Kith returned the next morning as promised with the repaired pump. He helped the innkeeper install it. The man offered him a drink. It was tempting, but he had drunk too much the night before. He knew he needed to cut back. He ordered breakfast instead. While he was eating, he saw Star come down the stairs and leave. A short time later, the man she had gone up with came down too. “Do you know where the innkeeper got off to?” The man asked Kith, not looking at him. “He went to the kitchen for a moment. He'll be back soon.” Kith told the man. There was something familiar about him, but Kith was sure he had never seen the man before the night Slippurse had encouraged Star to try picking his pocket. “Thank you,” the man said and went to sit at one of the tables. Kith noticed he wasn't wearing his cloak, but had his gloves on again. The outfit he wore was unusual also. It wasn't so much the style, as what it was made out of; it looked like silk and dragon skin, an unusual combination. Kith couldn't stay; he had to get back to the forge. He would, keep an eye on the man. Perhaps, he would see what Merrada could find out. He didn't have much money for that, but the man owed him a favor or two. **** Thailyn wandered the city and contemplated Star or Darina while he waited on the merchant. He wasn't supposed to meet him until the afternoon. Most times when he came to the city, he stayed in his room. But the merchant's caravan was a few days late and he needed to get out of his room some. The outfit he wore was specially made out of a combination of dragon skin, silk and linen, like his gloves and cloak, for protection against accidental reading. He also wore his cloak and gloves. He never went anywhere without them. He'd added the outfit as an extra layer of protection when he decided to go for a walk. There were too many people who might bump him. It wasn't that he didn't want to help them. He did. The problem was he couldn't help them. Much of what he read was past ailments that were already healed. So, he did what he could to insulate himself. He thought about the previous evening. He wondered if it had been a mistake. He had truly enjoyed it and he really liked Darina. But he didn't know if she wanted to pursue a relationship. She had been quite anxious this morning and then gotten angry, as if there had been a fight. He wondered if she was married and had been cheating on her husband with him. If his father was still alive, he’d be having a fit already for his actions last night. And if it turned out she was married, his father would never forgive him. He pushed the thought aside. Mishtali was long dead. He'd talk with her later and see what she wanted. Right now, the bond was still weak enough letting it fade wouldn't be too detrimental, not even for him. He saw her across the street with an elf and a dwarf. It surprised him some though he couldn't say why. He knew she was close through the bond. He just figured she was in one of the shops, working. She hadn't told him what she did for a living, but he guessed by the way she spoke and the condition of her hands and body, if she had a legitimate job, she worked as a shopkeeper or, more likely, for one. So he hadn’t expected to see her wandering around with friends. Then she put the arm around the elf. He scowled. Last night she said she was lonely. Right. Lonely his tail. And with an elf. Doesn't she know how dangerous that could be? They could get executed. He didn't know why he cared. She obviously didn't. But, he did. As he passed them, she turned and waved. He waved back and kept walking. Suddenly he just wanted to meet with the merchant, get what he needed and go back to Illia. He'd let the bond fade and forget about her. Except, he never would forget about her. **** Darina was having a bad day. She had gotten into a fight with her mother for being gone all night. The woman drove her crazy sometimes. Just because she'd wanted to spend the rest of her life alone after Dad died didn't mean Darina did. The thing was, that seemed to be the way her life was heading. Between work and taking care of her mother, she had little time for herself. She had few friends. Most were really friends with Slippurse. She'd been friends with Slippurse for a few years. She even helped her out on a few “jobs”. Kith worked as a blacksmith across the street from the shop where she worked. She'd been friends with him almost as long as Slippurse. He was also friends with Slippurse. Recently, the two had started helping her with her mother so she could have more time for herself. That was when she'd met Darkham and Voramini. She hadn't lied when she'd said she was lonely, that she wanted to be touched too. She'd gone to the tavern last night fully intending to do what she done, only she planned on doing with Kith. She wasn't in love with him, but they got along well and he was quite attractive. She thought