Adeena: Still no correct guesses. We have eliminated quite a few members of the Dragon Knights crew.
Suzi: Yeah, all three Dragon Knights, Kai-stern, Alfeegi, and Lykouleon. Only leaves two, right?
Adeena: You're ruining my fun!
Suzi: So? You ruin mine often enough.
Adeena: I'm supposed to. Now on with the story ...
Disclaimer: I don't own Dragon Knights.
Friday
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"Lord, Kai-stern has returned" Tetheus said upon entering Lykouleon's office the next afternoon. "Would you like me to rescue him from Alfeegi?"
"Yes, if you would. I have some questions for him" laughed Lykouleon.
A few minutes later Kai-stern enters Lykouleon's office, along with the other three Officers. They all took seats around the table as Lykouleon asked "What did you find out?"
And so Kai-stern started his report, describing a life of what to them would be horror. She had been orphaned at a young age and was living with relatives who treated her more as the lowest of servants than as a member of the family. When she had started showing signs of having magical powers they had brought in someone to train her but only when she had free time, which was very seldom.
He continued along these lines for almost an hour. When he finally stopped everyone except Tetheus had a shocked look on his face, he just wore his normal expression.
"What can we do for her?" asked Ruwalk.
"For now, hope she gets better" replied Lykouleon. "She has a high fever. Rune is positive it will break sometime this afternoon."
"When she does get better, what then?" asked Alfeegi.
"We'll have to see" replied Lykouleon. "We hadn't planned on her being here more that a couple of weeks. I'll talk to Raseleane. Maybe she can come up with something."
"Lord, could I speak with you privately after we're done here" asked Alfeegi. "It has nothing to do with Selora."
"Alright. If no one has any other ideas …"
As Ruwalk, Tetheus and Kai-stern leave the room Lykouleon turns to Alfeegi and asks "What is it, Alfeegi?"
"Someone was in my office last night after I left" came the reply.
"Was anything missing?"
"No. In fact, whoever it was straightened everything up, as if they knew where everything belonged. This isn't the first time either."
"Why didn't you say something before?"
"I thought it might have been a case of forgetfulness on my part, but I know how I left the office yesterday."
"But you found it arranged differently this morning?"
"Yes."
"What do you want me to do?"
"Find out who it is. I wouldn't mind having an assistant who knew what they were doing without months of training."
"Ok. I'll let Tetheus know to be on the lookout for your intruder. See you at dinner tonight" and Alfeegi left the room. [It would be the perfect solution if this intruder turned out to be Selora] Lykouleon thought as he headed towards the garden to meet Raseleane.
While at the other end of the castle, in the residential wing, there came a knocking at Selora's door. When Rune opened it, his jaw dropped a little in shock, but he recovered quickly and said "What can I do for you sir?"
"Go get some food and rest. I'll take over for a little while."
"Rath is supposed to come in an hour ... " Rune started.
"That's ok. It will give you an extra hour of rest. Go on, unless her fever hasn't broken yet."
"It broke about an hour ago. Are you sure about this?" Rune asked.
"Yes. Is she awake?"
"I think so. She's got her eyes closed but her breathing is of someone awake not asleep. If you're sure … "
"Go Rune" he said pushing Rune out the door and down the hall. "I'll be fine" and shut the door behind him.
He walked over to the bed and sat in the chair recently occupied by Rune. Speaking softly he said "Kai-stern has returned."
This caused her to open her eyes, look at him and say "What does that have to do with me?"
"He went to your hometown, along with a few other places" came the gentle reply. "How do you feel?"
"Tired, hungry, like someone is using my head for a drum. Can I get something to eat, please?"
"I'll take care of it when Rath gets here" he replied with a smile. "In the meantime, you need to rest some more. I'll be here until Rath comes."
"Promise?"
"I promise. Now rest" and she closed her eyes and fell into a peaceful sleep. He rearranged her blanket, then sat down in the chair once more and contemplated what Kai-stern had said earlier.
/~
"According to the servants, she's a wonderful person. Kind, generous, full of fun, laughter, and mischief. That is, … until a member of the family shows up. When that happens, they said, she pulls into herself, like she's trying to hide" said Kai-stern.
"What about her education?" asked Ruwalk.
"The same as the other children in the family, only with the added work of a servant" came the reply. "She's as educated as we are. The only difference is, she doesn't show it."
~/
[If she's so educated, why does she not show it? Why is she so scared of returning there?]
Adeena: Would you like to go home to a situation like that?
Suzi: No.
Adeena: Guess we'll just have to wait and see what happens next.
Suzi: You already know what happens next, silly.
Adeena: Can't remember. Got too many other stories going to remember just one of them.
