"You couldn't have seen me," Sadie reasoned. "I used my cloak to 'blend' in the library. How did you know I took the pen and the artifacts?"

"I didn't. I figured it out later. I saw you going into the bushes. When I was with TJ for Camp inspection, we didn't get there in time for me to say hello."

"You came to say hi?"

Ciara nodded. "—But I watched you disappearing. I noticed the berry-stains on your clothes were an awfully bright colour—like fuchsia, maybe—and I thought it was funny that Ylva had just mentioned that colour only shortly before. Why had something so unusual as fuchsia come up--twice?"

Ciara took a breath and continued, "I didn't make any connection, but then later when we saw Rondan up at the Hilltop, something else made me suspicious."

"What—?" asked Sadie.

"Rondan was really upset when I asked what he knew about artifacts. I'd seen the thing he kept hidden under his clothes at the head of his cot. He already knew that I'd seen that. And, at the Hilltop, I realized it made him afraid when I asked about artifacts. So I thought about that, too."

Sadie watched her.

Ciara explained, "I was sure you were too nice to have stolen anything. And TJ seemed to have faith in Rondan. So—then, it finally dawned on me that you could have done it for him. You did, didn't you? You did it to help him? And he wouldn't have known, at first?"

"No. He didn't know. I did show him the wand quite a bit later; and he hid it--said I shouldn't have moved it from the library."  Sadie paused. "Then, I felt maybe I shouldn't have done any of it because that was just the pen.  He didn't know that I'd already recovered more of his family heirlooms before and hidden them near to the camp for him to find when we went berry picking. I planned to surprise him one day—at least, until I heard Ylva tell TJ in my mind about what you'd said. I got really scared that I might be in really big trouble, so I had to tell him."

"Why did you even think he wanted to have them?" But before Sadie could answer, Ciara needed to confirm one other last thing. "And you knew about Liv's parents at some point, so you left her a note as if it were from them, to keep her away? So you could get into the back room, when Ylva would take over for her?"

Sadie nodded, again. "I blend better outside. Liv sees really well in the dark! I got Caluu to ask Ylva to find a book to get a better idea of building a 'travois' and to help me carry the things I hid in the courtyard the next day. How did you know that I'd written the note?"

"I saw the parchments were rearranged when I came back to the counter with Liv, so I knew someone had come in while I had been there. That didn't make sense till later, because you'd been the only one on the path. Plus, I didn't learn until afterwards that someone left Liv a note. And someone else going round back now makes sense how the shavings got out there, because you had to leave from the front. I didn't know Caluu was there, but that explains the 'what is of it all' now—"

"Oh, please don't tell! Caluu didn't know anything! I kept him out of it. He's innocent. He's too young. And I just got him to help me carry some of my things. They were still in their packaging. He didn't see them. Please, don't say anything!"

"There's no need to. You would have heard Ylva in mind-voice. She's happy to have them all back. Don't the instructors know what you can do? You hear thoughts and voices, like I do with Skye's help, right?"

"I don't even know what I can do." Sadie was relieved, then quickly agreed. "Sometimes, I hear things I shouldn't, but not always. But then when I do hear voices, I can't stop the sounds. Sometimes—it's screeching. I don't know what that is. What gifts do you have—?"

"Screeching—? What? That might be Skye!"

"Torgney? I can hear the great dragon?"

"I don't think I would call him that, if I were you. It will go to his head."

Arrrkk. Now who's funny?

Ha!

"He has tried speaking to you. He's borrowed—well, he can tell you about that. Never mind."

"So what gifts do you have?"

"Oh." Ciara froze a moment. Time to admit it. "I don't—unless, well, I suppose this could be a gift— I notice things, I guess," Ciara hesitated, as she disclosed her lack of magical skills. "Would that count?"

"That is clearly a gift. Truthfully, I'm not sorry that I tried to show Rondan his life could be here, if he had his things. I felt bad that I did, but, I think it has helped him to know that somebody cared. How'd you catch on anything was up? I left no trace at all that I know. An invisible trail? You have to tell me," Sadie now begged.

