Things slowly started to return to normal. Thailyn started healing treatments on Nim and soon he was able to get around. Jaidu continued classes with the kids from the home. Nim gave her the vial he and Ann had made. Shay and Mishtali worked on helping her learn to fly and breathe fire while Ann and Tor helped her with her telepathy. Thailyn disappeared while Tor and Kar were at the palace. He wasn’t ready to face Kar yet. Since Kar was the one to cause the trouble during the war, and Thailyn saw the following misfortunes of his family as part of a chain reaction, Thailyn blamed Kar for all of it. Thailyn knew one day he’d have to at least talk with him. He just wasn’t ready. Jaidu, it turned out, was a deep purple like her mother and brother, but like Ann, she was also iridescent. Mishtali, during one of his trips back to Baj-tisk, overheard Fom and Ru, two of Ann’s classmates, discussing Jaidu and the possibility of her as a mate. Mishtali reminded them that she was pledged to the crown prince. They responded that according to human law, there were five years in which she could change her mind and if she did, they’d be happy to court her. Mishtali growled and reminded them she was also his daughter. They both agreed it would be best to wait and see if she chose to marry the prince before thinking of pursuing her. Queen Deyama scried Ann and Andy and informed them that the pinhole they found did indeed lead to Andy’s hometown. Apparently, Voramini, upset with the antics of the elders, took upon himself to go through the gate and simply ask the name of the town. The elders agreed to let a party use the gate under the conditions that they transport directly to the location and they had an escort. Voramini agreed to be the escort. Having seen a little of Andy’s world and having talked to Shunati about it, he was quite curious about the place. They decided to scry Andy’s parents and see when a good time for a visit would be. When Carla’s face appeared, she was somewhere neither recognized. She was fixing her hair. “Mom?” Andy asked. She jumped. “Andrew, isn’t there a way to warn someone first?” She scolded. “Sorry, we haven’t found one. Jo gave Nim a watch and he scried her on a schedule.” “Well, we’re out to eat. This is a public restroom. You’re lucky no one else was here.” “Sorry.” “Can this be quick before someone comes in?” “We want to come for a visit. We need to discuss arrangements. We’ll scry you back in a few hours or tomorrow evening. Will you be home then?” Ann asked. Carla nodded. “We’ll be home both times.” “Okay, we’ll talk then. Sorry,” Ann said and ended the spell. “Will you be strong enough in a few hours?” Andy asked. “I don’t think so. I was thinking maybe if you and Nim work with me, we can do it.” “We’ll need to talk with him.” Nim agreed to help. After a few hours, they scried Andy’s parents again. This time, they were waiting. “Hi, Mom, hi, Dad,” Andy said. “Hi Carla, Steve,” Ann said. “Hi Mr. and Mrs. Mathis,” Nim said. “Nim, I told you, call me Carla.” Carl insisted. “Yes, ma’am.” Nim nodded. “So what is this about you coming for a visit?” Steve asked. “We found a place to open the gate right there in town,” Andy explained. “Oh, that’s great. Then you can visit us whenever,” Carla said. “Well, not whenever. This end is in Erilu Valley. We’ll need to get permission from the elves each time. But, I’m sure we can do it once in a while. And, you can use the other one in Arizona to come here too.” “Like when the baby’s born,” Carla said. “You do realize it’ll be a year, not nine months, right?” Ann warned. “I remember.” Carla nodded. “Where is a hotel within walking distance of your new place?” Andy asked. “A hotel? You can’t stay in a hotel. You’ll stay here,” Steve said. “Well, it’s not just Ann and me coming. Like I said, this end of the gate is in Erilu, so they want us to have an escort. Voramini is coming with. And, Thailyn wants to meet you. And after what happened the last time, Emeton wants us to have a bodyguard so Remtani is coming.” “And Jo is coming, right? She should try to call her parents again and if he can, Nim should come too,” Carla said. She looked at Nim. “You’re coming right?” Nim smiled. “We can come.” “And you remembered the two dragons I told you who got banished? We were going to bring them. They need to get away for a bit.” Carla nodded. “That’s fine. You guys can stay here.” “Mom, we can’t stay there and leave a bunch of dragons unsupervised.” “I meant all of you,” Carla assured her. “Mom, it’s nine people.” “It’ll be a little crowded, but you can all fit.” “You’re staying here, no arguments,” Steve insisted. “Ann, you should bring the rest of your family too,” Carla suggested. “That might get to be too many. It would take the total to twelve. We have to transport up to Erilu. I’ve never done more than ten people,” Ann explained. “Perhaps someone else can help you. You are all mages,” Carla pointed out. “We’ll see. It will also depend on if the elves would agree to the extra people. And, of course, if they can get away.” “Okay. Well, when are you coming?” Carla asked. “When can you be ready to be invaded?” Andy asked. Steve shrugged. “Anytime. The place is fairly clean so in a couple of days.” “We might need to wait a little longer than that,” Nim said. “Thailyn said I need to wait three or four days at the soonest.” “Is everything all right?” Steve asked. “I’m fine,” Nim said, not wanting to go into details. “Okay, well, scry us when you have a better idea or give us a call when you get here. You do still know the number, right?” Carla asked. Nim rattled it off. Everyone looked at him. “What? Andy asked me to call them once while I was visiting Jo.” They said the night and ended the spell. **** Ann went to talk with her grandparents and aunt about going also. Mishtali wasn’t keen on the idea of going back to Earth. He was still recovering from his last time there. Shay didn’t want to be separated from Mishtali again. “I left my mate behind once and regretted it for over six hundred years. I won’t make that mistake again,” she said. “I’d like to go,” Jaidu said. “I’ve never been anywhere besides the palace in Yarba and the one here. I don’t even get to go into town much.” Shay hesitated. Mishtali deferred to her. “I’ll be okay. There will be plenty of people to keep an eye on me. I’ll listen to them. I can talk with Elos and get classwork so I don’t get behind,” Jaidu pleaded. Shay still hesitated. Ann could see she was torn between wanting to let her daughter grow up and remembering how she lost Mirimar. Ann was about to suggest Jaidu wait until the parents could come before going when Shay nodded. “But you listen to Thailyn and the others and do what you’re told and so help me, if you don’t come back, I’ll tear that world apart until I find you.” Jaidu nodded. “I’ll listen and I’ll be careful.” “It should only be a few days,” Ann assured them. Then, she went to tell her father, both of her fathers, in fact.