Summer Academy and Mix-Ups

Aoi was staring at me as if I had just said the most incomprehensible thing that has ever been said or could ever be said. I realize now, I should have been quicker to act.

I hadn’t figured Aoi would dive in to the bond ceremony as fast as she did. Aoi, had two personalities. She was a shy, scholarly, socially awkward young woman, when she wasn’t drunk. Aoi’s personality when she was drunk was almost the polar opposite. She was a wild, and crazy, and still scholarly and far more awkward lady when drunk. But awkward in a whole other spectrum. Reckless, might be a better way to describe it.

So, seeing her accept marriage propositions from two complete strangers when she was clearly not a single bit drunk, threw all kinds of warning signals. I was about to grab her and explain what a Hearth Chatelaine Bond was, when one of her proposers dragged her away. I didn’t make it into the room in time to prevent the mana exchange which seals the bond. There is no known way to undo the bond was activated. Aoi, now had four husbands. One an Imperial Prince.

“What are you talking about? I haven’t married anyone since Cathar!” Aoi said.

“Aoi, a Hearth Chatelaine Bond is an irrevocable mana activated marriage contract. It is not a Master-apprentice contract. That is a Chatelaine Bond, and is completely different from the three bonds you have taken on just now, and last night. Kai, Kesh and Takumi are now your lawful husbands, and you will be compelled to have children with them and do all the duties of a wife, and they all the duties of a husband. If you do not, the bond will punish you. The only way to break such a bond is if it was not taken willingly, but you have all willingly entered into it. Even if you didn’t know what you were consenting to.”

“I… I… I have a harem of husbands!?” Aoi screamed, and passed out. Kesh caught her, and laid her gently down on a sofa in the room. When she woke up, Kesh was still holding her hand in both of his, tears falling on her arm and hand.

“You’re leaking on me, Kesh. Why are you crying?” Aoi said.

“I’m so, so sorry. I thought you knew what the bond was. I would never. Oh, goddess forgive me. I’m so sorry. You must really hate me now,” Kesh said.

“Hey. Don’t. It’s my fault. I don’t hate you. I could never hate a genuine snack like you. Goddess, you’re the whole damn meal. I could just eat you up. I get hot just looking at your fine looking self. Who could ever walk away from such a fine husband as you’ll make some lucky girl?”

“That lucky girl would be you, Aoi,” Kiera said, “I can’t believe you did this. I just warned you about this yesterday. Then you turned around and did all this ‘here hold my wine’, stunt. You need a chaperone, girl.”

“He. I do, don’t I? Well, think I better grab Cathar, and head home and have a conversation.”

Aoi got up and reached up to Kesh and pulled him into a kiss and a hug, “Oh, goddess! So soft! So cuddly! Your fur is so amazing!” Aoi said and climbed up on him and wrapped her legs around him to cuddle even closer.

“Oh Goddess This is so comfortable! Oh! Oh, my! So sorry! I didn’t mean to do that. Let me help you calm down,” Aoi said.

“That’s not helping me calm down. Stroking it like that won’t help calm me down, at all. Grrr…” Kesh said.

“Oh, my Goddess! I’m so sorry! It’s so big!”

“Aoi! Maybe take it home to explore more? This is not the ideal place to start mating,” I said.

“Oh, my goddess! Kesh, Takumi, let’s go. My husbands. Oh, my goddess! I have four husbands!”

So, we walked Aoi out, with the goal to safely find Cathar, and send them on their way. Of course, that would have been all too easy. Easy isn’t something we were accustomed to. Leaving the library was easy, but as soon as we set foot outside, there was a huge gathering in the park on the central quad of the Academy which the Library opened on to, we knew it was going to be a rough day.

“Blessed be the Great Hero! Blessed by the Goddess! Blessed by Duchess Kanae, the Great Hero!” chanted the crowd, more densely packed than the grass on the lawn on which they were all kneeling to the Great Hero Kanae. At the very front of the crowd was the High Priestess and the Ard Fáigh. The Ard Fáigh was the supreme leader, the High Prophet, and perhaps the figurehead of the Church. No one could say for sure whether the High Priestess or Ar Fáigh or someone behind the scenes really had all the power of the church. Someone did, and the High Priestess and Ard Fáigh were the public faces of it.

