t has long been the dark organization of Val, and its objective is to free their god from his prison.  Entrapped, Val is, but he still can wield some power in the world, and that power would be used, yes, to allow the ki'zadun to attack and take Suld.  They seek to raze the Tower, for it is the central power of the Goddess and the katzh-dashi.  Without the Tower and the Goddess, Val would have no serious opposition to finding the Firestaff."
	"The power of the Sorcerers isn't based in the Tower," Tarrin objected.
	"It is, yes," Jegojah countered.  "All gods, even Val, are represented in the mortal plane by an icon, an object, that represents them here.  Destroy that icon, and the god loses contact with the world until he can create another.  And that can take centuries.  Spyder entrapped Val's godly spirit into his icon, forcing him into the mortal world, which drastically reduced his power.  Even an Elder god like the Goddess of the kazth-dashi is restricted in this manner.  But in the case of the Goddess, if her icon was to be destroyed, the Weave itself would change, and it would no longer be close enough for Sorcerers to touch.  All other magic would still work, but all the katzh-dashi would lose their powers."
	Tarrin gave Jegojah a shocked look.  Mother, is that true? he had to ask.
	It is very true, my kitten, she said seriously.  If they destroy my icon, my power will be lost to my Children.  That means that all the Sorcerers would be stripped of their powers, and I doubt very many would survive it.  The Weavequake it would cause would be catastrophic, akin to another Breaking.  Only the weakest of my Children, those least connected to the Weave, would survive the disaster.
	"The ki'zadun, they think they know where the icon of the Goddess is, yes.  In the Tower of Six Spires."
	Tarrin knew exactly where and what it was.  It was that statue in the center of the hedge maze.  That statue never seemed to be a statue, it had always seemed alive.  Well, in a way, it was alive.  It was the physical representation of the Goddess, and from it, from her, all magic into the world flowed.  The Heart was not in the middle of the center Tower, as many believed.  The true Heart was in the middle of that maze.  It was merely overshadowed by the Conduit that came up through the center Tower, using it as a diversion, a shield, to conceal the icon's presence.
	"So, the strife in the West, it is but a plan to get a large enough army, filled with all manner of powerful and dark creatures, close enough to Suld to destroy it before the rest of the human world rises up to intercede."  Jegojah looked at Tarrin.  "All of this is, it is being done to banish your Goddess from the mortal world.  Yes."
	Tarrin was awed, and he was horrified.  It was a clever plan, clever and thorough.  They could get rid of the Sorcerers, remove Tarrin, and get to the Firestaff unopposed, all in one fell swoop.  All they had to do was take Suld.  It was a very well-formed plan, he had to admit, looking at it, and had been successful up to that point.  The conditions were indeed perfect for what they were doing.  Shac was as good as in a state of civil war.  Daltochan was well into Sulasia, and Tykarthia and Ungardt were fighting.  Sulasia had no allies, no help to beat back an invasion from undead legions, hordes of Goblinoids, members of the Fae-da'kii, or even some Demons.  If they could get that force to Suld, then there was a very good chance that they could take the city before the other kingdoms came to their senses and moved to aid Sulasia.
	The enormity of it was nearly overwhelming.  Had he been standing, Tarrin would have sat down.  Hard.  "What do we do to stop it?" Tarrin managed to ask.
	"Well, a plan uncovered is a plan easily thwarted," Jegojah said.  "Unfortunately, Were-cat, we an only warn the Tower, yes.  They can take steps, if possible.  But honestly, there is little we can do, yes.  Little more than warn."
	"More than that," Tarrin said, his mind turning.  "It seems that the best way to stop them would be to let them continue with their plan, let them get to Suld, and find out that there's a force at hand capable of defeating theirs."
	"Risky, but workable," Jegojah said.  "If Jegojah commanded, he would ambush their forces some distance from Suld, so that the city itself is not at risk, no.  Fighting that kind of battle, it is risky, especially considering the price of defeat.  Yes."
