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Kelaria did indeed arrive within the hour with her daughter in a carrier on her back.

“Is this actually possible?” she asked. “I mean, she does have odd dreams sometimes but what infant doesn’t? I wouldn’t have thought…” She trailed off and shook her head in disbelief.

“It’s the only explanation that I can think of for what happened,” Darlrydan said. “Though whether your daughter is the heart friend of one of their kids or not remains to be seen.”

“I hope she is,” Kelaria sad quietly. “The freedom from fear of frenzy would be a blessing for both of us.” She frowned over at the two nymphs. “But how do you two feel about this? You aren’t renegades.”

“There’s not much to be done about it,” one of the nymphs said. “And it’s not like the situation was anything like we thought.”

“I’ve done far worse things in my time than most dragons,” the other said. “I’m not going to judge anyone, especially not a baby.”

“Ah!” Kelaria said. “So you are Izla? Daniel-idan mentioned you in his message. What were you doing in the free reaches long enough for the mabain to get to you, anyway?”

“I don’t know,” Izla said. “I was very young when my mothers fled there, but I know it was bad. No one flees to the reaches unless it is… though they are usually thinking of being addled into suicide, not becoming a cannibalistc monster.” She frowned to herself. “I know something terrible had happened. I remember hurting a lot and my sister wasn’t there anymore just before we fled and my donor mother vanished not long after we arrived in the reaches. I think she died.”

Kelaria knelt down in front of her and took her hands. “If you were that small, it wasn’t your fault. You had no control over going there, and once the mabain fumes got to you, you had no control over what you did either.”

Izla squeezed her eyes shut. “I know that in theory,” Izla said. “But I remember every terrible thing I did even though I wasn’t aware at the time.”

“Ouch!” Kelaria said even as Sarilli put an arm around Izla’s shoulders. “That’s so unlucky. Not many outlanders recover and most of those that do have no memories.”

“I know,” Izla said. “I wish I was one of them.” She hugged herself. “Can we just do the test please?”

“Of course we can,” Matthias said. “Though I think we may already have our answer.” He nodded to where Izla’s daughter was burbling happily and reaching over her mother’s shoulder for Kelaria’s, who was also reaching for her. “That’s suggestive.”

“It is,” Alaryia said. “Though we do still need to check because they could just be being friendly.”

“That’s very true.” He reached out and gently touched both infants foreheads. “But it definitely looks like they have a heart bond to me.”

“Let me see.” Alaryia also touched both infants’ forehead and after a moment she smiled. “Indeed. So now we just have to find the other little one’s heart friend.” She looked around at the other dragons. “So has anyone else got an infant about the right age in their court?” No one had and she sighed heavily. “Well, that’s worrying.”

“Well, it’s not Shalriya or Mitakrian,” Indaturan said. “I know neither of them do. I don’t think Aneira does either.”

“A small blessing,” Alaryia said. “Does anyone know if Endaria does?”

“I don’t think so,” Takilyan said. “Oh! I think Salindan-alran’s son is the right age.”

“Salindan?” Alaryia pulled a face. “Void! He is isn’t he?” She sighed again. “Could be worse, I guess. Salindan is a good kid.”

“Who’s Salindan?” Sonia asked.

“He’s one of Gerian’s alrari,” Alaryia said. “Not the worst by a long stretch but not the best either. But if this child’s heart friend is his son then we have a problem. Given Gerian’s designs on heart friends, we can’t let him find out about it.”

“Send a message to Kasi,” Darlryan said. “He’ll be able to find out and at least the kid isn’t in any danger in Gerian’s court. If he realises, he’ll be ecstatic. ”

“That’s why I said it could be worse,” Alaryia said. “I’m more worried that he might try and kidnap the little ones. Do you think Kasi knows how to keep a secret without his inabillity to lie giving him away?”

“He can,” Darlryan said. “Should I send the message?”

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