“Someone from the Council came looking for you.” Lial told Thailyn. Thailyn frowned. “He actually asked for me?” That was new. Usually they contacted him telepathically. Kritalla, his other immortal friend, had cast a spell on him to make it difficult to scry him so the Council couldn’t harass him that way. Lial shook his head. “No, he was asking about my partner.” “What did you tell them?” “The same thing I usually do. I have no idea what he's talking about. I've had several strong partners over the years. None have ever been who they were looking for. I also suggested he check out the elf healer in the palace. He's powerful enough to be whoever they're looking for.” “Elf healer? I thought Mila was at the palace.” Thailyn frowned. He didn't have much contact with other healers but he did at least try to be familiar with them. Usually Lial was his connection to them. “Shunati's her apprentice. And while I tend to avoid him, from what I've seen, he's close to your strength.” “He has my sympathies.” Thailyn grimaced. Healing abilities were a necessary curse. “Not all of us hate her abilities.” Lial pointed out. “I don't hate it. I like helping people. I just wish I could turn it off. The last time I went to the market place there were two people with nausea, three with a cough, one with a headache, one with a tooth ache and two babies with diaper rash. When was the last time you dealt with that?” “Be glad you're not a sensitive. You'd have learned a lot more than that.” “You sound like my dad.” Thailyn frowned. “I do not. I met your dad. Remember? He had a much fuller voice.” Thailyn smiled a moment. “I’ll talk with my contacts in Baj-tisk to see what they want or if they found me again.” “Maybe I should take the villages for a bit.” Lial suggested. “You stay in town, mix things up a bit.” Thailyn sighed and nodded. He’d hoped for more time before he'd had to leave Illia entirely. Maybe he could partner with Fria’s other healer. He could tell him he was wanting to relocate to be there Darina. “Do you know anything about a healer from Thager named Darkham?” He asked Lial. “He's a dwarf. He’s little stronger than I am. Comes up with more unorthodox patchwork than you do. The last symposium he nearly got thrown out for suggesting burning a wound to stop the bleeding.” Thailyn frowned. “That should be a last resort, but it does work.” “That's what he said. He demonstrated it and the teachers talked about adding it.” Lial shook his head and grinned. “I can see it now. You two will revolutionize patchwork healing.” “What's wrong with that?” Thailyn asked. “Think how much better people's lives would be.” “And how many of us will you put out of work?” Lial challenged. Thailyn laughed. “There will always be a need for healers. Not every illness or injury can be healed with patchwork, some need magic.” “So, are you thinking of partnering with his Darkham?” Thailyn nodded. “Possibly, if he's willing, for as long as I can stay there.” “Have you considered continuing on like you have these last few months?” Lial suggested. “If the Council has found me, I can't stay here.” “I know. But what about healing in Veslin or Paosij and transporting home to Thager? Then, even if the Council finds you, your family will be safe.” Thailyn looked at him intently. That might work. It was bad enough he was a fugitive. He didn't want to subject his family to his nomadic lifestyle. He’d talk with Darina. He had thought maybe once he was healing there, they might be a little bit more open about their relationship. He didn't want her to lose her friends because of him. Him traveling was hard to explain. **** Thailyn flew to the next village. He could've used a transport spell but traveling from village to village was often the only chance he got to fly. The cities just weren't built with dragons in mind. And the humans didn't like seeing a dragon flying down the main road. Treya met him as he landed. He took human form. “I'm not interested in courting your daughter.” He told her preemptively, not that it would help. “I’m not here about that, though she really would be perfect for you, if you gave her a chance.” She said. Even if he didn't have a mate, or need an unreal readable, Treya’s daughter was nowhere near perfect for him. “What do you need?” He asked. “Shara is in labor. It's not going well.” “Shara? Who’s Shara?” Thailyn frowned. “She just came here yesterday. Can you imagine, traveling in that condition?” “She's not early?” He followed her. “Not according to her.” “What about her husband? What does he say?” “She doesn't have a husband. Well, she's not with one at least.” Treya frowned disapprovingly. Thailyn thought about Darina. What would people think of her if they were still hiding when she got pregnant? He followed her into a house that had been abandoned the last time he was here. The place was in the process of being cleaned. The midwife looked up as they entered. Her face relaxed some. “Retin, your timing couldn't have been better.” She moved to make room for him. “Who's there?” Shara asked. Her scent of fear overpowered all other smells. “It's okay.” The midwife assured her. “It's our healer, Retin. He's one of the best healers in the kingdom.” “But…” Shara started. “He'll take good care of you and your baby.” Treya told her. “Shara, my name is Retin. I'm a healer and Treya asked me to come help.” He reached out a hand to shake hers. It was an old trick healers used to read a reluctant patient. She fell for it and shook his hand. In addition to reading what was going on with the delivery, he got a good idea why she was traveling alone so close to her due date. She'd