 but he washed his paws of this one by going out and sitting on the porch.
	People endlessly underestimated Allias sense of humor, because she so rarely exhibited it.  But here, in intimate surroundings and surrounded by close friends, she was more than willing to do so, much to Jesminds chagrin.  Eventually, though, Allia relented in her punishment of Tarrins mate, and announced that she was ready to leave.
	Its about damned time! Jesmind snapped.  Lets go now!
	Let me go get my parents, and we can, Tarrin told her.
	She gave him a flat, hostile look.
	You knew they were going, Jesmind, he told her.  I told you that several times yesterday.  And youd better kiss Allia on the cheek for going so slow.  If you would have gone over to my parents house and rushed them out of bed, theyd have hung you off the hay door transom by your tail.
	Jesmind snorted, putting her paws on her hips.  Well, go get them, she told him in a low, dangerous voice.
	Gather up the cubs, he said to Kimmie and Jula.  Lets not keep her Imperial Majesty here waiting a second longer than we have to when I get back.
	We will have them ready, Dolanna assured him with a slight smile.
	Fireflash zipped down the stairs and lanced over to Tarrin, landing heavily on his shoulder.  I was wondering where you went off to, little one, he told him with a chuckle as the little gold drake rubbed the side of his head against Tarrins neck affectionately.
	Ill go with you, deshida, Allia announced in Selani.  Whenever she spoke directly to him, she always spoke Selani, regardless of who else was listening.  Allyn, do you want to come?
	No, I think Ill go use the privy before we leave, he replied.  Given how Jesminds acting, she may not give me another chance til we get to Wikuna.
	Allia laughed lightly and kissed her husband on the lips, then put her four-fingered hand on Tarrins forearm.
	Well be back in a bit, Tarrin told them as he and Allia moved towards the door.
	It was raining outside, a cold, soaking kind of rain that made the chill in the air that much sharper.  The archway that led to his parents house was outside the sphere of controlled temperature that surrounded his house, so it meant trudging through the cold, wet grass to reach it.  Tarrin Conjured two stout waterproof cloaks for himself and Allia, and they paused to put them on.  Whats Jesminds problem, brother? Allia asked.  Ive never seen her like this before.
	Shes been cooped up in the house for a while, deshaida, he answered.  I think shes really looking forward to going somewhere.  Remember, we may be territorial, but we also love to travel, to see new things.  Thats the curiosity in us.  I think it didnt really hit her until we went to Mala Myrr, and it ate at her when the sandstorm kept us from going back.  Mala Myrr was someplace new, and it kindled her wandering spirit.
	Ah.  I can understand that, she nodded as she pulled up the hood, then blew out her breath, which steamed in the cold air as they crossed the invisible barrier that marked the boundary of controlled temperature.  Foul weather.  Im glad it doesnt get like this at home.
	Youll see even fouler, he warned.  I talked to Kerri last night, and she said they have a span of snow on the ground.  There was no Selani word for snow, so he simply used in the ShaKar word for it in its place.
	I remember it from Suld, when we wintered there, she told him.  I thought it was quite fun to play in, and Id prefer it to this cold rain.  At least the snow didnt soak you the way this does.
	They reached the archway, and Tarrin opened the gate to the fence that kept animals from wandernig through it and let Allia go first.  Ive always hated this time of year, he agreed just before Allia stepped into the archway, disappearing in a blue flash.  Tarrin followed her after a brief pause to give her time to get clear of the archway, and saw her opening the gate on the farms side.  Its always nasty.  Doing chores in a cold rain has to be the worst.
	Does it rain like this often this time of year? she asked.
	Quite often, and for days at a time, he grunted as they started across the field towards the farmhouse.  The ground wont really dry out til spring.  Itll freeze over in a ride or two, and stay like that until the spring thaw.
	Odd.
	Its the mountains, he said, pointing to the north.  They trap all the rain that comes off the ocean on this side.  Snow piles as deep as a Giants chest up there in the winter.  Theyre probably also what channels all the storms into the Sandshield, which makes the sandstorms on your side of them.
	Probably, she agreed as they stepped up onto the porch of his parents farmhouse.  Tarrin was about to join her, but the unnatural, vile smell of Shiika assaulted his nose.  She was here.  That wasnt in itself too unusual, for she visited his mother about every other day, but she very rarely came in the morning.
