Chapter 34

by Amanda Cast

Secrets

When Pandora stopped by Instruct Hargoth’s class he had some strange bandage on his face over his nose. When he saw Pandora in her bruised and battered state he started to smile and lifted his arm to wave hat her but then winced and shrugged apologetically. She simply nodded her head to him and hoped the small line of her lips was noticed as polite enough.

“Well, he kept his end,” Star said with much disappointment.

“Pandora, wait!” one of the students cried out when she turned her back. “Instructor Hargoth wants to speak to you.”

Pandora turned around again and motioned for the hatchlings to stay back as she approached. “Yes, Instructor?” she said politely.

“I was just wondering if you’re all right. Your face looks terrible.”

“So does your nose.”

He chuckled at that. “I never thought you would actually give me such a beating. You’re something else. I was wondering if you would like some private tutoring. I could teach you how to better augment your body and perhaps a shield spell or two.”

Pandora mulled this over in her head and looked back. It would be useful knowledge for her to have, but she was afraid of using magic. What if it made her weak again? Her past attempts had not gone so well for her.

“We would take things at your pace. I could meet with you on weekends and on my free hour.”

“Why are you so eager to teach me?” Pandora asked. Though she was not a naturally suspicious person she was learning not to trust any adult in the Academy.

He leaned down and whispered into her ear. She could feel the magic in his voice, but it was a muffling magic. How she knew this, she did not know, but it was a not a charming spell. “I have heard something in one of the lounges. They all think that we are with them. I don’t want anything to happen to you or your family, Pandora.” He looked back at the dragons with such an anxious look that Pandora could not doubt him.

She nodded. “When is your free hour?”

“It is at three. Bring your hatchlings. They may learn as well.”

“Is it at three every day?”

He nodded. “I’ll get a few more healing potions. I can’t teach you effectively while we have fevers and are trying to heal.”

“Our deal was…”

“This is more important than a deal. I wanted to see if you would keep your word. You have. You are a worthy student. I am serious, Pandora. Lives are at stake here. The lives of the dragons are at stake… or at least their freedom is.”

“They say they need us,” Pandora said.

“They will not out right kill you, no. I know that you are worried about something. I just don’t know what. I’ll help you in any way that I can.”

“I will need to discuss this with Serene and you will have to be tested for truth,” Pandora said. “I cannot risk the lives of the children.”

“Of course not.” He shifted uneasily. “I am not supposed to tell you this, but your Uncle has fled from the city. His house has been looted. There is nothing for you to return to. The Emperor may be setting a trap for you.”

Pandora frowned. “I will have to discuss this with Serene,” she said. “Please, excuse me. I must go. I will see you at three.”

“Eat only a light lunch,” he said after the magic was broken and they parted ways.

Pandora could not remember a time where her heart had ached more. She feared terribly for her uncle and her parents—even her violent mother. What if they were going to hunt down her family and try and kill them? She had no family name and had never mentioned one. Would that be enough to draw them to her parents? Would he hunt them down and send their heads to her.

The hatchlings were worried. They pressed up to their mother and bombarded her with questions. She could not speak. Her throat was so tightly constricted that it made it hard for her to breathe.

She took the hatchlings to the garden outside of the kitchen and requested that Raoul watch them while she went in search of her cousin. She could not find her anywhere. She hunted at her classes, but she was not there. She was no where to be found.

Pandora was almost to tears when she finally stumbled onto Terabeth. Manners and politeness were thrown out of the window. “Terabeth,” she said breathlessly. “Where is Serene?”

“How should I know?” Terabeth asked rudely but Pandora sensed that she was lying.

“Where is she, Terabeth?” Pandora said with more authority. It was much darker than the voice she ever used with the hatchlings.

“She doesn’t want to talk to you. I know what you said about us.’

“I didn’t say anything about you,” Pandora said without changing her tone. “Tell me where she is. This is important.”

“And what are you going to do if I don’t tell you?” Terabeth said boldly. “Are you going to hit me?”

Pandora was losing her temper. She was not used to being emotionally stimulated and she was feeling overloaded. Terabeth’s rudeness and lack of help was almost too much for her to bear. She clenched her fists and her muscles strained downwards as if she were trying to stretch her arms all the way down to the floor.

“I might.”

“You are such a brute and a liar. I know what you said about us.”

“And what did I say?”

Terabeth’s mouth just moved noiselessly. “I can’t explain it.”

“Why not?” Pandora asked and Terabeth took a step back from her.

“I’ll scream,” Terabeth warned and her hands started to raise slowly as if she were about to cast a spell.

“Don’t you dare,” Pandora warned and closed the distance between them. “I need to speak to my cousin. I don’t care if you don’t like that I said you were apathetic about Greg. Serene would not defend you on that count. Do not push me Terabeth. I may not speak often, but I will rip your very soul to shreds if you push me.”

“Don’t threaten me!”

The blue robed mages were forming a circle around them. Terabeth was trembling from fear and bravado.

“I haven’t even begun,” Pandora said.

Terabeth raised her arms and started to utter the words for an offensive spell. Pandora was quicker and grabbed her, disrupting the spell. It sent an electric spark out of Terabeth’s finger tips.

“Don’t try and cast magic on my again, Terabth,” Pandora ordered. “Tell me where my cousin is.”

“I won’t!” she said angrily. “It is none of your business.”

“It is my business,” Pandora said. “You tell me or I swear by all the magic in this world that I will throw your lead brained head throw a god forsaken wall. Am I clear?”

Terabeth gave her a defiant look, but when Pandora started to draw her back to keep good on her promise Terabeth screamed, “I’ll tell, I’ll tell,” she said. “She was taken to the infirmary.”

Pandora’s eyes widened with worry and she pushed Terabeth away. “You had better not be lying to me,” she said and ran into the appropriate mirror.

When she reached the infirmary the healers tried to stop her from simply barging in, but she pushed them out of the way with a combination of momentum and her magical strength. They protested, or at least it sounded like protests. She looked around feverishly, but there was no Serene to be seen.

She opened doors and slammed them shut again. She threw things including beds and bellowed like an angry beast at any healer that came too close to her. Their magic slid around her skin, unable to stick to her.

“Where is she,” she finally said to one of the healers that shrank away from her in abject terror. “Where is my cousin?”

“She… she…”

Pandora punched him in his jaw and he fell to the floor. The other healers were too afraid to approach. “Where is she you little bastard?” Pandora asked.

