and started forward, even more cautious than before. The path was very narrow now, and she hugged the wall, yelling for Danny to stay behind her. When she was almost to the edge where the water plunged down, she got on her hands and knees and crawled to where she could see over. The water fell straight down in a waterfall for twenty feet or more, where it joined the ocean Ethan had seen from the top of the hill.

Kate scanned below, desperately seeking any sign of Susan and Ethan. Seeing nothing in the water, either below or further out, she turned her attention to first the right. There was nothing to that side except steep rocky walls that looked difficult, if not impossible, to climb.

To the left she found a sandy shoreline. It started out as a narrow strip against the rocky wall, widening the further it went.

"I see them!" She shouted in relief as she spotted two figures waving frantically. They were too far away to be understood, but they looked unharmed.

"What do we do now? I can't see any safe way down." Kate turned to face her son. Danny looked at the water, and then turned to his mom. He grinned slowly, a look in his eyes that started Kate worrying again.

"Uncle Ethan and Susan look okay, right?" At Kate's reluctant nod, he grinned even bigger. "Then we take the same way down that they did!"

Before Kate could make a move to stop him, he jumped into the water, and was over and down, yelling excitedly. She watched breathlessly until she saw him emerge further out. He waved up at her, and then started swimming strongly toward shore. Knowing she really had no choice, Kate stood slowly, trying to gather courage to follow her son's example.

"Kathleen Mariah Tucker, you can do this!" She spoke sternly to herself as she might to one of her children. Before she could think any more about it, she took a deep breath and jumped into the water. Her yell was a bit different than Danny's.

The next moment, she found herself falling, and was submerged. As soon as she was able, she swam upwards, reaching the surface of the water. Taking several deep breaths to fill her lungs, she started toward the shore.

Ethan waded out to help her, and they waded out to join the kids. Kate hugged Susan tightly, listening to Danny's excited chatter.

"That was great! It was like the water park at home, only better. I wish we could do it again."

"Not me. All I want to do is get this saltwater rinsed out of my hair and clothes. And I have sand sticking to me on top of that!" Susan complained. Kate hugged her again and moved back a step.

"Oh, I don't know. It was kind of fun, now that I think about it." Kate couldn't resist teasing Susan a little. "But once was definitely enough for me." That being said, she turned to take in their surroundings. Looking out over the water, she wondered if large lake or ocean was the right term. There was no sign of land that she could see. Ethan moved to stand by her. He pointed in the distance to a small building on the beach, near the water.

"I think we should check it out."

"What if there's someone there? What do we tell them?" Kate asked him, as they brushed off what sand they could, and ran fingers through their hair, in an effort to make themselves more presentable.

"That's a good question." Ethan frowned a little, considering it. "I think maybe until we know more we should just say as little as possible. We're far from home and lost."

"Maybe they'll have something to eat!" Danny piped up.

"You're always thinking about your stomach." Susan threw the remark at him as she started after Ethan and Kate.

"Hey, I'm a growing boy." He protested, hurrying to catch up. He adjusted his stride to walk beside his uncle.

The four traveled in silence, soon reaching what proved to be an empty, dilapidated shack. They had moved beyond the edge of the hills by now. The land opened up away from the shore. Quite a distance off, they saw what looked like a village of some sort, set back a small distance from the water's edge. By common consent, they started for the new goal. There was a stiff breeze blowing off the water. Kate hoped their clothes would dry a little before they reached the village.

As they got close enough to make out details, it was apparent that it was a small fishing community. There was a wooden dock that extended a short distance out over the water. Only one small boat was tied up to it, though there was room for more. Ethan pointed out several boats far out on the water, guessing they were fishing boats of the villagers.

A small boy was sitting on the dock. He looked up and saw the four strangers approaching. Jumping up, he ran toward the nearest shack, to disappear inside.

"Kids, keep quiet please. Let your uncle and I do the talking," Kate warned.

"It's not much of a village, just a bunch of rundown old shacks. I'm not sure how much help we'll find here," Ethan spoke softly beside Kate.

Someone was peeking out of the slightly open door of the shack the little boy had run into. After a moment the door shut. Susan and Danny moved closer to their mom and Uncle Ethan.

"I think we're being watched from quite a few of these shacks." Kate spoke as softly as Ethan. "I'm not so sure this is a good idea." A moment later she was sure it wasn't a good idea, as a rough looking man came out of one of the shacks just ahead, closing the door behind him. He leaned against the wall, crossed his arms, and silently watched them approach. His clothing looked even worse than the shack he came from. He had a scowl on his unshaven face.

"What business have you here?" The man spoke harshly. Ethan came to a halt, putting a hand on Kate's arm with a protective attitude. Danny and Susan stopped behind them.

"We mean no harm, sir. We're lost and in need of food and shelter." Ethan spoke slowly, careful not to make any moves that might be interpreted as threatening.

"You shall find none here. We have little enough to feed our own. Strangers such as you bring naught but trouble, which we can ill afford." He turned his head as the door opened beside him. A young woman with dark hair, braided and pinned neatly around her head, stepped out and placed a hand on his arm.

"Kaylo," she spoke in a gentle voice. "They have young ones with them. Would you turn them out empty handed? You can see they are not of Lord Treamer's sending, husband." She looked up into his eyes pleadingly.

For a moment the man looked into the woman's eyes, and then reluctantly gave a slight nod. Needing no more than that, the young woman turned to them.

"Please, you are welcome here. We have not much, as my husband has stated. But what we have, we shall share gladly. I am Betta." She opened the door wide, motioning for them to come in.

"I'm Kate. This is Ethan. Susan and Danny are my children." Kate introduced them before moving toward the door. After some silent communication of their own, Ethan led Kate and the kids in, following the woman.

They entered a single large room. It was poorly furnished. A bed with a rough looking blanket stood in one corner, a small chest by the foot. Beside it was a simple wooden crib with a sleeping baby in it. A crude wooden table with five stools, and a tall, wood burning stove nearby made up the remainder of the contents.

"Please, sit. I have food cooking for our supper. It will be ready soon. You must join us. Kaylo, you would please gather some more chentas leaves. I will make tea for our guests." She smiled gently at her husband. Kaylo seemed to melt at the look in her eyes. He seemed doubtful about leaving her alone with the strangers, but she smiled at him again, her look seeming to say she'd be fine. He smiled back, and then picked up a small basket and left.

Kate, watching the exchange, looked down at her hands on the table and closed her eyes for a moment, to stop the tears that threatened. She'd thought that time would dull the pain of losing Seth. Maybe another twenty years might help?

There was a quiet knock on the door. The woman moved to open it slightly, and then wider as she saw who it was.

"Betta, you have guests?" The new woman glanced in. "I have spare bread you must have." She held out a small loaf to Betta, returning the smile given.

"Please, Lera, come in." Betta invited.

"Thank you, no. The boats return. I must finish preparing food. My father will be hungry." Lera slipped away quickly. Before Betta could close the door, another woman approached.

"For your stew, Betta." The woman handed her a small basket holding some mushroom like things. "I had special luck this morn." She, too, slipped away quickly. Betta returned to the stove after setting the small loaf of bread on the table. She had just finished cutting the mushrooms and adding them to the simmering pot on the stove, when Kaylo entered, his arms full.

"Kaylo, what have you?" Betta hurried to relieve him of his burdens.

"Ruan sends spare bowls and spoons. Talliya sends cups." He grinned like a small boy with treasure to show his mother. "And Medas's hunt yester eve was successful. He sent roast meat."

"Kaylo, we are so blessed! I will finish the tea, and we shall feast." She took the basket her husband had left with, her voice warm with pleasure at their friend's generosity.

"May I help with something?" Kate offered.

"You are a guest. Besides, there is naught to do save slicing the bread." Kaylo, quick to respond to his young wife, retrieved a knife from the back of the stove and had the bread sliced before she set the first steaming bowl of stew in front of Kate.

The couple worked well together. They soon had plates with sliced meat and bread before each, as well as bowls of stew. Betta finished the tea and passed cups of it around.

Kaylo stood behind his wife, eating at the stove since there weren't enough chairs. Ethan had tried to get him to sit down when Danny offered to sit on the floor, but they wouldn't hear of it.

Kate was hesitant to try the strange food at first. Ethan and Susan had the same reaction. But Danny, the typical starving teenage boy, started eating happily. Kate was relieved he managed to use good manners, at least. They all followed his example, finding the food very good though the tastes were different than what they were used to.

They were startled when there was a cry from the corner. Betta rose quickly, returning with the baby in her arms.

"This is our little Saria." Betta spoke proudly. "Kaylo, please show our guests where to wash. I must feed the baby."

"Come, the stream is near." Kaylo led them out and between the other shacks to a small stream that ran through the center of the village. They followed his example, using the cold water to wash their hands.

It was almost dark now. Kaylo pointed to a large bonfire near the shore.

"We often join our neighbors to share our day. We would be honored to have you join us." Kaylo led them over when Ethan agreed. As they approached, Kate felt a little uncomfortable with the curious stares, as did the others. But she kept in mind the kindness and generosity they had been shown already. It was obvious that these people had little to share. Their curiosity seemed of a friendly nature, as smiles and polite greetings were offered when Kaylo introduced them to the group around the fire. The people of this small village seemed to accept their presence here. Kate suspected Kaylo and Betta were well loved by these people and was grateful to be accepted for the young couple's sake.

Kate, Ethan, and the kids sat and listened as the women talked of the discovery of a new spot in the woods nearby, where chentas leaves were growing. The men told funny stories of their day on the fishing boats, making light of their poor catch.

When Kaylo stood and said it was time to be seeing his guests to their beds, the others all wished good dreaming, and rose to make their own way to their beds.

Kate found Betta laying out four sleeping mats. She hurried to help the young woman. Betta smiled her thanks.

"I borrowed mats and blankets from Lera and Talliya. I hope that you find them comfortable."

"I'm sure we will, Betta. You are being more than kind to strangers. I can't thank you enough." Kate returned Betta's smile, and then turned to watch as she heard the baby laugh. Susan had gone to where the baby lay on the bed and was playing with her.

"She is good with the little ones, I think." Betta commented, sounding pleased.

It didn't take long for them all to get settled for the night. Despite the strangeness of their situation, Kate and the kids were asleep in no time.

Ethan had trouble relaxing enough to go to sleep. Worry over what had happened, and what might happen in the future, raced through his mind. He had no idea how to go about figuring out what had happened to them or where they actually were, let alone what to do about it. But eventually even Ethan succumbed to much-needed sleep. It had been a very long day.

~ ~ ~

Ethan woke in semi darkness, to find Kaylo moving about quietly. Sitting up, he noticed Betta setting bowls and a lit candle on the table. He rose to join the two.

"What's going on? The sun isn't even up yet." He spoke quietly, not wanting to wake the others.

"I go to join the boats, as it is my day to help." Kaylo informed him. "We make an early start. I am sorry that our preparations woke you."

"Maybe I could come with you. I could help. I'm something of a fisherman myself." Ethan offered. Kaylo's eyes seemed to light with pleasure at Ethan's words.

"Your company would be welcome, Ethan." Kaylo spoke his name with an odd pronunciation. Betta rose to bring another bowl for Ethan, and the men ate quietly. When Kaylo said they must hurry to join the other men, Ethan moved over to Kate, waking her with a hand on her shoulder so he could let her know he was going with Kaylo.

~ ~ ~

There was a chill wind coming in off the ocean as they moved toward the shore, making Ethan shiver. A small group of men waited by the water. Several were already in the boats. When Kaylo and Ethan joined them, quiet greetings were offered. The men all turned and climbed into the two small boats. In no time at all, they were heading out to deeper water.

They spent most of the day on the water. Ethan wasn't totally unfamiliar with boats or net fishing. He listened carefully to Kaylo explaining how they did things. After he got the hang of it, he worked just as hard as the other men, receiving nods of approval from one and another as they saw what an asset this stranger was turning out to be.

At one point, he even had an idea that ended up bringing in more fish than they might have gotten otherwise. By the time they were ready to return to shore, the men were talking and joking with Ethan as if he were one of them.

~ ~ ~

Kate woke Danny and Susan just as the sun was coming up. Betta had already fed Saria and dressed her for the day. She now had the baby in a little sling on her back. The two kids ate the porridge that Betta provided, and the five of them headed out to the nearby woods.

Once there, they gathered berries and certain leaves from plants that Betta pointed out, until she declared laughingly that they had gathered enough in this one morning to help feed them all for a week of meals.

Kate tried to help Betta fix the noon meal, but felt she was more in the way than anything else, not knowing how to cook the strange food here. But Betta smiled and thanked her.

After lunch when they were washing at the nearby stream, a boy near Danny's age detached from a small group, approaching shyly. He bowed his head respectfully to Betta when she greeted him.

"I, I mean we, my friends and I, we thought you might wish to join us in hunting this late day." The boy looked hopefully at Danny. He turned to Kate, a hopeful look in his eyes, ready for more adventure.

"Can I, Mom? It sounds like fun." He grinned. Kate's eyes held doubt, as she glanced at Betta.

"He will be safe with them." Betta assured her. "They are very good boys and will watch out for Danny and keep him safe. Is that not so, Velan?" The boy nodded vigorously.

"Well, as long as you're certain, and they won't go far." Kate had reservations, but felt these people could be trusted, and Danny really was very sensible overall.

"Thanks, Mom." He hugged her and ran off with his new friend.

When Danny returned several hours later, he was tired, dirty, and victorious. The boys had met with great success and caught enough small rabbit-like animals that each of the group had taken one home to their families.

Danny chattered about his afternoon to Kate and Betta all through the dinner preparations, while Susan played with a wide-awake Saria.

When the men returned from their morning of fishing, they had prepared the fish for the drying process, to save them for winter needs. They were pleased with a much more successful day than the one before. This catch was a good start on the cold weather preparations the whole village counted on.

Kaylo and Ethan both praised Danny for his catch when they finally returned, causing the boy to beam with pleasure. Betta had made a stew with it, filling the small shed with a wonderful aroma.

Kaylo again invited them to join the other villagers around the night fire. When they got there, the men welcomed Ethan especially, saying he had brought luck with him. The group talked and laughed for some time, the day having been a good one. They seemed to not want to bring it to an end.

Kate felt a sudden change in the mood when another man walked up, to stand just outside the semicircle of people seated around the fire. He stared at Kate and Ethan, an unfriendly look in his eyes. It became quiet as the laughter from one fisherman's story was cut short at the newcomer's arrival.

"What business have you here? You are dressed strangely!" The man spoke harshly, making an accusation of his words.

"We mean no harm." Ethan repeated what he had told Kaylo before. "We have traveled a long way from our home. We got lost, and only seek a bit of shelter."

"So say you. Our experience is that strangers bring naught but trouble, and we have enough of that." The man moved to stand facing Ethan. Looking down into Ethan's face, he threatened, "Be on your way, strangers, or you will answer to me!"

"Urtan!" Betta stood, the baby in her arms. The name held rebuke. "You must not speak so to our guests. They have done naught to bring such mistrust and anger."

"You will not speak so when their presence brings the notice of Treamar. Would you sacrifice your little Saria for these strangers?" Urtan faced Betta.

"Enough, brother, you shame me." She stared at him sternly. Urtan glared at the young woman for several tense moments. Betta glared back, determination on her face. Urtan seemed to deflate finally. He turned and stalked away, disappearing into the darkness. Betta moved forward slowly, until she reached Kate's side. She sat beside her. Looking down at Saria, she spoke quietly.

"I offer apologies to all of you for my brother's rudeness. He speaks from fear. When Lord Treamar sent men some seasons ago in search of another stranger, they took from us much of what is our true worth. Urtan lost a son to their need of recruits, and Kaylo two younger brothers. The men were on the boats at the time and could not stop them. That is why they fish in turns now." Kate looked at Ethan over Betta's bent head, her eyes filled with worry. Ethan looked over at Kaylo.

"We don't want to put you in danger. Maybe we'd better leave in the morning. But could you tell me something about this Treamar that Urtan mentioned?" Kaylo and the other men looked oddly at Ethan, surprised that he didn't know who Treamar was.

"Lord Treamar rules Minestra. You MUST be from far, to not know of him. He is not the rightful ruler of Minestra, but took rule by force, and keeps it by such," A man beside Kaylo offered.

"He raids our towns, taking what he pleases; food, possessions, sons, daughters, husbands." Another man added.

"My children," an old man spoke up, "Remember the Trevalian Prophecy. Two will come to free us of the false ruler. The time is close. I feel it in my bones."

"Would that it were so, Muyden. But the time grows late. For now, we must take our rest. Another day of labor awaits in the morning." Kaylo rose and helped Betta to her feet. Kate, Ethan, and the kids followed Kaylo and Betta home.

Kate and the children were asleep practically as soon as they lay on their mats. Ethan lay in the darkness, listening to the even breathing of the others. His thoughts went over what the man had said about this Lord Treamar. He was worried, wondering what kind of danger they might face when they left here. He knew that leaving was the right thing to do, though. If there was any chance them being here could bring more trouble to these people, they couldn't stay. Besides, staying here wasn't exactly bringing them any closer to the answers they needed.

As he finally drifted into an exhausted sleep, the words of the old man echoed through his head. "Two will come to free us of the false ruler. The time is close." The words filled him with a sense of dread, wondering what they had fallen into on this strange world.

### Chapter Five

Everyone in the village rose before the sun, as usual. Kate helped Betta fix the morning meal. After they had all pitched in to help clean up, Ethan approached Kaylo.

"Kaylo, I know you had, and probably still have, your doubts about us. But you still welcomed us into your home. Kate and I are grateful for your kindness. From the little I gathered last night, though, it's time for us to leave."

"I wish it were not so, Ethan." Kaylo still pronounced his name oddly, bringing a smile to Ethan's face. "We would gladly make a place for you here."

"He is right, Kaylo." A man that Ethan had not seen before approached them as they stood beside Kaylo's shack. He was old, yet age had not bowed his back or dimmed his eyes. His tone was one of quiet authority. Kaylo bowed respectfully to him.

"Elder, I had heard you were gone to the hills, to meditate."

"You heard rightly. But I felt the need to return." The elder turned to Ethan. "Stranger, you must travel with those you are with, to Minestra capital. Kaylo shall show you the path. You seek answers, and Godera is where you will begin to find such." The elder held Ethan's gaze. Ethan got the impression that this man knew somehow that he didn't belong to this world, though he couldn't say why he thought that.

"How do you know this?" Ethan felt Kaylo stiffen beside him as if he was shocked that Ethan would question their elder, but his curiosity got the better of him.

"You must go now. Time passes all too well." He turned away without answering Ethan's question. Both Ethan and Kaylo stood silently watching as the other moved away toward the shore, where the boats waited to take the men out for yet another day of fishing.

"The elder knows much that others do not, Ethan. It is whispered that he was once of the Priesthood of Naru. I will guide you through the woods and see you safely onto the path to Godera. That is where Lord Treamar resides. You must travel with all care. Be cautious who you place your trust in." Kaylo moved into the shack.

"Betta, I must show them the way to Godera. Lainon wishes it so." Kaylo knew it was all he need say. Betta, worry in her eyes, said nothing. She just hugged him and turned to Kate.

"It is several days' travel to Godera. I would send food to aid your travel, but I have naught but this that travels well." Betta quickly bundled up some berries in a large bag. She looked distressed. Kate hugged her.

"It's all right. You have been more than generous already. We'll be fine. Thank you for all you have done for us."

"Ready, Kate? Come on kids, we should go." Ethan ushered them out. Kaylo set off immediately for the woods. As they followed him, Ethan told Kate about the elder and what he'd said, and what Kaylo had said about the man.

"What's the Priesthood of Naru?" Danny asked Kaylo, after hurrying to catch up to him.

"It sounds like something from that annoying show you watch." Susan piped up. Kaylo glanced at her, mystified. But Danny ignored her for once, not even turning to stick his tongue out at her.

"Where are you from that you have no knowledge even of Naru?" Kaylo asked. Ethan had no ready answer, so just kept silent. Kalo shrugged and continued talking.

"Long seasons ago, Minestra was ruled by a wise man. He was called Trevalia. He brought peace to our land with the help of the Priests of Naru. They came from a small country of that name, on the other side of the Plendera mountains. They were unusual men, I am told, wise beyond all others, and able to call magic to their aid when there was true need."

"The elder is a priest?" Danny asked him.

"So think many. None know much of Lainon. It is believed that the Naruvians, priests and all else of that country, no longer exist." Kaylo lapsed into silence.

They traveled through most of the morning. Kaylo walked quickly, expressing concern about leaving Betta and the baby for too long. When they reached the edge of the woods, Kaylo stopped and turned to face Ethan.

"I must leave you now, Ethan. Follow the road there." Kaylo pointed out the dirt road in the distance. "That is the route to Godera."

"Kaylo, thank you for all your help." Ethan reached out to shake the young man's hand.

"Use all of your senses as you draw near to Godera, my friends. I would counsel you to go elsewhere if Lainon did not say that there you must go. Be safe." With that he was gone, almost seeming to melt into the trees, he moved away so quickly.

"Ethan, why are we going to this Godera? If it's so dangerous, why don't we go elsewhere?" Kate expressed her concern.

"Because we need answers-answers as to how we came here, when and how we can get back home...IF we can get back home! I don't know where else to start. This elder Lainon, Kaylo seems to trust him. I think we have no choice but to follow his advice. Come on, let's not waste time standing here. The sooner we get to this Godera, the sooner we get home, I hope."

~ ~ ~

That night the weary travelers dined on the berries from Betta, and more gathered from a bush near the road. So exhausted were they that even the hard ground felt good, and they were soon asleep.

The sun hadn't risen above the horizon yet, but it was light enough to see their surroundings, when Ethan woke suddenly as something hit the ground beside him.

"You see, Gelnor? They are where we were told they would be." A harsh laugh filled the air. Ethan found himself staring at the muzzle of a very strange looking gun. He looked up at the man in a brown uniform who held the gun, who's face wore a smile. But there was nothing in that smile to suggest friendliness.

At the sound of the laugh, Kate and Susan woke up. When they spotted the two men with guns standing over them, Susan screamed, and Danny woke up as well.

"Shut up, girl!" The other man also wore a brown uniform. He aimed his gun at Susan. Kate scooted in front of Susan.

"On your feet." The man holding the gun on Ethan ordered. Having no choice, they stood up. Ethan tried to shield Kate and Susan from the men. Danny moved to stand beside his uncle, the urge to protect his mother and sister strong.

"I'll hold them, Urden. You get the men. It seems we have quite a prize to take back to Lord Treamar. We may even get promoted for this find, eh?" The man who had awakened Ethan grinned, holstered his gun, and moved off.

"No sudden moves, now. I would not like to have this go off 'accidentally'!" The man smirked. They waited, wondering what they could do.

In a short time, the first man returned, bringing five others with him. They too were dressed in brown. One had a band of maroon across his chest, from shoulder to waist. Ethan wondered if it might be some sign of rank. His suspicions were confirmed when the man took charge, giving orders to the others.

"Good work, men. Sandu, bring the horses. Lord Treamar will be pleased. It is just such as these that he has been searching for. We shall make haste to Godera. Tomaz, help Urden. Tie their hands in front so they can ride."

"Yes, sir." Tomaz and Urden moved close. Urden pulled Susan from Kate's arms, as Tomaz grabbed Kate.

"You're a pretty little thing, aren't you?" Urden smirked. Ethan lunged for the man but ended up flat on his back as the leader grabbed his arm and flung him backwards and down. Having the wind knocked out of him when he landed, all Ethan could do was lay helplessly, unable to breathe and feeling paralyzed. He watched as Danny kicked the man holding Kate. The man yelled, letting go of Kate. She kicked his other leg and Danny shoved him.

That man fell into the one holding Susan just after she sank her teeth into her captor's arm, bringing an angry yell to his lips.

The leader grabbed Danny from behind, holding a gun to his head, causing the boy to stop struggling.

"Enough!" The man thundered. Kate and Susan stood still at the sight of the gun against Danny's temple.

"No more of this foolishness! Just tie their hands and let's be on our way." The seventh man arrived leading a string of horses, as Kate and Susan had their hands bound. One man tied Danny's hands, as another knelt to tie Ethan's hands together. Two of them grabbed his arms, lifting him to his feet as he still struggled to bring his breathing back to normal.

"The girl rides with me." The leader helped Susan climb onto his horse and then swung up behind her. "Keep that in mind when the thought of another stupid stunt enters your head." He stared at Ethan for a moment.

"Urden, ride with the boy. Gelnor, take the man on your horse. Tomaz, the woman is with you." When everyone was ready, the man signaled them to move out.

It was a long and rough day of travel for the family. They weren't sure whether to be glad or not to see the ride coming to an end in the evening when the leader pointed to the city ahead, saying one word.

"Godera."

As the group rode through the city, people came from the plain houses that lined the streets to stare curiously at the strangely dressed people being brought in by a patrol. The buzz of conversations started up after the group was past. Near the center of the city they stopped, facing the tall walls of a fort.

"Pellax, what have you there?" A guard called down from the wall, to the leader.

"We bring a gift for Lord Treamar. Open the gates." The man responded immediately, calling to the guards below. They were as quickly closed after Pellax's men had cleared them. Ahead was a large, forbidding building. The horses were spurred on, to come to a halt at the main entrance. The patrol dismounted, forcing Ethan and the others to the ground as well.

They were marched up to the double doors, where two similarly dressed guards stood, except that they wore blue stripes on the chests of their uniforms.

"I bring prisoners of interest to Lord Treamar." Pellax stated again.

"Lord Treamar is not here, Pellax. He returns tomorrow. Jellain has been notified. He awaits you in the main hall." One of the guards informed Pellax as they opened the doors.

The patrol led them through a long hallway. They were ushered through a large archway into a very large room. It was mostly empty, but at the far end was a raised area. A tall, bald man stood in front of an ornate chair, not unlike a throne. He watched with narrowed eyes, his back straight, hands together behind his back, as Ethan, Kate, and the kids were brought before him.

"Where were they found, Pellax?" The man came straight to the point, wasting no time on greetings or formalities.

"They were a partial day's ride to the west, on the road near the Dunagren hills."

"You have done well, Pellax. Lord Treamar shall be pleased. Take them to the cell, to await his return. He will wish to question them personally." Pellax bowed low and turned away, ordering his men to bring the prisoners.

They were walked through a maze of hallways and down a flight of stairs. Here the walls were made of dark bricks. The hall was lit with torches every three or four feet, alternating sides. They came to a long section of wall that was made up of prison bars. The door in the center was opened by one of the guards that stood waiting. The four were pushed into a large cell after the ropes tying their hands were cut. The door was slammed and locked behind them as soon as they were through. Pellax and his men left without another word.

As Ethan's eyes adjusted to the gloom of the large cell, he looked around to find that they were not alone. There were other people against the back wall, sitting or lying on the hard floor. He couldn't see them very well in the shadows.

Ethan suggested quietly that they move over to the side wall. He and Kate sat with their backs against the wall, Susan and Danny between them.

"What are we going to do now, Ethan?" Kate whispered. Ethan had no answer to give her. He just leaned his head against the wall wearily.

Kate was near the bars of the cell. As she leaned back herself, closing her eyes, the flickering light from one of the wall torches lit up her face. Suddenly a cry came from the back of the cell.

"No, it can't be! Katie?!!"
Chapter Six

A dark shadow separated from the others, and a man stumbled toward them.

"Kate!" He cried out again, falling to his knees in front of her. She stared in disbelief. The man reached out a hand to gently touch her arm.