maybe she’d fall in love with him if they perused a relationship. Her big hesitation was that he drank too much. Her father drank himself to death when she was little. That made her worry about Kith. When she saw Thailyn sitting there, she had decided to try to pick his pocket again. When he caught her for the second time, she thought for sure he'd call the city guard and have her arrested. Him kissing her instead surprised her. More so when she looked in his eyes and saw he was a dragon. Dragons didn't act impulsively in matters of intimacy. They also weren't intimate with strangers. She'd felt drawn to him in a way she couldn't explain. The whole time she'd sat talking with him, offering to get a room with him, crawling into bed with him, part of her mind told her it was crazy. She often ignored that part of her mind. The fight with her mother had made her late to work. Of course her boss was angry. To take it out on her, he'd sent her to purchase the supplies he'd ordered. That meant less time for her clients which meant less money. Unfortunately, the supplies weren't there yet. As she walked back to the shop, she ran into Voramini and Darkham. “Have you seen Slippurse?” Darkham asked. “Kith said she had a job in Veslin. She'd be gone a few days.” Darina told them. “Where did he get off to? I stopped by the blacksmith and he wasn't there,” Darkham said. “Did he have to go help with Miramar again?” “Not that he told me.” Darina shrugged. Then she realized; Thailyn was Miramar's brother. Kith was Miramar's nephew through her husband, Pt'this. Maybe, she could arrange a reunion through Kith. Vor let out a sigh and ran a hand through his hair. “What's wrong?” She asked. “I just tried scrying Deyama. She wouldn't even talk with me. I have no idea what I did wrong.” Vor explained. “What about going and talking to her in person?” Darina suggested. She didn't really know what was going on between Deyama and Voramini. All she knew was it had been arranged for the two of them to be married as young children. They had gotten along well prior to him going to Sen-gan to attend the wizard's college. After he returned, she wouldn't speak to him, although they were still pledged to be married. He had come to Thager to give her space, but so far it didn't seem to be helping. “I tried that. She wouldn't see me then either. Today, her friend, Sinta, told me Deyama was helping her with her cousin Pisha. Pisha wants to go to the wizard's college, but her family doesn't want her to leave Erilu. Sinta said once this was settled, she would talk with Deyama and at least try to get her to talk with me. She has no idea why Deyama is so upset either.” Vor told her. “You'll get things worked out.” She assured him, putting an arm around him. Darina looked across the street and saw Thailyn. She waved and he waved back, but something seemed wrong. She had briefly thought about introducing him to her friends, but decided it would be better to wait until he was in a better mood. “I just saw someone I need to talk to,” she said. “Vor, she'll come around.” Then, she hurried off. **** “Thailyn.” He heard her voice call after him. He turned and looked. She was right behind him. “Star.” He nodded. “Thailyn, what's wrong?” She asked. Where should he start? “Who said anything was wrong?” He kept walking. “Thailyn, wait. Talk with me.” She insisted, following. “I know there's something wrong. I don't need the bond to tell me that.” That made him stop. She not only knew about the bond, but recognized it. “I'm an idiot. I don't know why, but after last night, I thought maybe you cared. It's stupid. People don't fall in love overnight.” He started walking again. She grabbed his arm. He stopped. “Thailyn, what you talking about?” “I'm talking about you and me spending the night together last night. Did you forget already?” “No, I didn't forget. I don't understand why you think I don't care.” “Just leave me alone.” He pulled away and started walking again. “I'll go back to Illia, the bond will fade.” “No. I won't. I don't want the bond to fade. Tell me what upset you. Tell me why you think I don't care about you.” “Oh, I don't know. Maybe it's because I just saw you with your arm around another guy. Do you think that might be it?” “What? Who?” “That elf you were just walking with. Do you have memory issues?” “Vor? I barely know him.” “And that stopped you last night?” “Vor’s an elf. There's laws about that. Besides, he's been pledged since almost birth. He and she are having problems. I was trying to reassure him that things would work out.” “By putting your arm around him?” “Most people touch. It provides comfort. Thailyn, there is no one else. I have no husband, lover, suitor, shades, I barely have any friends.” “Then what happened this morning? You ran off barely saying goodbye, all upset and then you got angry.” “I hadn't meant to spend the night. I needed to get home and