"What do you mean your sword?" Kerry had another rock in the sling, ready to launch.
"It's my sword," Jack asserted. The mysterious shock of power still tingled up and down his arm. The warrior was tall and broad-shouldered, arms taut with muscle, and scarred from many a fight. There was something strangely familiar about him.
The man's blue eyes held him fast.
"You stole it, lad. How you did it and how you came to be in this place, I don't know. But I'll have it back now."
"Yeah, right," Kerry sneered. "It's four to one, and we've beaten worse than you. Many a time."
"I must be dreaming this," the big man said. "Illusions, it has to be."
His free hand went to his forehead and he swayed a little. "You're imps. Changelings."
"We're not," Jack countered. Corriwen had moved to the side in a flanking motion. Kerry's sword was at the ready. "We're real. But I'm not sure you are."
"Your speech is familiar. Where are you from and how did you get here?"
"We're from very far away," Kerry butted in. "And we're on a mission. So just let us pass and we'll be on our way."
The man's eyes flicked from Kerry to Corriwen and back to Jack.
"That is my sword. There's only one other like it."
"We know that," Corriwen said. "The other one's mine."
The man kept staring, measuring Jack with his eyes. Then he saw the amberhorn bow slung on Jack's shoulder.
"And where did you get that bow? It's not the work of anyone in Uaine."
He looked at Rionna. "And you, girl. I've seen that staff before. It belongs to a friend of mine. How did you come by it?"
Jack held a hand up, playing for time. Sudden, unexpected emotions were churning inside him. "Hold on. One minute ago you were a statue and now you're asking all the questions."
The man froze. His blue eyes were fixed below Jack's chin. The spear-point was suddenly at Jack's throat where his tunic opened. Jack hadn't even seen it move.
The man's face was slack with shock or surprise. He looked as if he'd been kicked,
"The stone. On the chain. How did you come by it?"
He jabbed the spear and Jack could feel the sharp point digging into his skin.
"Just who are you? What are you?"
"My name is Jack Flint."
"And he's the Journeyman," Kerry added. "Appointed by the Sky Queen to fight her battles, so just you watch out."
The spear dropped to the ground. The man let out a groan and sank to his knees as if all the strength had drained from him. Now his face was a picture of anguish.
"Jack….Jack…"
Tears sprung to his blue eyes and spilled freely spilled down the man's cheeks. In that moment Jack knew. His heart felt as if it was about to burst.
"Oh…oh my…how many years?"
"He's fifteen," Kerry piped up. "Same as me."
"Fifteen years…Jack…" The man's voice choked. "You don't know me. Couldn't know me."
Corriwen and Kerry gaped in astonishment as realisation dawned on them. Their eyes turned to Jack and they saw his eyes sparkle, his expression rapt.
"I think I do," Jack whispered.
"I am Jonathan Cullian Flint. I put that heartstone around your neck and carried you through the Homeward Gate to safety. It seems only like yesterday."
He closed his eyes. "Fifteen years! Fifteen lost years."
Jack's tears streamed down his own cheeks. Jonathan Cullian Flint reached out to him and Jack walked into his father's tight embrace.