	Tarrin remembered the terrain around Suld.  "It wouldn't work," Tarrin said.  "There's a large empty plain between the city and the forest suitable for a battle like that, but the high ground is on the east, and it abuts the forest.  That would put the enemy on high ground if we lined up on the plains, or would allow the enemy to hide its forces in the forest if we occupied the ground beside it.  Neither are workable."
	"Those both, they are very bad moves," Jegojah grunted.  "Right, you are, Were-cat, yes."
	"And since you can't fight a battle on that scale in the forest, you'd have to pick a defensible area.  Unfortunately, the only defensible area would be the city walls."
	"Right again," Jegojah nodded.  "Surprising, ye are, Were-cat.  Intelligence, it is not something they attribute to you, no."
	"Then let's surprise them," Tarrin grinned at him.  "So, what we need to do is assemble an army capable of dealing with theirs.  They'll have Wizards and undead and Demons and Fae-da'kii.  Well, we'll have Sorcerers, Priests, alot of war veterans in Suld, maybe some Were-kin if I can lure them out to fight, whatever mercenaries we can get our hands on--" his eyes brightened--"and gunpowder."
	"Gunpowder?  Jegojah, he does not know of this."
	"The Wikuni make it.  It's an explosive mixture of ingredients.  They use it to propel big steel balls at high speeds.  They call them cannons, and they're fifty times more destructive than a catapult."
	"Ah.  Jegojah sees the use of it, then," the undead warrior agreed.  "But your assets, they will not be enough, no.  The force marching against you is vast, Were-cat, yes.   Almost uncountable.  Kravon, he has taken years to assemble this army, and hidden them in Daltochan and the moutains surrounding the Petal Lakes.  Every unscrupulous mercenary from Suld to Saranam is enrolled in his force, and that is just the humans in it, yes."
	That term must have been old, if even Jegojah knew of it.  From Suld to Saranam was a phrase meaning all over or everywhere.
	"Then we just need to match his numbers," Tarrin said grimly.
	"Where will we find such troops?"
	"I know of a few places," Tarrin said, standing up.  "We'll start with Kerri."
	"Kerri?  Who is this?"
	"Keritanima-chan Eram.  The Queen of Wikuna."
	Jegojah looked at him, then cackled brightly.  "The Wikuni with you?  She is the Queen?"  Tarrin nodded.  "Vai avignon!  Happy news!"
	"If I asked, Kerri would ferry over her entire army," he explained.  "I don't think the ki'zadun would be expecting to face the Wikuni, and their Vendari allies."
	"True, but the Wikuni, they are far away.  And their ships, they can only carry so many.  Kravon will be attacking Suld about a month after the passes melt their snow, yes.  We may not have time to move all the troops we need, no."
	"I know, so we'll have to find some other troops somewhere."  He reached into the little belt pouch at his waist, and pulled out the black medallion device.  Shiika had given it to him, through Anayi, and told him that if he ever needed her, he could use it to talk to her.  He certainly needed her now.  Even Shiika would understand the chaos that would ensue if the ki'zadun managed to banish the Goddess.  Maybe she would help.  He stared at it a moment, pondering what twists of fate had brought him to this juncture.
	"What is that?"
	"Salvation," Tarrin said, gripping it in his paw.  "And maybe damnation."
	There was no help for it.  "Shiika," he called in a strong voice.
	The answer was immediate.  "It's been a long time, Tarrin," she said with an amused tone.  "What do you need?"
	The sound of her voice conjured up the nasty spat they had had, but that had been a long time ago.  "I need you," Tarrin said.  "I need you and your Legions, and I need them now."
	"My Legions?  What on earth for?"
	"Right now, a massive force is marching on Suld, and if they take it, the damage they could cause would be catastrophic.  The Sorcerers would cease to be, and the people chasing me will get the Firestaff, because I'll be ceasing along with the rest of the Sorcerers.  We can't let that happen."
	"Hmm.  My spies have been reporting some very unusual activity in Sulasia, and in the entire West for that matter.  Is it really that serious?"
