Thailyn opened his eyes and released Pisha’s hand. He pulled out a bottle of green bough. “No healing potions,” her brother growled. “It’s green bough, and it’s not for her.” Thailyn downed the bottle. “May I ask you about her injuries?” “No healing,” Howip insisted. Thailyn resisted rolling his eyes. Howip had a one-track mind. “Just a question. The scars on her arms, did she receive those from you?” “I didn’t beat her.” Thailyn didn’t believe that for a minute. “I’m sorry. Your dad, or whoever you say put her in the coma, did the scars happen then?” “No. She had those when she returned. Why?” “I was just curious. You don’t see scars like that often. I was wondering what made them. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, this is a tiring procedure and I need to rest. Thank you for letting me talk with her. I’ll need to come back tomorrow. I’ll see you then.” He hurried out. It was later than he realized. He returned to the room they were using and got out some bottles of silver root. He drank them and lay down until the bout passed. It wasn’t severe enough that it would cause lasting damage as long as he was careful, just discomfort. There was a knock on the door. “Come in,” he called. Ann entered. “Are you okay?” “A mild bout. It should pass quickly.” “Were you able to find out who his birth father is?” Thailyn shook his head. “I didn’t get a chance to ask. It took some time to reach her. She’s not in a coma, but in a protection trance. She had a lot of questions. But she has scars similar to Cesni’s. Howip said she got them while she was in Menthanla. They may be from the same man and he may be Ruzi’s birth father.” “He escaped prison when the immortals attacked the palace and we haven’t found him,” Ann told him. “But Ruzi would have a half-sister. I may be able to use her eye fluid. I’ve never tried that before. “Pisha’s cheekbone and eye socket were damaged. I may not be able to extract any fluid from that eye without healing that first.” He rose from the hammock and moved to sit on the floor. “Should you be up?” He smiled. “This question from the woman who needs a guard every time she gets sick so she has to rest?” “You do know I can get away from them, don’t you?” “I know, but so would Emeton if you tried. Ann, I’m fine. It’s a mild bout. I just wanted to sit up so we could scry Ruzi. I won’t do anything strenuous.” Ann nodded. “Shall I cast the spell?” “Yes, please.” Ann scried Ruzi. “Dad! Did you see her? How is she? Did you find my birth father?” Ruzi could barely sit still. “I saw her. She’s not too bad. She’s not in a coma but a protection trance. She can’t wake up because of some brain damage. If I could heal that, she’ll wake up. I wasn’t able to ask about your father yet. It took me a while to reach her. Being in contact with someone that injured is difficult.” “You had a bout with your heart?” Ruzi guessed. Thailyn nodded. “Just a mild one. I didn’t stay long after it started. Your mom misses you terribly. She regrets not being there for you.” “It’s okay. I understand. Would you tell her that, and tell her I love her and miss her too?” Thailyn nodded. “I will.” “Tell her I’ll petition the elders again to allow you to heal her. If I have to, I’ll come up there to do it in person.” “Ruzi, you can’t. I can’t protect you here,” Thailyn insisted. “Ruzi, Queen Deyama, and I will talk more with the elders. You and I are family, that makes your mom my family too,” Ann assured him. “Thank you. Let me know how I can help.” Thailyn nodded. “We will. Is Pt’this there?” Ruzi turned to look in the other room. “He is. Do you need to talk with him?” “Please.” Ruzi called Pt’this over. “What do you need?” “Would it be possible for you to send me a copy of the pages we wrote about the extraction process? It might help me when I talk with the elders tomorrow,” Thailyn requested. “Sure. I’ll translate the copy into Elvish,” Pt’this offered. “You’re going to push them to let you heal her, aren’t you?” Thailyn frowned. “She’s my son’s mom. Of course I am.” “Let me know if you need anything else.” Thailyn nodded. “I will. Good night.” “Good night.” Ann ended the spell. “Did any mage see Vonnie’s birth father?” Thailyn asked Ann. “One did, but I don’t know if she’s available right now,” Ann said. “Who?” “It’s best not to say. I don’t know who all saw her.” Thailyn realized she was talking about Drepal. “Can you contact her? Ask her to show you?” He suggested. He hated that his daughter had to hide this. Ann nodded. A moment later Drepal emerged. “He looked like this.” She made an image of the man’s face. It was twisted with fear and anger. “He was trying to go after Cesni while she was in labor. I was levitating him against the wall off the ground. I wanted to kill him for what he had done to Cesni. Andy convinced me not to. Perhaps it’s good I didn’t.” “Not everyone deserves death,” Thailyn agreed. “I think perhaps he did. It wouldn’t surprise me if he’d done this to other women too. But it’s not my decision any longer. And I want Ruzi to get the help he needs.” “Me too.” Drepal ended the spell and went to the window. “Not going back to sleep yet?” Thailyn asked. “Staying awake would be dangerous. I just wanted to see Erilu for myself.” Thailyn moved back to his hammock. Drepal lay down in the other. “Perhaps, if this doesn’t work, we should bring Ruzi up here once so he could see it before he loses his sight,” she suggested. “Tercala and I will protect him.” “We’ll consider that, if this doesn’t work,” Thailyn agreed. “Good night, Dad.” “Good night.”