Pt’this found Ann, Andy, and Thailyn in Ann’s receiving room. He greeted his friend. “What the world are you doing here?” Thailyn shrugged. “Checking on my patients. I always do that. You know that.” “You could’ve just scried.” “I could have, but when it’s relatives, I won’t take the easy path. Besides, I can’t check for spores through a scrying mirror.” “There’s a chance there could still be spores?” Pt’this looked alarmed. Thailyn grinned. “Gotcha. Do you think I’d send anyone with something that deadly off if there was a chance of a relapse? Besides, you’d know by now if there was.” “Why you little…” Pt’this sent a magic burst as a shove. “Hey, you’re always doing that stuff to me,” Thailyn protested. “You can explain it to Sapphire, because you just about gave her a heart attack. You’re lucky it’s dark out, so Dae is bringing her, and I could explain.” Thailyn turned pale. “Shades. I forgot about the bond. I’m sorry.” “Tell that to her.” Pt’this pointed behind him. Thailyn turned and saw Sapphire enter the room with Bremul. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry. It was supposed to be a joke. I didn’t think he’d believe me,” he said. Sapphire looked confused. “What are you talking about?” Then Pt’this burst out laughing. “Who got who? Did you really think I would believe you would let a patient travel halfway around the world if there was even the slightest chance of a relapse?” “You rotten little…” Thailyn started. “Hey!” Sapphire interrupted. “There’s a child present. I’d rather not have his first word be something foul.” “Sorry,” Thailyn said. “And you…” She turned to Pt’this. “Enough of your jokes.” “He started it,” Pt’this claimed. “I don’t care,” Sapphire said. “Now, Mishtali wasn’t far behind us. Why don’t we meet him on the balcony,” she continued. They all agreed and followed her up to the balcony. They waited clustered near the wall but Thailyn hung back. “Where is he?” Mishtali demanded as he changed forms. “He’s not here,” Thailyn said stepping forward so he could be seen. It took a moment for Mishtali to recognize his son. “Thailyn?” He finally said. He started to hug Thailyn but then remembered his son didn’t always want to be touched. Thailyn pulled his father to himself. “It’s been too long for that,” Thailyn said. He almost regretted it. He was wearing his gloves and protective clothing but his face brushed against his father’s. What he felt from his father came close to overwhelming him. Pt’this had explained that Mishtali hadn’t come with to Tricon because he was still recovering from what he had suffered in captivity. Thailyn sensed it all. Someone had healed what could be healed. The rest would just take time. Mishtali must’ve felt him react to what he sensed because he pulled away quickly. “I’m sorry, I should’ve warned you,” he said. “I already knew. Pt’this told me what happened on Tricon. “But…” “Dad, don’t start. It’s my choice.” Mishtali nodded. “Sorry.” “Let’s go back down to my receiving room,” Ann suggested. Ann, where is Shay? Pt’this sent. I don’t know. Were you still planning on making sure Mishtali sees her? Do you think I should? Let’s give these two a bit of time to catch up first. Agreed. **** Remtani found Jaidu and Shay in the guest room where he’d left them. The bodyguard was outside. The room was on the second floor but the stairs to the balcony of this room had been removed because of a tree in the garden. That was why he had put them in this room. It would take someone with Sapphire’s skills to get in there. He knocked and waited for them to answer. Jaidu opened the door. “Prince Remmy? You shouldn’t have to knock,” she said. “Jaidu, please, call me Remmy, or Rem or Remtani, you don’t have to use my title. And I do too need to knock. You could have been changing or something.” “But…” “No buts. May I come in?” Jaidu jumped, realizing she was blocking the door. She stepped aside and opened the door further. “I’m sorry. Of course you can come in.” He entered and looked around. Back before he hurt Sapphire, he had dreamed of getting married. He had thought about what his life would be like, how he’d propose, the wedding itself. He’d even been pledged for a time. That was ten years ago and more. Things couldn’t stay the same. Jaidu deserved better, but this was the best he had to give. He got down on his knees and pulled out a ring he’d had for ages. “Jaidu, would you give me your pledge that when you come of age, you’ll become my wife?” Jaidu looked confused. Shay indicated for her to say yes. “Yes?” She said unsure. Remtani smiled. “That’s how we propose when someone is under age. I know in your kingdom you’re considered old enough, but here you aren’t.” He put the ring on her finger. Then he stood and led her to a couch so they could sit