He pointed to a wall that had a candle stick.

“That is too cliché. Even for you losers,” she hissed and walked up to it. She could feel the magic of it burning her palm, but she twisted it and the wall slid apart. Her skin burned, but it still felt numb. She hurried down a corridor and followed her instincts. She knew that Serene had to be there. She could feel her cousin—vibrant and beautiful.

She opened all the doors along the way and gave them a look inside. Nothing. Finally she found one that would not open. There was magic blocking the way. She could feel the sound proofing on the other side. She closed her eyes and touched the door with her palms. At first it burned, but she could feel it entering her and the magic dispelling. There was still a lock on the door though, and Pandora had not ability to take of that cleanly. She knocked on the door, but when no one answered fast enough she kicked the door.

It started to splinter, but it did not break. The door flew open and a wild haired mage stood before her. He was featureless to Pandora. She shoved him to the side and could see Serene sitting there in a chair, glassy eyed. “What did you do to her?” she asked with the same predatory darkness.

“What are you doing here?”

“What did you do to my cousin?” Pandora asked again. The room was getting brighter, the colors sharper.

“You do not belong here,” he said and started to cast a spell. She gripped his hand so hard that she could feel his fingers snap in her grip. He cried out in pain and fell to his knees.

“I’ll break your other hand,” she warned. She could feel him trying to mend the bones. She put more pressure on the hand and he cried out. Started to pass out but she slapped him with her other hand. “Oh no you don’t.”

“Please,” he said. “I was only trying to help.”

“Only trying to help?” she asked. “Only trying to help? Why was she hidden from me? Why did no one tell me where she was? She is my cousin. You should have told me.” She twisted his hand to get her point across.

“I…I can’t think.”

“I don’t care if you can think,” she shrieked. She could recall no other time that she had shrieked.

“Pandora?” her cousin moaned. “Pandora?”

“I… I meant no harm,” he babbled. His free hand was around the wrist of his broken hand. “Please, let me go.”

Pandora let go and pushed him back. “You had better not try another spell or I’ll smash your face in.”

He did not take the threat idly. He cowered in the corner. Pandora felt a grim satisfaction for a moment and then all her anger and tension melted away when she turned to look at her cousin.

“Serene,” she whispered and reached out to touch her cousin’s hair. “Oh Serene, what have they done to you?” she asked and gingerly tried to pick her cousin up off of the chair. She was so limp and frail. It terrified Pandora and she held her cousin to her chest. She seemed like a tiny doll compared to Pandora.

“Pandora,” she whispered again, but Pandora was not certain if her cousin even knew she was there. “So sorry,” she whispered. “So sorry.”

When Pandora turned to the door to leave the Arch Mage was standing in the door way. The air around him crackled with power.

<First><Chapter 33><Chapter 35><Latest>

Chapter 33

by Amanda Cast

Drowsy Dreams


Pandora felt she must be dreaming. Her limbs were heavy and she could not so much as twitch a finger. The room was dark in powdery shadows, but she could see if shades of black all around her. She could hear voices, but they formed no sound she could comprehend. After what felt like an eternity of breathing deeply and staying perfectly still she could understand what she heard.

“—worried,” Emerald’s hushed voice said in draconic.

“Their lives are threatened,” Star pointed out reasonably.

The hatchlings were on the floor with their heads close together and their tails out. They formed a four point star of gems and color even in the darkness. Pandora could still see the dark ruby red of Rubio’s hide in the black of her dream.

“Should we kill them all?” Topaz asked.

Rubio and Star both hissed in unison and Emerald gave an annoyed snort. “Don’t be foolish,” Emerald said, “It would hurt them too much.”

“It is because of us they are stuck here,” Rubio told them despairingly. “It is because of us.”

“It is their own actions that created us,” Emerald said.

“What are you talking about?” Star asked.

There was a heavy sigh. “I forget you cannot read their dreams and memories. They created us by stealing the scales of the Septurate—or rather the Septum scales.”

“What are you talking about?” Star repeated with a deadpan quality.

Pandora could feel more than see Emerald’s eye roll. “It isn’t important. I don’t understand it anyway because they don’t, but they did have a hand in making us.”

“What should we do?” Rubio asked.

“We should run away,” Topaz said.

“We can’t leave them!” Star said a little too loudly. Serene’s sleeping form shifted and moaned.

“I don’t mean that, stupid,” Topaz said.

“Don’t call me stupid.”

“Both of you, please,” Emerald said, opting as peacekeeper once more. “We cannot leave Mother or Momma. They care for us because only we allow them to. They know we will kill any other who tries to take their place. They are safe now because we are here.”

“I wasn’t saying we should leave them,” Topaz reiterated.

“I know,” Emerald said soothingly.

“We could bond with them,” Rubio offered. The other hatchlings silently thought of this for a short time.

“No, we can’t,” Star said softly. “Not yet, at least. Not unless we have to. Else they will be stuck in the bodies of twelve year olds forever. They must be young adults at the very least first.”

“That is true,” Emerald agreed.

“You’re right,” Rubio conceded with a small flick of his tail.

“If we cannot help them we should go back to bed,” Topaz said. His frustration was evident.

“The point of this discussion is to find a way to help them,” Star said.

“There is also the problem of Greg,” Emerald said softly.

“What about him? He’s just a… well… he’s not even of this world. What does he have to worry about?” Star asked.

“They want to kill him,” Emerald said. “It plagues Momma’s thoughts and dreams.”

“That’s horrible,” Star hissed.

“We can’t let anything happen to him either,” Rubio said. “He saved Mother’s life. It would be terrible not to repay the debt.”

“Just give him some of your pile and call it even,” Topaz said. “Our mothers are our primary concern. Greg cannot get in the way.”

“Rubio is right,” Star said as though it killed her to say it, “We cannot abandon Mother’s savior.”

Emerald nodded her agreement. “They are worried that we cannot blend in yet with the human children. They fear the time it will take for us to change.”

“It takes so much power,” Star said and her claws scraped quietly against the floor.

“I think we might have it,” Rubio said. “I can gather enough power if I enter a fire. Then I could help you all.”

“I could too!” Star said with sudden excitement.

“There is a reason dragons wait,” Emerald said dubiously. “It could kill us. We may not be strong enough.”

“How long do they wait, Emerald? We’re the only dragon hatchlings that we know,” Star said.

The others were silent as they waited for Emerald to respond. “I will wander in dreams and find an adult Dream dragon to answer my questions. Perhaps they will help us determine the power needed.”

