Talyn eyed Keo curiously. "Did you want some time alone with Keo, Rhysel?"

Rhysel shook her head. "Not exactly, no."

Keo glanced pointedly at Tekaal, who left the room after glancing in Rhysel's direction.

<Thanks, Tekaal. Tell you about it later,> Rhysel sent.

<You're welcome,> he replied.

"I didn't listen to anyone. Honest," Talyn said.

"I know," said Keo. "Rhysel tells me she's been having to talk you out of trying to chase down Eeihh yourself."

"Oh. That. Well, it's taking so long," he said plaintively. "And I could just jump to where he is and bring him back. I know it's dangerous, but he's off running around, and I can't even get into the school to see how Leekath is doing most of the time."

"It's taking so long because Eeihh is very nearly a qualified wizard and he knows he's being chased," said Keo severely. "One policewoman has already been seriously injured trying to catch him. The police have equipment, experience, and training all relevant to capturing criminals that you do not have, and the element of surprise you'd have by using an unfamiliar brand of magic would not be enough to keep you safe. As for your being unable to get into the school, did you ever think to ask to be added to the wards?"

"No," he said. "I thought it was an all or nothing sort of thing. I didn't know it could be altered."

Keo raised an eyebrow. "Really? If you'd given it a little thought you'd have realized it would have to be modifiable. What if we needed the wards up during the start of a new term, or during a government inspection?"

"Oh. I guess I didn't think about it like that. Could I be added, then? Please?"

"Done," said Keo calmly.

"Thank you," he said sincerely. "Could I go see Leekath now?" he asked of both women.

Rhysel nodded. "Once Keo's finished, I've no objection."

"That's really all I have to say, unless you're not yet conviced that you shouldn't be chasing after Eeihh," said Keo.

He shrugged. "I just thought no one had found him yet. Since I was wrong on that, I'll leave it to the police."

"Just because he was found once doesn't mean he's still in the same place, but yes, they're making progress," said Keo. "I'll let you know when they've caught him."

"The woman he injured," Talyn asked after a moment. "Is she all right?"

"She suffered some burns, but a light fixed her up in no time," Keo replied.

"Oh. Good. Well, I won't go after him. I promise."

"Good," said Keo. "Thank you very much for dinner, Rhysel," she added, and nodded to both kyma as she teleported away.

The second Keo was gone, Talyn ran upstairs to jump to the school, while Rhysel went in search of Tekaal for a quiet evening.

As soon as Talyn was in the entrace hall he called out silently <Leekath! I can get into the school now! Are you in your room?>

<I'm in the library,> she replied. <I'll be in my room in a couple of minutes.>

<Want me to meet you in the library?>

<If you want, but it really will be just a couple of minutes. I'm just checking out a couple of books.>

<I'm at your disposal. Where would you like me to meet you?>

<My room, I guess.>

<All right. See you there.>

He took the lift to her dorm hall, where he waited outside for her.

She arrived in the hall after the promised couple of minutes, three books under her arm.

Talyn beamed at her. "Hello, Leekath."

"Hi," she said. "What's up?"

"Well, I found out today that it was possible to get added to whatever keying there is to let people through the ward. So I asked, and they fixed it. So I can come here again. How are you?"

"I'm okay."

He smiled at her before hugging her gently, not wanting to knock her books free. "I feel really dumb for not thinking of asking before."

She hugged him back with her free arm. "It's okay. I didn't think of it either."

"Are you all right?" he asked sincerely. "You seem a bit distracted."

"I'm trying not to think about what's going to happen when they catch Eeihh," she said. "And I'm still worried about figuring out who to trust."

He nodded. "Can I help with that at all?"

"I don't think so," she said, stepping out of the hug and walking to her room. She held the door open for him, but turned bat and flutters to her perch as soon as she'd set down her books.

He sighed, unsure what to do, and leaned against the door.

After a few minutes of silence he asked, "Have I done something wrong?"

"I don't think so."

"Oh." He sighed again.

"I'm sorry," she said in a small voice after a brief silence.

He looked up at her confused, "For what?"

"I'm being kind of standoffish. You didn't do anything to deserve it. I just don't know... anything, really."

