After Mind-Teller and the others took some things out of the cart, Sandy sat on the edge of it, watching Marcus start up a fire.  Eric and Charlie had gone to find food.  Mind-Teller came over and sat next to her, putting his arm around her, in a glance hearing her thoughts. 

"In the town of Horbat, where I was residing," he began, "there was a dragon.  The monster took Marcus and Eric's wives.  Took Charlie's brother too."

Leo, who had been following Marcus until just now, crawled into Mind-Teller's lap.

Magically, with a hand on Mind-Teller's arm, Sandry asked, "What about Leo?  I know he's yours.  The name is a dead give away, and he even looks like you."

She could feel his magic trying to hide.  Upon failing, he told her, "He is my son, yes.  And his mother… well… she was rumored to of been eaten by the dragon."  A tug of fingers on his ear told Sandry he was nervous.

"Were you married?" she asks, aloud this time.

He nods, cradling the boy in his arms.

"Did you love her?" she asks again.

He hesitates, still tugging on his ear, before muttering, "Yes, I did love her.  I loved her a lot."  He manages a quick glance at Sandry.  "But I'm not sure she felt the same for me."

"Oh," was all she said. 

Leo was squirming around in Mind-Teller's lap, trying to get down.  Mind-Teller laughed and started tickling the boy.  Leo giggled a squealing little kid's laugh and looked at Sandry for refuge.  She reached out her arms and let him crawl into her lap.

Sandry held the delicate little boy in her arms, stroking his soft blond hair thoughtfully.  I wish I had a son like this, she thought, forgetting for the moment that Mind-Teller could hear.  I wish Mind-Teller would love me. 

Mind-Teller stood up and walked to where Eric and Charlie had returned carrying a small rabbit, leaving Sandry sitting with Leo cradled in her arms.

She watched his thin back as he went further out into the woods to help Eric skin the rabbit.  She smiled and thought to herself, maybe he does love me after all. 

"Lady," whispered Leo, causing her to jump, "you smell like Mama."

She smiled down into his beaming face and kissed the top of his head lightly.  "That's good to know," she said.

--

They all sat around the fire, eating the roasted rabbit and bread.  Sandry sat close to Mind-Teller, watching him hold the boy in his lap. 

"Are we going to be moving on, Mind-Teller?" asked Marcus from across the fire.

"I suppose so," he answered, "We should head on to Winding Circle to take the Lady home."

Sandry glanced at Mind-Teller, questioning him.

"I actually came to find your—or one of the others—so you could teach Leo.  He's got magic, you know," Mind-Teller answered, smiling sheepishly.  "I could teach him myself, but I'm no teacher."

Leo reached up and put a bite of rabbit into Mind-Teller's mouth.  He grinned and chewed, hugging the boy.

"This is very good, Marcus," Sandry said.  "You have a talent for cooking, don't you?"

Marcus smiled humbly, and said, "I can work very well with fire, my lady.  Cooking just happens to use fire, especially when we are out like this."

Almost sounds like Daja, Sandry thought, looking straight at Mind-Teller, hoping he would be listening to her thoughts.  He nodded and smiled, almost to say he understood.

"All of us have magic, Sandry," Mind-Teller said.  "In Horbat, the cape is a sign of being a mage."

"Really?"  she asked, surprised.

"Yes, magic is different there.  As Marcus already said, he has magic dealing with fire.  Eric deals with animals.  Charlie can deal with weather, mostly ice, though."  He paused, grinning.  "Reminds me of our friends back at discipline, doesn't it Sandry?"

She smiled, "I hope they will be at home when we get there, I would love for us all to be friends."

"I'm dead tired, you all," comes a soft voice.

Sandry looked up.  It must have been Charlie who spoke, for he had said nothing the whole time she had been with them.  His voice was very unusual—soft, low, and almost soothing.  She smiled, watching him stand.

"Go ahead and sleep, Charlie, it's your turn," said Eric.

"Certainly," he replies in that strangely soft voice, heading to the cart.  He turned back slightly.  "Leo, want to come with me?"

The boy crawled feebly out of Mind-Teller's arms and ran to Charlie, grasping his hand.

Sandry inspected Mind-Teller's passive face as he watched his son crawl into the cart with Charlie.  He suddenly looked over at her.  "Would you like to bathe before we leave, Sandry?" he asked.

She nodded and rose to follow him.