"You're real!" He whispered.

Ethan sat in shock, almost unable to move, as tears began to stream down Kate's face.

"Seth?" Was all she managed to get out. Kate reached out, to be pulled into Seth Tucker's arms.

"Dad!" Danny was the first of the other three to overcome their surprise. He joined his parents, his young arms going around them, as he yelled the name.

"Daddy? You... You're dead!" Susan choked out.

"Susan! Danny!" Seth hugged all three as Susan joined the reunited family. Tears ran down each face as they cried at finding one another.

Ethan's mind started working again slowly as the shock wore off. He watched his brother, presumed dead for two years now, hug his wife and children. The implications began to make sense to him.

"Seth, the box! It was found in the ashes of the cabin." Seth pulled away from the others at the sound of Ethan's voice.

"Ethan, you too?" The two brothers threw their arms around one another. After a moment, Seth pulled away.

"The box...yes, it sent me here." He turned to Kate again. This time he gently took her face between his hands, gazing into her eyes. Seth leaned in, kissing her gently at first. The kiss became deeper as the two ended what they had both thought to be a permanent separation.

"I thought I'd never see any of you again." Seth sighed as he held Kate tight in his arms again.

"Seth, how did you get here? How did WE get here?" Kate leaned back to look into Seth's eyes, her own still full of tears. "We thought you were dead! It's been over two years."

"I know, Kate." Seth sat back against the wall, holding Kate with one arm, while Susan put her head on his other shoulder. He slipped an arm around her, too. "I know. I drove myself crazy with worry over you and the kids. I didn't know what was happening to you, day after day, month after month. The only thing that kept me going was searching for some way to get back to you."

"Seth..." Kate raised her head again. "Don't leave me again. Ever!" Seth kissed Kate again before she laid her head against his shoulder.

"Dad?" Danny spoke up. "Do they have anything to eat in this dump?"

"He's a walking stomach on legs, Daddy." Susan threw in one of her usual remarks, but without the usual sarcasm.

"Just like your Uncle Ethan at that age, if I remember rightly." He chuckled. Then he became serious again. "What happened? How exactly did you get here?"

"I had that metal box on the shelf. Kate and the kids have moved into the house, and Danny started playing with it." Ethan explained. "The next thing we all knew, we were here." Ethan went on to tell his brother everything that had happened to them.

"Who are the characters in the brown uniforms?" Ethan asked when he reached the point where they were pushed into the cell.

"They're Lord Treamar's soldiers. They help him keep the people of Minestra poor and living in constant fear for their lives. Treamar is nothing but a sniveling little dictator who should be drawn and quartered for all he's done to these people."

"What does he want with us?" Kate asked Seth.

"He thinks I, and anyone not native here, must know how to use the Trevalian Cube." Seeing that Kate didn't understand, he explained. "That's the counterpart to my Cube, the metal box. He has the idea I know where it is."

"Do you?" Ethan asked.

"No to both." Seth answered firmly. He glanced toward the back wall of the cell, where someone had moved slightly. He looked at Ethan and signaled for his brother to move close. Seth mouthed a single word: spy. Ethan nodded almost imperceptibly, and then leaned back against the wall. It eventually became quiet as Kate, Susan, and Danny, unable to fight exhaustion, drifted off to sleep.

Ethan found that sleep eluded him. He kept a watch on the guards outside the cell, as well as the other prisoners, all of whom stayed in shadows at the back of the cell.

Glancing at Seth, Ethan saw that his brother was as awake as him. Ethan spoke softly.

"They said this Lord Treamar comes in the morning. What does that mean for us?" Ethan asked.

"Nothing but bad news, I'm afraid." Seth answered back. "Your being here may be the worst thing that could happen. Treamar wants that Cube in the worst way, and he'll use Kate and the kids to try to make me get it for him."

"You mean he'd threaten them to get what he wants from you." Ethan interpreted his brother's words grimly.

"Ethan, this Cube that Treamar wants, he can't get his hands on it. From everything I've learned, it is very powerful. If he finds it and learns how to use it, Treamar will gain even more than he imagines. I can't let that happen."

"You do have something he wants, don't you?" Ethan made a guess.

"Little brother, you always did catch on fast." Seth closed his eyes. Ethan followed his example. Behind his closed eyelids, thoughts raced around in his brain. The only conclusion he could come to was that they had to get out of here, and soon.

~ ~ ~

It was still dark when Ethan opened his eyes. Something had woken him up, but he wasn't sure what it was.

Then he heard it again. From his right, a soft word was spoken. Turning his head, he could just make out the figure that rested against the wall beside him.

"Do not be afraid." Came the words from the shadowy figure. "They come soon to feed the prisoners. Wake those you are with. Be ready." An arm rose, pointing toward the front of the cell. Ethan looked where the figure pointed, to see several figures against the wall near the bars where they wouldn't be seen by the guards.

"What..." Ethan turned again, but the person had moved away. He touched Seth's arm gently. Seth's eyes came open instantly. Ethan leaned as close as he could to his brother.

"Wake Kate and the kids. Something's up." He pointed surreptitiously toward the men in the shadows. Seth, quick to catch on himself, woke Kate first. He whispered in her ear and she sat up. They woke Susan and Danny as quietly as possible. After they understood what Seth told them, they sat up, rubbing sleep from their eyes and cautiously moving stiff legs.

Several minutes passed with nothing happening. Ethan sat up straighter as sounds drifted down from the direction of the stairs. Moments later, four men came into sight. Two of them carried a large pot between them. One of the others carried a tray with bowls on it. The fourth carried a bucket of water.

As they neared the cell door, both guards moved forward. One used keys at his waist to unlock the door and push it open. Then he stood back with his gun raised, joining the other guard. They watched the newcomers move into the cell.

There was a single word spoken from someone at the back of the cell. The men hiding at the front of the cell moved out to hold small tubes aimed at the guards with the guns. Ethan and the others watched as darts were blown through the tubes, lodging in the guard's arms. Before they could even react, they dropped their weapons and crumpled to the floor.

Even as those guards fell, the two with the tubes joined three other men who had rushed forward from the back of the cell, to attack the four who had brought the food and water for the prisoners. In a very short time all the soldiers had been overpowered, and the prisoners quietly moved into the hall outside. Ethan followed Seth, Kate, and the kids as they moved into the hall with the other prisoners. Two men dragged the unconscious guards into the cell, to lay them beside the other four who had been dragged to the back of the cell already.

The family found themselves sharing the hall with an odd assortment of men. Four of them were very rough looking. Two wore expensive looking clothing that Ethan guessed was upper class on this world. And there were two slim young men who stood close, one of which had a hat pulled low over his eyes.

One of the rougher men seemed to be in charge. He handed a gun to the nearest man, taking one for himself.

"All right, we go now. If luck travels with us, we may win free to join the young Prince and his forces. Seth," the man looked at Ethan and Seth standing side by side with the other three behind. "You will still come with us? Prince Rayhan would welcome all of you."

Before Seth had a chance to answer, the boy with the hat stepped forward to give answer.

"Ternan, their path is not yours. I will lead them out the way I came. They must take the way of certain freedom."

"You speak truth, I think. Seth my friend, go with this one. Your path lies in a different direction than mine now. May the peace of Trevalia be yours, your quest meet with quick success." Ternan moved close to clasp arms with Seth.

"Thank you for everything, Ternan. Be safe."

"Perhaps our paths may yet cross again." Ternan smiled and bowed his head to Ethan and the others. Then he turned to the men who stood waiting.

"Come, the rest of you. Chadeus here knows where they keep arms. We shall orchestrate a very exciting distraction to cover everyone's exit." Ternan clapped Chadeus on the shoulder and bounded up the stairs with a smile of anticipation for the upcoming excitement.

"Come. our exit is this way." The boy with the hat turned to Seth and Ethan again. Seth grabbed Ethan's arm to keep him from following the young man.

"This is the one I warned you about. He asks too many questions. He very well might have been planted here by Treamar, to learn what he couldn't find out when he questioned me before."

"We do not have time for this! Someone could come at any moment. I tell you this," the boy looked straight into Seth's eyes. "I was not brought here a prisoner. I snuck in through a secret entrance two nights ago, when I heard that you were taken by Lord Treamar's men.

"I brought the weapons used to render the guards unconscious. When the guards were distracted by the fight Ternan and Chadeus began for me, I slipped into the cell. You were brought down just after that. I stayed in the shadows, that a new prisoner would not be noted." The boy moved closer to Seth. "I questioned, that I may learn the truth of that which has been told me of you. Trust me, and I can help you get your family out before Ternan's 'distraction' even starts."

"What did you learn of me?" Seth studied the boy as he spoke.

"You are in truth the one who has a vital knowledge that holds the key to Minestra's freedom." The boy and Seth stared wordlessly at one another for what seemed a very long time, though it was only seconds.

"Show us the way." Seth finally decided. The boy nodded, grabbed a torch from the wall, and started along the hall in the opposite direction than the stairs the others had taken. At the end of the hall was a door. He led them through, to enter a room filled with rows of large casks and boxes. They moved along the center aisle, to the back wall. Moving to one side, the boy placed his torch in a holder and reached to push one of the bricks of the wall. The brick moved into the wall several inches, and a loud click was heard. A section of wall separated from the rest, revealing that it was a door. It moved several inches, then stopped.

"Help me." He turned to Ethan. "It isn't as easy to open from this side." The two grasped the edges of the slightly opened door and pulled, forcing it open more. It made a loud scraping sound as it slowly moved. Seth watched the closed door behind them, worried the noise might attract unwanted attention. When the door remained closed, he breathed a sigh of relief. He moved closer to the secret door, peering into the darkness beyond.

"Hurry, it does not stay thus for long." The boy pushed Seth in through the opening, following on his heels. Kate hurried to follow, pulling Susan behind her. Danny eagerly entered, excitement on his face.

Ethan came last, slipping through none too soon, as the wall began to slip back into place. When the wall was completely closed the group found themselves standing in darkness.

"Hold for a moment. It is not as dark as it first appears." The voice spoke softly. True to his word, as their eyes adjusted, they became aware of a faint light sifting down from above. Seth, who had entered first, found himself beside what appeared to be a ladder.

"Climb. There is a ledge wide enough to stand on." Seth reached up to test the rungs of the ladder before trusting himself completely to them. When they felt sturdy to his questing hands, he began to climb.

"Susan, you come next." Seth called from above. Kate helped her to reach the ladder and start up, and then followed at a safe interval.

"Up you go, Danny." Ethan encouraged his nephew. "Okay, now you." When Ethan was sure that both boys had reached the top, he made the climb himself.

When Ethan reached the others, he saw the source of the light. Along the wall was a wide panel about three feet in height, with small openings evenly spaced along the entire surface.

"What now?" Ethan asked the boy, as he stood carefully on the two-foot wide ledge, crowding in between Danny and the stranger.

"Hush." The boy responded. "I must be sure the garden is clear."

Ethan could see that the boy got on his knees, peering through the holes in the wall. After what seemed an excruciating wait, the boy reached up above his head, and a section of the grid swung out, allowing light to flood in as the boy slipped out.

"Come now." Ethan waved the others through, going out last. They came into a small garden of sorts. Five feet in front of them was a high wall. It was covered with a thick growth of flowering vines. A door farther along the wall must be the normal exit to this small garden.

The boy put a finger to his lips, signaling them to follow as he made his way past a bench and between some flowering bushes to where the garden wall met the wall of the building. He touched some sort of hidden spring, causing a narrow section to swing inward. There he signaled a stop as he moved to peek cautiously around the edge. He pulled back to whisper to them.

"It is now full daylight. Such timing is not the best, but there was no little choice. The guards at the gate beyond must be distracted somehow. I must think."

Several moments later, they were all startled when the ground shook under their feet. They heard a muffled boom, followed by several more, that seemed to come from the building behind them.

The boy turned a big smile toward them as the air filled with frantic shouts. The sound of feet pounding across the ground passed by on the other side of the wall. The boy checked the area beyond the wall again, and stepped away from the hidden garden.

"Ternan has kept his word. Stay close." They all moved into the open. The level ground in front of them met a wall about twenty-five feet away. The boy made his way swiftly toward the gate in the center of that wall. The others hurried after him. By the time they had reached it, he had pushed aside the metal bars that held the gate shut against intruders.

"Do not talk. Stay very close." The boy commanded in a whisper before pushing the gate open and moving through. The group found themselves in a wide street that ran parallel to the wall in both directions.

The road was at that moment very lightly traveled. A man driving a horse drawn wagon was headed away from them on one side of the road. In the other direction were two men on foot, headed in their direction, while just beyond those was a lone man on a horse. None seemed to be paying any pay attention to the small group that had just walked through the gate, as their eyes were on the dark smoke rising from the compound behind the wall. The boy led Seth and his family swiftly across the road.

They entered a narrow path between two buildings. As Ethan, who had taken up the rear, moved into the shadows behind the others, one of the men on foot turned his head. He watched the strangely dressed man disappearing, then turned quietly to follow.
Chapter Seven

Their guide led them through a maze of buildings to what appeared to be an abandoned house in a very run-down area. They now sat on the floor of an empty back room. When the door of the room had been closed, the boy lit an oil lamp, pulled a wooden box from the corner, and opened it. Everyone gladly accepted the fruit and bread he passed out to them. Seth finished first and turned to the boy.

"I don't mean to appear ungrateful, but who are you, and why did you help us escape?"

The boy ate his last bite of fruit, threw the core in the box beside him, then wiped his hands on his pants, having nothing else handy. He reached up and pulled off his hat.

They all watched in amazement as the rescuer pulled the pins from what proved to be long, thick brown hair. They got a closer look at the face that had been partly obscured by the large hat.

"I am Mara." The girl looked steadily at Seth. "I helped you to escape that you might find that which you have sought for some time. There are those who are of the belief that you are one of the promised two. If that is so, you MUST complete your quest."

Seth intently studied this young woman that they had all mistaken for a boy. After several moments he spoke.

"I'm not one of those promised, Mara. I'm just a man seeking his way home." He glanced at Kate, Susan, Danny, and Ethan. "And now I have even more reason to find that as soon as possible. My family being trapped here puts them in danger, as well."

"Even if you are not of the two promised saviors of the people of Minestra, perhaps you are still a part of the promise in some fashion. We shall see." She looked at the others. "For now, we must do something about your appearance. The garments your family wear mark well that you do not belong. I shall return shortly with garments more suitable." Mara slipped out the door before Seth or anyone else could say anything.

"Should we trust this Mara?" Ethan faced Seth.

"I'm not sure, but we don't really have much choice for now. She did lead us out of that prison safely. Ternan seemed to trust her. He and I have been through a lot together since I came here, before we were caught. I trust his judgement."

"You're sure Ternan is to be trusted?" Kate spoke up.

"He saved my life, twice. And he went out of his way to help me follow a good lead, getting caught in the process. He has a good head on his shoulders. I'm close, Kate. If I can find this Cube, and the one who knows how to use it, we can get home." Excitement filled Seth's voice.

"Then what are we sitting here for? Let's just find that stupid cube and go home." Susan chimed in.

"Hold on, honey." Seth reached over to squeeze her hand gently. "It's not that easy. For one thing, I'm not the only one looking for it. This has been very dangerous already. I've got to find somewhere safe for all of you-" Kate interrupted.

"Oh, no. We will NOT be separated from you!"

"Kate-"

"No! Seth, I just spent two years of misery thinking I'd lost you forever. I will not allow you to go off anywhere without us." Kate gave her husband the look she'd perfected during the time she had been a single parent.

"Give up, Dad." Danny grinned. "When Mom looks like that, there's no way to change her mind. Besides, we're with her. Right, Uncle Ethan?"

"Right. I think we're better off together. Let's go find this cube and go home."

"But first you must be made less conspicuous." Mara slipped in quietly. She set down an armload of clothes and began sorting and tossing some to each of them.

"I have friends near that gave these. They have not much to spare, but they gave willingly. We must hurry. Lord Treamar has returned, and already a search for you has begun." She pointed at Seth, who already wore similar clothing to that which she had brought. "You should help those two dress properly. Change in another room while I help your Kate and Susan."

~ ~ ~

A short time later, Mara led a much different looking Kate and Susan out from the back room. Mara had again pinned her hair up and donned the boy's hat.

Mara knocked lightly on the one door that was closed. When it opened, Danny and Ethan followed Seth out to join the women.

"Now you look as if you belong." Mara commented. "It is time to leave. You must stay close and do nothing that might bring attention to yourselves." Mara looked to each of them, receiving nods of understanding from each.

"We must make our way out of Godera, is that not so, Seth?" Mara continued when Seth nodded an assent. "This is no easy task. Lord Treamar's troops will be on alert, each wishing to curry favor in their Lord's eyes. I know a path that is heavily traveled. We may have more chance of leaving un-noticed there."

Mara opened the back door where they had entered earlier and slipped out quietly, after making sure the way was clear.

~ ~ ~

"I am sure they are the ones we seek, Master Jellain. The man who saw them leave described them thoroughly. I promised him reward, and set him to watch, after receiving directions to the house they took refuge in." Pellax informed the man who rode beside him. They started through the front gate, Pellax's men following behind them, as well as some of Jellain's personal guard.

"This man is to be trusted?" Jellain eyed Pellax.

"No, Master Jellain, but I have used his services before. His wish for money is what drives him above all else. I use that to our advantage." He turned down a dusty street, then another. As they neared the house where Pellax's source had directed him, the man who had watched and followed Seth and the others came running toward Pellax.

"Commander Pellax, they are here no longer. I came just in time to observe as the six slipped away, but I was fortunate to overhear where they are going. They all now wear clothing much like others. I waited for you that I may show you where they are headed." The man bowed, and then looked up with a smile of greed as Pellax fingered a bag at his waist.

"Show us, Nayhaz." Pellax ordered.

"Yes, Commander." the man bowed again, a look of disappointment filling his eyes when no coins were passed.

Nayhaz turned abruptly and headed back to the house that he'd spotted Seth, Ethan, and the others coming from. Leading Pellax's men past it, he turned into a dusty path that led between houses.

"They went along here, Commander. The path narrows, and is not easily traveled by men, let alone men on horses."

"Where does this lead, Nayhaz?" Pellax questioned. He and his men were much more familiar with the countryside surrounding Godera than they were the city itself.

"This meets a narrow footpath further on, Commander. Taken to the Northwest, that leads to the edge of Godera itself. From there a small group could, with ease, slip into the foothills of Plendera, and be lost in the maze of hills, valleys, and thick woods that precede the mountains. It is an area much traveled."

"But you can show us the path to be taken by horse to reach where they go, before they can get to this place?" Pellax pressed him.

"Indeed I can, Commander. It is worth much, this information...is it not?"

"If we lose them while you waste time with your incessant hints for reward, it shall be worth your very life, Nayhaz." Pellax spoke calmly, the promise of dangerous consequences in his words. "Tomaz, take him up behind you. We must make all speed to this place you speak of."

Tomaz moved his horse forward, to grab the hand of the somewhat subdued Nayhaz. The man barely had time to gain his seat before the horses were moving along the road.

Pellax's patrol made their way toward the outskirts of Godera, following the directions Nayhaz gave as he rode behind Tomaz on the lead horse. After several twists and turns, they came out of the maze of houses and stopped at the edge of an open area filled with throngs of people.

"What is this, Nayhaz?" Pellax moved his horse forward slightly, suspicion in his voice. The man had said nothing about a marketplace, which is what they had come to.

"This is where they were heading, Commander. It is the closest point to the foothills. The marketplace is here because it is a most convenient place for travelers to stop. See? Beyond, there are the foothills." Nayhaz pointed beyond the people and crude market stalls surrounding a large well. Beyond could be seen a large spur of foothills leading to the Plendera mountains in the distance. As Nayhaz had said, this marketplace was the nearest spot in Godera to the foothills. Once there, a small group could escape, disappearing easily and successfully into the hills. They would be found only with great difficulty and phenomenal luck on the part of any searchers, once they left the flatlands.

The Commander moved his patrol back to a spot where they wouldn't be noticed. Seeing the necessity of cutting off retreat to the foothills, Pellax turned and chose four of his men.

"You four go across, spread out and conceal yourselves where you can watch for any who might try to get into the foothills." Pellax placed a hand on Tomaz's shoulder. "You're with me. The rest of you, leave your horses and what you can that will identify you here. I want four of you to cover the outer perimeter of the marketplace. The rest of you blend as unobtrusively as possible into the crowd. Keep your eyes open."

Pellax's men, and the guards Jellain had brought with him, moved quickly to follow his crisp orders. When they had removed their telltale patrol jackets of dark brown, they stowed them quickly in saddlebags. Their remaining clothing was still different than the norm, but it was the best they could do. In a very short time, Pellax, Tomaz, Jellain, and Nayhaz were the only men remaining beside the horses.

"Nayhaz, where does this path you say they took come out?" Asked Pellax.

"There, Commander." Nayhaz pointed, and grinned when he caught the bag of coins Pellax pulled from his belt and tossed to the man.

"Now be gone but keep your eyes open. There is always more of that to be had, for valuable information." Pellax turned away, hardly noticing when Nayhaz bowed and hurried away, looking for a private spot to count his money.

"Jellain, I suggest we take a position of concealment there, near where they must enter the area, if we have not missed them already."

"Pray that we have not, Commander. Lord Treamar would be much displeased at the loss of the Tucker man and these new outsiders." Jellain spoke calmly, as he always did. But Pellax's insides chilled at the underlying threat that he heard in the man's quiet words.

Without further comment, he led the way to the stall closest to where the path came out from the trees and houses.

"May I show you some of my finest cloaks, Commander?" The man behind the display table stood quickly, hopeful at the appearance of men of obvious financial means. He pushed aside the cheaper, dull brown cloaks he normally kept displayed, to spread out a dark blue one of superior quality.

"I have need of your stall, old man." Pellax waved aside the man's attempt to make a sale.

"I do not understand, sir." The man stepped back, sudden worry in his eyes. Pellax pulled a coin from a pouch and tossed it down in front of the man.

"You don't need to. Take this and go elsewhere for a time. I will not harm your wares. I need this spot for a short time, and you will be a tarin richer. Take your ease at the well if you wish, to be certain I do not steal anything, if it eases your mind."

The man, after considering Pellax's words, snatched up the money. He bowed quickly before he hurried to join others under the shade of a tree near the well, to watch and try to figure out what a commander would wish of a poor seller's stall.

Pellax grabbed up a cheap cloak to conceal his uniform. He took a seat on the bench where the old man had been. Jellain and Tomaz quickly followed his example, seeing what he had in mind.

As Jellain sat beside Pellax, Tomaz stood a little behind and to the side. Pellax watched with narrowed eyes as several people moved from the path, to make their way toward the well. The group was made up of three old women and obviously not their quarry. He relaxed slightly and turned to Jellain.

"Now we watch and wait."

### Chapter Eight

Ethan crouched beside Mara, peering through bushes to study the marketplace on the edge of town.

"There." She whispered, her mouth next to his ear. This time Ethan saw the man Mara had caught a glimpse of. He nodded and watched carefully as the man walked slowly through the crowd of people.

When Mara touched Ethan's shoulder, he turned and followed as she led the way back to where they had left Seth, Kate, and the kids.

"Well, is it safe?" Seth wasted no time in asking.

"Mara spotted soldiers in the crowds. The one I got a good look at, I recognized as one of those who brought us to Godera." Ethan filled him in quickly.

"Is there any way to slip past and get to the foothills?" Seth questioned Mara.

"This patrol is one of Lord Treamar's best. Commander Pellax would leave few possibilities open, I am afraid."

"Nevertheless, I have to get past them. That Cube is somewhere in the Plendera mountains, and I have to find it. It's our only way home. It's also, from all I have learned, the key to straightening out the mess here. We'd better come up with a way past." Seth looked from one to the other, hoping for a solution.

"Dad, when we were with those people in the village, Betta told us about how they had to hide when the patrols came, because they always took some for slaves or recruits for the Army." Danny spoke up. He looked over at Mara. "Do they do that in Godera sometimes? Take people?"

"Yes, but not often." She looked a little confused that Danny was bringing the subject up.

"Well, don't people try to run and hide here too?" He persisted.

"It is possible. But it has been some time since they have come to the city itself for such."

"Then it's time, don't ya think?" He grinned. Ethan caught the idea in Danny's mind.

"A diversion. Good thinking, Danny! All we need to do is let those people know the soldiers are there, and hope they panic. In the confusion we ought to be able to get where we need to go." Ethan said.

"Seth, that sounds dangerous. I don't think Susan and Danny should go." Kate stood and looked pleadingly at her husband.

"Maybe you're right, Katie. Mara, I should go alone. The rest of you should stay here and find a safe place to hide until I can find the Cube and bring it back."

"Seth Tucker, I meant what I said in that horrible cell. You will not leave me behind." Kate looked determined as she locked eyes with Seth. They seemed to hold a wordless conversation as the others watched. Finally, Seth turned to Mara.

"Is there somewhere you and Ethan can take the kids that's safe?"

"Mom, we should stay together!" Susan grabbed her mom's arm, sounding scared.

"She's right, Seth. We shouldn't split up." Ethan added.

"In better circumstances I'd agree, but Kate's right. I don't know what dangers we might have to face in those mountains. The two of us alone can move faster than all of us together. And besides, the soldiers are looking for all of us. Kate and I may have a better chance to slip through if it's just the two of us." Seth pointed out what suddenly seemed obvious to all of them.

Ethan knew his brother had a point. He didn't like it, but he nodded in silent agreement.

"How do we start the confusion then?" Ethan asked.

"Leave that to me." Mara placed a hand on Ethan's shoulder. "You must stay with the children. You can hide in there," She gestured to the side where the trees and undergrowth grew thickly. "Go in far enough, and you will not be visible to any that pass by. I will come back shortly."

"How will you find us when you return, Seth?" Ethan asked his brother.

"There are the remains of a Naruvian Temple to the west of Godera. Do you know of it?" Mara asked Seth.

"We passed by it once when I was traveling with Ternan's men. It isn't hard to find."

"That is where you will find us. If we are not there, wait for us. The soldiers avoid it, as well as the people of Godera. It is said to be haunted." Mara smiled. "I and some others have spent time 'encouraging' that belief."

Seth looked down into Danny's eyes, placing his hands on his young son's shoulders.

"Do as your uncle says, Danny. And take care of Susan. She may be a little older, but you're her brother, and you need to take care of one another."

"We will, Dad." Seth pulled Danny close, hugging him tightly.

"I love you, son." He let go of Danny and turned to face his daughter. Susan threw her arms around him, tears streaming down her face. Kate pulled Danny close, kissed the top of his head, and whispered how much she loved him, too. When Seth released Susan, Kate repeated the procedure with her daughter. Seth took Kate's hand, and they turned to Ethan, who stood waiting.

"Keep them safe." Was all Kate managed. Ethan hugged her, and then turned to Seth. The brothers hugged quickly, then Seth took Kate's hand again and turned to Mara.

"We're ready." He looked back at Danny and Susan. Danny had reached out to take Susan's hand, and they stood together watching.

"We'll be back as soon as possible. Count on it." He forced a smile, and turned to follow Mara, Kate with him. As they moved back onto the path, Ethan placed an arm around Susan's shoulders.

"Come on, kids." Ethan coaxed them quietly. He led them in through a break in the bushes that grew among the trees. They found a bare area large enough for the three of them and settled down to wait for Mara's return.

Several minutes later, Ethan felt someone staring at him, and turned to find Danny studying him intently.

"Uncle Ethan, Mara is going to need you."