"I forgive you," he said instantly, then adds after a moment, "I just want to be here for you, Leekath."

She scrunched in on herself. "Eeihh said he just wanted to be my friend," she whispered.

Talyn sighed, sinking to the floor. "I'm not him, but I guess I understand why that bothers you."

"I can't tell," she said plaintively. "I only know what people tell me. They don't have hhikiias that will never, ever lie to me.".

He sighed again. "I don't know if it will help, but -" he trailed off, concentrating as Rhysel had taught him, making a miniature of himself out of the wood of the floor, then inserting a hair from his head into it, and activating the magic to link himself to it. "Ask it anything you want," he said, holding the figure before him.

Bat-Leekath swiveled her head to stare at the figure. She fluttered down and turned humanoid again to take the little figurine and stared at it intensely.

"Well?" she whispered to it.

After about twenty minutes, she handed the figure back to him wordlessly.

He took it and broke the magic, not reacting to the drain nearly as strongly as Rhysel under similar circumstances.

When he had dispensed with the figurine, Leekath flung her arms around him and kissed him soundly.

He was pleasantly startled, and kissed her quite thoroughly in return.

<That help?>

<Mmhm.>

<I'm glad.>

<What did you find out?>

<Lots of stuff.>

<Want to share any of it? You don't have to, of course.>

<You already know it all, don't you? Lots of stuff. Like you hate snakes. Why do you hate snakes?>

He twitched slighty at the mention of snakes. <I got bit by one when I was three. I nearly died.>

<Oh. I'm glad I'm not a naga.>

<What's that?>

<Like a really big snake with an elf's head. And fangs, but they're different from mine.>

He shuddered.

<They live underground and don't mix with people who have legs very often. You'll probably never meet one unless you want to visit them.>

<I don't think that will ever be a desire.>

<'kay.>

He continued to kiss her. <Are you feeling any better?>

<Uh-huh. Can you teach me how to make one of those models in case I need to check somebody else?> she asked tentatively after a moment.

<Um. It's really advanced. I can show you, but I don't know if you can do it yet.>

<You could make another one and I could ask it if you don't think you can teach me how well enough,> she replied teasingly.

He laughed. <I'll show you, but if you can't do it, don't feel bad.> He planted the knowledge in her head.

<Want to give it a try now? You're welcome to use me to test on.>

<'kay.> She pulled a hair gently out of his head and attempted the magic.

<Ow.> he sent teasingly when she pulls the hair out.

She made a little wood figurine of Talyn, inserted the hair, and forms the link. "It works," she said promptly.

He smiled. "Be prepared for the drain when it hits you."

She dismissed both link and figurine.

He was positioned ready to catch her if she slumped at all.

She sagged slightly, but nothing more.

"You all right?" he asked.

"Yeah," she said.

He smiled.

"Anything else you want to try, as long as I'm here?"

"Nah."

"Are you hungry?" he asked after a moment.

"I could eat," she said, smiling.

"As long as I'm here," he said matching her smile, sans fangs, "I may as well offer."

She sank her fangs into a handy artery, sighing contentedly.

He sat still.

<Enjoying yourself?>

<Uh-huh. You're still tasty.>

<So am I.>

<I know.>

<The hhikiia told you I like it, huh?>

<Yup. It's not actually like kissing at all, you know, but it's nice anyway.>

He flushes. <What is it like then?>

<It isn't like anything. It depends on who it is. It's special with you. When I bit Narax for the demonstration it was just lunch.>

<Oh.> He paused. <I'm glad it's special with me.>

<Good.>

He smiled, even though he knew she couldn't see it.

<I hope it told you how much I care about you.>

<Uh-huh. That's not one of the things that vampire has very precise words for, though, so you might have to tell me a few times before I really get it,> she teased.

<Oh. I'll have to remember that.> His tone was also teasing.

<See that you do,> she replied primly.

<How's this?> He sent a wash of the feelings he held for her across the mental link.

She gently withdrew her teeth from his throat, a half-involuntary smile crossing her face. "That's nice," she sighed.

He smiled. "I'm glad you like it."

---

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