Eldrick took several days before he was able to move about without struggling.  He still felt drained but had been eating better than he had been. The majority of his meals were specially prepared by the head cook of the palace, on the King's orders.  His visitors were few; more like nonexistent, other than healers and trainees.  Sebastian had come to see him once or twice during that time.  Claire would tell him to return to his own room.  Eldrick was more concerned with the lack of information about Sergei.  It had been nearly two ten-day since he left.

He was returning to his room from the bathing chamber when he heard a disturbance in the foyer.  Cautiously he peered around the corner.

"I am not speaking to some stupid child! I am here to talk to the Head Healer, regarding a matter of importance."

Eldrick recognized the tone.  That of a low-level official who thought too highly of themselves and figured they could push around those beneath them.  He knew there were only two ways this could be resolved in favour of Eileen.  She would either have to be insistent and explain that Amarna was still ill and that she was a full-level healer and the one in charge while Amarna was down.  The other way would be for Eldrick to come down in his druid regalia which he was loath to do, but he needed to back up Eileen somehow and in his current guise, there was no way.

Lifting his skirts he hurried up to his room to change.  His haste drew the attention of a few of the other students.

"What's wrong?" Amy, always the first to want to hear the current gossip.

"There is some official downstairs arguing with Eileen, I need help changing quickly into my regalia."

"Right, first we need to get you out of that gown."  With remarkable speed, she helped him out of the dress. "Now where is the regalia?"

Eldrick went to the wardrobe and pulled it out.  "Right here.  It isn't much but it is official."

"Okay, let's get this on and quickly."

"He is still giving her a hard time calling her a child and an insult to his position," Henry was clearly upset but this.  "He thinks she has no authority, and nothing will change his mind."

"Oh, I think I can do that," Eldrick said turning with his regalia on.  "This is not an outfit people can ignore with impunity."  He left the room with his head held high.  He tried to exude the power of his position though he wasn't sure if the official would accept it.  As he headed down the stairs, he could hear the raised voice of the official.

"Let that be a lesson in wasting my time."

Eileen was on the floor with a hand pressed to her cheek, tears flowing down her cheeks.

"You dare to strike a healer in the house of healing?"  Raising his voice to be heard in the courtyard.  "Guards!"  He looked at the official.  A man who stood a good head and a half taller than Eldrick was well-muscled and intimidating.  With a calming breath, he stood up as straight as he could.  Looking the official in the eye with a cold stare.  "Do you recognize my position?"

"Psh, you are no more than a boy and have no position.  How dare you chide me?  I will see Amarna now!  I will not have my time wasted by a bunch of children pretending to power where they have none."

"That!  Is where you are wrong Sir.  As a druid apprentice, I have all the authority of the Order behind me as the only representative here.  The lady you struck," Eldrick offered his hand to Eileen, "Is the acting head healer while Amarna is ill, fully raised to the position before Amarna became ill."  Eldrick's tone became cold as ice.  "If I remember correctly your regalia places you from Thormalk.  That means you have news for the students here from that nation.  I am afraid it is going to have to wait until either you can have your demands met by waiting until Amarna is well enough to receive visitors or you are willing to apologize to those you have insulted and assaulted." 

Glancing past the envoy to the guards behind him.  "Either way, I think you are going to need to speak with His Majesty before anything else can be done."  He gave a nod to the guards, who grabbed the man by the arms.  As they hauled him out Eldrick turned to Eileen.  "I am sorry I didn't arrive sooner."  Offering his hand, again, to help her up.  "We should get something cooling on that before it becomes too bad."  Taking her hand from her face he saw the small trickle of blood oozing from a cut below her eye.  "I hope we can deal with that without stitches."  Looking around he noticed a couple of the other healers.  "Henry, can you get the witch hazel and goldenrod please."

Henry nodded and ran off.  Eldrick led Eileen to the kitchen.  He pumped the water until it ran clear, then moistened a cloth and placed it against her cheek.  He saw Caitlyn out of the corner of his eye moistening another cloth that she handed to him.  Taking it, he removed the first and placed the second back on the cheek.  Looking glum as he was changed the cloths to keep them cool.  Oh, how he wished for some ice or snow.  With that thought, he considered well why not create some he had magic.  But the use of magic is what had dropped him for the second time in a month.  Just need to be very careful and not use too much.  Just enough to cool the cloth to a consistent temperature to relieve the swelling.  Claire coming in, seeing Eileen, let out a gasp.  Henry who had been standing at the door caught her before she could rush over to Eileen.