"What?" Ethan looked at his nephew, wondering if all they'd been going through was having a bad effect on the boy.

"Mara needs you. You need to help her. Hurry!" Danny insisted firmly.

"Danny, I don't understand. How could you know that Mara needs me?"

"I just know, Uncle Ethan. You need to go NOW. We'll be fine. We'll wait here." Danny pushed Ethan toward the break in the bushes. Ethan wasn't sure why, but he found himself hurrying along the path toward the marketplace.

~ ~ ~

Mara stopped at the edge of the open area to watch, as Seth and Kate moved with another group of people walking toward the well. She was a little concerned that the crowds had thinned somewhat, but thought their plan was still the best chance they had. She had thought to wait until the two had reached a point past the well, but as they passed the nearest selling stall, one of the men seated there suddenly stood up, to grab Kate's arm.

Mara stepped forward. She screamed and pointed to one of the soldiers.

"The patrol! They've come for our children! Run!" She screamed again, to increase the panic she could already see forming on people's faces.

Kate cried out as the man grabbed her arm. Seth responded instinctively, swinging his fist at the man's jaw. He made contact, knocking Pellax back and stunning him momentarily. Seth grabbed Kate's hand, and they started running, as chaos broke out around them in response to Mara's screams. Kate and Seth yelled as they moved across the marketplace.

"Soldiers! Run!" Others took up the cry until everyone was running in different directions. The men of Pellax's patrol were caught by surprise, unsure what to do as people screamed and ran all around them.

Tomaz ran to help Pellax up after he'd been knocked off his feet by a man running into him. The two of them headed in the direction Seth and Kate had taken, but they were slowed so much by the panicking people that they couldn't catch up to them. The noise saturated the air to the point that Pellax's men were completely unable to hear anything the commander shouted. He gave up, concentrating instead on following in Seth and Kate's footsteps, Tomaz following behind.

Mara turned to enter the footpath, but someone grabbed her from behind, spinning her around and pulling off her hat. She stared in shock as she looked up into the face of Jellain, Lord Treamar's right-hand man.

"Mara! What..." Jellain had begun furiously, when Ethan slammed into him with a flying tackle, taking him to the ground.

Ethan recovered quickly, sending Jellain sprawling again with a hard punch as the man started to rise. Without seeing how badly his opponent was injured, Ethan grabbed Mara's hand and they ran for the path, joining others as they ran for what safety they could. After quick looks to be certain they hadn't been pursued, Ethan and Mara slipped into the trees. They slid gratefully down beside Danny and Susan.

"I am grateful for your rescue, Ethan. But why did you follow?" Mara asked after she had caught her breath.

"Danny said you'd need me." Ethan offered, not knowing what to add beyond that. Mara made no comment, only looking thoughtfully at Danny for a moment before she spoke again.

"We must find a safer dwelling place. They are certain to come looking, and we must be elsewhere when they do." Mara rose, and the others followed her. They made their way as silently as possible through the overgrown woods, away from both the path and the marketplace.

~ ~ ~

Over an hour later, as darkness fell, they found themselves near the edge of Godera again, only farther to the east. Mara knocked cautiously at the back door of a small house.

The door was opened, but only slightly. Mara stood so she could be seen well, and the door opened further. An old, gray haired woman peered out cautiously, studying the four of them. No one spoke as the woman waved them in, closing the door quickly once they had passed through. Mara gave the woman a hug.

"Lydar, we have need of shelter. Soldiers will be searching soon. We must not be found." The woman nodded as in understanding and turned to lead them to another room. Lydar lit one of the oil lamps on the center table and handed it to Mara. She moved over to one of the ceiling to floor length tapestries of flowering bushes that hung on all four of the walls. Pulling that one aside, she touched a spot on the wall, causing a section of the wall to swing into the room, revealing a dark space behind it. She moved to the side, signaling quietly for them to enter.

Mara moved forward with the lamp, revealing a narrow set of wooden stairs leading down. She started down, and the other three followed cautiously. Ethan, last in line, turned to watch as the wall closed silently behind them, the old woman staying behind. A chill ran down his spine as they were shut in. He felt Susan shiver as she moved closer to him. He reached to take her hand reassuringly.

"Don't worry, Susan. I think we'll be safe here." Ethan looked around in the flickering light of the lamp. They found themselves in a single small room. The only furniture there were two small beds and a wood table with two matching chairs. Mara set the lamp on the table and sat down in a chair.

"There is not much to occupy our time, I fear. But only those who have had need for hiding in the past know of this place. We are safe for this night." Mara offered.

"Well, I for one will be glad for the chance to sleep." Ethan tried to put a cheerful spin on their current situation. He was glad when Susan and Danny both returned his smile. He moved to one of the beds and stretched out on it with a sigh. He was bone weary. Even the bare floor would feel good right now.

Sometime later, though Ethan had no idea how long, he startled awake when he heard a scraping noise from the top of the stairs. He glanced over to see Susan asleep on the other bed, and Danny was sitting close to Mara at the table.

Someone with another lamp was coming down the stairs. Lydar descended slowly, carrying a large basket as well as the lamp. Behind her was a young girl, looking to be close to Danny's age. Her arms were full of bedding.

Ethan sat up, intending to take the basket from the old woman, but Mara got there before him. Lydar smiled and handed the basket to Mara, who put it on the table.

"You must be hungry. Here is food, and Tullara brought more blankets for later. It is cold here. Tullara must stay with you. If they search, I will not risk my little granddaughter. She is all the family I have left to me."

"Thank you, Lydar. The food and the company are most welcome. You have enough for yourself?" Mara eyed the full basket.

"Don't worry about me, Mara. You have provided so well for us that we have no needs not met." Lydar turned and moved to the stairs. They heard the wall scrape back into place.

Mara woke Susan and they settled down to eat. When they all had had enough, Ethan yawned and then smiled over at Mara.

"Okay, who gets the beds, and who gets the floor?" He joked, knowing he would give the cots to the girls.

"Mara, Grandmother has sleeping mats under each bed. They are very soft." Tullara spoke quietly, a shy look on her face. Danny reached under the cot Susan was sitting on and pulled out two rolled up mats.

"These feel nice." Danny smiled at Tullara. The girl blushed but smiled back. Ethan pulled out a third mat, and the entire group was soon settled. Tullara chose to sleep on a mat by Mara's bed. She blew out the lamp.

Just as Ethan was starting to drift off, Danny whispered his name.

"What is it? Is something wrong?" Ethan answered sleepily.

"Do you think Mom and Dad are okay?" Ethan heard the worry in Danny's voice, even though he just whispered. He thought over what to say before he answered his nephew.

"Yeah, somehow I think so. Your mom and dad will be back safe and sound before you know it." There was silence for a minute, and then Danny whispered again.

"Yeah, they will. 'Night, Uncle Ethan."

"'Night, Danny."

### Chapter Nine

Seth took tighter hold of Kate's hand, worried that they might get separated in the chaos. They had passed the well and were almost to the last stall.

Suddenly the path was blocked by a large man. Seth came to an abrupt halt a short distance from him. Kate gasped as she recognized Urden, the soldier that had ridden with Danny. Urden held a gun aimed at Seth and Kate, a huge smile on his face.

"Well, now. Pellax should raise my rank for this. You were so close to freedom... Such a shame." Urden turned his head slightly, to call to one of the others. "Sandu, I have two of them!"

Seth pushed Kate behind him. As Urden turned his head, taking his concentration slightly from his new prisoners, Seth ran forward. He swung his leg in a strong kick, contacting the soldier's hand.

The gun went off as Urden's arm was forced sideways. The bullet just missed Seth, and the gun flew from Urden's grasp. Seth grabbed the man, struggling with him to keep him from getting the gun again. He managed to grab Urden's shirt, using his momentum to slam the larger man against a sturdy stall's wall. He slid to the ground, unconscious.

Seth grabbed Kate's hand again after scooping up the gun from the ground. As they started forward again, Seth saw Sandu heading for them on the left, running fast, a gun in his hand. The man took a shot at them, but it hit the ground beside them.

Seth paused for a moment, took aim and fired, then started running again even before he saw the man trip and go down, a red stain growing on his thigh where the bullet had hit him.

It was a long dash across the open space before Seth and Kate reached the edge of the hills, but they made it to the first trees unchallenged. Seth plunged through the undergrowth, pulling Kate along with him. They broke through into a small clearing, and Kate called out for Seth to stop.

"I...I need to catch my breath!" He stopped quickly, realizing he was out of breath himself.

"We can't stop long. We need to get further in." He warned.

"I know. I just need a minute." She panted.

"Take all the time you want." A voice issued from behind a tree, followed by a man holding yet another gun. When Seth raised his gun, ready to shoot, the man spoke quickly.

"I wouldn't. My friend has his gun aimed at your companion's head." A second man stepped out from behind a tree near the first one. Seth, knowing he had no choice, dropped his gun. He moved closer to Kate, hoping for a chance to fight without endangering her.

"We were watching you coming." The first man laughed. "I recognized your woman from when we caught her before. You must be the one Jellain wants back so badly. It's a good day for us, eh, Narden?"

Before the other man could respond, there came a loud rustling sound from further in the trees. A rock flew through the air, hitting Narden in the head. The man slid to the ground.

The first man spun around, firing into the bushes where the sound had come from. Seth took the opportunity to pull Kate back into some other bushes on one side of the clearing. As they moved, they saw a man with a slingshot aim another rock and send it flying. It hit the remaining soldier in the head, sending him to the ground to join his companion.

Seth and Kate stayed down as they listened to the rustling of bushes, and footsteps approaching. Then a quiet voice called, just loud enough for them to hear.

"It's safe. You can come out. These two won't wake up for some time. They'll be none too pleased about the headaches they'll be gifted with, I'm guessing." A laugh followed the remark. Seth rose slowly, hesitantly making his way back into the clearing, keeping Kate behind him.

"Don't worry, man. We mean no harm to you. These two must be Treamar's soldiers, eh?" The man who had used the slingshot so expertly stood by the two unconscious men. "I'm Ryogo. This is my son, Rylath. We came down from the mountains for supplies, but when all that foolishness started we made a run for it."

"We're in your debt, Ryogo. I'm Seth Tucker, and this is my wife, Kate."

"You had better come with us. There are sure to be more where these came from. We know these foothills well. They don't have a chance of finding you if you stick with us." Ryogo started into the brush after picking up two packs from behind the bushes and slinging one onto his back, after tossing the smaller pack to Rylath. The boy, who looked to be around ten, donned his pack and followed silently. Seth and Kate followed as well, seeing it as their best option.

With thoughts of possible pursuers in mind, the four moved as quietly as they could. They walked for close to an hour before their guide called a halt.

"Here we are." He announced cheerfully. They stood among a thick group of very large trees that looked just like all the other trees that they'd been walking through since they had started. Seth and Kate looked around, seeing nothing to mark this spot as any different than anywhere else.

Ryogo and Rylath grinned at their confusion and pointed into the tree above them. It was large, with many branches thick with leaves. After looking carefully, Seth and Kate both realized there was something more than just branches and leaves above.

Ryogo reached to the trunk, grasping a rope ladder that Seth would've sworn wasn't there a minute ago. It had been so cleverly dyed to blend in with the bark of the tree that they hadn't noticed it.

Ryogo warned them to climb carefully until they reached the lower branches, which began well above their heads. Once past the lower branches, they would find a wood ladder that made for easier climbing. He sent Rylath up first, and then urged Kate to follow him.

Rylath helped her onto the next section of ladder. She smiled her thanks and climbed easily up the last 15 feet. Kate finally found herself passing through a short tunnel through the leaves into a large, walled tree house. She was still gazing around in surprise when Seth climbed up to stand beside her.

"Wow, Danny would love this!" He grinned at Kate.

Ryogo smiled with pleasure at the looks on their faces, when he and his son had joined them.

"The hill forests can be a dangerous place at night. My brothers and I built this as a secret camp, for trips to Godera for supplies. It serves well as a hiding place when patrols poke around where they aren't welcome." He explained to his guests. He looked at Kate apologetically.

"Forgive the crude surroundings, lady. We don't usually bring women here. We don't wish to expose them to the dangers of traveling since Treamar bullied his way into power."

"How many brothers do you have, Ryogo?" Kate asked curiously. She counted ten bunks, five sets of bunk beds, built as part of the walls in the large one-room treehouse.

"There were ten of us. We lost Talmos to a patrol attack years ago. Since that time, our people have made every effort to make our homes invisible to any passing near, that we might live quiet lives, undisturbed by the so-called Lord and his henchmen. I'm telling you this that you'll understand that this place must remain a secret, not to be revealed to anyone." He looked at Seth, a determined set to his jaw.

"My wife and I understand the need for secrecy completely, Ryogo. Your secret's safe with us." Kate nodded agreement with Seth. Ryogo studied them for a moment, and then turned away with a look of satisfaction.

Digging in his pack, he brought out a packet of jerky, and offered some to them.

When Kate commented how good it was, Rylath piped up.

"Mother made it. She makes the best dried meat of anyone, anywhere. We trade for things with it." He smiled proudly.

When they had finished eating, Ryogo cleared his throat, and then asked Seth the question that had been on his mind since he rescued them.

"Tell me, Seth-Tucker, why were the soldiers after you?" Ryogo said Seth's full name as if it was one word.

"What makes you think they were after me in particular?" Seth hedged, not sure how much he should tell this man.

"That's simple. They let others pass while they watched you. I watched also, as I watched them. You fight well." He complimented Seth.

"Ryogo, have you heard of the Cube?" Seth made up his mind to share at least part of the truth with Ryogo.

"You mean the Cube of Trevalia?" At Seth's nod, he went on. "Of course. Who hasn't? But that is just a legend. There is no such thing as this so-called 'magical' Cube that can transport a man from place to place, let alone the other powers the tales claim it can give the holder."

"It isn't a legend. It's real. And I must find it. When I have it, I'll be able to get my family back where we belong." Seth looked steadily at Ryogo, watching the emotions chase one another across the man's face. He seemed ready to laugh but thought better of it when he saw the look in Seth's eyes.

"You are serious, aren't you Seth-Tucker." His expression became more serious. "But if that is so, that explains why the soldiers of Treamar wish your capture. A thing of such power would be of great value to a man like Treamar. Do you know where this Cube is?"

"I know where I must begin my search. We're headed to the Canyon of Tosh." Ryogo's face went pale.

"Seth-Tucker, that is a very dangerous place. No one ever goes there. Any who did, never returned. It is spoken of in whispers, when mentioned at all, that the demons of Tosh reside there, to welcome and consume any foolish enough to travel there."

"Nevertheless, that is where Kate and I have to go."

"Then you'll likely be going to your death, Seth-Tucker." Ryogo stood and turned away, a look of deep thought on his face.

Kate started to say something, but Seth put a finger to his lips. She sat back to wait. They could talk later.

For several minutes, all was quiet in the treehouse. A sudden howl in the distance was heard, causing Kate to shiver and move closer to Seth. He put his arm around her shoulders comfortingly. Ryogo didn't even notice, he was so deep in thought.

Finally, he turned to face Seth and Kate again, absently sitting on the edge of a lower bunk.

"Even if the Cube of Trevalia does truly exist, how do you know you must search in the Canyon of Tosh?"

"I've been looking for the Cube for a long time, Ryogo. When Ternan and I discussed all the clues I've uncovered, he was sure the Canyon was where I had to search." At Seth's words, Ryogo straightened.

"Ternan? Ternan of Elador?" Ryogo questioned, a hint of excitement in his voice.

"You know him?" Seth perked up at Ryogo's tone.

"I am also of Elador. Ternan is a very cunning warrior, of great standing among our people." He stood, moving close. "If Ternan believes the Cube of Trevalia does indeed exist, and that it is in the Canyon of Tosh, then that is where you must go. I must return to my people with my son. But your path lies in the same direction as ours for a time. We will travel with you as far as we can. Before we reach the place where we must part, I can give you supplies and directions of a sort." Ryogo moved to stand next to his son, who sat quietly watching and listening.

"For now, I think we must sleep. You and your Kate have a long journey ahead, and one I do not envy. We should get an early start." He moved to the small lamp, preparing to blow it out. Seth and Kate took the hint and quickly chose two lower bunks to sleep in.

As they settled down, Ryogo blew out the wan light, plunging the treehouse into darkness.

~ ~ ~

Ryogo woke them at dawn. After handing them some dried meat and fruit, he slipped down the ladder to make sure the area was free of soldiers. Rylath sat on his bunk watching them. Kate felt it strange that he was so quiet. Danny would have been talking non-stop.

In a very short time Ryogo was back.

"We must leave now. There are soldiers moving uphill. They will be here in very little time, but we can reach the Narrows before they are too close."

When the four reached the ground, Rylath secured the ladder against the tree again. After several minutes of walking, Ryogo stopped them beside a wall of stone, with bushes growing thick along it. He reached to pull aside several branches, revealing a narrow opening in the wall. Rylath moved through without hesitation. Kate, next in line, wasn't quite so sure about it, but she stepped forward anyway, mindful of the voices they had been hearing off and on for several minutes.

They found themselves in a narrow corridor, almost a tunnel, though there was no roof of stone above them. The walls rose on either side for about twenty feet. Ryogo assured them in whispers that the growth above above made it impossible for anyone to see them, even if there happened to be anyone there.

Fortunately, enough light filtered through so that they could see to move forward. They traveled on for just under an hour. Once something ran across one of Kate's feet. She put both hands over her mouth to keep from crying out when it scurried over her foot, trying hard not to even think about what it might have been.

They finally came to the end of what Ryogo assured them was quite a good private shortcut. The ground had risen steadily as they walked. When they came out, climbing a steep incline of rocks to the top, they found they were in a small clearing. Ryogo pointed downhill and to the right. They now stood on ground significantly higher than where they had been before entering the Narrows.

"There is Godera below. Our trackers will take three times as long as we did to reach this point, assuming they knew which direction we were headed. And that isn't likely." With that assurance, they took a short break. When they moved on again, the route Ryogo chose led steadily uphill.

That night was spent in another treehouse, this one smaller than the first. Kate was not used to so much walking, and her feet were very sore. Ryogo gave some salve to her, assuring her that it would help.

In the morning Rylath presented her with a pair of walking boots that he thought might fit. A cousin had left them there. The boots actually fit her quite well and would make the walking and climbing easier.

Ryogo had them up and moving at the first light of dawn, anxious to keep moving to put as much space as possible between them and any persistent followers. Kate's feet still hurt some, making progress that day much slower than Ryogo liked. On the plus side, all signs of pursuit had vanished, and the four felt much more relaxed, even talking quietly when they took breaks along the trail they now followed. Rylath became more talkative, sharing stories of his home. Ryogo shared as well, giving their companions a vivid picture of how his people lived now, hidden away in the mountains where Lord Treamar's reach seldom troubled them.

Seth entertained Ryogo and his son with some of the adventures he and Ternan had shared in the time they spent traveling together. Kate listened avidly, anxious to find out as much as possible about what Seth had gone through since he'd disappeared. The loss of those years still hurt, but she found that hearing some of what he had experienced was almost like applying salve to a wound. She determined to get him to tell her as much as possible later, when there was time for talk between them alone.

Late that evening they came to the base of the real mountain. A small cave, obviously used frequently as shelter for travelers, provided protection for the night. In the morning they began the challenge of the climb into the Plendera Mountains.

### Chapter Ten

Ethan woke to laughter. He blinked his eyes to clear his vision and sat up slowly. Susan, Danny, and Tullara sat at the table, a thin, patterned board in front of them holding oddly shaped, colored pieces. Danny was throwing down three dice with pictures on the various sides.

"Uncle Ethan, we thought you were going to sleep all day." Susan looked over and smiled.

"You must have been very tired. It will soon be noon. Lydar will bring lunch soon." Mara spoke from the cot where she sat cross-legged. "We must stay here until dark, but then we move on. A patrol searched Lydar's house not long ago. They are still in the area but should move on soon."

"Here's a piece of fruit from breakfast. Susan dubbed them apples, because they taste something like our apples back home." Danny handed one to him. Ethan sat staring at it after taking it from Danny, feeling a bit numb.

"Ethan?" Mara spoke his name sharply, and he looked up, realizing that she'd already said his name more than once.

"I'm sorry. I'm still sleepy, I guess." Ethan grinned sheepishly.

"I just asked what you thought about my plan. I didn't wish to wake you, you seemed to be sleeping so soundly."

"Oh. Yeah, sure, that sounds good." Ethan finally lifted the fruit to his mouth and took a bite. He ate it slowly, not feeling very hungry. He caught Mara watching him and had the feeling that she'd worry if he didn't eat it. He barely touched the food that Lydar brought for lunch shortly after, causing Mara to gain a faint look of worry every time she looked at him.

After a while he roused enough to try to learn the game Tullara had brought when her grandmother had informed her she'd have other children to play with. He couldn't seem to get the gist of it and gave up, smiling when they teased him. With nothing better to do, Ethan found himself falling asleep again. He woke when Mara shook his shoulder.

"Lydar has brought supper, Ethan. You must eat. It is fully dark, and the patrols are long gone." Mara handed him a bowl of stew after he sat up.

Ethan found himself strangely uncaring about the food. He had to force himself to eat, pretending hunger so as not to worry anyone.

When everyone had had enough, they got ready to leave. Lydar made certain the way was clear, hugged Mara, and wiped tears away. Tullara hugged her as well, and then hugged Susan. She smiled shyly at Ethan and Danny.

The four of them slipped quietly out the back door, moving into the darkness of the trees beyond.

"Stay very close." Mara commanded in a whisper. "We must not get separated in the dark. There is no moon to help see our way."

Mara reached to take Susan's hand, advising them all to hold hands, to stay together. Susan took one of Danny's hands, and Danny reached to take his uncle's hand. They started slowly through the trees. Mara stopped once when she heard noises to the left. Susan and Danny stopped as well, but Ethan bumped into Danny and almost fell.

Catching sight of a slight movement off to the side, Mara realized it was just an animal. She tugged on Susan's hand and started on again. Danny started to move with them, but when he tugged on his uncle's hand, Ethan just stood there.

"Mara!" Danny whispered a little too loudly.

"Hush. What is it, Danny?" Mara moved back.

"It's Uncle Ethan. Something's wrong." Danny moved aside so Mara could reach him. She took Ethan's hand from Danny's.

"You two stay still." Mara reached up to touch Ethan's face. One touch confirmed what the touch of his hand had suggested.

"He's burning up." She placed her hands on either side of his face. "Ethan, can you hear me?"

"Mara?" Ethan's voice sounded slurred and confused.

"Mara, what's wrong with Uncle Ethan?" Susan whispered, fear in her voice.

"Your uncle is sick, honey. We must hurry. If what I fear is true we must get to the cave quickly."

"Can't we go back to Lydar's?" Danny asked her.

"We are too far now. I'm not sure he could manage the walk back. We'll be to the cave soon. Susan, take Danny's hand. I had better guide Ethan. Stay with us." Mara slipped Ethan's arm over her shoulders, grasping his hand with hers. With her other arm around his waist, they started on.

Ethan seemed barely able to keep his feet, but slowly they made it to the hill near the cave mouth. When Mara tried to lead Ethan down the rough incline, both tripped and rolled down to the bottom. Danny and Susan hurried as much as they dared, reaching Mara just as she sat up.

"Mara, are you hurt?"

"No, I don't think so." But as she stood, they heard her quick intake of breath and knew something was wrong.

"Help me get Ethan up. It is not far now." Between the three of them, they barely managed. Mara was limping so badly that she couldn't support Ethan alone. Danny and Susan put his arms across their shoulders, and they began a very slow procession toward the opening that Mara knew was just ahead.

"Mara, Uncle Ethan is shaking."

"Just keep moving, Susan. We are almost there. Yes, there it is." Through their combined efforts, they got Ethan inside a small cave entrance set into the hill. It was small and didn't look as if a cave of any size would exist on the other side.

"Stay still. I must get some light." Susan and Danny could tell Mara moved away, from the sounds they heard, but until a sudden light flared up, they had no idea what was happening. Mara stood several feet away holding an oil lamp. They could now see that the cave they stood in was indeed very small. Susan looked around, and then at Mara.

"Why are we here? How can we help Uncle Ethan in this little cave?" She sounded totally confused and frightened.

"Things are not always as they seem. Danny, take the lamp." She handed it to him and hobbled over to Ethan. "Go to the end of the cave. You will find the entrance to the main cave there." Step by painful step, the girls managed to keep Ethan on his feet as they moved toward an apparent dead end.

Susan and Danny were both surprised when they found a narrow passage leading deeper into the hillside. Through a trick in the formation of rock, it had been completely invisible until they reached a certain spot. Once through the short tunnel, they came into a large cave.

"I and some friends discovered this many years ago. We decided it might come in handy and stocked it for emergencies such as this. Danny, shake off that sleeping mat." Danny set the lamp down and shook out a mat he saw rolled up by the wall. "Spread it out. Now help me to get Ethan onto it."

They lowered him as gently as they could onto the mat, much like those they had slept on in the hidden room. Mara sat down by him, stretching her injured ankle out carefully.

"Danny, there's a bucket further back in the cave. I need water." Mara turned to study Ethan's face. His eyes were closed, and his skin was flushed. She placed a gentle hand on his forehead and then his cheek. He opened his eyes as her cool hand touched his hot skin, but there was no sign of recognition in them. His eyes drifted closed again. Danny returned with a wooden bucket in his hands. Mara started to get up.

"No, I'll get the water. You shouldn't be walking." Danny spoke quickly. Mara slipped back down, wincing as her ankle complained of the movement.

"I think you'll have to. But you must be very quiet and careful. Turn to the right after you leave the cave. There is a creek about fifteen yards along." Mara noticed Ethan shivering. "His fever is getting worse, I think."

Danny turned without another word and headed out. As soon as he got around the curve it was dark again. He walked with a hand against the wall to lead him to the exit. He was about to walk out, when suddenly he stopped. Not sure why, he stood quietly, just waiting. Several moments passed, and then the boy heard a rustling noise, like someone walking through leaves.

"I'm sure the sounds came from over here somewhere." Danny heard a man's voice. It sounded very close.

"There's nothing here. It must've been a wild animal. Whatever it was, it's long gone, but we'll report it to Traxel, anyway." The men moved off. Danny found himself holding his breath and forced himself to breathe normally.

When complete silence had resumed he slipped out, following Mara's directions. In his hurry to get water for Mara, he forgot about the strange incident.

In the end, he found the creek by stepping in it. Working quickly, he filled the bucket as full as possible. Then he started back, trying to be careful not to spill any of the precious water.

~ ~ ~

While Danny was gone, Mara directed Susan to get several things for her. By the time Danny came back, walking slowly with the full bucket, she had Ethan covered with a blanket and had torn a strip from another blanket to use as a cloth.

Danny set the bucket beside her, and then knelt beside Ethan to watch anxiously as Mara wet the cloth to bathe Ethan's face.

"What's wrong with him, Mara?" The boy spoke quietly, worry in his voice.

"I think he has Plendar fever."

"What's that? Is it serious?" Susan moved closer. Mara looked at the two young faces watching her and took a deep breath before replying with the truth.

"Yes, Susan. It hit him quickly, and his fever is very high. I had it as a child. I almost died." She dipped the fabric in the water again and continued to bathe his face. Susan reached for Danny's hand, and they sat without talking, watching her. After several minutes Mara turned back to them.

"You two need to get some rest. There are more sleeping mats and blankets where you found the bucket, Danny. I may need your help tending Ethan later, so you should both sleep while you can." Danny moved away slowly, but Susan hesitated.

