Intro.

If someone had told me my life was going to change to this extent, I would have laughed at them and told them they were either drunk or crazy. I didn't know it, but I wasn't going to see earth for a long time. Everything I thought I knew was about to change.

A NEW PLANET AND A STEP BACK IN TIME.

"Dastan, Begrat is yours."

"Look at him," I said in awe."

"Get on now!" Chin me said pushing me roughly on the horse's back. "Begrat old friend were in great danger, we need to be safe."

I held on as my horse ran. The ground blending away into a blur as my world faded away with one resounding pop. I shook my head trying to get the buzzing out of my ears and finally catching my breath as my horse stopped. Nothing looked recognizable. I quickly glanced over to my small group as Chin me got down and patted my horse.

"Clever friend, we're in the only place the dark ones cannot go."

"Where is that?" I looked up to see three moons drifting over a bright purple sky.

"You're in Eiravia."

I turned around to see a handsome man not much older than Tus. His hair and beard were the soft golden color of the moons above me. He gave me a soft smile, his deep sapphire eyes shining. I looked around watching in fascination at the small band of people that had replaced our horses.

"My name is Begrat," he said as he bowed to me. "It's a great pleasure to serve you Dagger of the Gods."

"Dastan," I repeated quietly. "I'd never liked being called Prince, damn if I was going to be called Dagger of the Gods."

"I know you have many questions, but first I'll show you to your rooms.

I stood for second looking up the steep path. "So does this go all the way to one of your moons?" I said trying to get my breath in their thin air.

"No he laughed, just home."

"Are you sure," I muttered to myself trying to breath.

"Positive," he grinned.

"I told you little brother you were getting soft," Garsiv smirked rubbing my hair.

"Garsiv?"

"Yes," he grinned.

"Bite me."

Begrat chuckled softly, you'll get used to our air soon enough. Once we're at the Palace you can take time to rest before we have our feast."

I put my hands on my knees, trying to get my breath again. I was feeling light headed and I wasn't going to tell my middle brother but he was right, I was out of shape.

"Are you ok little brother?" Tus said walking up beside me.

"I'm fine, Tus thanks."

Better brother Garsiv. I put my arm around Tus.

Garsiv only rolled his eyes.

"I watched Begrat walk he seemed very formal I thought to myself," like one of the visiting royals on our planet. He carried himself with a quiet grace. He'd also seen battle, of that I was sure looking at the various scars on his arms.

"You're not what I expected," Begrat said as he waited for me to catch up with him.

"How is that?"

He looked at me and smiled, "I'm not sure," he cocked his head studying me, "Just different, younger maybe. Your eyes are very blue," he waited watching me for a reaction. "I knew someone who reminded me of you, I guess that's it." He smiled sadly before patting my arm and starting out again on our climb.

"Father?"

I wondered if he was here, maybe someone would take him back home if I was luc…

No it really hadn't been my year for luck watching father make the climb behind me.

This world was nothing like the rich brown sands I was used to. I looked down as I walked on the flowers creating a carpet of reds and blues nestled against a sea of green grass. The air smelled sweet as a gentle wind drifted by me. Everywhere there was life, color and beauty. It lacked only one thing; people.

"Can I ask you something?" I came up to the tall man named Finnal. He looked back at me as he made his way up the stone path. "Were everyone?" I asked.

"We're it," he said looking back at me. "We lost our entire population in the great wars. It's been really quiet since then."

I heard Garsiv laugh. "Well our little brother is here now, so I'm sure it will liven up."

I glared at my middle brother before continuing on with my conversation.

"Well it's a big planet maybe there might be someone, somewhere."

"No," he said, "we're it." He patted my shoulder before hurrying to talk to the leader.

I fell into step beside my brothers.

"Well this wasn't what I was thinking of for a birthday present," I muttered to myself.

"Maybe it's mine." Tus smiled as he looked at the woman called Larkspur.

She smiled at him moving her long silver hair from her sparkling blue eyes as she walked around him a slight smile on her face.

"My sister likes you." The tall dark haired man grinned as she looked our way again tripping on a small rock.

"You better watch were you're going sister." She glared at him before turning and concentrating on the steep climb in front of her.

"So you got the dark hair of the family, I guess?" Garsiv said walking behind the man called Finnal. He turned around his eyes showing mirth.

"Well she's actually Begrat's sister. We have a small family here so we tend to call everyone brother or sister, it makes our family feel bigger." Finnal grinned as he watched Larkspur glance at Tus before looking forward and quickly walking on. Finnal slapped Tus on the back "she'll keep you on your toes high protector," he said with a wink. "And she usually gets what she wants, be warned."

Tus smiled at her." But I've never meant her before now."

"We've kept watch over you and your family since Dastan became the Dagger of time.

"Dastan ,just Dastan, not the Dagger of time, " I muttered to him listening to their conversation.

"Sorry Dastan," Finnal grinned looking at me and shaking his head before looking back at my brother. My sister was instantly drawn to you. She was hoping you wouldn't bring any of your wives. I don't think you'll miss them." Finnal laughed giving Tus a slight jab in the arm.

I watched as Ray stumbled. My brother who had a room full of woman at home and didn't like any of them except for one thing, loved her with all his heart. I smiled as he reached out for her. "Be careful love," he whispered in her ear. He put his hand on her back as they climbed.

We came to a great palace its walls seem to touch the sky, waterfalls fell among the stone with cascading flowers of red and white. A far cry from the desert dryness I'd always known.