	What is it?
	Shiikas here, he said.  Whats she doing here this early in the morning?
	She may be visiting before your mother leaves for Wikuna, Allia reasoned as Tarrin opened the door.
	Shiika was indeed there, sitting at the table near the fireplace sipping tea as Eron and Elke finished preparing to leave.  As was her habit when visiting Elke, she was in her natural form, complete with wings, even though sitting at the table with them wasnt very easy.  They kept her from using the backrest properly, and the spiked tips of them pressed against the wooden floor, buckling them a little bit.  Tarrin mused that maybe she never hid what she was in front of Elke to show the Ungardt the truth of her at all times, even if it caused her inconvenience.
	The months had brought something of a wary peace between them.  He was confident that she wasnt going to try anything with his mother, and that allowed him to approach her with much more civility.  The underlying danger of getting trapped by the Demons proposals and words always made talking with her very nervous, and truth be told, he didnt actively dislike her.  She had been invaluable to him in the past, and there had always been a rather bizarre sort of relationship between them, stemming from the fact that Shiika liked him.  He just couldnt trust her, at least anywhere but in his mothers house.  Here, there was a kind of unspoken truce; she didnt play games with him, and he treated her nicely.
	Mother, father, you about ready? he asked as they came through the door.
	Were getting there, son, Eron answered.  Just give us a minute.  Are we eating at your house or the Tower?
	Weve already fed the cubs, so probably the Tower, he answered.
	Good morning, she greeted as she took another sip.
	Youre here early, he told her.
	She nodded.  I came to see you off, and to bring some news.
	News?  What about? he asked.  It would be odd that she brought him news, because there was usually little going on that he didnt already know about.  It was probably news related to Yar Arak that she felt he might want to know.
	Shun found Bane, she told him in a surprisingly level voice.
	Finally?  Did she kill him?
	She shook her head.  She couldnt come within ten spans of him, she answered.  He had some kind of magical device that repels Demonkind.  He didnt even try to engage her.  He just kept walking and let her beat herself senseless against his mystical ward until she gave up and returned home to tell me what happened.
	Where was he?
	Ultern, she told him.  Shun wasnt sure which way he was going to go.  She came back before finding out, and she couldnt find him when I sent her back.  I had a long talk with her about that, she said in an ominous tone.
	When was this?
	Midnight, she answered.  If hes in Sulasia, its not a stretch to think that he might be on his way to Suld, but it doesnt make any sense for him to go back there.  Azakar all but handed him his spleen the last time he was there, and I doubt it wouldnt happen again if he shows his face.  Kerri told me the last time we were fighting over a trade agreement that Darvon set him on Bane as a personal mission.  That big Mahuutll tear his face off if he shows up again.
	Ive seen him spar.  Zakll take him apart, Elke agreed.
	If hes walking, he wont get to Suld for days, Tarrin said aloud as he thought it over.
	We will be long gone before he arrives, Allia reasoned.
	Tarrin nodded.  Yah, but Zakll smack us if we dont tell him about this.  He might not go to Wikuna.  He might jump on a horse and head to Ultern.
	Perhaps, but that would be a fools venture, Allia said.  It is best to learn more before jumping to action.
	Im not sure what hell do, Tarrin grunted.  But one way or another, he needs to be told.
	We can do that when we get to Suld, Allia said calmly.  But first we must get to Suld.
	Im almost ready! Elke told her shortly, lacing her boot.  All we need are our cloaks, and I think were ready to go.
	Ill pick these up, Shiika offered, standing and taking up her teacup and saucer, then carrying them to the kitchen.  Much to Tarrins surprise, she washed and dried them while Elke fussed with Erons tunic, and put them back in the cupboard.  It was the first time hed ever seen her perform any kind of manual labor.  Eron took down their heavy cloaks from the peg by the door and handed Elke hers, and both of them threw them over their shoulders and fastened them.
	Well, I guess well see you when we get back, Tarrin told Shiika.
	Youll see me sooner than that, she said with a sly smile.  You think Im missing the opportunity to crash Kerris big day?  I wouldnt miss it for the world.
	Tarrin looked at her, then laughed.  Shes going to strangle you.
	Let her, she grinned.  This is my chance to get her back for that outrageous Yar Akram proposal.
	Dont you two ever quit?