"Mara?" She finally spoke, though she dreaded what the young woman's answer might be. "Is Uncle Ethan going to be all right?"

"I don't know." Mara sighed. "Try not to worry. I will do all I can. Go on now, get some sleep."

~ ~ ~

Susan stirred. She sat up and looked around, not sure where she was for a few seconds. When memory flooded back, she hurried over to where she found Mara leaning against the wall beside Ethan. Mara looked up at Susan and smiled a little.

"How is he?" Susan sat down beside Mara.

"He is about the same, except that the fever has gone down slightly." Susan reached over to touch Ethan's cheek.

"He still seems horribly hot to me."

"Yes." Mara wet the cloth again and bathed his face and neck gently. "Please wake Danny. I'd like him to fetch more water." Susan took the bucket, woke her brother, and then returned to Mara.

"You're worn out. You rest, and I'll take care of Uncle Ethan for a while. I know how." She explained, when Mara looked like she might object. "I helped Mom nurse Danny through the flu once. Mom said I'd make a good nurse."

Mara, too weary to argue the point, crawled the short distance to the mat that Susan dragged close. She was soon asleep.

When Danny returned with a full bucket, Susan rinsed the cloth out and used it as she had seen Mara do.

"Mom said you needed lots of fluids when you were sick with flu." Susan looked at Danny. "Maybe we should try to get some water in him. He's probably dehydrated."

"Sure. How can I help?"

"Could you look around for something to use? A cup or spoon would be helpful." Danny searched through the things stored near the back of the cave. He returned soon with a small cup.

"Good. You lift his head a little, and I'll try to get him to swallow the water." They spilled more water down his front then they got him to swallow. Susan sighed.

"Well, that wasn't much. I hope it helps."

"That was a good idea, Sis." Danny smiled at her. "I'm hungry. I'm going to look in that stuff back there for something to eat."

"You're nothing but a walking stomach." Susan commented, with a smile for once. Several minutes later, Danny returned carrying some of the fruit they had decided to call apples. They looked like they'd been there for some time.

"It's not a lot, but it's better than going hungry." He cheerfully handed her one and took a bite from his. He decided it was pretty good still and finished it in a very short time.

Susan and Danny took turns wetting the cloth and putting it on Ethan's forehead. Susan checked often to be sure that he didn't feel any hotter, though he didn't feel any cooler either.

Several hours after Mara had gone to sleep, there came a change. Susan turned back from wetting the cloth, and Ethan's eyes were open.

"Uncle Ethan?" She said, surprise in her voice. He just stared at her.

"I don't think he recognizes you, Susan." Danny almost whispered.

"Let's give him more water." Susan suggested. Danny helped her. When they finished, Ethan's eyes drifted shut again.

A short time later Susan checked his temperature again. Without a thermometer she couldn't tell for sure, but his cheek felt hotter to her. He started mumbling in his sleep, as well as moving his arms and rolling his head from side to side. Susan couldn't keep the cloth on, so she used it to pat the cool water on his face as well as she could.

"Danny, I think he's getting worse." Susan looked at Danny, who sat beside her. His eyes mirrored the worry in hers. He watched his uncle for a minute. Then he stood up slowly, a determined look on his face.

"Susan, listen. You need to wake Mara. Try to find a way to get his fever down. I'll be back as soon as I can." Then he started toward the tunnel.

"Back? Danny, where are you going?" Susan ran after him. Danny turned back, putting his hand on Susan's arm.

"Sis, you've got to trust me, and do what I say. Take care of Uncle Ethan. I'm going for help." Danny turned away again, and before Susan could form a coherent reply, he was gone.

### Chapter Eleven

Danny had been gone all afternoon, and it was dark outside now. Susan had just returned from her third trip to refill the bucket.

"Sorry, Mara. There's still no sign of him." She answered the young woman's question before Mara asked this time.

"How's your ankle feeling?" Susan asked. She had helped Mara remove her boot earlier. The ankle was bruised and swollen, but Mara didn't think anything was broken.

"It's about the same. It's stiff and sore, but it will heal." She turned back to Ethan. After Danny had left, Susan had woken Mara. She agreed with Susan that Ethan's fever had risen but had no idea what to do about it. She had never actually nursed anyone with Plendar fever before.

Ethan had become even more restless, calling out deliriously, his words jumbled together incoherently. They looked at one another helplessly. Mara was becoming more and more worried, especially since Danny hadn't come back. She had just decided that, injured ankle or not, she was going to have to go search for him, when a sudden noise had both her and Susan turning towards the entrance.

Danny moved into the light of the lantern. Susan jumped up and ran to hug him.

"I brought Lydar." He announced. The old woman, moving more slowly, came into the cave, Tullara behind her. All three carried baskets.

"We had to go and pick a bunch of herbs and berries. Lydar said she had to have them to make medicine. That's what took so long." Danny explained the length of his absence, knowing they'd ask.

"I'm just glad you're back." Susan hugged him again.

Lydar moved straight across to Ethan. She shooed Mara aside, kneeling slowly. Lydar felt his head and watched his restless movements while he mumbled incoherently. She reached to the basket she had set on the ground beside her.

"It is a good thing the boy brought me. Ethan is very ill. But I have brought chentas leaves, blended with rodos berries. I made a strong tea of them, then blended in powdered Soolarus root. It fights the fever." Lydar pulled out a jar and spoon. Opening it, she used the spoon to slip small sips of tea between his lips.

"We must get him to take as much of this as we can. Susan must drink some, too. You need none, as you have immunity from the disease, Mara. Tullara has a jar for Susan in her basket, along with food. You must eat." Taking the jar Tullara offered, Susan opened it and took a sip, then made a face.

"Oh, that's really bitter! Why do I have to drink it?"

"Lydar says it'll help prevent us from getting the fever ourselves." Danny laughed at the face Susan had made. "Go on, Sis. Drink it all. I had to, too."

"His face was quite as funny as yours, Susan." Tullara giggled. Susan stuck her tongue out at her brother, screwed up her courage, and quickly downed the whole jar of tea.

"Now, come sit with Mara, Susan. This food is for you. Grandmother, Daniel, and I have eaten." Tullara handed her basket over to Mara, and then went to help Lydar.

Danny sat with Mara and Susan as they gratefully ate the food Tullara offered.

"Danny, why does Tullara call you Daniel?" Susan asked after the edge of her hunger had been satisfied. Danny blushed.

"She insisted after I mentioned that was my full name. She says it fits me better."

When they finished eating, Lydar insisted they all sleep for a while. She assured them that she would take good care of Ethan.

Mara felt unsure of her ability to get to sleep, but Lydar was difficult to refuse, and she found her eyelids almost too heavy to keep open as soon as she laid down. Lydar nodded in satisfaction as they obeyed her command and turned back to resume her ministrations to Ethan.

~ ~ ~

Mara woke slowly, feeling almost as if she were trying to swim to the surface of a very deep lake, but her own body was trying to hold her down. She struggled to sit up, and then scooted over toward Ethan.

Tullara sat beside him. Lydar slept a few feet away. Tullara turned and smiled at Mara.

"You have been asleep for a long time. You feel better?" Tullara asked.

"Yes. How is Ethan?" Mara reached to place her hand on his forehead. She smiled gently because he felt much cooler. As she watched, Ethan's eyes opened. He reached his hand out to place it on Mara's cool one.

"That feels good." He whispered. Mara's smile grew even bigger.

"Ethan, you are awake! We were so worried." Relief filled her voice.

"What happened? Last I remember..." He looked puzzled. "Are we still at Lydar's house?" He asked, as his eyes moved to Tullara, who smiled shyly at him.

"You've been very ill, Ethan." Mara explained gently. "You have Plendar fever. We had a very difficult time getting you to the cave."

"Daniel brought grandmother here to help." Tullara added. "You must rest, Uncle Ethan." Ethan smiled slightly at the 'uncle' that Tullara used. She had picked it up from Danny and Susan. He lowered his hand to his side again, too tired to hold it up any longer.

"I'm thirsty." Ethan's voice was hoarse.

"Grandmother made more chentas-rodos tea before she slept. She says he must drink more."

"I'll help." Danny spoke from behind them. He moved around to help Ethan into a sitting position, so he could drink from the jar Tullara offered. Ethan took a sip and made a face.

"That tastes awful!" He reached up weakly to try to push it away. Tullara lowered his hand with hers.

"You must drink it, Uncle Ethan. It will help you get better." Tullara encouraged. She moved the jar to his lips again, and he sipped obediently, too tired to argue. When he lay back down, he closed his eyes and was soon asleep again. It seemed a more restful sleep than before.

"He will sleep much now, Mara." Lydar came over, having just woken up herself. "The dangerous time is past. Ethan will recover. Now we should see about that ankle." Lydar moved close, and very gently took off Mara's sock. She examined Mara's ankle and foot carefully.

"It is not broken. That is good." The woman asked Tullara to bring her basket. She pulled a jar of salve and a roll of cloth bandaging out. After rubbing a generous amount of the salve over the wounded area, Lydar wrapped the ankle, careful not to get the binding too tight.

"The salve should be applied twice a day until the ankle heals." Lydar stood. "I will leave what was brought here. There are more leaves berries, and powdered Soolarus for the tea, which I showed Susan how to make. She and Daniel must drink some each day as well. There is more food in one basket. We must leave now."

"Lydar, we can't say thank you enough!" Susan had woken up in time to see Ethan awake, and had watched carefully when Lydar had bandaged Mara's ankle. "You saved Uncle Ethan's life." Susan hugged them both, tears in her eyes. Danny offered to walk them back.

"It is better you stay here, Daniel. We know the way." They were gone, slipping out through the tunnel. When Mara finally thought to suggest food, the three settled down together to eat. They smiled and laughed a lot, feeling like it was a celebration now that Ethan was out of danger.

Later, Mara was sitting quietly watching Ethan sleep. Danny sat down by her.

"How old were you when you had this fever thing, Mara?" He asked, remembering her mention it.

"I was very young, only five. It was just after we came here. We had no immunity against it. I lost my mother to the fever." She looked down at her hands in her lap.

"I'm sorry. I didn't know." Danny wasn't sure what else to say.

"That was long ago. We didn't know about Lydar's cure. Everything was new and strange to us then."

"Where are you from?" Danny was curious. Mara looked at him, a strange look in her eyes.

"It was a place a very long way from here. You wouldn't know the name if I told you." Danny got a strange feeling as he thought over Mara's words.

"Mara? You really are from VERY far away, aren't you? Like us." Danny felt sure he was right. Mara turned to him again.

"Yes, Danny. Like all of you, but not your world." She added, guessing at his next question.

"A Cube sent you here." Danny stated it as a fact, not a question. Mara shook her head.

"That I do not know. I was too young to remember, I think. Now Danny, I have a question for you. When you brought Lydar yesterday, how did you know how to find her? It was too dark when we came for you to learn the way." Mara had been thinking about that as she watched Ethan. She felt his answer might tell her something important.

"I don't know, I just knew. I keep knowing things, like when I knew I had to wait to leave for the water. Two men, soldiers I think, passed by. It's weird." Danny dismissed it with a shrug.

Mara watched with a thoughtful look as he stood up and moved away.

### Chapter Twelve

"This is where we must leave you." Ryogo spoke loudly to be heard above the wind. The four stood together on a high ridge in the Plendera Mountains.

"Ryogo, you have helped us in so many ways. Thank you. We are very grateful." Seth reached out to shake Ryogo's hand.

"I wish that I could do more. From all you have told me these last two days, I and my people may owe you such a debt as we can never repay. If you are truly successful in this quest, our people will be free to return to our old lives again."

"We'll be successful. We have to be."

"May the peace of Trevalia be yours, Seth-Tucker and Kate." Ryogo turned away and headed down into the valley on the right, Rylath at his side. They turned for one last wave, then disappeared around a bend in the path that circled around a large outcropping of rocks.

Kate and Seth turned away and started in the direction Ryogo had shown them on the map that he'd given them. It had been a day and a half since they had started into the mountains. In the cave they had taken shelter in, Ryogo had delved into the hidden stores belonging to his family, providing Seth and Kate with some necessities to help them.

He had found coats and gloves to fit them, made in the dull gray fabric his people used as very successful camouflage when they moved through the mountains. Trying to anticipate as many of their needs as he could, Ryogo had filled packs with climbing gear, dried food, and the map.

Seth and Kate continued along the ridge until they reached the valley that Ryogo had suggested was likely to be their best route. They made the far edge of the valley just before dark. Seth thought it was as good a place as any to camp for the night. They found an overhang of rock that offered some protection from the wind. They ate some jerky and settled in for the night.

Seth felt Kate sigh as she lay against his side, her head on his shoulder. He guessed what she was thinking before she spoke.

"Seth, do you think Danny and Susan are safe?" Worry filled her voice. Seth had been worried about them all this time, too. He brushed the hair from her forehead with his free hand and kissed her skin.

"I'm worried about them, too, sweetheart, but they're with Ethan. He's smart and resourceful, and he'd protect them with his life if he had to. I'm certain of that. And Mara seems to know what's what. Together they'll keep our children safe." He hugged her tighter for a moment, trying to reassure her.

"Even if the worst were to happen, I think they'd still be okay. Treamar, scum that he is, wouldn't dare to harm them. He's evil, but he's smart. He'd guess that he'd need them to bargain with me. But he doesn't have them." As Seth spoke the words, a sudden certainty filled him that they were true.

"You don't know that." Kate objected, even though she wanted to believe him.

"I feel it, Kate. Somehow I'm as sure of it as I am that...that you have the most beautiful eyes I've ever seen." As Kate lifted her face to look at him, he shifted so that he could kiss her.

Despite herself, Kate felt reassured about their children's safety, and soon fell asleep. Seth on the other hand, lay awake for some time. He'd had feelings off and on recently that he couldn't explain, but they'd always been proven to be right later. He didn't understand how he could be so certain of things that he had no way of knowing, but he was.

Exhaustion finally forced him to give up trying to puzzle it out, and he slept.

~ ~ ~

By mid-afternoon the next day they reached the highest part of the mountains. The air was thinner, and they had to keep their pace slower. They found cause to be especially grateful for the coats and gloves that Ryogo had provided. As they climbed higher into the mountains the temperature dropped.

Seth had been uneasy since they started out in the morning. There was no reason for it that he could see, yet he kept looking around, always feeling that he just missed seeing the cause of his discomfort. He was becoming increasingly certain that they were being followed.

Kate noticed his preoccupation, and finally asked him what was up. He didn't want to add to her worries, but he refused to lie to her.

"I think we have company, honey."

"You mean we're being followed?" She looked back down the incline they had just finished climbing.

"Maybe. At least we're being watched. There's someone out there who has more than just a passing interest in us. Keep your eyes open." He advised as they moved on.

A little farther on they were forced to stop to study the map again. Seth eyed the terrain around them uncertainly.

"We're into this area now." Seth indicated a place on the map. "The map lacks any detail from here on. I think we're headed directly for the canyon, but I'm not sure, Kate. And I don't know how to deal with any big climbs, or descents into the canyon once we get there."

Seth suddenly stiffened and turned, sensing something. A dark shape hurtled through the air straight for them. He grabbed Kate's hand and tried to jump to one side, but it was already too late. A large net hit them both and wrapped around them. They struggled to free themselves without luck. The more they fought it, the more tangled they became.

Seth told Kate to hold still while he tried to reach the sheath at his waist that held a sharp knife. But before he could maneuver enough to get to it, Kate spoke with a sound of urgency in her voice.

"Seth, you know that feeling you had?" Seth moved his gaze upward, to find a tall man standing silently in front of them, pointing a very sharp looking spear at them. His shoulder length, black hair and beard were a mess, and his clothing looked to be made from dried animal pelts. His dark brown boots were severely scuffed up, showing long, hard use.

The man caught and held Seth's gaze. Seth felt as if the dark brown eyes could see into his very soul. The man reached out with one hand to grasp the edge of the net. Surprisingly, he flipped it up and over their heads with ease. He still held his spear ready.

Moving his hand slowly, the man reached to his waist to pull loose a length of rope that he held out to Kate. The man then pointed to Seth's hands.

"I think he wants you to tie my hands." Seth spoke softly. Kate reached hesitantly to take the rope, turning to Seth. The man poked her lightly with the spear.

"You'd better do it, Kate." Seth advised, holding his hands up and together. Kate reached up, wrapping the rope around and tying a knot. It wasn't very tight, and the man knew it. He poked Kate again. Getting the idea, she tightened the rope, even though her shaking hands made it difficult.

When he seemed satisfied, the man motioned for Seth to sit on the ground and waited until he complied. Another rope materialized from somewhere within the man's clothing, and he looked at Kate, pointing to her hands. She held them out, and he leaned his spear against a tall rock, so he could tie her hands. He kept his attention divided between them until he finished. Then he signaled for Kate to sit down. He checked Seth's rope, tightened it a little, and tied a stronger knot. Seeing the knife at Seth's side, the man pulled it from the sheath, and slipped it in with a knife at his own side.

The spear came up, signaling them to get up. He used his free hand to pull Kate to her feet, but let Seth make his own way up. He kept himself at a slight distance, his spear ready. When they were both on their feet, their captor indicated a direction, prodding Seth to go first.

Having no choice, they started walking in the direction the man pointed. For a while it wasn't too difficult, but they came to a steeper climb, and struggled up the incline with their hands tied in front of them.

The path became level again, but after a short distance it started down, which was also difficult. Fortunately, it was only a couple of minutes until they entered another valley, this one smaller than the last.

Seth spotted a large opening ahead. The Man directed them toward it, and followed them in. It was more a deep overhang of rock than an actual cave.

They were again 'encouraged' to sit down. The man tied their feet and moved away to build a small fire from a stack of branches and logs piled to the side. It was getting dark now, and Kate was glad of the warmth and light provided.

"Seth, do you think he can talk?" Kate asked quietly. "He hasn't said a word."

"Talk or not, the man is intelligent. I can see it in his eyes. Don't underestimate him." He watched as the man sat across the fire from them and held his hands out to warm them.

"What do you think he wants?" She asked. Now that he had them here, he seemed to lose interest in them. After warming his hands, he pulled a knife from his belt and started carving on a piece of wood. He seemed to have forgotten they were there.

"I don't know." They sat without talking for a while, contemplating possible answers to the question. The strange man tired of what he was doing. He replaced his knife and stretched out, turning his back to them. Soon they heard gentle snoring from his direction.

"Well, what do we do now?"

"Look around. Maybe we could find something sharp to cut these ropes with." Seth suggested. A visual search didn't reveal anything helpful that they might have a chance of reaching.

"If we don't find a way out of this, we won't get to the canyon to find the Cube and get home." Kate wanted to burst into tears. "We'll never see the kids and Ethan again!"

"Without the Cube, Treamar will win, and the people of Minestra will never be free of that madman. We have to get free. We WILL get free, and we'll find that Cube. There has to be a way, I know it." Seth reached over with his bound hands to touch Kate's hands.

Suddenly Seth realized that the snoring had stopped. He looked over, to find the ground the stranger had occupied now empty. Turning his head, Seth found him. He stood silently, a couple of feet to the side, his knife in his hand. The man moved slowly toward Seth, watching him. As he got close he knelt beside Seth, again capturing his gaze.

"You seek the Cube." The man spoke, his voice soft yet firm.

"Yes." Seth answered simply with the truth.

"Why?"

"To return my family to where we belong, I must find the Cube. It also means freedom for those I have learned to care for since I came here."

"From your world."

"Yes." Seth hadn't shared their secret with anyone but Ternan. Yet this man seemed unsurprised, as if he already knew.

The man took his knife and reached for Seth's hands, cutting the rope carefully. He moved to free Seth's feet, and then freed Kate.

"Forgive my manner of finding out for a certainty why you came to this place." He stood and watched as Seth and Kate rubbed their wrists to restore circulation.

Seth stood and helped Kate up. They faced the stranger.

"Who are you?" Seth demanded.

"I am Eilos, the last priest of Naru, and the guardian of the Cube of Trevalia." He bowed his head slightly.

"I was told that all of the priests of Naru were murdered by Treamar." Seth was surprised by Eilos's words.

Eilos turned away from Seth and Kate, moving to the edge of the fire light, staring out into the darkness. He stood turned away for long moments. When he turned back, he moved slowly, and stood by the fire. His eyes seemed full of sadness.

"I was at the Naruvian Temple when Treamar's soldiers came. I was young, only two years into my training. My brother, Duon, was my instructor. There was a traitor among us, who slipped a mind-numbing powder into our food. We could not sense the soldiers coming as we should have. Our minds were affected so badly, none could fight effectively." His voice lowered in volume, as if he found it hard to get the words out.

"They killed everyone. I watched as Duon died, unable to reach him. I was injured, on the point of death myself." Eilos lifted his shirt, showing a ragged scar on his chest, close to his heart.

"How did you survive an injury like that?" Kate gasped.

"A farmer found the Temple in ruins on his return from the market of Godera. All the priests were dead, all but me. He felt the small spark of life within me. He took me to his home and tended my wounds. When I was healed, he gave me provisions and sent me on my way. As the last living priest of Naru, I knew where my duty must lie. Though my training was incomplete and there is much I still do not know, nevertheless I knew that I must become the guardian of the Cube. I knew the time would come when the promise of the two other-worlders would be fulfilled, and I must be ready to help with what little I have to offer."

"Eilos, you aren't the first I've heard mentioned of the Priests of Naru." Kate interjected. Eilos and Seth both looked at her questioningly. "There was a wise man in a fishing village named Lainon. Kaylo said many thought him to be a Priest of Naru."

"Lainon lives? You are sure?" Eilos eyes lit up at her words. At Kate's nod, he smiled. "When we have retrieved the cube, we must seek him out. If it truly is the Lainon of the priesthood, he will know much I had not the chance to learn. This could be very good news!"

"Eilos, you say you're the guardian of the Cube. You have it then?" Seth asked eagerly. If Eilos had the cube, they could go back now, and they might soon be home!

"No. The last Guardian placed upon it certain protective spells many years before I was ever born. None know exactly where it has been concealed. Only the ones of the Trevalian Prophesy will have the ability to find the exact location."

"Then how can you be its guardian?" Seth sounded disappointed. Eilos smiled again.

"I know somewhat where it lies. I guard against those who would come to search and find, to take its power for themselves."

"Then you intend to keep me from finding it, I suppose?" Seth challenged.

"Not so. I have waited for you for a long time. The prophesy tells of one from far away who will know where to find the Cube. You will help to free this world from the evil that holds her by the throat."

"How do you know I'm one of the ones from this prophesy?" Seth had denied it when Mara thought he was, but even he was beginning to wonder.

"How do you know where to look for the Cube?" Eilos countered with a question of his own. Seth felt chills run up his spine at the priest's question.

"I found a scroll in some ruins." Seth remembered that day as clearly as if it was yesterday. "The ruins were so old, they were barely more than a pile of rubble. I almost passed without stopping, but I suddenly felt that I had to see. There was this scroll, partially buried under a pile of rocks."

"Waiting for you to read it." Eilos added quietly. Seth nodded.

"It was a puzzle of sorts, a puzzle that made sense to me. That puzzle led me toward the canyon...and you." Seth wondered if finding Eilos would make any difference but hoped he could help them.

"You could not have read the scroll if you were not meant to."

"Okay. How do we find the Cube now, Eilos? The puzzle had no directions other than those of finding the Canyon of Tosh."

"That is your task. You have a connection to the Cube that will overcome the spells of protection, if you are truly one the legend speaks of."

"And if I'm not?" Seth still doubted that he was some special, pre-ordained man in a prophesy on a world he wasn't born in.

"Then I think we will not find Trevalia's Cube. Come." He started out into the Valley. "Tonight, we must rest. Tomorrow we begin our search in the canyon."

### Chapter Thirteen

"Just a few more feet, Katie. You're almost here." Seth encouraged as he stood on the wide ledge below. Eilos was above, belaying the rope tied around Kate as she moved slowly down the steep incline. Seth put his hands on his wife's waist when she was within reach, helping her down the last bit.

After he untied the rope, they both turned to watch as Eilos made his way down the rocks faster than they would have thought possible. They had both gotten over the shock of Eilos amazing agility after the first few steep descents, but they still watched with fascination. In a very short time, Eilos stood on the ledge beside Kate and Seth. Seth hurriedly wound up the rope that Eilos had let slip down. When he was done he turned to face the priest, who was dressed now in clothing like what Seth wore. He had shed his rough disguise, including the disheveled hair, explaining that there was no need for all that now. He had smiled when he commented that he had almost forgotten what it was like to dress like a normal man.

"Which way now? You said we won't need this rope again?" Seth spoke doubtfully, seeing nothing but more steep walls and drops before them. When the three of them had started out much earlier in the day, an hour's walk had brought them to the edge of the Canyon of Tosh.

Kate had gasped and moved closer to Seth as they had stared into the biggest canyon they'd ever seen. Seth was certain it had to be bigger than the Grand Canyon, which they had visited one summer when Danny and Susan were both little.

"We have to climb down into that?!!" Kate had sounded terrified. Eilos had assured her that it was not as bad as it first seemed, and that he had done it many times over the years.

Eilos had been very patient with them, helping them as much as he could. Now he turned and smiled reassuringly.

"I have explored the canyon many times, lady. She has shared many of her secrets with me, with the exception of the most important: the location of the Trevalian Cube. Follow closely now. The path is quite narrow in places, but still passable."

Seth held Kate's hand tightly as they discovered just how true Eilos warning was. There were a few places where they held their breath as they slid carefully along, hugging the wall. But mostly it was wide enough to walk comfortably. Seth hadn't realized they'd moved downward so far, until Eilos pointed back to where they had started walking.

Kate looked up to the very edge of the canyon, far above their heads.

"Seth, I don't think I can climb back up that." She closed her eyes, feeling a bit lightheaded.

"Try not to think about it, Katie. Let's just take this one step at a time." Seth stood and reached a hand down to help Kate stand, after a short break.

When the sun had moved not much more than halfway across the sky, shadows already began to spread across the canyon. It was getting darker where they were, even though it was still just late afternoon.

"There is a cave that we can shelter in for the night." Eilos pointed farther down. When they reached the cave half an hour later, Eilos told them to wait while he made sure no animals had taken up residence since he was there last. A short time later he returned, assuring them that it was empty.

"I'll start a fire. We will need it for warmth. There is a storm coming." Eilos had searched the sky, noting the dark gray clouds beginning to block out the remaining light from overhead.

In a short time Eilos had a fire going from wood he had stored in the cave on previous visits. Seth and Kate sat beside one another, leaning wearily against the wall near the fire close to the entrance.

"I think last night's accommodations were nicer." Kate grinned at Seth, remembering the small house that Eilos had led them to. It had been a welcome change to sleeping outdoors.

"I don't know." Seth looked around the walls of the cave. The crackling fire sent dancing shadows onto the walls. "This reminds me of camping with Dad and Ethan. I kind of like it."

Suddenly a shrill wailing filled the air around them, growing louder and then fading away. Kate eyes were huge and frightened as she looked to Eilos for an explanation of what they were hearing.

"What was that?" Seth noticed that Eilos seemed unaffected by the sound.

"I am sorry." Eilos looked as if he wanted to laugh but restrained himself. "I forgot to tell you about that. I am so accustomed to it, I forgot you didn't know. That is just wind in the caves and tunnels of the canyon. It can become quite loud during storms." He moved to sit down near them, holding out some dried meat.