"She will be fine."

Hearing Henry's voice Eldrick turned to look at him.  Eldrick held his hand out for the witch hazel and goldenrod.  Henry handed it to him and stepped aside.  Taking it he looked at Claire.  "I need a plaster from these."  He handed them over, "Wait I need the witch hazel first then you can make the plaster."  He moved the cloth and poured a little onto the cloth then placed it back on over the bruise and cut.  Handing the witch hazel back to Claire.  "The sooner the better please."  His voice was fading as he grew tired. 

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Henry nod towards the pantry.  Henry met Caitlyn near the doorway, they spoke in hushed tones for a moment before disappearing into the pantry.  Eldrick wondered what they were doing.  Shaking his head, he returned his attention to the cloth.  He couldn't afford to waver or he would need to start changing the cloths again.  He wasn't sure how long he could keep this up.  He couldn't work with the elements very well.  He hadn't summoned the healing fire.  No, but he had been the conduit for it.  He needed to find energy but he was running low on his own.  Food would help. 

Glancing over at the pantry he saw Henry and Caitlyn coming out with armloads of food.  Henry checking the stove and finding it was still warm added wood.  Placing a pan on the stove to heat be began slicing bacon.  Caitlyn was slicing bread, cheese and tomatoes.  Off to the side one the table was a head of lettuce.  Henry tossed the sliced meat into the pan.  The greasy scent of fried bacon soon filled the room.  So appetizing it caused Edlrick's mouth to water. 

Eldrick could sense the energy of the fire and began to draw just a hint from it.  Not enough to snuff the flames but enough to sustain his own flagging energy.  Letting his senses spread out he could feel the energy from the fountain in the courtyard.  That energy felt more compatible.  He began to draw on it and was about to release the fire energy when he understood that if he did he would cause the stove to flare up.  With both energies mixing, he felt better. 

Understanding hit him, like a clue by four to the back of the head.  Balance, everything comes back to balance.  Nature and civilization, fire and water, earth and air, life and death, even gain and loss. 

Oh, how could he have missed such a simple lesson?  Because he wasn't looking for it.  He needed to find a balance between his desires.  He wanted to be female but needed to be male.  Could he find a balance that wouldn't destroy him?  That was something he would need to meditate on later.  Right now he had a patient to care for.  Sure there were others who could do this task, but he had set it upon himself.

It wasn't long before he was handed bacon, lettuce, tomato, and cheese between two slices of bread with bacon grease.  Taking a bite he almost swooned at the taste.  The fresh, ripe, new tomatoes were juicy and sweet, complimenting the salt of the bacon with the sharp cheese giving a nice counterpoint.  The bread and lettuce tying it all together.  With the food, he could feel his energy levels climbing quicker.  He slowly stopped cooling the cloth with the magic.  Claire was just finishing the plaster.  Eldrick shifted out of her way so she could apply it to the cut.  Once the cut was tended to Eileen gave a sigh of relief.

"Where was he from anyway?" Eileen asked.

"That was the envoy from the Chief.  Probably with news of the recall.  I don't particularly want to return home at the moment."  Caitlyn was dour.  "I have more to learn here and since the only healers we have at home are herb witches it would be a good idea to have fully trained healers."

"Uh, hello??"  a young voice called out from the foyer.  "Is this where you train to be a healer?"

Claire and Eileen exchanged glances.  "I have this," Claire said rising and leaving. 

Caitlyn looking over at Lugh wore a puzzled expression.  "That sounds like Scathact."  She jumped and left.  Eldrick rose and followed.  Lugh and Henry shrugging also headed for the foyer.

Standing in the foyer was a young woman about the same age as Caitlyn.  The resemblance was uncanny.  Caitlyn rushed over and grabbed her into a hug, lifting her from the ground.  "Scathact, why are you here?"

"Well, if you would quit spinning me around I can explain.  As I was just about to tell Claire, I was sent to learn to be a healer and complete the Shelf in training."  She took a moment to straighten her short hair.  "The Chief wanted to make sure there was a Shelf ready when he called everyone back but I have a lot of learning to do here first.  She is afraid of what is coming and wants to be well prepared."  She looked over her shoulder at the doorway.  "Why were the guards taking Wilhelm away?"

