The Eternal Darkness by Steven A. Tolle

that we are not disturbed.”
    “As you wish, Tomaris,” Hansa said behind Jake.  He heard the door close as Hansa left.
    “Jake, please bring another chair over,” Tomaris said.  He looked at Hailyn and gestured towards the two chairs.  “Please come and sit down, lovely child.”
    Jake handed the sword to Hailyn and went over to the far wall to where another chair rested against the shelves of books and scrolls.  He pulled the chair over and joined the other two.
    Once Jake sat down, Hailyn spoke.  “Here, Master Tomaris,” she said as she held the blanket out towards him.  “We have the sword.”
    “Hold it for a little while longer, young Hailyn,” he replied.  “I would rather wait until we have eaten and I have heard your story before I examine it.”
    Once food was served and the doors closed again, Jake and Hailyn took turns sharing their story between bites of their meal.  Tomaris sat there, listening intently, asking questions from time to time.  He seemed extremely curious about Jake’s discovery of his new power.  After several minutes of questions, he shook his head ruefully.
    “I am being rude,” he said.  “We must talk about that in more detail later, Jake, but please finish your story first.”
    Once they reached the end of their account, the old man told them to finish eating as he leaned back against his chair, thinking.  Jake and Hailyn finished their meal and waited for Tomaris to say something.  Finally, he straightened in his chair.
    “That is a remarkable tale,” he said, a gentle smile on his face.  “You both showed strength and courage beyond your years.  You have accomplished something that I had feared was beyond us.”  He reached out towards Hailyn.  “If you would, child, please let me see the sword.”
    She unwrapped the blanket from around the sword, the blade’s light glowing softly as it was uncovered.  She held it hilt first to Tomaris.  Jake watched as he slowly reached out to grasp the hilt, the light reflecting off of his eyes, an unreadable look on his lined face.
    As soon as Tomaris’ hand touched it, the blade flared brilliantly.  He carefully lifted it off the blanket, the white light of the blade illuminating the room.  He closed his eyes in concentration.  As he did, the light blazed brighter.
    Jake heard Hailyn gasp softly.  Jake glanced at her and saw her looking at her wrist.  The runes on the bracelet were shining in response to the sword.
    “Remarkable,” Tomaris said quietly as he gently brought the sword down.  He opened his eyes and looked towards them.  “The sword contains much power, more than I had hoped.”  His face was kind and sympathetic as he studied them.  “I believe that it will give me the strength to send Jake back to his own world.”
    …
    Jake sat in his chair on the patio of his room, looking at the sky, the stars shining brightly in the crisp night air.  The moon had not yet risen, so the stars seemed closer and more numerous than he remembered.  He could hear the faint sounds of the courtyard below, people talking and laughing, and the muffled playing of music coming from some of the buildings.  He wrapped his blanket closer as he sat there thinking, his mind and soul troubled.
    Tomaris seemed confident that he could send Jake back home, but had told them that he needed that night to prepare.  He would study the sword tonight and make the attempt in the morning.
    After leaving Tomaris’ study, Jake had led Hailyn to his room.  Learthe had given her the connecting room and their belongings were stacked neatly inside the door.  They had talked for a while, sitting on the bed and holding each other close.  They both were overcome with emotion as they realized that tomorrow might be the last day they had together.  Amid the tears, Hailyn had pleaded a headache and gone to her room.
    His emotions roiling inside him, Jake had sought the familiar comfort of his patio, craving the solitude of his