Lucy and Jill stood outside of the small building to which the stranger had led them. They were sure that he had no idea that they had followed him. They had watched from across the street as he disappeared inside, only to emerge again about ten minutes later. He had walked briskly down the street, and the girls stayed hidden, watching him go. Jill wanted to leave, but Lucy insisted on investigating further.

"Let's try the door," said Lucy. Jill bit her lip, but followed her to the side. To their surprise, the door was unlocked. Lucy opened it slowly, and together, they stole inside. There was a small room with just a chair and table inside. Jill found the light, and now they could see a doorway leading to the rest of the building.

"Stay and keep watch," Lucy said. "I'll be just a few minutes." Her voice held a command that Jill had never heard before. She knew that any protests would be useless with Lucy, so she just nodded, and hoped that Lucy would be quick.

Lucy went through the doorway. There was a small stove on the side, and a very moldy-looking chair nearby. But against the wall was a large set of shelves that made Lucy gasp. The shelves were filled with a collection that would look strange to anyone else, but Lucy recognized most of it right away. The lowest shelf held an assortment of knives and small swords, all with designs of Narnia and Calormen and Telmar and even the Lone Islands. One shelf contained a huge shield, the face of Aslan prominently etched to the front. Lucy traced her finger along the picture, a chill rising up her spine. She wondered who had used this shield. Was it one of their soldiers, defending Cair Paravel? For which battle had it been made? Did she know the owner? Could it even be possible that one of her own brothers had been there, perhaps even used it once? Or was it from a later time, commissioned by Caspian, her dear friend?

The other shelves held a wide array of things: a statue of a Centaur, dressed in Narnian armor; a set of candlesticks, which Lucy actually recognized from the palace; a sketch of Miraz's castle, on a dirty and brittle piece of parchment; a collection of jewelry that seemed Dwarfish in design. Lucy nearly cried out when she saw a small dagger on one of the shelves. She slid it from its sheath, her heart pounding. But it was not her own: the blade contained a different inscription, but the hilt was so similar that for a moment she had thought she had her own dagger, her Gift, back again.

Sadly, Lucy replaced it on its shelf, and looked over. On the wall was a large map, with writing and lines drawn all over it. It was a map of Europe, Asia, and Africa. Lucy stepped up for a closer look. There were trails drawn around the map, all with dates and items written beside the city names. Some of the items Lucy recognized from the shelf behind her, and she assumed that the stranger must be using the map to catalogue his travels, and his purchases along the way. She traced one of the lines up to England. There were many notes written in the Atlantic Ocean, with lines pointing to different towns around the country. And at the end of one line, she read: "Peter, Susan, Edmund, Lucy, kings and queens of Narnia"; and below that: "Professor Digory Kirke, Narnian items in collection—does he know?"

A strange rushing pulsed inside her mind, and Lucy stepped back. How long had he been tracking them? How long had he known? For a moment, Lucy was glad that Peter was with Susan—who knows what sort of trouble she could have stumbled into! But she knew that she had to go, and immediately. A noise came from behind a door to her left, and Lucy jumped, turning to face whatever was there. But the door had not opened. She debated about looking inside when she heard Jill call, "Lucy?"

"I'm here, Jill, I'm sorry, it's just that I found—" Lucy stopped short. The stranger entered the room, holding Jill in front of him, a knife against her throat.

"It was unwise for you to come here," he said. "I warned your brother to stay out of my way. Did he send you here?"

Lucy shook her head. "It was my idea." Lucy's eyes flickered to the collection of weapons just out of her reach.

The look was not lost on the stranger. "Perhaps you think you can use a sword, and defeat me? I've waited too long, and I am too close now for you to get in my way."

"I don't know what you want, but I can help you. I know you're from Narnia. You're a Telmarine, aren't you?"

The stranger smiled. "So you figured it out, did you? And how did you find me here? No matter, you won't be leaving."

Lucy took a step forward. "Let her go, she doesn't have anything to do with this. You have me."

"Lucy, don't," breathed Jill. But Lucy continued, "It's the ring you want, isn't it? I can take you to it. Just promise you won't hurt her."

