As Jo and Nim entered the karate studio, a voice called from the office. “I’ll be right there.” “It’s just Joanne, John. No rush.” “Are you the one who forgot...?” He came out carrying a pair of sunglasses. He stopped. “Nimitinas?” He frowned, unsure what to make of the dragon in his studio. “Tani?” Nim couldn’t believe his eyes. “Nim, what are you doing here?” The karate instructor broke out in a big grin. “I should ask you that. We thought you died in that explosion.” “That explosion hit and I was knocked to the ground. I woke up here and couldn’t figure out how to get back home. Magic is so messed up here, and it’s only gotten worse. They use eta-vie for everything. I often wondered what happened to you and Thailyn.” “I woke up in Baj-tisk. I haven’t seen Thailyn. “Joanne, do you remember me telling you about the war and the three of us that got caught in the explosion? Your karate instructor was one of them, Emissary Shintanillic,” Nim explained. Joanne was speechless. “John, you’re a dragon?” John laughed. “I am. Please don’t spread it around. Nim, what are you doing here?” “I’m visiting Joanne. We met at Ann’s and Andy’s wedding.” “Ann’s from Torthoc?” “She’s Menthanlan.” Nim nodded. “And she and Andy finally got married? Tell them congratulations when you get back.” “Be glad to,” Nim said. “What about you two? Mates, chosen?” “Friends, for now. We just met.” John said something in Dragon. Nim smiled and shook his head. “Haven’t changed much have you?” John laughed. “Guess not. We should probably head back,” Nim said. “Stop by again before you leave,” John said. “Oh, Joanne, are these yours?” He handed her a pair of sunglasses. “Thanks.” Joanne smiled. “What did John say in Dragon?” Joanne asked once they were outside. Nim frowned. “Something quite crude. I don’t think I should repeat it.” “That doesn’t sound like John.” “It’s exactly like Tani.” “You weren’t exactly truthful in there,” Joanne observed. “I don’t trust him, never have,” Nim said. “Someone from Torthoc has been calling you. It might be him, or he might know him. Did you notice he never asked me how I got here? For what he knows of me, I should have never been able to cast a spell to get here and neither should Ann. He should still think she’s human.” “That makes a difference?” Nim nodded. “When it comes to magic, humans are pretty weak. Transportation spells need probably the most energy of all spells. Humans can’t cast them. The spell to take people between worlds is even worse. I don’t think I can cast it.” “You seem pretty strong.” “In truth, I’m not. I pretty much in the middle.” “You seem stronger than Pt’this.” “Seem is the key there. Pt’this is probably the strongest dragon in Baj-tisk, well full-blooded dragon, at least. Ann is much stronger yet.” “Then how is it that we could talk longer when you cast the scry spell then when he did? Does this have something to do with that special ability you wouldn’t tell me about? We’re not in the palace.” Nim smiled. “No, we’re not. I’m what’s called an Augmenter. I can manipulate magical energies in ways mages can’t. I can change the flow of the energy, draw it to a new location. I can transfer energy from one person to another. I can also magnify the energy, make it stronger. That allows me to cast spells beyond my mage strength. I can also do it for other mages. It helps if I have to bring someone out of a trance. If I work at it, I can change the energy enough to change a spell someone else cast, like moving a shield or the direction of a levitation spell. Some people can even control other mages through their magic, but I can’t do that. “The problem is, I have to keep it a secret. If the wrong people found out, they could try to force me to use it for them. That could cause me serious injury. I think I’d be able to protect myself, but I’d rather not take that chance.” “But, if you do magic that is beyond your strength, won’t people figure it out?” “Not if I’m careful. The ability is very rare. Most people just assume I’m stronger than I really am. Granted, most people do hide it, but I’ve only ever found two others. I also have a set of rings that I claim are charmed to allow me to ‘imitate’ some of the Augmenter skills. “That’s part of the reason why my parents needed and immortal to train me. My parents weren’t Augmenters. Immortals all have Augmenter abilities to some extent.” “Maybe your part immortal.” Nim frowned and shook his head. “That couldn’t happen. Dragon and immortal bloods don’t mix.” “What does that mean?” “It means, every time it’s happened in the past, the offspring went violently insane to the point it had to be killed.” “Killed?” Nim nodded grimly. “Unfortunately.” “That’s terrible.” “It is, but not as terrible as the damage they cause beforehand, the lives lost. The last one killed two hundred people before he was stopped and he was only ten.” Joanne said nothing. They walked for a while in silence. Nim noticed people looking at them. He wondered if he stuck out that much in his foreign clothes or if it was because they were such an unusual couple. He was quite a bit taller than she was. He was wearing long pants and long sleeves and what looked like all black while she was in pale-colored not underclothes. “What do you call what you wearing?” He asked. “Shorts and a shirt.” He laughed. “This is a shirt. That looks like a shift, underclothes.” “It’s a shirt, specifically, a tank top.” She eyed him a moment. “You really do have a problem with what I’m wearing, don’t you?” “People are staring.” “Maybe because you’re dressed so warmly. It’s the hottest day all summer. No one dresses like that this weather.” “Really? I don’t have anything else. Most of my clothes are similar.” “So take your shirt off. Guys do it all the time.” “Then they’ll stare at my scars.” “So?” “I don’t like people looking at me.” Joanne shook her head. “Take your shirt off, put your hand in your pocket and put your shirt over your arm. It will cover most of the scar without being obvious.” “What about my other scars?” “Don’t worry about it. It’s not that noticeable. Just ignore people who are staring.” Then she said softly “or, we could really give them something to look at.” “Would you? Or are you just offering because you know I won’t?” “I was flirting.” Joanne smiled. “There’s only so much I do in public, and I think we’ve done it all. Not what we did in my room though.” ‘Nim?’ ‘Tani?’ ‘Sorry for that comment. That was inappropriate.’ ‘Don’t worry about it.’ ‘I wanted to tell you, there is eta-vie all over this place, enough to make you sick. But, if you don’t use your magic, it shouldn’t affect you.’ ‘How am I going to use my magic if there’s so much eta-vie?’ ‘Well, don’t try to use it. Unless that immortal mentor of yours taught you how to use backlash to cast with, it’s not going to work anyhow.’ ‘You can’t cast with backlash, only immortals can and no she didn’t teach me how.’ ‘Okay, then don’t try to use magic and save yourself some misery.’ ‘What if I do use it?’ ‘Then, you need to drain yourself to the verge of a trance. Going back might work, but I haven’t tested that theory.’ ‘Thanks.’ ‘Don’t mention it. And, sorry again about that comment. I know Jo’s not like that and I know you have more respect for her than that.’ ‘Thank you.’ ‘Stop by again.’ ‘I’ll try.’ “Nim? Earth to Nim?” Joanne waved a hand in front of his face. He blinked and looked around. They were back at the boarding house. He hadn’t meant to lose that much focus. “Are you okay?” Joanne asked. “Sorry. I was talking with Tani. He apologized for his crude comment earlier.”