"But why?" Difyr asked. "What could anyone get out of being Nelek besides making Aislyn miserable?"

After tucking Ila in under the cloak, Aalyssa walked over. "That would be it in a nutshell." She kept her voice low so she wouldn't disturb Ila. "Aislyn's first husband Tabor. He rushed her into marriage and when her father had a heart attack from the stress, Aislyn wanted to be with him. Tabor left the village the next morning with another woman. He is a merman. I know it sounds strange but it's true, so he would have access to magical items and potions that could change someone's appearance."

Difyr blinked.

"Why is everything that happens to the Buckleys incredibly odd?" She asked.

"It's a rare talent, I'll tell you. I will say that until I moved here, I only witnessed things during the summers. Nothing like this happened back home."

Difyr massaged her temples. "So what do we do? Tell Aislyn?"

"I suppose we will have to, at least at some point. Ila said she told Xavier but she hadn't seen him since. I think we should speak with him first."

"You knew Tabor, you can describe what he looks like." Difyr said.

"Do you have a minute to help me locate Xavier, since I have no idea who he is?"

Difyr looked at the patients; they looked like they would be all right for a little while.

"Sure. He was going to see Nelek- er, Mazi. He should be this way." Difyr exited the room and headed down the hallway.

Aalyssa followed her. "So who is Xavier anyway?"

"Xavier DeVale." Difyr said. "He's a decent guy- oh there he is... Looking sweaty and out of breath... Must have been doing his exercises."

"While I was helping to unload the patients, it appeared some of the guards were in pursuit of someone, he may have been helping with that as well."

"Pursuing someone?" Difyr asked worriedly. She did not like the idea of someone dangerous on the loose. She hoped chains could hold a shape-shifting merman.

"I do not know for certain, but it certainly appeared that way to me," Aalyssa admitted. "It didn't look to be like training."

"Well, let's ask him who he was after." Difyr said unhappily.

"All right." Aalyssa composed herself so she could carry herself in her normal regal manner as Difyr led her to the man in quesiton.

"Not him." Ila was talking in her sleep, and clearly was not having a sweet dream. "Not him. Not him!"

Aalyssa hurried to the girl's side. Not wanting to startle her during a nightmare, Aalyssa refrained from touching her. Instead she began to softly sing an Elven lullaby, the soft tones filling the room.

"No!" Ila thrashed, her voice became more frantic and pleading. "No. No. No. Please."

"Shhh, Ila. You are safe, little one." Aalyssa looked in the corner, grateful she had brought her bow and arrows. When Ila was settled she would retrieve it and keep it near her. "Shhh."

"Vilma?" Ila called, still sounding scared.

If Ila hadn't still sounded frightened, she may have said yes. "No, it's Aalyssa. We talked a short time ago."

Ila's eyes opened. She had been crying in her sleep. She looked around, remembering where she really was as the bad dream faded. "Aalyssa. I'm sorry, I must have fallen asleep."

"It's quite all right. Sleep can be very healing, as long as you're not having nightmares to disturb it. Can I get you anything?" She glanced around. "Well, anything we might have in our meager supplies."

What Ila wanted was to go back and time and stop herself from being a foolish girl and ruining her life, but she did not think Aalyssa could manage that. Then Ila noticed something odd about her ears, they were pointed. Ila realized she was staring. She blinked and looked away. "Some water please."