Lanni sat watch over her great-grandmother, Lonna, who lay pale and exhausted on the narrow bed. Loka and Raylee were working on Lonna in stages. They had to be careful, given her fragile state. Lanni wished she could contact her children. They had advanced knowledge and skills that would make this healing far quicker and easier. Once Lonna regained enough strength, they could finally question her about Tameria. They had traveled too far and through too many dangers to be thwarted by timing now. Getting Lonna into the inn without arousing suspicion had been a challenge. The woman could barely stand, and carrying her would have drawn too much attention. They’d urged her to walk, supporting her as best they could, but after ten minutes, Lonna had crumpled, unconscious. They’d pretended she’d had too much to drink and needed rest, playing it off with practiced nonchalance. Once they had her settled in one of the rooms, Ter, reliable as always, had lifted her onto the bed, tucking her in gently before stretching out on the floor beside her to catch some rest. They’d rented five rooms and paired up as they had been in the dining room, just in case anyone tried to match their faces to their sleeping quarters. Some of them were couples anyway, which helped sell their story to the innkeeper and other patrons. Jahree was already asleep in the other bed, waiting for Lanni to join him once she finished her vigil over Tercala. Suddenly, Lonna stirred, her eyes flickering open, a look of disorientation clouding her gaze. “Where am I?” she asked, speaking in Tamareen. “One of the rooms at the inn. You didn’t do so well during dinner,” Lanni explained softly, hoping the familiar language would soothe her. “No, where are we?” Lonna pressed, her tone carrying a hint of urgency. “A town called Larish. It’s in northern Yarba,” Lanni replied patiently. “Yarba?” Lonna’s eyes narrowed in confusion. It dawned on Lanni that being away for over a thousand years might make such details hard to grasp, especially if parts of her memory were hazy. “Yes, Yarba. It’s the kingdom north of Menthanla. You remember Menthanla, don’t you?” Lanni asked, searching Lonna’s face for signs of recognition. But Lonna only shook her head, bewilderment written all over her expression. “I have no idea what you’re talking about,” she admitted. “You met your husband here. You raised your daughter here. It’s across the desert from Ertonia,” Lanni prompted gently, hoping something would spark. Lonna shook her head again, her confusion deepening. “I don’t have a daughter,” she said, her voice barely a whisper. “Her name was Fria,” Lanni continued, pressing on, determined to pierce through the fog of centuries. “You lived with her and your granddaughter, Darina.” Lonna’s face crinkled with a frown. “I think you’ve mistaken me for someone else,” she said, her tone uncertain. “No, Loka and Raylee both agree you’re Annlonna. You remember Lokalia, don’t you? You grew up together,” Lanni reminded her, almost pleading. “Lokalia? She was my imaginary friend as a child. She wasn’t real,” Lonna replied, a hint of frustration in her tone. Lanni felt a gentle nudge at the back of her mind. She’s not lying. She believes this, Drepal’s voice whispered in her thoughts. She’s been a prisoner for a thousand years. I’m not surprised, Lanni reasoned, keeping her face calm. The broken fragments of memory were not unusual, given the length of Lonna’s captivity. “Loka’s real,” she assured her great-grandmother. “She’s been helping Raylee heal you.” Lonna’s eyes shifted, suspicion clouding them now. “And who are you?” she asked. “Like you, my name’s Annlonna. I was named after you. They call me Lanni now,” she answered, watching Lonna’s face closely. “You’re pale, like Ray. Are you related?” Lonna asked, her gaze lingering on Lanni’s features, searching for familiar traces. “Yes,” Lanni replied gently. “She’s my several-greats grandmother.” “And him?” Lonna’s eyes flicked over to Tercala, who lay on the floor, snoring softly. “He’s my uncle, also her grandson. He was raised by your uncle, Cramda,” Lanni explained, smiling a little as she mentioned the names from their shared family history. Lonna’s lips parted in surprise. A spark of recognition lit her eyes for a moment before she looked away, bewildered. “Cramda?” she echoed. She started to protest having an uncle, but at the name, a memory seemed to surface. “He’s real?” she asked, her face taut with worry. “And Morcri? Tell me I made him up,” she begged, her voice trembling with desperation. Lanni felt her heart twist. She shook her head, an apology in her eyes. “Both are real,” she said softly. “But they’re gone now. They won’t hurt you.” Lonna’s eyes filled with tears. “But they can’t be real. And Loka?” Her confusion and fear seemed to mount with every word. “Would you like to see her? I can get her,” Lanni offered, reaching for Loka in her mind. But Lonna shook her head quickly. “I’m not ready. It’s too much,” she said, almost to herself, her voice breaking. “We can talk about Tameria. What’s it like there?” Lanni asked, her tone casual, though she was watching Lonna closely. Lonna looked at her in confusion. “What do you mean ‘there’? We’re not on Tameria?” “We’re on Torthoc,” Lanni explained gently, gauging her great-grandmother’s reaction. Fear crept into Lonna’s eyes, her gaze shifting as if expecting something dangerous to emerge from the shadows. “With the Lertan?” “You are Lertan,” Lanni replied, doing her best to calm the woman’s anxieties. “We’re across the desert from Ertonia. They don’t call themselves Lertans anymore. But tell me about where you’re from. Jahree’s Tamerian, too. He thinks he remembers you. He said you worked with children?” Lonna’s expression changed a distant sadness clouding her features. “I did whatever I was told. I studied DNA. Sometimes… sometimes there were children.” “You studied? You mean observation