When you're strange
Faces come out of the rain
When you're strange
No one remembers your name
When you're strange
When you're strange
When you're strange
- The Doors

?Talomar, you do understand that Tara is still in there, yes?? The Lady intercepted as Tara, err, Khatra, threw her head back, laughing. Talomar seemed not to acknowledge Belial. Instead, he merely pointed at Not-Tara, and the ruby ring upon that finger caught her attention.

?Don?t test me Khatra.?

She blinked, and as if coming out of a daze, Tara looked at him. ?Who??

?Who is Khatra, Talomar!? Tara?s voice. The real Tara. ?And how did I get here??

?Come here, little one.? Talomar grinned. The nightmare was over.

?I thought I was in my coffin.?

?Very well done, Count.? Lady Belial seemed impressed.

But Viki had missed much of Talomar?s display of heroism. The girl was easily distracted, and when the present danger didn?t seem to have a direct impact on her life, her attention shifted. A finger had gone into her curls, twirling-twirling-twirling? Her eyes were flickering to and fro but finally settled on Icer, the ice dragon, who had taken up residence at her feet. She was now the size of a hippo, which was a feat in and of itself. The last time Victoria had laid eyes on the dragon, she?d been so little.

?Do you know the thing that's crawling around in my cousin? I'd like to have her out before we have to go home.?

?No I don't..?

?Maybe it's the lady from the pretty room who was in my head for a short time.. She lives in the castle. I'm nuh s'posed to go in there.?

She threw a glance back to Tara and Talomar.

?You best not be cheating on me, Talomar.? Viki heard her say.

?Oh! Good! Talomar got her out.? Not quite understanding how he did it, but certain that he was the cause of it, she turned to Icer then, and whispered. ?I used to not like him so much because of this thing that happened.?

Icer nodded politely, as if she had the vaguest idea. Meanwhile, Tara greeted her public.

?Cousin? Is that you in there? Because you had this thing in you a moment ago and not like the thing I mentioned a couple of days ago.?

But Tara hadn?t heard her. There were too many faces to smile to, too many bodies surrounding her.

?Icer. Do you ever notice tha' when something odd happens, everyone just decides to talk about secret things??

?Yes, I've noticed..? At least the dragon understood.

Then, quite suddenly, Icer swiveled her neck to Ayreg, a grin appearing on her dragon face. Viki looked perplexed.

?You like that guy??

?He?s alright...?

?He made this lady melt, yano.?

?He helped save my life,? said Icer.

?Oh. Maybe that cancels that out then.? She gave the dragon a small smile, then waved her over as she moved toward her cousin and cousin-to-be.

?Tara!?

?Yes, dear?? She was at the bar with Talomar. Oddly enough, he was allowing her to braid his hair.

?You-had-this-thing-inside-you.. But then Talomar smiled at you and it left you alone. Now everyone is acting like nothing happened.? The princess stomped her foot. Okay, Talomar hadn?t exactly smiled at Tara. Viki made that up. But still, she demanded an explanation.

Talomar gave Viki a look as if she had said something she wasn?t supposed to say. He was always giving her that look!

?Oh you dun know.? Of course not! ?I?m pregnant, cousin.? Tara made a face. ?And it?s not a ?thing? but Talomar?s baby!?

The girl?s surprise was obvious. Her jaw nearly fell from her little face.

?Omigosh! I?m going tae be a.. cousin?? Well what do you call the child from your cousin?s marriage?

?Ayup!?

Viki kissed Tara?s nose.

?Maybe an aunt too.? Oh is that what you call it, Talomar?

Viki could hardly contain herself. Hopping on one foot, she announced proudly, ?And I?ll play with him every day! Or her.? She proceeded to dance around Icer, who seemed to be at her side for much of the night.

?You are clever, Longden.? Whose voice was that? Ayreg. His arms were crossed over his chest and he stood dangerously close to Talomar. He glared.

?Well, that?s obvious. Tell me what I don?t know.?