	"I've heard it from someone who heard it all, Shiika," he answered, glossing over what Jegojah told him.  The undead warrior waited patiently for Tarrin to talk, correcting him on a few minor points.
	"Well, hellfire," Shiika said curtly.  "It makes sense.  If they can knock out the Sorcerers, the path to the Firestaff will be much less cluttered.  And I'm not about to let that happen," she said hotly.  "I was granted leave to stay here so long as I helped protect the Firestaff.  Well, I'm not about to back out of my side of the bargain.  You contact that Wikuni hothead of a sister of yours, Tarrin, and you arrange her to bring as many ships as she can to Dala Yar Arak.  I'll load them from keel to pennant with Arakite troops and send them to Suld.  My Legions are crack soldiers, Tarrin, and I'll send by best generals to lead them.  And expect a few other contributions.  I'll send the Cambisi ahead of the Legions, and they'll set up to face whatever hellspawn the other side is employing."
	He was shocked she agreed so quickly.  "Why are you doing this?" he asked quickly.
	"Because this is more of a home to me than the Abyss ever was," she replied.  "I don't want my comfortable life upset, and this will definitely upset my life.  Besides, there's a certain agreement between me and the Gods.  They tolerate my presence here so long as I helped them with certain things from time to time.  Well, this sounds like one of those things they'd have me help with."
	"You were right, Were-cat, yes," Jegojah chuckled.  "She is not a normal Demon, is she?"
	"Who is that?"
	"You wouldn't believe me if I told you," Tarrin grunted.  "Shiika, I need you to go find a Sorcerer's Amulet, a real one.  You can get one?"
	"I already have a few hundred of them.  Any specific one I need?"
	"No, just carry one with you," he replied.  He wasn't sure he wanted to know where or how Shiika came across so many amulets.  "I can use the amulet to speak to you."
	"Ah, so you've crossed over, have you?" she said brightly.  "That was an old Weavespinner trick."
	"Yes and no," he answered.  "Just be careful, talking through the amulets isn't completley secure, so we have to be careful.  You know Sha'Kar?"
	"I'm a Demon, Tarrin.  I understand all languages."
	"I didn't know that.  How does it work?"
	"It's too hard to explain, so leave it until later.  The spell is about to end, Tarrin.  Talk to that Wikuni of yours and get those ships here.  I'll send some troops out on our own ships, but the Wikuni will probably pass them on the way.  I'll send my daughters to Suld, and if you want, I'll have Anayi stop and pick you up."
	You can't do that, Tarrin, the Goddess warned.
	"I'll be moving on foot, Shiika.  I can probably go just as fast on foot as it would take Anayi to get here and fly me there."
	"Fair enough.  Just warn the people in Suld that my daughters are coming.  It wouldn't be very nice for them to be attacked when they arrive."
	"I'll see to it."
	"Good.  I'll be coming personally with my troops, so I'll see you when we arrive."
	He wasn't sure if he wanted that or not, but it wasn't like he had much choice.  "Alright.  See you then."
	"Good luck, Tarrin," she said, and then the little black amulet in his paw crumbled to dust.
	Jegojah cackled.  "Ye know many strange people, Were-cat," he said with a smile.
	"It's about to get worse," Tarrin said, taking hold of his amulet.  "Ariana."
	Now he understood why the Goddess wanted her to have an amulet.
	"Tarrin?  Where are you?  I can hear you, but I can't see you."
	"It's hard to explain, but I don't have time.  You once said that you couldn't repay me enough for what I did for you.  I'm about to test that."
	"It sounds serious."
	"It is.  Can you talk to your king and arrange for him to meet me?  I'm at the city ruins some distance northwest of the Cloud Spire."
	"I know where that is," she said.  "I told him you were the one that saved him, so I'm pretty sure that he'll agree.  It'll take us a couple of days to fly out there, though."
	"I'll wait for you.  It's important, Ariana.  Very important."
	"Alright.  I'll go talk to him right now.  Are you well, Tarrin?  Did everything go as you hoped?"
