Joanne listened to the conversation around her. Most of it was in English and Nim or the young man next to her, named Ru, translated what wasn’t for her since a few didn’t speak English. She wasn’t sure, and she didn’t know if asking would be considered rude, but she thought Ru might be a dwarf. Two people appeared to be elves, as did Sapphire’s new husband. She looked around in awe. She felt like she was at some renaissance fair, only this was real. Ann had talked about magic and said they didn’t have electricity or cars and such, but this was nothing like what she had expected. She had pictured some third world country like they show on those charity commercials. Nim had shown up at her house that morning, asking if she would be able to get away for a day or so to attend the wedding. She had agreed, so he took her back to the country club where he had walked in as if he owned the place. Thinking back, she wondered if he had used magic. No one had paid any attention to them. He took her to a basement room where there was a glowing tunnel, the gate Ann had talked about. He led her through it, and they were in the clearing between the road and a forest. He nodded at a guard, in full armor of all things, and walked down the road a little way. He then turned and reached for her hand. “I don’t mean to seem forward but transporting is easier with contact,” he told her. Not understanding, she took his hand. There was a flash of light, and suddenly they were outside a huge castle. She looked around in awe. Nim had apologized for not thinking to explain what he was doing ahead of time. “I’m used to people who know Ann being used to seeing magic. We just transported to the other end of the kingdom. The next fastest way would have taken us all day.” Joanne nodded, still looking at the castle. “Ann didn’t tell you she was a princess, did she?” Joanne shook her head. “Are you okay? Do you need a moment?” Still holding her hand, he led her to a shady spot. There was a small bench. She sat for a few moments to let her head stopped spinning. “I knew Ann wasn’t a common middle-class person. I could tell she came from money and had an aristocrat upbringing, but I didn’t know she was royalty.” “She generally doesn’t tell people when she travels. Her father feels it safer that way.” He took her to a room where she could change and then once she was done, he kept her company until the ceremony. “Is this land much different from yours?” A girl asked. Joanne thought her name was Bria. All of them at the table except for Nim seemed young, maybe late teens. But, they were very polite. Nim, obviously in charge, kept a strict leash on what was appropriate. And no one questioned him even once. Joanne nodded. “Very different.” “Andy told us a little about it, but I can’t imagine what it’s like.” “How do you know Ann and Andy?” A young man named Ti asked. His skin was discolored and seemed sensitive. He seemed to try to avoid being touched, although he had hugged her in greeting like the others had. Nim had explained earlier that he had been severely burned and was still recovering. “We lived in the same boarding house.” “What’s that?” Ti asked. Joanne did her best to explain with Nim’s help. “We met Ann when she came to Baj-tisk to study magic. She joined our class,” Ru said. “Are your wedding ceremonies different from this one?” An elf girl named Dae asked. “Somewhat, though ours can vary some. People like to do their own thing. Does this vary from the elves’ ceremony?” Dae laughed. “How would I know? I’m not an elf.” “Daetalina!” Nim said sharply before Joanne could apologize. He glared at the girl a moment. Something exchange between the two. First, Dae looked contrite, and then she looked mortified. “Oh, I’m so sorry,” she said turning back to Joanne. “I had no idea humans were the only people in your land. We’re dragons. We shapeshift to two-legged forms sometimes. Andy says in our true form, that’s what we call our dragon form, we look just like in your storybooks. Most people are used to us and can tell. I really am sorry.” “It’s okay. I shouldn’t make assumptions either. I’m sorry too,” Joanne said. “Are you all dragons?” She asked. “All seven of us plus Pt’this and Ann.” Dae nodded. “Ann is a dragon?” She was surprised. “She’s half dragon,” Bria said. Ghin said something in their native language. “Ghin thinks that, since Master Nimitinas is using it, we should also let you know we’re telepathic. We can talk into each other’s minds, but we can’t do it with other races, only dragons,” Ti said. “Master Nimitinas, since Ann is half human, can she communicate telepathically with other humans?” Dae asked. “No, she can’t,” Nim said. He seemed about to say something more when the elf, or dragon rather, at the head table stood. He was holding his glass, so Joanne thought he might be making a toast.