“Are you sure you can do it?” Star asked worriedly. “We can feel our powers, but do we have the strength?”

“We are not normal dragons,” Rubio said hopefully, “Maybe we were born with the power and we’re just too afraid or unskilled to use it.”

“Well, we can’t get the skill from two nondragon girls,” Topaz said. “Maybe you can ask the Dream dragon how we do it?”

“I will be sure to ask that too. We should come up with questions for me to ask just so that when I find him, I know.”

“Good idea,” Star agreed, but everyone fell silent again as they thought of questions they should ask.

After a moment Pandora dreamed of other things.

~*~

Pandora’s mouth felt sticky and dry all at once when she awoke that morning. Her tongue throbbed with dehydration and her eyelids clung to her eyeballs and she had to blink several times to get enough moisture to move them with less difficulty. When she moved her mouth to try and coax her body to give it more moisture she realized that her jaw hurt.

When she moved her hand her entire body screamed in protest. Her flesh was hot and her muscles tight and aching. It was delicious except for the dehydration. Pandora hated being thirsty far more than she hated being hungry, but her body was not agreeing with her idea of movement in the least.

“Mother, the privy door is closed and my claws can’t turn it,” Rubio whined when he saw that she was awake. Serene was already gone.

Pandora rolled out of bed, moaning despite herself. It hurt so much to move, but she was happy that she could move. “Do you all need to go?”

“Yes, Mother, please hurry!” Topaz said and Pandora waddled to the privy door and opened it. Rubio nearly knocked her over in the rush to get to it. He almost did not fit in the privy anymore.

“Hurry up!” Topaz bellowed and danced on the floor.

“Augh,” Pandora said worriedly. “Does everyone just need to pee?” she asked.

“I only need to pee,” Star said hurriedly.

“Not me, I need both,” Topaz said.

“Me too,” Emerald said distractedly and then looked away from Pandora shyly.

“Well, come with me, Star,” Pandora said and took her into the bathing room. When all the hatchlings were done she made sure the clean the tub with the most caustic substance she could find and ran a few shallow baths just to make sure it was safe for future use.

“Greg says pee is sterile,” Star told Pandora.

Pandora scowled until she realized that it hurt her battered face too much and said, “Maybe in Greg’s world it is, but this is our world and how should we know?”

“I was just saying, Mother,” Star said.

“Mother, I’m hungry. Where is Momma?”

“I don’t know, dearest,” Pandora said and gently pat his raised head. She could not bend down to pat him.

“You feel so hot, Mother,” he said worriedly. “Are you sick again?”

Rubio crowded up against her to feel the heat of her body. “It is just her skin,” he said. “Maybe it is just healing?”

“We could try and heal it, Mother,” Emerald said worriedly, but she could not get any closer to Pandora. The hatchlings were almost too large to take up the space. Pandora decided that today was the day she needed to talk to the Arch Mage about larger quarters for them all. This space was not going to cut it for much longer.

“No!” Pandora said much more sharply than she had intended. Then she said more gently, “I made my word to the instructor that I would make no attempts to heal myself. I will not go back on my word unless he does.”

“Well, then we should go check and see,” Star said.

“Not right now. First you all need to be fed and oiled. Then we can take a walk and see if he kept his word. After that you’re going to be fed, bathed, oiled and put down for nap because your Mother needs to talk to the Arch Mage about living arrangements.”

“Yes, Mother,” they all said obediently. It made Pandora’s nerves go on edge. They were never so obedient. At least Topaz would argue about something.

“When will you eat?”

“I’ll eat while you are eating. I’m sure Raoul will get me something out of kitchen.” Including a pitcher or two of water, she thought uncomfortably. “All right, let’s go.”

Serene was no where to be seen. It made Pandora edgy. In her dream, Serene had been in the room with them. It was only a dream, but she seemed so aware… no, that was all wrong. It was only a dream. Serene was in it because Pandora was so comfortable with Serene always being around. Perhaps she went to spend the night at Terabeth’s at some point. She honestly hoped so.

Would Serene go without letting me know? She wondered uneasily as the dragons either lumbered or leapt ahead of her. She looked uncertainly at Terabeth’s door before following after the hatchlings.

Raoul was waiting for them outside of the kitchen in the garden where they decided it would be best to feed them. His dark face was smiling with its normal radiance. “Hello, Pandora,” he greeted and then his face fell a little bit. “Where is Serene? Why do you look like that? Is she all right?”

Pandora waved a hand and gave a very tiny and very pained smile. “She’s fine, Raoul… I think. She wasn’t in the room when I woke up this morning. I guess she wanted to talk to Terabeth.”

“Why? Did you two fight?” Raoul asked.

Pandora shrugged helplessly. “I don’t know.”

Raoul froze in a half turn and stared at Pandora. His mouth was gaping open and his eyes did not even blink. “How can you not know?”

“You never know with Serene. She’s quite passionate,” Pandora said and believed deep down that that was all that needed to be said.

Raoul shook his head of short white hair sadly. “You’re weird.”

“So I’m told,” Pandora said dryly. “I don’t mean to be rude, but could you get me some water and maybe a biscuit? I’m starving.”

“Oh right!” Raoul said and looked embarrassed. “Mom says that when wounds heal naturally you need a lot of water.”

He ran off into the kitchen and his mother came out with him. Shalielle gave Pandora a reproving look but poured her a glass of tepid water and set the pitcher onto the ground next to her. “Sit down and we’ll feed the hatchlings. Where is your cousin?”

Pandora shrugged.

“Never did like the surface elves,” she said tartly. “They were always a flighty lot.”

Pandora frowned. “Please don’t talk about Serene,” she said.

“Oh, sorry, you are family after all,” the woman said half pleased and half annoyed. It was rather easy to determine why she felt either way.

“Maybe something happened to her,” Raoul fretted and Star gave him a firm butt in the side with her head. “I know, more feeding and less fretting,” he said, quoting her from a meal before when Pandora was sick.

“Oh!” Star said and licked her lips. “This tastes different.”

“Is it cooked?” Rubio asked and sniffed it.

“Yes,” Shalielle said. “I knew a few dragons from my time in the underdark. They preferred their meat cooked and flavorful. You’re getting too old to eat not quite sausage meat.”

“That was getting tiresome,” Star agreed. “It is good though. Thank you, Shalielle.”

“You’re welcome, Star,” she said warmly. “I was actually the servant of a dragon. Can you believe that?”

