Drepal looked out through Ann’s eyes at those in the dining room. She wasn’t supposed to be awake, but she couldn’t sleep knowing the risks. Maybe we should get a sleeping potion tonight, she suggested to Ann. I’ll talk with Shun, Ann assured her. Drepal could feel her hesitancy. They needed to be able to wake up if there was a problem. But they needed to sleep too. It was too soon. Drepal didn’t want to risk going power-mad again. I’m sure Shun or Dad knows something we could take that will allow us to sleep and they could wake us up. We’ll talk with them, Ann insisted irritably. Andy glanced at her and took her hand. “Are you two okay?” He asked. Drepal was touched that he included her. She knew he loved her too and had never been put off by her, but she was an unexpected part of Ann he hadn’t known about when he had fallen in love with her. She was glad her half of the bond was still there after they’d been broken again. She needed that reassurance. Ann nodded. She couldn’t say what the problem was without revealing her second personality. Drepal watched the Tamerians. They were perplexed by the silverware. Andy had worked with the chef to come up with a menu that was mostly finger food, but to come up with a nutritious meal that would be easier on stomachs not used to most foods, there were a few things that needed forks. Barin was sitting next to one. She touched his arm to get his attention and demonstrated how to use a fork. The look of relief that washed over his face made Drepal smile. He turned to his neighbor and showed her. Drepal noticed the same information coming from the other direction. Jo had helped too. “My grandmother’s people traditionally used two sticks to pick up food like tweezers,” Jo said. She demonstrated using the end of her fork and Nim’s. The Tamerians frowned at each other. “Forget my rudeness, but that seems impossible,” Berif said. “It’s difficult if you’re not used to it. I didn’t grow up there so it took me a while to learn. My one brother still can’t do it.” “Which kingdom is your grandmother from? Are you their representative here?” Jo shook her head. “She’s not from Torthoc and neither am I. I’m from a planet called Earth.” “Earth? Do they even know about this place?” Lomna asked. “Not in general, no.” “They don’t seem ready to deal with aliens as they call us,” Dosas said. “No, definitely not,” Jo agreed. “Have you had contact with Earth?” Andy asked. “A few times. It was one of those worlds we checked as a possible place to settle. But it was already inhabited and there were mages there. We were not going through that again. No offense, there’s nothing wrong with magic, but magic and technology, living side-by-side didn’t work and we weren’t going to risk a repeat.” Emeton waved it off. “We understand. Hopefully, we can at least work together to deal with this problem.” Berif nodded. “That’s our hope is well, and perhaps a tentative friendship with cooperation as needed in the future.” Drepal scanned the group as they spoke. Nothing they said was a lie. But something wasn’t being said. There was something they wanted from this venture aside from cooperation to capture some rebels. Do you think they’ll cause trouble? Ann asked. Not now. They want your help. Is it pride since they need our help? I don’t know. I don’t know enough about them. Drepal continued to watch the Tamerians who in turn watched everyone else. Three were quite interested in Jev. Drepal gave them more consideration. Crito had posed as Jev’s brother on occasion. With Crito’s cousin married to Ann’s brother and pledged to Chapado, it made Jev shepol. Even though he was more than twenty years older than Ann, looking like a kid made her dragon protectiveness take over at times. There didn’t seem to be anything worrisome in the Tamerians’ interest. It seemed only to be curiosity. “I was surprised you have someone so young in charge of your servants,” Torin told Emeton as the ex-soldier refilled their glasses. Jev bristled. “But I can see he’s earned it. He does well, more responsible than adults even.” “Jev is an adult,” Emeton said. “He’s older than I am. But this talk is poor manners.” “Yes, I’m sorry. Forgive me. Jev, you too. I’m sorry. I only meant to complement you.” Jev nodded. “It’s a common mistake.” He finished refilling the glass and moved away. Crito made his way over to him and whispered something. Jev shrugged. Jev was one of Crito’s few friends, probably the only one Crito had sought out. “Actually, all of your servants are quite impressive,” Dosas said. Emeton nodded. “They are. Pt’this helps the chief steward oversee them all. And Tylan assures that none of the nobles treat them as a lower class.” “I imagine that could be a full-time job,” Mizzda said. Emeton smiled. “Not at all. Most only cross Ty once.” Tylan glared at him. “And some never learned.” Emeton’s grin turned sheepish. “I’m lucky she loves me.” Tylan rolled her eyes. “Station isn’t something set in stone. A maid or a cook might become a princess or prince. A runaway orphan may become queen.” “You say it might happen, but we can say anything might happen. Has something like that taken place?” Berif pressed. “Yes,” Andy said. “I was a cook before I met Ann.” “And I was the maid,” Barin said, taking Janta’s hand. “You had no problem with your son marrying a maid?” Berif asked Emeton. Drepal could see he didn’t look down on servants but expected a king to. “Considering I was the one to marry the runaway orphan, I don’t see how I could complain. Tylan was the perfect queen for me.” “You got lucky.” Emeton nodded. “I did.” “He did, but he didn’t,” Pt’this said. “We watch out for each other. I’ve been at the palace for generations. I think I’ve only seen three bad marriages among the kings and queens. Two were arranged by someone else. The third was a con artist. He had all of us fooled.” “Are arranged marriages common?” Mizzda asked. “Not among humans. Elves often arrange marriages. But they have it worked out well. 80% end up happily married. Most of the others canceled the arrangement.” “There’s one elf I’ve met whose parents set up an arrangement,” Remtani said. “But she was just a child so they had