Pria sat down in the chair that Arden vacated, "Sit Connie. And let's talk. I'm sorry. I couldn't tell you more until we knew for sure that Arden could make it through. This is a huge shock for you. I want to help you to understand."

Connie stared at her. Shock was an understatement. She was overwhelmed and confused. And angry. Pria wasn't sure Arden would be able to make it through? Through what? She was tired of riddles.

"Why should I believe that Arden's my father? And Eneko, my half-brother? Seriously, why should I believe that? Just because of our eyes? Maybe it's all a trick. Maybe they're wearing contacts."

Pria grinned, "Oh Connie, haven't you seen it? It's not only your eyes. You are the mirror image of Eneko and Arden, only a female version. Do you remember when we first met, and I stumbled all over my words when I first saw you?"

"I thought it was my eyes, but you were too polite to say anything. That often happens when I first meet people."

"It's all of you, your shape, the way you carry yourself. It's uncanny. Milo told us after she met you for the first time. 'You won't believe it,' she said."

Connie sat down. "I have a thousand questions, but all I want to do is go in and hide under the covers. Arden said he wanted to take me home. My home is here. Anyway, why on earth would I jump up and go someplace with a complete stranger?

"We're all going back. We'll go with you."

"Pria, you're a really nice person. I like you. Though right now, a little less so, since finding out you've been setting me up all along. I'm trying to keep an open mind about that. But the point is, I hardly know you. If Arden can't stay long, we can stay in touch. And I'll come for a visit later."

"It's not that easy. The crossing to and from Dahria is difficult. And it will get more so..." Pria trailed off.

"Difficult how? What's so hard about it? Is that what's wrong with Arden?"

"He risked a great deal to come. Eneko helped him through. We were all so worried. Though Arden is a strong man." Pria sighed and looked down at her hands before continuing, "I had imagined Arden telling you all this. But he's not well and needs to rest to get his strength back. I'm sure he thought this through, how best to talk to you about Dahria. The right words to use. I'll try. At least I'll start because you need to begin to understand. But first, there's one thing. It's extremely important."

She continued sombrely, "Connie, you cannot speak to anyone about Dahria. No one. Not a word. Not the smallest hint. What Arden is doing, what we are doing, is gravely risky for all the people we hold dear. It's only because of the high regard and love we all have for Arden that we agreed to help him find you. I need you to promise me that you'll keep our secrets." She choked out her last words.

Connie softened, "I will Pria. I will. I promise you. I don't want any harm to come to you or anyone close to you. And if Arden is my father...I'm trying to be open to exploring that." She shook her head. "Though I can hardly believe it. I want him to be safe. Bottom line, I don't want anyone to suffer any harm because of me. I'll keep your secrets."

"You can't talk to your friends about us, not Grayson, not your friend up north. No one."

"Of course not. Anyway, that's not hard. There's already lots I don't tell them. Strangely, sometimes I've found it easier talking to you, and I hardly know you. So, go ahead. Tell me about Dahria"

Pria sat back, thought for a few seconds, and took a deep breath. "Okay. I'll talk about Dahria, which will explain about Arden...How do I do this?" She turned away for a moment, pondering her words and turned back. "Dahria is another realm of life on this planet." Paused again, "Here, on Earthside, you would call it a parallel world."

Connie stared her, then barked a laugh. "Oh, please. Pria. You do realize how ridiculous that sounds."

Pria looked down and sighed. "I knew it would. I don't know how to start. But I thought I should lay it out there, right away. I don't know how to ease you in."

"Ease me in? Sure, Pria. Do little green men from outer space live there too?"

"No. At least I've never met any." Pria smiled. "Listen. How about if you pretend to accept the idea of Dahria? Just hear me out and ask questions as if I was telling you about a foreign country. Can we try that?"

"Yeah, sure, why not. Go ahead. Tell me whatever you want." Connie threw out her hands and leaned forward, spoke forcefully, "Give it your best shot. But keep in mind I think it's totally nuts. But sure, I'll play along for now. Tell me about your fantasy land."

Pria frowned, "Connie, I do really appreciate this sounds completely far-fetched to you. But just listen. For me and the people I love, it's our existence and everything we hold dear. It's not a joke." Her voice quavered.

Connie took in Pria's reaction, "I'm sorry, Pria. I'm feeling a little hysterical. We're both upset now. But look, whatever your secrets are, I will keep them. I don't want to hurt you or Arden or anyone." Connie pulled back, took a breath, and dampened her tone. "Okay. I'll pretend about this fantasy world. I can do that. Let me start with the most obvious question. If this so-called parallel world – Dahria? - does exist, how could that not be known here, in our world? Really. That makes no sense."

"We've been careful."

"For what? Centuries? Millennia?"

"Millennia. The stories tell us that, at the beginning, there was back and forth between Dahria and Earthside and many more passages."

"Stories? Passages? What beginning?"

"They estimate that the Rivening happened about 6,000 years ago, around 4,000 BCE for you. One theory is a rapid double flip of the magnetic poles. That it happened so quickly there are no easily found traces of the event. Everything got duplicated, separated into two different realms with a few passages between them."

"What? People were duplicated too?"

"Yes. Everything. But the passages are not easy to traverse. At first, people could have found doubles of themselves, but not once a few generations passed by."

Connie was trying hard to act like she was having a discussion about something perfectly rational. "Still, why doesn't anyone here know about Dahria? Does everyone in Dahria know about us?"

"For now, yes. Everyone in Dahria is taught about Earthside and the Rivening. A long, long time ago actions were taken to diminish and discredit any knowledge of Dahria on Earthside. And, limit the transits going from Earthside to Dahria."

"What? Why?"

"To keep Earthsiders from overrunning Dahria...Oh Connie, Arden should be explaining this. He's a storyholder of the early times after the Rivening." She took a moment. "You've studied ancient civilizations. You'd know that those centuries around the time of the Rivening were a time when dramatic changes were happening. Things like domesticating animals. The continuing shift from hunting and gathering to small agriculture to larger scale farming. And larger settlements."

Connie added, "The beginning of civilization, many say."

"But was it?"

"Good point," Connie continued. "I learned that from Findley. We got pyramids and the like, but also hierarchy, despots, slavery. The establishment of the very few haves and the very, very many have nots. We still have that down pat. What's that have to do with Dahria?"

Connie stopped and shook her head. "You know what, Pria? I can't do this anymore right now. As much as I want to know whatever intriguing answer you might have, I have to stop. I have a phone call for work coming up that I need to be coherent for, and I have the feeling this is going to be a long discussion. Anyway, I'm feeling pretty overwhelmed."

"Of course. Let all this settle with you. We can talk later, and hopefully Arden will be well enough by tomorrow so he can explain things to you. Will you be all right?"

Connie stood. "I'm not sure. A lot to take in - this Dahria fairy tale and the idea that I have family that might want to connect with me – though I wonder about Eneko."

"They do want to be with you – including Eneko. But before you go, just one more thing. The notebook your mother left where she wrote about Arden, could you bring it when you meet with him tomorrow and read it to him?"

"I'll copy it and he can take it."

"Read it to him. That will be best. And please, remember. Not a word to anyone. "