27,505 now we are moving.

Idrias got to the lobby and waved at Ray and started over to him, glad to see he was there. She started over to him, relived to see that he didn’t look impatient. She disliked imposing on him, but truly didn’t feel safe out on the campus alone. He didn’t seem to mind, but then he had been with the security team long enough to have known Mat and Luke so likely they had asked him to see I was watched. One of the librarians said. “Hi Idrias you books are ready, and a few more that you might want to look at that came in after the shipment you saw. They are in your box, and there is no rush on them.”

Idrias said. “Thank you Gwen, I want to attend the lecture then need to go by the book store so they need to wait, but I will get them. Now you are sure they aren’t needed? I don’t know what sort of work is being done, but a few are touching on topics come up in Congress.”

Gwen said. “There have been no calls and with the semester over there won’t be for at least week.  So take them, and don’t worry. Yes if someone asks a flag will be put in so you are notified. Have fun, just remember to pick them up.”

Ray said. “Don’t worry I will see that she does. I don’t want Helen worrying about her. Yes Idrias, she would, you might not think it but they do notice. Now come on, Steve has the seats, but we need to get there. This is going to be crowed. It took a bit of arm twisting to get Dr. Burguas here and a number of the professors have been talking about this lecturer in their classes.”

Idrias nodded. “He is the leading expert on the Sthourain dragons and is the one that discover both the Piler cities and the towns inside Mt. Homer. There has been speculation that he has also found evidence of cites in the Red Rift. His name is on the majority of papers come out of the south in the last five years. This is the first time he has ever consisted to come this far North. It is a big deal, and everyone majoring in geology and archeology is going to be trying for a seat. I likely should feel guiltily, but I am not going to miss this chance. Besides I bet that there have or will be some student and staff only talks as well. I don’t see there being just the one with him coming all this way.”

Ray smiled and nodded a bit. “I just didn’t want you to be shocked by the crowd. It is open so you have every right to be there, and will get more out of it than a lot of the students, for you will be there to listen not just be seen.” They reached the room and he stopped. “Now this is the largest theater, and is going to be full. I know you found it hard to take when you came to see that play last month. This one is larger, and it is likely to be full. Steve was going to try and get places near the doors, but if not it will be on the aisle, you will be between us, but able to get out.” Her gave her a bit then opened the door and looked at her. “When you need a break just say so, there is no harm in stepping out for a bit. You won’t be the only one that does so. It will quite down once it gets started but it is going to be noise tell then. Are you good to go in?” She had palled a bit there were a lot of people in there and more still arriving. This would be the largest event she had been at.

Idrias nodded and stepped on in, shaking a bit. “I knew it would be a big event, but this. Well I had seen this room, but never expected to be in it. It is a bit much but I can mange, as I am not facing it alone.” She looked anything but sure as they moved on in. Luckily Steve had managed to get the seats in the second row in, so that helped. It was a bit tense until the lecture started, but once it did she was able to focus on it and forget the people around her.

After it was over Ray looked at her and smiled a bit seeing she was still bent over her notebook getting the last few thoughts down. She had done a lot better than he had feared, only needed to leave one other than the scheduled breaks, and she had been able to stay in the hall during them. That was a lot better than she had been last year, even if she didn’t see it. At least she wasn’t so scared of everyone now if only she could get past the silly worry that she was going to upset people by moving around the campus alone. Now then to see how she takes this. I did tell Dr. Jackson that I would have to bring a friend, so they are expecting it. “Now I know you need to get to the book store, but we have to make a stop first, don’t worry they are open late, so there is time. You need to be back by six or seven?”

Idrias said. “Seven, though six would be better. I don’t really need to change as it is a relaxed diner thank goodness. I do want to be there, but am glad that I don’t need to run. However I don’t want to cause you problems.”

Ray said, as he stood up. “It is fine, I told them when I got taped that I wouldn’t be alone. They have no problem with it, and it will just be a half hour so you will have plenty of time to get the books you need to and check out the rest of the new stock.”

Idrias shook her head but stood up and went with him. “I really do have orders to pick up some books. When I told my father where I was going some with him had books they needed, but weren’t sure when they would find the time. I am going to be very glad I bought this bag, otherwise I am not sure just how I would get them home as I by the time I got away it was five copies of each one, and three are ones I want myself.”

