Sapphire watched Thailyn land. She was sitting outside the hut with Bre and Pt’this. Both were sleeping, Pt’this was in his true form. “Good morning,” he greeted. He took human form. “How is everyone today?” “Very well,” she said. She had declared them even and promised to never bring that incident up again, at least not in a manner that implied he still owed her. Ann had been furious to find he and Andy had been fighting. She made them apologize before she would let Thailyn check her for spores. That was three days ago. “Are they still asleep?” He asked, indicating those in the hut. “No,” Sapphire said simply. He started to enter. “But you might want to wait.” “Wait? Why?” “Let them finish. You did say you want grandkids, didn’t you?” “Oh?” He looked surprised. Then he smiled. “She must be feeling better. She’s not as bad as he is, is she?” He gestured to Pt’this. Sapphire blushed. Was there no one who didn’t know? “Not quite.” “Sorry. That was a bit personal. I thought maybe you all would like to go flying today.” “I’m sure Pt’this would. I don’t know about Ann.” “She doesn’t like flying?” “She’s a little self-conscious about how she looks.” “She takes after my dad?” Thailyn’s dad, Mishtali, was a black dragon. They were extremely rare. To Thailyn’s knowledge, there had only been five ever born, all in his family’s line. “Not exactly. Perhaps you should talk to her. She might decide it doesn’t matter but don’t count on it.” He sat and waited with her. It wasn’t long before Pt’this woke up and shortly after Ann and Andy came out. Neither looked surprised to see him. Sapphire wondered if Pt’this had told Ann he was there telepathically. “I thought you might like to go flying today,” Thailyn offered. Pt’this agreed but Ann hesitated. “Maybe we could go tonight?” She suggested. “One of the ones who brought us here said your people didn’t like outsiders.” “We have the Council’s permission. If we stay high, no one will know your Baj-tisk.” “They’ll know,” Ann said. “What aren’t you telling me?” Thailyn asked. Ann transformed into a dragon. Thailyn was stunned. Aside from a slight iridescence, she had no coloring. She was all white. “The White Wyrm,” he breathed. The White Wyrm was a legend. It was supposedly the most powerful of all creatures, even stronger than the immortals. But it couldn’t exist. All dragons’ colors reflected their strength; the stronger the magic, the darker the color. It was thought that a white dragon would be impossible. That would imply the dragon had no magic, an impossibility. Magic was a part of all dragons. But here she was, likely the most powerful mage in the world, standing in front of him. At his comment, she reverted to human form and hurried back into the hut. Andy sighed and followed. “I shouldn’t have said that?” Thailyn asked. “It wouldn’t have mattered what you said,” Pt’this told him. “She’s been self-conscious all her life, everyone whispering about the albino princess. Now she’s the albino dragon.” “She’s not really an albino,” Thailyn said. “I know that. She knows that. But she’s pale enough that no one else knows. They just stare and whisper and are none too subtle about it. She sees herself as a freak.” “If she’d grown up among the dragons, she would’ve been the envy of all of them, her skills, her coloring.” “But she didn’t know she was a dragon.” “If I’d come forward as her father, she wouldn’t have been allowed in Baj-tisk, not even to train.” “Oh come on now. They aren’t so bad.” “They refused to let Mirimar come until you said she was your mate and if you had died first, they would’ve made her leave. You would not believe how many times I petitioned the Council just to let me visit her and they refused every time.” “She knew you were still alive?” “Not until the end. I never contacted her. The Council wouldn’t let me. If she knew I was still alive, she would’ve tried to visit. It was hard enough for her to go to Sen-gan. She didn’t need to be trying to go someplace else too. “She tried to contact me several times early on and then again when Ann went to study there. It was all I could do not to respond.” “I wish I would’ve known,” Pt’this said. “There was nothing you could have done.” “I could’ve had you visit at the palace when she was there.” “It would’ve just gotten you in trouble with the Council.” “The Council’s always unhappy with me. Why do you think I live in Sen-gan?” “But Ann wouldn’t have gotten the help she needed.” Pt’this nodded. “For what it’s worth, I think Mirimar knew. She sold Ann her vial