fandomania | Thanks for the clicking.

Please click and view our eggs and hatchlings. I do the same for you. Thanks.

Our eggs:

Our hatchlings:

I woke up hearing the baby crying. He sounded very hungry. I opened my eyes and found Tru sitting next to the bed. He had set up a small table in front of him and was working on some papers. He noticed me stirring, put down his work and got up, sitting down next to me on the bed.

“Good afternoon, my dear. How are you feeling?”

“Tired and sore. But that is what happens when you give birth. Where is my baby? I hear him crying, but I don't see his cradle in here.”

“He is in the nursery. I am sure that he is being taken care of by one of the nursery maids.”

“I don't think so. I can hear him crying. Would you have him brought to me please?”

“Are you sure, my dear? You really need your rest.”

“I am very sure, Tru. Donal isn't my first baby. I know what I am hearing. I am not being delusional.”

“Of course not! I didn't mean to imply that.” Tru got up and rang for my maids.

While we waited for them, I asked, “What time is it?”

“It is late afternoon, sometime about four o'clock.”

Mahli and Ellyn came in. “Mahli, would you be a dear and bring Little Donal to me? I think he needs his mother right now.”

“Yes, ma.am.” She left immediately.

Ellyn asked, “Would you like me to help you sit up, milady? Or bring you some more pillows?”

“Thank you, Ellyn, that sounds good. I must be looking a fright right now.”

“Oh no, milady! You look amazingly lovely. No one would ever suspect you just gave birth to a baby. Your hair just needs a little combing and you will be ready to received visitors.”

“Visitors?”

“Yes, milady. His Eminence would like to see you, if you are up to it. Right now, he is visiting with your children. Your children want to see you too. Mistress Fiorenzia stopped by to check up on you. She said she will see you later. She wants to make sure your were doing well. The same with Madam Suthi. A gentleman named Clothard asked for you. When he heard the news, he said he would return in a few days, when you were feeling better. Oh and a beautiful bouquet of flowers was sent to you from the Mayor, with a note. Would you like me to bring it in?”

“Oh, my ...” I replied. “Yes. Please do.”

She went out to the sitting room and immediately brought back a huge bouquet of flowers. Ellyn placed the flowers on the hearth, since no fire needed lighting on the first day of summer. “Only someone like the Mayor would be able to get such gorgeous flowers on the Solstice, when practically every garden has been stripped and used to decorate every place for today's festivities,” she remarked in admiration. “And your new little one is going to be especially blessed being born on the Summer Solstice. They say that children born on this day will be particularly fortunate in life. That is, of course, just old wive's tales.”

She then fluffed up my pillows and helped me to sit up. I read the note that came with the flowers. It read:

“My dear Lady Patra,

These few flowers are sent in celebration of the birth of your latest son and as a belated thank you for all that you did for our granddaughter. She is alive and improving every day, all because of your amazing
talent. Our family sends you all the best wishes for you and your child.

Sincerely,

Johan Wolte, mayor of Daihor”

Mahli returned with Skyla, the nursery maid and wet nurse. In her arms was a squalling bundle, that was my son, Donal. “I am sorry, ma'am, to disturb you,” Skyla apologized. “Your little boy is just like his twin brothers. He just won't take my milk. All the others had no problems. I know it isn't my milk.”

“I am sure that it isn't you, Skyla. Please let me have him?”

She handed Little Donal to me and, once in my arms, he stopped crying. “There's my good boy!” I cooed to him. I undid my nightgown and gave him my breast. He glommed onto my nipple fiercely, almost painfully, and started to suck lustilly. But after only five minutes, he was sound asleep once more. I was able to then really look at him and admire him. Tru seemed so fascinated with him also. I gave the baby to Tru to hold. He handled him cautiously at first, but then old memories from his own babies must have emerged, because he relaxed and held him so lovingly. “You really do make very beautiful babies, my dear. Despite his newborn red looks, he is a remarkably handsome child.”

