Shunati stayed as long as he could, but in his mind, it wasn’t long enough. He enjoyed spending time with Sinta. He was sorry he’d put off meeting her for so long. He wanted to ask her to come back with him to Sen-gan, but he knew she couldn’t. Her parents wanted her to stay in Erilu until they were married. He understood. “I’ll be back when I can,” he promised. “I’ll scry you,” she said. “I love you,” he said as he transported off not giving her a chance to respond. Shunati appeared in his office in the palace in Sen-gan. He went to find his mentor to let her know he was back. He knocked on her office door. She opened it. “Where have you been?” She frowned. “Erilu.” He wondered if he’d done something wrong. “You said I had off until this morning. Did something happen?” “We could’ve used your help.” “Why didn’t you use the charm to scry me?” Mila wasn’t a mage so he had made a charm to use to contact him in emergencies. “It didn’t have enough magic left in it,” she told him. “I’ll make another one. What happened? Is everyone okay? Do I still need to check on anyone?” “No. It’s taken care of. Princess Ann returned. She…” “Ann? She’s alive?” The girl had disappeared two years ago and was presumed dead. Mila frowned at the interruption. “No, she came back as a shade. Yes, she’s alive. She apparently had transported to someplace with more magic blocking eta-vie than Lerjao. Then she transported herself, a man, and Sapphire back here. It put her into a trance. Sapphire got a charm from the college to send her to Baj-tisk. She got Pt’this to come and help.” “Why was Pt’this in Baj-tisk?” Pt’this was the dragon’s ambassador to the humans. He lived there in Sen-gan and had for three hundred years. He’d been the one to ask Ann to get his vial from Lerjao, the troll capital, where she’d disappeared from. “Never mind,” Shunati told Mila. King Emeton was mad at Pt’this for causing Ann’s death. Pt’this was avoiding being here. “She’s okay now?” He asked. “She’s quite weak, but she’ll recover, as always.” Mila nodded. “And the man she brought back?” “Her pledged.” “Pledged?” If Shunati weren’t a healer, he’d worry about the damage a shock like that would do to his heart. Ann had been pledged to Pt’this’s nephew, Kith for several years. Kith had been killed trying to retrieve Pt’this’s vial three years ago. Ann had been so devastated she shut down, refusing to do anything including eat. They had to force-feed her. That was why Pt’this had asked her to retrieve the vial. He hoped having something to do, along with a chance to get vengeance against those who had once taken her prisoner and had killed Kith, would bring her around. To hear two years later that she was pledged again was completely unexpected. Mila nodded. “He’s a nice young man. He reminds me of Vor with Deyama before they started having problems.” “Speaking of which…” Shunati grinned. “They’re speaking?” Shunati nodded. “They are.” “So they might work things out?” “Maybe. But Vor went back to Thager.” “Of course he did. He lives there. It’ll take time. So what happened?” “She had a miscarriage.” “Why would she be mad at him for that? He didn’t cause it.” “He did get her pregnant. But no, she wasn’t mad because she had one. She was mad because he never said anything. It’s just, he didn’t know. He was in seclusion at the time. It’s looking like the college lost the message before he was able to see anyone.” “College? Wasn’t Vor barely of age then?” Mila frowned. Shunati shook his head. “Vor was ten years from it, only twenty-five.” “So Deyama was twenty? She was just a child.” “It’s possible that was part of what caused the miscarriage.” Shunati guessed. “So what made her finally tell him?” “She didn’t. I did. I touched her, just to reassure her. I was only trying to help. I hadn’t meant to read her.” “But of course, you did.” “I did.” He admitted. He couldn’t help it. “Even after all this time, it just popped out at me.” “That was thirty years ago. You haven’t healed her in all that time?” Shunati shook his head. “She always went to someone else. I figured either she wanted consistency since I’m not there much or felt awkward since Vor’s my cousin and we look so much alike.” “And what about Sinta? Did you meet her?” Shunati grinned. “I did.” “And you two got along?” She smiled too. He nodded. “Very well.” “So, do you want me to release you from your apprenticeship so you can return home?” Mila guessed. Shunati shook his head. “I can’t go home. You know that. Shades, one of her cousins tried to hit me just for being there. Until we can figure out a way for me to live here when I’m released, I need to continue as is.” “But then you can’t get married.” Mila frowned. “I’ll look into it. Maybe we can work something out.” “Thanks.” “Now, get to work. Take inventory. I need to know which potions to order.” Shunati smiled. “Yes, ma’am.” **** Shunati was still taking inventory when a page burst in. Another interruption. He’d never get done. He was tempted to send the girl to see Mila so he could finish. “Sorry to interrupt,” she said. “His Majesty asked me to fetch you and mistress Mila.” He wanted both of them? That was unusual. “What happened?” He set the box of potions aside and grabbed his kit. He knocked on Mila’s door. “They want both of us.” “Princess Ann looks like she isn’t feeling well