A nightmare startled Lanni awake, something that had become a customary dis-turbance for her throughout her long life. In her childhood, the night terrors were often dismissed, with the familiar advice to go back to sleep to regain her rest. But sleep was elusive, a slippery solace she could rarely cling to. Now, her need for sleep dwindled, al-lowing her to rise early and make the most of the silent hours before dawn. She would immerse herself in books, lose herself in the art of cooking, or find quiet solace in the company of the soldiers awake for the night shift. Exiting her room one such morning, Lanni crossed paths with Jahree, who looked perplexed to see her up and fully dressed at such an hour. “You’re still awake?” His brow furrowed in mild concern. “No, I did sleep,” Lanni assured him. “And yet you’re up already?” Jahree continued, his frown deepening. “I don’t need much sleep,” Lanni claimed confidently, her tone suggesting a sense of pride in her ability to function without adequate rest. Jahree, however, was quick to refute her statement. “People need to sleep,” he in-sisted, emphasizing the importance of sleep for overall health and well-being. Undeterred, Lanni began to explain her unique relationship with sleep. “I did have an experience once where I went for months without sleeping. It didn’t end well, though. Physically, my body seemed to cope fine, but mentally, I realized that I do need sleep at regular intervals,” she admitted, reflecting on the consequences of her sleep deprivation episode. “In normal circumstances, I find that I need to try and get a couple of hours of sleep every few days, just to stay mentally sharp. It’s almost like a safety precaution for me,” Lanni further elaborated, suggesting that she has found a balance that works for her. “Loka keeps an eye on me. She and my great-grandma on my mom’s side were best friends. In fact, Loka even helped deliver my grandmother.” Lanni intentionally omitted the fact that her father had also been involved in her grandmother’s birth. She sensed that divulging that information would likely lead to in-quiries and discussions that she wasn’t yet prepared to have. “Is she kind of like a shepol to you?” Jahree ventured a guess, his use of the term catching Lanni by surprise, particularly coming from a human. “Shepol?” She echoed the word, a flicker of curiosity in her voice at hearing the term, laden with meaning, pass Jahree’s lips. Jahree noticed a puzzled look flicker across Lanni’s face. Seeking to clarify, he said, “Sorry, I assumed when you mentioned you were pledged to a dragon, you might understand the term. It’s Dragon for kinship, referring to family members that aren’t typi-cally recognized by humans, such as parents or cousins.” Lanni nodded and offered a complex example, “Like my adoptive father’s broth-er’s adopted daughter’s foster brother’s adopted son’s birth mother be what you’d call my Shepol?” Looking at her with a mix of astonishment and admiration, Jahree smiled faintly, confirming, “Exactly.” By this time, they had reached the kitchen. Without a pause, Lanni struck a match, lit the stove, and placed a heavy pan with grease on top to heat for frying fritters. “Indeed, I’ve known several dragons, many of whom are my shepol. And just so you know, I really do have that relation. My family is quite complicated since I was adopted. And I’m betting Tey and Sai are your foster parents,” Lanni volunteered, with a hint of pride in her voice. Jahree, catching the direction of the conversation, asked, “They are. You spoke of being a runaway before. Did you happen to be fostered by them as well?” Lanni shook her head, a tinge of sadness in her eyes, “No. Had they found me, I would’ve been sent back home. It wasn’t my parents who were abusive; it was my broth-er, and no one would believe me when I told them about him.” Jahree’s voice softened, “I’m sorry to hear that. And in the end, you were sent back?” She sighed, her expression turning bittersweet, “Yes, I was. When my brother fi-nally went too far with a friend, the truth could no longer be ignored. With everyone’s eyes opened to his behavior, I was protected from him. He received the help he needed. Eventually, we even managed to settle our differences and started afresh as friends.” “There’s some solace in that—a sort of happy ending,” Jahree acknowledged a sense of relief in his tone. But then he checked the time, reminding himself, “As much as I’d like to continue our talk, I can’t spend my entire shift here in conversation with you.” Quick on her feet, Lanni proposed, “Unless I joined you on your rounds. Let me finish these fritters, and if you’d like, I could accompany you.” He grinned at her offer, appreciative, “I wouldn’t mind the company at all.” “It would get me out of that kitchen. Nothing to do around here in the middle of the night,” Lanni agreed, pleased with the plan. “Good to know. I’ll remember that on my nights off. I’ll see you around,” Jahree said as he turned to leave, contented with the thought of her company on future night patrols. #fantasy, #magic, #dragons, #hiddenlands