I then invited Haral to visit for a while. He admired the baby for a while and also relayed some news he had been receiving concerning the Rajfaharan invasion. It seemed that Armand had miscalculated and started his campaign in Elphston. He had completely misunderstood the Elphstonian nature. He probably expected them to be grateful for being 'freed' and help to fight the Georgists. Knowing the Elphstonians as I did, they probably just felt that he and his men were just yet another set of conquerors who would keep them in subjugation. From what Haral had heard, the Elstonians faded away into the local mountains and let the Rajfaharans flounder in an area they were unfamiliar with. The Georgists were no better off. They too expected them to help, but didn't get it. So the invasion had gotten bogged down in Elphston,

When he left, the children came and got to meet their new little brother.

Throughout the rest of the day, Skyla returned with Little Donal every two to three hours because he still refused to nurse from anyone but me.

It was at Little Donal's midnight feeding that I heard loud, angry voices coming from Tru's office.

“No!” I heard Tru's voice shouting. “My wife just gave birth less than twenty-four hours ago. She is in no shape to be disturbed now, let alone be asked to use her powers. I will not allow it.”

“But Master conDylar!” I heard the other voice exclaim. “Lives are at stake! The whole stability of Daihor and even Alfaria is at stake! I am aware of her situation. It is unfortunate that Count Torfen is still at large and seems to strike at festivals that draw large crowds. But if these missing girls are not found and found still alive, I can assure you that there will be more riots and possibly even worse, if these girls are found dead. Please? We need her to at least try to find them.”

I had heard enough. I looked at my son and he had stopped nursing. I handed him back to Skyla and told her to take him back to the nursery. Once she had left, I got up and threw on a dressing gown. I was still very sore, but I was able to walk, if done slowly. I first went to the closet safe and retrieved my crown. I then opened the door to Tru's office and entered. There, I found Tru with the mayor and the councilmen and the head of the constabulary. The same men as last time.

Tru noticed me immediately. “My darling girl! You should not be up! You need your rest.”

“Rest? What new mother ever gets much rest with a newborn baby? I was up already, giving Little Donal his midnight feeding. I heard you all shouting, and I heard the name 'Count Torfen'. This being the Summer Solstice, I realized that these men would not be here for frivolous reasons.”

I turned to the delegation. “My husband is correct in that I am very weak right now. On my own, I doubt that I could give you any help. But I am willing to try, using the powers of my crown.”

“NO!!! I FORBID IT!” Tru shouted angrily. “You will only hurt yourself and perhaps kill yourself using it! I am not willing to let you try this. The price of doing such could be too high!”

“What if Orlando and Fiorenzia were here to help me and keep me safe? Would that make a difference to you?”

Tru still looked angry and anxious. “I can find no reason to protest their participation. But if they say it is too dangerous, then you will have to bide by their judgment, my dear.”

“All right. I agree to that. I have already asked them to come here. They should be here within five minutes.”

Orlando and Fiorenzia soon arrived. I quickly apprised them of the situation and the necessity of what needed to be done.

Fiorenzia gave me a brief examination. “I feel your husband is correct, Patra. You are very weak right now and your powers have ebbed low. Yes, you could tap into your crown's powers, but that has sometimes proved dangerous in the past, because you don't have enough control over it as you should have.”

Orlando nodded his head in agreement. “I know that your heart is in the right place, little one. I have to agree with Fiorenzia. Even with our help, this could be too dangerous for you at this moment.”

Tru looked vindicated and the men looked upset.

The mayor turned to Orlando. “You are a person of power. Could you help us instead?”

Orlando shook his head negatively. “I am sorry, but I am not blessed with the power of Sight, as Patra is. I don't have what this task needs.”

The men looked crestfallen.

“But, thinking about it. I think that Loysa might be the solution. Since they are essentially the same person, either Loysa can be guided to do this, with Patra's help. Or she can share her powers with Patra to help her with this. I have seen in the past that Loysa and Patra have shared powers without the same side affects that using the crown can bring. Let me go and consult with Trysta and see what she thinks.”