and Lord Andy was beaten.” The page explained as she led them to a meeting room. “Lord who?” Shunati frowned. “Ann’s pledged,” Mila told him. “Prince Remtani beat him and the princess transported him away.” The page added. “Now she’s having trouble staying awake. Sir Pt’this had Zemi get her Erulian wine. It doesn’t look like it’s helping much.” “How long ago did she wake from the trance?” Shunati asked Mila. The page, not realizing who he spoke to, answered. “Three days ago.” Shunati looked to Mila. She nodded. “How deep in the trance was she?” “Very. We didn’t recognize it at first. It was unusual.” Mila explained. “She was in it for two days although she wasn’t as bad emotionally as she usually is. She should not be casting yet.” “Shall I take her while you heal Andy?” Shunati offered. Mila wasn’t a mage and Ann would need that. But he was only an apprentice. He couldn’t give commands to her. She nodded. “Sounds right.” As they stepped into the room, Shunati was hit with a wave of ailments. There were too many people for him to sort through it all. He almost put up his spell shield to block it out. As he neared Ann and Andy, he could tell the majority of what he felt came from Andy. He wondered if Mila could handle it all. He’d help her once he was done with Ann. He helped Ann stand as one of the guards did the same with her pledged. Most of the guards didn’t appreciate having to support a patient, but this wasn’t one of those guards. He was one who would consistently go beyond the call of duty to help those around him. Shunati heard Andy protest Ann being left in the hands of a mere apprentice. He didn’t use those words. He was more polite, but that was the idea. Shunati bristled that the man would assume the apprentice was the weaker healer. He reminded himself the man was a foreigner. He couldn’t know how strong Shunati was. And he put an as needs before his own. His injuries were must worse than Ann’s were but he wanted her to have the better healer. Ann’s injuries were relatively minor, with a few bruises and a split lip. He healed them quickly while they walked. He wasn’t supposed to heal in public unless it was an emergency. He figured this qualified. He took her to her room rather than the healing rooms. She’d need bed rest after this and would be more willing to do it in her own room. Pt’this followed to lend his magic if needed. Queen Tylan and several guards and servants followed. He really didn’t want an audience. But Tylan was Ann’s mother, and the guards and servants would follow until she sent them away. He helped her onto the bed. One of the servants moved to help her remove her shoes and get covered while another propped her up with pillows. He shooed them both away. “Let Shunati do his work first,” Tylan instructed. Both stepped back. “Welcome back, your highness,” Shunati told Ann. “It’s good to see you’re not dead. Let’s see if we can keep it that way.” Sitting down, he checked her magic. It was dangerously low. It almost looked augmented, but he knew who the Augmenters in the palace were and none even practiced magic much less knew they were Augmenters. In addition, all were weak. None could have done this. He could see why Mila had trouble reading the previous trance. There was something strange going on. This could get tricky. He started trying to raise her strength. Mila entered after a time. “Andy?” Ann asked. “He’s fine, all healed up. He’s with your father to discuss the details of the task he asked Andy to perform. I’m sure they’ll be along soon.” Mila assured her. “Great, more people,” Shunati muttered. “They’ll be quiet,” Mila assured him. It wasn’t long before the two joined them. Mila encouraged them to be quiet. Distraction was part of the problem, but the number of people was starting to overwhelm his healing. He was going to need to ask some to leave soon. If Mila were a sensitive like him, she would have done it already. This was going slowly, and it was taking a toll on Ann, as had the numerous trances she’d been in previously. “Ann, you can’t keep draining yourself like this. It’s going to get you killed,” he scolded. “Remtani would have killed Andy if I didn’t cast that spell,” she argued. “You need to find other solutions besides magic,” he insisted. “But...” “No buts. You’ve got to be more careful.” “The lecture can wait until she’s stronger. Let her concentrate on staying awake.”Andy laid a hand on Shunati’s shoulder. He jumped at the pain, but even as he did, he read something in Andy that stunned him. Could he be mistaken? He checked the young man’s magic. What he felt was very odd, nothing like that he’d felt before. “Where did you come from?” He couldn’t help but ask. Then he came to himself. “What is it?” Ann asked, but he ignored her. It was time for everyone to leave. The fewer people who knew about this, the better for Andy’s and even Ann’s sake. Tylan protested. It wasn’t that she didn’t trust him but she was one to question unusual behavior. He decided if anyone knew, Pt’this was the most trustworthy. She relented, but Emeton didn’t. Too many things had been kept from him in the past. “Your majesty, please,” Shunati pleaded. “I’ll explain later. It’s for security reasons.” Emeton relented. “And your majesty, the process is going to be very painful and will burn us. I’m going to