Buffy and Lenara walked silently through the hall outside the room. The palace was simple, yet beautiful. Buffy could only compare the architecture to what she had seen in books on ancient Greece. Not that she had read that many. Really only looked at the pictures. There were columns lining the hallway. No art. Just simplicity.

"Is this Nessa's palace?"

Lenara smiled. "It is. Although it is a very plain one. My grandmother likes it that way. Nothing extravagant. However, there is a hot spring that we use as a bath area. It feeds into a river leading outside and down into the city below us."

"Hot spring. Sounds heavenly."

"You are more than welcome to use it. Privacy would be no problem."

Buffy smiled. "Maybe if there is time."

"Or some other visit perhaps."

"I'd like that."

The two women entered a room where Nessa, Mahzi and Zaz were waiting. There was a small spread of food on the table. Buffy looked it over. She spied something that resembled a bird. Hopefully it tastes like chicken. Zaz gestured to a seat he held out for Buffy. "Thank you, " she offered.

He immediately sat down and started dishing out food onto his plate.

"Geez Zaz. Never had a meal?" Mahzi teased.

"Shut it Mahz. You know how I feel about home cooking."

Buffy looked at Nessa. "You cooked this?"

Nessa nodded. "Yes of course. I love to cook for my family."

Zaz had already began eating, and loudly at that. "I love your cooking grandmother."

Mahzi uttered, "Sure sounds like it."

Lenara laughed. "Well Buffy, these are my cousins. Zaz the ravenous, and his younger sister Mahzi."

Zaz hardly looked up. Mahzi nodded and smiled. Lenara fixed a plate and handed it to Buffy. "Enjoy." Most of dinner was quiet. Everyone enjoyed the food that Nessa had prepared. Once finished, Nessa rose and gestured for them all to follow her. They were led to a library where they all sat. Nessa addressed Buffy.

"For years my family have been the guardians of magic on Pellin. I was blessed with two daughters, Xana and Yolani. Xana lost her husband. He was trying to save some children in a cave in. He was magically overwhelmed by Savon, Yolani's husband. At that time, we didn't know it though. Xana was devastated at his loss, and fled Pellin. We tried to find her for a long time, but were unable. At some point during her time away she had Lenara."

Buffy looked at Lenara. In fact she was having a hard time looking anywhere else. What beautiful green eyes, and light creamy skin. Quite unlike her family. Lenara was remarkably simple. It was what made her striking. Shoulder length dirty blonde hair. Lenara met Buffy's gaze.

Nessa continued. "Yolani married Savon, and had Zaz, and then Pron. Little Mahzi came a few years later."

Zaz muttered, "Not so little anymore."

"Says the man constantly at Grandmother's troph," poked Mahzi.

Nessa's tone turned serious. "Savon craved power. And he used Yolani to get it. Since he was not born into the family, he had to learn to our magic."

Buffy looked at Nessa. "So everyone possesses or practices magic?"

"No. It has to be shared, or gifted if you will. In fact, you now have some."

"What?"

Lenara answered. "By using our magic to heal you, we have shared a part of ourselves. It occupies your very bones. In the event that you run into Savon or his generals, they will, or should not be able to break anything."

Buffy smiled, "Awesome! Does it work on split ends as well?" Buffy chuckled and then noticed no one else at the table was laughing. "Sorry, bad joke." Buffy looked at Lenara, and mumbled another apology. She received a small smirk in return.

Nessa continued, "Savon twisted everything he learned. He just craved more and more. My daughter would not come to me, and Savon is skilled at hiding his mind. I did not see..."

Mahzi leaned over. "It's okay. We're his children and we did not know."

Nessa struggled to continue, "Yolani decided to end her life. Savon, he...he..."

Zaz interjected. "He attacked my grandmother in the throne room. Pron stood there as she fought for her life. I heard her cry out and came running with Mahzi. We entered the room and fought him off. He had so much hate and evil in his eyes. But he was outnumbered, so like a coward he fled taking Pron with him. He gathered a small army and tried to assault the palace."

Mahzi lit up. "But we were expecting them. Some among his army were less than thrilled to be pressed into service. And so we let them advance, and Savon got cocky. He over extended himself."

Nessa smiled lightly. "While Zaz, Mahzi and the loyalists decimated his rear force, I encountered him again."

"And she cursed him and his followers!" Mahzi exclaimed.

