“Drinking alone tonight?” Darina asked Slippurse. It was a night Thailyn had to stay in Illia and Darina wanted to see her friends. Slippurse shrugged. “Vor's working, Dark and the hags are busy. Kith's gone. You're here. Where’s your friend?” “Illia, he's got patients there.” Darina told her. “Is he thinking of opening a clinic here?” Darina shook her head. “He was just in town and we got talking and he offered to help my mom.” “Too bad.” Slippurse shrugged. Darina frowned. “He's a dragon. He's not going to sleep with you.” “I was thinking about someone for you.” Slippurse told her. “Me?” “He took you to dinner. It might mean he likes you. You can't spend your whole life alone.” “How can I pursue someone in Illia? It's not like I can follow him there. I need to be here for my mom. She won’t do well in a move.” “I could watch her some, if you wanted to go see him.” Slippurse offered. “Unless I got Kith to transport me, I’d miss too much work.” “I doubt that enlisting Kith's help would be a good idea.” Slippurse agreed. “Where is Kith anyhow? Is he still in Sen-gan?” Darina asked. Slippurse shook her head. “Baj-tisk.” “Is his aunt having more problems?” Mirimar had never healed properly from the injuries she received during the war. She often had difficulties because of it and Kith would have to go help. If Mirimar was having problems, Thailyn would want to know. “He's sick. Vor's cousin, Shunati, scried Vor to let us know.” “Why isn’t Shunati treating him? Isn't he supposed to be a really powerful healer?” Slippurse frowned. “Shunati is a powerful healer. He did what he could but it's like sleepless fever or Reys Tor. It takes time to recover. He thought Kith would be more comfortable in true form.” “Evening, ladies.” Vor came up. “Hi, Vor. How have you been?” Darina asked. “My pledged still hasn't spoken to me. It's been months and she still won't tell anyone why.” “She didn't break the pledge?” Vor shook his head. “I asked her if she wanted to. The look in her eyes made me think she'd go mad dragon.” “Can elves go mad dragon?” Darina asked. “She’d be the first.” Vor admitted. “What are you going to do?” “Whatever she wants. I love her.” He told her. “How long can you two stay pledged?” Slippurse asked. “15 years after she comes of age, so we have 25 years.” “Then it’s ended?” Darina asked. Vor shook his head. “Only if one of us ends it, otherwise we're married whether we like it or not.” “Are you going to end it?” Vor shook his head. “I won't fight it if that's what she wants but I won't be the one to initiate it either. In my heart, she's already my wife. If she wants to have a husband she never sees, won't speak to, so be it.” “Maybe have the hags talk with her.” Slippurse suggested. Vor laughed. “I can't afford that. I got one lady stealing the customers' coin purses and another sitting here without ordering anything.” “I'm ordering something. The bartender was busy.” Darina insisted. “And I'm just having a drink. I'm not working tonight. I just didn't want to be alone.” Slippurse shrugged. “So what can I get you?” Vor asked Darina. “Mint tea, please” “Mint tea with gobs a sugar.” Vor nodded. Darina laughed. She liked a little sugar with her tea. The elves liked things quite sour and saw even a little sugar was too sweet. He was back a moment with her tea, perfectly sweetened.” “Any news on Kith?” Darina asked. “I spoke with Shunati little while ago. He told me Kith was slurring his words and could barely walk. He'd been drinking the night before and everyone thought he was still drunk. Pt'this was about ready to disown him. Then, he started having a conversation with his dad.” “Kith was talking with Kar?” Darina asked. “He thought he was. He could understand why no one else saw him. He was delirious and hallucinating. He's lucky to still be alive. Shun said if he hadn’t been drinking so much, he'd be dead. Drinking caused him to increase his belly fire heat to fever levels and it started killing off the illness.” “It's not that illness that killed Pt'this’s brother and mom is it?” Darina asked. “Fire death? No. Then his belly fire wouldn’t have warmed at all. This isn't that serious. But he is going to be gone for a while.” “You think you lose his job?” Darina asked. “Are you kidding? That's blacksmith pays Kith a third of what other smiths make those ones aren't nearly as good as Kith. He's not giving that up. You call me a thief.” Slippurse frowned. “Does Kith know he gets paid so much less?” Darina asked. Vor nodded. “He feels it's a good trade-off. His boss never complains if Kith has to miss work to help Mirimar or when he sheds. His job will be there when he gets back.” Darina wondered if she should tell Thailyn about it. He saw Kith his family. He may want to try to help. “How’s your mom doing?” Vor asked. “She's holding steady for the moment.” “Did I hear correctly that she had Nielboh?” Vor asked. Darina nodded. “Darkham says he wants to meet the other healer who's been treating her.” Vor told her. “He's not mad?” Vor shook his head. “He's not that vain. If it's something that'll give your mom a few more years, he wants it for her. He's impressed with what the other healer did and wants to meet him.” “I'll talk with him the next time he comes to treat her.” Darina offered. “How are you affording a second healer?” Slippurse asked. “He's not really charging much and I’ve had a little extra mage work.” Darina explained. She wished she could tell her friends about Thailyn but he wasn't ready for that yet. Vor nodded. “Most good healers will work with you. In Sen-gan, you could get a referral to see the palace healers, since they're usually the best in town. Some of the healers won't give referrals though. Shunati and Mila