together. He didn’t like towering over her. “I told your father that I would marry you but we would follow our laws. What kind of king would I make if I ignored our laws? When you turn nineteen, you’ll be given the choice to marry me or not. Until then, you and I will be pledged. You will stay here in Sen-gan. You’ll need to become a citizen to become queen so we’ll do that. You’ll be educated, learn to read, write, and count and about our laws and politics. “Shay will stay with you to oversee your education and act as guardian. If she agrees, she’ll be made a citizen too. In five years, once you’re of age, she’ll be free to return to Yarba if she chooses, stay in Menthanla, or go wherever she wishes.” -Kamlia will never agree to that, Shay wrote. “He already has,” Remtani told her. “He and my father will be discussing details sometime tomorrow.” -He won’t let me go. <-i> “What makes you so different from other servants that he would hold so tightly to you?” Shay glanced at Jaidu but did not respond. “We could go out on the balcony and talk. Or, we could talk in Ann’s lab. She has that place warded against anything and everything. I don’t even think the dragons can use telepathy in there,” the prince offered. Shay simply shook her head. “So it’s me you don’t want to know,” Remtani surmised. There’s nothing to know, Shay wrote. “Jaidu, what is it about Shay that makes your father hold her so tightly?” Keep her out of this, Shay wrote. Jaidu, not being able to read, didn’t know she shouldn’t answer. “I don’t know. She’s been there for as long as anyone can remember. He’s probably afraid she’ll tell secrets or something,” Jaidu said. Remtani notice Shay relax a little. That wasn’t her secret. There was a knock on the door. Remtani opened it. A page waited, fearfully eyeing the guard. “Princess Ann said to tell you the healer’s father is here,” the page said. “Shunati’s father?” Remtani was confused. “Not that healer, the other one. She said you’d understand,” the page said. “Okay. Thank you.” He shut the door. The other healer? It couldn’t be Mila’s father. He was long dead. So was Tor’s. Darkham? What would his father be doing here? And why would Ann want him to know? What other healer did they both have contact with? Then, it dawned on him. It wasn’t the healer but the father that mattered. Mishtali’s son was a healer. In fact, he had once been known as The Healer. Perfect timing. “We’ll worry about your secret later. Why don’t we go down to the garden?” He suggested. Jaidu, ever compliant, stood to come. “Come on, Shay,” Remtani said. “You can be our chaperone. You wouldn’t want the nobles gossiping about us.” He grinned. The garden is a public place, Shay countered. “Assuming we actually go there.” Shay’s lip rose as if she would growl. The look she wore was similar to one Pt’this wore just before he went mad dragon. “Shay, I’m joking. I wouldn’t. But, come. You can’t keep hiding in here for the next five years.” “Come with us, Shay,” Jaidu requested. She relented and followed. The garden was quite beautiful at night at this time of the year. The early plants were starting to bloom and the gardeners lit the place with decorative lanterns. It was bright enough for what they were planning, he hoped. **** They talked for a while and Mishtali and Thailyn shared what had been happening for the last five hundred years. Mishtali’s time in captivity was too much for Ann to listen to, so she went out on the balcony. She saw Remtani showing Jaidu some of the evening wonders of the garden. “Are you okay?” Thailyn asked, coming out after a bit. Ann shrugged. “Some things just are a little too familiar.” “I’m sorry.” She waved him off. “Not your doing.” “Actually, it is. You would have never been in Lerjao if I’d been a father.” “If I hadn’t been in Lerjao, I wouldn’t have learned to cast around eta-vie and Nor’than would still have grandpa. “Someone once told me we all make bad decisions, do bad things. We can’t go back and change what we did. We can give up or we can go on, fix what we can and make sure we never go back.” Then she grinned. “At least I think that’s what he said. I was pretty drunk at the time.” He smiled too. He had told her that when he was trying to talk her out of killing herself. “You were extremely drunk.” “And you were a father.” “I was, wasn’t I?” His smile grew. Jaidu laughed. Ann looked down at her and Remtani. She turned to Thailyn, but he wasn’t watching them. He was looking at Shay. “Mom?” He said softly. Then he turned back to the door. “Dad! It’s Mom!” He called and ran down the stairs. Shay looked up and saw Thailyn on the stairs and Mishtali come out onto the balcony, astonishment on her face. She hugged both her son and her mate. It was a tearful reunion leaving Jaidu confused.