to wait. He never fell in love with her, but saw her like a sister. He ended the arrangement and introduced her to the man she did marry. They’ve been happily married for a hundred years.” “Was your marriage arranged?” Lomna asked Pt’this, glancing between him and Sapphire. “No. Nor was my first. But I’m a dragon, not an elf. Dragons have their own way of doing things so we find the perfect spouse for us.” “If she was perfect, why are you no longer married to your first wife?” “Because she died. I would’ve died of a broken heart if it hadn’t been for my friends and family.” He gestured to those at the table. The Tamerians glanced at the others. A few eyes fell on Shunati but not even he looked like Pt’this. “None are blood relations if that’s what you’re wondering. But many here are family. You may be family too if Ruzi’s birth father is Tamerian.” They frowned, puzzled. “Ruzi is Pt’this’s foster son and his nephew through his adoption,” Ann explained. “Anyone Ruzi is related to, Pt’this is related to, including Ruzi’s birth father and any of his relatives back on Tameria.” “Our information from when we were here in the past said dragons were big on family. We hadn’t realized the extent.” Torin admitted. “If you know a dragon, assume you’re related. Given time, you probably will be,” Janta said. Pt’this shrugged and nodded. “He’s not far off.” “The other races don’t see family the same. How do they handle it?” “Most of those we see as family, know us enough to know what we’re like. Others just ignore us, like you might if someone were to tell you he was the second cousin three times removed of your great-grandmother’s second husband.” “We take all of each other’s differences in stride,” Emeton said. “The school even teaches about other cultures. The dragons routinely bring their children for tours and learn about humans. And our teachers are talking to the High Council about our kids going there.” “Up near the border, the elves and humans share a school,” Jev said. “I never got to go to school. A friend from up there taught me to read and to speak Elvish.” He gestured to Miklin. “Why didn’t you go to school?” Mizzda asked. Jev shrugged. “My parents died. The man who adopted me didn’t see the need, nor did the man he sent me to live with.” “Some families need the children at home to help with business or family responsibilities,” Nim explained. “The school here has hours and breaks to help accommodate them, but there are a few kids who still can’t attend because of it.” Mizzda looked at Emeton. “You don’t require they attend?” “No. As Nim said, some kids can’t. I couldn’t in good conscience pass a law that would force families to suffer needlessly.” Fists stepped forward. “My family had several children. Neither of my parents could get well-paying jobs. To help feed everyone, the oldest of us got jobs and would look after the younger children. We were too busy for school. I was lucky. I had a friend who had been to school and a boss who didn’t care if he taught me during slow times. I was able to teach some of the others and they taught the rest.” “I didn’t go to school until I was fourteen,” Shunati said. “We didn’t live near one. My mom and aunt taught my cousin and me. He’s five years younger than I am, but he was learning the same things I was. They didn’t know what to do with him when he started school.” “We all have different schooling experiences,” Remtani said. “Ann and I both graduated late, but for different reasons. She had extra classes because she’s half dragon. I was away for a while and didn’t go back to school right away when I returned. It’s more important that we learn than how we do it.” “The only time schooling is required is for making potions,” Shunati said. “They can be dangerous if they aren’t made right. I’ve been through the classes and was able to make potions fine during class, but I can't tolerate the shields needed for the test. I nearly took out a wall. Needless to say, I can't get a license." "Is it that dangerous?" Dosas asked. Andy nodded. "It can be. Some potion ingredients can be volatile and some you have to add magic to. If you add the wrong amount of magic at the wrong time to volatile ingredients, you’ll have problems, if you survive." "What about your doctors?" She pressed "We don't have doctors," Shunati said. "We have healers, people who can heal with magic. It runs in families. The parents or grandparents usually teach the children. Sometimes, we can see how to fix things as we read them. There’s a healing school at the wizard's college and many of us go, but to say a healer isn't allowed to heal because they haven't gone to school for it is like saying you can't use your eyes because you haven't been to school to learn to see." "Our son is a healer. It's instinctual for him to try to heal," Shay said. "I wish our peoples got along better. I would love to be able to observe how your people live," Lomna said. "We are working towards an alliance," Emeton pointed out. "Perhaps someday it might be possible." "While it would be interesting, I'm afraid it can't be this trip. We won't be able to stay that long," Torin said. Emeton nodded. "We understand. Another time, perhaps." "When we return, we'll need to take the boy with us. We have strict laws about our citizens being on other worlds,” Barif insisted. Mishtali growled and Shay gripped his arm. Working in perfect unison with Ann, Drepal readied a shield in case he lost control. "No. Ruzi is one of our citizens," Emeton insisted. "His mother is from Torthoc and so is his adoptive father. We allow dual citizenship, so he’s still a citizen of Tameria, but his adoptive father is a dragon. You’ll ruin this treaty if you try to take him." "Besides, he knows nothing of your ways. He wouldn’t fit in. He's a half-elf, a mage," Ann pointed out. "Would you insist he never cast and never have children to avoid the magic spreading?" The Bureau members glanced at each other. "No," Mizzda finally said. "It would make no sense to do that. He appears to have a good home and a father who cares for him." She nodded towards Mishtali. "I'm his grandfather. My son adopted him. But yes, my son does care for him."