Eldrick stepped forward then.  Scathact's eyes went wide, as she bowed her head.  "Druid," she said.

Taking his hand he raised her head so they were looking eye to eye.  "Not in here.  Here I am Ellie.  We will explain later.  Wilhelm struck one of the healers and has been taken to see His Majesty.  Envoy or not, there is no call to be striking a healer."

Scathact's face paled.  "Who did he strike?"

"Me," Eileen said coming into the room.  "He decided I was too young to have the training of a full healer and that I was trying to impede his mission."  She pulled herself up to her full height, head held high.  "Amarna, our head healer and the primary instructor in this house of healing is ill.  I am her appointed assistant.  I have the training and skill, though all he saw was a child."

"I see.  Are you okay?"

"Thanks to those who study here I will be.  I could have tended to it myself but this house is a community regardless of where we are from."  Eileen smiled at those gathered.  "I personally don't care where someone is from if they need healing they can find it here."

A cheer went up from the room.  This drew the attention of others who were not in the room.  With everyone gathering, Claire began making introductions.  She left the four Thormalkians until the end.  "Of course you know this bunch."  She glanced at Caitlyn, "How do you know this young lady Cait?"

"Scathact is my cousin," her glance took in Scathact.  "Where are your weapons?"

"The guards confiscated them.  Customary, I think they said."

"Yeah, it is.  Yosef, go collect her training weapons."  She gave a few hand motions and Jane and Lugh took off for the stairs.  "We aren't allowed to keep bladed weapons in the house of healing.  Your spear will have been capped so you can still train with it.  They will provide an equivalently weighted practice blade."  A whistle pierced the air.  Caitlyn turned slightly and caught the tossed weapons.

Eldrick turned at the sound to see his staff flying towards him as well.  Instinctively he reached out and caught it.  He then realized he was technically not in full regalia until this moment.  Turning back to Scathact he registered the awe on her face.

"You, you reacted like a hunter.  Do you use a blade as well?"  Scathact looked worried.

"No, I do not use a blade.  I am a druid, not a hunter.  But if you wish to spar I would be happy to oblige."  He bowed his head to her.

"Oh no, you don't Scathact.  Before you try to spar with her let me tell you she is freaky."  Caitlyn had a look of concern on her face.

"How good could she be?  I am a hunter, well I am going to be a hunter."

Lugh lifted his tunic.  "Good enough to get past my guard and leave a nasty bruise."  His chest was showing the yellowing of a fading bruise.  "I was tasked with making sure she understood how to use her staff.  I never want to be on the receiving end when there is something important on the line."  He glanced from Eldrick to Claire, "I think we should put on a display for Scathact's benefit."

Eldrick nodded but waited for Claire to give the okay.  When she nodded, Eldrick left to go change.

"Cait, I think it should be the two of us against her.  Might make things a little better for the display."

"I am not sure that would be fair.  Sure she defeated both of us one on one but do you think she could do so against both of us?"

"I think she could take on all of us if she does her thing.  That is something we should consider though."

Caitlyn looked over at Scathact, who looked incredulous.  "You know what Lugh, let Scathact spar with her first then if she is willing we can try the two of us on at the same time."

Eldrick hearing this called out from the stairs.  "You have a deal.  Though I do not know how good she may be."

He rushed to get changed, coming back quickly.  As he descended the stairs he noticed the entire compliment had once again gathered to watch.  Scathact stood ready with both weapons.  Eldrick considered this and decided to let it be.  He was going to need to work on this type of combat eventually.  Walking to the center of the room he took in her stance and positioning.  Stopping about ten feet away he nodded to her and took his stance. 

He knew to expect a charge, as that seemed to be the typical opening gambit of a hunter, to take the opponent quickly and by surprise.  He was not disappointed.  As she charged she threw her staff.  Eldrick simply stepped aside and let it fly past him, focusing on her other weapon and her body. 

That was when she noticed the glazed look.  Too late!  She pressed on.  Eldrick had her down and disarmed in three quick strikes.  Standing back up he offered her his hand to help her to her feet.

"What just happened?  I never miss with my spear!  She moved so fast, I couldn't see her staff."