“Let’s get you to safety Aoi,” I said and blinked us all away. We found Cathar and managed to get them to Aoi’s airship, after we picked Cathar up off the floor from his laughing fit. Aoi had a serious pouty face after that. Aoi, was going to need some new rooms in her home. She had torn down the house we’d built for her when we built the house. She’d replaced it with a Sacred Hazel as a prototype for the Dorm housing. So, she now had an excuse to use the growing features of the housing.

“Well, now that Aoi is safely away. Do you still want to find a way to turn down the Elven Prince? I know a quieter way back into the library,” I said.

“I do, Dee. I know there probably is no chance, but I have to at least try.” Kanae said.

So, I snuck Kanae into the library.

“She just needs time to come to terms with it all, Dee.” Kiera said as we made our way back to the meeting.

“I know. The queen will be requesting an audience soon. I know all the ruling families are still here. Classes start in a few days. Even though these were just for us, it’s going to be a pretty full Academy. A summer of the realms romancing us. I hope you’re ready, they aren’t going to forget your scary self either,” I said.

“I’m not scary! Just an introvert. Besides, I don’t have time for all that stuff,” Kiera said.

“If you say so, Kiera,” I said, giving her grin.

“I am now finally going to meet with my team and ensure all security is in place for the Academy to open, my Empress. Enjoy your day,” Kiera said, as she headed down the Security corridor.

I walked in to the Academy gathering, and Queen Ljósáriel not in a pleasant mode.

“It seems that wherever I ask, Empress Deirdre is not there, or not available. Nor does anyone seem to know where the sainted hero Kanae has run off to. Even more, it seems no one knows anything at all about how my son was injured so severely while merely training his magik,” Queen Ljósáriel said.

“Salutations, Queen Ljósáriel. Well the answers are simple enough. I am here, after having left my nest a few hours after the birth of my children to deal with the after effects of your son having hacked into the Academy security system using your authorization codes to override safety protocols.

So he could unleash and unlock a triple S ranked monster golem. Without even having had the benefit of first taking the mandatory introduction to the Magik Training Field. Resulting in his near death in trying to fight a monster in the system solely for my training routine and the necessary intervention of my dear and most valuable knight Kanae. Offenses that would have resulted in expulsion were class in session. This minor fiasco has resulted in my staff, and me, running around for hours to deal with the situation, and create new protocols to prevent any similar infractions from occurring again, your Majesty, Queen Ljósáriel,” I said.

“Salutations, your Serene Highness. Perhaps now we can finally have some answers,” Ljósáriel said.

“I have just supplied you with answers, Lady Ljósáriel. Answers you should have been able to extract from your son, but perhaps he withheld the necessary answers you sought. Kanae is busy at the moment and won’t be available today, and possibly not for several days. We will all be attending the Academy when it starts up next week. If you can wait until then to meet with her, we would be very happy. There is still much to be done to get the Academy up and running. We have other responsibilities to the Realm as well. We are all quite busy, and your son’s little incident has not made things any easier on us. But I must say, your son must be born under a lucky star. No one other than Kanae, or I, can defeat that golem. Had Kanae not been passing by, your son would have surely died today,” I said.

“Is it true what the Ard Fáigh has said? Did Kanae use the spell ‘Revive From The Dead’ on my son, Lady Deirdre?” Ljósáriel asked.

“Kanae has not mentioned any such thing to us, and indeed such matters are confidential between the provider and patient. We were not witness to the events, and thus cannot give any direct information. However, our chief of security said there were no direct witnesses to the events. So, we cannot imagine the Ard Fáigh’s source of such news. Now, if you don’t mind, there is still much that needs to be done in order to get the Academy up and running.”

“Yes, of course, Lady Deirdre. I should let you get back to your work. We request notice of when you can make Duchess Kanae available to us, so we can properly thank her for her sainted work dealing with my reckless son.”

“We definitely will notify you at the earliest of Kanae’s availability.”

Just as Queen Ljósáriel was leaving, Empress Rhóxsané barged in,

“What is the meaning of all this!? Where is Duchess Aoi!?”

Sigh. So close. Just a few more seconds and we’d have been in the clear.

“This is a meeting to put the final touches on getting the White Imperial Academy up and running. How may we be of service, Empress Rhóxsané?”

“Not that! My son Kai says he has married Duchess Aoi, and that the marriage cannot be broken! Is Aoi with his child? Why have we not been consulted!?”