“Dragons… have servants?” Topaz asked, amazed by the very concept.

Shalielle nodded. “The dragons and elves of the underdark have a very interesting relationship with one another. They’re both immortals and magic in their own right.”

Pandora winced after an attempt at smiling and Shalielle turned to her abruptly. “Why have you not gone to see a healers?” she asked in a very motherly type of disapproving tone.

“Well, I will if I see that the instructor has treated that broken nose of his,” Pandora said. She had also managed to give him many abrasions from simply hitting him too hard and too often in the same place. “But, Shalielle, what do you know of dragons?”

“Well, I know that most of the dragons that reside in the Underdark spit out stone dissolving acid that only they can neutralize. I also know that my master could walk in the dreams of others.”

Pandora frowned and looked over at Emerald who suddenly appeared to be very guilty.

<First><Chapter 32><Chapter 34><Latest>

Chapter 29

by Amanda Cast

The Renewing

Pandora never made it back to her room. She woke up with her skin feeling raw in a dark room on a few rags on a floor. There were servants looking at her. She could barely move. Her arms felt like dead weight. There was a servant sitting beside her. The woman’s skirt was pooled around her.

“Good, you’re awake,” she said and handed her a piece of an apple. “You looked awful last night when Raoul brought you to us. He had to drag you all the way here. What happened?”

“I don’t know,” she said and took the fruit. She popped it into her mouth and chewed the juicy morsel obediently.

“Well, he was up all night fretting over you. I think he went to get your cousin and bring her here. I hope she has the good grace to leave the dragons outside. You know how she hates them.”

Pandora nodded. “I’m sorry if I caused trouble.”

“It is all right, but I wish he had taken you to the healers. He seemed fretful though. He said you feared for your life with them.” The woman eyed Pandora. “You’re not one of those conspiracy people are you?”

Pandora’s brow furrowed and she shook her head. “I just believe that they would not treat me. They would probably study me.”

The woman must have picked up that Pandora was worried. “I’m Shalielle,” she said and then Pandora noticed that she had a tattoo on her neck. It was a complicated work that looked little more than flourished knots. “I’m Raoul’s mother.”

“Your name sounds elvish.”

“It is an underdark name, actually,” she said with a weak smile. “When I was freed I came back to the surface.”

“Oh,” Pandora said and scratched her ear. “Raoul is a good kid.”

“You’re a kid too,” Shalielle pointed out. “It doesn’t matter anyway. I hope you are feeling a little better.”

“I feel weak and ungainly again,” she said blandly. “I am glad that Raoul brought me here instead.”

“Why is that?”

“I was able to learn more about him,” she said. “Can I have another piece of fruit please?”

“Why not?” she asked an gave her another apple slice. “He shouldn’t be too long. It’s almost breakfast time. Does she usually miss breakfast?”

Pandora shook her head.

“I’m back!” she head a voice call and the door to the room was thrown open and the two half elves poured through. Serene looked positively frantic.

“Why did you leave last night?” she all but shrieked.

“I needed a run,” Pandora told her.

“You should have taken me with you! What if you had died?” she asked. “You can’t run around the school at night anyway. You’re not strong enough to run at all.”

Raoul shifted uncomfortably and cast an uncertain look to Pandora. She simply shrugged and said, “You worry too much.”

“I worry too much? You have… you don’t have the strength, Pandora! Your body is still weak from the illness and then you almost killed yourself to help that ungrateful little—“ She stopped abruptly and looked at Raoul.

“I felt fine. I’ll tell you what might have happened later. I just don’t have the strength right now.” She attempted to get off of the floor but it was a pathetic scramble.

Shalielle stood up and helped to pull her to her feet. When she was released Pandora collapsed against the wall and sighed heavily.

Serene moved over to support her. “Thank you for your help,” she said to Shalielle. “I hope we won’t have to bother you like this again. I’ll talk to you later, all right, Raoul?”

He nodded and watched with forlornly as they left.

Pandora and Serene did not go straight up into the room. Instead they went to the dining hall where Serene watched angrily as Pandora ate. If Pandora paused for more than a moment after chewing and swallowing Serene would yell at her to eat more. When Serene was satisfied she dragged her cousin into the privy and cast several different enchantments onto the door so that the hatchlings could not hear.

“What did you do?”

“I just… I was fine…”

“Just say it,” Serene ordered. Her ears were red with anger.

Pandora sat down on the toilet and hunkered down. “I tried to channel,” she said.

Serene looked skeptical. “Like you did with Chloe?”

Pandora nodded and then thought for a moment and shook her head. “It was much less complicated than what I did with Chloe.”

Serene was pensive now. She leaned back onto her enchanted door. “I think I might understand what is going on with you.”

“What?” Pandora asked.

“I’m not going to tell you that your body is naturally just as weak or as strong as my own… or even weaker. You’re used to having a certain amount of power and strength. You were regaining it, but you were still weak.” She tapped her lower lip thoughtfully. “I think.. maybe… you’re primarily powered by magic.”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, I mean, you have to eat and everything just like anyone else. You’re still recovering from an illness that has left others still in bed. Many are having problems contacting and gathering power right now as it is. Your physical body was already taking a hit because you gave too much of yourself to Chloe. When you got sick it only got worse. Your hardly able to function and you almost stopped breathing more than once when you were ill. I had to use magic to keep your diaphragm going.”

“Diaphragm?”

“That is what Greg called it anyway. He explained it but it didn’t make much sense anyway. It isn’t important. What is important is that you were regaining your magic faster than your physical strength.”

“How do you know that?”

“Well, I don’t know. I think you are because you channeled your power out and then you can barely walk on your own anymore. I’m going to try something.”

Serene placed her palms on Pandora’s forehead and pushed her head back so that Pandora’s head was tilted back almost awkwardly. “Open up to me,” Serene said. “Just relax your mind, drop your barriers and your defenses. Pretend that your skin is air and welcoming.”

Pandora cleared out her mind and tried to not focus on any part of her body. She then felt something entering her head. At first it was like a fine mist, preparing the soil to take more water than it could dry. Then she felt like a glass, taking in water from a pitcher, but she did not fight it. There was nothing obtrusive or explorative about the power that entered her. It felt warm and comforting. It felt natural.

When the power stopped Serene took a step back. “I didn’t give you too much,” she said. “I can’t risk it. Plus, it takes longer to return if I use too much.”