before she died. She suggested to Nim to use your likeness when Ann was tattooed. He used blue rather than purple, but it’s you.” “How would she know?” “It must’ve been Kith’s description of you.” “But Kith didn’t know who I was until after she died.” Pt’this smiled. “Sure he did. He was friends with Slippurse. He met you through Darina.” “He knew Ann’s mother?” Thailyn did vaguely remember Darina mentioning knowing Mirimar’s nephew. “He was sweet on her.” “He was?” “It was an interesting conversation. Ann had just come to stay with us. While we’re eating, we started talking about Ann’s parents. Kith had been friends with her. Mirimar asked if she was the one he was sweet on. He said she was. Ann had stopped eating. Kith was oblivious. Then Mirimar asked how far he took the relationship with her. Kith asks if she meant did he mate with her. Ann who’s lost any color she’s ever had by this time says, ‘I think she’s asking if you could be my father.’ Kith had already tried to mate with Ann twice. He starts choking. It was several minutes before he was able to tell us he wasn’t. By this time Ann looked like she’s about to faint. He said that he never pursued it, that she was already with someone. Then it dawned on him that that man was probably Ann’s father. He describes him and something he said must have given Mirimar some insight because she asked him several questions. Unfortunately, Kith didn’t remember much. He said he’d only seen you once or twice. He had also done a lot of heavy drinking at that time, so that affected his memory too.” “I can’t say I recall seeing him. But I don’t remember everyone I meet. “I did visit Miri just before she died, to say goodbye. I told her then. But you’re right, she knew before that. Very little got past my sister. “Anyway, Ann needs to go flying. She needs to get her strength up for the trip home. Should we go after dark like she suggested?” “That’s up to you. This is your homeland. You know what’s best.” “But you know my daughter better. Is it better to give in or should I insist she does it now?” “I know Nim would insist. She’d do it but make it painfully known she was unhappy about it. I usually try to talk her into it. More often than not, I can get her to agree. In this case, it’s a matter of do we need to fly in the light so you can keep an eye on her?” “It would help, but I can use my night vision as well. Perhaps a compromise. We don’t fly over the island.” “You mean fly over the water? No, thank you.” Thailyn laughed. He wasn’t fond of water, but he didn’t have the fear of it Pt’this did. Growing up on an island helped. “Are you still afraid of water? I told you to keep your mouth closed and hold your breath. Plug your nose if you have to go under. I’ve been swimming many times.” “Fire and water don’t mix.” “You flew over the water to get here.” “That was because my son was dying. I would’ve done anything. I have no desire to do it for fun.” “This isn’t for fun. You need to get out there too if you want to make it back home.” **** That was what they did. That day and for the next few days they flew over the ocean but kept the island insight. However, they were all curious about the island. Andy was the one to suggest using magic to disguise Ann’s coloring. The three dragons agreed but Thailyn cast the spell so Ann couldn’t hear. Neither he nor Pt’this wanted Ann to do it regularly. Now, they were getting ready to leave. Ann and Bre were close enough to being fully recovered that there was no need for them to stay. Sapphire had confided that Pt’this was terrified about flying back. He had been scared on the way there, but his worry about Bre and Ann had overshadowed it. He had gone flying over the ocean with Ann and Thailyn but the land had always been in sight. Now, he wouldn’t have that to lean on. So, Ann suggested she transport them home. Thailyn agreed that she was recovered enough to cast that difficult spell, even with the interference. She took a day to prepare, wanting to be sure she had enough energy. The entire time she had spent drawing in more and more energy. Andy had taken to wearing the sunglasses that he had brought from his world for these situations. Now, they said their goodbyes. They also agreed to scry each other and Thailyn had promised to come as soon as he was able. He had responsibilities on Tricon but he would no longer hide from his responsibility to his daughter. This is the end of part 1. I hope to have part 2 ready to start posting soon, but it's longer so it's taking a while.