“Kai and Aoi are indeed married and soul-bonded. Aoi is with child, but the child she is carrying is Cathar’s child due around Lughnasa.”

“Bonded!? How are they bonded? Who permitted this? Why have you not informed us!?”

“It might be best if we discussed this privately, Empress Rhóxsané.”

“We are curious as well, such an important matter of state should not be hidden behind closed doors.”

“I would have to agree, as well. This sounds like a matter all nations should be aware of,” Fionna said.

“Fine. I only found out about this myself a few hours ago. You would have all gotten notices shortly. After the Academy Reception Party last night, Kai asked Aoi to form a Hearth Chatelaine Bond with him. Aoi said yes, and they performed it in private on Dining Hall patio.

Aoi, performed another Hearth Chatelaine Bond with two nobles in the Library, a few hours ago, before I could stop her. She thought Hearth Chatelaine Bonds were the same thing, but with a funny name as the Chatelaine Bond forming a master-apprentice bond. She was unaware she was making an irrevocable marriage soul bond. She passed out when I explained it. Then she nearly mated with one of her new husbands in the library when she came to, before we stopped her.

She is now at her home with three of her husbands talking over the incident. I haven’t figured out how to announce it to the public yet. I had planned on discussing with some of you in private about this. Aoi, is a little scattered-brained when it comes to social customs,” I said.

Utter silence, and then all at once, the room was inundated with uncontrollable laughter.

“We will accept Kanae performing a Hearth Chatelaine Bond with Tiberion, since she is also currently with child. Conceived during your Yule Wedding, yes?” Ljósáriel said.

“Yes.”

“Life is never dull when you are around is it?”

“I would disagree with that, if only it wasn’t true. But I blame the Goddess and the Spinners for most of it.”

This text was reproduced from www. without approval; the author's chapter there supports its creator.

Another round of laughter.

Then Fionna said, “We can schedule a public announcement for Aoi and her three new husbands, as well as a public Bonding Ceremony for Prince Tiberion Caisearvhán and Duchess Kanae Dreamweaver at the same time as Empress Deirdre’s double wedding ceremony, next weekend.”

“Dreamweaver!? Did you say Dreamweaver? Is Kanae a daughter of the Ducal Dreamweaver Clan?” Ljósáriel asked.

“Kanae is indeed a member of a noble clan called Dreamweaver. I have never heard a rank given for her clan, so cannot say if she is a Duchess of her clan or some other rank,” I said.

“Her parents should know. Where are her parents?”

“She is the only living member of her family in Eå.”

“Kanae is a Dark Elf?”

“Yes.”

“There is only one Dark Elf Clan named Dreamweaver. That clan is thought to be an extinct Ducal clan. The Dreamweaver clan is next in line to the throne of the Dark Elves, after the Lost Clan. If the Lost Clan is extinct, and Kanae is the last of her clan, then she would be the Queen of Dark Elves.”

“Kanae was a noble still, that last time we checked. Someone must be alive who is a member of the Royal Dark Elf Clan,” I said.

“That would still leave Duchess Kanae as Regent of the Dark Elves,” Ljósáriel said.

“You would have to discuss that with her. We will support whatever her desire is,” I said.

“We look forward to the public Hearth Chatelaine Bonding ceremony for Regent Kanae Dreamweaver and Prince Tiberion Caisearvhán in one week.”

“We will let Kanae know when we see her,” I said.

Meanwhile in Aoi’s atelier, Kai has arrived after Aoi has concluded her discussion among her husbands, and is met at the door by Aoi,

“Welcome home, my husband,” Aoi said.

“I am home, my amazing wife!” Kai said.

“I would like you to meet my first husband Cathar, our children Keara and Katsuo. Also, I’d like to introduce my third husband Kesh, and fourth husband Takumi whom I married this afternoon. Just so you know, I thought the Hearth Chatelaine Bond was a Master-apprentice Bond, and not a lifetime marriage bond. My first husband has forgiven me for my indiscretion of marrying three more men. We are now all stuck with my screw-up. I will do my best to be a good wife to you, and I hope you will find it in your heart to forgive me.”

Kai went from a state of shock to a snicker, and from a snicker to laughing so hard he had to clutch his sides to keep from exploding.

Aoi, gave him a very angry pouty face, which only made him laugh harder, and then everyone was laughing. When they all recovered, Aoi punched him in the arm.