have it worked out with the college healers to write up referrals when they ask, usually with just a quick read of the patient. I hear Mila even has a stack of blank referrals signed by college healer for emergencies.” Slippurse nodded. “After my parents died, the orphanage took my brother and me to the college. The healer took one look at us and sent for Shunati. He didn't even read us.” “Some healers are sensitives. They don't need to touch you to read you.” Vor explained. “They can sense the problem from a distance. The worse the problem, the further away they can feel it. When I was stabbed, Shunati could tell the damage from across the room.” “I’ve seen that scar. I could tell the damage from across the room.” Slippurse pointed out. “I had my back turned. He couldn't see the injury.” Vor told her. “How did you get stabbed?” Darina asked. “Someone put a knife in my stomach.” Vor shrugged. “The usual way.” “It's top secret.” Slippurse whispered loudly. “He won't tell anyone.” Vor grinned. “Yep, only three people know what happened. Me, Shunati, and the guy who did it. What happened doesn't matter.” They talked for a while though Vor had other customers to deal with also. After a couple of cups of tea, Darina went home. **** “Have fun?” Thailyn's voice asked. Darina jumped and started to look around. “Your vanity mirror,” he said. She saw him and smiled. “Lyni, hi. I've missed you.” “I've missed you too. Did you have fun with your friends?” “Were you spying on me?” She pretended offense. “Not exactly, not intentionally.” He admitted. “I just thought I'd scry you and see how you were doing but you weren't alone. I overheard you talking about Kith, so I listened a bit. From what the elf described, it sounds like Makalito. It'll take a while to get out of his system but he’ll be okay. The initial healing any healer can do. Then it's taking potions for a few months. I have a contact in Baj-tisk. I can keep an eye on him, but he'll be fine.” “Good. Did you hear Darkham, my mom's healer, wants to meet you?” “I didn't hear that. I’ll see what I can do. It may be a while.” Darina nodded. “How's the patient?” “Sleeping. The worst is passed. I'll probably be able to come home in a few days.” “Good. I miss you.” “I miss you too. How's your mom?” He asked. “No problems, so far. It's more like how she was while I was growing up.” “You know that won't last.” Thailyn reminded her. She nodded. “I know. But it's nice having her back again, even for a little bit.” Thailyn nodded. But Darina could feel his remorse. He'd never have his family back, not whole. Maybe something could be done about his sister and his mom may be out there somewhere but his dad was gone forever. “I'll talk with Merrada tomorrow and see if he has any news about your mom.” She offered. Thailyn shook his head. “Thanks, but he's dangerous. I'd rather you didn't have any dealings with the man. I'll talk with him when I get back.” Darina nodded. She didn't like dealing with Merrada either. **** Thailyn entered the inn and looked for Merrada. Darina had set up another meeting with him but he insisted she stayed home. He saw Trittan instead. “Lyni.” The merchant nodded. “Trittan.” Thailyn nodded back. “So it's Merrada who funds your operation.” Trittan laughed. “I think you fund it.” Thailyn nodded. “I suppose. Is Merrada here?” “In the back.” “Thank you.” Thailyn made his way to the back. As he did, he heard voices. “Crito…” Merrada started. “No! You’re not doing to me what you did to my mother.” Another voice said sharply. Thailyn heard a thump and a boy in his early teens left the room in a hurry, bumping into Thailyn as he left. “Sorry.” The boy muttered and hurried on. “Hey, Crito.” Thailyn called after him. “You have a broken wrist.” The boy stopped and looked at it. Thailyn approached. “I'm a healer.” He healed the boy’s wrist. “Next time you hit someone, don't bend your wrist.” He advised. The boy pulled away and ran off. Thailyn could smell his fear. He wondered what was going on. He turned and entered the room. Merrada was on the floor. He helped the man up. He had a broken jaw so Thailyn healed it. Interesting, the boy was Merrada son. Thailyn chose not to say anything about that yet. The information could be valuable later. “You have news on Shawtila?” He asked instead. Merrada nodded. “Not much, but maybe something. There was a purple dragon in Kripdom, but that was centuries ago. My informants can't even find out if it was a female. All I can tell you is the dragon was looking for other dragons.” “How did you find this out?” Thailyn asked. Merrada frowned. “You don't think I'd give away my source, do you?” “I think too much of that information is what I told you. I also think that several centuries is an awful long time for that to be remembered.” “I told you it wasn't much. I've only been able to confirm what you've told me, so far are and that she was looking for other dragons. This is going to take a while. The only reason I've gotten this much is one of my informants is an immortal.” “An immortal? Lyra?” Thailyn growled. Even if it meant he'd never find his mother, there was no way he'd work with the daughter of the man that killed his father. She had been involved. “Not in this case. I try to avoid her as much as possible. This is someone who lived in Kripdum back then. I also want to tell you, he told me this dragon wasn't the first to come looking for others. My informant believes the rest were all killed.” Thailyn nodded. The Tricot had assumed that much. But he hoped his mother may have survived. “I haven't forgotten about our agreement. I am looking. I'll contact you when I know more.” Merrada assured him. “Thank you.” He paid the man another gold coin and left.