“Pt’this, do you remember a Laz?” She asked in the living room. “Laz? Lazarito? There was some incident or other, and he died. All the official report says was that he died when his fire bounced back at him and burned his face. It happened well before I was born. He was in Kar’s class I believe. Nim was in that class. He might know more.” ‘Nim was the one that killed him,’ She explained what happened telepathically. “What’s this about?” Emeton asked. “Dragon business,” Ann said quickly. “But, an outsider knew about it and told Jo’s mom.” “Someone seems to know a lot about Nim,” Andy observed. Ann nodded. “Private things, things that only a few would know about.” “But, who would be telling Nor’than?” Tylan asked. “Pt’this, who was Nim’s first mentor?” Ann asked. “The first one? The immortal? I don’t know.” Pt’this shook his head. “Her name was scratched out of the record book. It just said ‘the immortal.’ He never uses her name.” “Andy, you were there when he told Jo about it. Did he tell her?” Ann asked. “No. He always just referred to her as his mentor. What does it matter?” “Someone’s been telling Nor’than about Nim. She’s the only one I can think of who would know that information and is still alive.” Ann reasoned. “Why would she be helping Nor’than? Nim said she wasn’t evil,” Tylan asked. “He only knew her for a short time as a child. He may have misjudged.” Emeton said. “A short time? It was almost 200 years,” Andy said. “He was only twenty when he went to live with her. He was apprenticed to her until he was two hundred.” “Evil doesn’t always appear as evil,” Ann said. “She may have seemed good to him. Or, perhaps she was good but no longer is, or she is good and is helping unwittingly, or maybe she’s not even involved.” “There are too many unknowns. Let’s not disturb them tonight,” Tylan suggested. “Joanne looked quite upset.” “He knew she was,” Pt’this said. “He was sleeping and just suddenly got up and went to her.” “You didn’t see him with her. They bonded,” Ann told him. “I thought they were waiting,” Tylan said. “He keeps saying they aren’t even chosen.” “Mom, I told you. That doesn’t matter. They can bond anyhow. Besides, we’ll all know when they do mate,” Ann assured her. Sapphire blushed. “You did hear us.” “I didn’t say that. Have you heard Nim’s roar? He’s not only the biggest dragon in Baj-tisk. I think he’s the loudest.” “I think that’s a bit of an exaggeration,” Pt’this said. “Not when you’re standing in front of him because he thought you skip class.” “If you didn’t skip…” Pt’this started. “I was left behind. But that’s not the point. The point is we’re all going to hear his mating cry when they do finally mate.” “Well, you kids mind your manners and don’t tease them when they do. Nim is too sensitive,” Tylan admonished. Ann thought it was odd that she included both Pt’this and Shunati as kids. Both were older than Tylan was. “There’s always someone else we could pick on.” Pt’this eyed Shunati. “Don’t look at me. I took a mate before you four did.” “Who?” Ann asked. “The only woman you’re ever with is Mila.” “You’re not sleeping with her are you?” Tylan asked. “No, eww, she’s got to be eighty years old and human. Not a good combination. Besides, she’s a human. I’m an elf. There’s a law against that,” Shunati said. “I meant my pledged.” “When did you get pledged?” Emeton asked. “Two years ago. My parents arranged it. We met last spring when I went back to Erilu.” “When will we get to meet her?” Sapphire asked. “When you go to Erilu to meet with Queen Deyama. Her parents don’t want her to leave the valley until we’re married.” “When will that be?” Sapphire asked. “When I finish my apprenticeship.” Shunati shrugged. “Elves aren’t allowed to get married while they’re apprentices.” “Shun, you’ve been an apprentice for forty years.” Pt’this pointed out. “I still haven’t learned full control,” Shunati claimed. Pt’this shook his head. “You’re too strong. You won’t learn full control. There will always be times when you read more than you want. Thailyn had the same problem. The control isn’t in the reading, it’s in knowing when to keep your mouth shut about what you read. You learned that long ago.” Shunati didn’t say anything. “You don’t want to leave Sen-gan, do you?” Sapphire guessed. “The palace could always use a second healer,” Emeton said. “Mila isn’t eighty, but she was a midwife for my mother. She appreciates all the help you give her. You could be her assistant.” “Really?” Shunati looked pleased. Emeton nodded. “We’ll talk with Queen Deyama when we’re there. You can come with us. If you choose, get married while we’re there and bring your wife back with us.” “Oh, that would be great. Sinta is so sweet. I miss her so.” “Sinta’s your pledged?” Ann asked. “Yes, why?” “I met her when we were there for the last treaty. You two would make a great couple.” Shunati smiled. Then he frowned. “Did you have something to do with us getting pledged?” “No. I heard Sinta was an unreadable. I mentioned it to Deyama and that you needed an unreadable. She’s the one that thought you two would make a great couple and was going to talk to your parents.”