Tim thought for a moment. If Aaron had gone back to the backwards world at an earlier time than his own, and stayed, it would be possible for that child to be old enough to be who they were looking for. He could see Anna had come to the same conclusion. “Do you know anything more about the son? His name? How old is he? Where he lives?”
Ronnoc shook his head. “Not much. He brought the boy with him only a few times, and always when he appeared here with him, he was in his older years. I don’t remember his name since it sounded strange to me, being from the backwards world. The last time I saw him was right after the incident at the castle. He came, wanting to know what happened to his father. He said he hadn’t seen him in months. I didn’t tell him about what happened at the castle since I don’t know what it is that happened. I just said I hadn’t seen him since you all arrived. He asked a lot of questions about you two, and then left.”
“So, we’re looking for a man we don’t know the name of. Picture him in your mind so we can see,” Anna said.”
Ronnoc tried. The image that they could both see in his thoughts could have been anyone. All they really got from it was dark hair. “I am sorry. I didn’t think it was important enough to remember him. He is not from this world.”
“He lives in the backwards world?” Tim asked.
“Yes. He only came here with that portal key you have. If you have it though, I fear he is now stuck.”
Tim did not correct his assumption that meant the man was stuck in Snillotia. They at least knew that Einna and Tre were being kept in the backwards world. It was time to go home. He nodded to Anna. She gave one last look at Ronnoc. “Is there anything else you can tell us about this man before we leave?”
“Only that he is not a man. Not yet. He is maybe a year or so older than my son. Perhaps older than you two, as well, or perhaps not.” Ronnoc stated, eyeing them warily.
“One last question, how did he get Aaron’s portal key? Didn’t Aaron have it that day?” Tim asked.
Ronnoc squeezed his eyes shut for a moment. “There was a man, he was one of mine. After that day, he was obsessed with what had happened. He was the only one who thought Aaron’s plan was foolish. He found it in the castle and made it his mission to return it to the son. I never saw him again, but I know he’s no longer with us.”
Anna and Tim left the room. Ronnoc did not follow. As they entered the living room, Peter jumped up from the couch where he’d been sitting with his mother. “Is it time to go?”
“Go? You just got here! You cannot leave again!” Arat exclaimed.
“Mother, this was only a visit. I am not staying. I will visit again soon.”
“No! You will not leave again. Ronnoc! Retep is trying to leave us again!”
There was no answer from Ronnoc. Arat looked at Tim and then Anna when she realized Anna was even in the room. “What did you do to my husband?” she screamed at them and ran from the room.
“We didn’t do anything to him, but talk, really,” Anna told Peter.
Peter shrugged. “Let’s go before they both try to stop me.”
CHAPTER FORTY-EIGHT
When they reached the castle, the children where all waiting, and ready to go. To make it easier to get everyone through the portal, Tim had Anna carry Xela and asked Peter to carry Yma. He would be carrying Nevets and Kram and Derf were old enough to walk through on their own. He made sure everyone was connected and led them through the portal. They all landed in a heap inside the secret room. Yma was the first to recover. “That was amazing!”
Anna smiled. “Pete, can you go let everyone know we’re back? We’ll bring the kids out in a moment.”
Peter agreed and left. “Okay, now we just want to warn you there are a lot of people out there that want to meet you. They’ll call you by your name if we’re here in this house, but when you go outside, they’ll have to call you by your name backwards, so you fit in, in this world! Does everyone know what their name is backwards?”
“I do!” Yma exclaimed, “I’m Ah-me!”
Anna smiled. “Close! Here they say it Amy.”
“Amy,” she said trying it out, “Hey! That was my mother’s name!”
Anna nodded and proceeded to make sure everyone else knew how to say their names properly backwards, Fred, Mark, Steven, and Alex. Once she was satisfied, they let the children out of the secret room. She could see them looking around and taking in their surroundings, noting things the same and things that were different in Snillotia. Peter came back and met them halfway. “Everyone is waiting in Grandma An’s sitting room.”
As they reach the room, Kram was the first to say anything. “Where’s Woof?”
Goldie
