The next day, Lanni sat beside Tellic in the waiting area outside the surgery room, where they worked to repair and heal Jarhee’s arms. Her heart ached with regret; she still hadn’t had a chance to talk to him, to apologize. Tilla had kept her in a deep sleep until the surgery began, giving her no opportunity to speak with him beforehand. She clutched her hands tightly, feeling every second tick by, her worry mounting. In the meantime, Chapado was helping Sifa in the kitchen, giving everyone a break from the stress hanging in the air. Lanni glanced at Tellic, who looked as worn out as she felt. “You’ve been up for two days now. Get a little sleep,” she urged, watching the exhaustion pull at his features. Tellic shrugged off her concern, sitting up straighter. “I’m no trethec who needs sleep all the time.” Lanni gave him a knowing look. “Try telling that to Tilla. If she finds out you’ve been up all night, she’ll put you to sleep for a week.” Tellic sighed, slouching back in his chair. He stretched out his long legs and let his eyes drift shut, though he still looked reluctant. “Alright, alright. I’ll rest a bit. Wake me if they finish first,” he mumbled. “I promise,” Lanni replied, watching him relax. Before long, his breathing slowed, and he was fast asleep. She gave him a small, affectionate smile, grateful for his support. As Tellic dozed, Lanni scried Keteel to let him know she was okay and update him on Jahree’s progress. Keteel’s mind was clear today, and he responded promptly, telling her he was helping Midta with patients. When Keteel was clear-headed, he often found pur-pose in assisting others, using his skills to bring comfort. A short time later, Lanni’s oldest daughter, Cari, arrived. Tilla had asked Cari to check on Lanni, curious as to why it appeared she wasn’t getting restful sleep despite being un-der a sleep spell. Cari wasn’t as powerful a healer as Tilla, but she had a unique talent for reading someone’s physical state. She could read a child’s DNA in the womb, predicting their eye color, hair color, and height. She was highly skilled at detecting traces of po-tions, drugs, or poisons long after they had left the body. Cari placed her hands gently over Lanni’s and closed her eyes, scanning her mother with practiced focus. When she finished, Cari opened her eyes, her brow knit uncertainly. “I can see something, but it’s nothing I recognize,” she said thoughtfully. “There’s not much left, so I can’t tell exactly what it does. It doesn’t seem to be something that lingers or builds up over time. You’d have to take it frequently for it to have any lasting effect.” Lanni nodded, already formulating a plan. “We’ll figure it out,” she promised. “After they’re done with Jahree, we’ll look into it.” Cari smiled and gave her mother’s hand a squeeze. “Congratulations, by the way. Tilla told me you and Jahree were chosen.” Lanni gave a faint smile in return, though her worry lingered. “If he forgives me.” Cari shook her head gently. “He will. The bond you share is strong. It reminds me of you and Dad. Those who are bonded forgive each other.” Lanni lowered her gaze, her voice quiet. “I almost didn’t.” “But you did,” Cari pointed out with a soft smile. “You chose to save him before you knew anything for sure.” “He hadn’t done anything wrong,” Lanni replied. “I love him. I couldn’t let him die.” Cari leaned forward, looking her mother in the eye. “And he loves you. He won’t let you go, either. I need to get back to Resdelk soon. Vaila will need help with the baby and the family.” “Are they more refugees?” Lanni asked, noting the worry in her daughter’s voice. “Not this time,” Cari replied. “They’re fighting off a bad case of Treba.” Lanni’s face tightened with concern. “Is the baby sick too?” “No, thankfully,” Cari said. “We’re focusing on keeping the mother well enough to care for the baby.” Lanni nodded. “Take care of yourself, and let us know if you need anything.” “You too—and no more trances,” Cari replied, her voice stern but affectionate. Lanni chuckled softly. “I’ll do my best.” “And make sure Midta checks the kitchen. He should be able to detect anything unu-sual.” “I’ll tell him,” Lanni promised. Cari leaned in for a quick hug, then transported away, leaving Lanni to wait with Tellic for news on Jahree. The air was thick with anticipation, and Lanni closed her eyes, praying silently that this would be the start of healing for all of them. #fantasy #magic #dragons #hiddenlands