Ti sat holding Dae while they waited for Shunati in a healing room. Torom, or Vishom, or Klilom or whatever his name was had hit Dae with something. The man had shown up at the home looking for Imian and Feena. Dae had tried to stop him and he’d hit her. He’d dissolved her shield like it was nothing. He then went after Imian. Ti didn’t know how Lamdi was going to heal all the wounds she’d gotten this time. She’d passed out from the pain, but not before letting it slip where Feena was. Shunati and Thailyn were with her now. He hoped she survived. Ti had heard Ann’s call for help but there was no way he could go and leave Dae. Besides, the pain he felt through the bond was near incapacitating. He’d be useless. After a time several people hurried passed. Mishtali carried Ruzi. Pt’this carried Ann while Andy leaned on Tor for support. Shay followed carrying Cari, whispering consolations. Sinta walked with an arm around Lamdi. Darkham wasn’t far behind with the hags. Darkham paused as he passed the room where they waited. “What’s wrong?” Dae showed him her arm where she’d been hit. He frowned and left. A moment later Wench entered. “Someone will come soon. Sorry it’s taking so long. Let me see your arm.” Dae held it out. Wench looked at it, frowning. Then she nodded. “I’m going to wrap this cloth around it. It’s soaked with the same poultice we use for burns. We think it will help until someone’s available. It may block the bond some, but that will prevent feedback which will magnify the pain.” “What happened at the school?” Dae asked as Wench wrapped her arm. “Feena’s dad showed up. He hit Ruzi. Ann went rocky and nearly tore him apart. Cari put her in a trance. Andy’s in shock. And the cur got away. Some of the soldiers went after him, but I don’t know if they’ll catch him. As soon as they make sure Cari didn’t harm Ann, someone will be in to help you.” “Thanks.” *** Nim went to his room. Jo was there. “What is that?” She asked, indicating the wand. “Don’t touch it,” he warned. The glove that was wrapped around it was protecting him, as he’d guessed. “I won’t. What is it?” “It’s what Vishom used to hurt those women. I think I know what it is, but I need to scry someone.” “You think?” “It looks like the same substance as something I’ve seen once, but it’s shaped differently. I need to confer with someone.” Jo nodded. She understood that he didn’t like basing answers on assumptions but wanted to know the facts before sharing. “Things didn’t go well at the school. They might need you in the healing rooms,” he suggested. Jo nodded and left. Nim sat at the vanity and gathered the magic he needed and cast the scrying spell. “Yilina,” he called when she appeared. Yilina looked up and frowned. “Who are you?” “My name is Nimitinas. We met once out in the desert.” “You tried to eat me,” she claimed. “Only until I realized you weren’t a horse.” She nodded. “Nim, it’s good to see you. Did you ever get your eyes checked?” He nodded. “They’re much better.” Yilina was a unicorn Nim had once met while hunting in the desert. Unicorns lived far west of the desert and Nim’s eyes were failing so he mistook her for a horse. Fortunately, he’d recognized what she was before he’d hurt her. She’d explained she’d been running from someone and accidentally ended up there and was having trouble getting home. Nim had helped her. “I found this today and thought it looked a bit like your horn.” He held up the wand. Yilina snorted. “That’s what happens to our horns when you cut them off. How is it not hurting you?” “The glove is a combination of silk, linen, and dragon skin. The healers use it here to avoid accidental readings. I took a chance that it would help here too since you told me your horn is a source of healing.” “Where did you find it?” “There was a man using it as a weapon. He’d fathered three children and would beat their mothers with it.” “It can’t be used to create mages.” She had told him in the past some humans had believed contact with it could turn them into mages. “I know. I think he’s just abusive. He used it to beat a couple of women to help him find the children and he used it on two of the kids.” “The Tamerians weren’t able to get any horns when I saw you last.” “Two of the children are older than that. It must have been from an earlier time. Do you know of any way to heal the