weak light that was coming from behind her. "My people were originally from Eastern Europe--from places long since forgotten by history, I'm afraid. We can, however, with accuracy, trace our family line back over two thousand years, to a time of great warrior kings and powerful magicians who shared with their people the knowledge of nature and how to live in harmony with Her. We were transplanted from our homes many generations ago, of course, but my family was a powerful force in the known world before the Romans invaded our lands and attempted to exterminate our beliefs and my people.

"We persevered, however," he continued, a thin smile cutting across his lined face. "Our numbers were severely reduced by countless wars and were further scattered by time, but there are still some of us left who follow the old ways."

Angela was not at all sure what he was talking about and put off his ramblings to grief and exhaustion. "So, you were trying to guide your mother's spirit someplace when I came into the room," she stated. At least she was fairly sure about that much of his story. "I didn't interrupt anything, did I?"

His smile became a sad line, now, turning down the corners of his mouth and his eyes returned to their normal, dull shine. "No, my dear. Your entrance did not affect my attempt to guide my mother's spirit." He sighed before continuing. "My mother was a strong-willed woman and she was not ready to leave this world, even though she knew that her time here was over. So, her spirit is reluctant to leave this plane of existence and it is not heeding my attempt at guidance."

Still not sure exactly what was going on, but more curious than ever, Angela asked, "Well, couldn't her spirit just stay...well...here, a while longer?"

Enderlander nodded. "It could, but the longer a spirit stays on this plane, without guidance, the more difficult it becomes to travel over. Eventually, it might become lost, forgetting the reason for its existence and would wander, possibly forever, seeking a reason for its loss and sorrow; something that could never be found on its own."

"You mean, like a ghost?"

"Indeed," he replied, with some sadness. "And I do not wish my mother's spirit to undergo such a fate. Unfortunately, I am old and tired and apparently my own weakened spirit is not strong enough to help her's make the transition."