force. Markus released his hold and caught Ethan’s collar, pulling him forward.
“What the hell happened?” he asked.
Ethan took a moment to steady himself before rubbing the bridge of his nose. “I’m okay. Just a little dizzy.” He glared at the man, who was looking back at him with a serious expression. “What did you do?” he demanded.
“Only what I had to,” the man replied.
Ethan was stunned. Somehow, he now understood what the stranger was saying.
“I am Jonas,” he continued, before Ethan could respond. “And I’m here to protect you.”
“I’m Ethan.” So great was his shock, it was all he could think to say.
“You can speak his language?” asked Markus.
Ethan nodded. “Yeah. But don’t ask me how.”
“What did he say?”
Ethan did not take his eyes off the stranger for a second while repeating what he had been told.
Markus burst out laughing, then stopped himself when he realized how much noise he was making. “Then he’s definitely insane,” he said.
“I don’t know,” Ethan countered. “How do you explain that I can understand him?”
Markus had no reply to that.
It was Jonas who spoke next. “How old are you, boy?” he asked.
“I’m nineteen,” Ethan lied.
Jonas scrutinized him for a long moment, then sneered. “You can’t lie to me. How old are you really?”
Ethan leveled his gaze. “I’ll tell you how old I am, if you tell me how it is I can understand your language.”
Jonas shrugged. “I don’t know that myself. This amulet was given to me by your mother. It was the only means I had of finding you. Other than that…”
He reached inside a small purse on his belt and pulled out a folded piece of parchment. After running his eyes over the page, he grumbled with dissatisfaction. “This doesn’t help very much either. It explains how to get us back home, but nothing else.”
Ethan took the parchment. The letters and words were like nothing he had ever seen before. Even so, he was still able to read them.
Jonas,
When the time comes, smash the jewel. It will open a portal that will allow you to return to Lumnia. But you must enter together. I am sorry I cannot tell you more, but they are coming and I am out of time. Tell my son that I love him with all of my heart…and please watch over him.
Illyrian
Ethan returned the note, a heavy frown on his face. “What the hell is all that supposed to mean?”
“I answered your question,” Jonas shot back. “Now you answer mine. How old are you?”
He paused. “Seventeen. I lied about my age so I could join the Army.”
“You’re a soldier?” Jonas asked, with obvious disapproval.
“Am I a soldier?” Ethan scoffed. “Why do you think I’m dressed like this?”
“Soldiers where I…where we come from…dress very differently.” He noticed the rifle slung across Ethan’s back. “Is that some sort of dwarf weapon?”
“What’s he saying?” Markus chipped in. “Did he explain what he’s done to you?”
“He says he doesn’t know,” replied Ethan. “But I think you’re right. He’s nuts. He asked me if this is a dwarf weapon.”
Markus rubbed his temple. “A dwarf weapon? Brilliant! We risked our necks to save a lunatic.”
The sound of tanks rolling down the nearby street silenced them. This was soon followed by the voices of the German infantry. Ethan gestured for Jonas to remain quiet.
“You are at war?” asked Jonas, after the enemy had passed.
Ethan’s mouth twisted. “You really are crazy, aren’t you?”
“I need to get you out of here,” Jonas insisted, ignoring the insult. “This is no place for the son of Lady Illyrian.”
Ignoring his words, Ethan moved over to the shed door and peered out. The sun was almost completely gone. “We can’t stay here,” he told Markus.
His friend nodded in agreement. “Are we taking the fruitcake with us?”
Ethan thought for a moment. “I guess so.”
Markus sighed, then chuckled. “So he’s your good deed for the day, is he? Your scout master would sure be proud of you.”
On the far side of the avenue at the end of the alley, Ethan could see a bombed out office building. The top floor was completely blown away, but the large piles of broken bricks and wood would provide them with decent cover. Also, most of the surrounding buildings appeared far too damaged to be of any use to the Krauts.
“Follow us,” he said to Jonas. “And keep up.”
Jonas looked like he wanted to protest, but Ethan was already moving out. Markus grabbed the older man’s arm and forced him to Ethan’s back.
The sounds of battle