wounds? Our healers are struggling.” Yilina shook her head. “Only strong healing.” Nim sighed. He was afraid of that. There was a knock on the door. “I should go,” he told her. She nodded. “It was good to see you.” “You too. Thanks for your help.” There was another knock. “I’m coming,’’ he called and ended the spell. Remtani was there when he opened the door. “Did you catch him?” Nim asked. Remtani shook his head. “He got away. Do you have that rod thing?” Nim held it up. “It’s a unicorn horn. Only carry it using a healer’s glove.” “A unicorn? Do you know any way to help the injured?” Carefully he took the horn. Nim shook his head. “I was just asking a unicorn I’d met once. She said only a strong healer.” The prince frowned. “The healers are going to get worn out. Let’s go check on them and let them know what this is. Maybe one of them can come up with a better solution.” *** Nim returned to the healing rooms. The injured were healed to the point of being stable and the healers were resting. “Nim, this is Jerta. I asked him to come help.” Shunati introduced the elf who was reading Andy. Nim nodded. “We’ve met. He was at Dragon Castle when we were attacked.” “What’s wrong with Andy?” Nim asked. “He’s barely conscious. I don’t detect anything wrong.” Jerta looked up at Nim. “You teach Augmenters at the college. Do you test their sights?” “We do.” “Would you know anyone who can see magic pathways?” “I can. Do you think it’s magic?” “I don’t know.” Nim switched his vision and was almost blinded. He looked away and switched back. “Are you okay?” Jerta asked. “What is it?” Nim hesitated, not knowing how to tell them. He glanced at Ann. “Nim, Jerta’s read Ann. He knows everything,” Shunati assured him. “Everything?” “Yes,” Jerta insisted. “His ability to read people is way beyond anyone else,” Shunati explained. “And it was obvious at the school that Ann is Drepal.” “It’s the bond,” Nim said. I’ve never seen anything like it. There are two bonds going between Ann and Andy.” “Dragons can’t have two bonds,” Jerta claimed. “One bond for Ann, one for Drepal?” Shunati guessed. “That shouldn’t happen,” Nim insisted. “It’s still the same body.” “But you saw two?” Jerta asked. Nim nodded. “It looks like it.” “When was the last time there was a dragon with two personalities?” Jerta asked. Nim shook his head. “To my knowledge, never.” “And what about a white dragon?” Jerta pressed. “There’s only Tercala, but he doesn’t have a mate.” “Or a second personality,” Shunati added. “And Ann’s other condition?” Jerta asked. “The others with similar, did they have mates?” “None lived long enough to have one,” Nim admitted understanding he meant Ann being part immortal. “So we have no idea how different Ann is. Perhaps both Ann and Drepal bonded with Andy.” “It wasn’t long ago that Andy claimed he hadn’t slept with Drepal.” “It only takes one time. Who might know besides these two?” “Morina and Chapado live in Ann’s rooms and Crito spends more time in Chapado’s bed than his own,” Shunati said. “But Ann’s room is shielded so they don’t disturb Cari.” “Then we need to talk to Ann or Andy. It doesn’t look like Andy’s up to it, so I’ll talk to Ann. She needs to be brought out of this trance anyhow. It’s cruel,” Jerta decided. “She’s likely power-mad, and she’s too strong to contain,” Shunati warned. “She’ll bring herself out soon anyhow,” Nim pointed out. “She can do that?” Jerta asked. “How strong is she?” Nim shrugged. “We don’t know. She surpasses the tests.” “What about getting the immortals to help test her?” “I know the immortal tests. My mentor was one,” Nim explained. “Until we hear from Emeton, bring her out of the trance, but put her to sleep, like you did with Tercala.” Shunati nodded. “I will when I’ve recovered a little.” “I can do it,” Jerta offered. “I haven’t healed anywhere near what you did. Let me talk to her so we can help Andy.” Shunati nodded. “Make sure you know who you’re talking to.” Jerta entered Ann’s trance. In a wizard’s trance, you were confronted by your worst nightmares, what terrified you the most. But Jerta didn’t see anything in Ann’s trance. The terrain was barren with mountains off in the distance. He saw a lone figure and approached. By the way she was dressed, he guessed it was Drepal. He wondered where Ann was. As he approached, he saw the area was littered with bodies