Kheven asked around among his customers and found a lead after a few days. His objective had recently been seen at the edge of town. After a number of coins, a beggar pointed the way.

It was a quiet, less traveled path. He easily picked out the trail of a lone woman among a mix of older tracks.

After a few miles, the tracks grew fresh and Kheven began to consider, there was little attempt to hide them. In fact, the opposite. Where the trail crossed stone, she had deliberately stepped into softer, dustier ground.

So Kheven wasn't surprised when he rounded the next bend and found Rubia sitting on a fallen tree, waiting for his approach. The Dagger of Impulse was stuck in the trunk, near her hand.

"I heard you were looking for me," declared Rubia.

"I began to figure you knew I was coming."

"You wouldn't be much of a tracker if you couldn't figure THAT out. Are you here for this?" She patted the silver dagger. She had stolen it weeks ago from Kheven's shop, and it had been pivotal in locating the Astral Mirror.

"What? No," replied Kheven, "That matter is settled. It's yours now."

Rubia seemed perplexed. "Then what DO you want with me?"

"Did you know in one language where I come from 'Rubia' means 'Blonde'?" asked Kheven.

"Well, I WAS born blonde. Turned this color later," She flicked her hair.

"Mine was red. Turned brown before a year. Funny how things work."

"Yeah. Like if we're from different worlds why do we know the same words?”

"Hrm," said Kheven.

"Hrm," said Rubia. "So is it true? You're from another world?"

"Here's what I'm after. Tell me everything you know about the Mirror, and where you got the information, and I'll tell you where I'm from."

"Fine," Although Rubia knew information was currency, she had nothing to lose, "I MIGHT tell you my source, if your story is good, but all I know about the Mirror is what Daska did with it. Which turned out to be nothing but fantasy. It shows you what you can imagine. That's all. Your turn. Where are you from?"

"The other side of the Mirror" he replied.