Viki had stopped short when she noticed Ayreg. Peering up at Tara with an impish grin, she began to tease her, albeit quietly. ?Told you he loooooves you Tara.? Then, before her cousin could do anything about it, Viki ducked behind Icer. Her new size was quite the benefit.

?Viki, please,? was all Tara could do.

But Ayreg continued. ?Release a lion in the city, and frighten the populace. Kill the lion, and be rejoiced. Issue an order before the rejoicing ends, and be obeyed. Most clever.?

?Why, whatever do you mean?? Talomar grinned back.

He means what he means what he means..

Ayreg only turned on his heels and stalked away in silence.

My head falls backs
And the walls crash down
And the sky
And the impossible
Explode
Held for one moment I remember a song
An impression of sound
Then everything is gone
Forever
A strange day...
- The Cure

For the rest of the night, Viki and Icer were inseparable.

?Dragons used to fill the skies? People even rode along, using special saddles??

?Saddles? Why would they ever want one of those?? Viki?s brows knitted softly as Icer weaved her tale.

?Usually to keep a rider from falling,? she replied.

Unfortunately, the rest of the tale was interrupted with a round of goodbyes as Tara and Talomar made their way out.

?Goodnight Tara!? She waved to her cousin, and, to the little cousin side of her, she blew kisses. No goodbyes were saved for Khatra, however.

?Viki? don?t be out late.? Talomar, of course.

?Okay.? She offered him a shy smile, knowing full well not to cross him by now. But there was something else in his voice when he spoke. It sounded more fatherly than usual. Was he growing soft?

?Aye, dun cuz I am nuh in the mood to be trackin ye down tonight.? Tara added, blowing kisses in return.

Viki beamed. It?s so easy to track you down. ?Just follow the little lights??

Tara ignored her response, and instead, she yelled back: ?An' dun bring home any transients!?

?Damn.? You always do that.

It was true. If you ask Tara, she?d tell you that Victoria had a penchant for feeling sorry for people. Tara?s castle in Lanrette was once filled with all sorts of strangers. Talomar didn?t seem the type to take in strays, although he did extend the invitation to Viki?s friend Ember, the fire elemental, even after they butted heads.

When they left, Icer continued her story.

?Many of our kind were lost in wars??

?I?m very sorry. Do you think maybe all the magical things will disappear someday? Like maybe all of this will disappear? Or maybe it has disappeared from somewhere else and ended up here and that is why we are here.? Catch that? She grinned up at Icer, who only chuckled.

?Perhaps the magic that minds have ceased believing.? It was Irrykin who spoke, surprisingly enough, although he did not move from his place at the bar to address them. Rather, he spoke to the glass full of cognac which he held in his hand.

?So when people stop believing, it goes somewhere, and it doesn't disappear? Like, maybe, that's what the Nexus is? I heard a song once that said ?the best part of believe is a lie.?? You heard no such song. Arden told it to you. Viki ignored the ceaseless whispers and peered at Irrykin with giant curiosity. ?But who are these mysterious people and what gives them the power to believe or not to believe??

?How is the belief a lie, if it does indeed exist in a place?? He was a logical man.

?It's a puzzle. L-I-E. I like puzzles because they make more sense, because they lie outright and force you to see through.? She leaned against Icer, patting her side. ?I think maybe the whole world is a puzzle.?

?It keeps the eyes searching.? He said to the cognac once more.

Her little fingertips brushed over Icer?s scales as she tilted her head, thinking over his words. ?I think it is more beyond the eyes and what swims inside of the eyes.?

?Well. I should go. I'm nuh s'posed tae be out late.? She gave Icer?s head a pat. ?I will see you tomorrow mebbe! Then you can tell me dragon stories, if you like.?

The dragon nodded in agreement. ?Goodnight Viki??

Irrykin?s silence was brief. ?Goodnight, Victoria.?

?Goodnight!? She said to Icer before spinning around and offering a smile to Irrykin at the bar. ?Goodnight to you too!? She stopped short as she regarded him. There was something? odd. What was it? He spoke with a silver tongue, Viki thought. Silver something.. She rolled her shoulders into a small shrug. The thought didn?t last, and soon she spilled into the streets.