“What did you do?” Pandora asked. She felt stronger again.

“I replaced some of the power you lost. I had to redirect it to your muscles and such. I think it should be enough, but don’t try and channel anything for some time. You need to get back into your top form.”

Pandora nodded. “Thank you, Serene.”

“It wasn’t a problem really. I just can’t cast as many spells as I’d like, is all,” she said and removed the enchantments from the door. “I’ll have to tell my teacher I over exerted myself. You should mediate and try to call more to you on your own.”

“I don’t think I work that way.”

“Then how do you work?”

Pandora shrugged. “I think I’m going to drop in on a combat class.”

“I don’t know if they’ll let you.”

“I’ll just kick someone’s ass and then dare the teacher to tell me otherwise,” Pandora said in a perfectly natural voice. Only a small twist of her lips indicated that she was joking.

“You should be more careful though. What if fighting makes you use your power?”

“What if it is what gives me power?” Pandora countered. “I think I can only use my power if I cast a spell or give it to someone else. If I lost it fighting I would have been debilitated long before now. Fighting makes me feel strong and alive.”

“You are weird,” Serene said. “I have to practice magic so that I can get better at it and you think fighting makes you get more power?”

“Well, Oola gets her power from singing. I feel the magic gather around her. I just never paid much attention to how I became powerful. I’ll be sure to keep my senses open when I’m fighting. Cross my heart.”

“Better not hope to die though,” Serene said tersely and then smiled despite herself. She hugged her cousin tightly. “I don’t know what I would do if I lost you.”

“I’m resilient,” she said and hugged her cousin back. “Besides, you wouldn’t let me die anyway. You’re too stubborn.”

“Pot callin’ the kettle,” she murmured and they left the bathroom.

Four dragons were watching them as they exited. All of them looked curious, but Topaz also looked suspicious.

“Is something wrong, Mother?” Star asked.

Pandora blinked and then shook her head. “No, everything is just fine. I feel much better now. Thank you.”

Star slid off of the bed and rubbed her head against Pandora’s thigh.

“I think I’m going to have to talk to the Arch Mage about getting you other sleeping arrangements. You will break those beds soon and the room is getting too small to hold you,” Pandora said.

“Are you calling me fat?” Rubio asked with a wicked flick of his tail.

“Yes, she is,” Serene said with an equally wicked smile. “Now, all of you get up. We need to get you fed and such.”

“Can we use the privy now?” Emerald asked as she slipped off of her bed.

“Yes,” Pandora said. “After breakfast the four of you are getting baths. Then we’re going for a walk.”

“Sounds great,” Rubio said. He loved the hot water on his hide. “Mother, can we stay in the sun?”

“You know Emerald doesn’t like the sun all that much,” she said. “We’ll have to stay where there is some shade too.”

“Emerald is no fun,” he whined. “She won’t even play with us.”

“She plays with me,” Topaz said, eyeing Rubio dangerously.

“Well, that’s because you both like to fight like idiots,” he said and flicked his tail so fast that one of Serene’s shoes flew across the room and hit the wall.

“We are not idiots,” Topaz said.

“Mother is a fighter. She’s not an idiot,” Emerald said angrily. “Take it back, Rubio.” Emerald circled around the red dragon. If she had hair it would be standing up on end.

“I won’t,” Rubio said stubbornly.

“You will!” Topaz said and his claws clicked dangerously on the floor.

“Enough!” Serene said with authority. She had gotten very good at authority while Pandora was sick. “You will apologize to Emerald and Topaz, Rubio.”

“And Mother!” Emerald said with a strange desperate quality.

“And Pandora.”

“I’m sorry,” he mumbled. “I didn’t mean to insult you, Mother.”

“That is not a proper apology,” Topaz said fiercely. He looked ready to jump on Rubio.

“People that shit on the floor shouldn’t talk about proper,” Rubio said hotly. Steam was coming off of his hide.

Topaz roared and Pandora quickly stepped between them. “Enough,” she said sternly. “You have lost both of your coins for the day.”

“But Mother!” Rubio said, stricken.

“You should not push Topaz, and Topaz you should not act so violently to people that disagree with you. Had you let it lie you would be getting punished right now.” She turned and left them to follow.

<First><Chapter 28><Chapter 30><Latest>

Chapter 28

by Amanda Cast

Restless Learning

Pandora could not sleep. Her muscles were restless and crawling. Her mind was exhausted and over taxed from meditating and attempting to pull energy into her body. Now her body would not rest. Perhaps her mediating had been successful, but it would not help her if she could not sleep.

She sat up and rubbed her eyes. Then she rubbed her muscles. It felt as though she had been sleeping on a stone floor, but her bed was as soft as any bed could be, and she had not slept.

Serene was tossing and turning as well, but occasionally she would snore quietly. The dragons, who know had a stock pile of gold, were sleeping soundly. Neither of their mother’s restlessness could make them wake up.

Pandora let out a soft moan and slid off of the bed. The cool stone was jarring, not because of its temperature but because of its hardness. She frowned and stretched, but even the stretches were not satisfying.

The girl pulled on a tunic and a pair of pants. She noticed that the small buds on her chest were getting larger and more defined. They felt awkward and sometimes excess movement hurt her chest if it was not bound tightly.

Quietly she opened the door and slid into the hallway. She wish that she had a friend her own age so that she would wake her up, but all of her personal friends were older by a year or two and in different halls.

Students were not allowed to be out and about after a certain time. There was a curfew for the students, but Pandora could not be bothered with it. She had to do something. Her body was pleading with her for movement. She understood it now.

She walked with determination to the mirror and stepped through. She was glad that the enchantment did not turn off during certain times. It made things easier. She then entered the garden square. Stretched her entire body and felt better before she even broke into a solid sprint toward the center.

She almost did not have the time to stop when she saw Raoul sitting on the fountain rim. His dark skin seemed to reflect the light. It was as though he was a full blood underdark elf rather than a half breed.

He looked up when he heard her running toward him and when she stopped he smiled at her. “Hello, Pandora,” he said brightly.

“Greetings, Raoul,” Pandora said with a small smile. She approached casually and sat down beside him. “I didn’t know you could be out at this hour.”

“Well, you’re not supposed to be,” he pointed out and poked her arm with a bony finger. “But I’m allowed to.”

“Why is that?” Pandora asked.

“Because I am a dark elf,” he said with a small, sad smile.