Caitlyn came forward, placing a hand on her shoulder.  "How often do you practice?  When was the last time you actually got a chance to practice?  I know the journey here is long and there is no time to practice on the road."

"Before we left I practiced for half a day every day.  Once we left I couldn't really practice."  Her eyes dropped to the floor in shame.

"Hey, there is no need for that.  Now that you are here you will be able to train every day, but only in the evenings."  Caitlyn looked in Eldrick's direction.  "Okay, Ellie are you ready?"

Eldrick nodding moved to the center of the room.  Lugh and Caitlyn took positions on either side of him.  When they were set he nodded signalling for the exhibition to begin.  Neither of his opponents had the cudgel with them knowing his reactions.  They attacked in unison.  Eldrick slipping into his trance began his staff and footwork to defend himself.  With the constant clacking of wood on wood. Eldrick didn't move from his position, keeping up the constant motion of his staff.  As he defended off Caitlyn and Lugh, he sensed another join the fray.  Scathact's joining gave her fellows a brief advantage. 

Eldrick's staff flashed up in front of him as he stepped into the strike.  Catching Scathact in the chest with the butt end and trapping the other two staves behind him.  With one down, he did a backflip, slipping his staff under the other two and sending them skyward.  Pressing the advantage he struck at both in the chest.  Caitlyn dropping her staff held up her hand in defeat.  Lugh, who had stepped back, only took a light tap and returned to the attack.  They continued back and forth for a few moments.  Eldrick forced him to block though it wasn't a true strike he was going for, but a disarm.  Stepping in, he slid his staff inside Lugh's defences, spinning he thrust his staff forward relieving Lugh of his staff and footing at the same time.  Landing a decisive blow knocked Lugh to the ground, rubbing his chest once more.

"Enough," he cried,  "just as my last bruise was fading you had to give me another."  His eyes wandered over to Scathact's prone form.  Crawling over to her, he checked her vitals.  "She is fine just knocked out."  Looking over at Caitlyn, "What was she thinking?  Jumping into a weapons display like that."

"She has always been a hothead.  Never liking to be bested at anything, especially by an outsider.  Ellie defeated her so quickly, I think she was looking to redeem herself in our eyes."  She nudged her cousin with her toe.  "All she did was prove how unready she is to accept that there are going to be others who are better.  That will come with more training.  I can't wait until we can get back outside to train."  She glanced at Eldrick.  "Once things settle down enough that we can train outside I would like to see what you can do in our training.  There are five of us now but Scathact needs some tempering."

"I would agree."  Amaryliss stood in the doorway.  "Amy I would like you to take charge of our newest trainee.  She is going to need to learn that just because someone is trained differently there is no reason to doubt their skill."

Amy blushed at the reminder.  "Yes Amaryliss.  Ellie I think you should change because you have a new student to train in trance work."

Eldrick looked at Amy and chuckled.  "I think maybe you should teach her that."

"Me?" she spluttered.  "I barely understand how I do it.  You found the way to get through to me when I struggled."

"Yes, you.  I didn't really know how to explain it either when I taught everyone here.  I know how now.  But I learned something that day as well.  You need to be able to teach to have a true grasp of what it is you do."  He looked at the others in the room.  "If I am not overstepping my bounds, I suggest that those who have mastered a skill be the one to teach our newest trainee.  Or better yet those who are struggling with the skill work with her."

Amaryliss looked at him with a quizzical expression.  "Why those who are struggling?"

"Simple, if they are struggling they need to look things up which will guide her through the library and then they both learn.  Just don't let Caitlyn teach her to cook."

Caitlyn looked aghast.  She helped her cousin to sit up.  "I did try to warn you.  What were you thinking jumping in like that?"  she asked giving Scathact a disapproving glare.

"Well, I thought I could finish the combat quickly since the two of you were keeping him, her busy," touching her jaw she flinched.  "How does she do that?"

"How does she do what?  Defeat a hunter with ease?"  Caitlyn chuckled at that thought.  "She is a druid apprentice and has different training than we do.  She will be teaching you a few things while you're here.  But how to do what she does in combat isn't likely to be teachable."  Looking over at Eldrick, "you trance out in combat you know.  Once that happens there is nothing we can do to get through your defences."

Eldrick's eyes opened wide, "Really?"

