Time flies when things are going well and before Serali knew it, summer was coming to a close. Nearly a year had passed since she had left home. One morning as she was having breakfast, she broke the subject of a possible visit home with Janus.

"Janus, it's been nearly a year since I saw my family. Do you think that I could visit them?"

Janus looked surprised. "Has it really been that long?"

"Yes, it has. I'm enjoying myself here, but I do miss my family sometimes."

"I was planning on having you come with me when I pass through Land's End next summer."

"That's almost another year from now, Janus. I don't want to wait that long."

A wistful expression crossed Janus' face. "I forget how much family can mean sometimes. It has been a very long time since I last saw my family, and it was not a happy parting. Yes, you can go Serali. But you must be careful, a woman traveling alone is not safe."

"I'll go in dragon form. Flying is faster in any case."

"I forget sometimes that you aren't human." He paused a long moment and then added. "Eventually you're going to have to tell that young man of yours, you know."

Serali sighed. "I know. But I'm afraid that once he knows he won't see me anymore. I really do love him, you know. I'd hate to lose him."

"But are you doing him any favors by not telling him?"

Serali stopped and really though about it for a minute. She knew that she might lose Galen when she told him, but it wasn't fair to him to keep him in that dark just so that she could be with him that much longer. "You're right. I've just been trying to ignore it, but it's not going away. I'll tell him when I get back."

With a light step at the thought of seeing her family again she set off for Land's End. The first part of the journey she would make on foot. There was plenty of traffic along the road out of Barona so she didn't have to worry about being assaulted, but it meant that she also wouldn't be able to change into dragon form until she reached the turn-off that led homeward. The journey was a pleasant one though. Serali strolled along, taking her time and watching her fellow travelers. Nobles in covered carriages, going to or from country estates, farmers with loaded wagons heading to town to sell their loads of fruit or vegetables, a caravan of merchants heading for the elven lands to trade, a second caravan, similar in appearance but vastly different in purpose, of pilgrims headed for one of the western shrines. All of them moving together in a great crowd of humanity on the dusty road.

The weather was good, summer was drawing to a close here, though at Land's End the weather would still be hot. Barona was farther north and fall would not be long in coming. The difference in weather had been a delight to Serali during her first winter in Barona. At Land's End it almost never snowed and when it did it was a mere dusting that always melted before long. In Barona though the snow sometimes piled up to the eaves of the lower buildings. She had been able to look out of her window one morning after a heavy snow to find the snow level only a few feet below her second story window. Right now though the snows were still months away. Autumn's chill was just beginning and the air was brisk but not unpleasant.

As dusk began to descend, Serali reached a fork in the road. Traffic was already much thinner, and as she turned off down the smaller side track, the main road was emptying as travelers sought out places to stop for the night. The side road was completely deserted so Serali merely walked down it far that someone passing by on the main road wouldn't be able to see her. Looking around one more time to be sure she was alone, she changed into dragon form. By now she had completely mastered shifting, she was even beginning to toy with the idea of trying a third form. Spreading her wings, she took off into the air. She wanted to make some distance before stopping that night.

A few hours later, she was flying over a forested area, having covered in that short time almost twice the distance that she had made during daylight. With a yawn she decided that it was time to stop. Finding a small clearing, she landed, curled into a ball, and went to sleep.

She awoke the next morning with a stinging pain in her neck and the sensation that something was wrong. She opened her eyes to find a burly man standing over her with an axe. Without even thinking about it, she rolled over and leaped in a flash of motion, ending with the man pinned to the ground unharmed, his axe on its way down from a long arc across the clearing.

Serali was nearly as startled by her instinctive reaction as the man was, but she managed to recover herself before he did. Turning her head around so that she was looking him right in the eyes, she asked, "What were you doing?"

The man looked at her with surprise. For a long minute he was silent and then with an air of one who has given up he said, "Protecting my family from a monster."

Serali blinked. "I'm sorry, I never meant to scare anyone."

"What do you mean? You're a monster. Whether you mean to scare or not, your kind are a menace."

"The same could be said of you, you know. Humans kill more humans than all the other creatures combined."

