Blood of Half Gods: Kallen's Tale by Bonnie Lamer Page A

be.”
     
    I shrug.  “The clocks and stars do not lie.”   
     
    Dagda turns to me.  “Kallen, please call Radella and her team back.  We need to get to the bottom of whatever is going on between you two.”  To Xandra, he says, “We are all anxious to know where you have been for the last hour and a half.”
     
    Xandra’s face flushes.  “Um, dancing in the woods with Nymphs.”  When neither Dagda nor I say anything, she says, “What?  Why are you just staring at me?”
     
    Dagda narrows his eyes.  “We are waiting for you to tell us where you really were.”
     
    Her eyes flash.  “Um, are you guys deaf?  I said I was in the forest with Nymphs.”
     
    This has to be a figment of her imagination, a part of whatever is making her magic malfunction.  “Xandra,” I say gently.  “There is no such thing as Nymphs.”
     
    She does not believe me.  “You’re telling me that there are Fairies, Giants, Witches, Angels and Shadows, but there aren’t any Nymphs?  Why would I believe that?”
     
    “Well, cousin-to-be-very-soon,” Kegan, who has reentered the room, says “you should believe it because it is true.” 
     
    Xandra gives him a dirty look.  “Then who were the three women dancing in the woods?”
     
    “A figment of your imagination?” Kegan suggests, speaking aloud what I am thinking.  “We are currently in an unpopulated area.”
     
    She puts her hands on her hips and glares at him.  “Who says I was in this area?”
     
    “Xandra,” I say, putting a hand on her shoulder.  “Tell us more about these women.  Did they tell you they were Nymphs?”
     
    Her anger defuses slightly as she realizes we may be right.  “No, I guess that’s what I called them.”  There is a sigh around the room.  She is simply calling whatever creatures she met by the wrong name.  “What were they, then?” she asks.
     
    “Come,” Dagda says, returning to his chair.  “Sit and we will try to figure it out.”  Xandra sighs and plops down on one of the couches.  Kegan, and I sit as well.  Dagda waves a tired hand at Xandra.  “Whenever you are ready.”
     
    Xandra sighs heavily again.  “Like I said, there were three of them.  One blonde, one brunette and one redhead.”
     
    “None with black hair?” Kegan asks, obviously trying to identify the women as Fairies.
     
    Xandra shakes her head.  “They didn’t have green eyes, either.  They had brown and blue eyes.  And they were wearing these toga-like things in bright colors.  And they liked dancing.  A lot.” 
     
    I frown.  “You are not describing Fairies.  Were they large, like Giants?”  She tilts her head and gives me a dirty look.  I guess she would have known right away if they were Giants, but I am only trying to get to the bottom of this.  Calmly, I say, “Fine, not Giants then.”
     
    Dagda shakes his head.  “Xandra, you lost another hour and a half, and before that, you and Kallen lost almost two hours.  Before that, you lost six hours.  It is now coming close to midnight and I am tired.  Are you absolutely certain you did not fall asleep in the woods and dream these creatures you speak of?”
     
    She bites her bottom lip and considers this.  Finally, she says,  “No, I don’t believe I was dreaming.” 
     
    Standing up again, Dagda says, “We have the necessary items for the dream spell.  We should get on with it and discuss this more tomorrow.  As soon as the drivers are well enough rested, they will be resuming our southern progress this evening as we are so far off track now and need to make up for the shift in direction.  I am hoping they will make good time if you are in a dreamless slumber.”
     
    Xandra nods.  “Okay, what do I need to do?”
     
    “Sindri,” Dagda calls out.  Sindri comes into the room a moment later carrying a silver tray with several different plants on it.  He sets it down on the coffee table in front of the couch where Xandra is