	"More or less," he replied.  "Just go.  I'm going to contact you again in about an hour."
	"Alright.  I'll talk to you in an hour, then."
	"Good luck."
	"I don't need luck," she said in a coquettish voice, then he broke the connection.
	"Who was that?" Jegojah asked.
	"An Aeradalla, with ties to the throne," he replied.
	"Many strange friends ye have, Were-cat, yes," Jegojah smiled.
	"I wouldn't trade them for an army of normal friends," he said adamantly.
	"Well said," the undead warrior said with a nod.
	Tarrin settled himself, then cast out a distance.  "Keritanima," he called.
	The answer was almost before he finished speaking her name.  "Tarrin!" she said happily.  "How are you?  Are you alright?"
	"Hold on," he said in Sha'Kar.  "I'm going to tell you to do something strange, and please don't argue with me.  This is very, very important."
	"Well, if I have to," she said in a lilting, amused tone.  "I'm not much used to taking orders from base commoners, you know."
	"Just say that again when we're face to face, Kerri."
	"I'm not that stupid, brother," she laughed.  "What's so serious that you'd order me around?"
	"Kerri, I need you to guide me," he said.  "Touch the Weave and hold as much of it as you can.  I know you and I know your touch, so I should be able to find you.  Just keep at it for ten minutes.  If something doesn't happen in ten minutes, let go of the Weave and contact me."
	"That sounds pretty strange, but I'll do it," she replied.  "Alright, I'm ready.  Whatever it is you're going to try to do, go ahead."
	Tarrin broke the connection and looked around.  The nearest strand that he could touch was, fortunately, on the other side of the square.  "I'm going to go over there and talk to Kerri in a very secure way, Jegojah," he told the undead warrior. "I'll be asleep until I'm done, just so you know."
	"Very well, Jegojah will watch over ye, yes," he said, standing up.
	It felt odd, it sounded odd, that Jegojah would be watching over him, but things were just like that in Tarrin's life.  He padded over and sat down, placing his body directly within the small feeder strand that would be his gateway into the Weave.  "If I don't wake up within thirty minutes, go find Sarraya," he told Jegojah.  "She'll be able to wake me up."
	"As you say," the undead warrior said, taking up a watchful stance and scouring the surrounding cityscape with its eyes.
	Tarrin joined with the Weave easily, almost as easily as standing up, and sent his consciousness into it.  He first went to the Heart, felt the basking radiance of the Goddess on his soul, but he ignored that as best he could as he searched the thousands of small stars and strands for a sense of Keritanima's presence.  It wasn't easy with so many of them, but his intimate familiarity with his sister allowed him to discern which of those thousands of stars was hers.  Every Sorcerer, even himself, was represented in the dark void of the Heart by those stars, and now that he knew which was hers, he could use her star to guide him to her physical body.
	He marveled a moment at how quickly he had picked up on this strange ability.  Perhaps the goddess was tinkering again.  He had only done it once, with Jenna.  But he had been in the Heart before, and he knew about the stars, so it seemed only simple logic to conclude that using one's star to find the Sorcerer's location within the Weave was possible.  Tarrin couldn't discern physical location, for the Weave didn't restrict itself to mortal reality.  It transcended that, going into time as well as space, and to find Keritanima, he had to find her location within the Weave.  The star was but a representation of her, but he could use the sense of it to find Kerri in the vast network of the Weave.  Something like giving him her scent, and that would allow him to track her down.
	It didn't take long.  He had the sense of her now, and he could feel her imprint in the Weave, since she was in direct contact with it.  He felt her radiant presence from a distance, and he moved through strands until that sense of her was directly before him.  This was the place.  He wove together that projected image of himself, and then pressed his consciousness into it.
	He opened his spectral eyes to find himself standing in a luxuriously appointed cabin.  The cabin was rocking slightly, and the bay windows at the rear of the cabin showed him a vast panorama of empty ocean.  Keritanima was aboard her ship, travelling towards Suld.  She was sitting in a lushly padded chair, staring at Tarrin in shock.  As was Miranda, who was standing beside Keritanima, holding a bundle of yarn in her delicate hands.