need Mistress Mila to help when I’m done. Have her bring plenty of healing potions and some Erulian wine.” Shunati shut and locked the door behind the king. “Before you touch me, tell me what’s going on,” Ann demanded. “Ann, don’t start,” Shunati warned. “No, you said you were going to burn me. You don’t have that kind of power. What is going on?” Ann insisted. “Shun, the room is warded, just tell us,” Pt’this sighed. He put his head in his hands. Shunati gave up. They did need to know anyhow. There were safer places to talk. The palace walls had ears. But as Pt’this said, there were some wards at least. “You’re pledged is an Augmenter.” He finally told them. Pt’this’s head whipped up. Ann gasped. Andy frowned, looking worried. “I’m a what?” The man asked. “An Augmenter,” Ann explained. “It’s someone who can refocus magical energy.” “It’s more than that. I can amplify my own energy and strengthen you fuller faster,” Shunati said. Ann looked worried but nodded. This was where the burning would come in. “I’m not going to lie. Neither of us is trained. This will be painful. It will burn us. It’ll be hardest on Ann, but we’re all going to feel it,” he explained. He showed Andy how to place his hands on her face. He started feeding energy to Andy. As he expected, Andy magnified the energy and passed it to Ann. And as expected, Andy did too fast and burned them. It was understandable. He was untrained and worried about Ann. Andy gasped in pain. “Don’t pull away,” Pt’this warned. “Let Shunati break the link first.” It was good advice. The dragon-man held Ann down so she wouldn’t break the link as she writhed in pain. Shunati stopped to rest. Ann’s face was blistering, and Andy’s hands were close to it. Ann was dismayed that her magic wasn’t high enough. Augmented magic didn’t work as well, and they were really augmenting what they were doing. They continued, and he started to really push it. If they delayed, she could start draining. By the time they were done, they all had severe burns and were exhausted. Shunati’s powers were already starting to heal his hands automatically, but he had no physical strength left and collapsed, falling to the floor. He heard Pt’this let Mila and assure Tylan that Ann was okay. He was only partly conscious. It sounded like Mila went to deal with Ann. He convulsed in pain when Pt’this picked him up to move him to the couch. “Sorry,” the dragon said. He helped Shunati drink some Erulian wine. He managed to swallow it. Next, Pt’this gave him some healing potions. “Take care of Andy. I can heal myself,” Shunati told him. “I’ll help him too,” Pt’this assured him. After helping him drink the healing potions, Pt’this went to take care of Andy. Shunati rested a moment before he was recuperated enough to help. He checked on Andy. His hands were healed, but he was still weak. “No, no alcohol. I don’t drink,” the young man was saying. “Andy, you need it,” Pt’this argued. “No. I’ll be fine. I just need to rest,” Andy insisted. Shunati squat down in front of where Andy sat. “Andy, have you ever cast before?” Andy shook his head. “There’s no magic where he comes from,” Pt’this explained. Then how could he be a mage? Shunati wondered but he pushed the thought aside. It didn’t really matter. “So this is the first time you’ve used your magic ever?” Andy nodded. “What we did tonight is very hard on us and our magic. The Elven wine will help you recover faster and easier,” Shunati explained. “But I don’t drink,” Andy insisted. “The wine has magical properties. It’ll help you and you'll only get a little drunk.” Shunati assured him. Andy shook his head. Shunati sighed. “Do have a drinking problem?” He guessed. The brief initial touch hadn’t been enough to tell him that. The rest of the time, he had been too focused on Ann to read him. “No, but…” “You know someone who does, a family member perhaps? And you worry you’ll develop one too?” Shunati asked. Andy nodded. “You need the wine. It’s safe, even for people with problems, unless they’ve just stopped drinking.” Andy hesitated. “How about I cook off the alcohol?” Pt’this suggested. “It will lose potency,” Shunati said. “How about one glass without alcohol and one with? You shouldn’t even feel one drink.” Finally, Andy agreed. Pt’this took the first glass. He took a deep breath, held it for a moment, and then blew on the drink. Shunati could see the steam rise. He gave it a little time to cool and handed it to Andy. Andy took a tentative sip and made a face. Shunati understood. It was a tart wine. To his credit, Andy didn’t complain, and he drank the whole glass. Pt’this poured him another. He drank that too. “Give it a moment to work.” Shunati encouraged. “How do you feel?” “Better,” Andy told him after a moment. “Good. Ann’s going to be fine. You need to get some rest. Pt’this will take you back to your room. Mila will take care of Ann, make sure she sleeps, and doesn’t have a nightmare. You’ll be fine by morning. Ann will be in a few days.” Andy nodded. Pt’this helped him stand. “I’ll be back to help you to your room too.” The dragon told him. “I’d rather you didn’t.” Shunati shook his head. He didn’t feel up to dealing with more pain. “You wait and let him escort you.” Mila admonished. “We don’t need you falling on the stairs.” “Yes, ma’am.” Shunati sighed and sat to wait.