It then felt as though my spirit was falling within me, falling and yet not falling, but fluttering like a leaf on a capricious breeze. Floating instead, floating until it came to a place of weightless suspension. Then time stuttered, and held its breath, and I was alone in a dark and quiet place. It was a comforting place and I wanted to stay there for a while and rest.

But then I heard Cyriah’s words ringing in my mind like a pure echo: Go help them, before it is too late.

I took a breath. The room became bright again, and I found Cyriah observing me with a faint smile on her face. I shuddered slightly, and time began again.

“Now what did you bring me for a present this time?” she asked with a coquettish toss of her head.

I stood and reached into my pocket for the small package I had brought with me. Taking the velvet bag in both hands I placed it in Cyriah’s lap. She looked at it with curious delight, and then, with surprisingly nimble fingers, she pulled open the snap that held the pouch closed. Reaching inside, she brought forth the bracelet that was hidden within and held it up to view. Turning it over and over in her hand, the bracelet caught the golden glow of the lamp and seemed to throw off subtle sparks of light and a warmth of its own.

“Put it on me,” she said as she handed me the bracelet and lifted her left hand.

“It is made of turquoise and lapis lazuli. Made by a great race of people who live in the vast deserts of North Africa. I am told it is very old, and was once worn by a princess,” I said as I fastened the clasp on her tiny wrist.

Cyriah held out her arm and contemplated the bracelet closely, a smile of pleasure spreading across her face. She placed her other hand over the bracelet and held it there for a moment.

“The stones are warm,” she said in a wondering tone of voice. “They have life and power, and they carry love.”

Then she looked up at me with glistening eyes.

“I think the people who made this bracelet are great friends of yours. And I think you feel great reassurance and belonging when you are with them. This is a wondrous present. And I will always wear it here, on my left wrist, the side nearest my heart.”

I bowed my head in response.

“Cyriah, thank you for accepting my gift—and thank you for this,” I said, touching the necklace I wore.

She sat back in her chair, inclined her head to one side and laughed a deep, clear laugh.

“Now you go on and get out of here, boy. That girl of yours is gonna get jealous before too much longer, what with you spending all this time in here with another woman.”