check on my mom.” “Your mom?” She couldn't have picked a better person to distract him with if she tried. He hadn't seen his own mother in six hundred years. She had gone off looking for the refugees and had never returned. Darina nodded. “It's not good for her to be alone so long.” That drew Thailyn's concern. “Is there something wrong? Do you need me to check her?” “No, she's fine. She fell and broke her hip a few years ago. It never healed well so she has trouble walking. I worry that she'll fall and hurt herself again when I'm not there.” “How old is she?” “She’s sixty.” Thailyn sighed. It was obvious he was debating something. “I could re-break the hip and then try to heal it properly, but it's quite painful, and at that age she may still have problems.” “No. I don't think she'd let you re-break her hip. Especially, if there is no guarantee she will be pain-free afterward.” “There's never a guarantee. Besides, there's still the chance she may fall again.” “Thank you for offering.” She smiled. “I'm a healer. Why wouldn't I?” Then he grew serious. “Do you want to continue a relationship with me?” He asked. “I believe I already told you that.” “You did?” Thailyn looked confused. “I said I didn't want the bond to fade. If we don't continue the relationship, it will fade.” He smiled. “True. Would you like to spend the night with me again?” “I can't. I need to be there for my mother.” She said. “At least have dinner with me,” he requested. “Maybe a little dessert?” He put his arms around her waist. “There are things we should talk about.” “I can't tonight. I'm sorry. I need to be home tonight. Maybe tomorrow.” He pulled her into a nearby alley. He pressed her against the wall and kissed her. As he did so, he pulled the hood of his cloak up and activated a spell infused in it so that people would pay no attention to them. Moments later, the city bells rang the second hour after noon. Thailyn sighed. He pulled away. “I need to get going,” Thailyn said. “I'm supposed to meet somebody.” “I do too. I need to get back to the shop.” Darina told him. Thailyn smiled sheepishly. “Before you go, can you tell me where the old gate is from here? I have a terrible sense of direction.” “Why do you need the old gate?” Darina asked. “That's where the merchant I have business with is.” “Trittan?” Darina looked surprised. Thailyn nodded. “What business do you have with Trittan?” “He's getting the ingredients for spells.” “The merchants don't come to Illia?” “It's the last stop on their route. The ingredients are fresher here.” Thailyn shrugged. “Most are dried.” Darina challenged. “Don't you have a license?” “I have one.” “Then why do you need to deal with Trittan?” “It's five hundred years old.” He finally admitted. He hoped she wouldn't turn him in. “Why do you have a five hundred-year-old license?” Thailyn sighed. “It's a long story. You said you need to get back to work.” “The shop's on the way. Besides, I need to talk with Trittan too. His caravan hadn't come in this morning.” “Why are you dealing with someone like Trittan?” “He does legitimate business too. We are out of several things at the shop. No other merchants are due in for weeks. We can stop by my shop and let my employer know the caravan was late and then we can meet with Trittan, see if it’s there yet.” Thailyn nodded in agreement. “Where have you been?” Her boss growled. “And where is my merchandise?” “Trittan was late and his shipment hasn't come yet.” Darina explained. “He told me it would be here yesterday.” The shopkeeper insisted. “He told me the day before.” Thailyn offered. “He sent a message last night to come this afternoon.” “I thought unless you need me to cast spells, I could go back and check.” Darina offered. “Things have been slow. Go ahead, but come right back.” Darina nodded and they started for the old gate. She took his hand as they walked. Thailyn glanced at her and smiled. “Last night you said you hadn't seen your sister in a long time. My friend Kith's her nephew.” Darina told him. “I know she doesn't travel much, but maybe, with his help…” “No.” He interrupted, shaking his head. “No. I can't see her.” “Why not?” She frowned. “I thought family is everything to dragons.” “It is. But I'm not allowed to see her. I'm not even supposed to be here.” “In Thager?” Darina frowned. “In Menthanla, or any of the four kingdoms. I was one of the ones involved with the trouble during the war and was told by the Council to leave the four kingdoms. I'm here against their wishes. They tolerate it because my sister is here with her mate but I can't have contact with her or any of the Baj-tisk. I can't let anyone know I survived. If I did, if I went against the Council at all they’d not only make me leave, they’d make her go too. She'd never survive.” “You couldn't heal her?” Darina asked. Thailyn shook his head. “Honestly, I don't know. I've never been allowed to try. Maybe, when