Now it was the man's turn to be surprised. "I suppose, dragon, that you're right."

"Well, since we're both in agreement, I think I shall let you up now."

She carefully sat back, letting the man rise to his feet. He got his balance back and looked around warily. Then, with calm deliberation, he walked over to where the axe had landed and picked it up.

"If you don't mind, I'd like to have this handy, just in case."

"Feel free." responded Serali. "I've no objection to you protecting yourself. I'd just rather not be attacked without any provocation." The situation feeling much more under control, Serali took a moment to examine the source of the stinging pain in her neck. Much to her surprise, she found that where the man had swung the axe at her several of the scales were actually cracked, and the tender skin underneath torn. With a great deal of twisting, she managed to lick at the spot. It was bleeding slightly, but didn't look serious.

"When you do something, you don't do it by halves, do you?"

"No, I don't. Though this time I didn't get what I thought I would."

"I for one am glad. But I have miles to cover before the night, so I must be off."

She walked the length of the clearing to get room to launch herself into the air. With her wings half spread she paused, turning back to the man.

"I don't think you've mentioned your name."

"I'm Benar the woodsman." The man said.

"And I'm Serali. Perhaps we shall meet again."

That said, she spread her wings and, running down the length of the clearing, she leaped into the air and with a few beats of her wings was gone.

Two more days of travel brought her to the plateau where Land's End sat. Choosing a spot well outside of town, she set down and changed back to her human form. It felt a bit odd at first. She had been a dragon for nearly three days, the longest time she had spent in that form so far. After a moment of unsteadiness though, she adjusted to the familiar feelings. Setting a brisk pace, she headed toward home.

Her family hadn't been warned of her arrival, any letter she could have sent would have reached them long after she did. So, when she walked into the house her mother nearly dropped the pan she was carrying. Putting it down quickly on the nearest flat surface, she rushed over and gave Serali a hug.

"Serali!"

"Oh Mama, I'm so glad to be home!" Serali exclaimed. All of the sudden her homesickness, which had crept up on her so slowly she had hardly realized it was there, was gone. The rest of the family came piling out of the house. Serali looked at them. Even little Carita was beginning to look grown-up. As for Turla, she was looking quite the young woman. And Ohlito had filled out over the last year, going form a gangly teen, all knees and elbows, to a solid young man. But someone was missing.

"Where's Dentol?"

"He's moved out." Marilla answered. "Young Rella caught his eye and they were married two months ago."

Serali's face fell. "I'm sorry I wasn't here."

"It's all right, Serali. We all know that you couldn't have made it in time. Barona is a long way away."

I could have, she thought, It only took three days to get here. If they'd just told me… but they couldn't have known that. She shook her head.

"I guess you're right. But never mind that. I'll visit them later. Right now I want to know what's for dinner!"

Turla grinned. "That's our Serali, always thinking about food!"

Everyone laughed, and they all went inside.

Serali spent that night on a mattress on the floor, her old bed and room having been given to Turla. The next few days passed in a flurry of happy activity. Serali did all of the things that she had done before leaving. She helped out at the inn, did chores at home, cooked, ran through the gullies and hills outside of town, and just enjoyed herself. She visited Dentol, and found him a state of marital bliss that was almost sickening.

Finally, after an entire week spent enjoying herself, it was time to leave.

Standing in front of the house, she said her farewells, bent down and hugged her mother and father. (She was taller then both of them by now) slapped Ohlito on the back, ruffled Carita's hair, hugged Turla, and turned and walked away.

My family… and it will probably be another whole year before I see them again. Will Turla be married by that time? What else will I miss? She sighed. I guess that I just can't have them both, magic and family. Though maybe someday… maybe someday I'll get married and have a family of my own. Pleasant thought of possible futures occupied her as she walked away from town to a place where she could shift and finish her journey.

The trip back to Barona was uneventful and Serali arrived three days later as the sun was setting. Janus welcomed her back without any fuss and, after a bit of small talk about the trip he went off to his room. As he went up the stairs, he turned back and added.