Ray said. “And to think you fought about it being to costly, not worth it. I told you that it would earn every dime.” He opened a door and led her in smiling a bit, this was going to be fun.

Idrias laughed then looked around and back at Ray. “Um, just where? I don’t think I should be here. This looks like a meeting.”

Ray said. “It is just and end of semester get together for the faculty. Completely informal, just a chance for them to unwind after dealing with the complaints.” He led her over to a table and got her a drink, and one for himself and wait until she had tried it. “Now this has some caffeine in it, so no refill, but one glass should be fine.” She looked at him, he shrugged. “If I’m am proved wrong and you start feeling jumpy there is some wine here that will counter it. However one glass won’t hurt you, even given the day. I know you haven’t had any all week and you know that isn’t good.” Caffeine affected shifters differently, and the added caffeine could block their control. However mages needed it to balance the energies, so those that were both couldn’t simply stay away from it. It was a fine line and the full moon made it harder.

Idrias said. “There you go again. I don’t think the he intend for you to take it quite so far. Fine, but if I end up having to leave tonight you will hear about it for a month. My plan is to really upset a few by not leaving, in spite of the moon. I want to see how they react. Some of them truly do believe that all shifters need to be locked away when the moon is full, in spite of the education campaign.”

Ray nodded. “I have seen it with the students here and am glad that you feel up to it. Now this room is safe, everyone in here is known. I need to go get in the middle of things, but you don’t need to if you aren’t up to it. I can bet you have enough of it at home right now.”

Idrias nodded. “you go do what you need to, I will just stay here out of the way.” He nodded and drifted off, knowing she wouldn’t be alone there for long. She heard bits of the taclk, most of it was about grading the exams and complaints they had received over the grades. She had to shake her head a bit at some of them. It was hard to believe that any thought they could pass without working. Just where did they think they were? To take the classes but to think their name was all they needed. If they were just here to be seen they should stay to the easy classes and not take up a place that those who wanted to learn could use. That is why there were classes labeled as low work, basic understanding. They were there just for those that just wanted to be seen, but didn’t care about a degree.

Professor Alderman said. “You mean to say that they shared their homes with Dragons? Surly not! Just how could they have? Next you will be trying to say that those paintings were made by the beasts. Or are you saying they were Shifters? Now that would be an interesting find. That could help explain just where the current virus configuration was started. They had to have a base, but that was toughly destroyed. Making it far hard to find an effective treatment little own a cure. If that base was found.”

Idrias was glad that she was out of sight, for she was fighting not to laugh. Just what did he teach? She freely admitted that her understand of science was very basic, not even enough to be worth mention, yet she knew how the virus was made. It could be that it was just because they lived in a shadow of a lab, and so learned more. Still he should know. It was hardly hidden. So he must be one of the deniers. One that said it could have been done as Mairia had testified, as the records said. There were some that just couldn’t believe what they had done. They just didn’t want to believe that it was made completely by nanos, magic and a few blood cells. Like it was easier to believe they had taken a virus into this thing that rewrote a big chunk of D.N.A. in the infected. Why did they find that to be the better answer? Then that might be in that rate of infection stuff. Something to do with how it wasn’t seen as much as it should be, how it was able to be dormant for generations only for one child to have the effects, like her. There hasn’t been a shifter on either side for at least four generations, and that one isn’t a sure thing. Just a line about a uncle that would vanish once a month. So when she changed it shocked everyone. Neither of her parents thought they carried the genes, yet it was most likely they both did given that she had three forms.

Dr. Burgass said.  “There were no wares before the virus. That has been proven time and time again. I don’t know how that keeps coming up, yet it does. I wouldn’t be surprised to find that some homes included both dragons and humans, but so far the evidences just shows that both lived in the town. Yet the mid levels are clearly made for both, so I personally believe that some at least did share.  At first we thought at different times, but the more we excavated it became clear that for a time at least they shared the space. We are finding art work and writings from both. It is truly fascinating. In the slides, there were examples of the writings that clearly showed the mix. Then the only explanation for some of the building is that there were dragon craftsmen as well as trolls involved. Humans just don’t have the strength or understanding of stone to do it. then the remnants of the tools match was found at cities we know were made and occupied by trolls. Verified by early photographs, it was thought they were part of spy reports, but now I wound if it was just vacation pictures, as some were labeled as being. It is fascinating, what we have found shows that at one time trolls were trusted. Lending more support to Herrold’s journals be just that. We knew that there had been dragon societies, that there used to be some here that lived much as we do. However until now all evidence showed that they were gone long before humans were here. Now we are learning that not only is that wrong, but that trolls are not, or were not always as we find them to be now. It might be that the trolls worked just with the dragons, but still they would have tolerated the presence of humans. Something everyone had believed to be imposable.”