"The sound, in part, is what gave the canyon its name." Eilos explained after another wail. "Tosh is old Naruvian for demon spirits of the air."

"It's really spooky. No wonder Ryogo said people think the canyon is haunted." Kate spoke from the comfort of Seth's arm around her shoulders.

"When the moon is full, the wild animals howl. The echoes through the canyon then rival even the winds wailing through the caves, adding to the perception that spirits reside here." A moment later they all turned their heads toward the cave entrance as a loud drumming sound began. It looked as if a solid wall of water had burst from the dark clouds. The rain at the entrance shimmered with glints of light as the individual drops caught the reflection of firelight as they raced downward.

"The fire will soon die, so close to the entrance, I'm afraid." Eilos gave them warning.

"At least that horrible wailing seems to have stopped." Kate commented.

"Let's try to get some sleep." Seth suggested, as he and Kate tried to find semi-comfortable spots on the rock floor. The heavy rain echoing through the caves, though loud, was at least a constant sound. Despite the noise and uncomfortably hard surface they rested on, Kate and Seth slept, too exhausted not to. Eilos sat facing outside for some time after the others drifted off. He felt a nagging at the corner of his mind, as if there was something he was missing. But eventually the Priest of Naru slept as well.

~ ~ ~

Seth felt a pull on him, almost as if someone had hold of his arm and was yanking him along. Yet he felt insubstantial: just a spirit moving along the floor of the canyon...

He awoke to find himself standing at the entrance of the cave, next to the damp wood from their extinguished fire, looking out into a strange world. The canyon stretched out before him, bathed in a cold, slightly bluish light. The night air held a distinct chill, but he inhaled the clean, rain-washed scent appreciatively. Seth lifted his gaze to see the two moons of this planet poised in a cloudless sky sprinkled with stars that still seemed completely foreign to him.

He felt alien, alone. Then he felt a hand on his arm and turned to find Kate looking at him with concern in her eyes. He smiled at her and pointed up to the sky. Her gasp expressed her surprise.

"There are two moons?" She moved to stand closer to him, giving a sudden shiver. Seth put an arm around her shoulders.

"Cold?" He rubbed her arm gently.

"It's not that...it's all just so...alien."

"It was night when I came here. Those two moons were the first thing I saw. There was no question that I was VERY far from home when I saw those." He spoke quietly, so as not to wake Eilos. "I've never felt as alone as I did at that moment. It seemed like a nightmare that became all too real when the sun came up, and I found myself stranded in the middle of the desert with a long hike to find civilization." The two stood quietly, finding comfort in their closeness in this world that they didn't belong to.

"Seth, am I imagining things, or are there lights moving around down there?" Kate stiffened beside Seth. He shifted his gaze to the floor far below.

Sure enough, there were glowing objects spread haphazardly along the floor of the canyon. Seth watched carefully for a minute and noticed that they were indeed moving. The nearest one was quite a distance away. None of the small lights seemed to pose a threat of any kind, being so far off. He gave Kate a reassuring hug.

"What do you think they are?" Kate whispered.

"I can't imagine. They don't look dangerous, at least. We'll have to ask Eilos about them in the morning. Come on, we'd better get some more sleep."

~ ~ ~

Eilos woke them as soon as there was enough light to see. He handed them some dried fruit to eat and passed the canteen of water. He seemed preoccupied and anxious to be on the move.

As they started toward the mouth of the cave, Eilos paused just inside. His eyes traveled around, studying everything in sight. Seth stepped forward to stand beside him.

"What is it? Is something wrong?"

"I am not certain. All seems as it should be. And yet..." Eilos left his sentence unfinished, stepping out onto the ledge. "Come. I think time may not be on our side much longer."

They hadn't been walking long when the ledge they were on widened out, becoming more of a steep hill. The three started down toward the lower floor of the canyon. Kate suddenly remembered the lights she'd seen moving along the canyon floor.

"Eilos, Seth and I saw something during the night that I wanted to ask you about." She described what they'd seen to him. "Do you have any idea what they were?"

"I will show you when we get further down. Those, too, helped to create the belief that the canyon is haunted. But these, I think, you will like better than the wailing winds." He smiled at them.

They sat to rest when they finally reached level ground. Eilos looked at Kate with a smile when he heard a trilling sound in the distance.

"Now I shall introduce you to the light phantoms." Eilos pulled a piece of dried fruit from the pack he'd removed from his back. Placing the fruit on the ground about 10 feet away, he moved back to sit with them again. He put a finger to his lips signaling silence, and then made a trilling noise in fair imitation of what they'd just heard.

Nothing happened for several moments. Then Eilos pointed to a rock farther out. As they watched, a small head appeared, covered in gray and white fur. The head disappeared almost immediately, so Eilos trilled again.

This time the body came with the head. The small creature stood less than a foot high. It had four short legs, and a stubby tail, all covered in long gray and white fur. Seth thought it looked a bit like a cat.

The small animal moved cautiously into the open, making its way to the dried fruit. As soon as it reached the slice, it sat back on its hind paws and used its front paws to pick the fruit up. It popped the treat into its mouth, watching them the entire time.

Eilos trilled a third time, another slice of dried fruit in his open palm, held out toward the creature. The lure worked and soon it had covered the distance and taken the fruit from his hand. Eilos reached out slowly, and gently picked the creature up, cradling it in his arms.

"I was hoping that was you, my friend. Seth, Kate, this is Roka. She and I are old friends. She is very clever, but very shy. She's also one of the moving lights that you saw in the night. I don't know what makes the Tropi glow like they do. They also have the ability to change their colors somewhat, to blend into the rocks around them when they feel sufficiently threatened." He answered the question before either of them had a chance to ask it. "She adores the fruit I carry. You must each offer her a piece. Then, if she sniffs your hand, and trills, you are accepted as a friend and may pet her."

Kate tried it first. Roka took the fruit, chewing and swallowing quickly. Hesitating, seeming to consider the wisdom of it first, Roka finally moved her head to sniff at Kate's still extended hand. After a moment, Roka gave a trill of acceptance, causing Kate to laugh lightly with pleasure as she reached to caress the soft fur.

Seth reached to offer a fruit as well, but Roka didn't take the treat. Instead, she crouched in Eilos's arms, and then sprang up, to land on Seth's upper arm and shoulder. She trilled excitedly, rubbing her face against Seth's head.

"She has never done THAT before." Eilos was amazed.

"It looks like you've made a friend, sweetheart." Kate moved closer to try to pet the Tropi more, but Roka obviously cared for no one but Seth now. She turned on his shoulder to lay draped over it, making little chirps of contentment.

Seth wasn't sure what to think of this, but didn't have the heart to move Roka off, she seemed so happy.

As they started on into the canyon, Roka easily keeping her balance on Seth's shoulder, Seth turned to Eilos.

"I've never seen any of these Tropi before, though I've seen lots of other animals here."

"Very few have. They live only in the canyon of Tosh, and they're very good at staying out of sight. It took some time for me to coax this little one out of hiding."

They walked along in silence for a while. Seth and Kate both studied the rock formations around which they were passing. Different colors ran in bands through the rock, including many shades of white, brown, gray, black, red, and burnt orange. Each formation was different than the last.

Suddenly Seth stopped walking, a strange look on his face. Kate, beside him, stopped immediately.

"Eilos!" She called to get his attention, since he hadn't noticed that Seth had stopped yet. Eilos turned and walked back quickly, seeing Seth's look as he turned to gaze off to his right.

"Seth, what's going on?" Kate questioned, as her husband started moving off between two very tall, similarly shaped rocks of dull gray.

"My dream..." His voice floated back to them as he began to walk faster. Kate and Eilos hurried after Seth.

"Your dream? Seth, wait!" Kate sounded worried. Seth didn't slow down. He walked quickly, purpose in his movements. Dodging rock formations, he seemed to know exactly where he was going. Roka, still on his shoulder, began chittering excitedly.

They were all breathing hard when Seth finally came to a stop beside a particularly large formation about twenty minutes later. The rock rose above their heads for about forty feet. The formation extended quite far on either side of where they stood. They couldn't tell for sure how far it went.

Seth stood studying it. He raised his hands slowly and placed them flat against the cold stone, about chest height. His gaze moved from one side to the other, seeking something, though he wasn't quite sure what.

"You dreamed...Of what?" Eilos asked, excitement beginning to creep into his voice. Seth glanced at Eilos, but his gaze moved quickly back to the surface he had been studying so intently.

"I moved along this path. I remember every color, every crack in the rock..." He moved to the left, keeping his hands in contact with the wall of rock. "I stood here. There's something..." Roka sat up on Seth's shoulder, watching what he did with great interest.

Eilos placed a hand on Kate's shoulder as she started to speak.

"Don't fear, Kate. This is what I had hoped for. Seth MUST be the one I have been waiting for." He spoke quietly beside her, his eyes never leaving Seth. They watched him move slowly along the wall, examining it with touch as well as sight. He had gone about twenty feet when he suddenly stopped.

Where Seth's hands rested, there was a wide streak of rust brown rock running from the ground up, about ten feet high. It seemed no different than elsewhere to Kate, but Seth examined the area intently.

Seth closed his eyes, remembering the last moment of his dream before he woke. His hands moved into the exact position he had held then, almost without thought on his part.

At Kate's gasp, Seth's eyes flew open. The brown streak in the wall glowed brightly. As he watched curiously, the rock seemed to melt away into nothing, revealing an opening into the stone.

Seth stepped forward into the darkness, wondering at himself as he did so. Roka, on his shoulder, trilled excitedly and began to glow softly, shedding light onto the path that opened out ahead of them. She leapt down to the stone floor in front of Seth and turned to look up at him with a trill. She seemed to be saying she'd lead the way.

"Come on! This is what we're here for." Seth reached back to take Kate's hand. He spoke excitedly. Kate hesitated for a moment, but Seth squeezed her hand to reassure her, and she stepped forward to walk beside him. Eilos followed closely.

Even with the glow from Roka's fur, it seemed very dark after the light outside. But as they moved cautiously forward, their eyes adjusted, and they began to see more of the wide tunnel they were now moving through. The walls were a smooth, solid gray. Seth commented that they looked man-made.

"I think magic made is the most likely." Eilos corrected him. The tunnel became even darker as the 'door' they had come through suddenly appeared back in place, now about ten yards behind them. Kate shivered, moving closer to Seth.

"I hope it opens from this side, too." She sounded apprehensive. Seth just held her hand tightly, not willing to have her hear him echo her worry.

As they moved forward again resolutely, Seth noticed that the walls had begun to take on a soft glow, matching Roka's. They could see easily now and walked without difficulty.

The path began a slight slant downward. Seth began to wonder how much further the path would go, when the walls moved away, opening into a large chamber.

The three stopped, looking around slowly. The walls of the chamber gave off a softer glow than the tunnel walls. The eyes of all three came to rest almost simultaneously on a dull, pale green metal box resting against the back wall. It seemed of very little importance.

Seth was about to move forward, when he felt small paws on his leg. He looked down to see Roka, trilling with a pleading tone. He reached down almost absently, picking up the small Tropi in his arms. She scrambled up to his shoulder again and settled happily.

Seth reached the Cube first, stopping a foot in front of it. Eilos stood just behind him and to his left. Kate moved to stand beside him on the right. The trio stood silently, gazing down at the Cube. Seth finally knelt on one knee, reaching a hand to touch the surface.

As his fingers contacted the cold metal of the surface, the Trevalian Cube came to life. Kate covered her face with her hands, knowing what was coming. Eilos stared in fascination as the light and sound expanded quickly to envelope all of them.

When the light finally began to fade, silence again met their ears. Kate lowered her hands slowly to see where they now were.

The first thing that Seth noticed was that this time there was one vital difference from his first experience. His hand, still extended, rested on the Cube. It had made the transfer with them.

Seth picked up the Cube and stood, turning to face Eilos and Kate. Eilos met Seth's eyes and then bowed his head gravely.

"You are one that the prophesy spoke of, Seth." A smile slowly spread across the priest's face, setting his dark eyes alight with joy.

Kate, had stepped away, but moved back to join the men. She smiled up at Seth.

"Well, I guess I won't have to make that climb after all." Kate sounded pleased. Seth and Eilos turned to scan their surroundings.

"See?" She sounded almost smug. "We're back at the same spot where we started the climb down into the canyon."

"So we are!" Seth laughed, and placed his free arm around Kate's shoulders. "I can't say I really mind skipping that climb myself."

"We should return to my little house for some much-needed rest. We must make plans. We have much to do." Eilos recommended. Seth looked down at the Cube that he held.

"Hmm... I spent the last two years concentrating on the search for this Cube. To be honest, I never really thought much about what needed to be done after that. I don't even know how to use this to return my family home."

"What a shame! But then, I would not be willing for you to use the Cube again, anyway, now that you have brought it to me." The words preceded a man stepping out from behind a jumble of large stones.

"Kate, take the Cube." Seth pushed it into her hands, and she automatically reached to take it. "Get behind us."

Eilos moved to stand next to Seth, to face the man moving toward them. Roka, frightened at the newcomer's appearance, leapt for the nearest rock formation, almost seeming to melt into it as she used her unique ability to take on the dull colors around her when danger approached.

"Treamar!" Seth called the name out, his voice full of anger. "I won't give you the Cube, and you know it."

"You have no choice in the matter, as you can plainly see." At the man's signal, soldiers began stepping out from behind rocks, until a group of twelve men stood facing them, most of them aiming guns at them. "Jellain's plan to wait here for your return was quite clever, don't you think?"

"Take them, Commander Pellax." Treamar ordered. The commander signaled to some of his men. Four of them moved forward, to grab Eilos and Seth by the arms, as the other soldiers kept their guns aimed at the three. They realized that fighting was pointless and submitted to capture.

Pellax moved to face Kate. He reached to take the Cube from her, as two other soldiers moved forward to take her arms. Pellax carried the metal Cube over to Treamar's eagerly outstretched hands. As his hands closed on it, he smiled.

"Soon I shall have all that I have been waiting for, and not only Minestra, but all of Mendrossa will be under my control forever!" Jellain, who had been standing beside Lord Treamar, strode forward. He faced the prisoners, studying them.

"Seth Tucker I know. And the woman was brought in by you, Pellax." He faced Eilos, looking into the dark brown eyes with curiosity. "This one I do not know."

Jellain reached forward, grabbing the neckline of Eilos's coat, pulling savagely at it until he could see Eilos shoulder. Plain to see on the skin was a small blue tattoo, an exact replica of the Cube, with a T in the center.

Eilos struggled against his guards. Jellain used the back of his hand across Eilos face, stunning him and leaving a bleeding cut across his cheek from the ring of office that Jellain wore.

"I have no idea how you survived, Priest." Jellain spoke contemptuously. "But that oversight shall now be remedied. Throw him into the canyon." Jellain commanded the guards. The two holding Eilos moved to obey wordlessly. Eilos struggled against them with everything he had, and two more soldiers moved forward to help. Seth and Kate both struggled with their captors as well.

"No! Jellain, don't do this!" Seth yelled even as he fought to break free. At a gesture from Jellain, Pellax used the butt of his gun, hitting Seth and knocking him unconscious.

Kate screamed as the men reached the edge with Eilos, and with a final effort, tossed him over the edge of the canyon. Jellain knelt at the edge and peered over at Eilos body lying on the rocks thirty feet below.

"That should do the job." He spoke with satisfaction. "My Lord, what shall be done with these two?"

"Bring them. By his own admission, this one does not know how to control the Cube. But they may yet prove to be useful, maybe as bait for the one who holds the key to this." Lord Treamar held the box up.

"Perhaps that could be the other man I brought in?" Pellax offered.

"Perhaps, Pellax. We shall return to Godera and make plans. Your spy may be useful yet again. It was fortunate he heard them mention the canyon. With luck, he may know the whereabouts of this other man, too." Lord Treamar waved toward Kate and Seth. "Secure them, and let's be on our way."

"Yes, my Lord." Pellax saluted and moved to see Treamar's orders carried out.

### Chapter Fourteen

Ethan sat up slowly. He still hadn't recovered all his energy, though it had been slightly over a week since his fever had broken. He still spent far more time sleeping that he spent awake.

Susan saw that he was awake and smiled over at him from where she sat combing out her damp hair.

"Morning, Uncle Ethan. How do you feel?" She hurriedly finished the last section of her hair and moved over to him. Susan had surprised Ethan with how willing and capable she was in taking care of him.

"I feel pretty good. Where are Mara and Danny?" Ethan looked around, finding the cave empty of anyone else.

"Mara went to see Lydar and Tullara. Her ankle is mostly healed, and she wanted to get more tea for you." Susan grinned at the face he made at her mention of the medicinal tea.

"Danny went with her?" Ethan asked again about his nephew.

"Well, no, I don't think so." Susan hedged, knowing Ethan wouldn't be happy when he heard where Danny went.

"Okay, Susan. Out with it. Where'd he go?" Ethan was getting to know Susan and Danny well, after spending so much time in close quarters with them.

"Don't freak, Uncle Ethan." Susan eased into it. "I'm sure he's fine. He's been going out by himself a lot, and he hasn't been noticed by anyone."

"Susan, just tell me where he went." Ethan closed his eyes for a moment, trying to stay calm.

"Well, he said he was going to, um, to check out the part of town near Lord Treamar's fort place."

"What?!!" Ethan steadied himself with a hand against the wall when he moved too quickly. "Does Mara know where he went?"

"No. He left after she did. You'd better sit back down, Uncle Ethan." Susan advised him. "Danny said that he felt it was really important, and that he had to go."

"How long has he been gone?" Ethan moved over to the water bucket to get a drink, ignoring Susan's advice. He looked over at Susan when he finished, and asked again with a more demanding tone, "How long?"

"About four hours now." She hurried on, seeing the look of worry on Ethan's face. "I'm sure he'll be back soon. He did say he might be a while, and not to worry."

"Four hours is too long. I'm worrying." Ethan moved back to retrieve his shoes. Just then Mara entered the cave, carrying a basket.

"Good, you're awake, Ethan. I think we must make our way to the ruins today. Your parents might be there soon, Susan." Mara set her basket down and looked around. "Isn't Danny here?"

"No. I'm going to go look for him." Ethan answered, while slipping his shoes on.

"Ethan, if someone must go in search of him, it should be me. You don't know Godera. I do." She picked up the basket that she'd been carrying when she came in. "Besides, I'm not sure you have recovered enough to be hiking through the city looking for Danny. Lydar has sent something she says will help you regain your strength."

"I sure hope it tastes better than that tea." He held out his hand to take the jar Mara held out to him. He studied the contents, unscrewing the lid and sniffing the liquid. "More tea?"

"Yes, but it is different than the chentas-rodos tea." Mara smiled at his less than enthusiastic response. She handed him a piece of bread and fruit. "You should eat some food with it. Then we will discuss what to do about Danny."

Ethan knew better than to argue with Mara by now. Besides, what she said was true. He wondered at her calm attitude over Danny going off by himself but was impressed with her ability to handle everything so well.

He ate quickly and tried the new tea Lydar had sent. He decided this one was more like coffee than tea, which he had sorely missed since they'd been here. Mara wasn't satisfied until he drank the last bit from the jar.

"Now, Susan, do you know where Danny was headed?" Mara began.

"He said he had to go to that fort place that you helped us escape from. He made me promise not to tell you because he figured you'd worry."

"Why did he think he had to go there?" Mara asked curiously. Whatever Susan started to answer was drowned out by the sound of someone coming into the cave, kicking rocks in their hurry.

"Mara, Uncle Ethan!" Danny burst in, dusty, sweaty, and out of breath. He ran over to Ethan, grabbing his arm and trying to pull him up.

"You gotta come! They have 'em. Hurry!" Danny looked as if he was about to burst into tears.

"Whoa, boy. Stop and catch your breath." Ethan reached his free hand to grab Danny's wrist. "Sit down, take a deep breath, and then tell us what's going on."

Danny was too excited to sit down, but he did lean his hands against his knees for a short time until his breathing slowed enough for him to talk more easily.

"Uncle Ethan, it's Mom and Dad. They're at the Fort. The soldiers, they have them. They came into town not long ago, and that commander had them tied up in a wagon." The tears finally escaped down Danny's cheeks, making tracks through the dust on his face. He reached up to wipe them away with his sleeve.

"There's more." Danny spoke again, before Ethan could say anything. "There's this old dude I've never seen before. He has a Cube. It looks just like ours, only it's kind of a light green, like the sky here." Danny suddenly straightened when he heard a slight cough. Turning quickly towards the entrance, his eyes widened.

A man stood just inside the cave entrance, watching quietly. They all stared at him, too surprised at first to say anything. He held his hands out, palms up.

"I mean no harm." He spoke in a quiet voice, as Ethan jumped up.

"Who are you?" Ethan asked as harshly as he could, though his voice sounded weaker than he had hoped it would.

"You look something like Seth, as does the boy. That resemblance was why I felt compelled to follow when I saw him in the crowd." The man turned dark brown eyes to face Ethan.

"Who ARE you?" Ethan repeated.

"I am Eilos, a priest of Naru. I came to try to rescue Seth and Kate and retrieve the Trevalian Cube before Treamar can find the key and use it."

"The priests all died at the Temple!" Mara protested.

"So I have been told." Eilos smiled a little. "But it seems I am proving very difficult to kill. They tried it again when they took Seth. I have fallen many times in the canyon and remember well the early lessons I was taught by my brother on how to survive such as that. The soldiers did not climb down to make sure the fall finished me. I have many cuts and bruises but am otherwise unharmed."

"How do we know you are who you say you are?" Ethan was suspicious. Eilos reached up and revealed the blue tattoo on his shoulder.

"You may not recognize this for the true mark of a Naruvian Priest. But you," he pointed to Mara, "must know this cannot be copied by any."

Mara moved slowly to face Eilos. She reached up to lightly touch the Cube tattoo. Meeting Eilos's eyes, she felt an odd sensation pass through her. She studied his face for long moments.

"I know you. I met you once when I was very young. My father took me to visit the priest's school. You gave me a ride on your horse." She spoke slowly, the memory coming back clearly, astonishing her. Eilos looked at her closer, and then smiled.

"It is so. You are the child from that time. I remember you."

"Ethan, he is truly a priest of Naru. How he survived I don't know. But that he did is a very good thing. We would do well to have his assistance with our rescue attempt."

"You must know that I was not fully trained when the soldiers came. I have been alone with no means to complete my training and learn all that is needed." Mara turned back to face him as he spoke, and now placed a hand on his shoulder.

"You had enough training to receive that. We could wish for more, but it's still more than we had an hour ago." Eilos gave a slight bow, eyes closed, acknowledging her acceptance.

"All right, let's figure out how we're going to get my brother, his wife, and the Cube away from that tyrant. And don't tell me I'm not well enough, Mara." Ethan felt he could almost read her thoughts. "I'm coming, and that's final."

~ ~ ~

"Kate, wake up. We're back in Godera." Seth nudged his wife with his shoulder. Kate shifted, trying to sit up straighter to see their surroundings.

Kate and Seth were both weary beyond belief of this hard, creaky, old wagon that they had been forced to ride in once they left the mountains two days ago. Lord Treamar had ordered his men to confiscate a wagon from a poor farmer who lived on the road that edged the mountains. Seth and Kate had ridden in the wagon ever since.

Seeing the same city that they had escaped from well over a week ago looming ahead, both Seth and Kate felt dread at what the near future might hold for them.

"Seth, the children..."

"They're safe. I'm sure of it." He looked steadily into her eyes. Kate nodded, believing he knew what he was talking about now. After all they'd gone through, everything she'd seen her husband do, she knew he was right, though she didn't understand HOW he knew.

As the group entered the walls of the compound, Seth gave a brief, grim smile when he spotted the wing of the building where the explosion had occurred during their escape before. Much of the ceiling was gone, and the stone walls were blackened from what must have been an impressive fire. It was a wonder the whole building hadn't been consumed, from the look of things.

As the wagon stopped, Pellax ordered four of his men to take the prisoners in.

"Take them to my private quarters, Commander." Lord Treamar walked up the steps and into the building. Jellain swung down to the ground and moved over to walk beside Pellax as he led the way to Treamar's quarters. The soldiers allowed Seth and Kate to walk together. Two soldiers walked behind them and one on each side. The group moved along the wide corridor, passing the main hall where Kate and the others had been taken the first time. They walked up a wide stairway to the second floor and down another hall.

Pellax opened a set of double doors leading into a large room. At one end was a large desk, two padded chairs facing it. Nearer to the double doors that they had just entered stood a group of chairs and a couch, set in a square arrangement, on top of an expensive looking rug.

As the group came to a stop, Lord Treamar entered the room through a door in the back wall. He placed the Cube on the desk and moved to face Seth.

"Pellax, cut their ropes. Keeping guests tied up isn't very hospitable." Treamar smiled. "I must thank you, Seth Tucker. Without you I would not now possess that which I have so long desired. Unfortunately, I still lack the knowledge that I need to make use of it. Perhaps you could help me with that as well." He smiled at them again, though Seth knew there was no friendly intent behind the eyes that searched his for a hint that he might have the knowledge Treamar needed.

"And what makes you think I can help you, or that I'd ever be willing to help you?" Seth crossed his arms and stared calmly back at Lord Treamar.

"Perhaps I may be able to persuade you." Treamar moved into the square of seats and settled comfortably in a chair. "Please, sit down."

When Seth and Kate remained where they were standing, Pellax encouraged them from behind, gun in hand. Having no choice, the two moved to the couch and sat down.

"That's better. Now, I believe I have something that you want, and you have something that I want. I'm certain that we can come to a mutually beneficial exchange."

"I won't help you, Treamar. My answer hasn't changed."

"What a pity. It would be to your advantage to deal with me now. I am sure there was a strong reason for you to have searched for the Cube as you did. Ah, here we are." Treamar indicated the table in front of the couch to the servant who entered with a tray.

"You and your companion must be hungry." Treamar reached across for a bowl from the tray full of food. He chose a piece of fruit and took a bite. Then he spoke again.

"There really is no need for us to be enemies. A man like you could be quite helpful to me. You would make an excellent high commander in my Army. I have been told you are a strong fighter, as well as being very good tactically."

"No?" Treamar continued, as Seth and Kate both watched him silently. "Then perhaps you and your companions would prefer to use the Cube to return home?" Treamar's eyes narrowed as he saw the quick look that passed between Seth and Kate. "So, Jellain was correct. Seth Tucker, you owe nothing to the people of this world. Once I have learned the secret of the Cube's power, I could return you to where you come from. All you need do is help me to find the key."

"Go to hell, Treamar!" Seth stood, pulling Kate up with him. Treamar set down the fruit and stood to face Seth, matching his hard gaze.

"Take some time to think about your situation. I always get what I want... One way or another. I would hate to have to resort to harming your lovely companion." Treamar threatened, in a quiet voice. "Commander, put them in the cell below. Be sure they are well guarded. I wish no repetition of their previous escape."

Pellax saluted Lord Treamar and signaled his men to take Seth and Kate out, following in their wake. They moved through the corridors and down two flights of stairs, finally coming to the cell they had been kept in before.

The guard near the door opened the cell, and the soldiers pushed Seth and Kate in. As the door clanged shut behind them, Seth put his arm around Kate, and they both faced Pellax as he stood studying them.

"It's true what Lord Treamar said. He always gets what he wants. He has no problem hurting those who stand in his way. You would do well to keep that in mind." Pellax turned away. After holding a low conversation with the four soldiers who had come with him, he walked away, leaving two of men facing the cell door. The other two took positions at the foot of the stairs.

