Twenty-One
In the Ikedrian Embassy
Ellie. Ellie? Elspethe, WAKE UP! It had been like this every morning for weeks now. Once Ellie discovered Taeben squatting in the back of her mind, he took advantage of her awareness to wake her up at sunrise as often as he could. This particular morning she tried to ignore him and stay in bed. She had been up very late the night before working on the research he dictated to her. At first, she was so happy that he was there at all—even if he was only a quiet voice in the very back recesses of her mind. He had not taken over her body anymore since that last time in her workroom, but he kept her busy night and day, finishing the mass control spell that he had worked on with the dragon in Bellesea Keep.
“Don’t you have anyone else to bother?” she said aloud as she dragged herself out of bed and toward the kitchen in her apartment. A single tendril of flame from her finger set the kitchen fire alight, and she rubbed her eyes as she pulled a box of tea from the cupboard along with a mug. Once the fire was hot enough, Ellie picked up the kettle from the hearthside, filled it at the pump in the sink, and then stumbled over to hang it over the fire. The hand holding the bottom of the kettle got a bit too close, and she jumped as the flames licked around her hand—causing her to drop it.
What are you doing? Who has hurt you?
I am fine, A’chrya, just a bit clumsy this morning.
You must be more careful, my dark flower. I need you intact—body, soul, and mind.
Ellie couldn’t decide if his concern was for her as an equal or as a piece of property. She hung the kettle—carefully this time—and then filled the mug with tea leaves as she waited for the water to boil.
I don’t know why you don’t just conjure your tea as I showed you how to do, Elspethe.
There is no need to do so when I can still make it with my own two hands, A’chrya.
If you are not careful, you will not have two hands, my dear.
Ellie scowled. After a few moments, the kettle whistled, and she removed it carefully from the hearth and poured the boiling water into the mug. She took a deep breath as the aroma of the tea swirled up in the steam and surrounded her like a warm hug from her family. Tea was an essential part of Ikedrian life, and the specific blend that Ellie had with her was handed down in her family for centuries. She sipped the warm liquid and closed her eyes for a moment.
You’re stalling.
Oh, A’chrya, if you could taste this tea you would understand, it must be savored.
Ginny used to make me tea. She was never very good at it.
Surely she had other...talents. Ellie bristled angrily.
Oh, dark flower, you must move past this anger and—jealousy you feel for Ginny. She no longer stands in the way. Because would I kill her with my bare hands if I were able, but you took care of that for me. You were very thorough. I am pleased.
A’chrya, what if they are still alive?
If they are alive, then they will be stuck in the Void. And if they are here where I am, I will find them. Ginny and her beast will wish they had never been born.
It could also be the Mother Dragon has them, but either way, the outcome is -
What did you say?
Ellie realized she had said too much, but she just assumed that he had crawled around in her mind enough to know the extent of her plan.
Answer me, Elspethe, or I will find the answer on my own.
She focused her energy on shutting him out, one barrier at a time. He was buzzing angrily about but wasn’t saying anything—and she hoped that he was distracted enough that he couldn’t gain traction and take her over entirely as he had done before. She had things to do today and needed to be completely present to do them. She was going after the Rajah and the Nature Walker.
Once the tea was gone and Ellie had gotten herself dressed, she was again in her workroom, this time engrossed in reading passages from Taeben’s journals. She was studying the sections that dealt with his time in Bellesea Keep, his notes on learning Eldyr, and how he managed to ingratiate himself to the drakes there. There were more notes about the drakes at the Temple to the Mother, which is where she needed to go next. Names of specific dragons and drakes that were friendly to him and those that were not were scribbled on the side. Ellie marveled at the organization and careful precision with which Taeben had lived his life and done his work.
You left me a perfect trail to follow, A’chrya.
Ah, so you’re talking to me again? Should I feel flattered?
I’m going to visit the Temple to the Mother.
Over my dead—oh, wait. Ellie felt him chuckle sadly. May I ask why, since you have shut me out of most of your mind?
Research. I have a list of dragons and drakes that should be able to answer my questions.
What are you up to?
A’chrya, if I tell you, you will not let me continue.
Elspethe, if you don’t tell me, I will find out.
Ellie sighed loudly. “This would be so much easier if I could see you when I talk to you! If we were once again on equal footing—ow!” She bent over double, grabbing her temples as pain vibrated around her head.
We have never been on