"Yeah, once your eyes glaze over we can't tell what you are planning or if you are reacting to something we cannot sense."  Lugh looked around the group.  "Jane, Yosef, I think after dinner we should try the four of us against Ellie.  I know it doesn't seem fair but we have been working as a unit for a couple years now."  Looking at Scathact, "You haven't trained with us and are unaware of our tactics and communications.  Ellie has only seen us training once and can counter us.  Until you are working with us more, there are going to be communication issues."

Jane came up and helped Scathact to her feet.  "You are going to find quite a few differences here.  They will take getting used to.  Like only eating twice a day, but grabbing snacks when you can."  Examining the developing bruise, "Come we need to tend to that before it becomes too bad."  Jane led her off to the apothecary.

"Now, if you lot are finished playing around, there is studying to do.  Ellie go get changed and set up the library for a private trance session.  Amy, give her a hand.  The rest of you..." Amaryliss trailed off when she looked at Eileen.  "I do believe that is for you to say not me."

Eileen looked at the gathered students.  "I think today is going to be a trance day for everyone.  Claire, we have paperwork to deal with.  Elder, I do believe your task is to tend to our two patients.  I can just bet the lady Amarna is chomping at the bit to get back to work."

Amaryliss chuckled.  "Oh, I can assure you she is.  I won't let her because the two of you need to prove yourselves and know who to turn to or call upon in any given situation.  I must say I didn't expect Ellie to respond the way she did.  I mean that is part of her duty as a druid but to recognize it before reaching the status of journeyman is remarkable."

"Sorry Ellie, we didn't mean to talk about you as if you weren't here.  Okay, off to your tasks.  First, go eat."  Eileen shook her head with a wry grin.

With those words, everyone headed to the dining hall.  Eldrick gathered the weapons first and returned them to their rooms, where he quickly changed.  As he was changing he couldn't help overhear the conversation coming from the room next to his.

"There is no way anyone can defeat a hunter without being a hunter or cheating in some way."

"I wouldn't say that too loudly around here.  She has been involved in thwarting a number of assassination attempts.  In fact, there were two sent after her.  They are gone but she is still here."

"Well, I don't have to trust her.  I also don't have to like her."

Eldrick had heard enough, Leaving his room he slammed his door and hurried down the stairs.

Eldrick woke up in his own bed drenched in sweat.  Sitting at the end of the bed was Lugh.  Turning his head he saw two chairs had been brought in, the chairs held the other three members of the Thormalkian group.  Confused about the situation he tried to rise.  His body refused to cooperate.  His mouth felt like the sun had crawled inside and sat there for a day.  Trying to speak he managed only a hoarse croak.  Lugh's head spun at the sound.  He rose and picked up the cup and a cloth from the top of the chest of drawers.  Turning back he approached and pressed the cup to Eldrick's lips.  Tipping it ever so slightly so the water would pass through his lips, using the cloth to wipe up what dribbled down his cheek.  Eldrick felt there was not enough given and yet too much.

"Easy Ellie.  You have been out for two days.  You need to rest and drink slowly."

Two days?  How could he have been out for two days?  Then he felt a weight removed from his forehead and a cool damp cloth placed down.  Sighing in relief he drifted back to sleep.

"Do you think we should tell him?"

"I don't know how to tell him, do you?"

"Well someone should tell...."

Those were the last words he heard as the blessed darkness overtook him.

His mind swam through all the vivid possibilities of what could be so terrible they couldn't tell him.  There were only two things which he could think of.  Something had happened to either Sebastian or Sergei.  He could hear a mocking voice coming from somewhere.

"You, you aren't even who you think you are.  A fool trapped in the body of a moron.  The mirror hates you.  You hate yourself.  You wish you could be in a different body.  Well let me tell you something, no one can choose what body they have.  It is the only one you will get.  Oh, what I could do with such a young supple body.  You have no idea how lucky you are."  A bright light exploded around him.  "Even your clothes betray you.  There is so much you wish but there is no way to accomplish it.  Try to live as you want and you doom your mentor.  Try to live so you can keep him alive and you doom yourself.  Your love is dying.  Your teachers cannot help you.  Your friends will soon be returning to their homes and everyone will be scattered.  You are all alone."  An evil cackle split the air.  "You are going to fail everyone.  Do you really think you can do this?  Are you worthy of becoming a master druid little girl?"  The mocking laugh returned only to fade into the blackness.