"Oh yes, I nearly forgot. Your schedule tomorrow will be slightly different. Lady Valerie felt that she didn't have anything more to teach you that you won't learn from experience, so you'll be having a new teacher."

And without a further word, he climbed out of sight.

Serali went up to her room with her mind going over the possibilities. What kind of teacher would she have now? What else would Janus have her learn?

"I swear, Janus, you never seem to sleep!"

He laughed and went on eating breakfast. Serali served herself out of the pot on the table. Breakfast was, as usual, porridge. Serali didn't share her siblings dislike of the stuff, so she ladled out a generous portion and sat down to eat.

"So, are you going to tell me more about this new teacher of yours?" Serali asked.

"Certainly. His name is Cervus. He's the arms master for Lord Mortigen."

"Arms master? Why would he be my new teacher?"

"Because, Serali, a mage is terribly vulnerable to physical attacks. Or at least most are. While casting spells it is easy to get hurt or even killed by an opponent who can just stab you with a sword instead of having to take five minutes casting a war spell. Most mages spend all of their time studying magic. I didn't, and it's saved my life on a number of occasions. I intend for you to learn something about fighting. That way you won't be killed by the first half-competent sword-slinger that comes along."

Serali grinned. "I can see how that would be rather inconvenient."

Janus lost his serious expression and grinned back. "Yes, it is very very inconvenient."

"Actually, it's not all that inconvenient for you, you're dead so you don't care, but imagine what your family and friends would have to go through. I mean funeral arrangements and all that can be so annoying."

Janus laughed. "And the trouble you put all those undertakers and priests and such through too!"

"Oh no, the undertakers don't mind at all. More profit for them, you see. And the priests don't either. Their gods will have you then, and that's their profit."

They were both laughing by that point. Janus gasped out, "or should we, ha ha, say, he he he, their prophet? ha ha ha!"

Just then there was a knock form the front door. Janus caught his breath and managed to stop laughing Serali tried, but giggles kept escaping. "I think, he he he, that you had better get the door."

Janus nodded and turned to the door, avoiding Serali because just looking at her would set him off again for sure. Opening the door from the kitchen, he went down the short hall to the entrance room. Serali, her giggles subsiding, followed a dozen paces behind. Janus opened the door and narrowly avoided being hit by the man standing on the other side who had raised his hand to knock again.

"Sorry Janus!"

"It's all right. Come in."

Janus ushered the man into the reception room. "Serali, I'd like to introduce you to Cervus. Cervus, this is my apprentice Serali."

Cervus nodded at Serali, and she retuned the gesture.

"Cervus is the teacher I've told you about. He'll be giving you whatever arms training he thinks you need. I'm sure the two of you can work things out, so I'm going to go and get some work done." Janus turned and walke out of the room, leaving Serali and Cervus regarding each other warily.

Cervus spoke first. "You look to be fairly fit. The best way to start is usually to start. I believe that there's room to do some work out in the courtyard, let's go." And with that he turned and went back out the door.

Serali followed with some trepidation, a feeling which the next hours more then justified. By the time they quite for lunch, she was dripping with sweat. Cervus had started her with stretches and then moved to calisthenics. After he had pronouced her "warmed up" he began to show her a series of simple motions. Eventually, he told her, these motions would form the basis for a deadly type of weaponless fighting. Serali could see how some of them would, but she thought she ought to be able to get right to the useful things.

"Why not start with weapons?"

"Because right now you have no controll. Oh you could learn to use a weapn well enough to kill someone with, but not well enough to not kill, if you see what I mean. Also, you would most likely do yourself or me some harm in the learning. But if first you learn to fight with your body, then you will have the controll to become truly great with any weapon."

"I'm going to be a mage, not a fighter. I don't need to be truly great."

"No, that takes a lifetime if dedication. But you can be very good, and by learning things in their proper order you will be just that much better."

Serali sighed. "If you say so."

"I do, so let's get back to work."

Serali was starving at lunch, and after a brief rest she was ready to work on her spells, but by the time she crawled into bed that night after an evening walk with Galen she was exhausted. It was actually a rather pleasant feeling. Finishing her nightly ritual of washing and reading, she fell asleep immediately.

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