The moment they were seated at the wooden dining room table, as Jine made them all lunch in their open kitchen, Alindor and Ulmayá explained their journeys to Alindor's real parents. At first, Jine and Tracker were astonished that their son stole a speeder bike from Farzad, explaining to Alindor right away that what he did was wrong and deserved to be punished. Then Alindor told them how he met Bremen and his training as a Druid, as well as how he and Ulmayá could shapeshift.

That really took Jine and Tracker by surprise. It wasn't often they heard about house cats shapeshifting into other creatures and beings, but to hear their own son admit he could shapeshift, revealing his elvish form to them, before changing back into a golden house cat, took them by surprise.

When the story was done and the food eaten up, Jine and Tracker sat in silence for a couple of minutes, pondering over the Ildatch and how Brona got his hands on the book again, or the fact that Paranor was now closed to anyone living outside the Four Lands.

At last, Jine spoke up, breaking the silence. "Brona stole the book, and you two found each other… it's just unacceptable." She stopped her son and Ulmayá before they could protest. "No, you're missing the point! This all happened in one day?"

"This morning actually," Alindor gulped. He told his real parents, "I tried to stop Brona, but he stole the Ildatch before I could catch him. Ulmayá was trying to find us and stop Brona, too, but he's too powerful."

Jine slapped her forehead. This was not what she thought.

"It's because you can't stop him," Jine said, looking up at Alindor. "At least, we can't stop him."

"What do you mean?" Ulmayá and Alindor asked at the same time.

"Well, according to some prophecies in the Four Lands, we won't be the ones who will finally stop Brona," Jine admitted. "So, anything we do will be futile. Each world has their own set of rules. We have ours. We, and all the citizens of the Seven Realms, our Seven Realms, cannot interfere in killing those who are meant to die by others' hands. It's been this way since the First World was destroyed.

"Aslan put the rule up afterwards, particularly for our world, in our time." Jine sighed, admitting to them, "It's why Parker Dooley failed to kill Vitiate, and how his wife died. She's a spirit now." She looked at Alindor, telling him, "I'm sorry. I know you wanted to defeat Brona, but I'm afraid that it's out of our hands. Until something happens that changes the rule, we cannot do anything."

"Even if we could, do you think we wouldn't have tried already?" Tracker asked, concerned for them. He sighed in despair. "I'm sorry. It's just how it works."

A silence fell between them. Ulmayá didn't know what to say on this matter, but she had an idea. "Couldn't we free your people? I'm sure they're at Daggerhorn."

"We can, but unless events change at Daggerhorn, we cannot prevent its story from continuing. That needs to be done on its own." Jine took a breath, admitting, "We'll do it." She looked at Tracker, taking his paw. She told Alindor and Ulmayá, bluntly, "We'll help you free our citizens and find your family, Ulmayá. I know they miss you. They send us free gifts and packages every day, including foodstuffs. It's what's kept us going for these past two years."

Alindor beamed. This was just what he wanted to hear!

"So, then they'll help us?" He asked, hopeful.

"They'll help us: Jine and I. You and Ulmayá are outsiders," Tracker said, serious. "You'll have to prove yourselves worthy before our citizens." He shrugged. "It's how it works."

Alindor huffed. There was, once again, another silence, forcing him to think on this matter. Prove himself? He already proved he was a Druid. How much more did he have to prove?

A lot, he reckoned. A lot was at stake before he could pass the trials and take up the mantle as king. The crown was in his grasp. He would have to face these trials and win.

"You don't have to do it," Jine said to her son with kind eyes. "They'll understand, our citizens will."

"No," Alindor said, standing up for himself. "I have to do this. I have to become king."

"I know this is a choice," Tracker said, facing his son, "but the only way you'll know if you're a king is when you feel ready for it." He nodded. "So, we'll let Aslan decide whenever he comes back to the Land of Talking Animals."

"When will I be ready?" Alindor asked, curtly.

"You will know," Jine said, calmly. "Are you ready to find our citizens?"

Alindor sighed. There was so much at stake. He wasn't sure if he was ready for what he was about to do. There was no turning back. He needed to do this. For his home. For his king and country, and Tracker was his king, for however long that lasted.

He nodded, telling his parents, "I'm ready. Let me face our citizens."

"Fair enough. We'll take the portal to Daggerhorn," Tracker said, standing up. "It's the fastest way to get to the village and its forest."

"Our citizens live in the woods of Daggerhorn," Jine said, curtly. "They will not take lightly to you two." She looked at Ulmayá and Alindor with wary eyes.

"Then we'll just have to be prepared," Alindor said, watching Tracker pull out a grey device. "What is that, Dad?"

Tracker smiled, pressing a button. All of a sudden, a golden-brown rimmed portal appeared in the middle of the living room. The living room had brown leather couches and chairs. It was a miracle the portal didn't break anything.

Tracker turned to Alindor, running through the portal first. Alindor stared in awe at the portal, watching his mother gesture for him and Ulmayá to follow. Alindor waited until Ulmayá was through the portal, before joining her. He looked back at his mother as she joined them.

They did it. They were in the woods of Daggerhorn. Only no one was around. Strange. Very strange.