"He was desperate to own our magic, but it was never his to possess. We simply cast a spell of revocation that drained him. And while he was nearly dry, Pron came to his aide. He escaped with his father again. I am assuming that Pron gave up some of his abilities to his father. But it seems that Savon has formulated a new plan. He has been traveling to new worlds and tapping into magical forces-those that are foreign to our world. I cannot strip him of those."

Buffy leaned forward. "Why not? Wiccans have figured out how to bind powers on Earth."

Lenara answered, "We've tried it on some of the generals we have captured. No such luck. Too many foreign abilities."

"There has to be a way to bind him. Or at least bend his ability to steal powers. Wish I had paid more attention in biology. How do you kill a leech? Salt...no...that's a slug. Sorry. How successful has he been?"

Zaz responded. "Not very. We worked hard on tracking the magical signatures of our family. After he got away a couple of times we knew we would need a way to chase him. Unfortunately we have not perfected it. We typically need a magical burst or demonstration to lock onto."

"So, why don't you continuously chase him?"

"Not perfected. We get bursts here and there. But it isn't consistent."

Lenara added, "And since he is infusing his powers with others, they are giving off his magical signature, which is why I arrived where you were."

Buffy turned her attention to Lenara. "But you arrived alone. That's dangerous. How do you know it's not a trap?"

"That's the problem. I don't."

Nessa spoke up. "Lenara possess great skill and magic. She often leaves alone. Zaz and Mahzi usually pair up."

"Why not train or share with more people? Create your own army of super soldiers."

"We are guardians of the magic. We use it, but we do not own it. And that abuses it's nature."

"By defending yourself?"

Nessa shook her head. "I will not build an army like that. It is an affront to suggest it."

"Whoa!" Buffy raised her hands up. "Easy, I meant no offense to you."

Lenara interjected, "That would be Savon's way. We do not believe it is the right way, that's all."

Nessa looked at Buffy. "Would you do that?"

Buffy answered animatedly. "I would, and I have. When you are defending literally everything...sometimes you get tired of being the One. Sometimes other people should be too. It was their birthright. Why do I have to die for them to get it?" Buffy stopped suddenly as she was getting blank stares from everyone. "But you have no idea what I am talking about. Ummm...Nessa...it is not the same situation. Continue please."

Zaz leaned over and whispered into Mahzi's ears. "I might break bones when I heal, but Len and Gran apparently scramble brains." Mahzi had to stifle a laugh behind a fake cough.

Nessa shot the pair an ugly look. "Where was I?"

"Tracking," Mahzi muttered.

"Which," Buffy interjected, "leads me to another question. Why doesn't Savon track your magical signatures? If he can't..."

"He's afraid to face us!" Zaz boasted.

"Perhaps, but can I ask another question? Why are you different?" The question was aimed at Lenara.

"I am different, as you put it, much like you are I imagine."

"Lenara's mother was the first born of the twins. Think of it as an inheritance right."

"Ok. So why are you telling me all of this?"

"Because someone like you was defending a witch."

"What?"

Lenara spoke up. "We believe that Savon has found his next recruit. There was a girl whose bones and body heal quick like yours."

Buffy shot up. " A Slayer protecting a witch?"

Zaz nodded. "I am not familiar with the term Slayer, but there was a girl with healing properties trying to defend the witch Savon is after."

"This witch, does she have red hair?"

"Yes."

"Oh shit. Willow." Buffy lept out of her chair. "She okay?"

Zaz stood. "Yes. We healed her friend and told her to conceal herself."

Buffy looked at Lenara pleadingly. "I have to get back. They need to know what they are up against. She's my best friend. I have to protect her. Send me back."

Lenara stood up. "Take my hand and concentrate hard on your friend."

"Wait," Nessa began, "will you help us?"

"I will help keep Willow safe. Bad juju in her past. She's a lot stronger than you realize. And yes, I will help you because it will help her. But we have to go back."

"Very well," Nessa agreed. "Zaz will take you back."

"No! I will take her. Buffy is my responsibility." Lenara grabbed Buffy's hand. "Concentrate on your friend."

Buffy closed her eyes, and in the instant she and Lenara disappeared from the room. Mahzi leaned over towards her brother. "What was that whole 'no' and hand holding thing?" Zaz just shrugged, while his grandmother smiled.

A/N: Let me know how you are enjoying this...please take a moment to review. They make me giddy.