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“She’ll be all right, Claire,” Matthias said when they returned. “We’ll get Sal to have a look at her when we get back to the school but I’m sure she’ll be fine.” He turned to Valeria who was holding Salia, who had also passed out. “Salia too, Val.”

Claire hugged her unconscious daughter closer but nodded and gave him a wan smile. “I know. I scanned her and she’s just sleeping. But how did you know we were– Oh!” She turned and stared at Valeria and Salia. “Amy’s a warrior?”

“She is,” he said.

“I did wonder,” Claire said softly. “She has such strange dreams sometimes.” She turned to Darlyryan and eyed him cautiously. “Thank you for breaking the link between my daughter and that thing.”

“You’re welcome,” he said.

“You’re a dragon, aren’t you?” she asked but carried on before he could reply. “What are you going to do with those things?” She pointed to the Lost Ones trapped in Sonia and Daniel’s ward.

“We need to confine the ones that can’t be trusted,” Laxmi said. “Which is most of them. But not in the prison they’ve escaped from.”

“I see,” Claire said. “And what are you? You feel like them.”

“We’ll explain when we get back to Brierthorne, Claire,” Matthias said. He turned to Darlyryan. “Would you come as well, please, Darlyryan-mirian? I want to talk to you about this town and your interest in it.”

Darlyryan cocked his head, obviously considering the offer, but then he nodded. “I would. Though I’m still not sure what’s going on here myself. I’m curious to see your school anyway.”

***

“Amy will be fine,” Sarah said when she came into the lounge soon after they got back. “I checked her over thoroughly and she’s just sleeping. It seems that thing didn’t do her any permanent harm.” She smiled at Val. “Salia’s already woken up and attached herself to Amy like a limpet. You may have trouble dragging her away.”

“Thank goodness!” Claire said. “I thought they were going to take her from me.” She was sitting on the sofa sipping a cup of tea. “Matthias and Laxmi have just been explaining what they were.” She shuddered briefly. “Poor things. I feel less angry now.”

“We’ll sort out what we’re doing with them later,” Matthias said. “But why were you at that reservoir?”

“I was trying to work out why no one died in Caredale,” she said. “And I sensed something at the lake – I think it may have been the breach. Though I think Darlyryan is right: the two things aren’t related.” She frowned thoughtfully. “Not directly, anyway.”

“You think they are related indirectly?” Darlyryan asked. “That’s possible – especially given Xantaria’s involvement. I wish I knew why Caredale interests her so much. I mean, I have an inkling it’s partly because the rebel clan of Kithreiri who stole the Key to the Prison from her live in a pocket there – and I think the fact that they live there is related to the breach under the reservoir – but I still don’t know how or why. And I’m sure there’s something more.” He gave a sigh. “This is why I didn’t want to talk about it. I really don’t know much. You might ask Alsia – I know she’s been investigating as well and she didn’t have to put up with a second sixteen years of growing up interrupting.” He gave a wry smile.

“Wait a minute – she didn’t have a second sixteen years? So she had a first?” Lyrrekka said incredulously.

“Hmm… yes… We ended up with same adoptive parents as well. Alsia always tries to keep a human identity and she finds it most secure to grow up again rather than fabricate one when she needs a new one.” He smiled again at Lyrrekka’s expression. “Yes it was risky. She’s strong enough to survive Earth even as a child but the idri council would have flayed her if they’d realised.”

“Interesting as this is,” Matthias said, “let’s get back to the matter at hand. You may not know exactly what’s going on but tell us everything you do know about Caredale. You never know; Marema might see something you’ve missed.” He nodded to the Hercian bird on Julie’s shoulder.

“Very well,” he said. “But it’s a messy story.”

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