"Welcome home!" A low voice issued from the shadows at the back of the cell. Seth spun around and moved cautiously toward the dark corner where the voice had come from, Kate just behind him. He searched the shadows, spotting only the one other prisoner.

"Ternan!" Seth knelt beside the man he found lying on the floor. "What happened? How did you end up back here?"

"I could ask you the same, brother. But I shall tell you my tale first. Help me sit up would you, Seth?" Seth took the hand Ternan lifted, slipping an arm under his old friend's shoulders as well, when he saw Ternan was injured. He helped Ternan turn so he could lean against the wall beside him. Ternan held a hand against his ribs when he coughed.

"Did our little distraction help?" Ternan asked before he started.

"The timing was perfect." Seth assured him, as he and Kate sat facing Ternan.

"It was worth it, then. Things were going well. We made it to their weaponry and helped ourselves. They had very thoughtfully provided a large supply of explosives, as well as guns and ammunition. The men and I felt it would be ungrateful of us not to make good use of the gift. We got everything ready, and I stayed back to start the fun while the rest reached an exit, ready to slip out in the confusion." Ternan stopped for a moment to catch his breath.

"It was perfect! At least I thought it was, until I waltzed out of the unguarded front gate, straight into the arms of Treamar and his personal guards." Ternan grinned sheepishly. "They asked that I stay for a bit longer to enjoy their hospitality, of course. In fact, they insisted very strenuously." He placed his hand against his ribs again. "Some broken ribs, a cracked wrist, and bruises... Well, everywhere. But I'm healing. So, how have you been?"

Seth grinned at Ternan's humorous telling. It was so like him.

"I'm glad to see you again, my friend." Seth clasped Ternan's good hand. "I wish it was somewhere else, of course. Kate, I never had a chance to introduce you to Ternan. Ternan, this is my wife, Kate."

Ternan smiled, acknowledging the introduction.

"Seth told me much of you. He could talk of nothing but finding the Cube and returning to you. What of your search?" Ternan turned back to Seth.

"We found the Cube, along with a Naruvian priest named Eilos. Unfortunately, Treamar showed up. He has the Cube now."

"This is not a good thing. But you said you found a priest? I thought Treamar killed them all."

"Yes, I thought so too. Apparently Eilos survived. But they killed him this time, Ternan. They threw him into the canyon. They didn't think twice, just tossed him over the edge. If I ever thought the stories told of Treamar and Jellain were exaggerated, I don't now."

"Take heart, Seth Tucker. Do you not realize that the first part of the prophecy has now been fulfilled?" Ternan's face lit up as the thought occurred to him. "You, an other-worlder, came from far away. You found the Cube of Trevalia that had been safely hidden until such a time as its power was needed to once again bring peace to the land."

"And I let the Cube fall into the hands of the very man that must not have it!" Seth countered.

"All is not lost. The prophecy speaks of TWO other-worlders. The others with your wife, they are from your world as well?" Ternan's voice lowered.

"Yes, they're my brother Ethan, and our children. Ternan, are you saying that Ethan could be the other one?" Seth's face mirrored the astonishment he felt at Ternan's guess. For some reason that thought had not seemed possible to him before this, even though Treamar had been hinting at such. Now he began to wonder if it might just be so.

"Perhaps. All I'm saying is that we must not give up yet. But I think we should talk of other things." Ternan had noticed that one of the soldiers moved closer to the cell, as if to hear what they were saying. "Did Seth tell you about the time we raided the patrol camp?"

Ternan began the tale after Kate said she hadn't, using his unique humor to tell it as no one else could. Seth laughingly broke in occasionally to correct him or add his own version. Ternan nodded in satisfaction when the guard moved quietly back into his old position and launched into yet another story.
Chapter Fifteen

Susan paced the length of the cave, feeling frustrated at having to stay behind. She glanced over at Danny, then went to where he sat cross-legged on a mat and sat down beside him.

"Danny, how can you be so calm about being left behind?" Susan glanced at him. He sat looking down at his hands and didn't say anything.

"Danny?" Susan put a hand on his arm. Danny raised his head slowly, seeming to come from thoughts that had been somewhere else entirely.

"We need to go, Susan." Danny unfolded his legs and stood up.

"Go where? Uncle Ethan made us promise to wait here for them, and to find Lydar if they don't return. What are you talking about?"

"Uncle Ethan didn't know they'd need us. Come on." Danny grabbed Susan's hand and pulled her up. "We have to go now."

Susan decided Danny must have a screw loose but followed him out of the cave and up the hill anyway.

Danny led his sister through the city, taking the path he had worked out before when he explored. Even though it was dark, he had no trouble finding his way to the walls surrounding Treamar's Fort, as Danny called it.

"Danny, I don't think this is such a good idea." Susan whispered as they stood in the darkest shadows of the building across from the back gate they had escaped through before. The sun was just starting to come up.

Danny didn't answer. He just took Susan's hand and led her across to the gate. He reached out to touch it with his free hand, and it swung open noiselessly. The two slipped through, shutting the gate behind them. They barely glanced at the men lying tied and gagged on the ground.

Danny led Susan to the small garden with the secret entrance. He didn't hesitate but reached to a spot at the corner of the grid, making it open outwards. The two slipped into the opening, and it closed behind them. They climbed down the ladder in the dark.

"Danny, what if we can't open the wall?" Susan worried.

"It's easier from this side. Mara said so." He reached to pull something that released whatever held the swinging wall in place. There was a small click, and Danny started pushing on the part of the wall that made up the secret door. Susan helped, and they found that the door did indeed open more easily from that side. They stood quietly, holding their breath for long moments, hoping the noises from the door hadn't alerted anyone to their presence. When the silence held, Susan sighed.

They slipped through the dark storeroom, feeling their way to the door. Danny opened it just a crack to peer through, then turned to his sister.

"The place looks deserted. Come on." Susan followed him through the door and along the corridor. When they came to the cell, both glanced in. Five guards lay unconscious behind the closed door. Danny turned and grinned at Susan.

"They were here. Now all we have to do is find the Cube, and we'll find them." That proved to be all too easy. After making their way up the stairs, they started along the hall. They were almost to the large arched doorway of the main audience hall when they heard a voice.

"Ah, Mara, I see you have brought guests. You must introduce us."

Danny slipped around the doorway, pulling Susan with him. In the middle of the room stood a group of soldiers, along with Lord Treamar, and Jellain. The soldiers all stood with guns aimed toward the front of the room. On the raised area at the front stood their parents, Ethan, Mara, Eilos, and Ternan. Seth held the Trevalian Cube in his hands, having just picked it up before the soldiers came out of hiding.

At Susan's gasp, two men moving into the room saw them and pointed guns at the children. One of them gestured with his gun, and the kids started moving forward. Lord Treamar turned, and seeing the children, smiled.

"Ah, more guests. Come, join your family, children. It was very thoughtful of all of you to join us here, and save my men the trouble of searching for you." The soldiers parted to make a path which Danny and Susan moved through quickly, hurrying to their parents. Susan went to Kate, who put her arms around her. Danny moved to stand between his dad and Uncle Ethan.

"Well, Mara? Seth Tucker I know. And Ternan has been a thorn in my men's sides for some time now. And here we have the priest who is so difficult to kill." Treamar had moved closer, and walked along, studying each person. He stopped in front of Ethan.

"You I don't know. Maybe you are the key that I seek. What do you say, daughter?" He turned to Mara. "Is he the one with knowledge of the Cube's powers and use?" Ethan looked down at Mara questioningly.

"I'm sorry, I didn't know how to tell you." Mara turned from Ethan to face Lord Treamar. "Father, you cannot take this Cube for yourself! Its power does not belong to you."

"Do NOT presume to tell me what I can and cannot do!" Treamar raised his voice angrily and turned to move back to the soldiers. Danny whispered to his dad while everyone else was distracted watching Lord Treamar, who seemed to be struggling to resume his usual calm exterior.

"I need the Cube, Dad. Don't ask why. And everyone needs to move closer. Now!" Seth looked questioningly at his 13-year-old son, but somehow found himself handing the Cube over.

Danny had raised his voice enough for the others nearby to hear him when he said to move closer. His voice held such a tone of command that they found themselves huddled together before they half realized they were moving.

Lord Treamar turned at that moment to face Jellain.

"Retrieve the Cube, Jellain. Have the men return this rabble to the cell but take my daughter to my quarters. I will deal with her first. Then I will speak with that other man." He referred to Ethan, believing him to be the one he needed now.

Jellain turned to order Pellax to take charge of their prisoners but turned back when many of the soldiers gasped or yelled aloud. Treamar turned around quickly, to see what was happening.

The Cube had come to life in Danny's hands. It glowed brightly, and electricity crackled through the air surrounding Danny and the others, accompanied by the sound of roaring wind. Most of the guards stood watching, amazed, and more than a little scared.

Both Lord Treamar and Jellain, after the first moment of surprise, started forward.

"Stop them!" Treamar yelled furiously, but it was already too late. The platform was empty of people and Cube, and the light faded away.

"Argh!!!" Treamar let out a wordless scream of anger and frustration, staring at the empty space. After a moment, he turned and plowed his way through the soldiers wordlessly.

### Chapter Sixteen

"The sky is still green, so we must not be home." Danny said matter-of-factly.

"That was amazing!" Ternan stood in awe. "I confess I still didn't fully believe what you told me of the Cube's power. Where are we now?" He quickly recovered from his surprise and started scanning their surroundings, vigilant for possible danger.

"I don't recognize it. This is not anywhere I've been in Minestra.." Mara, who stood next to Ternan, replied as she looked around.

Seth, Kate, Ethan, and Susan were all looking at Danny in surprise.

"What? Didn't I tell you I thought I knew how to do that?" Danny said innocently. Eilos moved to face Danny. He smiled down at the boy, and then looked over to Seth and Kate.

"It seems that your son, not your brother, is the other the prophecy spoke of." Eilos surveyed the land around them cautiously. "I think it best that we find somewhere less open for now."

They stood on the shore of a large lake. There was nothing but open field around them. To the left some distance away, the land rose to form a hill. Danny, after glancing around, headed in that direction.

"This way!" He spoke decisively.

"Danny, wait!" Seth called after him. Danny stopped obediently, turning to wait for his dad to catch up with him.

"Son, you shouldn't just start off like that. It's not safe." Seth placed his hands on Danny's shoulders, looking seriously into his son's eyes.

"I'm sorry, Dad. I know it's not safe, but trust me, this is the way we need to go." Danny's expression was as serious as his father's. Eilos had come up to the two, followed closely by everyone else.

"I believe we must trust him with this choice, Seth. Your father is right though, Danny. You must stay with him. Lord Treamar knows of you now. He will do all in his power to find you." Eilos warned.

"He's right, Danny. My father," Mara looked apologetic, "desires control over the power of the Trevalian Cube, and you now, more than anything else. He will stop at nothing to gain both."

"All right, let's go," Seth agreed "but we stay together. Ternan, are you up to taking the lead? Ethan, you and I can take rearguard. Ready?" Seth took charge.

"It feels good to be out of that cell. I would feel better with a weapon at my side, though." Ternan commented, but willingly started off up the hill. He was accustomed to being scout for his group and slipped easily into the well-known task.

As they walked, Seth and Ethan kept watch on the back trail.

"I want to thank you for taking care of Danny and Susan, Ethan." Seth began.

"Well, it turns out they had to take care of me. I came down with what Mara called Plendar fever. I'm not quite recovered from it, but I'm sure better than I was."

"I'm not surprised. That's a nasty bug on this world. We lost one of Ternan's men to it three months ago." Seth placed a hand on Ethan's shoulder. "I'm thankful you're okay, little brother. I don't want to lose you."

"I'd hate for you lose me, too. It was pretty tough when I lost you." Ethan couldn't help but remember how he'd felt when he thought Seth was dead.

"I'm truly sorry that all of you had to suffer like that. I would have given anything to spare you, Kate, and the kids the pain you must have gone through. At least I knew you all were still at home, living normal lives." Seth turned to look to the sides and the back trail every minute or so. The brothers became quiet, concentrating on their surroundings, watching for signs of danger.

After a couple of minutes, Ethan lengthened his stride to catch up with Mara. She glanced at him, but quickly looked back down. Ethan walked beside her without speaking for a moment.

"Treamar is really your father?" Ethan finally broke the silence with the question that he'd been longing to ask her.

"Yes." She glanced up and then back down quickly again. "I wanted to tell you, but there never seemed to be a good time. Ethan, you don't hate me, do you?"

Ethan glanced at her downcast profile, realizing that this young woman belonging to a different world than his had become very important to him.

"I could never hate you, Mara." Ethan spoke softly. She raised her eyes to his at the tone in his voice.

Just then Ternan stopped, holding his hand up to signal the others to stop. He had come to where he could see what was on the other side of the hill. Seth, Ethan, and Eilos moved forward to join Ternan.

The four of them looked down the slope, to see a small house nestled in a small grove of trees. There was someone sitting on the ground cross-legged in front of the house.

"It seems peaceful enough." Seth observed quietly beside Ternan. "Maybe you and I should go down first. At the very least, we may be able to find out where we are."

"Dad?" Danny spoke from behind him. "I need to go."

"What do you mean? How could you know that?" Ternan sounded skeptical as he turned to look at Danny. Seth turned to face his son as well, studying Danny's face.

"I don't know how I know, but I know, Dad." Danny returned Seth's look.

"You're sure, Son?" At Danny's nod, Seth turned to Ternan, making a quick decision. "We all go down together. You'll have to trust me, Ternan." Ternan nodded, knowing from experience that Seth was a man he could trust.

They started down, Seth leading. As they came closer, the person stood. It was a boy about Danny's age, Seth judged. He was dressed simply in brown pants and a tan shirt, his blond hair cut short. He watched calmly as they approached, seeming unsurprised to see them.

Seth came to a stop about five feet away from the boy, and the others stopped behind him. The boy's eyes seemed to search for a moment, finally resting on Danny.

"You are Daniel from my dreams." The boy took a step forward. Danny moved forward as well, closing the distance between them until the two stood face to face.

"Yes." Danny looked down at the Cube he still carried, and then back into the boy's eyes. "This belongs in your care, not mine." As Danny held the Cube out, Seth started forward. Eilos reached out quickly to stop him with a hand on Seth's arm.

"Wait." Eilos spoke softly.

The boy looked down at what Danny held out to him. Slowly his hands rose, to take the Cube from Danny. As his hands touched it, the Cube suddenly glowed. The glow seemed to encompass the entire body of the boy. It only lasted for a moment. More than one of the group blinked, wondering if they had really seen it.

"Cool!" Danny grinned. The boy returned his grin.

"I'm Daynan. Come, you must meet my uncle." As Daynan turned toward the house, the door opened, and a man came out.

"Well. You were right about visitors coming soon, I see, Daynan." The man moved to join his nephew. He wore similar clothing to Daynan, and looked quite a bit like the boy, though his hair was several shades darker, and his eyes were an unusual blue-green. As his eyes settled on what Daynan held, they widened slightly, but he didn't say anything about it immediately.

"I'm Leithen Trevalia, Daynan's uncle." Eilos started at the man's name.

"Uncle, this is Daniel, from my dreams."

"Leithen Trevalia?" Eilos stepped forward to face Daynan's uncle. "It is true?"

"Daynan and I are the last of the Trevalian's direct descendants in Minestra. We have been waiting for this day."

~ ~ ~

"When word reached us of the destruction of the Naruvian Temple, and the deaths of all the priests, I took Daynan and his mother to this place, where I knew Treamar wouldn't be likely to find us." Leithen sat in the shade near the house, Daynan beside him. "I was certain he would try to find the Cube through us if he could and try to control its power. He could not know we couldn't find the Trevalian Cube. Raelea passed away several years ago. It's just been Daynan and myself here since then.

"I knew if the Cube was meant for Daynan, we would be found by those who must do so. I had faith in the prophecy that Allera Trevalia spoke on her deathbed."

"When it seems that all hope is lost, two shall be sent from the third brother, that they might redeem the Cube of the second brother, and retrieve the first, to save Minestra, and all of Mendrossa." Eilos quoted the words that had been spoken in prophecy so long ago.

"What does it mean, 'two shall come from the third brother'?" Seth asked. "That has me totally baffled. If Danny and I are the two from the prophecy, no one sent us. I've never heard the name Trevalia in our world."

"You came through the power of a Cube, yes?" Leithen asked. When Seth nodded, he went on. "Long ago, there were three Cubes. Three brothers; Tersien, Marden, and Bralar Trevalia held their power, each linked to a Cube. Tersien held the green Cube. He remained here. Bralar was lost somehow along with the red Cube. What records there are weren't clear about his circumstances. But the third, Marden, must have made his way to your world. You are his descendants. The Cubes will answer to no others."

"Hmm... So we have a great, great something grandfather, who came to earth, from here. And we were meant to be sent here to save Minestra?" Seth reasoned it out.

"It seems so. But all is not won yet. True, you have retrieved the green Cube and brought it to Daynan. He and the Cube are now linked. But Lord Treamar still holds power. The prophecy says naught of what comes now." Leithen responded.

"The future is in our hands, and we must decide how best to deal with it." Eilos added. "If the other priests were still alive, we would join with them, and Lord Treamar's rule would end quickly."

"When I was young, I had a great deal of time on my hands." Mara became the center of attention as she started to speak. "My father didn't care what I did, as long as I did not inconvenience him. I had much time alone. That building holds many secrets. I used to hide in secret passages that I discovered and listen to his secret meetings with Jellain." She turned to look at Eilos.

"Father knew the priests might stop him from taking control of Minestra. That is why he eliminated them first, with the help of someone inside the temple." At Mara's mention of inside help, Eilos tensed.

"Mara, do you know who that was? Who betrayed us?"

"I never saw him, Eilos. I'm sorry. I only heard a voice once. I was very young then, and I wasn't even sure what their discussion meant until it was too late." Tears threatened to spill down her cheeks. "I wish I'd been older and able to comprehend what they meant. I could have stopped what happened somehow."

"You were only a child. It wasn't your fault. What you did in rescuing us now was amazing! Without you, we'd probably still be locked in that cell with no hope for the future." Ethan pointed out.

"Leithen, Prince Rayhan gathers forces near the Plendera range, at the edge of the Tylothian desert. He means to attack Treamar and take back Minestra. We were on the way to join him when Treamar's men caught us the first time." Ternan informed Leithen.

"The Prince is alive? I thought he died when Treamar killed King Parlas."

"Not so, Leithen. The boy was in the kitchens when the attack began. Kesstle, the head cook, hid with the boy, saving him. He took Rayhan across the sea to Jarrandas. Rayhan trained as a warrior there. He is still young but has returned to reclaim his country. With a Trevalia and the power of the Cube behind him, he can succeed."

"What sort of man has Rayhan become? Have you met him?" Leithen leaned forward, questioning Ternan.

"No, but he is the rightful heir to the throne. The people begin to rally behind him."

"What does the holder of the Cube say?" Eilos turned to Daynan. The boy looked at the priest thoughtfully.

"We should find Prince Rayhan and discuss this." He turned to Danny, who sat beside him. "Daniel, what do you think?"

"Yes, we should go." Danny grinned.

"That might be a bit difficult, seeing that we're on an island." Leithen spoke up, laughter in his voice. "We do have a way off the island, though."

"You have a boat?" Eilos asked.

"Not exactly." Leithen stood. "Come, I will show you." Leithen walked to the house quickly. He opened the door and reached inside for two packs that sat inside the door. He handed one to Daynan, who slipped the Cube into it, and then put his arms through the straps, settling it on his back.

"I always keep these ready in case of need." Leithen explained as he donned his own pack. Leithen led them through the trees, stopping for a moment at one. He suggested that they all pick some apples to eat on the way. After everyone gladly followed his suggestion, they continued.

Leithen led them into a hilly area. Moving between two tall hills, they entered a Valley that dipped down, effectively hiding what lay spread out on the ground until they were inside the valley. Danny's eyes widened when he saw what was sitting on the floor of the valley, deflated though it was.

"Wow! Is that a hot air balloon?" Danny asked excitedly, over the gasps of the adults. Spread out along the ground was a contraption much like the hot air balloons that Seth and his family loved to watch when they had the annual races in the fall.

"Hot air balloon? That seems a good name for it. Darleth, Daynan's father, called it our floating cloud. Darleth came up with the idea. We made it as close to the color of the sky as we could, intending to be camouflaged to those on the ground. It's the only one of its kind... In our world, anyway." He smiled at Danny.

Leithen and Daynan proved themselves well-practiced at readying it for flight.

"So this is meant as your escape if Treamar's men came for you?" When Leithen nodded, Seth continued. "This is pretty time-consuming. What if you had no time?"

"We do have an alternate path. There is a tunnel that leads underwater to the shore of Minestra. But it is a long, difficult, and somewhat unpleasant route. We would only use it in extreme need." When everything was finished, and the 'cloud' was ready, Leithen turned to the others.

"Unfortunately, we can't all fit in one trip. This holds six people safely. We must make two trips, but it isn't far."

"Okay, then. Ternan, Eilos, Mara, and Ethan go first with Daynan. You four stay with Daynan while Leithen comes back for us." Seth took charge again.

"Follow the path through there," Leithen pointed to a path on the other side of the valley. "You will come to a beach on the other side. I'll land there to pick you up." Seth nodded, and they watched the others climb into the basket and leave the ground.

"Let's get to that beach." Seth reached for Kate's hand, and they headed for the path Leithen had pointed out.

~ ~ ~

Danny was the first to climb into the hot air balloon after Leithen had returned to the beach for them. His eyes shone with excitement, looking forward to the flight. Kate held back when Seth reached a hand toward her, ready to assist her into the basket.

"This tunnel you mentioned, just how unpleasant is it?" She eyed the balloon dubiously. Seth unsuccessfully tried to turn his laugh into a cough as Leithen leaned forward to answer her.

"Believe me when I say that my 'cloud' is much preferred to that tunnel, Kate. It is very safe, I assure you. We have never had a mishap." He smiled reassuringly.

Kate took Seth's still extended hand, allowing him to help her climb in, though she gave him her best disapproving look for the huge smile on his face. He wiped the smile away but couldn't keep a chuckle from escaping. He moved close after climbing in himself.

"You've got this, honey. Come on, you've traveled to another planet, jumped into a river and plunged down a waterfall into the ocean, and scaled down the walls of a huge canyon. What's a little ride in the air, compared to all that?' He put his arms around her, pulling her against him as the balloon lifted from the ground with a jerk, bringing a nervous squeal to Kate's lips. She closed her eyes, burying her face against her husband's shoulder as they rose higher and higher. After several minutes, when it felt like they had leveled off and were moving forward rather than up, Seth leaned so his mouth was close to her ear.

"Sweetheart, open your eyes. You've got to see this." He spoke gently. Kate decided that, since he sounded so calm, and they hadn't crashed or anything, that a little look might not be too bad.

The sight that met her eyes as she opened them took her breath away.

Spread out below them, ocean water sparkled from the sunlight shining on it, as far as she could see. Off to one side she could see the island, far below. On the other, they were swiftly approaching a large land mass, edged by a rocky shoreline. In the far distance, a huge mountain range thrust its ridges and pinnacles high into the sky.

She looked up at Seth, a smile of wonder on her face, grateful that he had encouraged her to look. He hugged her closer and smiled back. When he turned to call a question over to Leithen about the direction of the canyon, Kate realized something that surprised her.

She wasn't afraid any more. Here she was, who knew how many hundreds of feet above the ocean, in a flimsy looking basket being held up by a big, green balloon and blown across the sky by a strong wind, and she felt safe.

Suddenly she knew that as long as this man who held her was there by her side, the two of them were strong enough to deal with whatever they were forced to face. It didn't matter-high mountains, flights through the sky, evil dictators...as long as she had Seth, she had everything she needed. She had lost him, to death she had thought, only to have him returned to her alive and well. The amazement of such a gift was still overwhelming.

Kate laughed out loud with the joy that flowed through her in this place, at this moment, with this man at her side. When Seth looked at her quizzically, she pulled his face close, kissing him with all the love welling up in her at that moment. When she pulled back finally, blushing slightly, remembering Leithen and Danny were there, Seth just grinned.

"I'm not sure what's gotten into you, my beautiful Katie, but I think I like it!" He laughed quietly as she leaned against him, facing outward to continue taking in the incredible view as they continued their journey.

"Look...see that peak?" he lifted his arm away to point toward the mountain range. She followed his pointing finger. "That's where we started down into the Canyon of Tosh, I think. And there is where the desert must to be where we came into this world." He pointed in another direction.

As they continued trying to figure out where the landmarks were that they knew, Kate sighed, taking in every second of the pleasure she could, having the idea that she'd need it, hiding this memory in her heart, to help get through the trials they might still have to face together.

~ ~ ~

"That was so cool! I've always wanted to do that." Danny grinned up at his dad. Seth ruffled his hair and grinned back. He then turned to Ternan.

"Do you know where to go from here?"

"Leithen explained where we are, as we flew in that strange thing." Ternan pulled his shirt back on, covering the bandaging job Mara had just completed around his ribs, and grimaced, not having enjoyed the trip as much as Danny. Seth did his best to hide a smile, remembering Ternan's look as the balloon had risen from the ground. He couldn't help but be amused, never having discovered anything that so obviously made his friend nervous until now.

"It will take just over a day from here to reach Prince Rayhan's camp. Leithen says there are horses we can use nearby."

"If we can spare the time, I must stow my 'hot air balloon', as you call it." Everyone agreed to help. Leithen gave directions, and they finally had it put away in a small barn that Leithen had built for the purpose.

"Now, where are those horses you mentioned?" Ternan got straight to the point, as Leithen closed the doors of the barn and secured them.

"This way." As Leithen led the way, he told them that he had a friend who raised horses nearby, and that was where they were headed. After almost half an hour of walking, the group came in sight of the house. Leithen told them to sit and rest in the shade of some trees while he went in search of Merdun by himself.

It wasn't long before he returned leading a string of horses, accompanied by a short, stocky man with dark gray hair, who also led several horses. There were enough horses for them, plus an extra one that carried packs on its back. Leithen explained that his friend had gathered supplies for them.

"Merdun says he heard a rumor that Prince Rayhan has plans to move soon on Godera, if he hasn't already. We must hurry." Leithen turned to Merdun. "Thank you for all you have done for Daynan and myself, old friend. I hope to see you again."

"Safe travel, Leithen. I wish all of you well." Merdun waived as they each mounted a horse and the group started. Seth was grateful that Kate, Danny, and Susan had had the chance to learn to ride when his dad still had horses on the farm. That would make this next leg of their journey much easier.

### Chapter Seventeen

It was evening of the next day when they crested a hill and came within sight of a large encampment. More than one of them looked relieved, being worn out from riding.

"They have not gone yet. That is fortunate." Ternan sat easily in his saddle despite his still healing injuries, being well seasoned to long trails. Seth, beside him, looked over the large sea of tents stretched out at the edge of the desert.

"He's gathered quite a large following, it seems." Seth commented.

"They'll have guards posted... There." Ternan pointed, as a group of five men on horseback separated from the camp and rode toward them. Ternan waited patiently as the men approached, noting that the five held weapons ready. As they got close enough to recognize faces, one man lowered his gun and spurred his horse to more speed.

"Ternan, we thought you dead! Seth, there were rumors that you were held by Treamar." Chadeus was out of the saddle as soon as his horse came to a stop. He moved forward, to clasp arms with Ternan and Seth as they both dismounted.