Orlando came back minutes later with Aunt Trysta and Loysa. Loysa saw me sitting in a chair and came running up to me. “Mama! I love you, Mama!” She then got onto my lap and hugged me. “I love you too, sweeting,” I replied as I hugged her back.

Aunt Trysta came over and sat down next to me. “Loysa, remember the lesson I gave you recently about how to share your powers with others?” Loysa nodded. “Good, you need to connect with your mother now, using the instructions that I gave you.” Trysta quickly gave me instructions as to what I should do in return. When she finished, Loysa and I connected almost immediately. I felt empowered and energetic.

I asked for the list of the six missing girls. Using Loysa's powers, I was able to find each of the girls.

“The first girl is lost. You will find her sleeping under a bush in Trielo Park.” I gave a description of her surroundings.

“The second girl is a teenager and is having consentual sex with her teenaged lover, in a barn somewhere.” I gave them as much of a description of her surroundings that I could see.

“The third girl is also with a lover. She appears to be in a bedroom with pink and yellow flowers painted in the walls.

“The fourth girl is very young. Maybe nine or ten years old. She is with her uncle. But he appears to be forcing her to do some sex acts with him. I don't think she is willing nor is what he is asking for very healthy or proper. I think she needs rescuing and her uncle, who is not Torfen, needs to be seriously punished.

“The fifth girl is with a friend's family. She appears to have been recently beaten. I think she is hiding from her parents in order to get away from them. I don't think that she has been anywhere near Torfen. I think that her parents want her to marry someone she refuses to marry. I would leave her alone, if I were you.

“The sixth girl is running through a forested area. She appears to be very frightened.. I am trying to see who is chasing her. Yes. It is Count Torfen. He is by himself and he is trying to harm the girl. She is in definite need of rescuing. The impression that I get is that the woods are north of Daihor. There is a stream with a waterfalls nearby. Please go immediately and find her. She is in peril.”

The mayor thanked me profusely and the delegation left hurriedly.

Loysa ended her connection with me. I went back to the tiredness I had felt before, but didn't feel any worse than I had before. Loysa did look somewhat tired, but not drasticly so. I gave her a huge hug. “Thank you, sweeting. You have done very well. You have helped rescue many girls. I am so proud of you!” I gave her a kiss. She smiled. “I love you too, Mama! Thank you for letting me help.” She then hopped off my lap. “I am so sleepy. Auntie Trysta, may I go to bed now?”

“Of course, my dear girl! Say 'Good Night' to everyone.”

Loysa went to everyone, giving eash a hug and kiss and then, taking Trysta by her hand, went off to bed. She seemed to have recovered well from the power sharing.

“Thank you, everyone, for your help and support tonight. I could not have rested easy, knowing that children were in trouble.”

“I did very little, Patra,” protested Orlando. Fiorenzia then said, “This has not affected you as much as your crown affects you. But you still need your rest. I don't want you to get sick again. Go to bed, dear girl. Rest. I will check up on you tomorrow.” Both of them kissed my forehead and left.

I looked at Tru. It was hard to fathom what he was thinking at that moment. It almost seemed as if he was retreating behind one of his walls. I didn't want that. I got up and went over to where he was sitting. I sat on his lap, hugging and kissing him. “Thank you, dear heart, for being my champion. You always do your best to protect me. I truly appreciate that.”

“What protection? I was trying to stop you and I got circumvented,” Tru protested.

“You stopped me from doing something dangerous. I see that now. Yes, I did manage to help the girls, but I had everyone around to keep me from being harmed. You did that. You fought for me. You made me get help. I probably would never have done so, if you had not made me see the necessity of it. Thank you. I hope that you will never stop fighting for me. You are my wonderful husband, lover and hero. I love you so much.”

Tru took this all in. He looked lovingly at me and then kissed me deeply. “Well then, in my role as your husband and protector, I think it is time that you went back to bed. You need your rest to heal.”

“Yes, Tru. As soon as I can get there.” I got up very slowly. Tru then got up and carefully carried me back to bed.