The stranger raised an eyebrow. "You have it then? Give it to me."

"I don't have it here," she answered. "It's back at our house. I can get it for you. Let her go, and I'll get it and bring it here—"

"So you both can go and bring the others? No. But you will get me that ring." He led Jill over to the door. Keeping the knife at Jill's neck, he took a key from his pocket and handed it to her. "Unlock the door and get inside," he ordered.

"No," said Lucy. "You have to let her go first—"

"But you aren't in a position to negotiate, are you? After all, I could kill you both now, and get the ring myself." He nudged Jill towards the door. "Now unlock it."

Jill took the key in her trembling fingers. "It's all right, Lucy." She unlocked the door and handed him the key. Then she went inside. He shut the door behind her and locked it again. When he turned around, he saw that Lucy had started towards the shelves. In a flash, he was at her side, and pulled her away. Lucy twisted in his grip, but he was much stronger than she was. "We'll get the ring," he said to her, "and then we'll come back here. Then we'll see about releasing your friend."

Lucy nodded, not seeing any other choice. They walked back through the little anteroom, and Lucy glanced behind her, praying that Jill would be all right. She was sure she'd think of something by the time they returned. She hoped that with the ring in his possession, he would be satisfied. They walked out into the street. He slipped his arm around her, pulling her against him, and Lucy could feel the blade against her back. She stiffened and they began to walk. Lucy looked around, hoping that one of the people they passed would notice her, would notice the knife he held. But the stranger had hidden it enough so that to any passerby they looked as though they were simply out for an evening stroll.

"Why do you want the ring?" Lucy asked as they walked. He did not answer, so she pressed, "It does not have any power, you know. The old man who owned it, he told us. The power has been gone for a long time, and no one has used it in years and years. Whatever you are planning, the ring will not help."

The stranger snorted. "You mustn't believe all that you hear, especially when it comes from a feeble-minded old man. The ring has power, for one who knows how to use it. And I do."

"And what will you do then?" she asked.

"I'll do what none of you could accomplish," he said quietly. "I'll return to Narnia. It was a mistake to come here. Miraz was a terrible fool, who put his trust in traitors and faithless men. But we Telmarines are strong, much stronger than those wretched animals and creatures that overtook us. I'll reunite with my fellow countrymen. It will be easy enough to usurp that boy of his, whom you helped to the throne."

Lucy stopped suddenly, and twisted to face him. "You don't understand," she said. "Time is different here, on this side. Caspian is no longer king. By now his grandson, or even his grandson's grandson is on the throne."

The stranger squeezed her arm and hissed, "You lie!"

But Lucy's expression remained fixed, in spite of the sharp pain. "Caspian is dead—has been dead for years, I imagine." Her voice caught a little as she said this, but quickly continued, "Even if you returned to Narnia today, you'd find it very different than when you left. Narnia is stable, and at peace. The Telmarines who stayed behind became his loyal subjects and friends. You would have no chance to take over the throne. The Telmarines are nothing but a memory, a dark page in Narnia's history."

The stranger's face was twisted in fury. "You are wrong. Even if time is different on this side of the door, the Telmarines would never have accepted Caspian as king."

"I was there," she answered. "And so were others." Her voice was calm, and her assurance made him uneasy. He searched her face, but saw no lie there. But he refused to believe her. He pulled her against him again as he continued their march. They did not speak again, but Lucy could feel the stranger shaking as he gripped her. He pressed the knife against her so hard that Lucy arched her back to avoid the sting of the blade.

Polly's house was very close to where the stranger had stored his collection, so close, in fact, that Lucy could not believe that they had spent so much time wondering where he was. When they reached Polly's street, Lucy finally said, "The others are probably home, you know. You'll have to let me go to get the ring."

"We'll go together," he said. But he must have rethought his plan, because then he said, "Is there a back entrance to the house?"

"The kitchen," she said, and led him around the back. He let her step up to the door as he pressed himself against the house. "Is anyone there?" he asked.