“I’m sorry. I’m sorry for laughing, but the stories about you really are true. I’m glad, actually. It makes you all that much cuter. But, at least now I know I will have to protect you from such future misunderstandings,” Kai said.

“That’s fine. I guess. Now, you missed the conversation we had earlier, so here is what we have worked out. You three will all work in my atelier, as I was hoping for. You must keep my secrets, and not divulge them to your families or anyone without my consent. Tonight, I will be sleeping with Kesh, due to the fact I apparently can’t control myself once I touch him. Tomorrow Cathar gets to enjoy the makeup sex with me for taking on three more husbands and my first night with Kesh. The next night you and I will sleep together. Then Cathar gets another night of makeup sex with me. Then the next night I will sleep with Takumi. Then Cathar will get another night of makeup sex with me. Then I get a free night to recover. Then to start the next week you will all get to sleep with me in order of you place as my husband. The third and seventh nights are free nights for me. The six night is date night, and it rotates weekly. Please remember, I am five months with child. So sex will stop soon. And yes, Cathar has ordered me to say he gets ‘makeup sex’ with me, rather than just say sleep with me. I don’t talk like that normally,” Aoi said, as her face got redder and redder.

“Except when she is drunk. She is one wild and crazy girl when she’s drunk! Don’t get her drunk while she is with child,” Cathar said.

“First Husband!”

“What? They were always going to find out sooner, rather than later,” Cathar said.

So, they all sat down for dinner and after sat around the patio relaxing and getting to know each other. Aoi went to Kesh’s room and completely lost herself with him all night long. When Aoi woke up late in the morning, the Atelier was all in a state of chaos after having learned of Aoi’s marriage to not one new husband but three. The guys were all arguing about who else would propose to Aoi, and all the ladies were telling them all to stuff it.

“Quiet!” Aoi shouted through her magikally powered horn.

“Let me make one thing perfectly clear. I will not be performing any more Bonds of any kind with anyone. I am certainly not to have any more husbands. I am at my limit on husbands. Now get to work.”

Aoi began working on the artificial fertility spa, when Kesh came up behind her and said,

“Aoi, my Duchess -”

“Ah!” Aoi jumped. She spun around, lost her footing, and struggled to not fall in the spa.

Kesh stepped forward to try and catch her, but Aoi’s momentum was too much, and she fell back and pulled Kesh into the spa with her. They came up sputtering.

“I’m sorry for scaring you. Are you alr-mph!?” Kesh began before Aoi pulled his face down into a kiss. They tore each other’s clothes off and mated in front of the entire atelier.

“Oh my Goddess! That is so intense!” Aoi said climbing out of the spa. Kai was there to help her up. One foot landed on her spell strength measuring orb, and she launched backward sending the orb across the atelier at high velocity. It smashed into the far wall, but not before she dragged Kai into the spa with her!

“Oh my Goddess! You are so sexy!” Aoi said when surfacing with Kai in her arms.

Then she attacked Kai, and went a round with him. When Aoi finally crawled out of the spa two oval lights were glowing on her pelvis. One was green and the other red.

“Oh my Goddess, NO! Nurse!” Aoi screamed.

The nurse came out of her office and saw Aoi laying on the deck of the spa naked, and flew to her, thinking she had some injury.

“Yes, my duchess. Where are you injured? What!?” Mei said.

Mei saw the glowing lights and ran her hand over Aoi’s pelvis.

“My Lady! You have three babies from three different men! How!?”

“Oh my Goddess! How is this possible? How will these two affect my growing child?” Aoi sobbed as tears welled up in her eyes.

“My lady, they all seem to be fine. I don’t know how this is possible, but these new embryos should not cause any harm to your elder embryo. They are far enough apart that they should all be fine. We will have to be very careful during the birth. Did the spa do this?” Mei asked.

“Rokkudaun! Nobody leaves! This facility is in lock-down. Deirdre needs to know about this now!” Aoi cast and said, locking down the entire atelier.

The sirens blaring. If she wanted to alert me, she had succeeded. The sirens were so loud they were heard all the way to the Academy, where Kiera, Kanae, and I were in a meeting trying to discuss what other legal documents we could search.

