Serena said, “Cloudmares communicate telepathically, without spoken word. They have a powerful intrinsic Forget Spell. You won’t remember seeing them… unless they want you to do so.”
Iyaca said, “Rhiann used such a spell at the mines.”
Serena said, “The Cloudmares’ spell is more powerful and pretty much always works.”
Iyaca curiously asked, “How do you remember them?”
Serena smiled and said, “The Cloudmares can choose to allow you to remember them. Urra, Syrrth, and Shyrra are great friends of Mayard Klarje. They allowed me to resist the Forget Spell effect.
Iyaca moved nearer the beautiful siren. Serena flipped her long green hair and said, “You may touch me.”
Iyaca sighed. The massive Manticore stood on the fringes of the plateau and stared intently at the youth.
Rhiann Klarje moaned and turned. The light of the twin suns broke through the small window where the young sorcerer rested. Rhiann wasn’t sure how long he had slept. The softness of the bed and the warmth of the Phoenix down blanket were difficult to abandon. Dreams had infiltrated his sleep. Maranna’s face and her soothing voice had repeatedly appeared in his slumber, and when she spoke he felt strangely secure and warm. Rhiann stretched and sat on the side of his bed.
Maranna said with relief, “Rhiann. I’m so glad you’ve awakened.”
Maranna sat in a large chair near his bed. Her tail swished nervously behind her and she pulled up and twirled her long reddish hair, the act exposing her right breast.
Slowly the young sorcerer blushed and asked, “Where am I?”
Maranna said, “Welcome to Cragmore, my home. I’ve still got a lot of work to do on it.”
Rhiann said sleepily, “Maranna? How’d…where…?
Maranna said, “Are you rested? We have much to discuss after you have fully recovered. I’ll get you some nourishment.”
Rhiann asked, “I think I am physically. In other ways I still feel like I’m having a bad nightmare. But I am really here. My hunger tells me it’s not a dream. Where is Iyaca?”
Maranna sighed and said, “I can fix the hunger. Iyaca has already eaten. My sister Serena arrived for a visit and is showing him around Cragmore. She promised to behave. It’s unlikely she will, but he’s too young to… never mind. Let me fetch you some nectar and waybread.”
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