Pt’this landed on the beach on Tricon and collapsed. He let out a cry of distress as Sapphire scrambled off his back. She put Bre in the sand and then hurried to help Andy get Ann down. She had no mage sight but judging by the way he looked, she guessed he was risking a trance himself trying to help Ann. They dropped to the ground a few paces away and then she retrieved Bre. Pt’this started to change but it was slow. She’d never seen a dragon take so long to change. He lost consciousness part way through and instinct kept him going. As he was finishing, several other dragons landed. “Can you help them?” She asked in Dragon. “They were poisoned by sunset lilies.” The dragons took human form. Well, Sapphire assumed it was human form. Each was covered head to toe in a dark hooded cloak. They looked at her and the others and then at each other. She guessed they were talking telepathically. One spoke. It reminded Sapphire of a spell, but the cadence was different. She realized he was just speaking. She remembered Pt’this mentioning spells were spoken in the Tricot language, a different form of Dragon. How could she get their help? Then Ann responded. Sapphire hadn’t known she was conscious. **** Ann had been drifting in and out of consciousness as Pt’this flew. His landing was rough enough that it jarred her wake. She felt Andy and Sapphire drag her from his back and lay her on the beach. Andy needed to continuously give her more magic. She didn’t know where it came from. She supposed it was from Pt’this, although his magic was supposed to be for Bremul. She heard the others land. She forced her eyes open. Sapphire was asking for help. Ann could see they didn’t understand. “What happened to them?” One asked in Tricon. Sapphire looked dismayed. She didn’t know that language. “Please, help us. The men are near trances. The baby and I were poisoned by…” She spoke haltingly, searching for the words and the strength to speak them. Then she hesitated. She didn’t know how to say it in Tricon. “… Sunset lilies.” She finished switching to Baj-tisk. Some words were the same, maybe this one was too. She sent a mental picture of one of the flowers. There was a flurry of mental conversation. One came over to help her. “Help the baby,” she said. “We are.” He assured her. Someone was with the child. He started to lay a hand on her to strengthen her. She moved it to Andy’s hand. “Don’t tell,” she whispered. He nodded, understanding. He sent Andy the energy who then magnified it, keeping some for himself and sending the rest to her. Soon, Andy was strong enough to sit up. She was close behind. “The flowers here have been destroyed so we have no cure made but the berries still grow at the center of the island. We’ll get them and make the potion. It will take several days. Our lead healer is gone now. He’ll be back before the berries are here. He will be able to help you more.” They reverted to true form and carried the group to a small building and helped them inside. “Please, stay in here or just outside if you need to be in true form. Our people are not used to outsiders and we don’t want to worry them,” the one who had spoken before told them once they were settled. **** Twice a day, someone came, brought food, and helped strengthen them. They all wore the same hooded cloak and the only one that spoke was the one who had spoken the first day. He assured them, everything would be ready as promised and once the lead healer returned, he would be able to remove more of the spores. Pt’this passed on the messages Mishtali had given him telling what had happened since he’d left to the healers to give to the council. They in turn would pass them on to his friends and family. Andy spent most of his time in bed with Ann, trying to keep her from a trance. Sapphire was feeding Bre in the bedroom so she could sleep once that was done. Pt’this wrote Bre another letter. He’d started writing to him the day they had found out Sapphire was pregnant. Not knowing what life would bring, he wanted to be able to let the child know everything he could. He just hoped the child lived long enough to read them. A hooded figure walked in. It surprised Pt’this, as it wasn’t the normal time. The man muttered something in Tricon that Pt’this didn’t understand. He had learned a little from Mirimar but hadn’t used it in years. The man removed his hooded cloak and hung it on a hook by the door. As he turned, Pt’this’s jaw dropped. “Thailyn?” He asked standing. “Tomin?” Thailyn took a step back. “You’re the healer we’re waiting for?” Ignoring Thailyn’s look of distress, Pt’this went and hugged his friend. “Tomin, I’m sorry,” Thailyn said. “For what?” “For all the trouble I caused, the delay getting back to help, for not being there for Mirimar.” “Thailyn, if you had been any sooner coming, you would’ve gotten caught in that explosion and been killed. And there was nothing you could have done for Mirimar. Even you can’t make organs re-grow.” “I handled the inquisition badly,” Thailyn said. “We all did. It’s in the past. I’ll tell you what, if you stop calling me Tomin, I’ll forgive you for any imagined wrongs you think you might have done. Okay?” Pt’this hated the name Mishtali had given him as an apprentice, Tomin Mishtan, meaning living twin, a reminder that he’d lost his brother. “Okay, Pt’this.” Thailyn smiled. “Shall we check on the patients?” “Wait,” Pt’this felt he should be warned. “One is my son, Bremul.” “You took a new mate?” Thailyn looked surprised. He knew Mirimar had been Pt’this’s mate and he knew she had died, never having any children. He also knew Pt’this well enough to know he couldn’t stay single forever. Then he smiled. “Congratulations.” “The other is Annlonna.” That made Thailyn pause. “She’s alive?” The last he had heard, she had been missing and was presumed dead. “For now.” Pt’this nodded. Thailyn hurried into the room. They were all asleep. He went to Bremul first. Carefully, not to wake the baby, he drew as many spores from the child as possible. He wasn’t able to get them all. Nobody could do that. He then gave the child some energy. He then turned to Ann. He frowned seeing Andy curled up with her but said nothing. He repeated the process. This time, he gave Andy the energy and let him feed it to her. Ann woke and looked at him, frowning. “I know you,” she said. “You were at the tavern,” she said softly. Thailyn looked surprised. “You remember that? I was there. Hush though. Don’t wake the others. We’ll talk later.” He whispered. She nodded and closed her eyes. Thailyn did too a moment. Pt’this could see the grief and regret on his face. Then he rose and left the room. Pt’this followed. “What tavern?” Pt’this asked. “One in Thager, several years ago. The first time I got to talk to her. She didn’t know who I was and I’m surprised she remembered. There were other times we spoke, times I’d expect her to remember. She’s a bit out of it from the spores.” He shook himself. “They aren’t the only ones who need attention. You’ve pushed yourself hard lately.” He gave Pt’this an infusion of energy. “Now, go rest with your family. I’m not going anywhere.” Pt’this nodded. He was still tired. The only reason he was up was someone needed to keep an eye on everyone.