it first happened, depending on the damage, I probably could have. But now? I don't know. It's doubtful. Well, I could try but I don't know that I'd finish before it would kill me.” “Kill you?” Darina's alarm was apparent. She, like most people, never thought what healing did to the healer. It took its toll. The worse the injury, the greater the toll. And, he felt it for another reason too. “I have what's called an atrophied heart. It's a birth defect in some dragons that causes difficulties with pumping blood. Stress or injuries will cause bouts where there is more difficulty than normal. If the bout gets bad enough, it leaves scar tissue. That scar tissue makes it worse. We measure it in levels 1 to 5. Someone who with a level one will have virtually no bouts and only extreme problems will affect him. A five's heart can't beat enough for them to survive. I was born a two. I didn't even know I had it until I was 700. I never thought to look. The trip here from Tricon was too hard on me and raised my level so now I'm a three. I should warn you, I fully expect to die young.” “How young?” Darina sounded worried. “Probably only another thousand years or so.” “To me, that doesn't sound young, but I supposed to a dragon it is.” “It's how you look at it. But, I wouldn't give up healing just to live a little longer.” “But is it living, just surviving?” She asked. Thailyn wasn't sure if it was her tone of voice or something he felt in the weak bond they shared that made him think she was speaking from experience. “No,” he said, speaking from experience too. And it was his desire to live again that made him act so irrationally the previous night. “I can ask Kith to pass a message to her. The Council wouldn't know.” Darina offered. “Her mate works for the Council. They’d find out.” He sighed. “Maybe this isn't a good idea.” “What isn't?” Darina frowned. “You and me.” “Why not? Was just a suggestion. I won’t do anything like that unless you agreed.” “Darina, I'm a fugitive, I'm here illegally.” Darina nodded. “I realized that. Whatever you did happened 500 years ago. It's time for you to live again.” She stopped and kissed her. Thailyn kissed her back. Every touch from her was pure bliss. He didn't know if she felt it through the bond or not. She would if they continue down this path. Reluctantly, he pulled away. They had responsibilities. “Are you serious?” He asked. “One of my closest friends is a thief.” She shrugged. “If I don't care about that, why would I care about this?” “Then, when we're around other people, call me Lyni.” “Lyni?” He nodded. “It's what I go by here in Thager. I hate it. Those who knew Thailyn would never believe I'd use it.” “I can do that.” She nodded. “And I can't draw attention to myself.” He added. “That's a given.” They reached the old gate. Trittan was waiting. “It never looks good when my customers come together.” He frowned. “It also doesn't look good when your shipment is two days late.” Thailyn pointed out. “Star and I are friends.” “Did the shipment come?” Darina asked. “Half of it came. The other wagon broke down and will be here tomorrow. Since you two are ‘friends’, I'll let you to decide who has to wait.” Trittan was clearly unhappy with them being together. Thailyn looked at Darina. “You take this one. You’re out. I'm not. I think your boss would be quite upset if you came back empty-handed again.” “Are you sure?” She asked. He nodded and smiled. “Besides, this gives me an excuse to stay another day.” He turned to Trittan. “I'll let you guys finish business privately.” He knew Trittan was charging him more but wanted Thailyn to think he wasn't. He stopped a short ways away and waited while they did business. Trittan called him back a moment later. “Your stuff will be here tomorrow afternoon. Meet me here then.” Darina laid her cloak on the ground and Trittan put the crate on it. Then, he left. Thailyn was about to pick it up for her. It was heavy for human to carry all that way. She held up her hand in the cloak rose, lifting the crate. Thailyn's eyes grew wide. “You can't use magic on those. It’ll ruin them.” “I'm not. I'm lifting the cloak. It's silk so that will protect the ingredients. I do it all the time.” She explained as if it were nothing. Thailyn was impressed. Silk was an insulator of magic. It took more strength to manipulate with magic and while levitate was a first year spell, one almost any mage could cast, to lift a piece of cloth flat like that and to keep it level while it lifted something else took skill. She took his hand again as they walked back and the crate followed. He wondered if she was an immortal. It would be just his luck that she was. Immortals looked and seemed human. But their magic exceeded that of normal human mages. It exceeded all other races. It was so strong, it affected them physically. They didn’t age and rarely got sick. Some saw mortals as lesser creatures and