Between the Light and the Darkness - Chapter 5

Despite all the questions now running rampant through Tim's brain, the only somewhat logical thing he could think to say was, "Does that ring enable you to speak and understand any language?"

"Yes. Any language it's exposed to. I can't understand or speak a new language until the ring hears it first."

"Okay, now I'm really confused."

"Well, like when I first met you. I couldn't communicate with you and you couldn't understand me when I spoke to you. But after you finally spoke, the ring was able to pick up the new language and translate it to me. And now we're able to communicate."

"How come they haven't taken it away from you?"

She shrugged. "The people of this world have no interest in silver. As for the ring being magic, they either don't know or don't care. Often I work as a translator for the guards."

"Where did you get your ring?"

"It was a gift from our father."

"Our," Tim asked.

"What?"

"You said it was a gift from 'our' father."

She chuckled nervously. "I'm afraid you are mistaken. I said my father. It was a gift from my father." She said it as if she were trying to convince herself as well as him. "He gave it to me for our--I mean my birthday."

There. She said it again. He distinctly heard it this time. He had almost believed her when she said he was mistaken about what he had heard the first time, thinking maybe he was still dizzy from his fight with Aark. But this time there was no mistaking what he had heard. She was hiding something. He decided to ask her more details about her past.

"Do you have any siblings?"

She paused a moment before answering. "No. I'm an only child."

"Me, too. It can be pretty lonely growing up without any brothers or sisters, can't it?"

"Yes," she said almost inaudibly. She absently picked loose threads off her dress. Something was definitely going on here. He had stirred up painful memories and regretted it.

"Are you okay? I'm sorry if I..."

"I'm just fine," she answered, but when she looked up at him her eyes were moist with unshed tears.

"Look, Ileeya..."

"We better get some sleep. It's getting late."

He decided to let the matter drop for now. For the first time since coming to this strange world he remembered he had a watch on his wrist. He pulled up his shirt sleeve and was surprised to see that it read nearly 1:30 in the morning. It had only been 6 p.m. when he took his dog out for a walk, just before he 'arrived' here.

Tim crawled into bed wearily, his muscles already beginning to stiffen. He lied in there, staring at the wall thinking of Gertie and Bones. What would they do when he didn't return? A wave of despair washed over him. He didn't want to be here. He wanted to go home.

In the royal conference room, the king sat in a meeting with a few members of his court."What is your report?" the king asked his high priest.

"My liege, I have carefully reviewed the old prophecies, and this, Tim, matches the description exactly."

"Then it is our duty to prepare him. Have one of our best train him well. Ileeya or Jondak should prove sufficient."

"But sire, if he dies in the Grand Tournament, he cannot fulfill his destiny."

"If he dies in the Grand Tournament," the king replied stoically, "then he is not the one."