Ann entered the shielded meeting room where she had been summoned, wondering if she had done something wrong. She saw her father, Thailyn, and Mishtali. Thailyn was still in his sleep clothes. She guessed Mishtali had transported him there. “How are you doing?” She asked Thailyn. “I’m improving slowly. They let me come here rather than having the meeting out in the barracks.” “Ann, is Drepal awake?” Emeton asked. “She can be. Do you need her?” Emeton nodded. “I’d like to talk to both of you.” Ann closed her eyes a moment. “Greetings, your majesty,” Drepal’s voice came a moment later. Then she saw Thailyn. “Should you be up?” “It’s fine,” he assured her. “Dad brought me straight from bed.” “I spoke with Darkham first,” Mishtali assured her. “He’s doing what he should and is getting better, finally.” “Drepal, Mishtali said you told Wyrm you’re Ann’s twin sister, separated at birth.” Drepal bowed her head. “I’m sorry for the deception, sire. I didn’t know a better way to explain why we looked alike unless I admitted I was Ann. We do see each other as sisters and we’re the same age and looked alike.” Despite all her problem behavior, Drepal had strong feelings against being dishonest. Emeton nodded. “I think it was a good explanation. Identical twins split in the womb. You two did it later in life. And Lyra did raise you from the time you were ‘born’.” “Yes, sire.” Both she and Ann wondered where he was taking this. “You’ve been free from Lyra for many years now. In that time, I’ve yet to see any indication that you are still the Monster of the North or that you’ve committed any crimes. I’m issuing you a full pardon. As long as you and Ann continue to act as sisters, you’re free and no longer need to hide. The two of you will have to work out who is in control. And what you do.” “Like getting married or pregnant,” Drepal told Ann. “Ladies, work it out. Major decisions will need to be discussed.” Drepal nodded. “It might be better if I’m not seen too much. We’re starting to show. It might be hard to explain why I’m pregnant.” “Darina was able to hide it for several months,” Thailyn pointed out. “She’s afraid to be around other people,” Ann told them. “I’m not afraid,” Drepal insisted. “They just make me nervous. I don’t know how to interact.” “We’ll talk with Jo or the hags,” Emeton assured her. “We do have one concern,” Mishtali told them. “What’s that?” Ann asked. “Your addiction,” Mishtali said. “You have yet to develop one.” “You’re too strong. It’s going to cause problems eventually,” Thailyn added. “We need to work on that.” “Once Thailyn’s up and about, he and Mishtali are going to help you. Again, work with Jo and the hags to see if they can help. Drepal nodded. “Understood.” “Until that time, pick an activity you want for your addiction, and make sure you have what you need to do it for an extended period,” Thailyn told her. She nodded again. “Are you still planning on using reading?” He asked. Drepal hesitated. “Ann and I will need to discuss it, but I think so.” “Good.” Emeton nodded. “We’ll make sure to have someone cover your responsibilities so you have time to work on it.” “You have plenty of time,” Mishtali assured him. “Thailyn’s going to take a while.” “Maybe not as long as you think,” Ann said. “When we were in Ertonia, a healer named Lokalia gave me a potion to help speed his recovery. I was going to give it to Shunati to check first.” “Lokalia is Ertonian?” Thailyn looked surprised. Ann nodded. “She said she knew you.” Thailyn nodded. “We met just before the war. I didn’t even realize she was a healer at first. She came to me for help because her friend was in labor and having problems. It was beyond Loka’s skills. It wasn’t until after the baby had been born that I found out she was a healer too.” “What was the friend’s name?” Ann asked. “That was one of the Annlonna’s I met when they first came here.” Mishtali nodded. “I remember them. Both nice girls.” “Chapado said she was a friend of Grandma Lonna.” “Do you think the baby was your grandmother?” Mishtali asked. “How old was Grandma Fria?” Thailyn shrugged. “She couldn’t remember. She said she knew she was over four hundred.” “I’m not sure we should be discussing this here,” Emeton said. “This room isn’t that secure.” Thailyn nodded. “We’ll talk with Chapado when I’m well enough to use one of the heavily shielded rooms.” He smiled. “Though it’s amusing. I think I might have delivered both of my mate’s parents.” “You delivered grandpa too?” Ann looked surprised. Thailyn nodded. “He was even named after one of my aliases. When you have time, come out to Darkham’s so we can talk. I probably should be getting back to bed.”