The laptop sat on the counter as I moved between tabs. The idea had struck yesterday, and I finally had some good choices after doing way too much research. Now, I needed to chat with the dragons and see if it was a good idea after all. Indigo would have another lesson here pretty soon and I’d talk to them about it then.

The first roadblock would be to see if Indigo could learn to use a computer or not. It might not make sense to her. Yet, if she could, then this idea might work. While the dragons wanted to teach her all about being a dragon, and magic, learning about humans and how we worked would be good as well.

That led me to online homeschooling. At least on my planet, it was an option for kindergarten through twelfth grade. While things like Earth history wouldn’t be super exciting, math and science were always excellent subjects to learn.

“Are you signing Indigo up for more learning?” The Cat’s voice next to me made me jump. At some point, he’d leaped up on the counter and I hadn’t noticed.

“I was thinking about it.” I clicked on a link. “There are a few placement tests she can take, and I can see where her current reading levels and such are at.” I turned to look at the Cat. “Unless you think it’s a bad idea…”

He chuckled. “It’s a great way to show up the dragons.”

I paused. “Maybe it’s not a great idea then…”

“It’s a perfect idea. You must do it. I bet she will love extra lessons. Book Dragons want to know all the things. They see themselves as the masters of knowledge. I know of a story about one who just concentrated on learning about flowers. Every type of flower across several worlds. They are the leading flower expert in this part of the tree. They trade for rare seeds and cuttings like its pure gold.”

“So, signing Indigo up for an online Earth school wouldn’t be weird? She really likes the stories I tell her, and she gets through the stories the dragons send her very quickly.” I chuckled. “It doesn’t help that time passes weirdly here.”

“If Indigo lived with her dragon family, she’d be learning all the time. Either with other dragons her age, or by following family members around.”

The Cat’s words reassured me and I pulled the placement tests up again. This online school was text based, so students didn’t need to get on video. There were video lessons, along with digital textbooks and printable worksheets, but it all seemed straightforward.

“Once she’s up from this next growth spurt, I’ll see what she thinks.” I scratched the Cat’s ears, and he moved closer. “I bet she’s going to be super excited.” My mind raced at the thoughts of what she’d need for school. I should see if I could get her a laptop, so she wasn’t using mine. Though, she’d need to learn how to use a mouse, since the trackpad would be hard for her claws. Or, maybe her claws would be too hard on the trackpad. Either way, a mouse seemed like a better choice.

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“Does that mean you are done working on your laptop and I can now watch more of my show?” asked the Cat.

I started laughing as I pulled up the show about Elves, Rings and the fight of good versus evil. “You can totally watch the show. I think I’m going to go read a book in the hot tub on the deck. The sun is shining.”

The Cat nodded.

There were only a few more episodes left of the show that the Cat hadn’t watched, and I’d need to find something to suggest once he was done, but for now it was time for me to relax.

There was nothing like a hot tub to take away my worries.

***

Sable headed upstairs while I clicked on the link. It took me longer than I’d like to figure out how to start the next episode, but I could do it all on my own. Introducing book dragons to the magic of Earth would change things, and cause some chaos. It excited me.

Annoying dragons was so much fun.

The show had just started when something drew my attention to the front door. We weren’t expecting any visitors today, but something white slid underneath it. I paused the magical show and jumped off the counter to give it a good sniff.

I paused as the scent reached me.

Home.

In an instant I yanked the letter out from under the edge of the door and struggled to open it. Despite the difficulty, I didn’t dare call for Sable. While her hands would make this easier, it had my name on the outside. My true name.

Only a few beings knew it, which meant it was from the others. One of the Fey Lords.

Felimid,

I hope this letter finds you well.

While I have written to you before, I never know what might reach you in your banishment. Time has marched forward, yet it has retreated as well.

The dragons have returned to the Fey Wilds, the demons are gone, and the others wake for the first time in centuries.

These pesky dragons are young and brash. Who knows what they are up to in your lands? We cannot tell, for they are not our lands.

May the Towering Forest wait for you.

Nymeria

My claws dug into the wood floor, and I trembled. My lands were gone, and I didn’t need any dragons sniffing around the edges of what was left. They were the only ones who could potentially poach my home from me with me not there.

Anger raced through me and my claws slashed out, tearing into the parchment paper. It only took seconds before all that remained were shreds of white flakes. Still, I trembled in rage.

How dare someone try to take my home? My people?

This couldn’t stand.

Yet the anger trickled away as I slumped to the floor. What could I do from here? I couldn’t leave this building, let alone chase off a dragon. My banishment weighed on me. Was there anything I could do?