"I know you're worried about your kingdom King Sharaman, there's nothing we could do your world could have ended if the dark one had found any of your sons. I hope you will be very happy here." Begrat said as he walked with father. "This is your home now."

"Forever?"

"I'm sorry my brother, but yes, the dark one knows you are the dagger of time, he'd never stop until he has one or all of you." Begrat said looking back before concentrating on the climb.

Finnal stopped short looking at the woman called Larkspur as she walked by him .

"Did you hear him?"

"I heard," she smiled as they walked on.

"What?" I asked, looking at them as Finnal grinned.

"Ok why can't he get here?" I questioned.

"You have an inquisitive nature, don't you," Begrat smiled.

Tus and Garsiv snorted "you have no idea. He never knows when to shut up." Garsiv said watching me glare at him.

"It is true little brother," Tus laughed. "You know it is."

"Well" Begrat smiled , "I'm sort of out of practice answering a lot of questions, but go ahead" he grinned, "ask away."

"So why can't he get here?"

"It is forbidden anything dark or evil, only light can survive here." I turned around glancing at father briefly before moving forward.

"Your safe and we won't fly to your world anymore, in order to keep you safe as well."

I shook my head listening to the one called Begrat as Larkspur put a hand on my shoulder and walked by.

"I hope we all can become great friends," Begrat smiled.

The leader watched as Finnal walked by. "Life is different here. It might take some time to get used to but, I think in the end you'll be happy here."

I hurried up to Garsiv.

"Look brother, a place where you don't have to have your hand on your sword all the time. I'm sure Ray can think of other things more interesting to occupy your thoughts." I laughed at my joke moving ahead of him before falling flat on the ground as Garsiv kicked me in my ass with his boot. He grinned down at me as he stepped on my back pushing my face into the grass laughing.

"You should know your brother better than that Dastan." Ray laughed stepping over me. "You know he's going to get even for a comment like that."

"Really," Tus leaned over to Garsiv. "Was that called for?"

"I thought it was," he laughed.

I was dusting my clothes off when I looked up to see the one called Finnal looking down grinning.

"Come on Dastan up you go little one."

"Little one," I questioned.

"Were a little older than you," he chuckled.

"Well I'm not little." He laughed before pulling me up. "Ok if you say so."

"Wait, we are taking about age; right?"

"Yes," he said his eyes twinkling. "Are you talking about your age?"

"I uh…I uh…" I said at a loss for words.

"Finnal quit tormenting our new family," Begrat grinned .

"Up you go." He said pulling me up and brushing off the grass on my back he shook his head snickering before moving ahead of me his soft blue shirt blowing slightly in the breeze. He was different than Begrat, where Begrat had high cheek bones and wavy hair, Finnal had short dark brown hair, his honey brown eyes showed all his emotion as it played across his face. He had rugged good looks that I was sure if there were women on this planet would have waited in line for his attentions. And for some reason unknown to me, he seemed vaguely familiar.

"Dastan keep up," Garsiv yelled down the hill.

Once again I was trying to get my breath, I still was feeling the effects of the year and the climb went on forever.

I walked over looking at a tree that stood in the middle of a grassy field. I put my hand on the rough bark. I like you, I said to myself rubbing my hand on the tree. A small fleck of light caught my eye as it glittered in the sun. I leaned over and pulled out a broken child's toy.

"Where is he?" Tus sighed. "We've lost him already."

"Finnal take them in, I'll go back for Dastan." Begrat made his way back down the hill his hand going out to keep him balanced. He stopped feeling his eyes sting. I stood by the tree looking up at it.

He watched me. The lump in his throat making it hard to swallow. He shook his head closing his eyes briefly before walking up to me.

"You're lost, young prince."

"Sorry, I saw this tree and… it's a beautiful tree isn't it?" I looked up at its branches.

"Yes" Begrat said softy, "it is. It's very special to me."

My hand rubbed on the dark bark "yes," I said looking up at it; I can see that it's special.

Dagger of …I looked at him making a face and heard him chuckle quietly. "Dastan we've needed you on this planet. "Come with me, your family says you're lost."

"I'm not lost." I sat down for a second trying to catch my breath. "You know where I am," I grinned.

"Yes I guess I do," he studied me. "I'm glad you're here."

I patted the ground beside me, "come on sit a minuet with me." He set down under the tree watching me as I looked at the branches that seemed to touch the sky. I leaned against it. "I like it here."

"Can I ask you a favor?" I looked at him waiting.

"Ask young prin…"

"Please Dastan," I put my hands together in a plea.

He smiled, "Dastan."

"Can this be my tree? I sort of lost my planet and…" I looked up at the tree again, "I'd kind of like this tree," I laughed.

"I know you're already thinking I'm strange but we didn't have trees, like this at home."

"It's yours," Begrat said quietly.

"Are you sure you wouldn't rather have precious stones from our planet."

"No just this tree." I took another glance at the tree feeing A strange affection for it. "I feel like I'm home. Strange," I laughed. "A different planet and I feel like I'm home."

We made our way back up the hill in silence. "Oh wait, here." I handed him the small metal toy. "The sun was shining on it." I handed it to him and watched him grasp it shut.

"Thank you Dastan. Thank you very much," he said looking away his eyes glassy.

"Are you ok?"

"I'm fine, I…" he tried to tell me but just shook his head. "I'm fine young one."