been beaten several times. “Will you let me help you?” He asked. “They can stay too.” “Of course we will.” Treya nodded. The biggest gossip in the village, she wouldn't leave this. Finally Shara nodded. **** Thailyn sighed as he cleaned up. The midwife had been right. If he'd been any later, neither the mother nor child would have survived. As it was, there was still a possibility they wouldn't. “I need a mirror.” Thailyn told Treya. “For what?” Treya frowned. “I need to scry Lial and let him know I won't be going to the other villages. He'll need to finish up for me. I also want to scry my mate and let her know I won't be home tonight.” “Your mate? You have a mate? My daughter isn't good enough for you?” “Treya, I tried to tell you. Your daughter's sweet but I don't love her. Even if I did, she's not an unreadable. You really want her married to a man who can't touch her? She deserves better.” Treya turned in a huff and stalked out. A moment later she returned with a mirror that she thrust at him. He scried Lial first and told him what was going on. Lial agreed to check on the other villages. Then he scried Darina. Fortunately, she remembered to use his Illian alias. Treya was listing. She didn't need to know he wasn't who he claimed. Treya was worse than his sister. Mirimar at least use discretion when a person safety was involved. “Treya, if Shara just moved here, she doesn't have a lot of baby supplies. Why don’t you see if some of the other mothers have things she can borrow? And maybe see if some might come and help her too.” Thailyn suggested when he was done. “I'm sure you know the best people to ask.” Treya, slightly mollified by his last comment nodded and left. He turned to the midwife. “I need to talk with Shara privately a moment.” He could smell the fear from the new mother increase again. She was afraid to be alone with him. He guessed she was from one of the eastern cities. They were less used to dragons then those here along the Baj-tisk Mountains. “Why don’t you wait across the room to give us some privacy?” He continued and Shara relaxed some. The midwife nodded and moved as far away as she could. “You can relax.” He told Shara as he pulled up a chair. “I don't eat people.” The frankness of the comment usually disarmed people. “Aren't you a people?” She asked, not understanding. Thailyn nodded. It had taken dragons a long time to get other races to see they weren’t animals. “I don't eat humans.” He amended. “You not a human?” She pressed. “I'm a dragon. Sorry, the purple eyes usually give it away.” She cocked her head and looked at his eyes. “I hadn’t noticed, sorry.” “It's okay.” He assured her. “Since I am a dragon, I can scry. Is there anyone you'd like to contact?” She shook her head. “No.” “What about your husband, the baby's father?” He ventured. Her fear increased. “No!” “Is he the one who hurt you?” Thailyn guessed. “Hurt me? No one hurt me.” Shara protested. “Shara, I just spent the last several hours reading you. I probably know more about it than you do.” She sighed. “Don't tell anyone. I can't go back there.” “I won't. That's why I wanted to talk to you alone.” He leaned close. “Treya’s the biggest gossip here.” She smiled. “I'd noticed.” “How about your parents? Being alone with a new baby is difficult. Maybe your mom could come.” She shook her head again. “My dad would never let her and if he found out where I was, he’d make me go back. He's the one who wanted me to marry him.” “Does he know what your husband did to you?” “He did the same thing to me and my mom. I didn't want that kind of life for my baby.” Thailyn growled. Shara gasped in fear. “Sorry. I wasn’t growling at you. Hurting your spouse or child is an abomination. Forgive me. I live among humans but I can't get used to some human ways.” “That's cause dragons just eat people.” “We do not.” He feigned offense. He didn’t know why people still joked about that. She nodded. “That's why they steal babies.” Suddenly her attitude and confusion made sense. It was Yarbs who made such claims. Thailyn didn't know why, but all attempts at treaties between Baj-tisk and Yarba failed and the Yarbs spread lies about the dragons. “We do not eat babies. In my true form I could easily eat a full-grown cow. Do know how many babies I need to fill me?” Shara stared at him, holding her baby tighter to her. “Careful, don't hurt him.” Thailyn warned. “Dragons love children, and not for breakfast. We see them as precious gifts to care for, not as food or something to beat on. I've never met a dragon who would do that, to any child, not just their own and not just dragonling's either but human, elf, dwarf, shades, I doubt I could even hurt a troll baby.” “Really?” Thailyn nodded. “Do you have any friends you left behind? Anyone you want to contact?” Shara shook her head. “None that I'd want to risk my father's wrath, or my husband's.” “I can tell you’re from Yarba, Menthanlans don't think dragons eat babies. They might think we burn the whole towns or steal herds of cattle but they know babies are safe. If you want to fit in here, you'll need to get used to dragons. There aren't a lot that live outside Baj-tisk but there are few. Don't worry. I won't tell where you're from. Get some rest. When you wake, I’ll give you more tips on blending in.” He took the baby from her and she closed her eyes. He rocked the child some, reading him as he did to make sure the boy was okay. Then he tucked the boy into the makeshift bed the midwife had set up and settled down to rest himself. Author’s note: the next 2 chapters will have a violence tag so if you have that checked, you won’t see them.