Eldrick lay in his bed tossing and turning.  His form shifting through several variations.  Caitlin shrieked.  Jane fainted.  Lugh jumped when a tail slapped him.  Yosef rising, tripped and hit his head hard enough to knock himself unconscious.  The room was total chaos when Petal came to check.  His eyes became as wide as saucers as he saw Eldrick's form randomly shift from male to female, human to dragon and back again.  Darting out of the room in a panic he nearly collided with the top of the door frame.

By the time Amaryliss arrived, everything had calmed down.  "Now what is going on here?"  Looking around she saw Lugh standing with this back to the chest of drawers, Jane was in a lump on the floor, Yosef was stretched out unconscious and Caitlin was hyperventilating.   "Oh, this will not do."  She caught sight of the bed where Eldrick lay, the covers were askew and he lay there shivering, drenched in sweat.  "Caitlin, please cover Ellie properly."

"I, I, I am not going near her.  She might change again."

"Don't be such a silly goose.  I doubt there is going to be any shapeshifting.  I have never heard of a human being able to accomplish a feat like that.  The only ones who can shapeshift are dragons."

"He, he did become a dragon and a true woman.  A, a, a few times in fact." Lugh managed to stammer out.  "I have the bruise to prove it," lifting his shirt to show the scale impressions on his back where he was hit by Eldrick's tail.  "I don't usually get spooked, in fact, none of us do."

"Here hold still so I can take a look."  Amaryliss examined his back.  Taking note of the size of the impressions.  "Yes, I see there are scale impressions there.  And from what I can tell a young dragon.  As in just about second moult.  There isn't much way to tell gender from scale impressions."  She paused in thought for a moment.  "Unless you have the tip.  Male dragons are well like Sebastian, rounded on the end.  Females on the other hand have barbed tails.  All the better for corralling young dragons."

"Would you be able to tell if the tip struck something?"  Caitlyn stood pointing at the bedframe.

"Well, I guess, why?"  Then she noticed what Caitlyn was pointing at and froze.  Examining the frame which had taken damage from a tail lash she stood back in shock.  "Oh my.  Yes, a young female dragon.  Something here doesn't make sense."  She looked at the two on the floor, "We need to take care of everyone here and cover Ellie up properly then I will let you in on a secret.  But it has to stay between us."

Caitlyn helped Jane to the chair and woke her up.  Lugh chose to assist Yosef, checking his pulse before moving him.  Everything seeming fine, he helped him back into the chair he had fallen out of.  Amaryliss readjusted the bedding and made sure Eldrick was asleep before turning to the others.

"Meet me in Sebastian's room.  He is aware of the secret and his room is warded."  Hopping off the bed she left with dignity.

Sebastian raised his head as his room was invaded by healers led by Amaryliss.  He cocked his head to the side, his right eyebrow ridge shifting upwards.

"To what do I owe this visit?"

"You, you silly dragon have been unconscious for half a week.  And it took some major work to save you and now we are dealing with a very ill healer because of it."  She turned to Yosef as he was the last to enter the room.  "Close the door behind you."

Yosef closed the door before speaking.  "Now what is this secret you wanted to tell us."

"Not want, need.  I need to tell you this since you have seen some of the truth for yourselves and otherwise, there will be too much speculation."  She turned her gaze back to Sebastian.  "You already know this and have given your word not to say anything unless asked directly."  Climbing up onto the stool she sat down facing the room.  "Eldrick, truly is a female, forced gender change through magic which she accepted.  Part of the issues he is having are because the spell suppresses memory and his subconscious is trying to come through."  Pointing to Sebastian, "He knows more about this but I am not sure how much more or if he can even explain.  Well, Sebastian what can you add?"

"Well at one point, I thought I saw him shifting forms from human to dragon, male to female.  I wasn't sure if I had seen it correctly.  I confronted Sergei about it and he told me Eldrick was once a little girl but he changed her to Eldrick.  The biggest thing was the spell was failing for some reason.  I am sure Eldrick is a female dragon since there were times I could swear I smell her musk.  But until she is ready to become her true self we cannot interfere.  She has to accept who she is on her own.  That is part of the reason I have been in here warded.  My concern about keeping the secret and causing my soul bonded pain and discomfort was tearing me apart since it was conflicting with my draconic nature of being bound by my word." He paused when he saw the confused expressions on their faces.  "I am going too fast, ok I will wait for it to sink in before I continue.  Are there any questions?"

