A Dreamer's Knight

Chapter 20 - Coincidence

Jyle led them into a small conference room where a familiar little girl was waiting for them. She was wearing a much fancier dress but Mikaen still recognized her as the little girl from the walkways.

"Hello, Meryl." Mikaen said, smiling down at her. "Scouting me out, were you?"

"Can't blame her," Jyle said, ruffling he little girl's hair as she hugged his leg, a shy smile on her cute little face. "She grew up hearing stories about daddy and the True Knight."

"So you knew I was coming."

"Well, Elduran has been telling me about the stranger from another world for months. I had my suspicions, but wasn't sure until I saw you with my own eyes." Kneeling beside Meryl, Jyle said, "Why don't you go grab yourself a cookie while daddy talks with his old friend?"

"Yes, Papa. Goodbye, Sir Mikaen!" Meryl curtseyed to Mikaen before running off, giggling.

"Your daughter?" Mikaen said, watching the child's golden curls bounce with every step she took. "Wait, your daughter? You have children?"

To his amazement, Jyle blushed. "Yes, well ... for now, have a seat."

They took seats at the table, Jeronem still a bit stunned. Mikaen didn't blame him. 

"So," Mikaen said, "What've you been up to the last seven months? Aside from becoming the Cygros, I mean. Jesus, how does that even happen? I know you've got a silver tongue and all, but going from offworlder to king of an entire nation? How does that even happen?"

Jyle took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "You've been here for seven months, right? I mean, according to what Elduran told me." Seeing Mikaen's nod, Jyle sighed and said, "Look, I don't really know how to tell you his, Mikaen, so I'm just gonna be frank. I've been here for over seventy years."

Mikaen laughed, but the laugh soon died in his throat. "You're serious? Seventy years?"

"Come this summer," Jyle told him. "Every since I fell into the Rip in Utah looking for you."

Mikaen frowned. "Since when is there a Rip in Utah?"

"Dunno, but it's there now," Jyle replied, "Some thought you actually fell in. Everyone else gave you up for dead, but I told Syrin, 'Not a chance. Mikaen's too stubborn to die.' Still, it was three months before I finally managed to get to Utah to investigate it for myself. ."

Jyle chuckled, continuing, "I half-expected to see you hanging onto the edge of the Rip. Unfortunately, all I saw when I got there was this strange circle of light and swirling colors."

Somewhat sheepishly, Mikaen said, "Yeah, it was a portal. My fault, but we'll get to that later."

"Well," Jyle continued, "You know me, can't leave well enough alone. I started poking around with it. Sure enough, it pulled me in and bam! I'm here on Vinta."

"Wait a second," Mikaen interrupted, "I just got here seven months ago. If you went looking for me three months after I disappeared-"

Jyle finished, "-how did I end up here seventy years before you arrived? That's definitely the question of the day."

"Jyle? Are you in here?" A gentle voice called out.

A slender idestan maiden with golden hair that contrasted sharply with her dark skin entered the room. She wore a pretty if simple dress of purple and blue and a circlet  identical to the one gracing Jyle's head.

She walked over to Jyle. "We really must speak to Rydiana."

Jyle nodded, saying, "Of course, love, of course. We'll have a word with her right after I finish with Mikaen here. Oh, Mikaen, this is Julia Cressia, my wife and Cygress. Julia, I'd like you to meet the True Knight himself, Sir Mikaen!"