Shay listened to her granddaughter speaking. She was impressed by her each time the young woman spoke. When Ann first met with Mishtali to work on Thailyn’s defense, Shay had assumed it was out of duty and obligation. She was the ambassador and Thailyn’s daughter. But she’d already been doing research and making plans. And while she let Mishtali be in charge, she did it in such a way that she still made most of the decisions. And it was working. She’d gotten half the charges thrown out within the first hour. At first, they had someone looking up the treaties to make sure she wasn’t making things up. Soon, they referred to Nim. He had a perfect memory and had read the treaties. When Ann finished speaking, she sat down. Thailyn reached over to pat her hand. “Are you okay?” She pulled away. “Thailyn, stop. I’m fine.” “Just making sure.” “This isn’t that stressful.” “You’re not worried about me?” “Enough,” Mishtali insisted. They had been going on like that most of the trial. Both looked subdued. Andy pulled Ann close and held her. The council had protested him staying after he’d been questioned, but he pointed out that besides being a member of the Baj-tisk clan, Thailyn was his father too since he was married to Ann. “We will meet privately to discuss a verdict,” the spokesman said. They went back to Pt’this’s cave to wait. “The young ones have already started a petition to protest any guilty verdict,” Ann told them. “They have quite a few signatures.” “What other arguments will you give?” Mishtali asked. “My sister might want to say a few words.” “Is that wise?” Thailyn asked. “You’re starting to show.” “Only a little. Mom hid it for months. I can do that too.” “We only have to worry about it if the young ones appeal,” Andy pointed out. “Does anyone have a feel for how they’ll rule?” Remtani asked. He glanced at Ann who had a knack for reading body language. She shrugged. “How about you, Pt’this?” “They’re keeping me out of it this time. It’s hard to base it on their usual behavior. Their actions on this are so odd.” Mishtali looked to Shay. “There are no spells on them, are there?” Both Remtani and Pt’this’s brother Kar had spells on them to make them act out against certain people. The spells were difficult to detect. Shay shook her head. “There’s nothing I could feel.” She looked to Andy. “Did you see anything?” Andy had been the one to discover both spells. He shook his head. “I would’ve said something.” While they waited, Andy set about making lunch. Shay pitched in. “Ann, would you make some biscuits for us?” She requested. Ann hesitated, frowning. “It’s all right,” Andy assured her. “I’ve got it.” “Perhaps it would be better if Ann got some rest after this morning’s work,” Mishtali suggested. Shay frowned. “Are you feeling all right? Thailyn, check her.” She looked at her son. “I’m fine,” Ann assured her. “They’re trying to be nice. I can’t cook.” “Not at all?” Ann shook her head. “The most edible thing I’ve ever cooked was a shirt.” Remtani laughed. “I think it was a little underdone, fortunately.” Shay raised an eyebrow. “The spell was causing me to try to hurt her and she cast a fireball to defend herself. It was a little big and burned my shirt,” Remtani explained. Shay nodded. “Well, we’ll teach you. Once this trial’s done, we’ll get the fixings for learn to cook stew and get you good at it.” “Mom, not while she’s pregnant,” Thailyn protested. “I already tried to teach her that,” Mishtali informed her. Shay frowned and turned to her husband. “It didn’t work?” “I’d rather go back to being Nor’than’s prisoner.” “Hey!” Ann protested. “What’s learn to cook stew?” Remtani asked. “It’s just what the name says.” Thailyn shrugged. “It’s a stew that uses most of the basic steps in cooking and you make it every night until you get it right.” “Mirimar used it to teach Kith to cook,” Pt’this added. “Kith mentioned it, but couldn’t remember it,” Ann said. “We’ll work on it again, but not until after the baby’s born,” Shay decided. *** About mid-afternoon, the council called for Thailyn to return to the chamber for the verdict. Thailyn’s hands sweat. He drank his fourth dose of silver root. He had to be careful. He didn’t want to overdo the potion, but he worried his nerves would damage his heart. He stood before the council. “Thailyn va Shawtila Mishtali, upon review, it has been agreed that you are not guilty of the crimes for which you have been accused.” Thailyn nearly collapsed in relief. He touched his snout to his daughter’s cheek in place of a hug. He repeated the gesture with his dad. “Thanks.” They turned to go. “Guard, take Thailyn into custody,” one of the council members said. “What?” Ann demanded, turning on them. By the look in her eyes, Thailyn wasn’t sure if it was Ann or Drepal that had spoken. Mishtali growled. “You said he was not guilty. Why are you arresting him now?” “He broke the law.” “I demand to know the charges,” Ann insisted. “It’s not up to you this time. This was against one of our citizens.” “He’s one of our citizens, my father, and a member of the palace. That puts him under my jurisdiction,” Ann informed them. “Member of the palace?” “He’s been hired on as a healer. He started just before you send your message,” Ann explained. “We were told he was under a healer’s care.” Ann nodded. “The healers were making sure he was well enough to start healing again.” The council members frowned at each other. They clearly didn’t want her present. “He abandoned a newborn.” “He abandoned a newborn?” Mishtali growled. “He abandoned… He didn’t abandon anyone. He has an atrophied heart. A few days before Darina’s death, he was hit and broken sternum. Darina was killed by a lightning bolt to her chest. That alone should have been enough to kill him. On top of all that, he lost his mate. There was no way he was in any condition to look after even a healthy newborn, much less one that was born four months early. “By the time he was recovered enough mentally and physically to care for her, she’d already been adopted. Assuring a child is cared for by someone else is perfectly legal, especially when one has lost a mate.” One of the members started to say something, looking like he would protest. “Furthermore,” Mishtali continued. “If he hadn’t been banished illegally, he would’ve been able to turn to Mirimar, Pt’this, and Darina’s friends for help. If anyone is responsible for Ann being abandoned, it’s you four.” Remtani broke the stunned silence by muttering, “And now we know where Ann gets it.” The head council member finally nodded. “You’re right. Thailyn is free to go. But he’s never to enter Baj-tisk again without our permission.” Thailyn breathed a sigh of relief. “Thanks,” he told his dad as they left. Mishtali frowned. “Your behavior during the war is inexcusable. The more I hear about your time since the more shocked I become. You’ve always been a disappointment, now more than ever. But there is no way I’ll let them arrest you unjustly. You are my son.” Mishtali’s words hurt almost as much as the lightning bolt had, but Thailyn didn’t argue. “Yes, Sir.” Shay looked sharply at Mishtali. She must’ve said something telepathically for he growled softly and looked away. It was really nothing new. It might be the first time Mishtali had said it, but Thailyn had always known he was a disappointment. He wasn’t a black dragon, like most of his ancestors. He was a strong healer, but not strong enough. He’d studied continuously, learning everything he could so he would always know what to do at any time. Even then, there were times he’d had to push the bounds of approved techniques to save the patient and he couldn’t save them all. Then he found out he had an atrophied heart. He’d been centuries old before he’d learned it. He had a defect, an imperfection. He was weak. And he had been too obtuse to even realize it. Then there were his actions in the war and how he treated Ann. Maybe the council was right. Maybe he should be banished. Ann reached out and tugged one of his spikes. The gesture surprised him. It was something dragon parents did to their children like a human would pat someone on the back in assurance. He smiled at her.