“Oh,” Pandora said uncertainly. “I guess they have racial exceptions. Anyway, I know I’m not supposed to be up, but I could not sleep.”

“Perhaps you should go to the healers,” he said. He nodded curtly, perfectly sure of his assessment.”

“Well, that is generally a good idea,” Pandora said, “But since the healers seem to have it out to end my life through inaction I think I would be better served with some exercise.”

“Is that why you were running?”

She nodded. “It wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be. I have been so easily exhausted lately. I thought it might tire me out, but now I feel more awake than ever—body and mind.”

He nodded, understanding. “I would exercise with you, if you want company.”

Pandora smiled at the child. She could not stop herself, but it was a child’s smile that graced her face. It was wistful and her head was tilted to the side. “All right,” she agreed before the smile had faded from her face.

“Great!” he said and jumped excitedly to his feet. “Are we going to run?”

“For now,” she said and stretched with her arms up in the air. She lifted herself up on her toes before allowing her body to relax. She fell back onto her heals. “But you should stretch first. Your muscles should be limber before you run.”

She led him through a few stretches and tested his limbs before stepping back and nodding in satisfaction. “Very good,” she said.

“You think so?” he asked.

She nodded. “Keep up,” she said and loped off down one of the paths to the outer rim. He followed after her. Pandora adjusted her speed so that she was trotting beside him.

“You’re fast,” he admonished. “Were you really sick?”

Pandora nodded. “I was. When we can no longer carry on conversation, we’ll stop,” she told him.

He nodded and listened as she gave him breathing advice. “Serene said you were very weak.”

“I was,” Pandora admitted. “I was weak before I became ill. I feel like I’m recovering now. Mundane behavior tires me though.”

“That is strange,” he said. “You can run around and not get as tired as you do when you sit still?”

She laughed and then nodded. “I guess you’re right.” She led him around a corner. The gravel slid under her feet, but she kept her balance.

“Wow, that’s weird.”

“I am strange,” she conceded. “I would like to join combat classes again, but I don’t see why I should bother. Taking classes just adds to the illusion that I am not a prisoner.”

“Are you a prisoner?” he asked.

She nodded. “I am.”

“Wow,” he said. His breathing was becoming more labored, but he did not complain and Pandora did not stop. “You…you like fighting?”

She nodded. “I do. It is good exercise and it keeps your reflexes sharp.”

“I like magic.”

“Have you ever fought?”

“When I was a child,” he admitted. “I look different than the others do. Mother says that I look like a full dark elf except for my ears are rounded.” He reached up to touch them and then toppled over and skirted across the gravel.

Pandora stopped and reached down to help him up. He was heavy, but not dead weight. He got to his feet.

“Are you all right?” she asked. She squinted in the moonlit night to see if he had any abrasions.

He winced as he tried to get the gravel off of his hands. Pandora gripped his wrists and looked at them closely. “Nothing is bleeding. Your skin is just scraped some. You’re quite resilient.”

“Do you think so?” he asked with a shy smile and she nodded. “Nice.”

“Would you like to learn something about fighting?” she asked.

“I have good instincts,” he told her. “I don’t think I need lessons.”

“Instincts are well an good if you’re fighting someone who is inexperienced, but it will do you little good against someone who has trained,” she told him. “Some instincts are wrong. Trained fighters will use them against you.”

He frowned thoughtfully.

“I have good instincts,” Pandora continued, “But I do not rely on them anymore. Instincts are for people who are course and unrefined. You must be able to use training and instincts as one.”

“You sound like you’re reciting,” he told her skeptically.

“It is something my teacher at Ysfal used to tell me,” she said softly and looked away. She dropped Raoul’s wrists. “I think that my restlessness has been tended to. I should go to sleep.”

“When you were sick Serene would come and give me lessons in magic,” he told her quickly.

Pandora turned to look at him. “Did you learn anything?”

He nodded. He put his wrists together and opened his hands up and pushed them towards her as though he were casting a fire ball. She felt a rush of magic hit her. Very little of it did more than brush around her skin and disturb the fine hairs there. It was warm as sunshine and dark and cool as shadows all at the same time. It flowed like water or air. Some of it stuck as droplets of water and began to sink into her flesh.

“Serene calls it channeling,” he said with a pleased look on his face. “Neat isn’t it?”

“It…what purpose does it serve?”

Raoul looked confused for a moment and then his face dawned with comprehension. “Serene said you would not understand. It is a way of transferring power. I think you did it when you saved Chloe, only you gave it shape and purpose when you did. That’s what Serene says.”

“Oh,” Pandora said, confused. “I did not think of it that way.”

“I need to meditate and get more though,” he said.

Pandora tilted her head to the side and closed her eyes. She focused on Raoul in her mind and pushed her own power to him. When she opened his eyes he looked amazed.

“Not much got in, but what did,” he said, astounded.

Pandora suddenly felt weak again. She collapsed onto the gravel.

<First><Chapter 27><Chapter 29><Latest>

Chapter 15

by Amanda Cast

Power and Looks

The morning left a bitter taste in Pandora’s mouth. She woke up to Topaz butting her in the side with his head and begging to be taken down to breakfast. The other three waited sheepishly behind them.

Pandora rolled out of bed and pulled on whatever she pulled out first. She and Serene had not bothered to unpack the night before. They did no have time to unpack now either. Perhaps on the weekend when classes were out for rest and catch up they could catch up on their housekeeping.

“Serene, get up,” Pandora said and nudged her. “It’s time to feed the hatchlings.

Serene blinked at her cousin slowly when she managed to pull her mind from its slumber. Not a moment later she sprung straight up looking around in a panic. “Oh shells and scales,” she cried. “I forgot where we were.”

“You’ll get used to it.”

“I’d rather go home,” she said stubbornly, but got dressed anyway. Her face was drawn tightly. “What time is it?”

“Probably five,” Pandora said after a quick glance out of the window.

“That’s early.”

“Well, they weren’t fed enough yesterday. They probably want to get a head start today.”

Serene sighed and pulled on her shoes.

“Momma, aren’t you hungry?”

“Well, I guess I am a little, but I have to eat breakfast with everyone else.”

“Why can’t we eat breakfast with everyone else?”

“Well, you demand a different diet,” Serene said and patted Topaz on the head. “When you get your humanoid form I guess you can join us, but until then you worry people a bit too much.”

“Why?” Emerald asked quietly.