	No!  What fun would that be? she asked in reply.
	Allia gave Tarrin a look of light amusement, pulling her cloak around her.  Allia found the battle of wills between Keritanima and Shiika to be very entertaining, especially because, beneath it all, they both respected and liked one another.  The move briefly reminded him of Spyder, the way she let her cloak flow around her, until it settled down to cover and conceal her lithe, splendid form.  If it were a cloak that swallowed all light, and if there were a scar on her left cheek, she would look so much like her.  Allias resemblence to Spyder was the solid proof that the Selani were true descendants of the ancient, mysterious Urzani.
	In just a bit, they were all ready.  Elke and Eron had their cloaks on tightly, and they were filing out the door.  So, I guess well see you in Wikuna, Tarrin told Shiika as she filed past him, her unnatural scent tickling his nose.  He had such a resistance to it now, it didnt have the same stomach-churning effect it once had.  It wasnt pleasant, but he could tune it out well enough to where it wouldnt bother him.  She was smaller than him, but the tips of her wings were over his head.  Seeing those wings gave him another brief flash, seeing wings.
	Wings offire.
	He closed his eyes, pinching his nose with two fingers as the image passed by him.  Wings of firehe remembered Jasanas description of him when hed used the Firestaff.  It sounded majestic.  He saw an image of them, an image of himself, his fur and hair turned to flame, wings of fire spread out behind him, eyes shimmering green in an expression not of fury, but of resolve, his black swords blade burning with bright fire as he lifted it over his head in the face of infathomable darkness.
	A memory in the Weave, touching him.  That hadnt happened unbidden in quite a while.  It was an image of him during his extremely brief moments as a god, one of the countless memories that was trapped and echoed endlessly within the matrix of the Weave.  When he was younger, they would touch him on their own, giving him flashes of insight, teaching him magic in times of great desperation to protect himself.  But now, now that he was so in touch with the Weave, they didnt drift to him nearly as much as they used to.  They were all there, waiting for him to seek them out, but rarely did they come to him of their own volition anymore.  Maybe seeing Shiikas wings triggered a desire in him to know what hed once looked like with wings himself, and the Weave responded to that subconscious desire.
	What it was like to be able to fly without any kind of help from an Air spell or an Elemental.  That was certainly a nice memory, even if it was surrounded by such destruction and horror.
	Are you well, deshida? Allia asked, putting a hand on his shoulder.
	Fine, fine, he told her, waving his paw negligently.  Just remembering something, thats all.
	They closed the door, and Tarrin wove a Ward over the house to keep the chill out of it for six days, and protect it from roving scavengers.  What were you remembering? she asked as they followed after his parents.
	It was an image in the Weave, about how I looked like-- he started, then glanced at Shiikas back.  What I looked like then.
	Youve never seen it?
	He shook his head.  Im very careful never to think about that, sister, he told her seriously.  The less I know, the better, as far as Im concerned.
	Why?
	He gave her a direct, very serious look.  Because its not something that a mortal was ever meant to know.
	She pursed her sultry lips in thought, then slowly nodded.  I, I think I understand, deshida.  Youre very wise to understand that.
	Tarrin noticed Shiikas glance back at him, and the hint of a smile on her face.  He knew she could understand every word they said; an aspect of a Demons power was the ability to understand all languages, and reply in kind.  Just as Shiika appeared to others as what they thought was most attractive, so her voice carried words that the listener would understand, no matter what language she actually spoke.  She never really had to speak at all, for she and her Alu daughters were all telepathic, capable of speaking only with their minds.
	It wasnt secret information, but it was personal information.  Giving a Demon personal information was never a good thing.  Tarrin made a mental note to himself to keep an eye on Shiika.
	Shiika excused herself and disappeared as they reached the arch, and then the rest of them returned to the house.  Things were a bit hectic as Kimmie and Jula struggled to dress Tara in warm clothes, and Jasana was sitting at the kitchen table making fun of her for being so silly.  Rina was waiting by the fireplace with a Duthak primer in her little paws, a book they gave to children to teach them how to read and expand their vocabulary.  It was made out of thin stone leaves, bound with rings made of a strange metal that was resistant to the march of time.  Many Dwarven artifacts were made of stone or metal, a symbol of their great love of metalsmithing and stonework.  It was but one of the thousands of books, artifacts, and curiosities Tarrin had down in his library, the items the gallant Dwarves left behind.  Rina thought that the carved illustrations were funny, for they were of Dwarves, and Dwarves looked nothing like humans at all.  They were short, heavily built creatures with wide faces and features, and almost all adults had beards.  Even the females, a racial quirk hed not seen in any other race.