or… experiments?” Lanni asked, keeping her voice steady. Lonna looked away, shame and a touch of bitterness in her voice. “Whatever I was told to do. Even if I hated it. Even if I knew it was wrong. You’re asking if I experimented on children. Yes, I did.” She took a shaky breath, her eyes full of guilt. “They didn’t give me a choice, and they wanted worse. That’s why Ray got me out of there.” “That was only part of the reason,” Lanni said softly but firmly. “You’re family. Ray’s a dragon. Do you remember what family means to a dragon?” Lonna’s response was quick, almost automatic, her voice distant. “Everything. But Ray’s not family.” Lanni shook her head, a small smile tugging at her lips. “You don’t know dragons’ families. My aunt was married. When she passed away, her husband remarried. His new wife’s sister had two sons. Their wives are my family. Their wives’ siblings and parents are my family.” Lonna raised an eyebrow, the hint of a smile breaking through. “I don’t see how I could forget something as crazy as that. How is Ray related?” “You have a common granddaughter,” Lanni replied simply. Lonna’s frown deepened. “That’s not possible.” “It is. Ray’s grandson and your granddaughter had a child together,” Lanni assured her, watching as Lonna struggled to process this information. “No, I know DNA. Dragons and immortals can’t breed,” Lonna said, shaking her head adamantly. “It’s rare and risky,” Lanni explained, “but it happens. The children are… different and sometimes unstable. But your granddaughter was only an eighth immortal, and Ray-lee’s DNA had been altered by the Tamerians. It’s… complicated. But they get by.” Lonna’s face grew thoughtful. “How many are there?” Lanni shrugged. “Enough. Only three have problems. None are as severe as the White Wyrm experiments.” Lonna’s expression shifted, a flicker of recognition crossing her face. “White Wyrms?” she echoed, a hint of dread in her voice. “White dragons. Dragons so strong in magic, their power exceeds even the Ertonians,” Lanni replied, lowering her voice. She watched as Lonna’s eyes darted around, wary of being overheard. “Don’t say that,” Lonna whispered. “If the watch hears, they’ll report you to the bureau.” Her eyes flicked nervously to Jahree and Ter, who were still sleeping. “They already know about us,” Lanni replied dismissively. “They created the first one. They captured a pregnant dragon and modified her child’s DNA. They made her stronger in magic, made her a healer, an augmenter. That was Raylee. She spent ages as a fugitive, always on the move. When she was here, she built a life and had a family. A thousand years ago, we entered a peace treaty with Tameria. Part of that agreement was that they leave Raylee alone.” Lanni paused, her face darkening. “Another part of the treaty allowed Raylee to bring refugees here. But you’re not the only one who barely escaped.” Lonna nodded, her expression tightening. “They only allowed those they approved. If they found you useful, you couldn’t leave.” “The king’s council will probably want to speak with you,” Lanni said, noticing how Lonna’s body stiffened, tension flooding her every muscle. The bureau had mistreated her in the same way Drepal might mistreat someone. “Not like that,” Lanni reassured her. “They don’t use those methods. They may have you talk to me, actually. I’m their head interrogator.” Lonna flinched, fear flashing in her eyes, and Lanni realized she was imagining a violent interrogation. “I’ve been an interrogator for a thousand years,” Lanni said gently. “You learn a few things in that time. I’ve gotten so good at reading body language that people think I can read minds.” Lonna’s face softened a little, though skepticism remained. “A thousand years? So you’re Lertan—or, I mean, Ertonian—and your obsession is interrogation?” “I’m not Ertonian,” Lanni replied with a chuckle, “but I am immortal. Or, we think so, at least. I’m only a thousand years old. Ertonians live much longer.” Lonna studied her, suspicion in her gaze. “You’re one of the White Wyrms, aren’t you?” “Yes, I am,” Lanni said, meeting her eyes. “And I’m one of the three with… issues. I have a dual personality. It’s like there are two of me in here.” She tapped her temple, then smiled sadly. “And the other one is the expert interrogator. I’m also power-mad. I’d do anything to protect my family.” “So, you’re going to question me, then? Find out if the Tamerians are a threat?” Lanni shook her head. “Probably not. You’re family. The kings would give that job to someone else. But I’ll be there, keeping an eye on things. Like I said, I’m the great-granddaughter I mentioned.” Lonna looked at her, a mixture of disbelief and curiosity in her eyes. “You?” “Yes. I know this is a lot to take in. But you should rest now. Sleep will help you heal, and we can talk more later.” Lonna sighed, shaking her head. “You think I can sleep after hearing all this? You’re the granddaughter of a child I don’t even remember.” Lanni gave her a sympathetic smile. “It’s overwhelming, I know. Would you like a sleeping potion?” Lonna frowned. “Drug me? No.” “It’s more of a calming draft,” Lanni offered. “If you need help sleeping, Raylee or Loka can help. Just let me know.” “Are you my guard, then?” Lonna asked. “I’m his guard.” Lanni gestured to Ter, who was still asleep on the floor. “He’s prone to nightmares and casts in his sleep. Under this blood charm, who knows what could happen? I’m just going to sit and read. You rest now. I’ll be here.” Lonna nodded and closed her eyes. Lanni watched her for a while, then settled into her chair, pulling a book from her bag. Hours passed, and soon Ter woke, giving Lanni a small smile before switching places with her. Lanni joined Jahree, lying beside him and curling into his warmth. She closed her eyes, content, and allowed herself to drift into a deep, dreamless sleep. #fantasy, #magic, #dragons, #hiddenlands