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In the stone silence that followed this； Kevin Laine； who had chased an elusive image down all the nights of his life； felt an astonishing turbulence rising in his heart。 There was a power woven into the old man's voice； and that； as much as the words； reached through to him。
〃Almighty God；〃 he whispered。 〃Paul； how did you know？〃
〃Wait a second！ You believe this？〃 It was Dave Martyniuk； all bristling belligerence。 〃I've never heard anything so crack…brained in my life！〃 He put his drink down and was halfway to the door in two long strides。
〃Dave； please！〃
It stopped him。 Dave turned slowly in the middle of the room to face Jennifer Lowell。 〃Don't go；〃 she pleaded。 〃He said he needed us。〃
Her eyes； he noticed for the first time； were green。 He shook his head。 〃Why do you care？〃
〃Didn't you hear it？〃 she replied。 〃Didn't you feel anything？〃
He wasn't about to tell these people what he had or hadn't heard in the old man's voice； but before he could make that clear； Kevin Laine spoke。
〃Dave； we can afford to hear him out。 If there's danger or it's really wild； we can run away after。〃
He heard the goad in the words； and the implication。 He didn't rise to it； though。 Never turning from Jennifer； he walked over and sat beside her on the couch。 Didn't even look at Kevin Laine。
There was a silence； and she was the one who broke it。 〃Now； Dr。 Marcus； or whatever you prefer to be called； we'll listen。 But please explain。 Because I'm frightened now。〃
It is not known whether Loren Silvercloak had a vision then of what the future held for Jennifer； but he bestowed upon her a look as tender as he could give； from a nature storm…tossed； but still more giving； perhaps； than anything else。 And then he began the tale。
〃There are many worlds；〃 he said； 〃caught in the loops and whorls of time。 Seldom do they intersect； and so for the most part they are unknown to each other。 Only in Fionavar； the prime creation； which all the others imperfectly reflect； is the lore gathered and preserved that tells of how to bridge the worlds…and even there the years have not dealt kindly with ancient wisdom。 We have made the crossing before； Matt and I； but always with difficulty； for much is lost； even in Fionavar。〃
〃How？ Haw do you cross？〃 It was Kevin。
〃It is easiest to call it magic； though there is more involved than spells。〃
〃Your magic？〃 Kevin continued。
〃I am a mage； yes；〃 Loren said。 〃The crossing was mine。 And so； too； if you e； will be the return。〃
〃This is ridiculous！〃 Martyniuk exploded again。 This time he would not look at Jennifer。 〃Magic。 Crossings。 Show me something！ Talk is cheap； and I don't believe a word of this。〃
Loren stared coldly at Dave。 Kim； seeing it； caught her breath。 But then the severe face creased in a sudden smile。 The eyes； improbably； danced。 〃You're right；〃 he said。 〃It is much the simplest way。 Look； then。〃
There was silence in the room for almost ten seconds。 Kevin saw； out of the corner of his eye； that the Dwarf； too； had gone very still。 What'll it be； he thought。
They saw a castle。
Where Dave Martyniuk had stood moments before； there appeared battlements and towers； a garden； a central courtyard； an open square before the walls； and on the very highest rampart a banner somehow blowing in a non…existent breeze： and on the banner Kevin saw a crescent moon above a spreading tree。
〃Paras Derval；〃 Loren said softly； gazing at his own artifice with an expression almost wistful； 〃in Brennin； High Kingdom of Fionavar。 Mark the flags in the great square before the palace。 They are there for the ing celebration； because the eighth day past the full of the moon this month will end the fifth decade of Ailell's reign。〃
〃And us？〃 Kimberly's voice was parchment…thin。 〃Where do we fit in？〃
A wry smile softened the lines of Loren's face。 〃Not heroically； I'm afraid； though there is pleasure in this for you； I hope。 A great deal is being done to celebrate the anniversary。 There has been a long spring drought in Brennin； and it has been deemed politic to give the people something to cheer about。 And I daresay there is reason for it。 At any rate； Metran； First Mage to Ailell； has decided that the gift to him and to the people from the Council of the Mages will be to bring five people from another world…one for each decade of the reign…to join us for the festival fortnight。〃
Kevin Laine laughed aloud。 〃Red Indians to the Court of King James？〃
With a gesture almost casual； Loren dissolved the apparition in the middle of the room。 〃I'm afraid there's some truth to that。 Metran's ideas 。 。 。 he is First of my Council； but I daresay I need not always agree with him。〃
〃You're here；〃 Paul said。
〃I wanted to try another crossing in any case；〃 Loren replied quickly。 〃It has been a long time since last I was in your world as Lorenzo Marcus。〃
〃Have I got this straight？〃 Kim asked。 〃You want us to cross with you somehow to your world； and then you'll bring us back？〃
〃Basically； yes。 You will be with us for two weeks； perhaps； but when we return I will have you back in this room within a few hours of when we departed。〃
〃Well；〃 said Kevin； with a sly grin； 〃that should get you； Martyniuk； for sure。 Just think； Dave； two extra weeks to study for Evidence！〃
Dave flushed bright red； as the room broke up in a release of tension。
〃I'm in； Loren Silvercloak；〃 said Kevin Laine； as they quieted。 And so became the first。 He managed a grin。 〃I've always wanted to wear war…paint to court。 When's take…off？〃
Loren looked at him steadily。 〃Tomorrow。 Early evening； if we are to time it properly。 I will not ask you to decide now。 Think for the rest of tonight； and tomorrow。 If you will e with me； be here by late afternoon。〃
〃What about you？ What if we don't e？〃 Kim's forehead was creased with the vertical line that always showed when she was under stress。
Loren seemed disconcerted by the question。 〃If that happens； I fail。 It has happened before。 Don't worry about me 。 。 。 niece。〃 It was remarkable what a smile did to his face。 〃Shall we leave it at that？〃 he went on； as Kim's eyes still registered an unresolved concern。 〃If you decide to e； be here tomorrow。 I will be waiting。〃
〃One thing。〃 It was Paul again。 〃I'm sorry to keep asking the unpleasant questions； but we still don't know what that thing was on Philosophers' Walk。〃
Dave had forgotten。 Jennifer hadn't。 They both looked at Loren。 At length he answered； speaking directly to Paul。 〃There is magic in Fionavar。 I have shown you something of it； even here。 There are also creatures； of good and evil； who co…exist with humankind。 Your own world； too； was once like this； though it has been drifting from the pattern for a long time now。 The legends of which I spoke in the auditorium tonight are echoes； scarcely understood； of mornings when man did not walk alone； and other beings； both friend and foe； moved in the forests and the hills。〃 He paused。 〃What followed us was one of the svart alfar； I think。 Am I right； Matt？〃
The Dwarf nodded； without speaking。
〃The svarts；〃 Loren went on； 〃are a malicious race； and have done