	Would you hold still! Kimmie barked at Tara in impatience as she pulled a heavy tunic over her head.  Its going to be cold in Suld, silly!  Youre going to need this!
	Papas not wearing one, and neither is Jassy and Jules, she declared as she struggled out of the tunic even as Kimmie struggled to put her into it, using the affectionate altered forms that the twins called Jasana and Jula.
	Your father and sister and me know magic that keeps us warm, Jula told her.  But you need a tunic, so stop squirming.
	Tara wasnt quite ready to understand that since the three of them were Weavespinners, they could use a trick of the Weave to keep them warm.  It involved letting the power of the Weave flow through them, which brought the heat of the power of the Weave, the heat that crossing over to become suikun and dashar had changed them to protect against.  By simply letting the Weave flow through them strongly, they could even generate enough heat to be felt by those around them.
	I wanna learn that, Tara snapped as she stopped struggling and let her mother settle the tunic over her shoulders, smoothing it with her paws.
	Someday you just might, Tarrin told her absently as she looked to his parents.  I think were ready.  Are you?
	I do believe we are, lad, Eron nodded.  Your mother wouldnt have let us leave home if we werent.
	Its about time, Jesmind said impatiently.  Lets go!
	Tarrin nodded, and Jasana and Rina rushed over to the others, gathering together so they could be Teleported to their destination.  Theyd done it many times before, and knew what was required.
	Want me to do it, father? Jula asked.
	He shook his head, and looked down at Jasana.
	Me?  I get to take us? she said with sudden excitement.  Jasana knew the spell, but was absolutely forbidden from using Teleportation.  Not to protect her from harm, but to keep her from jumping all over the world and force a very put-out father to track her tail down and drag her home at the behest of an extremely ticked off mother.  Tarrin taught her the spell for her own protection, as a last-ditch means of escape from a dangerous situation, and to her credit, Jasana had never used the spell without her fathers explicit permission.
	Think you can handle Teleporting us all, cub? he asked her.
	Can I! she said with a squeal of delight, clapping her paws together.  Alright, gather in, everyone! she commanded in a suddenly bossy tone.
	Is this a good idea, son? Elke asked in Ungardt, and hers wasnt the only speculative look as they all gathered into a tight group..
	She can handle it, mother.  Besides, its good practice.  He addressed Jasana.  You know where to land us?
	Right in front of the blue rose bush in the courtyard, she replied.  Where you had the tent.
	Tarrin nodded.  Go ahead.
	She clapped her paws again and set her will against the Weave.  Tarrin felt her weave the spell, sending the flows around them, causing the flows to surround them, and then weave loosely together into the spell that would send them to Suld, as fingers of the spell reached across Sulasia to envelop the area which was the second half of the spell.  With a little flair, Jasana snapped it down and released it, and then what was within was exchanged with the space in the courtyard, which was the target of the spell.
	In an instant, they ceased being in the common room of his beloved house, and they were standing out in the biting cold, as a light, misty rain drifted down from the dark, heavy skies.  Six Were-cats, three humans, two Selani, and one drake looked around and found themselves in the courtyard of the Goddess, where her fountain continued to bubble merrily with water and her gorgeous white stone statue stood atop it with an expression of loving benediction, between the hedge wall and the big blue rose bush to the right side of the icon which was the Goddess physical representation in the material world.
	All of them except one.
	It was more than a sense now, it was a presence, a dark, foreboding feeling that assaulted Tarrins awareness the instant they appeared in the courtyard.   While everyone else was looking around and getting their bearings, Tarrins eyes were locked to the east-southeast.  That sense of something being wrong roared into his mind again, stronger than ever before, and that heavy, sinister sense of presence he had felt upon arriving at Suld was its cause.
	Tarrin--Tarrin? Jesmind started, then cut off and asked in confusion as the towering Were-cat seemed oblivious to all around him, peering off into the distance like none of them were even there.
	He had no idea what it was that was out there, but there was one thing of which he had no doubt.