“What now!” I said, as I heard the sirens blaring. I threw open the library Dragonkin window and flew out. Kiera and Kanae teleported to the emergency portal and realized the alarm was coming from Aoi’s atelier. They took a security airship off the island and headed for the atelier, but not before Fionna caught up with them to come along.

When they arrived, Deirdre was waiting for them. The alarm had ceased, but it was still in lock-down. I, opened a secure restricted door and let the new arrivals in, Aoi was waiting for them in a spa robe.

“What the Abyss happened here Aoi, and why are you in a spa robe?”

“I’m pregnant.”

“Yeah, we all know.”

“With three children from three different husbands.”

Crickets.

“WHAT!” Fionna said.

“My artificial fertility spa has a very interesting feature. I fell into the spa earlier, and Kesh got dragged in as well. We were intoxicated by the actively running spa, and mated. Then trying to help me up, Kai got dragged in, and we mated, and they both impregnated me. Since I’m already in such a state, allow me to demonstrate for you with Takumi.”

“Takumi, strip and join me in the spa.”

“Yes, my wonderful wife!” Takumi said enthusiastically.

Aoi got a fourth child. This time she glowed blue.

“This may take years of research to figure out why this happened. However, this should simplify your wedding this weekend with two husbands. Just be careful, so things don’t go crazy like they always do. Your artificial fertility spa is done,” Aoi said.

“This discovery is going to explode all over the world. You’re going to need some serious security around this atelier. And you, little Duchess, have just painted a huge matrimonial target on yourself,” Fionna said.

“Sorry, my matrimonial tickets have all been punched out. I am completely out of the husband business,” Aoi said.

“The odds are not in your favor on this one, Duchess Aoi,” Fionna said.

I sent an entire battalion to guard Atelier City, as the locals called it. No one in or out except those cleared by me or Aoi. All the visitors were demanding answers. My response was simply, “There has been a happy accident at the atelier, and further information will be released next week, no one was injured, and we are not in any danger. Look forward to an announcement that will rock your world.”

So, the weekend continued on with a very upset collection of delegations. Then the Academy opened and classes started. As expected a number of students were looking to make intimate connections with myself and my friends and associates. Especially with my otherworld friends. Balder and Aleric get into it with some students trying to propose to me. Other than that it was smooth sailing in the Academy. Students were absolutely stunned at the Academy. On Thursday Kanae went up to Tiberion,

“Come, and join us during lunch Prince Tiberion. You are my fiancé are you not?”

“I didn’t think you wanted to associate with me. You never visited me after saving me. I expected we would just be a political marriage,” Tiberion said.

“We are to be wed by Hearth Chatelaine Bond. We will be much more than just a political marriage. Did your mother neglect to tell you?” Kanae said.

“Bonded!? Why would you ask for that?” Tiberion asked.

“Your mother requested it, and I have no choice but to accept. Just as I have no choice but to accept your proposal. It is a long story, and we will discuss sometime soon. I suppose then your mother has told you nothing. Salutations Prince, I am Duchess Kanae Dreamweaver, last of my line, and Regent of the Dark Elves. Your seed will birth a new line for the Dreamweaver Clan, and I am certain your mother will demand I take a Dark Elf husband as well, in order to have heirs for both thrones. The Dark Elves would demand it anyone, once they are told of my existence. I have also been proclaimed the Saintly Heroine of Eå,” Kanae said.

“Mother has said nothing. I will take this responsibility and strive to be the best husband I can be to you. My heart is already overflowing with warmth and desire for you. I will not fail you as a good husband, my heart,” Tiberion said.

“Tiberion, I would like to introduce you to my first husband Eoghan, father of my two children and the one I am nurturing in my fifth month,” Kanae said.

“You defeated that monster and saved my life while five months with child?”

“Indeed.”

“Well met Duke Eoghan. It is an honor to met you.”

“Well met Prince Tiberion. It’s a pleasure to meet you.” Eoghan said.

So, Prince Tiberion joined our group at the Academy, and we made it through our first week of classes without any more major issues.

Now comes our wedding ceremonies. Since Aoi was already pregnant with Kai’s child, the Empress allowed a simple wedding ceremony, and they sealed their marriage with a kiss. Unfortunately, Aoi was so nervous and got so excited, her babies all began to glow. Which confused most of the guests, but enough people had seen my weddings to know Aoi was pregnant with four children. There was a lot of whispering and conversation going on. Kanae was wed to Tiberion without incident.