	"Tarrin!" Keritanima squealed, jumping out of the chair.
	Before he could do anything, he raised his arms in defense against her.  "Kerri, no!" he said immediately. "This is an Illusion!"
	It did no good.  She bounded across the cabin and hurled herself at him, arms outspread--
	--then crashed unceremoniously to the carpeted deck, passing through his phantasmal body.
	Miranda started giggling behind her hand, then broke into outright laughter when Keritanima rolled over and looked up at Tarrin's rueful expression.  He missed his sister, missed her desperately, but just seeing her like this was almost as good as being with her.  He'd see her again for real, see her soon, but for now this was good enough.  It didn't make him feel lonely, as he feared it might have, instead it reminded him of his beloved sisters in positive ways.  His love for his sister bloomed from inside him, causing the Weave surrounding them to shimmer in an unusual fashion.
	"Tarrin, why didn't you warn me!" Keritanima complained, pulling herself to her feet.  "And how are you doing this?" she asked curiously.
	"Don't try this, Kerri," he warned immediately.  "It's something you can't do.  Yet," he added.  "I can't stay like this very long.  It costs me a great deal, so let's cut through all the happy chatter and get to the point."
	"That's Tarrin, all right," Miranda laughed.  "You look...taller. Much taller.  Is that really you?"
	"It is," he grunted.  "I'll explain what happened the next time we're together.  For real," he added.  "Kerri, do me a favor and Ward this place as tightly as you can.   Make sure that a mouse can't even hear what I'm about to say."
	"Hold on," she said.  She was still in contact with the Weave, so she started quickly.  Tarrin could actually see the weaves take form, then solidify to create a Ward of impenetrable qualities, something that stopped sound, passage of living beings, even defeated magic.  She layered it against the walls, floor, and ceiling of her cabin, and the speed and expertise which she demonstrated when weaving it showed him that she was very experienced in Wardcraft.  It had probably been a very handy trick back at home, where everyone and his brother was a spy.
	"Very nice," he complimented.
	"I've had alot of practice," Keritanima smiled that toothy smile, sitting down again.  "Now, what's so important that you'd start showing off new tricks that you know I'm going to try to learn?"
	Tarrin grimaced.  He forgot about that.  She would try to learn, no matter how many times he told her not to.
	"You've been keeping up with what's going on in the West?" he asked.
	"As far as Sulasia goes, yes," she replied.  "I'm ferrying over ten thousand Vendari and a few divisions of regular troops. I'm also bringing over some cannon to help the Sulasians."
	"Then you're off to a good start," he grunted.  "They're going to need more, sister.  As many as you can get there, as quickly as you can."  Tarrin then repeated what he learned from Jegojah.
	"How can you trust that old bonesack?" Keritanima challenged.  "He may be lying."
	"He has no reason to lie, Kerri, and think about it.  It explains quite a few things, and it makes sense.  Has anything I said surprised you, outside of the end of it?"
	"Well, no," she admitted.  "We knew that someone was stirring up trouble in Tykarthia, but we couldn't figure out why.  And we knew old King Armond had been assassinated, but we could never find out who did it."
	"I'm glad you can admit that much," he said.  "How cold has it been in the West?"
	"What kind of question is that?" Keritanima asked.
	"Armies can't move through snow," Miranda reminded her gently.  "These attacking armies that are hidden in Daltochan and Draconia can't move until the snow in the mountains melts."
	"Precisely," Tarrin said with a nod to Miranda.  "Jegojah said that it'd be about a month after the passes melt to where they're passable that the armies would reach Suld."
	"Miranda, get our map," Keritanima said.  "Let's move to the table and take a look."
	"Let's move this along, Kerri," Tarrin warned.  "I'm projecting myself over a few thousand leagues.  You wouldn't believe how much it costs me."