	From it emanated a sense of utter, unmitigated hatred.  And that hatred was fixed upon him.
	Brushing Jasana out of the way, knocking Fireflash off his shoulder, Tarrin took a single step in the direction of that sensation, and felt it increase.  He simply knew that whatever it was knew he was in Suld, and in a way that hatred was challenging, inviting, beckoning him, much as Spyders haunting calls had beckoned him to her.
	It was a challenge that he was unable to ignore.

	Tarrin! Jesmind cried as Jasana gasped and scrambled out of the way as Tarrin broke into an instant sprint, and then started running on thin air to get up and above the level of the hedge walls.
	What got into him?  Jesmind picked Jasana up off the ground as they all watched Tarrin disappear over the hedge wall, all of them in something of a state of shock and confusion.  Hed never acted like this before!  It was like they werent even there!  The look in his eyes had been so strange, and then she saw anger in them just before he dashed off to the trees knew where!
	Tarrin! Elke shouted.  You get your tail back here right now!
	Jasana was about to say something, then she sucked in her breath and clenched her paws into tight little fists.
	No! the voice of the Goddess seemed to lash out at them like a whip, causing everyone in the courtyard to instantly freeze.  You stay put, young lady!
	I cant--I have to-- Jasana started, but the Goddess cut her off.
	You will do nothing! she snapped.
	What is going on? Dolanna demanded as they all looked at Jasana.
	Her eyes were tortured, such a haunted, pained look in them that it cut Jesmind to the quick to think that her treasured cub would ever feel such hurt.  Theres something coming, she said.  Something terrible!  And theyre both coming too because of it!
	What?  Whats coming, cub? Jesmind said with dreadful intensity, putting her paws on Jasanas shoulders.
	Who is coming, child? Dolanna asked quickly.
	Jasana gave Dolanna a horrified, almost mindlessly stricken look, then blurted out but one word, a word that made every soul in the courtyard go cold.
	Even the soul of the Goddess.
	Death!

	Hed felt this before.
	He was sure of it.  As he cleared the fence of the Tower and sprinted out into the cold rain, he was certain that he had felt this particular feeling before, but he couldnt remember where.  It seemed something that he shouldnt forget, but it was possible it was something he experienced in the throes of a rage, and as such it made his memory of its feeling hazy and indistinct.  But he was certain he had felt this feeling before, had felt this same kind of pure hatred aimed at him, so strong it had attracted his attention and sent him off to find the source of it.
	He could feel its evil.  This was a dark and destructive power, and the core of his being cried out against it.  This was something to meet and destroy, and he had reacted with the primal need to carry this out before he even understood what he was feeling.
	It was moving towards him very quickly now, as quickly as he moved towards it, and he brought forth his staff and Summoned the Cats Claws while on the move, causing them to appear around his wrists.  He would not meet this dark hating power unprepared.
	Hatred.  There was little hatred in him towards it, only a sense of need to meet and destroy it.  He didnt even know what it was quite yet, he could only sense that it was somewhere directly before him, and moving towards him with great speed.  Its hatred didnt cause him to respond with hatred, only with resolve, almost as if it were his duty to meet this force which hated him so and vanquish it.  There was a little curiosity involved, that was certain, curiosity over what this power could be, and why it hated him as much as it did, and why he couldnt quite remember where he had felt this feeling before, and why it caused him to react as it had.  Finding it would hopefully answer those questions, satisfy his curiosity, at least before he did what he felt he had to dodefeat this power.
	It was what he must do.
	The streets were crowded with the citizens of Suld as they made their way to and from their engagements, but the passing of the Were-cat caused a near-riot of outrage and chaos as he passed by, avoiding when he could, but more often than not bulling his way through the throngs on the Street of Gold, which seemed to be the direct path to take to find this strange power which beckoned to him with its terrible anger and hatred.  Shouts of surprise and anger followed him as he rammed his way down the street, sweeping the much smaller humans out of his way as he barreled headlong towards the object that had incited such a strange reaction out of him, until he could sense it just outside of his vision.  He slowed to a stop and rose up to his full height, towering over all around him and able to see as far down the avenue as he wished, as there were no carts or wagons between him and the sense of presence that he was feeling.