"I'm glad to see you made it here, Chadeus. We have much to tell you. But first we must speak with Prince Rayhan. Is it possible to gain an audience with him quickly?" Ternan eyed the four other guards who still held guns ready, not quite as eager to accept the newcomers as Chadeus.

"All is well, Myledos. This is Ternan Penandros of Elador. I have served with him for years. And Seth Tucker has ridden with us for some time. You can trust them both with your lives." Chadeus turned back to Ternan. "Prince Rayhan is very busy. It is difficult to see him now. We will be leaving here and heading for Godera tomorrow night."

"It is important that we speak to him." Seth spoke up. Chadeus looked at Seth, and back to Ternan, seeing the determination in their faces.

"We can talk to Kesstle. He carries much weight with the young Prince, as he was the one who saved his life, and raised him. If anyone can get you an audience with Rayhan he can. Come." Chadeus led them toward the tent city, the four other guards falling in behind as escort.

"Chadeus, is there somewhere for my family to rest while we see Kesstle? They're tired and hungry." Seth asked as they all dismounted at the edge of camp and he saw the look on Kate's face.

"Of course. Jertan, see them settled. Make certain they have food, and anything else they need. I'll take Ternan and Seth to find Kesstle. The rest of you return to guard duty." The three next to Jertan nodded and returned to their post.

"Daynan, Eilos and I go, too." Leithen spoke for the first time.

"Chadeus, this is Leithen Trevalia and his nephew Daynan." Ternan introduced them. Chadeus eyes grew wide at the name, but wider still at Ternan's next words. "And this is Eilos, a priest of Naru."

Chadeus couldn't seem to find anything to say, so he just turned to look for Kesstle.

Seth gave Kate a quick hug.

"I'll be back when I can. Kids, stay with your mother. That's an order." Seth looked pointedly at Danny, having been filled in on everything the kids did while they were separated. He hurried to catch up with the other five.

~ ~ ~

It took some doing, but they finally found Kesstle. He was a tall, gray-haired man, his back slightly bent, but still full of life, strong and active. Seth thought he looked like an old sea captain.

"And what makes you think that what you have to say to Prince Rayhan is so important that he should be disturbed now, Ternan of Elador?" Kesstle set aside the knife he was sharpening and looked at Ternan squarely.

"The Prince must see us tonight. I am Eilos, Priest of Naru. And this is Leithen Trevalia." Eilos moved forward.

"Hmm... A priest, eh? And a Trevalia still living." Kesstle eyed each in turn. "Perhaps Rayhan SHOULD see you." Kesstle rose slowly and headed for a tent nearby. "Wait here." They had to wait for some time before another man exited the tent and came to the fire they had settled near.

"Prince Rayhan says he will speak with you." The man turned away and headed back to the tent before any of them had time to stand up. They hurried to catch up with him.

As they entered the tent, Seth's eye was caught by the young man who occupied the center of the tent. He sat at a table covered by a large map. His clothing was simple, and yet his bearing had the suggestion of royalty. At their entrance, the young man rose and faced them.

"I had been informed that all of the other priests had died at the Temple." Rayhan stepped forward. Eilos was quick to note the wording.

"All of the OTHER priests?" He asked sharply.

A man stepped forward from the shadows at the back, to stand beside Rayhan. He looked Eilos up and down carefully. A slight frown crossed his face, so brief Eilos thought he only imagined it. Then he smiled.

"Eilos, it is so! I thought to be the last. How did you survive?" The man greeted him.

"Lainon? Kate spoke of you, but I didn't truly believe until now that we were fortunate enough that you survived." Eilos went down on one knee and bowed his head low respectfully. Lainon placed a wrinkled hand on Eilos shoulder.

"Stand, brother. This is indeed a day of good fortune." Lainon embraced Eilos as he stood to face the older man. "Prince Rayhan, Eilos was a young priest when Lord Treamar took over Minestra. I thought him gone with the rest."

"I almost was, Master Lainon. My wounds were such that they thought me dead. I survived only by chance. But that tale is of little importance now." He turned to the Prince. "Forgive my bluntness, your highness. I must ask you something. Why do you seek to overthrow Treamar?" Eilos locked eyes with the Prince.

"Why? Is not the fact that Treamar killed my father with his own hand reason enough?" Rayhan spoke calmly, but his eyes glittered with anger.

"So this is all for revenge?" Eilos asked quietly, refusing to break eye contact.

"No." Rayhan spoke the word firmly. "It would be enough to wish to kill him. But it is not enough for this that I do now. These are my people. They have suffered very cruelly under Treamar. We will fight together for freedom, and I shall strive to always live up to the example my father set: to serve our people, not be served by them. I was very young when he died, but that I remember." As Rayhan spoke the final words, Eilos nodded, satisfied by both the words and what he read in the young man's eyes.

"We have come to help, Prince Rayhan." Leithen stepped forward. "This man is Seth Tucker. He is a son of the third brother. And I am Leithen Trevalia. Ternan of Elador is one I'm sure you have heard of. And this," Leithen pulled Daynan forward to stand beside him, "is my nephew, Daynan. He holds that which is needed above all else."

"What does a boy hold that would help our cause?" Prince Rayhan eyed the boy.

"This, your highness." Daynan removed his pack, pulling out the Cube for everyone in the tent to see. Several men gasped. Lainon eyes glittered, and he moved to Daynan's side.

"The Cube of Trevalia has been found." Lainon raised Daynan's face with a finger, to search the boy's eyes. "You have linked with it?"

"Yes, sir."

"But it has not been long, I think." Lainon guessed. "You will not know what you and the Cube are capable of. The task of training you must fall to me. Eilos was not far enough into the training to have the knowledge needed. Have I your permission to work with the boy?" Lainon asked the Prince.

"Of course, Priest. It seems you are the only one qualified. This changes our plans. Kesstle, spread the word that we shall stay here longer." Kesstle bowed and turned to leave the tent.

"Your highness, we've been riding since yesterday. If you'll excuse me, I'd like to check on my family." Seth asked.

"You brought others, son of Trevalia?" Lainon asked him before Rayhan could speak. "Prince Rayhan, I would accompany him."

"Yes. Please see that they all are fed and made comfortable. Eilos, I think I would hear more of what must be quite a tale. Stay and eat with me." Prince Rayhan invited.

"Come, Daynan. While Eilos tells Rayhan how you came to be here, you must do the same for me. I wish to hear how the Cube was found." Lainon walked beside the boy as Chadeus led the way.

~ ~ ~

Seth, Ternan, and Lainon sat around a small fire in front of the tent, talking. When they had gotten there, Danny and Susan were already asleep, and the others had soon followed their example.

"You say your son could control our Cube as well?" Lainon asked, as Seth reached the part of the story where they were transported to the island, finding Leithen and Daynan. "That is very interesting. It has been so long since a Trevalia held the power of a Cube here. It seems we lost some knowledge during that time. But there is much that I do know, and that will I teach the boys, that they may use their Cubes well."

"You must teach me also, Master Lainon." Eilos came into the firelight and sat beside Seth. "As you know, I was only two years into my training. I need to complete that if I am to serve Minestra well as a true priest and protector. If I had known of your survival, I would have sought you out long ago. I had thought I was the only remaining priest, and felt my duty lie in protection of the Cube's location, to wait for those I felt sure would come."

"There is no need for apology, Eilos. You have done well, and served the purpose for your survival, I believe. And now I may finally fulfill my reason for surviving. We shall begin in the morning. For now, you must rest. You have had a long and difficult journey, all of you." Lainon rose, bowed to the three of them, and turned away to walk off alone in the darkness.

The three remaining spoke quiet good nights and slipped into the nearby tents Chadeus had set aside for them.

~ ~ ~

"What else can the Cube do besides transport us and those with us?" Danny asked Lainon as they sat with Daynan beside a stream, away from the noise and activity of the camp.

"From what you have told me, young Daniel, you have experienced another aspect of its power already. You 'sensed' Mara's need and sent your uncle to help her. I think you had several instances of warning. And Daynan dreamed of you. Those dreams were sent by the magic of the Cube."

"But there is more even. Uncle Leithen has told me stories that his grandfather used to tell him and my father when they were young." Daynan told Lainon.

"Yes, there is more. The first step is to link with the Cube. You two have done so. Each will answer to your needs. But you must have sensed also that the two of you are connected in a special way. You are 'Trevalian twins', linked with one another through your Cubes in a connection that cannot be broken."

"What do we do next, Master Lainon?" Daynan used the title he'd heard Eilos use for the older priest.

"Now you must learn to use this power that you have been given. We will study it together, my young Trevalians." He smiled at the boys.

"I was wondering," Danny began, encouraged by Lainon's smile. "If we are the only ones who can use the Cubes, why does this Treamar guy want it so bad? He can't use it even if he has it, can he?"

"That is true, Daniel. Lord Treamar had hopes of controlling the Trevalian that controls the Cube, thereby having control of the power himself."

"How could he control one of us?" Daynan asked.

"I can think of several ways, such as holding someone you care about and threatening them, to get you to do their will. Or, he could use this." Lainon had pulled out a small object from a hidden pocket, aiming it at the boys. Before Danny or Daynan could react, a bluish beam shot out from the object that Lainon held, surrounding them and lighting up their eyes with a strange glow.

As Lainon lowered his hand and slipped the object back into concealment, he smiled in satisfaction as the glow faded from their eyes.

"That last is so much simpler than the first. Using threats is not nearly as effective as this gadget. So now, my boys, it is time..." Lainon broke off, as Eilos rode up on a horse.

"I'm sorry to interrupt, Master Lainon. It is time for lunch, and Kate insists that Danny and Daynan come eat now." Eilos had dismounted. Danny and Daynan sat silently, watching Lainon. The older priest rose slowly and faced Eilos.

"That will not be convenient, half-priest. My new apprentices are leaving with me." Eilos looked confused.

"What are you talking about?" There was a sharp note in Eilos's voice.

"Just this, Eilos." Lainon suddenly snarled, raising the object again. The beam held a different, yellow tinted glare as it flowed toward Eilos. His eyes took on an ugly yellow caste, and Eilos began to shake.

"You've been a thorn in my side long enough, Naruvian. Long have I planned and worked for this, and I will not let you interfere. I'm taking the Cube, and you can do nothing to stop me. Ever since I found the journal of Bralar Trevalia, and learned what the three Cubes together can accomplish, I have sought such a chance as this." Lainon slowly lowered his arm. Eilos fell, to lie on the ground, shaking still.

"Daniel, Daynan, it is time to go." Lainon turned away, moving calmly to the three horses he had waiting. "Bring the Cube, Daynan."

"Yes, Master." Daynan answered as both boys stood up to follow him. Neither one so much as glanced at Eilos.

Eilos, unable to control his muscles, watched helplessly. The last thing he saw before losing consciousness was the three riding off in a westerly direction.

### Chapter Eighteen

Seth and Ethan had been searching the area for nearly twenty minutes before they found Eilos, still unconscious. They dropped to their knees beside the priest. Seth checked his pulse. It was weak, but his heart was still beating. A moment later his eyes started to open slowly.

"Eilos, what happened? Where are Danny and Daynan?" Seth asked anxiously. Eilos's eyes fluttered as he struggled to open them. He tried to speak but was unable to get words out.

"Ethan, go back for help. Bring Ternan and the healer." Ethan jumped up, swinging into the saddle of his horse and racing away. In a very short time, though it seemed an eternity to Seth as he knelt beside Eilos, Ethan returned with Ternan, Chadeus, and Danthos the healer.

"Has he said anything?" Ethan knelt beside Seth.

"Nothing. The boys and Lainon are gone." Seth glanced briefly at Ternan and Chadeus as the healer knelt on Eilos's other side.

"You're sure something happened to them?" Ternan asked. Seth held out his hand to show Danny's pocket knife that he'd found nearby after Ethan had left.

"This is Danny's. It was a present from his grandpa. He never goes anywhere without it." Seth's voice was strained from worry. To find that pocket knife lying in plain sight on the ground was a sure sign that something was wrong.

"I have never seen anything like this before." Danthos said after briefly examining Eilos. Opening the bag he had with him, he pulled out some bottles.

"Perhaps this will help." Danthos carefully measured out several liquids into a small cup and stirred them together. Ternan helped raise Eilos so that Danthos could give the medicine to the young priest.

When Danthos was satisfied that Eilos had swallowed enough, he signaled for Ternan to lay him back down. They watched anxiously for any change. They were rewarded as color slowly began to creep back into Eilos's pale face. After several moments, Eilos spoke his first words.

"Lainon..." Seth moved close to hear Eilos whisper. "He did this. He has a strange device that made me lose control of my body. Danny and Daynan seemed to be controlled by Lainon in some way. They went toward Godera." As Eilos spoke, his voice became stronger.

"Lainon betrayed the priests. He wishes to control the power of the Cubes. We must stop him!" Eilos started to sit up. Ternan and Ethan reached to help him.

"Eilos, do you think you can ride?" At the man's nod, Seth turned to leave. "I have to tell Kate what happened, then I'm going after the boys."

Seth rode into camp, straight to the open area where everyone gathered for meals. As soon as Kate saw Seth striding through the crowd, she knew something was wrong.

"What happened? Where's Danny?" She asked before he could even speak.

"Ethan and I found Eilos unconscious. Lainon kidnapped Danny, Daynan, and the Cube. Eilos thinks Lainon was the one who betrayed the other priests." As Seth spoke, Ethan and the others joined them.

"Ternan, round up your men and meet me at the corral. Ethan, you'll come, of course."

"You know it, brother."

"Where are you going?" Prince Rayhan came up to the group, Kesstle by his side.

"I'm going after my son." Seth faced the Prince, a grim look on his face. "It seems your priest has kidnapped my son and Daynan, along with the Cube." Seth didn't wait for a response from Rayhan. He turned away, pulling his horse with him, and headed for their tent. Ethan, Kate, Susan, and Mara hurried after him.

"Seth, wait." Kate called as she ran to catch up with him. Seth stopped, and waited for her to catch up.

"We're going with you." Kate stated in her sternest 'I'm Mom, and that's that' voice.

"Kate," Seth placed a hand on her shoulder, and looked into her eyes. "This may be more dangerous than anything we've dealt with so far. I can't risk something happening to you, too."

"I'm coming too, Dad." Susan took her mom's hand, with a determined look in her eyes that resembled Kate's.

"Seth, they're right. We're in a strange world where we don't belong. The Cube is our only way home. From here on we stay together." Ethan placed a hand on his brother's shoulder. "Kate pointed out to me that we're a family, and we need each other. That holds true now, just as much as it did when Kate first said it to me." Seth looked from Ethan to Susan, and then settled on Kate.

"All right, you go. But you do just what I say, when I say it. If things get rough, I'll need to know you two are where I tell you to be. Okay?"

"Okay." Kate nodded. Then she asked, "Mara, will you come?"

"Yes, I may be able to help. If Lainon is working with my father, he'll be headed straight for him."

Seth took Kate's hand and resumed walking, followed by the others.

~ ~ ~

After collecting their things from the tent, the group headed to the corral. There they were met by a larger group than Seth expected. Eilos and Leithen stood with Prince Rayhan, deep in a low-voiced conversation. Eilos looked as if he'd recovered completely from the effects of Lainon's 'gadget'. Ternan stood with Chadeus and four others that Seth knew from his time with them. Behind the Prince, but not close enough to hear Rayhan's conversation, stood Kesstle and some guards.

When Prince Rayhan saw Seth, he broke off his conversation with Eilos and Leithen. The three men moved to face Seth and Kate.

"Eilos has told me all that has been discovered of Lainon's treachery, Seth Tucker. We must talk of how best to deal with this."

"Prince Rayhan, no disrespect intended, but I can't wait around to discuss this with you. My family and I are leaving now to find Danny and get him back. Lainon already has at least a couple hours lead. We are not under your authority. We are not of your world even." Seth spoke firmly.

"I am well aware of that. But would it not be better to wait and travel with my Army? We can be ready to leave in a very short time."

"No. We have to try to get to Danny directly. Lainon has some kind of control over him and Daynan, and that has to be broken somehow, the sooner the better. A small group has a much better chance of reaching the boys. Follow if you wish, but we're leaving now, Your Highness." Seth bowed his head as he'd seen others do, and then turned to Ternan's group. "Ternan, will you ride with us?"

"I travel with you, brother. Prince Rayhan, I and my men have been sworn to service with this Son of Trevalia. You would not order us to forsake him now, would you?" Rayhan smiled at Ternan's words, knowing that they intended to go even without his permission.

"Go with my permission, Ternan. Take what weapons and provisions you need." At Rayhan's words, Ternan spoke a low word to the five standing with him, and they immediately scattered to gather supplies and weapons. They were well practiced as a unit and didn't need instruction.

"Eilos and I go with Seth as well, Your Highness." Leithen spoke, looking at Seth.

"Yes." Eilos added. "My duty is to protect the Cube, and those linked to one. I must go as well."

"I understand. May you meet with success. Come Kesstle, we have much to do to ready the men." Prince Rayhan turned away.

Ternan rounded up their horses. He, Ethan, and Seth had just started saddling some of them when Ternan's men returned. They were soon ready and on their way.

~ ~ ~

"They are definitely headed for Godera." Ternan remarked to Seth. He had located their trail easily. Lainon obviously cared more for speed than secrecy.

"Godera, and Lord Treamar." Mara added. "My father and Lainon must have planned the betrayal of the King and his priests together. Lainon is taking the Cube to my father."

"What do we do when we get there?" Ethan wondered. "How do we find the boys and rescue them and the Cube?"

"I don't know, Ethan. First, we get to Godera. We'll figure something out." Seth lapsed into silence.

They were forced to stop and make camp for the night when darkness fell. Everyone hated the delay, but knew they had no choice.

~ ~ ~

Susan opened her eyes sleepily. She looked over at Kate and Seth and saw that they were asleep. Rolling over, she saw Mara asleep on her other side. Sitting up and looking around showed that everyone else, except two guards, were asleep as well. Susan lay back down, deciding she must have dreamed that someone was calling her.

The next moment her eyes flew open. There it was again!

"Awaken, Daughter of Trevalia..." It sounded like a woman's voice. Susan looked all around the area, but there was no one there except their group. Two of Ternan's men sat facing outward from the sleepers. They never even glanced back, leading Susan to believe they couldn't hear the woman's voice.

"It is time." The voice continued. "Do not be afraid, child. Come, it is time to gather what is rightfully yours."

The air around her took on a bright glow, so bright that she couldn't see beyond it. It reminded her of the times the Cube transported them from one place to another, except that there was no sound, and no Cube.

Long moments later, Susan blinked rapidly as she found herself somewhere else. It was light here, like when a room was lit up by lamps. Susan stood and looked around curiously. She found herself in a very odd place. A large room made of rock surrounded her. The walls emitted a soft glow, as if the rock was made of some luminescent material. Glancing above, her eyes widened. Instead of rock, the ceiling seemed to be made of a thick glass. On the other side of the glass was water-lots of water.

Susan watched, frightened and fascinated at the same time, as fish of many kinds swam past, above her head. She watched as more species passed by than she could count. The water held an amazing and varied display of underwater life, and itself seemed to glow softly. Susan sensed that she was deep underwater.

"Welcome to Larendos, child." A soft voice sounded behind Susan. She turned quickly. A woman stood facing her, though this was no ordinary woman. Susan could see the wall through her shimmering body.

"I am Allera Trevalia, Susan." The woman smiled slightly as the girl reached out tentatively. "This body is just a projection of my old form, to make you more at ease. The magic of the Cube created this place for me to hide the Cube in, to await your coming when the time was right."

"I don't understand. How did I get here?"

"I brought you here, calling through what you know as space, when it was the proper time. It is time for you to claim Bralar's Cube, and wash from it the darkness that was caused by my second son's evil choices. You must use its power to stop the men attempting to conquer Mendrossa and enslave her people, using the power of the Trevalian Cubes for evil. Do not be afraid. You hold within you that which is needed to stop Daniel and Daynan. You must not hesitate to do what you must to free them. Your family must work together, or the two could be lost to you, and the evil will spread from world to world. There lies Bralar's Cube. It will bond with only you, therefor you must take it as yours now. It is the only way." The projection of the woman turned slightly and waved a graceful hand toward the corner.

As Susan took a step forward, the woman began to fade away.

"Trust yourself." The voice spoke in her head again as she touched the Cube. "You will know what to do when you have need."

Susan suddenly found herself sitting in the dark between her mother and Mara. She blinked, wondering for a moment if she'd been dreaming, but when she looked down, the red Trevalian Cube was in her lap.

"Mom, Dad, wake up." Susan's voice was a bit shaky, and she spoke just above a whisper, but Kate woke immediately and sat up beside Susan.

"What is it, honey?" Kate followed Susan's gaze, to stare in surprise at what her daughter held. Kate reached back without turning.

"Seth, you'd better wake up." At the touch of his wife's hand, Seth awoke with a jerk.

"What is it?" He spoke sharply, fully awake as only a parent can be when they are worried about a child's safety. He stared at what Susan held. Susan looked up at them slowly.

"It's the other Cube, the one that was hidden It's MY Cube, the woman said."

"The second brother's Cube?" Leithen had come over as soon as he'd heard their voices. "It has been lost since Bralar held it last. None heard even rumor that it existed still."

"You'd better tell us what happened, Susan." Seth spoke gently. By now everyone was awake, and Susan was surrounded by people. Kate reached to place a comforting hand on Susan's shoulder.

Susan took a deep breath and began. She stopped several times, searching for the right words to describe what she'd seen and heard. By the time she finished telling how she finally found herself here holding the Cube, the dim glow of sunrise lit up the horizon.

"Allera Trevalia was the mother of the three Trevalians who held the Cubes when they came to this world." Leithen broke the silence after Susan had finished. "My grandfather didn't know much. The stories alluded to Bralar having done something unforgivable."

"Dad, what am I supposed to do with this? The voice said I'd know, but it scares me. Danny seemed to know instinctively how to use it, but I don't even want to know, let alone do whatever it is I'm supposed to." Susan leaned against her mother's side and laid her head on Kate's shoulder like she used to do when she was little. Eilos knelt in front of them.

"You are wise to fear the power, Susan. It can be misused and corrupt the user. The desire for the power corrupted Lainon, and Bralar before him. But you, who don't desire the power of the Cube, will use it as it was intended to be used. I will help you in any way that I can. The duty of a true priest of Naru is, and has always been, to guide, protect, and serve the people. I offer you all that I have to give, Daughter of Trevalia." He bowed his head to her. Susan smiled up at him, just a small smile, but still a smile.

"It's time to go." Seth stood, and helped Kate and Susan to their feet. "We'd better be on the move again."

Leithen retrieved the backpack that he had stored in his saddlebag and handed it to Susan.

"You need something to carry your Cube."

"Thank you." Susan said in a small voice. Seth helped Susan put the pack on after she had slid the Cube into it and helped Susan to mount her horse. He and Kate rode with her, one on each side.

Susan looked at her mom, and then at her dad. She came to a decision.

"Let's go get my little brother." Susan spoke firmly, and they started on toward Godera.
Chapter Nineteen

"Well, what's it like out there?" Ethan asked Seth, as he and Ternan slipped in through the back door of Lydar's small house.

"It's just as Lydar told us when we talked to her." Ternan sat at a small table and took an apple from the bowl. "The town is nearly deserted. It felt very eerie moving through the quiet streets. The main road is being used by Treamar's patrols, as they gather in and around the fort."

"It looks like they know Prince Rayhan is coming, and they're prepared." Seth sighed. "There's no way to get anywhere near the place now. But Danny and Daynan are there. I know it."

Well before their group had gotten close to Godera, they had run into refugees fleeing the city. Small groups of people trudged wearily along, carrying what baskets and bundles they could manage in their arms, or carrying small children. Most of them moved off the road, as far as they could from the horses of the strange people who chose to go to Godera rather than flee the coming battle.

In one group, they had met Lydar and her granddaughter Tullara. Lydar had told them of the rumors flying around Godera that Prince Rayhan was headed for Godera with an army, intent on facing Treamar. Not wishing to be caught in the middle of a war zone, most of the residents had fled by the time she left. She had given Seth permission to use her house. Mara had refused to allow Lydar to return with them to help, so Lydar took Tullara and hurried on again.

They were using Lydar's house as their base camp, as three groups of two men each had gone to reconnoiter.

Seth and Ternan were the second group to return. They all had the same report. The area surrounding Treamar's compound was occupied by his men, and there was no possible way to approach undetected.

"How are we going to get Danny back if we can't get anywhere near him?" Kate looked up at Seth.

"Can't we just use the Trevalian Cube to go in, grab them, and get back out?" Susan asked from where she had been sitting silently against the kitchen wall.

"No." Eilos spoke. "You must not take the other Cube anywhere near Lainon, Susan. He wishes to join the three in some manner. It seems they are even more powerful together than apart, and he wants that power. With his ability to control others, he would be one Cube closer to his desire to his desire. There will be another way."

Leithen stepped forward, from where he had stood listening in the doorway to the next room.

"I remember a story my grandfather told me when I was little. The brothers who held the Cubes long ago had the ability to talk to each other. Distance made no difference. They would concentrate while holding their Cubes, and it was as if they were together in the same place. Perhaps if Susan were to try, she might be able to break the hold on Danny and Daynan."

"But if that is something Susan can do, she may accomplish nothing more than alerting them to what she has." Eilos reasoned. "He and Treamar would stop at nothing to capture Susan if they are aware she now is linked to a Cube. The risk may be too great. I know far too little of the Cubes, and what can be done with them, I'm afraid."

At that moment the last of the scouts returned.

"Ternan," the first man reported. "Prince Rayhan's forces approach Godera. We met his advance guard. They will make camp near the outskirts of town."

"Maybe we should join forces with them, Seth." Ternan advised.

"Maybe you're right." Seth agreed, though he felt very frustrated. All he wanted to do was to break in to Treamar's compound and rescue Danny and Daynan. But he knew he would just get himself captured or killed. That would leave his family far worse off and solve nothing.

They left Lydar's house, circled around the edge of the city, and made their way to where Prince Rayhan's advance guard waited for Prince Rayhan's forces. Late that evening the rest of the troops arrived. Farmers, merchants, and such though many were, they seemed well organized.

As soon as Rayhan discovered that Seth and the others were there, he searched them out. Seth, Ethan, and Ternan told Rayhan what had happened along the road, including Susan's possession of the third Trevalian Cube. They passed on all that they had seen of Godera and the enemy.

Rayhan asked Leithen and Eilos to join them, and the men talked well into the night. When they finally came to the small fire where Susan and Kate were already asleep, Ethan turned to Seth.

"I wasn't sure of Rayhan before. But after hearing him talk tonight, I think he'll be a good leader for these people."

Ethan, noticing the look in Seth's eyes as he stared into the camp fire, reached over to touch his older brother's arm.

"We'll get Danny back, Seth. You've got to believe that." Ethan glanced at Kate and Susan. "We'll get back home, too."

"I pray you're right, Ethan." Without another word, Seth settled next to Kate and closed his eyes, no longer able to stay awake.

~ ~ ~

Susan knew she was dreaming, yet it wasn't really a dream. She walked along the upper Hall of Lord Treamar's hold, toward his private quarters. She knew that was where she was, though she had never been in the upper hall. As she moved toward the double doors there, a guard saluted someone behind her and opened the doors for them.

Feeling a hand on her arm, she turned to face the seating area, unable to control her movements. Susan looked up at the wall she faced, into the reflection of a large ornate mirror.

It wasn't her own reflection she saw. Susan found herself staring into the dull, uninterested eyes of her younger brother. Daynan stood beside him, as uninterested in his surroundings as Danny. Susan sensed that what she saw was real, and that she was there for a reason.