" Yeah, I have a couple.  Are all dragons bound by their word?  No matter what form they are in?"  Caitlyn's eyes narrowed.  She stared at Sebastian daring him to look away.

"The answer is yes to both questions.  Why do you ask?"

"Haven't you ever noticed that once Ellie says she will do something she never shirks even when the odds seem stacked against her?"  Caitlyn was now looking at her companions.  "She said she would teach us what she could and there were those who didn't want to learn and her attitude changed until she got through to those who didn't want to listen."  Her gaze fell on Lugh next.  "She was tasked to help you learn and she recognized the fact that you couldn't read.  Even I had missed that.  Then there were the staff training exercises.  She has more understanding of the use of staff than most people who have trained with them for years."  She looked at Amaryliss now.  "Even you, honoured elder have learned something from her."

Amaryliss just nodded.  "I hadn't thought of that.  If she is a dragon then there is some merit to that but she was too young to master shapeshifting when she became human so she had to have had help."  She looked over at Sebastian, "Would another dragon have been able to cast something like that on her?"

Sebastian shook his head.  "No, we can only affect ourselves.  And for that fact, I know human magic doesn't work well on us.  So either she approached an eldritch or one of the fae.  But why she would do that is beyond me."

Amaryliss brow dropped in thought.  "I can't think of any who would be willing to cast a spell like that.  I mean it takes a certain personality."

Petal chose that moment to pop out of her hair.  "Petal knows a pooka or two who could.  Want Petal to go ask?"

"No Petal, I think it would be best not to bother the pooka.  They like to play pranks and changing a pestering sprite into something else would be something I wouldn't put it past them."

Petal sat down hard pouting.  "Petal wanted to see friends."

"Well if one of the fae cast a shapechanging spell on her then Sergei cast the other then that could explain a few things.  I am afraid to see what happens when she accepts her true self.  There is going to be a real upheaval.  I don't know why I think that only that it will be."  Sebastian looked at the floor.  "Wait, did you say it took a major working to heal me Amaryliss?  What was wrong?"

"You and Amarna were both suffering from some sort of magic infection.  Eldrick saw it for what was.  Somehow it was linked to the guardsman you saved a while back.  The thing is only Eldrick could follow the patterns to reach you and push out the infection.  Now he is lying in bed upstairs feverish and form switching."

"Uncontrollable?  It could be moult, but as she is in human form she is shifting to moult and then back again.  Or there is too much stress on him.  I need to see him to know."

"You are not going anywhere until I say so."

Sebastian lowered his head to the floor.  "Yes ma'am.  You already have my word on that."  He let out a longsuffering sigh.  Turning his gaze to the four from Thormalk.  "Laying here you hear odd bits,  Are you truly being recalled to your homeland?

"There is rumour of a war brewing and they want everyone there in case.  Word has it they are forming another Vigilance.  If that is the case they want all who have the training to return for the challenge."  Caitlyn didn't look too pleased at this news.  "I would prefer to remain and complete my training here.  But when the chief calls we answer."

Amaryliss looked over at Caitlyn.  "I have an idea, though I am sure Petal will hate it."

"What will Petal hate?"

"Petal I would like you to travel to Thormalk and talk to the chief about these four remaining here to complete their healing studies."

"You are right Petal hates that idea.  Petal wants to stay and learn.  Though Thormalk is full of flowers war scares Petal."

"Petal," Caitlyn spoke calmly, "we are not at war at the moment.  Besides we have always been friends to the sprites.  We consider it a privilege to know the fae and have fair dealings with them."  She looked over at Yosef, "Doesn't your family have a trade agreement with the fae?"

"Well, yes we do and the Chief is a good friend of the family which is how we heard about the upcoming challenge.  Wait, we wouldn't know about it if my mother hadn't sent that messenger."  Yosef looked thoughtful.

"Are you saying it wasn't an official recall?  But that if we stay we will also miss the chance to join the Hunters?"

"Well, sort of, yeah.  But until the official messenger arrives we have time to learn still."

There was a collective sigh of relief.