“Well, people don’t really know much about dragons,” Serene explained. “Anyway, look at you. You all must have grown three feet last night.” She sighed. “Well, lets get you fed and oiled. Then Pandora and I have to take showers, go to breakfast, and see our councilors.” She rolled her eyes.

Pandora shrugged. “Then we have to feed and oil you again.”

“I wonder if we can work our schedules around your needs,” Serene mused idly as they left the room.

“I need to use the privy,” Star said.

“Me too,” Emerald agreed.

“And so do I,” Pandora said thoughtfully. “All right, everyone back in.”

They all took turns using the privy and then were outside again.

Down in the kitchen it was much the same story as the day before. Pandora entered first, leading the dragons in tow. They still had plenty of room between them and the door, but they were too large for Pandora and Serene to carry two at a time. Everyone had to walk now. It made Pandora a little sad. She had enjoyed holding them. The time was too short.

“Hello, Pandora,” a boy said at her elbow. He was four years younger than Serene and Pandora and a half-breed. He was half elf, but he was an Underdark elf. Pandora was not entirely certain of his parental history, but she knew that he had bad light sight and tended to stay in the darker lit places in the kitchen.

“Hello, Raoul,” Pandora said kindly and patted his silvery white hair.

“I’ve been put in charge of making sure the dragons have enough food,” he said brightly. For such a dark creature he sounded strangely of sunshine and fresh air.

“So is it ready?” Rubio asked and rubbed against the boy’s leg like a cat.

“Oh, yes,” he said and rubbed along Rubio’s long, slender neck.

“Delightful!” Star said and leapt forward.

Rubio, not to be outdone, ran after her. Topaz stayed back and close to Serene who was getting uncertain looks from the cooks. His milky green eyes swirled and changed into brown.

Emerald nudged Raoul’s hand. “Why does one like you work in the kitchens?” she asked.

“What do you mean?” Raoul asked with a wide, kind smile.

“I feel… something deep inside of you…it is hidden, but it is power.” Her sides swelled as she breathed his scent in deeply. “You belong in class. Not in kitchens.”

“Do you think so?” he asked.

She nodded her head much as Pandora and Serene would. “Momma can help you learn some magic so that you can be noticed. You do not belong in kitchens.”

“My mother says that my father’s people are warriors, and she’s no mage.”

“Even those of the UD use magic,” Serene said, “And if Emerald thinks you have what it takes, I’ll help you learn some in exchange for your help. The others look terrified of them.”

“Oh, I don’t know. I guess I can see why. Dragons are so powerful and…and…just…wow. I mean… Dragons are awesome. It’s too much for some people.” He grinned at them. His teeth were bleached white behind his charcoal gray lips.

Emerald preened. “Well, that is true. We are powerful and they should fear us and our Mother and Momma. They’re powerful too. I can feel it all the time. I can feel them.”

“Really?” Serene asked, shocked.

“I could feel you from the moment I existed. It bound us together and we could feel your feelings and understand your words. We’ve always been aware of you.”

“It is true,” Topaz agreed.

“EEEEEE Someone control these beasts.”

Pandora broke from the other four to go see what Star and Rubio were up to. When she saw them they had knocked over many bowls and were cowering as one of the cooks struck at them with a broom handle. “That’s enough,” Pandora said and walked over to the cook. She deftly grabbed hold of the broom and wrenched it out of the woman’s hands and whapped her against the head. “You will not strike them again. Next time they may attack you.”

The two hatchlings crawled on their bellies behind Pandora. The cook’s mouth was gaped open as she stared at the twelve year old girl brandishing her broom like a weapon. The woman worked her mouth silently and then shrieked, “Get them out of my kitchen!”

Pandora frowned. “You had better be glad I am a temperate creature, Madam, or I would have hit you again. They are welcomed here by your masters. You will be gracious to them and to us.”

The woman sputtered. “This is inexcusable!”

“But it will be excused.”

“Well, be quick about feeding them. There will be different arrangements from now on. Mark my words.”

“Certainly, Madam,” Pandora said without her usual mildness.

The cook turned on her heal and stalked off. “You’ll be cleaning this up, Raoul.”

“You just have to ruin everything,” Emerald told Star and Rubio bitingly. “Now the poor boy has to clean up after you. You should be ashamed.”

Both of them had the good grace to look abashed. They shuffled from side to side with their bellies dragging the ground and their necks snaking over it in submission. “We didn’t mean to, honest.”

“I’m very ashamed of the two of you. You might look like a beast, but you’re not. Just because you don’t look like any of us means you get to act like a puppies.”

“We’re only three days old,” Rubio pointed out quietly.

“I don’t care. Toddlers act like fools because they don’t know any better or their parents let them get away with it. We will not let you get away with it, “Serene told him. “Now, the two of you will behave or else. Do you understand?”

“Yes, Momma.”

“Good,” she said. “Raoul, would you be so kind as to get their food? Pandora and I will start cleaning up the dishes.”

Raoul nodded and hurried to do as he was bid.

Topaz and Emerald gave Rubio and Star the cold shoulder while they ate. Rubio and Star could hardly eat they were so upset about how everyone responded to their antics. They glanced at Pandora frequently to see if their protector would give them any comfort, but she was just as annoyed with them as Serene was.

When they were finished with their meals everyone was told to be polite and thank Raoul for his kindness and Star and Rubio apologized rather grudgingly to the cook for their actions and the cook, after a stern eye and a meaningful sway of a broom apologized to them for over reacting.

With everything finished the girls led the hatchlings back to the rooms and oiled them thoroughly. They then took turns showering and putting the hatchlings back to bed. With a promise that they would be back as soon as they could they left the room. Others were leaving their rooms as well. Chloe was among them and gave Serene an ugly look before vanishing into the mirror.

“Hi,” one of the girls said with a shy smile. She was tiny and lithe; much like Serene, but her hair was a burnished brown. She had golden eyes and her skin was covered in freckles. “I’m Terabeth,” she said. “I live across the hall from you.”

“I’m Serene,” Serene said warmly, thankful for the positive attention. “This is my cousin Pandora.”

“You’re the Speakers,” she said, nodding.

“Yes, we are,” Pandora said because she felt she should say something.

‘That is so amazing. I wish I could talk to dragons,” she said.

“Oh, anyone can talk to dragons,” Serene said. “And dragons can talk to any body. They normally just don’t waste their time on people that don’t speak their language.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, they can be a bit elitist,” Serene explained, “But they can be fun too.”

“And childish,” Pandora added. “They send children to pass along insults.”

