Ann was feeling surly the next morning. First, while Pt’this and Nim questioned her about the man on the telephone, Drepal had woken up and started causing problems. Neither Ann nor Drepal had known who the caller was nor had they known Nim’s birth name was Dentrias. Then, Ann had wanted to transport them all to the Retamlic Mountains but there were eight people going. She had been able to transport more than that without a problem but due to her lack of magical activity over the last couple of months it was decided that was too many people. Emeton wanted her to conserve her strength for transporting to Earth. After this, Pt’this found he was not sufficiently recovered from shedding to carry anybody, so she had to carry two people. This was something she had never attempted before so they had Sapphire and Tylan, the two lightest riders, with her, while Andy rode with Emeton and Shunati on Nimitinas. She had refrained from making a fuss but it was obvious she was unhappy. Sapphire and Tylan talked about the baby and the children’s home. They tried to include Ann but she resisted, answering only the most direct questions with the shortest answers possible. Suddenly, she burst out, “would you shut up woman!” “Ann!” Sapphire cried shocked. “Don’t talk to your mother that way.” “She’s not my mother,” was the response. “She’s the woman who raised you.” “If she had done such a great job, I wouldn’t be here, Blue Eyes,” she growled. Ann, that’s enough! Nim scolded. Watch your tongue! Pt’this sent at the same time. The pain from the two sendings caused Ann to jerk. Both Sapphire and Tylan almost fell off which caused more outbursts, both telepathically and aloud. Ann let out a roar of pain. Andy, the only one to understand, shouted, “Stop! Leave her alone!” Everyone turned to him. “It’s not her fault. She had Nim and Pt’this both yelling into her mind at once.” He explained. Pt’this and Nim looked at each other. “Sorry,” they both said in unison. ‘That outburst was still uncalled for,’ Pt’this sent a moment later. ‘I know you’re not happy with the arrangements. None of us are. But, you need to settle down.’ ‘I just want to sleep, but she won’t stop talking.’ ‘Drepal?’ ‘Brilliant, Scales.’ ‘Sorry, you’ve been so quiet lately.’ ‘I’ve been sleeping. It safer that way. Do you know what they do each night? They’re as bad as the trolls.’ ‘Except, they both are willing participants which is not always the case with trolls.’ Drepal let out a growl. ‘Easy now.’ He cautioned. ‘I don’t understand it.’ ‘You weren’t made to understand. You were made to protect.’ ‘I want to be unmade.’ ‘I know, we’re working on that.’ ‘Will you help us with the trolls?’ He asked wanting to change the subject before she got it into her head to try to “unmake” herself again. ‘Thilgat hates me. I took his place as second in command. I took his toy away before he got to play with her. He’s experienced what I can do. I will be a good incentive for him to be good.’ ‘So you’ll help us?’ ‘I will do as my lord commands. But, I do not want to go to that strange place.’ ‘Strange place?’ ‘Where Pretty Boy’s from.’ ‘We may not have time to get you to sleep before we have to leave but I’m sure Andy will help you sleep once we get there.’ Drepal was quiet after that. Pt’this asked Sapphire and Tylan to let her be for a while and they obliged. When they stopped to rest, Andy took Drepal distance from the others and held her so she could sleep. He was surprised that she fell asleep physically too. When he woke her to leave she was Ann again.