Ti and Dae lay curled up on a mattress they’d scrounged. They were in the cave they had stayed in while Ti healed. No one would disturb them there. They had found an old book in one of the caves near there. It was in a strange language, but they were slowly translating it. It was a human-sized book, so they were in their alternate forms while reading it. Ti looked at Dae and thought about kissing her. Even though they had permission, they were still waiting to mate. Ti didn’t want to risk the potential complications that could harm Dae if she got pregnant so young. She looked at him shyly. He knew it was an act. There was nothing shy about Dae. “We don’t have all that much time before we’re missed,” she said. Suddenly, every reflective object started flashing. “Nim?” A voice said. “Nim? Are you there?” “That’s Nim’s Joanne,” Dae said softly. As she did, Ti heard another voice respond, and all the reflections returned to normal. “And that was Kartonesh. Come on.” He cast a transport spell and took them to Pt’this’s caves where his brother was staying. “Kar, wait! That’s Nim’s mate!” Ti said before Kar could end the spell. “What?” Kar looked surprised. “Nim and a human?” “She’s a friend of Princess Ann’s. They met at the wedding.” “Ti, I need to talk to Nim. He said this pendant would scry him,” Joanne said. “He would have used a spell designed to scry between worlds,” Dae said. “But, if Nim is on your world, it won’t work, so it sent out something similar to a community call until someone, Kar, responded.” “How do you know all this?” Kar demanded. “How do you not?” Ti challenged. They had seen the spell earlier today in the book they had found. Having read about other worlds in the book, they had guessed Joanne and Andy had come from one. There were too many differences for them to have been born on Torthoc. “Enough,” Tor said. “What is the problem, um…?” “Joanne.” Ti filled in. “Jo, this is Kar and Tor, Pt’this’s brother and his mate, Kithmar’s parents.” “Oh,” Joanne seemed surprised. “I’ve been captured by Nor’than. He’s trying to use me as bait. He’s trying to capture Nim and Shunati.” “What would he want with Nim, he’s just a copper. They’re the weakest of the metallics. And why would he want an elf?” Kar asked. “Unless… Is Shunati a healer?” “He is.” “Shades. He knows. Are there any other mages with Nor’than?” “Mishtali. Is there any way one of you could scry Nim and warned him? He used to scry me.” “That’s an immortal spell,” Kar said. “Nim was trained by an immortal. He must have learned the spell from her.” “What if we go there?” Ti suggested. “I hear there’s a gate near Paosij.” “Nor’than’s watching it according to Shint...Shint… According to Tani.” She gave up on trying to remember the full name. He was still John to her. “Shintanillic?” Kar asked surprised. “That’s it.” “Here’s a transportation spell,” Dae said holding up the book she’d been holding. “Where did you get that?” Kar’s eyes narrowed. “We’ll worry about that later. We need to help Nim. Pt’this and Ann are there also,” Ti insisted. “Go, Kar. Help them this time,” Tor said. “Joanne, swallow the pendant and the silver. Chances are Nim put a summons in there too. Kar and Nim will both be able to find you. This will keep Nor’than from separating it from you.” “Swallow metal?” Joanne asked, doubtfully. “You’ll throw it up later. It won’t harm you,” Tor assured her. Joanne did so and replaced the strap around her neck. “Take human form,” Ti told Kar. “They don’t have dragons there.” Ti took the book from Dae and kissed her holding both her hands. “I love you,” he whispered. “Come back to me,” she said. There was a flash, and Kar and Ti were gone. “Would you like some help with those burns?” Tor asked. Dae looked up surprised. “I saw what you did. You’re not the only one here who can do that. Perhaps, the others can train you, so you don’t burn yourself.” “Others? There’s more than one?” Tor nodded and healed her hands.