"The device you discovered works perfectly, father." Susan recognized the voice of Lord Treamar. "Now that you have recovered young Daniel's Cube from his world, we shall crush Rayhan and his army easily with their combined power."

"Yes, Korlan, we are very close to what we have worked for all these years. I think it will not be long before we have all of Mendrossa under our control." Lainon crossed in front of Danny's vision. Danny's eyes turned to follow the traitorous priest as he sat to face Lord Treamar.

"With the two joined, nothing will stand in the way of our finding the third Cube. With the power of all three, we shall be unstoppable. It has been a very long wait, my son, but it has been worth it."

Susan cried out. The sound seemed to echo back at her. The two men on the chairs didn't seem to hear anything, but Susan felt a stirring, seemingly in her own head.

"Susan?" She heard her name, just a bare whisper.

"Danny!" She knew instantly that it was him.

"Susan!" The voice was a bit stronger, but she still could barely hear it.

"Danny," She spoke softly. "Listen to me. You must fight them. Don't let them win. Fight them any way you can. We're coming for you, little brother." Susan knew she was running out of time. The vision of the room was beginning to fade.

"Do you hear me? I'm going to come for you!" Susan thought she heard a response, but the room was gone, and she opened her eyes to find herself beside Kate. Her hand rested on the pack beside her which held the Cube. A soft glow showed through the fabric, though it faded away in moments. The campfire nearby had died down to nothing but glowing embers.

Susan lay quietly, thinking over what had just happened. She had connected with Danny, and he had known she was there. Whatever Lainon was doing to control him, it wasn't completely effective.

Susan got up as quietly as she could, taking the pack with her. She felt the need to be in constant physical touch with this Cube. She moved to the edge of the field, where someone had built up a fire. Recognizing Eilos sitting alone on a log there, she joined him.

"You should be sleeping." Eilos commented quietly, as she sat beside him and wrapped her arms around the pack she carried. Eilos noticed the disturbed look on Susan's face.

"What is it?" Eilos shifted to face her.

"I've seen Danny." Susan blurted out, not sure whether he'd believe her or not.

"Tell me what you saw." Eilos's attitude was one of intense interest, so Susan told him all about her 'dream'. He listened quietly until she finished.

"That explains much that I did not understand." Susan felt relief when Eilos spoke, feeling more confident in her belief that it hadn't been just a dream. "Daniel responded to you. Perhaps Lainon's hold on them is not as strong as I feared. But there is also warning in what you have told me, as well. With both Cubes, they could well carry out their plan to crush Prince Rayhan and his army, if it were not for you."

"Eilos, am I going to have to fight my own brother?"

"That is what you must prepare for, Susan. Treamar and Lainon will attack, using Daniel and Daynan. You are the only one with any chance of stopping them. You have done well so far. If you are able to reconnect with your brother again, you must continue to encourage him to fight Lainon's control." Eilos stood and reached a hand down to help Susan to her feet.

"We must wake everyone. There may not be much time."

Susan slipped her pack onto her back and moved toward the tent where she had left her parents, Uncle Ethan, and Mara sleeping. Eilos walked with her.

The two had only taken a few steps, when a strange sound made them both turn back quickly. They heard the warning shouts of sentries as the sky was lit up from fire arrows headed straight for the camp!

Susan instinctively threw her arms up, palms out and up. The air above her shimmered, a pale golden glow quickly expanding in all directions. A moment later the barrage of arrows reached the shimmering air. All flame was instantly extinguished, and the arrows seemed to be absorbed by the magical barrier, creating a loud hissing sound. Susan lowered her arms and stared at Eilos. The shimmering shield slowly faded away.

The camp came to life around them. Those who were already awake began to wake others, and the story of what had just happened was soon known to everyone.

"Now we begin to see why the Cube's powers are so sought after." Eilos spoke close to Susan's ear so that she could hear him through the growing commotion. "Are you all right?"

At Susan's nod, Eilos reached for her hand and started for the group that was gathering around Prince Rayhan.

"Susan!" Seth called, as he, Ethan, Kate, and Mara moved toward her and Eilos. Susan pulled her hand from Eilos grasp, to run into her parent's arms. Eilos followed closely behind her.

Kate took Susan's face between her hands when Susan pulled back from the hug.

"Are you okay, honey?"

Susan swallowed, took a deep breath, and told them as quickly as she could what had happened, starting with her dream.

"The fire arrows are just the beginning, Seth." Eilos warned. "Susan must be ready for whatever Lainon and Treamar do next."

"He's right, Dad. We have to stop them." Susan suddenly looked older than her 15 years. "We'd better tell Prince Rayhan what I learned."

Susan turned and hurried over to where they saw the Prince surrounded by his commanders. He was giving crisp orders to them, and each one hurried off to follow them as they were given instructions.

"Rayhan!" Seth called loudly as they approached him. The Prince turned, breaking off in the middle of a command.

"Young Susan, you are responsible for that shield?" Prince Rayhan strode to meet her.

"Yes, sir." Susan told him what she had learned, in few words. "That was just a precursor of the magic that will be used against us. You must allow me to do what is necessary to stop Lainon and Treamar, without interference. This is now between us. He seeks to ill use Trevalian power."

"You're just a child. How can you fight alone? I and my men will fight with you!"

Susan turned to face in the direction of Treamar's Fort. Instantly the girl's body was surrounded by a glittering light. In that moment, Susan seemed to change into something more than what she was, though Susan was still Susan, as well. As the light was absorbed into her skin, it took on a slight sheen.

"Back, all of you!" Susan cried out, raising her hands. A rapidly moving wall of flame raced toward them, burning to cinders all that it touched in just moments. The air was filled with a loud roaring sound.

Susan closed her eyes, hands raised. The young girl's body was enveloped in a bright glow. Her eyes opened, and she clapped her hands together over her head, fingers together and aimed up at the sky.

Most of the people had begun to run when they saw the approaching flames. Only Prince Rayhan, Seth, Kate, Ethan, Mara, Eilos, and Leithen, who had just joined them, remained close to the girl. As they watched in amazement, bright beams of light shot from Susan's fingers, straight into the sky. Clouds formed in the sky above as rapidly as the fire approached.

Susan swung her hands in a downward motion, palms now facing the ground. As her hands moved, a heavy, glittering downpour began.

As the 'rain' fell upon the racing flames, now just thirty yards from Susan and the others, a loud hissing began. To the onlookers it seemed that the flames and rain began a vicious battle with one another. One moment the flames would die down. The next moment, they would flare up again with renewed energy. They ceased forward movement but didn't stop burning.

This savage battle between fire and water seemed to go on forever. Through it, Susan stood almost motionless, her arms toward the fire, fingers extended toward it.

Susan suddenly called out in a loud voice.

"Danny, Daynan, you must resist his will. Fight him! Do it now!" As she called, the air in front of her seemed to light up. It seemed as if the words themselves took on physical form. Kate swore later that they took on a physical life of their own, becoming bright arrows of light that hurtled toward Godera through the rain, to find Danny and Daynan.

Moments after Susan spoke, a change came. The torrential rain gained the upper hand. The hissing grew louder and louder, until everyone but Susan had to cover their ears.

Finally, an end came. The flames lost the battle, being fully extinguished under the pounding force of the magical deluge. Susan lowered her arms slowly, and then turned to face everyone who remained.

"Enough of this madness." Susan stood tall, bathed in the glow that seemed to brighten even more as they watched. "We end this now."

Kate cried out in alarm as Susan disappeared, along with Seth, Ethan, Leithen, and Eilos. Kate, Mara, and Prince Rayhan stood almost entirely alone in the field, facing the bare devastation left from the magical fire. The sky was still filled with Susan's clouds, though the deluge had ended. They looked at one another, wondering what to do now.

~ ~ ~

Susan and the others materialized in the now burned out field facing Lord Treamar's compound. Houses, trees, and anything else that had been there before were gone. They had been wiped away in mere moments by the flames. Lord Treamar's forces could be seen standing well behind the fort, having moved back in fear of the horrible destructive magic that had been unleashed.

Susan reached her hand toward Seth and began to speak.

"It is time to use that which Lainon cannot. It is not just the joint power of the Cubes that can move mountains. It is the strength of the joined will of those of the bloodline of the royal house of Trevalia. It is our wills. Seth, Ethan, Leithen Trevalia," as Susan spoke each name they moved forward to join hands in a physical chain, each sensing that this was required. As each new link was made, the Cube in the pack on Susan's back glowed brighter. "And finally, you, Eilos Charlanth. For through your veins also flows Trevalian blood."

Eilos, surprise in his eyes at this new knowledge, moved to grasp Leithen's outstretched hand. As they turned as one to face the walls of Lord Treamar's compound where Danny and Daynan stood holding their Cubes on either side of Lainon, Treamar behind them, the clouds parted. The five were bathed in a strong ray of sunlight. The air around them sparkled as if filled with glittering confetti.

Lainon faced them from the wall. He had knelt between the boys when the group had appeared, gesturing emphatically, talking as he motioned, though Susan and the others were too far away to hear. Just as they had finished joining hands, Lainon stood, made a final gesture toward the group below, and smiled smugly at them.

The air between them and the compound suddenly took on a sickly, brownish glint. A tall column of rapidly swirling wind began in the center of it, sucking up ashes and dirt as it gained in girth in seconds, filling the entire field between.

Susan flung her hand across the air in front of her. A shield of glowing air, much like the shield that had protected the camp, surrounded the line of people joined with her.

"Hold fast!" She turned her head to face the others, yelling to be heard about the roaring of the winds.

The vicious cyclone shifted toward them until they were completely surrounded by the swirling mass. The ground beneath their feet shook as the shield was attacked, throwing debris against it at incredible speed. All those within the shield heard a voice in their heads...

'I must have what strength you can give!' Seth felt a draining of energy first, connected to Susan by the grasp of hands. As each person in the line began to feel a similar drain, they each fell to their knees, unable to remain on their feet, as the bombardment of the shield continued. Susan succumbed last, still clinging to Seth's hand tightly. 'Hold fast, do not break the chain!'

Susan held her hand chest high, palm up. A tiny sprite of a whirlwind sat on her hand, spinning almost lazily, in comparison to the monster surrounding them, trying to eradicate them from existence. The girl leaned forward, whispering to the wind sprite, though none could hear the words.

She moved her hand forward slowly, until both it and the wind sprite passed through the shield. When she pulled her hand back an instant later it was empty.

At first nothing happened. They still felt a draining of strength, and the shield was being bombarded even more violently. They had all fallen to a sitting position, linked hands on the ground. They felt barely strong enough to hold their heads up.

Eilos noticed the change first. He squeezed the hand he held, knowing his voice wouldn't be heard. Reaching up with his free hand, he pointed forward. First one and then another raised their eyes as what he had glimpsed became even more visible.

Within the Cyclone around their shield, a new force raged. What had started as a tiny sprite now loomed large, a glittering, golden force of wind swirling counterclockwise to the other. It grew and grew until it occupied the exact space as the other.

The speed of the original cyclone had now slowed to less than half its top speed. As they watched it slowed more by the second. Then it stopped. For brief seconds the brownish mass tried to begin again, but the gold overcame it completely, absorbing every bit of it until nothing remained to be seen. Then even the gold evaporated into a fine mist that drifted lazily away.

The shield around them went with it.

They were left sitting on the torn and abused earth, almost too drained to care what happened next. Susan was the first to recover, standing slowly.

'My thanks, kin.' A voice whispered to each. Slowly they began to feel some energy return, and they stood, joining Susan and clasping hands again. They each gained even more strength at the renewed contact.

She looked across to where the boys still stood beside Lainon. The four on the wall looked equally drained.

"Hear me, Lainon!" Susan's voice carried across the burned field to the four who stood on the wall watching. "You and Treamar's desires for power have caused grief and pain to an entire world for far too long. It is time now for the healing to begin. You and your son, and all those whose wills are joined with yours, are now banished from this world where you have caused such harm."

Susan raised her free hand and pointed straight at Lainon. The device in his hand began to glow red hot. Lainon dropped it with a cry of pain just before it caught fire, burning rapidly to nothing. Danny and Daynan's Cubes began to glow as brightly as Susan's.

"No!" Lainon screamed, as he and Lord Treamar were both enveloped by bright light and strings of electricity. As the light faded, Danny and Daynan were left standing alone on the wall. They blinked and looked at one another, then at Susan and the others.

"Your wills are free again." Susan pointed at each, and the boys disappeared, to reappear directly in front of her. The three Cubes joined by arcs of light jumping from one to the other. The troops in the distance began disappearing, just as Treamar and Lainon had. Not all were taken. Those who had never truly chosen to serve, but had been forced, were spared. The power of the joined Cubes brought those near, until a sizable group now faced the joined Trevalians.

"You were not loyal to Lord Treamar." Susan spoke loudly, her voice carrying to all those who now remained. "Return to your homes and families. Help rebuild what evil sought to destroy. Go now and live in peace from this day on."

Her words were greeted with cheers, and tears of joy, as men of all ages threw down their weapons gratefully. Many turned to friends in the crowd, hugging one another. Others bowed gratefully toward Susan before turning away, to begin the weary but joyful trek back to the lives that had been stolen from them.

Seth dropped Susan's hand to take Danny into his arms. Leithen let go of the hands he held as well and hurried to Daynan. Both boys had dropped their Cubes and returned the hugs. Susan watched for a moment, and then turned to face Eilos.

"Eilos Charlanth, priest of Naru, you have been faithful to the calling within you, though robbed of much through the treachery of Lainon. Your brother and fellow priests cannot be restored to you. But the knowledge and power that should have been rightfully yours as a descendent of Trevalia and chosen protector and guardian of the people – that can be given." As Susan placed a hand on each side of Eilos's head, the brightness moved to include the priest.

Eilos eyes grew wide in amazement as he felt an inflow of knowledge and energy from her touch. As the glow finally faded, Susan took a step back.

"You are now charged with the task of building up the priesthood again, 'Master' Eilos. Be wise and careful in the choosing of worthy candidates. You and your brothers shall be the protectors of this world as it recovers from the evil that has been removed."

"Leithen Trevalia." Susan turned, "continue to guide and protect young Daynan. Assist Eilos in his work. Help to guide the young King, as Rayhan is the rightful ruler of his people. He will have need of your wisdom."

As she finished speaking, the three Cubes dis-connected, their glow fading rapidly, until they were once again just plain metallic boxes. Susan seemed to change as well, as the glow that surrounded her faded. Ethan, who still stood close, caught his niece as her knees buckled beneath her.

"Susan!" Seth released Danny and hurried to kneel by Susan as Ethan helped lowered her gently to the ground. She gave a deep sigh, then opened her eyes and looked up at Seth with a smile. She slipped off the pack, setting it on the ground.

"Daddy!" Seth smiled in relief, seeing the old Susan again. She struggled to stand up. Seth and Ethan helped her, each taking an arm and getting her to her feet. As she stood, Danny was there, to throw his arms around her.

"I knew somehow you'd find the way, Sis!" He grinned as he stepped back. Eilos placed hands on their shoulders.

"You were not meant to come into the full power of the Cubes at such young ages, my young Trevalians. Your memories of this will become dim and distant, allowing you to return to the lives you had before, to grow as you are meant to, into adults. But need of your Cubes may arise again in the future. Guard them well. They will answer your needs, if such need does arise."

Susan met Eilos's gaze and smiled slowly.

"We will, Master Eilos. They'll be safe with us." Susan reached over and gave him a quick hug. Then she turned to Seth.

"Daddy?" She reached down and retrieved her Cube. "I want to go home now."

"Ditto!" Danny echoed Susan's sentiment. Everyone turned at the sound of approaching horses.

"Mom!" Danny yelled as he recognized Kate, who rode between Ternan and Prince Rayhan, followed by a large group. Kate spurred her horse to more speed as she saw Danny. She was out of the saddle and hugging him, almost before the horse came to a full stop.

"Danny, I was so worried about you! Are you okay?" She examined his face anxiously. He nodded. "Are you sure?"

"Sure, I'm sure, Mom. Boy, am I glad to see you." He grinned mischievously, glancing at Susan as he spoke. "I'm starving!" Susan just smiled back.

"Where are Lainon and Treamar?" Prince Rayhan asked sharply.

"They are gone, along with all those who served them with loyalty, King Rayhan." Eilos emphasized the title. "They have been banished from this world, never to return. You will have much to do to help your people recover, your highness."

"All that needs doing, I shall gladly do, Priest." Rayhan turned to Susan. "I don't know what took place here, but I am grateful."

Susan blushed as Rayhan took her hand, to bow and kiss it.

"It's time for me to take my family and return to our own world." Seth spoke up. "It seems we've finished what we were brought here to do, and we just want to go home."

"Wait!" Mara swung to the ground. She approached Seth and Ethan. "My father and Lainon have done so much to harm the people of this world. I can't stay here."

"You have done much to help these people, Mara." Eilos joined them. "You are not your father. No one will hold against you what he did."

"Perhaps, but I do not wish to stay. And I cannot return to the world we fled from when I was a child. I was told it was destroyed."

"Then come with me!" Ethan took her hand. "Come with us. You'll like our world, I think. I'd enjoy showing it to you." Ethan couldn't say more, with everyone watching them, but his eyes spoke volumes to Mara, as they stood looking at one another. After a moment, Mara turned back to Eilos.

"Please find Lydar and Tullara for me, Eilos. Tell Lydar that this is my choice and tell them I love them." Eilos bowed his head in acceptance of the task, understanding that this was the right decision for the young woman.

Seth walked over to Ternan, who stood just behind King Rayhan.

"Your friendship saved me these last two years, Ternan. Without you and your men, I never would have survived. Thank you for everything."

"We will always be brothers, though we are from different worlds, Seth Tucker. I wish for you and your family the peace of Trevalia. You have given all of us that gift, and we will forever be in your debt." Ternan embraced Seth in farewell, and then Seth moved back to place an arm around Kate. The two watched as Danny and Daynan faced one another, grins on their boyish faces.

"Uncle Leithen says he has heard about Trevalian twins." Daynan had just asked his uncle about that. "He thinks we might be able to 'talk' to one another. So this isn't really goodbye, Daniel."

"I think you're right, Daynan. Maybe we'll see each other again. Just the same, I'm sure looking forward to being home! I guess it's 'see you around', instead of 'goodbye'." Danny grinned again, and then moved back to stand beside Seth.

"Well, little brother, do you think you can take us all home now?" Susan placed her hand on Danny's shoulder.

"Piece of cake, Sis!" Danny raised his Cube. "Stand close, everyone."

Seth placed his free hand on Danny's other shoulder, while Susan reached for Uncle Ethan's free hand, the other still being very much occupied.

"Okay, Son, we're ready." Seth glanced around to be sure.

Danny closed his eyes and concentrated on home. The magic of the Cube responded instantly, and the group of six became surrounded by light, as sound filled the air.

~ ~ ~

As the bright light faded away, Kate lifted her head, having buried her face against Seth's shoulder just beforehand.

"I hate that!" She spoke with feeling.

"Kate, where are we?" Seth looked around, puzzled.

The others, except for Mara, saw where they were and started to laugh.

"What, you don't recognize Dad's old barn?" Ethan grinned mischievously, showing the strong resemblance between him and Danny. Seth looked at Ethan with a question in his eyes. Then he did a slow turn, studying the interior.

"Well, all I can say is, 'Wow'!" Seth turned back. "Gee, a guy goes off to another planet for a couple of years, and everything changes." Kate hugged him.

"A lot changed while you were gone, honey. But you're here now, and that's what counts."

"Yeah, welcome home, Dad!" Danny chimed in. Susan grabbed her father's hand and started toward the door.

"Come on, Dad. You ought to see how Mom set up Grandma and Grandpa's house with our stuff! We still have a lot to do, but it's great!" Kate started to follow, smiling at Susan's new attitude. She stopped suddenly.

"The key! It's back in Godera with the clothes I was wearing. Don't tell me we have to go back for it?" Kate sounded appalled. Ethan came forward to rescue her, laughing. Mara was forced to go with him, since he still refused to let go of her hand.

"Here's a spare." He pulled a key from a desk drawer. Kate took it with a smile of relief. Mara started to follow as Kate and Danny left, but Ethan held her back.

"Maybe we should give them some time alone together as a family. They haven't had that for a very long time. Besides, I'd kind of like to show you around my home first." As Mara nodded agreement, Ethan smiled happily. He started showing her around the converted barn, full of many things that were new and strange to the young woman from another world.

### Chapter Twenty

The family sat around the kitchen table having breakfast. Ethan had had to make a run to the store, since they had been gone for weeks. Much of what was in the refrigerator had gone bad.

Seth sat talking to Ethan, getting caught up on some of the things in their own world since he had disappeared. His eyes followed Kate as she moved around the large kitchen, preparing breakfast. He felt such gratitude and pleasure just to be watching her doing normal everyday chores.

Ethan watched as Mara marveled at the kitchen appliances, smiling at her enjoyment.

They were all done eating, and Kate had just stood up to carry her dishes to the sink when there was a knock at the front door, followed by the sound of the door being opened.

"Yoo-hoo! Kate, where are you, dear?"

Kate looked at Seth, her eyes filled with a look of horror.

"It's Millie! Seth, how do we explain YOU?" They all looked at one another wordlessly, realizing none of them had thought about how to deal with this question yet.

It wasn't a very long walk through the hall past the stairs, and into the kitchen. Millie Wilson burst in upon them before anyone had a chance to really think.

"There you all are! I didn't mean to interrupt breakfast, Kate. Hiram and I just got back yesterday. I was too tired to come see you then, but I have pictures and couldn't wait any longer..." Suddenly the older woman stopped, staring at Seth and dropping the bag she carried.

Ethan jumped up to take her arm, worried that she might be about to pass out, as her face became pale and her mouth dropped open.

"Danny, bring a chair." Ethan ordered, and Danny hurried to place one behind Millie, helping his uncle to get her seated on it.

"Millie, something happened..." Kate started hesitantly.

"Seth didn't die in that fire like everyone thought." Ethan added.

"Let me tell it." Seth jumped in, inspiration striking. He knelt to face Millie. "There was a horrible storm that night, Millie. I've never seen lightning like that before! I was struck by a bolt of it. I don't remember much after that. Apparently, I wandered for quite a distance before I found help. I couldn't remember who I was. It's almost like I was in a different world for a long time." Kate choked, and started coughing. Fortunately, Millie thought it from remembered upset, and not the sudden laughter that Kate could barely control.

"I just recently regained my memory, and here I am!" Seth finished, sounding pleased to have come up with what he thought a very plausible explanation so quickly.

"Oh, my!" Was all Millie could think to say. Kate moved to the sink to get a glass of water, trying desperately to gain control over her laughter.

"Are you all right, Millie?" Ethan asked as she still looked pale.

"Yes." She cleared her throat. "Well, of course I am! Seth, I don't believe it! Here you are, alive and well." Millie stood up and reached out to hug him, a huge smile on her face.

"Praise be! Don't fuss, Ethan. I won't collapse. I was just a bit surprised, is all."

Kate took a deep breath, almost breaking into laughter again at Millie's, 'a bit surprised.' She moved over to stand by Seth.

"We're still getting used to it all, Millie. It's a miracle, and I'll spend the rest of my life being thankful for his return." Kate finally had control of herself.

"Millie, let me drive you home." Ethan handed her the bag she'd dropped. "Maybe you'd better go lie down for a bit." Millie looked at Ethan, and then moved toward the door.

"Maybe that's a good idea. Besides, I have to tell Hiram! Won't he be surprised." She turned back for a moment. "I still can't believe it. Thank the Lord!"

After Ethan and Millie had moved through the door, Kate punched Seth on the arm lightly.

"Shame on you! When you mentioned that it was like you had been in a different world, I thought I'd die! She must've thought I'd lost my mind."

"I'm sorry, sweetheart. The words came out before I could stop them." He put his arms around Kate and joined her as she started to laugh again.

"When she was practically speechless, I wanted to roll on the floor." Kate spoke again after a minute. "I've NEVER seen Millie at a loss for words, ever!"

"I thought you'd explode when she said she was just a bit surprised!" Seth laughed, looking into his wife's eyes. He reached up to caress her cheek, and then leaned to kiss her lovingly, effectively ending any further desire to laugh on Kate's part.

Danny and Susan looked at one another and rolled their eyes, moving toward the back door with big grins on their faces. Mara smiled as well and followed them. The backyard was where Ethan found the three when he returned, having walked the shortcut through the back fields after driving Millie home in her truck.

"She barely talked the whole way." He remarked, amused. "But she'll be fine. I didn't dare go in. Hiram is as sharp as a tack and would have asked too many questions. We need to work on our story before talking to anyone else. After all, they'd never believe the truth!"

Ethan glanced around. "Where are Seth and Kate? We ought to figure this out before anyone else shows up. The whole countryside will know Seth is alive before dinner, if Millie has anything to say about it."

"That'll have to wait a while, I think, Uncle Ethan." Susan giggled. "Dad is kissing Mom."

"Oh, I see!" Ethan grinned. He moved closer to Mara and spoke softly. "You know, that's something I've been wanting to do for some time, myself." Mara blushed, but made no move to back away as Ethan leaned forward and kissed her.

"Good grief!" Danny whispered to Susan. "Come on, I have a feeling we won't be missed around here for a while."

"Race you to the pond!" Susan challenged, as she took off running, thankful for the time to be young for a few more years.

### THE END

Other Books by L.J. Capehart:

Curse of Trevalia

Guardian of Maradon

The Call of Starfire

The Declanite Threat

From the Author:

There's a veritable ocean of books out there to wade through, looking for something good to read. To have you find one of mine in all the mad whirl of offerings, and then choose it... Well, it warms my heart.

If you've read through all the way to the end, I feel honored that you used some of your time to read my words. I truly hope you enjoyed this adventure in one of my worlds. Thank you so much for reading this book!

~ ~ ~

I'd love to hear what you think - good or bad. Constructive criticism can help me make future works better, hopefully.

Here's the link to review: <https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/563939>

Or join me on facebook if you'd like: https://www.facebook.com/ljcapehartauthor/

I have a special group for those who especially like my writing: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2671823696376525/ Sneak peeks, free books, and chances to beta read are there for the taking.

~ ~ ~

Cube of Trevalia has been one of my favorite creations, and will always have a special place with me, though it's my second published work. It started out to be something different that it ended up being, but that's the way of things when you're a 'pantser', as we're called. I like to sit down with an idea, maybe even a general idea of the story line. It NEVER goes as planned!

My characters develop minds of their own, going places and doing things that I hadn't even thought about until they just break away and go for it...What? You didn't expect that? Well, too bad, I'm doing it anyway!

I seriously doubt I could create an entire plot outline and complete a full book that way. Some of my best sections, which completely changed the direction my book was heading, have been my favorite (and best, in my opinion) scenes.

I loved the scene, in the prison, where Danny and the family find that Seth really is alive. I knew he'd be there somewhere, sometime, waiting for them. I had no idea how I was getting them back together, until suddenly he was there, calling Kate's name. When the scene ended, it was like, "Well of course that's how it should have happened!"

A great deal of re-editing has gone into this labor of love. I may yet get the urge someday to read through again and fix any little thing I find. That's one of the cool things about self-publishing.

I'm open to having goofs pointed out to me, though! If you find mistakes and want to point them out, email me at: ljcapehart@hotmail.com.

Or get on my facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/ljcapehartauthor/

Thank you again for reading my work. I appreciate it!

Lisa

