Ann pulled out her cloak and put it on, drawing the hood down over her eyes. Once Drepal had been put to sleep, her mood had improved, and she was doing better today than she had been yesterday. Pt’this had refused to take on elf form the previous night, not wanting to deal with clothing rubbing against him while he tried to sleep. This morning, however, he found he was able to carry riders. Ann had been grateful. She was not built for more than one rider and didn’t know if she could carry two for another full day. It wasn’t just that she was new to flying and not used to riders. She had, after all, been practicing most nights, often times with Andy. But, she was too small. Sapphire and Tylan had barely fit on her, making it difficult to fly. She had been exhausted by the time they had stopped for the night. Andy had ridden with her today. Having Andy close helped. He had ridden with her many times and was used to the way she flew and would adjust his position as needed. They were also able to talk without shouting. Now, they were preparing to enter Lerjao, the city of the trolls. Ann had guessed correctly that Thilgat was leading the trolls now that Lyra was dead, at least this faction. He had been startled to learn that Drepal still served King Emeton. He had assumed that had been simply a means to an end, to get rid of Lyra for good. “I was a loyal citizen before you got a hold of me. Why should I not be again?” Was the last thing Ann said before Drepal took over. She saw Thilgat eyeing Sapphire. “Forget it,” she said. “That dragon she’s with is her mate. And if that isn’t enough, you remember her nephew don’t you?” She gestured to Andy. The troll unconsciously touched the scar he had received from the kick Andy had given him that knocked him out. “Besides,” she said softly. “I didn’t let you have her when she was my prisoner. What makes you think I’d let you have her now that she’s my friend?” Once Drepal had been supposed to give her to him. Instead, for some reason, she ran with her. Thilgat’s eyes grew wide, realizing what she meant. He nodded. He didn’t once look at Sapphire again. The treaty negotiations went as well as expected. They asked for things and offered things and so did the trolls. They took a break for dinner. The trolls left them alone to eat. Just the smell of the food was enough to make them sick. “Just eat it,” Drepal said taking a bite. “Don’t cause trouble.” She gagged. She had forgotten how bad the troll food was. Still, she ate another bite. “What is it?” Sapphire asked examining a forkful. “It’s best not to ask,” Drepal said. Andy took a bite and made a face. “You really have eaten worse,” he said choking on his mouth full. When they had first met, Ann had tried to cook for herself. It was a skill she did not possess. She always ate what she made, however. Andy had commented on it a few times and she had always replied she’d eaten worse. He had taken pity on her and started cooking for her, doubting she had truly eaten worse than her own cooking. Now, he was stunned to learn that he was wrong. They all attempted to eat the food but no one ate much. Negotiations continued a while longer. They all agreed to take a break for the night. “My old room will be sufficient,” Drepal told Thilgat. The troll nodded. “But first, as a gesture of good faith, we’d like the body.” Thilgat looked surprised. “You ask a lot. What do we get?” “I’ll tell you how to remove the brand.” She pulled aside her collar to show him her brand had been removed. He nodded and led them to the room. “It’s simple. Go into a trance and drain all the magic from it to get back out.” Drepal shrugged. She knew Thilgat didn’t like the answer. There was no way he would make himself that vulnerable to the other trolls. However, he said nothing. As they entered the room Andy could feel Ann take over. She led them around the corner to where a man lay, looking as if he slept. There were several gasps of recognition. “Kithmar,” Ann whispered. She released a shield that had kept him from decaying, and Pt’this knelt by the body. She stepped over them and reached into a crevice, pulling out his vial. She removed the pendant she wore and placed it into the mouth of the vial. Pt’this watched as she did this. “Kith sold me his vial for the price of three words. I want you to have it,” she told him. “What’s the price?” “To listen. I tried to tell you before but each time, either I couldn’t do it, or you wouldn’t listen. His death was my fault. That’s why it took so long for me to recover. That’s why I had to get your vial alone.” She could see he wanted to protest again but this time, he couldn’t. “Kith left Thailyn’s journal with an old friend of his, someone he thought he could trust. Maybe at one time he could. But that was before I’d become Drepal. I’d recruited the man to work as an informant for Lyra. Kith had told him where he was going. He, in turn, told Lyra. I tried to warn Kith when I found out, but I was too late.” “May I speak now?” Pt’this asked. Ann nodded. “It’s not your fault. I shouldn’t have let him come. I should have stood up to the council for a new vial. You did not kill him. That was Lyra. I don’t blame you and you shouldn’t blame yourself.” “Lyra didn’t kill him,” Ann said softly. “It was another woman. Lyra would have kept him alive like she did me. This other woman had helped me when she could. I had thought she was human, but now I wonder. She was at least a mage. She used a spell to hold Kith when he was surrounded. She killed him to protect him from what Lyra would do to him.” “She was the one to shield him?” Pt’this guessed. She nodded. “I’m sorry I couldn’t retrieve the body last time,” she said. “I’m just glad you survived. We can take it now.” Pt’this opened the vial and put it in Kith’s hand. The body started to disappear while the vial glowed. Andy started to put an arm around Ann, but she pulled away. Drepal was taking over. As a concession, she did hold his hand. “This way.” She led them to an empty room and closed the door. “We’re supposed to sleep here?” Tylan asked looking around. “We’re not sleeping anywhere. We need to be off to our next destination,” Drepal said. “Already?” Emeton asked. “The trolls have no intention of signing the treaty. They’re giving in too easily. We’ll be lucky if we live the night. Thilgat knew we’d want Kith’s body. He does too, but he wasn’t strong enough to release that shield. If I hadn’t asked for it, he would have offered.” She led them through a hidden passage to yet another room. “Gather what magic you can now.” She warned and drew in magic herself. She was bright enough Andy had to look away. Unfortunately, Pt’this, Nim, and Shunati were also drawing in magic so he had nowhere to look. He closed his eyes. Someone took his other hand. Even with his eyes closed, he could see the flash from the spell. “You can open your eyes now,” Ann said. He could feel Drepal retreating to the back of her mind.