	"Then I'll talk fast," she said with a smile.  Miranda went to a satchel in the corner and pulled out a rolled parchment, and Tarrin moved his image to a small table near the bay windows in the back of the cabin.  Keritanima and Miranda surrounded the table with him, and the mink Wikuni unrolled the map.  It was a map of the northern kingdoms of the West; Sulasia, Tykarthia, Draconia, Daltochan, and Ungardt.  Tarrin recognized many of the names on it, but some were unfamiliar to him, even in his home kingdom.  "Alright, here's Suld," Keritanima said, pointing.  "Now, there are only two ways to march from Daltochan and the Petal Lakes to Suld.  One is from the east, from around Aldreth.  The other is from the west, coming along the coast, hooking around the Skydancer Mountains."
	"Why don't they just use this pass here?" he asked, pointing to a strange pass marked on the map, with a little triangular symbol at the head of what looked to be a wide gorge.  If he was reading the map correctly.
	"He'd lose half his army trying to use that pass," Keritanima told him.  "It's very treacherous.  Besides, even if they did, they'd still have to either move east or west, to avoid the Scar.  And they'd be much better off doing that in friendly territory.  Every step they take in hostile territory is a step laced with danger.  You don't go wandering in circles on opposing ground.  The locals have a bad habit of taking big chunks out of your army."
	"I forgot about that," Tarrin fretted.  "So, which way do you think they'd go?"
	"West," she said, pointing.  "This up here is all open land, after you get out of the Darkwood.  If they come from the east, they'll have to traverse a great deal of forest terrain, and no army moves well through forest, no matter how good the roads are.  Add the fact that every villager and farmer up that way has one of those nasty Sulasian longbows, and you'd understand why you wouldn't want to move an army through there."
	"I can see that," Tarrin said.  "So, answer my question.  How long?"
	"I can't really answer that, Tarrin, I'm not a soothsayer," she said.  "We'll have to have Allia find out what the weather's like up there.  Hmm."
	"What?"
	"Well, we know that the Dals have already invaded Sulasia from the east," she noted, looking at the map.  "It looks like what they're doing is drawing all the defenders eastward, and then they'll move their main army in from the west.  The Scar will keep the Sulasian army from scouting them out.  Then they could detach a part of their army to come up from behind the Sulasians, and grind them to dogmeat between their armies."
	Both Tarrin and Miranda were staring at her.  "Well, that's how I'd do it," she said defensively.
	"It makes sense," Miranda said with a cheeky grin at Tarrin.
	"It does," Tarrin said.  "Jegojah would probably agree with you.  He should, after I show him this."
	"Really, Tarrin, how can you be so calm around that bonesack?" Keritanima demanded.  "It's already tried to kill you three times."
	"Someday you'll understand," he told her.  "I'm running out of time here, sister.  Let's keep to the subject at hand."
	"Spoilsport," she grunted.  "It all hinges on how much time we have," she reasoned.  "If the passes melt early, then we have a problem.  If they melt late, then we have more time to set up.  Ugh," she grunted.  "No suitable defensive positions anywhere.  I hate to say it, but the only place to set up would be Suld itself.  It's risky, but I don't see much help for it."
	"We thought the same thing, but we were looking at an invasion from the east, not the north," Tarrin explained.  "Since there are already enemy armies moving in from the east."
	"What, the bonesack didn't think of them moving across Draconia and Tykarthia first?"
	"I think he thinks that they'll come the fastest way," he replied.  "Since they already occupy some Sulasian territory, then it might be shorter."
	"Not really," she replied.  "What they'd gain in distance, they'd lose in rough terrain.  Plus they'd have to come through the Sulasian army, and that might slow them down more than they'd like.  You can't hide an army like that for very long, and from the way you explained it, speed is critical for them."
	"He made it sound that way," Tarrin replied.  "Oh, yes, how many ships do you have around Arak?"
	"Alot," she replied, "but they're all merchantmen.  They're not military."
	"That's not an issue, sister.  Shiika offered her Legions, if you'd come and pick them up."