Then Queen Ophelia came out with Aoi’s Fertility Spa,

“Wedding guests we have a special treat for you today. Duchess Aoi has outdone herself and created this marvelous Fertility Spa. Empress Deirdre and Prince Aleric will take a dip in this spa for their Bedding Ceremony.”

That witch! She set me up! She then performed the ceremony, and we were stripped and thrown into the spa! In moments the spa’s waters had their effect, and we mated like crazy. We climbed out, and the crowd was cheering, and my pelvis lit up in a white and deep blue color.

The nurse witnesses said, “Empress Deirdre and Prince Aleric have conceived a daughter.”

I dressed in battle gear in time for Prince Baldér to take his position on the battlefield. Then we had the most unusual battle ever. We were already married, but the bedding ceremony in Svalbad was a battle between the couple to undress their spouse before their spouse could undress them.

I blinked to get to Balder’s left side, having learned he was right-handed. My goal was to detach his belt. But Balder was expecting that and spin left to land behind me and blinked away.

Click! Click!

He unsnapped my breastplates, and they fell to the ground! The audience whistled and cheered! I spun right sensing him, but he jumped back.

Click! Snap!

He disengaged my skirt armor! How is he doing this!? I jumped up sensing danger, and flipped upside down.

Toggle! Toggle!

My boots flew off! I was helping him undress me! I was playing right into his hand! What kind of Monster is he!?

¨Swish! Swish!

My leather jerkin fell off! There he is! I’ve got you now!

Whoosh! Click! Click! Click! Click!

He yanked off my under-blouse and leg armor! I’m naked except my pantaloons! I haven’t even touched him!

“What kind of Monster are you!?” I yelled.

Baldér spun around throwing off all his clothes and stopped an inch from my lips with his erect member poking my sex,

“A horny one!” He picked me up and jumped at the Spa. He spun us around, and tossed me at the water ripping off my pantaloons in the process. He landed in the spa next to me, and I was already done for. When we climbed out thirty minutes later to a stadium in a full tilt exuberant and raucous crowd I was glowing with a white and ice-blue child.

“The Empress and Baldér have conceived! Wait! OMG! She’s transformed! She has laid two dragon eggs with her husbands! This is unheard of! OH! MY HEAVENLY GODDESS! She’s not done!” shouted the nurse witness.

“Another egg child with Aleric! Another with Baldér! OMG! The Empress is still glowing! What does this mean!?”

“Oh, my goddess! What’s happening! Aoi! Kanae! Darby!”

Darby, and Kanae and Aoi arrived.

“What can we do?” they asked.

Then unexpectedly Cunelengia, Empress Rhóxsané’s seventh daughter came down, and said,

“You are circulating too much mana your Majesty. You must drain some if it. Here are all my empty mana stones.”

Then she tossed a bag of stones at me. I pushed out my mana. Some of it blasted past the bag and hit Cunelengia, and she lit up and passed out.

I laid two more egg giving me six, but then my glowing went out. I picked up Cunelengia to check her out. She woke up and kissed me! Suddenly I lit up again and laid a white and pink egg.

“The Empress and Princess Cunelengia have conceived! What in the Abyss is going on! The Princess has twins and the Empress has a daughter with the Princess. Empress Deirdre has a clutch of nine eggs, including the two in her wife, Princess Cunelengia Ní Badh.”

What an absolute and utter disaster. Empress Rhóxsané has a huge smile on her face. Of course she would, she’s my mother-in-law. At least her daughter Cune is a decent person. How in the Abyss did I impregnate her? With nothing but pure mana. Well, that is logical, I could fertilize my own eggs with just mana. Fertilizing a human should be trivial.

The next day was even wilder, when the entire sky turned dark at midday when the Ancient Mother flew in with Red Queen and the Dragon Guard. The Ancient Mother stuck her head in my nest. I was surprised her head fit,

‘You have been busy granddaughter. It has been many ages of dragon kind since a queen has laid a hatch of eggs. We will adopt this one.’

Then she tenderly picked up one of my eggs in her mouth and backed our. Then the Red Queen said,

‘You have done well niece. Your mother would be very proud of you. You are very much alike, you and her. We will adopt this one taking an egg.’

‘Those are hybrid dragonkin eggs! Why would you take them?’ I asked.

‘Oh, are they? Look closer my dear niece,’ Annilise said.