“Yes, you are my daughter. Mine and my sweet Bellia’s daughter,” he said, and he stroked my hair to sooth me. Soon I sat back again. “So would you mind telling me more about you?” I asked.

“No, but I have a few questions for you first,” he said.

I nodded.

“Before you hit the ship and fell into the water, my men reported a giant silver dragon to me. But the dragon race has long since been destroyed by the Back Bloods. Was it really there?” he said.

I felt a small smile creep out on my lips. “The dragons as you may know of have long been friends with the people of the Kingdom of Annwin, but as the Black Bloods hunted them over the few last thousand years, they only just learned of the connection between the two. But what they did not know is that dragons can take on the shape of mortals, though with some differences. Every person from the Annwin kingdom has some dragon blood in them and with the dragon blood, Dragon Magic. But not many could use it; those who could, could turn into a dragon, or vice versa. The Royal Family, though, has the most Dragon blood. Mom was almost pure blood. I’m only half dragon. Thus, why I could turn into the silver dragon your men saw.”

He looked stunned. “You can turn into a dragon?” he asked in surprise.

I nodded. “But in the entire history of the dragons I’m the only silver one. However I am a dragon, who turns into a mortal form, not the other way around.”

He shook his head and then asked the next one. “Can you use Magic of any kind?”

“I was taught the Five Forbidden Magics. I know nearly all others as well,” I said.

His eyes were wide. “The Forbidden Magics? The ones of ancient times said to be lost thousands of years ago?”

“Yes, I was taught by the Zarlin. He is the Keeper of all Magic. Good, bad, and in between.”

He held up his hand. “I think this is a tale to be told over a longer period of time. Would you like to come and live with me on the Isle of Magic? It’s actually a school that teaches magic to mages,” he asked.

“Could I?” I asked. “I wouldn’t be too dangerous?”

"Of course not. I believe I should introduce you to the other three mages who will be going to the Isle, but first I believe you need to rest. I’ll introduce you in the morning,” Dare said.

I nodded sleepily. “Thanks…Dare.”

 I wasn’t sure what I should call him. We only just met.

He smiled at me, hesitated, then kissed my forehead and left. I placed a hand to my forehead where he kissed me and sat against the wall behind the bed.

Later I woke from my first ever deep sleep to feel someone lying next to me and I instinctively jumped away, baring my teeth. My magic at the ready, but then I saw it was a girl. She had long copper hair and was now snuggling under my blanket. I tapped her on the head, and she looked up at me with wide sleepy green eyes.

She smiled at me.

“What is it you are doing?” I asked.

“I’m sleeping with you. I don’t like to sleep alone, because when I do I get nightmares.”

“I don’t even know you. Why do you not go sleep with one of the boys on this ship?” I asked.

Her eyes went even wider. “I can’t! They’re boys!”

 “Yes, and?”

“Boys and girls who sleep together they, do things!” she whispered, her face turning red.

“I do not know of these things, but I guess you are welcome here. Who are you?”

She smiled a blinding smile. She was pretty in a simple way. “I’m Lady Thrinade of Ravenswood. People around here call me Rin. What’s your name?”

I opened my mouth to answer, but then I realized that I didn’t know my name, so I closed it. “I don’t know my name,” I said slowly, thinking.

“Oh well, we’ll think of something later. I heard that you were able to get Dare to show emotion! You really must be something. When I look at you, you seem to be a younger and more beautiful version of him. Down to the eyes and the hair.”

“Of course I would. Anyway, Rin, it is time to sleep.” I tried smiling at her and laid back down. She smelled of wild roses. I laid there for a while and listened to the waves’ lullaby and slipped into a peaceful sleep.