	The people around him seemed to understand that something was very wrong, and he heard a sudden chorus of shouts of fear from up ahead.  The people before him started scrambling away, rushing into buildings, down alleys and side streets, anything to get of the Street of Gold and out of harms way, almost as if they sensed the impending danger.  They scattered like frightened rabbits for a long moment, until the street was completely clear between him and the presence he sensed, who was standing about a block and half away from him.
	It was a figure in a suit of old, archaic armor and wielding a double-edged broadsword in his right hand and a shield in the shape of a lions head strapped to his left arm.  The helmet was an old burgonet style but with a full face visor, which hid the features from his view.  It was a tall and imposing figure, and now that he could see it, he could clearly feel the aura of intense magical power which surrounded this strange armored foe, he could see it, a projected dome of magic that surrounded the figure within that was invisible to any eyes but those of a Weavespinner.
	Without knowing quite how, he simply knew that this was the elusive and formidable Stragos Bane.  And it was from Bane that he was feeling the purity of hatred and anger which defined the sense of him.  But why did Bane hate him so?  Hed never met the man before.  It was an answer to the question, but the answer itself led to even more questions.
	Quickly, Tarrin took mental stock of all he had heard about this man.  He owned armor that was bane to Were-kin, though he didnt know the specifics, and his gloves could unleash either gouts of fire or pale beams of intense cold.  Neither was any particular threat to him.  He also had some kind of device that made it impossible for a Demon to get within ten spans of him, which was the dome he was seeing, and he had magic about him that, according to the Druids, nullified any hostile magical force directed at him.  But that might be because he was undead, so he wasnt sure about that quite yet.  The easiest way to find out was simply to advance and catch its scent.  If it had that grave-miasma that clung to Wraiths and Doomwalkers, the only undead Tarrin had faced, then he was undead, and thus immune to Druidic power.  If he wasnt, then he really did have some kind of powerful magic about him that nullified other magic.  Either way, he just had to get closer to find out.
	Answers might have to wait, or even never come.  Stragos Bane had killed quite a few Were-kin, and for that, he had to pay.  Tarrins duty as a Druid meant that here, now, Bane had to be stopped.
	Stragos Bane was going to die.
	Stragos Bane, Tarrin called in a flat voice, his ears laying back.
	I have waited for this day for years, Were-cat, Stragos Bane answered in a dead, hungry voice, a cold voice that emanated from the heavy helmet, a voice that chilled Tarrins soul for its lack of humanity, as he started slowly moving forward.  Now Im strong enough to face you, I have what I need to defeat you.  Now, you will die!
	That last word turned into an infuriated scream as the armored man charged forward, sword high, racing across the wet cobblestones to do battle.
	Terrified squeals of the last few humans still on the street drowned out the sound of Banes armored boots striking the cobblestones as he rushed headlong into death, as Tarrin bounded a couple of times, and then was running with swift, graceful speed at Bane, staff out to the side of him and low, only to snap forward to be couched like a lance as they neared one another, using its superior reach to let him get the first blow.  Tarrins long legs closed the distance with Bane in seconds, and he lunged as he got within twenty spans to set the staff to hit Bane squarely in the chest.  Twenty, fifteen spans, ten spans--
	--and the instant he got within that dome of magic which emanated from the armored warrior, Tarrin felt a strange coldness, a weakness, seep into him, attacking his link to the Druidic magic which partly granted him his inhuman capabilities.  It was more than just some mystical circle of protection from Demons!
	Stupid stupid stupid! Tarrin chided himself savagely as he saw Bane twist aside with shocking, almost inhuman speed, slithering out of the way of the point of his staff and thrusting with his sword to spit the Were-cat on his broadsword.  Tarrin spun aside before the tip reached him and continued on, quickly getting out of the circle of magic projected from the armored warrior and sliding to a stop as Bane did the same.  He was being stupid!  He was a suikun, for the Goddess sake!  He should have assensed Stragos Bane from the start so hed have an exact idea of what he was dealing with!  But no, he had to be stupid and just charge in like a green recruit.  If Darvon or Allia were there, they would have boxed him upside the head for his ridiculous lapse in judgement.
	Reaching out with his other senses, Tarrin tried to look into the magic surrounding Stragos Bane, as he skidded to a halt and turned around, but sensed nothing.
	Surprised, his ears rising up, he sent probing flows of Divine into that magical field to try to puzzle them out, but when they str