of some kind of creatures he didn’t recognize. The figure turned. “For a minute, I thought you were Captain Miklin.” “I get that a lot. I’m Jerta. We met once.” “You healed me when I sparred with Miklin.” “I did. Are you Ann, or Drepal?” “I’m both. Drepal is no longer separate. I’m finally whole again.” “And what’s all this?” He gestured to the bodies. “My nightmares. They always attack me like that. This time, I fought back. I’m tired of being scared and hurt, of having my family hurt. It ends. When I get out of here, I won’t let that happen anymore.” “It’s not always possible.” “I can do it. I was born with the magic. I was taught to kill. I was raised with the responsibility to help others.” “Speaking of helping others, I need to ask you a question. It’s kind of personal.” “What?” “Did Drepal mate with Andy?” Her expression scared him. “I don’t think that’s your business.” “No, it’s not. And I wouldn’t ask, but Andy…” “Is he okay?” “No. Physically, there’s nothing wrong but he’s almost catatonic. We think it’s the bond. Nim sees two.” “He’s seeing double.” “His vision is fine. If the two of you mated with Andy there might be two bonds.” “We’re one now.” Jerta’s mind raced as he pieced it together. “When you bonded with Andy, half the bond was formed. When Drepal did, the other half was formed. You were both awake recently when you mated with him, weren’t you?” “That’s not your…” Ann stopped. She was smart. She saw it too. “Doing that linked the bonds. When we joined, it doubled them both.” “That’s what it looks like. I don’t want to damage the bonds. Shunati said, if it happened, it was recent.” “There have been a few times.” “So, a little green bough to dampen it won’t hurt.” “Do not block him,” Ann warned. “I won’t. I only want to dampen it a little so he’s not overwhelmed.” “How’s Cari?” “Who?” “My daughter. She was at the school. She’s pale, like me. She said she was scared and put me in this trance.” “She’s fine. She left with her grandparents.” Ann nodded. “Then I won’t scare her when I wake.” Jerta realized that was what Ann was waiting for. He needed to leave. “She’ll be fine. And so will Andy.” With that, he left quickly. “She’s going to wake soon. We need to hurry.” Nim was at his side, raising Ann’s strength. The second she started to wake, Jerta put her to sleep. “What happened?” Shunati asked. “She’s power-mad, bent on protecting her family at all costs. The only reason she didn’t wake already was she was worried about scaring Cari. When I told her Cari wasn’t around, she started drawing in magic. That was Cari that left with Mishtali, wasn’t it? That’s what I told her.” “That was her. What about Andy and the bond?” “Drepal did sleep with Andy. And they both did it together. I think what happened was each personality formed a separate bond with Andy and when they emerged, the bonds doubled. It’s just…” “What do you mean they merged?” Nim demanded. “Who?” “Ann and Drepal. I spoke to Ann, and she said Drepal was part of her, that she was whole again.” Nim looked like he was going to be sick. Shunati didn’t look any better. “A few years ago, the two worked together so seamlessly, even Andy couldn’t tell them apart. She had Ann’s determination and Drepal’s ruthlessness. It was scary.” “That fits with what I saw.” Jerta relayed the conversation he had with Ann. “I’ll talk with Emeton and Thailyn,” Shunati said when Jerta was done. “What about Andy? Shunati asked. “Bond block?” “Use green bough,” Jerta said. “I told Ann we wouldn’t block it completely.” “Constant use of green bough isn’t healthy,” Shunati pointed out. “Once he’s awake, you can try limited doses of the blocker,” Jerta suggested. “Andy doesn’t drink. Bond blocker is alcohol,” Nim reminded them. “Does he have a problem?” Jerta asked. “His mom does. And once when he was drunk, there was an incident and people got hurt,” Nim explained. “Cook off the alcohol then.” “We’ll take care of Andy,” Shunati offered. “You go home. Get some rest.” “Thanks. I’ll let the honor guard in Resdelk know what happened. Scry me if you need more help,” Jerta offered. Shunati nodded. “We will. Thanks again.” Jerta transported back home to Resdelk. Shunati gave Andy the green bough and explained to him what happened once he woke. Then he reported to Emeton, Tylan, and Remtani. It would be their choice what to do with Ann.