	"You talked to the Demoness?" Keritanima gasped.
	Tarrin nodded.  "I'm not going to turn my back on any help, Kerri.  Shiika's Legions are well trained and strong.  If we can get them here, they'll make a huge impact."
	Keritanima laughed ruefully.  "I don't see much choice," she winked.  "You'll just make me if I say no."
	"I'd rather not do that, sister."
	"I know," she smiled.  "Sad that a Queen can't even be her own boss.  Any other possible allies, while we're here?"
	"I'm going to try to convince some of the Aeradalla to help," he replied.  "I happened to do their king a very large favor about a month ago, and I hope to collect.  I'm not going to ask the Selani, because I doubt they'd help anyway, but I might see if I can convince some of Fae-da'Nar to help when I come through the Frontier.  Even a single pack of Were-wolves can make a difference."
	"It could.  Were-kin detest Goblinoids.  For the chance to kill Goblinoids, you very well may get some volunteers."
	"Speaking of Were-wolves, that's a good place to start. You remember Haley, back in Dayis?"
	"Of course I remember him," Keritanima replied, then her eyes widened.  "He's a Were-wolf?" she asked in a gasp.
	"It's a secret, so don't pass it around," he warned.  "See if you can get a messenger to him and ask him to arrange some kind of meeting with a Druid.  Haley may be a good place to start.  He can get the information to the Druids, who will tell everyone else.  That way they'll already know what's going on when I get there."
	"You don't want me to try to recruit?"
	"You can try, but I don't know if you'll be successful," Tarrin shrugged.
	"Diplomacy may be a good place to start," Keritanima mused.  "If we can get the Ungardt and the Tykarthians to stop fighting, it'll seriously mess up the enemy's plans."
	"My mother may be able to help there.  She's the daughter of a very respected Ungardt Clan-Chief.  I can get a message to her through Jenna.  My mother can make my grandfather do just about anything.  Even stop a war."
	"This is why I never want to cross your mother," Keritanima laughed.  "So, we can hamstring them in the north, and maybe get enough Shacans to stop fighting with each other and mass an army to reinforce the Sulasians trying to stop the Dals.  Maybe even convince Arkis to send some of their troops."
	"How will you do that?"
	"I'm a Wikuni, brother dear," she grinned.  "I'll negotiate.  By the time I'm done, I'll own Emperor Barad's entire army."  She looked at the map.  "If we can get them there in time, anyway.  I really need to know what the condition of those passes is.  I can't make suitable plans unless I have some solid information to go on."
	He was starting to get very tired.  He didn't have much time left. "I'm going to have to go in a minute," he said.  "It sounds like you can handle things on this side.  I'm not going to have enough left to contact Allia until I rest, but don't you dare go and blab all of this, sister.  Talking through the amulets isn't secure, else I wouldn't be doing this now.  Let me explain it to her when I can talk to her."  He looked down, at the map.  "We're not going to be able to work like this, so you need to get to Suld as quick as you can.  I'll be stepping it up to get there as fast as I can, and Shiika and her generals should be arriving about the same time as me."
	"Alright.  I'll send every ship available to Dala Yar Arak and pick up your pet Demoness' army," she said with a slight frown.  "I'll also send for some reinforcements, but I can't take too many men from home."
	"Why not?"
	"Politics," she grimaced.  "If I strip the army, the nobles may get bad ideas without someone there to keep them in line."
	"I thought you stepped on them."
	"Wikuni nobles unstep very easily, Tarrin," Miranda cut in.  "They'll cooperate until they see an opening.  Then they'll exploit it for everything it's worth."
	"Kill them," Tarrin said in an offhanded manner.
	"I can't do that!" Keritanima gasped.
	"It's easy.  Send orders for your men to round up and kill all the nobles.  Then they won't be in your way anymore."
	"That's barbaric!"
	"It's effective," he said bluntly.
	"It'll start a civil war!"
	"If there's nobody left to challenge you, who are you going to have left to fight you for you