“Well, that too,” Serene said with a blush.

Terabeth giggled. “Would you two like to eat breakfast with us today? I saw you eating alone last night, and I would hate for you to think that we girls are inhospitable.”

“Oh, well, that would be nice,” Serene said. “Pandora isn’t much of a talker. She prefers to listen more than anything else.”

“Oh?” Terabeth said, glancing at Pandora. She gave her an awkward smile before turning back to Serene. “Why is that?”

“I don’t know. You’d have to ask her, but she can be damn… I mean… she can be quite scary when she needs to be, and I don’t even think she’s trying.” Serene said it with a hint of pride, but Terabeth seemed a bit unnerved.

“So what are a couple of Speakers like you doing in a place like this?” she asked.

Serene and Pandora shrunk, or at least it felt like that to Pandora. The cousins glanced at each other and then looked away from Terabeth. “We, um…”

“It was highly advised,” Pandora said simply.

“Yes, highly,” Serene agreed, unable to keep the bitterness out of her voice.

“Oh,” Terabeth said, ducking her head in embarrassment. Her teasing question had made the girls entirely too uncomfortable. “I didn’t mean…”

“No,” Serene said cutting her off. “It’s all right. It’s bound to be a question everyone is going to ask in the middle of a semester. What are two untrained girls doing here? Especially one with no apparent magical ability what so ever,” she said with an anxious glance to her cousin.

“You mean… she can’t… cast magic?”

“Um…she’s never tried. She’s unusually strong though… especially for a girl our age.”

“Oh wow,” Terabeth said with forced amazement.

Pandora was sorely tempted to just go and see if she could eat with Raoul. He was more appreciative of her company that Terabeth obviously was, and Pandora didn’t want Serene to go without new friends. Pandora knew that she was not the most entertaining of dinner companions.

“So, what kind of classes are you going to be taking?” Terabeth asked Serene when they approached the mirror.

Serene took the step through the mirror to think about this. “Well, I was thinking about taking… um… maybe some subtle casting classes, basic shields and barriers. That short of thing. What type of classes are you taking?”

“Oh, I’m taking enchanting. It is so fascinating, but no one can figure out how to make permanent enchantments that don’t need to be recharged all the time anymore. Isn’t it sad? I hope one day to crack that mystery.”

“That’s quite ambitious,” Serene said approvingly.

“Don’t you think so?” she said, her face flushed with the excitement. “I’m also taking Magic in History, Meditation, Basic Flames, and Spell Formulas.”

“What do you think you’ll take, Pandora?” she asked politely.

“Oh, I don’t know,” Pandora said. “I haven’t had much time to think about it.”

“I think you should take meditation. You seem like it would be an easy enough beginning for you, since you don’t have much experience and it isn’t hard to catch up in. Are you more of a fighting sort?”

“Yes.”

“There are fighting classes as well. They’re supposed to help build focus and to save your butt when your magic cannot help you. Don’t see the point really.”

“I’m sure there is more to it than that. Have you taken any of those classes?”

“Well, not yet, but we’re all required to take at least one before we can become journeymen.”

Pandora nodded. “I will take those as well.”

“I think you’ll do well,” Terabeth said and then returned her attention to Serene. “So you want to do shielding?”

“Well, it’s not something I’ve really tried, but my father does this really neat trick with a barrier. It is really amazing.”

“What does it do?”

“Well, when you hit it hard…” they stepped through the dining hall mirror, “It could possibly break your bones, but if you just casually saunter through it...well, you get the point.”

“That sounds complicated. I don’t know if many of our master mages can do that.”

“Well, he’s an elf and has lived a long time.”

“Really? Elves are so beautiful,” Terabeth said. “And so are you.”

Serene blushed. “Thank you,” she said. “You’re lovely yourself.”

Pandora rolled her eyes and sighed.

“Something wrong, Pandora?” Terabeth asked.

“No, nothing at all. I’m just hungry. I didn’t eat much last night.”

“Oh,” she said with a quiet giggle. “We sit over there,” she said pointing to a long table lined with benches. Before they sat down Terabeth introduced them. “Everybody, this is Serene and Pandora. Serene, Pandora, this is Jankyla, Retarji, and Britlyn,” she said.

Pandora noticed that all the girls were pretty, and all of them had different coloring. Where Terabeth had brown hair that looked as though the sun had highlighted it with red Jankyla had coppery red hair that was worn in loose, perfect curls. Pandora knew that she used magic to do her hair in the morning. Her rich brown eyes raked across Pandora in an almost insulted fashion and her lips twitched into a sneer that just couldn’t be repressed.

Retarji was the warmer of the three already seated. She gave Serene and Pandora both a warm greeting. She was more stately than the other girls. Her limbs were long and lanky, just waiting to be elegant and her face had the look of innocence itself. She kept her black hair pulled back in a high ponytail and her hazel eyes twinkled.

Britlyn looked tired and disinterred in her friends and breakfast, but she was still pretty with her green eyes and white blond hair. She struck Pandora as only part human.

“Were you up too late last night studying, Brit?” Terabeth asked reprovingly.

Brit, as she had been called, shrugged half heartedly. “I just didn’t sleep well. I kept tossing and turning. The mattress must be too lumpy or something.”

“Well, you sleep fine on it most nights,” Jankyla said as the new arrivals sat down. “It can’t be that bad.”

Brit shrugged again and yawned. “I just couldn’t sleep.”

Pandora decided that she would eat as quickly as possible or at least get away from the table as quickly as possible. She stopped listening to the girls and then girls did not pay any attention to her. Serene seemed to be having a good time and was the center of attention the entire time. Her name was mentioned once or twice, but it became clear to Pandora if no one else that she was not that important.

When she was finished she excused herself and left the table. She saw Chloe, glaring at her cousin when she left.

Pandora saw a journeyman and stopped him. “Excuse me. Could you tell me where the councilor is?”

“Oh, yes,” he said with a warm smile. “I could take you if you like.”

“That would be preferable,” Pandora said and the journeyman led her through a series of mirrors. “A person could get lost here.”

“That is true,” he agreed, “But the Academy was haphazardly built at best.”

“Oh,” Pandora sounded.

“So, you’re one of the Speakers, yes?”

“I suppose so.”

The journeyman chuckled. “Well, I never though I’d meet one. Anyway, I think that Master Gerald should be able to take care of you. Good day.”

Pandora waved him goodbye.

<First><Chapter 14><Chapter 16><Latest>