Ti explained what happened. Nim was beside himself. He felt it was his fault. Ti insisted Joanne was fine, that she hadn’t been hurt. That was all that kept Nim from dashing off, probably as mad-dragon. Pt’this stayed near him, keeping him at the table with his drawing stuff. “How did you find us?” Pt’this asked. “Kartonesh told me that when he was trying to reach you when he was coming from the Western Settlement, he used magic to enhance his telepathy. He said that when Ann answered, she echoed. So I repeated what he did, only I tried to keep it a soft as possible. Sorry for the headache.” Ann nodded. “That explains the voices,” Andy said. “How did you get here?” Pt’this asked. “I transported us. Dae and I found an old book. I think it was an immortal spellbook.” “Who came with you?” Pt’this asked. “Just Kar. I couldn’t do more than that.” Pt’this looked stunned. “You left Baj-tisk without permission?” Ti just stared. Young ones weren’t allowed to leave Baj-tisk without permission. The punishment could be banishment. “Don’t worry about it,” Emeton said. “We’ll work it out with the Council.” “Ti, please come,” Ann said. She led him to the lab. She offered him a bottle of healing potion. “How did you know?” He asked, reaching for the bottle. His hands were severely burned. “When have you ever not greeted us with hugs? You always hug us. This time, you kept your hands in your pockets. “You’re also not strong enough for that spell. We were in class together. Dae’s the Augmenter. She gave you the strength. Her secrets are her own, but there are others who could help train her.” “Other Augmenters?” Ti asked surprised. Ann nodded. “Let’s go. There’s still scrying to do.” Knowing where they were in town, Ann was able to locate Joanne, Nor’than, and Mishtali. They were on separate floors of a very tall building downtown. While she was scrying, Andy retrieved the sunglasses he had purchased earlier. “You see the magic?” Nim asked surprised. He was still drawing, the same picture over and over, crumpling them, and throwing them on the floor. It was of the same man he’d been drawing when he and Jo had the misunderstanding. They had seen him draw the man in the past too. Anytime he’d get extremely upset, he’d start drawing him. He said he had no idea where he’d seen him. “You don’t?” Andy was just as surprised. Nim shook his head. “She’s glowing white rather than blue,” Andy said. “That’s backlash,” Nim said. “I can’t see backlash, few can.” Nim was upset to see Joanne had been collared until Sapphire pointed out it wouldn’t hurt her because she wasn’t a mage. They formulated a plan. Ann and Andy would go after Nor’than. Nim, Pt’this, Tylan, and Shunati would find Mishtali and free him. Ti, Sapphire, Emeton, and Kar would find and free Joanne. “Nim, you and Pt’this work well together. He knows your abilities and Nor’than will expect you to go after Jo. “Mother, you can pick the locks here, can’t you?” “I most certainly can. The locks around here are a joke.” “Kar can follow the summons to find Jo. Sapphire will be able to get past any locks you encounter.” “Are you strong enough to go after an immortal?” Ti asked Ann. She showed them her two vials. Both glowed with the magic she stored in them. Ti’s eyes widened. “That’s what took you so long to recover?” Nim guessed. Ann nodded. “We think we have plenty of power. Andy can be our backup, make sure no one sneaks up behind us.” “We?” Ti asked. “You’re both doing this?” Pt’this asked. “Ann is better at controlling the vials. I’m better at controlling the backlash.” She nodded. “We?” Ti asked again. “Why is she talking like she’s not Ann?” “Ti, meet Drepal,” Pt’this said with a sigh. Ti turned pale and backed away. Sapphire stopped him. “It’s okay. She’s helping us,” she told him. “She knows about Dae,” he said. “I’ve known for years. We went to class together. If I was going to hurt her, don’t you think I would’ve done it by now?” “She’s not going to hurt anyone,” Emeton said. “Yes, I am. Nor’than and anyone who gets in our way.” “Ann is Drepal?” Ti asked. “No. Ann is weak. She can’t handle what needs to be done.” “It’s complicated. They’re two separate personalities,” Andy said. “She’s two people?” “More like one person broken into two parts.” “Ann is the dragon. I’m the rest.” Ti eyed her warily. She sighed. “This needs to be settled before we go. Ti, we can talk in private, or we can talk here. But what I said earlier will come out if we talk here. They can be trusted, but is it your decision to make?” He nodded and followed her back into the lab. As they went, she heard Emeton suggest to Nim that he call Jo’s mother and let her know she was okay. “Ti, I’m not going to hurt Dae. She’s Ann’s friend. I’ve known for years what she was. I don’t need an Augmenter. When I do, I know others who will help me willingly.” “You were there living in Baj-tisk? Did the Council know?” “They knew Ann worked for Lyra. The brand set off the alarms, remember? At that time, the only dragon who knew about me was Kith. He and Sapphire met me before they met Ann. In Baj-tisk, they thought I was gone for good. Pt’this, Mirimar and maybe Nim learned while Ann was there. I was dormant at that time. It wasn’t until Kith was killed that I woke up again. She keeps me asleep most of the time. It’s better that way. The others learned about me at Dragon Castle.” “Is someone trying to…?” He trailed off not knowing how to say it. “Fix me?” Drepal guessed. “We can’t be fixed. We have to be separate, so at least part of us can remain sane. “I’ve done monstrous things. I had to do them to keep Ann alive. I feel no remorse. I will do them again if I need to. I was made to protect Ann, to keep her sane. They know this. “I serve King Emeton on because that keeps Ann safe. If they thought I would rebel, they would execute Ann and me for my crimes.” “You’re saying you hurt all those people to protect Ann?” “I followed orders because if I hadn’t Lyra would have let the trolls torture Ann to death. How many people did you hurt out of revenge when you thought she was dead?” “I hurt those people because I was mad. I lost control.” “Do you think I’m sane? Ann can’t go mad-dragon. She made me instead. I feel no remorse, no sorrow, no love. You’d be appalled by what it takes for me to feel joy or peace. “Ti, we need to work together to save Nor’than’s prisoners and to stop him. Can we at least do that?” Ti thought a moment and nodded. “I still trust Ann and the others. If they feel you can be trusted, I will follow them.” Drepal laughed. She leaned close and whispered, “No one trusts me, little boy. They just use me.” She left him standing, stunned.