Lucy opened the kitchen door and called, "Hello? Edmund? Eustace? Aunt Polly?" She waited a moment and then called louder, "Anyone there?" Lucy expected an immediate answer, but to her surprise, there was none. "They must be out," she answered nervously. How could she possibly escape him now?

He gestured with the knife and followed her inside. They walked slowly through the kitchen and into the hall, Lucy going first. She peered into the parlor. "It's empty," she told him, and he followed cautiously behind her towards the stairs. "Go," he said, and she climbed the staircase.

"Which room is it?" he asked as they reached the top. "It's in my room, at the end," she answered. He pointed down the hallway. "Get it." He turned around, looking down the stairs for any sign of the others.

Lucy hurried down the hallway and into her room. When she stepped inside, she was startled to find the old man standing there. "What are you doing in here?" she asked, forgetting the danger for the moment.

"Nothing," he said quickly. "Is something wrong?"

Lucy stepped forward so that she and the old man were only inches apart. She whispered in his ear, "The man who attacked you is here. He wants the ring, and he's locked up my friend Jill."

"He's here?" the old man said in surprise. He started for the door, but Lucy caught his arm. "No! You mustn't let him see you. Where is everyone?"

"I don't know," he answered. "The old Professor said something about how they were going out. It was a while ago, though. I've been here by myself."

Lucy bit her lip. What to do now? If she handed over the ring, he might not release Jill. But she knew she could not stall him forever. As if on cue, the stranger called down, "Quickly now. Bring the ring to me."

"Just give it to him," the old man said. Lucy hesitated, and then nodded. "Just a moment!" she called back. She went to the desk and pushed it aside. Reaching behind it, she felt for the small latch that kept the compartment in the back closed. She pulled the hook out and then opened the hidden drawer. Then she reached inside, pulling out the ring.

Jill, meanwhile, was busy trying to find an escape. But she wasn't alone: when the door had shut behind her, a voice came from the dark, "Who's there? Who are you?" Jill recognized the voice immediately. "You're the seller from the antique shop, aren't you?"

There was a pause. "How do you know that?" She sensed a movement in the dark, and felt someone standing next to her. "Who are you?" he demanded, his voice shaking.

Jill huffed. "Do I sound like I'm going to hurt you? I'm locked in here just as you are. Don't be so nervy! But I say—do you have a light in here? I can't see a thing."

There was the sound of a match and a candle was lit. It was the shopkeeper all right, looking a bit worse for wear. "You were there with that young man, who got my grandfather in a state! What are you doing here?"

Jill opened her mouth to explain, but decided it would take much too long. "No time for introductions now. I'll tell you everything when we get out of here. Is there a window or some other way out of here?"

"No, I've looked," he answered. But Jill took the candle from him and began to search the room. There was nothing inside but a table and a cot on the floor, which she banged against in the dark. She felt along the walls for a doorknob, a window, a hole, anything that could help their escape. But as the shopkeeper had said, there was no obvious way out. Jill turned her attention to the door and gripped the handle. "I may be able to break this lock," she said. "Come hold the candle for me."

"Break the lock?" the man said, taking the candle. "How would you know that?"

Jill grinned in the dark to herself. It was one of the bizarre things she had learned at Experiment House. "Do you have a pen or a pin or something useful?" He had a fountain pen in his breast pocket, and handed it over to Jill, who began taking it apart. "You'll be happy to know your grandfather is safe," she said to him as she worked. "My friend Eustace and I found him, and brought him back to our house. He's been well looked after."

"My grandfather?" the man said in confusion. "What do you mean, you found him?"

"Didn't you know?" Jill said. "He was left for dead, when you were taken from the shop."

"Left for dead?" The shopkeeper gave a cold bark of laughter. "You must be mistaken. He was fine when that lunatic dragged me out of there, raving about that dratted ring of his. He and that ring have brought me nothing but trouble!"

Jill stopped for a moment and looked at him. "He was fine? Your grandfather told us that he was attacked!"

The shopkeeper shook his head. "My grandfather," he told her bitterly, "let him into the shop. They are working together, you know."