Next, they ended up at the table of dragons. As always, the dragons wanted hugs. Even Ti stood for one. “Just be gentle please,” he requested. They crowded around the table. Ann again ended up on Andy’s lap. This time, Sapphire did the same with Pt’this. Ann noticed Joanne’s chair was very close to Nim’s. He had his arm draped across the back of her chair as if he wanted to have it around her instead. ‘Bria?’ Ann asked. ‘Did Nim have a talk with you and Ghin?’ The girl kept her face neutral, something they all practiced. ‘He did. We were waiting, but there’s no point now if everyone knows anyhow.’ ‘I’m happy for you. I’ve always thought you two belonged together.’ Bria’s eyes flickered to her briefly. ‘What about Nim and Joanne?’ Ann asked. ‘You think their mates?’ ‘No. Chosen perhaps, or thinking about it.’ ‘He’s showing a lot of restraint if they are. But, I do think they would make a cute couple.’ “Ann, you didn’t tell me you’re a dragon,” Joanne said, acting offended. “I didn’t know. I just found out a few months ago.” “What about last week when you were there?” “Sorry, I didn’t think about it.” “It’s okay. Everybody was telling me how you went to class with them, but Nim won’t let them talk about it.” Ann blushed. “They seem to love to tell everyone these stories. I’ll tell you about it some other time.” ‘I spoke to Dae, and she thinks maybe you’re right. So does Ru,’ Bria sent. Aloud she said, “Can we at least tell her about the fire breathing?” Ann smiled. “There’s not that much to tell. They were practicing breathing fire. They wanted a moving target, so I volunteered. I know a good spell for shielding heat.” She shrugged. “And then we started going after her in groups and when the shield held we all joined together, even the teacher,” Ti added. “There were ten of us, and she didn’t even feel the heat.” “What would’ve happened if the shield didn’t hold?” Joanne asked. “I was also using my spell shield. It would’ve protected me long enough for them to stop. It was interesting, being totally surrounded by fire. I couldn’t see anything else.” She laughed a little. “Of course, it was a bit before I could see anything at all once they stopped. We were out in the desert, and the sand all around me was melted. One of the dragons had to lift me out.” “Are you serious? Did that really happen?” Joanne asked. She looked around the table, and the young dragons nodded. She turned to Nim who frowned but also nodded. “What else happened?” She asked. Ann hesitated. “We’ll talk later. Dae has a tendency to forget her manners when we talk about this,” she said, eyeing the elf girl. The girl looked down at the table in front of her. “Actually, she’s getting much better,” Ti said. “We’ve been working on it.” He looked at her proudly. She smiled a little. “She’s been doing very well tonight. We’ve only had one little incident,” Nim agreed. He too looked pleased with her behavior. Dae’s smile grew. “That was my fault,” Joanne confessed. “I thought she was an elf.” “There are only three elves here tonight. Queen Deyama and her consort Voramini.” Pt’this gestured at the table they were sitting at. “And Shunati, wherever he is. He looks a lot like Vor only his hair is lighter. “Most elves don’t leave Erilu Valley. Chances are good that if you see someone who looks elven, they’re actually a dragon.” “But not always,” Sapphire said. “There are elves at the college.” “This is confusing.” Joanne shook her head. “Joanne, don’t I remember you were with some guy, Mike, I think, at the Winterstiens’ wedding?” Sapphire asked. “How’s he doing?” Nim shifted in his seat and eyed Joanne. “I haven’t spoken to him for a while. I wanted something more serious than he did so we broke it off,” Joanne said. Ann saw Nim relax. ‘Oh, he definitely has feelings for her,’ Bria sent. There was a flurry of telepathic conversation. Nim didn’t notice, but Pt’this did. “Does anyone hear a community call?” He asked. The young ones stopped their conversations. “That’s a telepathic call sent to anyone who might be listening,” Nim explained to Joanne. Everyone shook their heads. “The last few days, I thought I’ve heard a faint one. I can’t make out what’s being said or who it’s coming from. I haven’t tried to answer because of what it would do to Ann.” Ann shuddered. Without knowing who was sending the message, Pt’this would have to do a community call for a response and one sent to a great distance would be overwhelming to her. “I would wait for now. You’re not even sure you heard something. Who would be sending a community call that only you could hear? It’s not worth the cost if you’re wrong,” Nim said. At that time the musicians started playing a new song. Pt’this looked at Ann. “You have a new dance partner,” she said with a smile. “I don’t know this dance,” Sapphire said. Pt’this turned to Andy. “May I have a dance with your wife?” Andy shrugged. “I don’t mind. I don’t know this one either.” Sapphire stood to allow Pt’this up. He bowed to Ann and offered her his hand and led her to the dance floor. “They’ve been dance partners to this since Ann was a baby,” Sapphire explained. “When Mirimar stopped coming to the palace, Pt’this had no one to dance with, and he loves to dance. He started dancing around with Ann in his arms. When she learned to walk, first he danced with her on his feet and then he taught her the dance. She’s quite good too. They’ve always danced this together. Even the few times Mirimar was here for parties, she said he should dance with Ann.” “Who is Mirimar again?” Joanne asked. “Ann’s aunt and Pt’this’s late wife,” Nim said. “If Ann knew her aunt, how did she not know she was part dragon?” “She didn’t know Mirimar was her aunt.” “But she called Pt’this uncle when she was with us.” “She was pledged to Pt’this’s nephew. She called him uncle because Kith did.” Joanne shook her head. “This is so confusing.” Nim smiled and rubbed her shoulder. “It gets worse, but we won’t go into that tonight.” He almost put his arm around her but refrained. She seemed to feel the same way he did, but he wasn’t sure. He also wasn’t sure if she’d view that as proper. He barely understood human relationships here much less on some other world. Besides, he shouldn’t even be thinking about her this way. This would never work. He put his arm back on the back of the chair.