There was a knock on the door to Wyrm’s cell. He jumped. He hadn’t expected anyone. And no one ever knocked. “Come in,” he called in Ertonian. The door opened and a head poked in. “Did you say come in?” A man asked in Menthan. Wyrm nodded. “Sorry, I’m just starting to learn Ertonian.” It was the man Shunati had called Thailyn, the one he’d hurt. He looked terrible. His face was gaunt and his eyes were sunken. His beard was scraggly, and his hair was matted. He looked as though he hadn’t eaten in weeks. “Are you okay?” Wyrm couldn’t help but ask. Thailyn nodded. “I’m getting better. I probably look horrible in here. How we appear is affected by how we feel. Right now, I feel like the shades drag me across the kingdom by my tail.” “I’m sorry.” Thailyn shrugged. “It’s not entirely your fault. I ignore my limits and do more than I should.” “I still helped.” “Yes, but if we grew up together, I’m sure you would’ve done just as bad. Brothers get rough sometimes.” “Brothers?” He hadn’t thought that through. Thailyn smiled and nodded. “We share the same dad. That makes you my brother.” “I never thought about having brothers or sisters. Are there more?” Thailyn nodded again. “Several.” He paused to count. You have six other brothers and six sisters.” Wyrm was stunned. “Dragons like big families?” Thailyn smiled. “All dragons are family. By blood, it’s only me and Mirimar, but she passed away several years ago. Pt’this…” He was interrupted by a booming voice. “Thailyn, you get your scaly tail out of there!” It sounded like Mishtali. But Wyrm couldn’t see him. “Telepathy,” Thailyn told him. “It’s weird in here, isn’t it? I should go. I’m not supposed to be in here. Like I said, I don’t always obey my limits.” With that, he disappeared. *** Mishtali entered the sitting room nicknamed the barroom. He poured himself a drink and sat down. “How did it go?” Darkham asked. Mishtali sighed. “He’s confused. He wants to know who his mother is. I tried to explain I didn’t know her. I had to explain how babies are made. He thinks he understands. But he still wants me to tell him what I know of her.” “You don’t remember anything?” Mishtali shook his head. “Nor’than had me drugged so often. Half the time I didn’t even know what day it was. There are years the drugs have wiped from my memory.” Darkham nodded, understanding. “Ann scried Jo’s parents. They bought out Nor’than’s business there. We could ask them to look for the information if you don’t mind them knowing.” Mishtali shook his head. “It’s not easy to talk about, or even remember, but I’m not ashamed of it. Let people know what kind of monster he was.” “I’ll talk with Ann and Nim for when they scry Jo’s parents again. And I’ll talk with the hags. Maybe they can figure out a way to help Wyrm understand.” “Thanks. When do you expect your wives to get here?” “Another couple of days.” “I could go get them if you want,” Mishtali offered. Darkham shook his head. “Minx is afraid of transporting. She’ll never agree to it.” “I could fly them down.” “Neither will fly. Dragons don’t like water. Dwarves don’t like heights.” “You live in the mountains,” Mishtali protested. “And you lived on an island. The ground may be tall, but our feet are still on it. “They’ve tried transporting and flying before. The last time they came down, they borrowed a couple of horses.” “Did you tell them about the plane?” “Not yet.” “I’ve had to jump out of them.” “You have wings.” “I didn’t have my vial and there were humans who didn’t know about me.” “Did anyone know?” Mishtali nodded. “There were a rare few. Many met with unfortunate accidents or suddenly came into large sums of money. There were very, very few Nor’than didn’t care if they knew.” He grinned. “Would they be willing to ride in one of those cars?” “Cars? Those carriage things? No.” Darkham shook his head. “You’re going to have to help me convince them it was all real.” Mishtali chuckled and nodded. “Shay was the same. If she hadn’t been there, I doubt she’d believe me.”