Professor Alderson said. “Literate dragons and friendly trolls. They told me that I would find it strange here, but I had no idea just how right that would be. We have found it imposable to believe in intelligent animals.”

Dr. Jackson said. “Hubberation and Blict are two of the six known Draconic languages. Hellinac was a dragon, I know you have read those works. All of the Raven Cycle was written by dragons. I could go on. There is a lot of the classics that have their origins in works by dragons even if they are not by them. We have a number of ancient builds in our lands, and many bear samples of their writing and art. Graffiti I am sure at the time, but now a record that is helping us unlock their lives. I will see if Goven Northmarsh can arrange a trip to the ruins near his place so you can see them. They are not the most impressive, but they are clearly not made for or by humans. I am not shocked by that though the trolls, now that does make me wonder.”

Idrias said. “I think that you will find that at least one of the towns in the rift was settled by trolls. Have you ever heard any of Carrmeath Risscakol’s Species of Grant Land? It lists four different troll races. Only one of which was out to destroy all that didn’t serve them. That would be the Guugden, which loosely translates as the Northern Horde. That would fit the ones that side with the Waith, the ones we are guard against. The Guudanced, Stone Dwell, stayed to the deep mountains and dark places, they did not seek war, but killed all who came into their lands uninvited. That would fit the Black Mountain, the other place trolls have been seen in recent times. The other two they said were welcoming and trained freely with the other races of the land. It was long thought a fable, but that doesn’t mean it is. If we go by it then I think you will find more than one settlement in the rift. I thought from the map that the site sounded like the Black Star he speaks of. One of the four centers of trade in the Dawn Empire, which fits. I know that the Red Star is in the waste, I found a map of it.” She stopped and flushed a bit, realizing they were looking at her and she had been rambling a bit much. More so as she was way out of place, and should have thought before opening her mouth.

Professor Alderson said. “That drivel. Just why is it even being taught. That trash has been found unreliable more times than is worth mention. What fool made a map using the names from it?”

Idrias said. “It is on the map of Daiveds retweet, it was one of the places Trimph was able to slow the Waiths down. HIllcut Numbis translates to Red Star. Modern maps list it as Black Tide, in the dead zone. I thought the name was just coincidence, now though I am wondering if it might be more.” She turned hoping to change the topic a bit, not wanting the fight she saw coming. Why did it take her so long to realize that he was a follower of the One?  She should have seen it sooner, what with his comets about place and behavior. And he is to go to my house. This is going to be a long conference. Thank goodness I am not in the meetings. “Dr. Burgass, the slide of the red cave you showed looked to have some Empierion runes as well as the Celion in it. Is there any other evidence of costal trade? Also, do you think there could be four more towns in the rift?"

Dr. Burgass blinked, looking a bit stunned. “I am surprised you could even tell there was anything on the walls, little own enough to make out the language. That wasn’t even a decent picture. It wasn’t the one that was supposed to be shown, for it is overexposed, making it hard to even see the writing.  I do have better images, they just failed to get loaded. We thought that there might be some Empierion, but it hasn’t been confirmed. The Celion we are sure of, but not the full translation yet. There are dozens of different forms of writing and at least six different languages just on the walls and pottery. The vast number of years is making it hard to tell what is just a change in form and what is a different language. We haven’t started on the scrolls yet, but some appear to be made of the same vellum that was found in Natuas and there are fragments of shells. So yes it does look like there was some costal contact. The work at rift is just starting, but we have six sites that we think might be cities. I didn’t even consider Carrmeath, but now. I need to look at those passages again. I do think you might be on to something. If only we could get to that other site. The centers were identical save location, so that would be one way to know if we are onto something.”