used them as tools. They had caused the trouble in Thailyn’s homeland, breeding with dragons, creating children that couldn’t handle the mix of magic and went insane. But he decided he didn't care if Darina was one. He could make sure they never had any kids. As they walked, he checked her for it but it was something that was quite difficult to tell. “Are you an immortal?” He asked. “What?” The question clearly surprised her. “Are you an immortal?” He repeated “No. Why? Because of that?” She pointed back at the crate behind them. “It's pretty impressive.” Thailyn told her. “I learned that spell early on. My dad had a drinking problem. He wasn't mean drunk or anything. But he drank too much. Sometimes, he'd pass out and my mom wanted him in the bedroom so others wouldn't see him. When I came into my magic, I learned that spell to help us move him.” “Didn't you tell me last night he died when you were little?” Thailyn asked. She nodded. “I was five when my magic started.” “Five?” That young was almost unheard of. “Magic is strong in my family. My grandma was quite the mage. She taught me to use magic.” “Are you two close?” He asked. “We were. She died a few years ago. Now, it's just me and my mom.” “Who you don't get along with so well?” He ventured. “We get along okay. It's just she can be difficult. She won't do things she should but does things she shouldn't. And she has too narrow of a view of what I should do. I mean, I understand her getting upset about me being out all night last night. She had no idea where I was or who I was with. But a few years ago, I went to Sen-gan with Kith than Slippurse to see the shades up close. We were only gone for the night. She knew where I was. I even hired someone to sit with her to make sure she was okay. She still got mad at me. “She hates that I'm a mage for hire. She doesn't like me working in the shop. She wouldn’t let me go to the wizard's college. She hates all my choices but won't tell me what she wants.” “So why still live with her?” He asked. “She's my mom. She needs me.” “So do you two have some fun event planned for tonight that we can’t have dinner?” He guessed. “I don’t know that I’d call it fun. She's trying to teach me to cook.” Darina frowned. “You can't cook?” He looked surprised. “Nope. I can make hot water but that's about it. So, every week, my mom tries to teach me. After all, what man's going to want a wife who can't cook?” “One who can cook for himself. Or, one who can eat his food raw.” He shrugged. He watched her for her reaction. “Raw?” The face she made was precious. “Dragons often eat raw or undercooked meat. Our belly fire is hot enough to kill anything bad in the food.” “Really?” “Yep.” He nodded. “Some of us prefer cooked meat and I can cook. I’m a potions maker. They are much different.” She nodded. “I hadn’t thought about that.” They neared the shop. “Can I ask you to put that down a moment?” Thailyn requested. She lowered the crate and he kissed her. She kissed him back. He thought about activating the obscurity spell again but didn't. He didn't want to get her fired. He brushed her cheek and put a bit of magic behind it. She gasped with pleasure. “Come see me when you can.” He whispered. She nodded, dazed by what he’d done. He looked at the crate for her and her cloak and took them into the store. She followed, still slightly dazed. He set down the crate and nodded to the shopkeeper. He looked at Darina. “See you soon?” She smiled. “Tomorrow.” He nodded and left. On his way out, he noticed a blacksmith's forge across street. On impulse, he stepped back into the shop. “Star, how tall is your mother?” “What? She's my height. Why?” She looked puzzled. “Just asking.” He smiled and left again. He started down the street before crossing over in case she was watching and then doubled back to the blacksmith. “Be right with you.” A voice called from the back. A moment later, the blacksmith came up front. “Sorry about that. My assistant is gone today. How can I help you?” “I need something special made,” Thailyn said. “It looks like this.” He made an image with magic. It was a rod that was bent on one end and separated into four parts at the bottom. The smith took out a pen and parchment. He copied the image. “How big do you want it?” Thailyn looked around. “About the same length as that sword. And it needs to be quite strong.” He forgot to ask Darina if her mother was heavy. It wasn't a question humans appreciated. The smith nodded. “My assistant should be back tomorrow so I can have it done the day after that.” “I'm leaving that day, early. I can pick up when I get back a few days later.” Thailyn told him. “Would you like it delivered someplace?” The man offered. “No. That's okay. I’d like it take it myself.” Thailyn said. “I don't needed till then so it's not a problem.” “Okay.” The smith took the parchment and went back to the forge. Thailyn went back to the inn.