"Ah! Rondan's mess with the ink! I guessed, when he thought I might have known more about what he had in his tent, that he went back to the library to either cause a distraction—and cover for himself somehow that I couldn't figure out, or to throw suspicion onto himself? —I thought perhaps it might be in case anyone checked, later, like prove he was somewhere else. Maybe he was making himself so obvious that the attention alone would rule him out? But I was off about that! Rondan didn't want someone else—well, you—to be blamed, did he?"

"Right. The ink! That's ironic." Sadie shook her head. "Crazy. Both of our secret attempts to help each other gave the other away. That's what I get for interfering!"

"And TJ seemed to trust Randon wouldn't have reason to steal."

"Ya. I guess not." Sadie half-smiled. "I think he was figuring out how to put it back. He did have a reason, but he wouldn't do such a thing, so—" Sadie looked sheepish. "—I thought maybe I could, if it was for a good reason. They were really his, after all, but I went too far. I kind of thought of it as practicing my gifts, and that didn't seem quite so awful. But why didn't you say anything to TJ back then?"

"I wondered what fuchsia was all about and wasn't sure. At first I did think Rondan. Then, I wondered—could it have been both Rondan and Drey who took the pen, but you weren't together. He'd been at Hilltop the previous week and you and Drey were down here. I asked TJ. So, then, I changed my mind— that theory didn't make sense."

"I still wasn't convinced it was you. —Not until, I ate the berries later and they made me feel sick and then I remembered Drey saying most of you were now feeling better from eating too much pie. It would have been you who'd eaten the most for you to be that covered in juice and you weren't that sick. You were climbing through bushes when I saw you there. So, I had to think what could you be doing--picking so many berries while not getting sicker than the others, yourself? And--"

"—You also had the opportunity to leave Liv the note, while she showed me the books."

Sadie sighed. "It was my chance. I was going to do it the next day. Rondan wanted so much to be included by Hilltop. I just felt badly for him. I thought if he had his family heirlooms back, he would be able to say who he was. He hasn't wanted to say, since he got disowned and his parents left his inheritance to the Museings of Aulde."

"His inheritance—? That makes sense how he acts. He should be in Hilltop?"

"Yes, the artifacts are his power line—the talisman and all the parts of his own family scry-line."

"I knew I'd seen those stones before. That's why they matched! Now I understand. It all worked together!"

"I don't know if he's really disowned or just really feels hurt. He changed his name when he came here, but then the kids didn't know he would have been in 'high-group' if he hadn't; and he couldn't quite really adjust."

"Who are his family?"

"I don't know. He wouldn't say. He joked that his name before had been Mungen Mirk, but I doubt that's what it was. I know his people were really important; and Caluu's my little brother—he said that Drey had told him that Rondan talked in his sleep once. He said something about how they'd been to the past, but I don't know anything else—just that joining Hilltop was really important to Rondan, and the vote went against him in that."

"So you thought, if he had the artifacts he could prove he belonged to the Circle at Hilltop?"

"Something like that—but because of what I did, I don't know if he wants to say who he is now, at all. He hangs out with them, but I don't think he's told them. I've messed things up for him now. I feel really bad."

Ciara took all she said in. "You did it to be kind—"

"I suppose you don't like me—?"

"Why? I like you just fine!" Ciara tilted her head, shaking it. "In fact, I had an idea. I have a favour to ask you—"

"What—?" Hope, then relief, brightened Sadie's face.

"It's about Skye—"

"What—?"

"Would you translate for him, if he needs—and be his new friend? He's kind of alone, here."

"Yesss!" Sadie screamed. "I'd be a Spirit Dragon Whisperer! All right! You bet I would! Best job in the whole of Mearth! But only until you come back. Yess!"

"He would be glad. Just don't let him take over your voice when you don't want!"

"Okay. What do I do?"

"Nothing. You don't have to worry. He will find you. Just listen."

"This is the best gift, ever! Thank you!" Sadie grabbed Ciara's waist and clung, hopping without leaving the ground.

"Thank you for saving me at the camp," Ciara said hugging her back.

Yesss, thank you, Ciara!

Skye, I'm so happy you'll have Sadie, so you won't be alone.

"I can hear you both!" exclaimed Sadie.

"Woah, wait till I tell the others—" Being Sadie, she ran off down the hill as fast as she could to share her news, but then both Ciara and Skye felt the pause and heard in their minds, Hello, Dragon! I'll be your new friend!

Hello, friend! And I'll be yours, too!

≈≈≈/