" Fallon returned and said to Alaisdair, " Come. We must head out - we will go North and then a bit West."
"What about the net? Don't we need to take that? I know this is the tree," Alaisdair said with conviction.
"yes, you are correct. Last night two of Chad's men picked it up and took it to the armory. Chad hurried into the party and forgot it until you spoke up."
"Oh, we still need to take it though. Right?" asked Alaisdair?"
"Yes, we do, but Chad is getting it and will catch up with us as we walk." said Fallon, "But I have more to tell you about the Rogue Stallion."
"You call him a Rogue? Is he that nasty?" asked Alaisdair,
"Yes, very much so. You know that, and you know him."
"Hold it, Fallon! I've never seen him before; you and the soldiers were trying to catch him, and he escaped and flew off."
"Okay, you and I need to have a man-to-man talk. I hoped this would only be necessary after we captured the Rogue," Fallon continued, Let's try to walk while I tell you the tale of the Rogue."
Perplexed, Alaisdair decided to listen to the knowledgeable Fallon, especially about the monsters in this area. "Okay, I will listen."
"We all know you here in the Land of Myst. But, we know you in the other times and lands as well," Fallon continued, "It's almost as if we all live in a giant book."
Alaisdair stumbled along in a daze trying to understand precisely what Fallon was talking about. He had odd dreams of kings and kingdoms and weird-looking cities. But Fallon's speech was bizarre.
"Okay, Fallon, I need to trot," said Alaisdair, "so my legs do not get tangled as I go. We must sit and talk if this is as important as you say. Or can it wait?"
"No. You are right. Come over here, Alaisdair, in the shade of this tree. I will try to be brief, and it can be if you wait to ask questions," Fallon chuckled as he thought of Alasdaiar's impulsiveness.
"Never mind - just let me finish a sentence or two before you interrupt. This is how it goes; believe me, this is the story." Fallon said.
"First, you come into this timeline at least once a year, and so far, you do not remember any of us. Each year, we all remember what we remember and up to the end of where we are going. It's like you are rewritten repeatedly, and once you start remembering, you can only go on to the next adventure after going to the conclusion of this one. Do you remember anything? So far?" Fallon asks.
Ignoring The question, Alaisdair asks, "Fallon, do you remember having this sit-down talk with me on this journey?"
Fallon sat straight up and said, "NO! I don't. We were always walking."
"Then, Fallon, this scene may be the breakthrough for all of us. Start talking!"
"The Rogue is one of your wife's countrymen. In fact, he was a childhood friend and wanted to marry her. However, she refused because she did not love him. He then went on to woo another, but death took her. At that time, he became insane and was hospitalized.
She loves you. It was love at first sight for the two of you. You have been married for fifteen years so far this time around and have two children." Fallon is going to continue, but Alaisdair interrupts him.
"Whoa, whoa... I'm only nineteen," sputters Alaisdair.
Fallon says, " Let me go on, please. And you have a good brain on you, and this tale will not confuse you."
"Okay, I am listening," said Alaisdair as he leaned back against the tree, then quickly sat forward.
Fallon saw what he did and said, "No need to worry. This portion of the enchanted forest has been a comfortable area for thousands of years." The tree indicated a thumbs up to Fallon.
"Now, back to the story of The Rogue. Your wife has been harassed by The Rogue throughout the past fifteen years when you are infrequently away from her, or she has not been able to be with you. Do you have a question, Alaisdair?"
"Why does The Rogue think he has a chance with her, especially as you say we have two children? And why has she not told me?"
"There is more. The Rogue was in an accident when young and had brain damage. So, to him, his reality is the only reality. He wants to believe she is his and needs to convince her. She was able to get out of her bonds and flee home."